UK-based Elkington Gatic – which is celebrating its 40th-year of supplying products to the Middle East – is keen on consolidating its presence in the region on the back of its time-tested policy of introducing innovative products supported with quality service.

Apart from its range of surface water drainage products and engineered access covers, the company is planning to popularise its innovative and new Gatic Slotdrain channel – a durable and corrosion-resistant surface drainage system that is quick and easy to install, says a company spokesman.
“The Gatic brand is well known and respected worldwide as representing products of the highest quality, performance and reliability,” he adds.
Gatic covers and drainage gratings were first introduced into the Middle East by British companies, consultants and contractors working within the region and since then the range of products and the number of projects supplied has steadily grown, says managing director David Harvey, who has been with the company for nearly 40 years.
“Gatic  – an acronym for gas air tight inspection covers – offers a perfect description of the range. Gatic 2000 access covers are machined and assembled within very close tolerances to ensure that covers do not move or rock under traffic. The close fit between cover and frame also inhibits the ingress of road dirt and sand,” the spokesman says.
“Gatic products have been used right from the construction of prominent projects through their various phases of expansion. Proven performance of the range has maintained the brand within subsequent specifications. Drainage gratings, manhole and access covers with the Gatic name have been used at the Jebel Ali Port for more than 25 years, since its inauguration in 1979.
“Gatic multi-span units have been used on projects in the region where there is a need to cover large access openings, such as valve chambers or pumping stations. These units include removable support beams, specifically designed to withstand the wheel loadings required with minimal deflection. This ‘modular’ configuration offers design engineers total flexibility, as the Gatic 2000 system can be designed to suit virtually any size of pit opening,” the spokesman says.
Gatic 2000 also includes a range of drainage gratings, which can be used as individual units within a single catch-pit, or installed in a continuous channel run that has been formed from concrete. This is a common method of construction within the Gulf, he adds.
In order improve the durability of products used within the Gulf, and to withstand the aggressive environment prevalent within the region, Gatic access covers and drainage gratings can be supplied with epoxy coatings that meet local specifications.
The Gatic range caters for all loading categories, from light-duty pedestrian applications to the ultra heavy-duty dynamic load requirements of industrial projects, highways, ports and airports.
Products supplied by Elkington Gatic have been installed on many safety-critical projects within the Middle East and major infrastructure works throughout the region that range from airports and seaports to sewerage sectors. Installations include the airports of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, seaports at Jeddah, Jubail, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Khor Fakkan and numerous sewerage contracts for municipalities across the region.
“At Elkington Gatic, service and product quality are paramount. The company’s systems are independently assessed and approved to BS EN ISO 9000:2000. In addition, the company fully recognises the need to comply with all environmental legislation and has recently achieved registration to the environmental manufacturing standard BS EN 14001,” says the spokesman.
The company works closely with a number of trusted partners within the Middle East, who include: Mac Al Gurg in the UAE, JA Zayani and Sons of Bahrain, Al Mutawaa Trading Company in Oman and Saudi Pan Gulf in Saudi Arabia.
“These companies offer a wealth of experience and provide close commercial and technical support for customers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our trading partners and customers that have supported the Gatic brand within the region as we cross a significant milestone,” he concludes.