One of the youngest plastic companies in Saudi Arabia has withstood tough competition to make significant inroads into world markets.

Established in 2000 and operating in Dammam’s Second Industrial City, Arnon Plastic Industries Co Ltd now seeks to consolidate on its position to meet increasing domestic and export demand, according to general manager Abdulla Ali Al Sanea. 
“The company is in expansion mode from our two locations in the industrial city,” Al Sanea said.
“Currently we are selling to wholesalers with about 35 per cent of production for export. By 2005 our ambition is to reach 50 per cent. Already we are selling out polyethylene terephtalate (Pet) food containers into North America.”
The official said Arrnon products were doing well with customised designs despite high shipment costs. Within the Arab region, its consignments went to all the Gulf states, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Egypt.
“Raw material costs are increasing and at present they are the highest for several years. We are used to price fluctuations and with our procurement primarily through Sabic we are progressing well,” he said.  The company procures its Pet requirements from Yanbu. 
“It’s a very tough market and we are proud to have established ourselves in creating new markets through innovation, state-of-the-art technologies, and extensive marketing in the region and internationally,” observed Al Sanea, who is also a member of the newly established industrial city executive committee bringing his expertise on the plastics manufacturing sector.
Arnon Plastic is an affiliate of the AM Al Fozan Group of Companies, one of the leading and most respected industrial business groups in Saudi Arabia.
Emerging from its state-of-the-art facilities are products from four major lines: Pet products (food containers), PS-foam products (food packaging) and PE-foam products (heat, wrapping & insulation, toys).
“Arnon Plastic’s policy is to be a leader in product innovation through investing in research and development and it will continue to introduce new products to serve its customers,” a company spokesman said.
Towards that end it has introduced modern operations, receiving the prestigious ISO 9001 certification for quality and reliability. To design and develop new products, Arnon relies on computerised applications.
In the Pet category, it presents a variety of round, rectangular and square containers used for packaging pastries, pies, fruit and vegetables. “They have superb visual appeal and are popular because of the many Pet characteristics, namely clarity, soft touch; flexibility and strength even when frozen; the ability to stand temperatures from minus 40 degrees C to plus 70 degrees C and conserve freshness; light weight and visual appeal for display,” the spokesman says.
About the company’s PS foam products, he says they are safe and the best insulator for packing hot, warm, cold and frozen food; they are environmentally friendly, CFC-free and recyclable; soak-proof and reusable and ideal for restaurant use, catering services, farms (chicken and livestock) and meat retailers. They come in a wide range of moulds for finished products and comply with most of the customer’s requirements. Additionally, Arnon Plastics has full capability for printing and colouring as per the customer’s preferences.
The company’s polyethylene foam is produced from polymer assemblage based on low-density polyethylene with the addition of talc, colorant and foaming agent. “The product has many characteristics that distinguishes it from other competing materials, namely, shock absorbing; water proofing; heat insulating; flexible and easy handling; easy laminating; easy punching; strong chemical resistance and non-hazardous,” the spokesman says.
Arnon PE foam is produced in sheets and rolls with different thickness, each of which has different applications. Its heat insulation rolls are available in several thickness levels, lengths and widths for use specifically in roofs and sidewalls of concrete and steel buildings.
“They greatly reduce heat gain or loss through the building envelope. They are also intended for use as thermal and acoustical insulation for heating, air conditioning and air handling equipment,” the spokesman says.
“Arnon sound insulation products are available in sheets of 2.40 m length, 1.20 m width and 20 mm to 50 mm thickness. The sheets work as duct liners and are excellent in sound-tight rooms.
“The company’s protective wrapping rolls are available in different thickness, lengths and widths to work as a cushion and protect products during transportation.
“Arnon PE pipe insulation has the following features: the cellular structure is fine and closed; the colour is grey; the working temperature range is between minus 80 degrees C and plus 90 degrees C; the smell is neutral, the flexibility is excellent; there are practically no poisonous gases generated in case of perfect combustion and the UV resistance is outstanding.
“The company’s backup rods are used as a filler for decorations and as an expansion joint and filler for recast, steel and concrete projects.”
Discussing the company’s PE-foam carpet underlay, the spokesman said they extended the life of the carpet; did not absorb water; provided comfort to the feet; facilitated a silent step to reduce noise transfer in multi-layered buildings, and stopped heat-cold transfer from the floor to the carpet.
“They are also non-poisonous and resistant to chemicals and work with all kinds of glue, even the cheapest; do not need wooden grippers at the room’s floor angles or glue tape under the carpet and are priced competitively.”
The PE-foam parquet underlay, as described by the spokesman, has the following characteristics: it extends the life of wooden and laminate floorings; does not absorb water; reduces noise transfer in multi-layered building, stops heat-cold transfer from and to the wooden floor and is non-poisonous and chemical-resistant.
Arnon’s PE foam was launched recently in a variety of colours and shapes.
“Because of its light weight and water-resistance, Arnon’s PE foam is in great demand as recreational and entertainment water floaters for use in swimming pools, lakes and seas,” the spokesman said.
“They are real fun for children as well as adults who get into the water world for sport.”
Elaborating on another product, the Arnon PS foam board, he said it made projects easier and faster to complete with perfect results every time.
“Arnon’s PS foam boards are easy to cut with an air knife; have a smooth surface and are applicable to all types of inks with any colour base; are ideal for hobbies and crafts, signs and presentations, screen printing and structural applications such as displays, exhibit models and prototypes and are available in 12 colours and in standard sizes or any other size as required.”
 About Arnon products in general, the spokesman said: “We can translate innovative ideas into real plastic products, we can customise our products to suit your packaging needs and customers can depend on our professional services and fast lead times.”
The Arnon quality control testing laboratory is equipped with advanced and highly sophisticated equipment capable of qualifying incoming raw materials as well as assessing production processes against international standards.