Italian company Alp will be presenting its new antimicrobial ductwork to the Middle East market for the first time, when it returns to the Big 5 show this year along with its UAE representative Leminar Air Conditioning Industries.

The company’s well-renowned Alp System - a pre-insulated aluminium air duct that satisfies the most stringent requirements of high-performance HVAC systems - will also share the limelight at the show.
“Although we have been participating at the Big 5 show for the past nine years, this year’s show is significant for us as we will be introducing Alpactive – the new and only anti-microbial product currently available in the market – for the first time in the Middle East,” says Marco Pescali, sales manager of Alp. “The Big 5 show – which very well known and appreciated by many operators in the building field – is the most important event in our marketing and promotion strategy in the buoyant Gulf market.”
The Dubai-based Leminar, a subsidiary of the Al Shirawi Group, has an exclusive distribution agreement with the Italian firm and has also recently acquired the manufacturing rights for the Alp System ductwork in Dubai.
“Following this agreement, Leminar will be the only company to import panels from Europe for fabrication of ductwork. While other companies have attempted to fabricate the ducts using locally-made panels, the finished products do not match the high standards of our ductwork,” he says.
The Alp System is especially suitable for hospitals, pharmaceutical and food industries and other areas where sanitation is an important issue.
“Safe, light, long-lasting, efficient and easy to install, the Alp system is based on our exclusive sandwich panels that are composed of a board of closed-cell polyurethane rigid foam, which is CFC (chlorofluorocarbon), HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) and HFC (hydro-fluoro-carbon)-free and enclosed between two sheets of aluminium.
The Alp System pre-insulated ductwork has a Class 0 British Standards fire-rating, under the test conditions including radiant heat and flame impingement, as this material does not give off heat or spread flame along its surface,” Pescali explains.
The safety characteristic of the Alp System is among the reasons why it has been selected for use in high-rise buildings such as Dubai’s Emirates Towers, and wide, crowded malls, such as the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
Pescali continues: “But safety is not the only advantage of these ducts: the external aluminium layer ensures the absence of oxidation, even in warm and humid climates, and a duct lifespan of more than 20 years, while the excellent thermal insulation properties of the special polyurethane and the airtightness of the joints and sealants guarantee the optimal performance of the ducts. Moreover, Alp System ducts are easy to clean and sanitise and do not release any particles, safeguarding the indoor air quality of the building.
“They are also extremely light and easy and fast to install, thanks to a simple combination of profiles, gaskets and joint accessories. The ducts can be quickly fabricated directly at the construction site in line with the project specifications while offering the benefits of reduced transportation costs.”
Since its inception in 1984 in Clacinate in Italy, Alp has been enjoying a steady growth and
Commenting on Alp’s performance in Italy, he says: “Alp’s business volumes in our domestic market is very satisfactory. The new European regulations and standards, with their strict requirements in terms of performances and safety, are definitely in favour of our Alp System.
“We have been present in the Gulf since 1996 and have installed our ductworks in many projects in the commercial and residential sectors of the UAE and other Gulf countries, especially in Qatar and Kuwait. We are currently evaluating plans for expansion in the Middle East and will make a final decision just after the Big 5 show,” he adds.
Alp will have a stand in Hall 1 at the Big 5 show.