Dubai has, for several years, successfully catered to a healthy influx of new companies, which have made the dynamic city their regional trading hub. This fuelled a boom in the construction industry and so was it with the readymix concrete sector.

The strong economic performance since the early 1990s - driven by innovative government initiatives and the growth of all sectors - encouraged local investors to pump billions of dirhams into a wealth of mega projects: housing and commercial complexes, huge shopping centres and the ambitious expansion of existing commercial, industrial, tourism and service ventures. The recent downturn in the construction sector has considerably affected readymix concrete producers in Dubai because they are the first in the construction chain to feel the pinch.

However Unimix, a company which has played a major role in the development of Dubai's infrastructure, is hoping to stay in the forefront of the concrete industry through innovative technology, rigid quality control and top-class service to customers.

Unimix, established in 1977, has positioned itself to meet the challenges by acquiring the latest technology in batching plants, pumping and placing equipment and a modern fleet of trucks.

"With four fully-computerised batching plants and a total production capacity of over 300 cu m per hour, the company is capable of producing concrete to the highest quality specifications," says ER Menon, the sales and technical manager. The company is also renowned to have one of the best materials testing laboratories in the readymix concrete industry.

Unimix, which has seen consistent growth since the end of the Gulf War, enjoys more than 15 per cent share of the Dubai and Sharjah markets, though most of the business is based in Dubai. The company has a fleet of 55 trucks and 10 pumps, two of which are among the largest stationary pumps deployed anywhere in the world.

The company is proud of the fact that most of the prestigious and landmark projects in the city have been built with Unimix concrete. Top on the list of its projects are two prestigious landmark buildings of Dubai - the Burj Al Arab Tower and the Emirates Towers.

When Unimix acquired the Burj Al Arab (previously the Chicago Beach Tower Hotel) project, and pumped concrete to a height of 220 m, it was considered to be a novel concept as it had never been done at a single stage, in the UAE, until then.

When the Emirates Towers project was on the wings it came up as a challenge. This project was to be the tenth tallest building in the world. Again the previous record was surpassed by pumping 75 Mpa, 60 Mpa and 50 Mpa mixes to levels close to 300 m. The Emirates Towers project is the latest in a long line of triumphs and success stories for Unimix, which is one of Dubai's pioneering companies.

Other key projects supplied by Unimix include: Dubai 2000 Air Show site, the Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai World Trade Centre exhibition halls, Twin Towers at Dubai Creek, Al Maktoum bridges and interchanges, City Tower II, Lamcy Plaza, Al Khaleej Centre, the Mazaya Centre and Al Ain Centre.

Some of the major projects currently being undertaken by the company include the Grand Hyatt superstructure and a Dh160 million ($43.6 million) commercial and residential project in Dubai. The Grand Hyatt project will have two hotel towers and two blocks of residency. There will be 186 apartments, including 10 villas with private gardens, in the residential portion. Unimix conducted the largest single continuous pour in the UAE at the Grand Hyatt project, thanks to efficient site logistics and consistent adherence to requirements. A total of 6,365 cu m of low water/cement ratio concrete was delivered at maximum 21 deg C, averaging approximately 200 cu m per hour.

Though the readymix concrete market has plummeted when compared to 1998, Menon is hopeful and optimistic that quite a number of projects will come up by the middle of the year 2000.

"It is to be seen what sort of impact these projects will have on the general market," he says. "These projects may not satisfy the supply capacity of the readymix companies in Dubai. There are more than 10 companies in the market with the capacity to supply big volumes," he says.

The main volume consumer is the residential sector, which has come to a standstill because of a glut in the market, says Menon. He sees industrial sector as the next growth area, which could generate business for the construction market in the long-term. Sharjah is also a growth market with a lot of apartments coming up in the emirate, he says.

The downward trend in the market has hit the volumes and prices. Menon is not particularly concerned by the volumes "but the prices situation is really worrying," he says. "The low prices make it difficult for the quality producers."

"The competition in the industry is fierce and concrete has become cheaper. Today, the consumer is getting the best quality at the most competitive prices," he says.

The company has opened a new depot in the Jebel Ali Free Zone recently and the plant is the latest and fully computerised.

Unimix, which is ISO 9001 certified, observes a rigorous quality programme which ensures that only the best quality materials are used and supplied, he says. The company has a staff strength of 200. The company gets most of its raw materials locally, though it acquires microsilica from Norway for high-strength and durable mixes.

"We aim to continue to be the leader in the industry," concludes Menon.