Having clinched a few deals at the Big 5 show last year, Al Kifah Batching Plant (KBP) — which is claimed to be the sole manufacturer of batching plant equipment in the Middle East — is looking forward to promote its range of concrete batching plant and accessories at this year’s show.

“The Big 5 show is the largest building materials and construction exhibition in the entire Middle East,” says Abdul Rahman Al Katheer, general manager of the Saudi-based company. “Through our participation at the show, it has been possible for us to ensure that the company benefits from the commercial opportunities that are offered by the Big 5. It is one of the most commercially successful trade fairs, featuring more than 2,000 companies from 60 to 70 countries. Such shows help us to introduce our products both in the local and international markets. We can create greater awareness of our products and our business prospers.”
KBP, which has been exhibiting at the Big 5 since 2000, says that business has been excellent in the past few years and it has been growing stronger year on year. With the countries in the region witnessing a boom in the development of their infrastructure, the readymix business has been flourishing, he says.
“This has, in turn, spurred an increased demand for our products. Last year alone, the sale of batching plant products amounted to SR35 million ($9.3 million) and we expect the figure to rise to SR45 million in the current year,” Al Katheer says.
Promoted by the Al Kifah Holding Company, KBP is headquartered at Al Mubarraz in Hofuf, Saudi Arabia and has satellite offices elsewhere in the kingdom in Jeddah, Dammam, Jubail and Hasa as well as in Dubai in the UAE.
KBP fabricates concrete batching plant and accessories, including silos, radial conveyors, hoppers, bins and spare parts. Its factory has been producing ISO-certified batching plant since 1993. Besides manufacturing concrete batching plant and components, the company also refurbishes, upgrades and repairs old plant and components and also fabricates steel products. The company’s manufacturing facility has many semi and fully-automatic machines that include plasma cutting, shearing, lathe, plate rolling and drilling, bending and punch machines.
Earlier this year, KBP has also completed an expansion programme that has seen its warehouse and factory grow into a 35,000 sq m facility and the opening up of a new office. The company is manned by 160 highly-qualified administrative and technical staff.
He adds: “The factory, which began with an initial capacity of eight units, now boasts an annual production capacity of 30 to 40 complete concrete batching plant, carried out by both automatic and semi-automatic machines and equipment under the supervision of an efficient management and well-equipped and experienced production staff.”
Commenting on the market, Al Katheer says: “The Gulf is a strategically important area to the entire world due to its oil reserves. The region has been witnessing substantial development brought about by an increasing population and we believe that the GCC region holds an enormous commercial potential for the future as well.
“As regards volumes and actual construction activity, Dubai can be considered the commercial centre of the region. The high-tech infrastructure and the pro-business attitude of the government have seen Dubai emerging as the main market in this region.
“Our domestic market (Saudi Arabia) is also witnessing a boom in the construction sector, which has grown to become one of the best for investors. We have also been witnessing a steady growth in revenue in the recent past, thanks to the efforts of our sales force.”

Innovative designs
With its batching plant operating across the Middle East, KBP has maintained a reputation for adopting the latest innovative design techniques, offering customers a range of specifications and environmental considerations from which to choose.
“Our quality production and simple inexpensive erection technique has gained recognition not just in the Gulf, but in Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon,” Al Katheer continues. “We offer quick after-sales service by our locally resident and highly qualified technicians.”
Al Katheer believes that KBP’s major contribution to the construction industry has been the introduction of computerised batching plant, adding that their labour and cost efficiencies are the main factors that make a considerable impact in the construction industry.
KBP will exhibit at Stand 2A72.