Saudi Vetonit Company (Saveto), which has registered steady growth over the past 20 years, plans to gain greater customer acceptance and enter additional markets this year.

The company manufactures and supplies Saveto and Vetonit building and finishing materials, using as its base material precision-crushed limestone aggregates with main base binders cement or gypsum. It also uses various additives for modifying the technical, physical and functional properties of its products.

The product range includes tile fixes, tile grouts, plasters, renders, bonding agents, non-shrink grouts, self-levelling flooring compounds and interior and exterior finishing products.

Saveto achieves an annual turnover of $25 million and produces more than 100,000 tonnes of dry mixed and other products.

The company, which has undertaken major projects in Saudi Arabia, is open to consultations and technical advice about customers' specific needs and provides demonstrations about the efficacy of the products and training to customers.

"Saudi Vetonit has been involved in a number of significant projects," says sales and marketing manager Jarmo Manninen. "The reference list is extensive and includes hotels, skyscrapers, military cities, hospitals, universities, school and numerous residential projects," he says, adding that most of the region's contractors and consultants are familiar with Saveto and Vetonit products, and that these are often preferred in residential and commercial construction.

"Saudi Vetonit makes constant efforts to improve and develop its products. Our objective is to offer quality products that will provide more value to our customers," Manninen says.

Saudi Vetonit's steady growth continued in 2002 and the company expects this trend to be maintained, despite the business environment becoming more complex and dynamic, he says.

"The economic environment has been favourable in the Gulf region, regardless of the geo-political instability in the Middle East and a degree of slowdown of the global economy. Even though this turbulence might affect the construction industry, we believe that our business growth will be sustained.

"During this year we are looking to improve our acceptance in some products and customer segments. Naturally, we also look to improve our presence in certain geographical areas," he says.

Established in 1981, the company has its main office in Riyadh and branch offices in Jeddah, Makkah, Khamis, Al Khobar, Hofuf, Tabuk, Madinah, Buraidah and Hail.