Falcon industries, whose new plant for manufacturing aluminium composite panels is in the final stages of preparation at the Sitra industrial estate, expressed optimism its products would become popular in regional markets before long.

General manager Ellie V Bautista said the panels would be marketed under the Alpobond trademark and prospects were bright. The official added that several firms had made enquiries about the new products in the run-up to the opening.
“We are the first and only company in the Gulf region to manufacture aluminium composite panels,” he claimed. The plant is equipped with machines designed and built into an integrated and automated production line with an installed annual capacity of 1.2 million sq m of cladding materials in two shifts.
Bautista said the company planned to produce 50,000 sq m per month in the first year and would begin an aggressive marketing campaign in the GCC states. He expects Saudi Arabia and the UAE to be the prime markets for Alpobond.  Other regions would be targeted later as “we first have to saturate the Gulf markets.”
Falcon Industries’ main investor is Bahraini businessman Ali Al Sawad.
According to the company, Alpobond clads buildings on both the external and internal sides, although the application is not limited to cladding building facades as it can ideally clad columns, canopies, escalators, elevators, partitions and signage, among other things.
“The modern production facility is manned by a group of technicians highly trained by experts in this field. As a result, Falcon Industries will market top-quality products that meet international standards,” a company spokesman said.
“Falcon Industries is committed to providing architects and engineers with a reliable product and technical support, and clients with the best cladding material ever developed so far at a very competitive price and unparalleled delivery period,” he added.
Alpobond and Alpobond fire retardant (fr) will be produced with one side pre-painted and one side mill finished. Alpobond wood look and stone look (ws) has one side of wood or stone look and one side mill finished. On request the company will have two sides pre-painted with the pre-painted surface metallic. The panel is produced in standard sizes or requested sizes.
Alpobond is characterised by its lightness, rigidity, fitness of surface, toughness against extreme weather conditions and resistance to many chemical attacks, a company text said.
The lightness and rigidity contribute to the reduction in the cost of the supporting structures. The panel is easy to handle during fabrication and ideal for cladding and refurbishing old buildings, it said.
“The wide range of available colour and effect enables the architect and designers to create hundreds of ideas to make their designs appealing and competitive,” the spokesman said.
Alpobond can be folded, curved, shaped and punched using conventional tools and equipment. As a result, architects and designers can be more flexible in their design and help fabricators and installers achieve the aesthetics of buildings in the more demanding market, he said.
According to details in the company text, it also dampens vibration and reduces sound transmission and heat transfer into the building. It meets the fire classification set by many countries and is environmentally friendly as all materials can be fully recycled and they do not emit toxic fumes or vapour when burned.
“Its superior surface and flatness make for attractive building facades and easy cleaning,” the text said.
“The corrosion-resistant substrates and surface finishes are durable, thus saving on maintenance and restoration costs. The panel is stable in extreme weather conditions and polluted environments.
“As Alpobond is a good vibration damper there is no need for sound-deadening material. The loss factor is far better than solid aluminium sheets. Its sound insulation makes it ideal for buildings near airports and busy streets. Additionally, as it has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction it can be used in places with varying temperatures from minus 50 degrees C to plus 80 degrees C.
“Alpobond can also be fabricated in large panels and hence installation and construction can be accomplished in a short period.”
Alpobond and Alpobond fr are available in various RAL standard colours as well as colours specially requested. The exposed surface of Alpobond is coated with a (polyvinyldene fluoride (PVDF)-based resin applied according to the continuous coil coating method that complies with NCCA/ECCA standards.
The quality management system of the coil coater meets BS EN ISO 9001:2000, EN ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 9001:2000 requirements.
The pre-painted aluminium substrate of Alpobond provides extra durability, extra weatherability and high formability making it ideal for exterior applications, the text says.
Alpobond was developed specially for internal cladding applications while external applications are also possible in selected areas and environments. It is available in various wood and stone finishes and other special patterns, both in high gloss or matte.
The exposed surface of the aluminium substrate of Alpobond ws is head-laminated with a printed Pet film that has scratch-, stain- and corrosion-resistant properties. 
“The excellent durability and the heat-enhanced adhesion of the Pet film enables it to become an integral part of the aluminium substrate,” the text states.