In a bid to get closer to the customer, Saudi Arabia-based Al Ajab Metal Galvanising Factory has launched construction work on a new galvanising plant in Jubail.

The new facility, which is being built on similar lines as its existing facility in Dammam, is expected to go on stream within six months.
The galvanising specialist has already secured more than 30 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province market and has some of the biggest names in the industry under its clients list.
The company, which has already made its mark in the kingdom’s Eastern Province for its high production standards, innovation and quality, is also looking forward to expanding other facilities so as to enable it to meet the growing market demands.
It is also working on a hydrochloric acid recovery system that will save costs, by recovering up to 40 to 45 per cent of the derivatives from the galvanising process.
“Negotiations with European companies are ongoing for the erection of this recovery system and the plant will soon become operational,” says CEO Waleed Al Ajab.
Operating from Dammam’s Second Industrial City, Al Ajab imports its main raw material, zinc, from Europe or Australia. The zinc it uses is of the highest grade with a purity level of a minimum of 99.995 per cent, which provides a better reaction with alloys and consequently raises production quality. 
“At Al Ajab, we go the extra mile to ensure the quality of the finished products and maintain standards that exceed our clients’ expectation,” says Al Ajab.
It is that kind of dedication that has brought it contracts from prestigious companies such as Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and Sceco. In the last two years, Al Ajab was able to utilise 85 per cent of its production capacity, he adds.
Established as Al Ajab Factory in 1990, the company specialised in metal finishing and took a major leap forward in 2000 by setting up the Al Ajab Metal Galvanising Factory which – within a short period – has gained a strong reputation for hot dip galvanising and has brought to its doors more than 450 regular customers.
“Al Ajab Metal Galvanising Factory has adopted a high-tech method of galvanisation called ‘high-velocity system’, which ensures that while the molten zinc shows a steady temperature there is little fluctuation in the coating thickness,” says Al Ajab.
“This is a very special advantage in the galvanising field and available only in our factory in the whole of the Eastern Province,” he claims.
The company has well-equipped facilities and highly trained quality control (QC) professionals to ensure that its main objective of strict control of quality is realised. In addition, the company also strictly adheres to environmental regulations.
“By concentrating on fulfilling clients’ interest and monitoring competitors’ activities, we have been able to progress both in the Saudi market and overseas,” he says.
The company’s export markets for galvanised steel stretch across the GCC states, Pakistan and Sudan.
“Rigorous marketing strategies, accompanied by the assurance of quality production and prompt delivery, has helped us expand our sales abroad considerably,” says Al Ajab. “We also focus on the many projects taking place in the GCC region and monitor them carefully.”
Last year the company was involved in projects for Aramco, Sceco and other government organisations and has undertaken galvanising work at the Qatif II expansion, Haradh and Jubail-II projects.
“In the last couple of years we have had to confront a difficult situation arising from the doubling of prices of zinc and other raw materials. But to maintain our reputation and also to keep customers happy, we bore the additional costs fully. But this year, we plan to increase galvanising charges by 25 to 30 per cent in order to make up to some extent the increase in raw materials prices,” he concludes.