Khalid Al Saleh Trading (KAS) - one of the leading suppliers of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber gaskets/profiles and corner mouldings to almost every aluminum fabrication/curtain-walling company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region – cherishes its close association with Aluminium and Light Industries Company (Alico), says K Subramanyam, manager marketing and exports at KAS.

The company, part of the Tawfiq Al Saleh group of Saudi Arabia, enjoys a special relationship with Alico and works very closely with its design team to meet its requirements of gasketry and corner mouldings – right from the inception stage.
“KAS successfully completed the task of delivering gaskets and corner mouldings for Dubai International Convention Center project, Tecom project in Dubai Marina and more recently for Al Fattan Towers,” Subramanyam adds.
While its core business is EPDM and silicone rubber extrusion gaskets, and corner mouldings for the window and curtain-wall market of the MENA region, it also deals in rigid uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) profiles and other thermoplastic elastomers such as Santoprene extrusions.
“KAS has a wide clientele and supplies EPDM rubber gaskets/profiles and corner mouldings to nearly every aluminum fabrication/curtain-walling company in the region which reflects on its market share and solid footings in the area,” he adds.
Elaborating on the product, he says: “EPDM demonstrates excellent environment and thermal stability, with superior heat-ageing properties and resistance to abrasion and flex fatigue, whilst retaining flexibility at extremely low temperatures. It is resistant to a wide range of water and oil-based fluids, ultraviolet (UV) and ozone attack without degradation, and is non-migratory.
‘‘In addition, EPDM rubbers do not require reinforcing fillers or extenders to achieve their high level of mechanical properties. All the above properties make EPDM a superior choice to conventional elastomers such as neoprene.”
“The natural ability of EPDM to withstand ambient harsh weather, water and temperature extremes also make it a strong choice for architectural profiles, weather seal, and other exterior building product applications. It seals glass tightly to a metal frame, which not only performs well but also blends well with it. Along with its ozone-resistant properties, it is also crack-proof,” Subramanyam says.
KAS has in excess of 3,000 die-sets for EPDM rubber gasket extrusions and an extensive range of vulcanised EPDM rubber profiles.
The company has wide-range of standard captive profiles that are designed for various aluminium systems. The profiles, which are also available for uPVC systems, fit a large variety of systems - solving some of the common problems faced by the professional fabricator.
The company also offers to its clients flexible wedge gaskets and bubble seals which are carefully matched with captive gaskets to form a perfectly integrated gasketry system that will easily fit into a wide variety of window sections. Careful design ensures ease of installation and a glaze of balanced pressure.
“These EPDM rubber gaskets are fully compatible with the uPVC systems and they possess excellent mechanical properties for trouble-free performance,” says Subramanyam.
The company also has a wide range of compression seals that can provide effective weather sealing of doors, casement windows and tilt-turn windows, and an equally wide range of EPDM flipper seals.
Although similar in function to a bubble seal, flipper seals come in handy to fabricators in areas where the section design cannot accommodate a bubble.
The appropriate grade of EPDM is carefully formulated to meet the application requirements of a compression seal. Both ranges are technically advanced, offering superior compression set, outstanding recovery rate and high resistance to fluids, abrasion and fatigue, with excellent memory and tear strength, he adds.
For single and double-glazed units, KAS offers a solution of U-channel seals, which are designed to accommodate either toughened or laminated glass.
“KAS is well aware of the essential requirements of EPDM gasketry and takes pride in its ability to rapidly produce samples for customer testing and approval,” says Subramanyam.
“Efficient and quality are the hallmarks of KAS, which can manufacture EPDM frame gaskets with vulcanised corners within two weeks from the date of placing the order. This includes development of new extrusion dies and corner mould tools. The company believes in setting new standards in customer services and continually exceeding the customer’s expectations,” he concludes.