Anew unit to manufacture rigid PVC foam sheets using state-of-the-art sheet extrusion technology is coming up in Sohar Industrial Estate.
Shamal Plastic Industries Limited (SPIL), which is under formation, is being set up with a production capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year (tpy).
The main extrusion plant and technical know-how is being supplied by a reputed European company.
Assarain Enterprise, along with Zubair Group, are the major promoters of the RO3 million ($8 million) project. The other promoters include Oman International Development & Investment Company, Mohsin Haider Darwish (MHD) and Oman Arab Bank.
is the first project of its kind in Oman.
Rigid PVC foam, sometimes referred to as "plastic wood", is an excellent lightweight wood substitute that can be easily worked with conventional carpentry tools and can be sawed, cut, nailed, screwed, drilled or glued, says Assarain Group industry development manager Lancelot D'Souza.
The material also exhibits the following properties that give it a distinct advantage over its competitors:
It is light in weight, but tough, therefore very cost-effective and has good impact and flexural strength; Its closed cell structure ensures minimum absorption of water, making it excellent for water resistant applications such as kitchen cabinets, bathroom doors, etc; It is fire retardant and self-extinguishing; It is resistant to most chemicals, dilute acids and alkalis. It does not corrode or rot and is not prone to attacks from termites; It has excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics; It can be thermo-formed or vacuum formed; It is available in a variety of surface-finishes, smooth, glossy, matt or embossed. It can be easily printed upon, veined, grained or laminated to give a wood or marble simulated look.The application of the product depends on the innovativeness and imagination of the fabricator, says D'Souza.
The main application areas are:
Building materials - Door and window frames, partitions, ceilings, exhibition stands, model making, interior decoration, etc. Furniture - Kitchen/bathroom cabinets and shelves, garden furniture, office furniture such as table tops, cupboards, notice boards, display panels, bathrooms fixtures, etc.; Advertisement - Indoor and outdoor signs, cut-outs, hoardings, display stands, temporary kiosks, exhibition displays, shop fitting and other uses in retail visual imaging. Its mat finish offers very good printability; Others - Laboratory tables, boat building, educational aids, electrical circuit board covers, control cabinets, etc.ommercial production is scheduled to start next year. "The plant will of world-scale and the market is global with an initial thrust for export," says D'Souza.
SPIL will have the capability to produce the sheets in a 2 mm to 19 mm thickness. The raw materials will be imported.
Meanwhile, the same promoters are also involved in a RO1.55 million ($4.49 million) plan to restart the Gulf Acrylic Industries in Sohar, after the old factory was destroyed in a fire.
Modern equipment from Europe is being installed for the company to be able to compete in the market. The range of products manufactured by the company will also be increased.
The company's products will include:
Acrylic sheets - It is highly transparent with inherent UV resistance, has several times higher breakage resistance than glass and yet is less than half the weight of glass. These are used in a wide variety of indoor and exterior applications such as signboards, light diffusers, POP displays, shower curtains and fixtures, skylights, domes, partitions, furniture, etc. Polycarbonate sheets - highly transparent but are more than 200 times stronger than glass. They are practically unbreakable and are ideal in areas exposed to vandalism or high impact. They are used in safety glazing, skylights domes, roofing, walkways, sound barriers, machine guard protection, workplace protection, etc. Polystyrene - a thermoplastic having wide usage in specialised fields. Polystyrene sheets are used as a liner for refrigerators and water coolers, light diffusers, sanitary ware, decorative applications, gift items etc.The new plant will have a total production capacity of 3,000 tpy. Major portion of the production will be sold in the Gulf markets.
