NAL’s Factory: Range of products for industries
The Dammam-based National Adhesives Limited (NAL), a premier provider of adhesives for various industries, is planning to double capacity by the end of 2001.
NAL is a joint venture unit of the National Starch & Chemical which operates an international network of more than 125 manufacturing and customer service centres in 35 countries.
The company, founded in 1895, is a leading manufacturer of adhesives, speciality chemicals, resins, electronic materials and speciality food and industrial starch. National's products are key ingredients in countless objects used everyday.
"The products we make are not easily recognised by the average consumer because over 95 per cent of our output are, in essence, material used by customers to make their finished products better and production process smoother," says Fares Saghbini, commercial manager.
"The product can be as obvious as the visible lines of glue that seals a shipping case or as delicate as the silky feel of hand cream. It is the binder that unites the fibres in a nonwoven fabric, or it is the glossy surface of the paper.
"Due to the potential market in the Arab countries, and based on the concern of being more close to our customers to provide better services and close assistance, National established, in 1992, NAL in joint venture with Basic Chemical Industries," he says.
NAL is located in the first industrial city in Dammam and is producing the complete range of adhesives to meet the requirements of its customers in the Arab countries.
Based on the philosophy of the mother company, NAL has developed products to cover all types of industries where adhesives are used.
"The fully-equipped laboratory of NAL, along with day to day coordination with our research and development centres in Europe and the US, is helping us to develop locally-manufactured adhesives to meet all our customers needs, and to resist the hot temperatures of this part of the world," says Saghbini.
"Our additional technical sales offices and warehouses in Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, UAE and Egypt, help us to monitor closely the requirements of our customers and provide all the technical support needed," he continues.
"At NAL, we always try to build a partnership with our customers, solving their problems and providing all the technical assistance required for them to improve their production."
Some of the application of NAL products include:
"We are constantly investing in product line improvement. Our products are constantly improving to reduce our customers' costs," says Saghbini.
In 1999, the company achieved 34 per cent increase in sales compared to 1998.
Last year, the company also managed to double its exports compared to 1998. Export accounts for around 45 per cent of the total sales.
"National has been providing quality products and services for many years. In fact, we have set the standards for quality in many industries, but we recognise that customer needs are changing and that competition grows more intense every day. That's the driving force behind the company's commitment to quality," he says.
