A $10 million investment in 1999 that went into new premises and machinery has helped Ocean Rubber Factory (ORF) become the largest processor of technical rubber products in the Middle East with capacity reaching 20 tonnes per day.

The factory has also helped in reducing dependence on imports. ÒThe UAEÕs requirements for rubber products were met by European, American and Far East manufacturers. Now it has become possible to manufacture 80 per cent of all the products in the UAE itself,Ó said ORF general manager KP Noordeen. This was achieved by identifying the products, developing suitable compounds and investing in machinery to achieve an output consistent with European and American standards,Ó he said.

Noordeen stressed that identifying local rubber needs and accomplishing import substitution were priority areas and the companyÕs success could be Òcredited to the continuous fulfilment of these ideas.Ó

The new factory was established in Sharjah Industria Area No 15 and occupies a plant area of 7,200 sq m, a far cry from the shed in Sharjah Industrial Area No. 1 where it used to function since it started operations in 1989.

ÒButÓ, stresses Noordeen, Òthe achievements of Ocean Rubber went far beyond the increase in size of the company to excellence in technical areas and the production and marketing of rubber products in the UAE and Middle East markets.Ó

He stressed that equipment installed is the only one of its kind in the Middle East. The roller covering machine, cold feed extruder, internal mixer, calendering machine and the hydraulic presses, among other machinery, were installed to cater to new products. ÒORF ensured that the equipment was handled by the best rubber technologists and by experienced workers. The workforce increased from a total of 30 to the present workforce of 180 hailing from seven countries and representing almost all world religions. Today ORF has the capacity to produce 20 tonnes of rubber per day making it the largest processor of technical rubber products in the Middle East,Ó said Nooordeen.

ÒTo ensure that the quality of rubber products manufactured at our plant is equal to that produced anywhere else in the world, we import the best natural rubber from Malaysia. The synthetic rubber and all the ingredients for rubber processing are imported from various European countries. As a result, the finished products are more expensive than ones from other manufacturers, but the company policy is to supply the best at the best possible rate.Ó

The market range of ORF covers on shore/off shore applications, ships, port and jetties, the construction industry, piping and roadwork, power and desalination sectors and large-scale industries. The type and size of products and their quality vary for each market segment. ORF is ISO 9002-certified.

The ORF product range includes ocean fender systems, ocean elastomeric sheets, building protection systems, flexcon gasket solutions, bearing pads, expansion joints and Chemiline Lining systems. The goods are well accepted. Ocean fender systems have been installed at various locations in countries including the US and in Africa and the Middle East.

Building protection system products have been installed in some of the prestigious projects in the UAE such as the City Center Dubai car park, Al Ghurair car park, City Center Sharjah, Marina Mall, Adma-Opco and Adgas headquarters, Etisalat building Abu Dhabi, Mega Mall Sharjah and Al Ain Mall. Municipalities and the electricity and water authority in all the emirates of the UAE have approved flexcon gasket solutions. Gaskets of various qualities and types Ñ metal reinforced, unreinforced, canvas reinforced for seawater, potable water or any other application Ñ are supplied.

Ocean elastomeric sheets, besides the normal rubber sheets, include sheets suitable for fire resistance, electrical resistance and special matting for indoor applications. ORF manufactures bridge-bearing pads and expansion joints as per customer design. The anti-corrosion Chemiline systems are widely used in the power, desalination and chemical storage areas of large industries. Agents and distributors specialised in their areas of duty represent ORF products in GCC countries.

ÒExploring new markets and experimenting in new products is a very essential factor for growth at Ocean Rubber factory. The long-term aim of the company is to be one of the leading suppliers of specialised rubber products in the international market,Ó observed Noordeen.

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