First-time exhibitor Turkey-based Onduline Avrasya will present its range of roofing and waterproofing systems at this year’s Big 5.

The products that the company will promote include: Onduline HR, Bardoline and Onduvilla roofing systems, Isoline and clay tiles roofing system, Bituline waterproofing system and Fondaline damp-proofing system, says Jean Akmansoy, export manager.
“During our visit to the exhibition last year, we were impressed by the business opportunies presented by the exhibition and also the number of people who arrive at the show, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors, and have decided to be present at this prestigious event, says Akmansoy.
The company, which added the markets of the Middle East to its area of operations at the beginning of last year, has already secured several projects in the region.
“The region presents numerous opportunities to replace old asbestos roofs with asbestos-free roofing sheets such as our Onduline HR and Onduvilla roofing tiles.
“Our Isoline undertile system is also very attractive with the use of trendy clay tiles in today’s housing in the Gulf countries and as the use of APP (atactic polypropylene) or SBS (styrene butadiene styrene) modified waterproofing membranes is a requirement in all new construction projects, we have encountered vast demand from Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, Qatar and Bahrain in housing and industrial projects.
“All our products are new for the Gulf market,” Akmansoy adds.
Onduline Avrasya is one of the newest manufacturing companies of the French Onduline Group, which has specialised in the production and marketing of building materials since it started operations in 1945. Today, the group is claimed to be a world leader in bitumen-based roofing and insulating materials with an annual sales volume over 1 billion sq m.
“Various manufacturing subsidiaries of the group currently produce a wide spectrum of products ranging from bituminous-based roofing sheets and under-sheeting to asphalt shingles, modified bituminous waterproofing membranes, polycarbonate, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and polyester sheets and rolls and polyethylene sheeting with protective insulation. They also offer drainage as well as various building materials and accessories,” says Akmansoy.
Having started its operations in Turkey in 1994, the company has taken advantage of the Onduline’s specialisation in fields of manufacturing process, product composition and marketing. Onduline Avrasya mainly exports to Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East, says Ertugrul Kucur, export executive for the Middle Eastern markets.
Onduline Avrasya is currently involved with the manufacture and marketing of Onduline PPHR corrugated and asphalt roofing sheets, Onduvilla asphalt roofing tiles, Isoline and Rufoline undersheeting, Bituline modified bituminous waterproofing membranes, Bardoline asphalt shingles, Fondaline damp-proofing membranes and Alaturka, Isoporto, Isoflorans, Isoflat clay tiles, says Kucur.
The 135-staff-strong company has a yearly turnover of $60 million and reports that business has been growing by 20 per cent each year. This Turkish market leader has sold 10 million sq m of roofing sheets and 12 million sq m of waterproofing membranes in 2004. Given the demand for its products the company has this year extended its waterproofing membranes production capacity to more than 25 million sq m, says Kucur.
“The company has a project department that is entrusted with the responsibility of providing complete solutions for roofing and waterproofing. The department can also offer technical help to customers if they provide us their technical drawings as an AutoCad file,” he adds.
“We are very optimistic about our prospects in the Middle East and we are confident of penetrating the fast-growing markets of the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran and Oman in due course. At Onduline Avrasya, we have been working on setting up new and strengthening our existing distribution network by getting closer to our customers in the region. This should enable us to meet the customer requirements of the Middle Eastern markets,” Kucur concludes.
Onduline Avrasya will be present at Hall 5 in the Turkish pavilion.