ACO, a world leader in the manufacture of corrosion-resistant polymer concrete and stainless steel surface channel drainage system technology, continues to provide its extensive range of quality products to some of the most prestigious projects in the Gulf region, says an official for the UK-based company.

Tens of thousands of metres of its drainage systems have been installed in projects around the Middle East, with more than 100 million metres installed worldwide, says Keith Lambourne, regional director Asia and Middle East.

ACO International - a division of ACO Technologies - has, for more than a decade, been supplying polymer and stainless steel drainage channels to major regional projects including the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach hotels, Dubai Marina and Dubai Airport in the UAE; the Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman; the Amiri Diwan, Coca Cola Factory and Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait; the Sheraton and Four Seasons hotels in Jordan; Al Jouf airbase in Saudi Arabia; and the Pepsi Cola Factory in Egypt.

"Polymer concrete is unaffected by salts, petrol, diesel, oil, many acids and alkalis and is virtually non-porous, making it the ideal product for use in aggressive environments where ordinary concrete is subject to deterioration," says Lambourne.

Outlining other advantages of the product, he adds: "Containing no reinforcing bars, the flexural and compressive strength of a polymer concrete channel when in situ is around four times greater than that of ordinary concrete.

"These systems provide the best solution to the removal or containment of surface liquids and are safe, lightweight, easy and fast to install," he explains.

"ACO polymer concrete channel systems are very versatile and can be used on all types of projects and in most situations where the build-up of surface liquids must be prevented."

Channels are manufactured in standard widths of 100,150,200 and 300mm and in lengths of 1m or 0.5m and can be supplied in constant depth, stepped or sloped falls. They come complete with gratings that can be securely locked to the channel.

"All DIN load class applications have been designed from DIN Class A15Kn (for use in pedestrian areas) through to DIN Class F900Kn (installed at airports, dockyards and warehouse facilities)," says Lambourne.

"Products have been developed for specific use, such as the ACO KerbDrain system which comprises a single monocast polymer concrete kerb unit with a drainage channel incorporated inside.

"Unique sport systems provide the ideal solution for the efficient drainage of athletics tracks and other sport venues and have been installed in many of the world's Olympic, Commonwealth and national stadiums, including Stadium Australia built for the 2000 Olympic Games," he says.

Also offering high corrosion resistance is the ACO Fulbora, an extensive range of stainless steel channel systems manufactured in grade 304 or 316 Austenitic stainless steel.

Designed and fabricated to the requirements of individual projects, these systems are suitable for the drainage of areas where hygiene and ease of maintenance are critical, especially in hospitals, food -processing factories and food preparation areas, Lambourne says.

ACO stainless steel channels, gullies and gratings were chosen for the kitchens of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Zabeel Palace in Dubai, and have also been installed in many airport catering facilities around the world, including Hong Kong's international airport.

Working through its network of agents and distributors in the Gulf, ACO International has become one of the foremost names in the region when solutions to problems of drainage are required, he concludes.