A $3 million aluminum composite panel manufacturing line is being set up by a joint venture of the UAE-based Mulk Group and American Building Technologies of the US.

The plant, which will produce the US firm’s Alubond panels, is expected to launch production in July.
Eurocon Building Industries, which is part of the Mulk Group of companies, is responsible for the management of production and the worldwide marketing of the panels, says Mulk Group chairman Shaji Ul Mulk.
“Alubond USA is emerging as the fastest growing brand in the world. The UAE plant will be able to offer for the first time in the Middle East, thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 6 mm and widths from 1,000 mm to 1,550 mm,” he says.   “The finishes include metallic, sparkling metals, veneer, marble/granite stone series and regular solid colours.”
“The plant in the UAE is strategically located to open up new markets as well as consolidate the already established markets,” comments Robert Gustafson, export director of American Building Technologies. “The Gulf market, particularly the UAE, is of prime importance due to the current construction boom and the sustained growth being envisaged for the next 10 years. Hence, the UAE was a natural choice for our third production line.”
The plant, which will have an annual capacity of 1 million sq m of panels, will supply not only to the Gulf and Asian markets but the European markets as well, he adds.
The Alubond range includes composite aluminium panels, fireproof aluminium composite panels, aluminium honeycomb panels and shaped solid aluminium panels.
Alubond carries ASTM and BS certifications from recognised international laboratories like Warrington Fire Research Centre UK and Architectural Testing from the US, Gustafson points out. The product is available with a regular polyethylene core as well as fire-rated non-combustible mineral core.
All export orders and financial transactions will be routed through Eurocon, whose team of distributors shares the enthusiasm of its chairman in marketing and promoting Alubond worldwide.
“Eurocon was awarded worldwide marketing rights due to its very impressive track record with Alubond,” Gustafson says. “In a short span of two years, Eurocon has been able to establish a distribution network for Alubond in nearly 20 countries.”
Alubond products are currently available through a global network.  In the region, the distributors are Joint Circle Company for Trading and Contracting (Kuwait), Enyap Industries (Turkey), Auto and Metal Crafts (Sir Lanka); Zhackson Khandadash and Daryoush Sayyahfar Trading Company, Kara Trading Company and Panel General Trading Company (Iran), Alubond India International (India), Hummam Attar Construction and Theming Corporation (Saudi Arabia),  and Alu Nasa (Qatar).