Alkoblan Thermopipe Factory Company (KTP Thermopipe) expects to make a bigger impact on the polypropylene pipe market when an ongoing expansion of production facilities, designed to nearly double the maximum size of its pipes and fittings, is completed.

"At the end of the project, we will be able to provide pipes and fittings up to 125 mm, which will make us the first company with this big range in the Middle East," says general manager Adib Al Koblan.

The company, which began operations in 1995, currently manufactures thermopipes of diameters ranging between 20 mm and 63 mm.

Al Koblan says KTP plans to appoint agents to cover the GCC countries. The company has a full-fledged branch in Jeddah and a marketing presence in different regions of Saudi Arabia either through sales offices or through appointed agents.

"Furthermore, agents outside the Kingdom were appointed such as Eximco of Egypt; yet KTP is planning to appoint different agents covering different countries of the GCC," says Al Koblan. "Thermopipe is the name locally used for pipes and fittings made of a special polypropylene material. This material is designed for a number of applications, one of them being potable water networks," explains Al Koblan.

"Polypropylene or thermopipe is designed in a way that can withstand both high pressure and high temperature and at the same time have a long life span. Nevertheless, the product has greater advantages compared to the traditional piping system.

The material is characterised by a very smooth inner surface, which will prevent accumulation of scale, thereby blocking the flow of water. The material does not allow corrosion, and is inert to almost all chemicals. Such qualities are not available with the rest of the traditional materials."