Gulf Extrusions, one of the largest aluminium extrusion plants in the Gulf, has announced the opening of a fully fledged sales office in Dammam to capitalise on the kingdom’s major construction boom.

Announcing the move, a statement issued by the UAE company said: “Recent market figures reveal that Saudi Arabia has an estimated $200 billion worth of active projects under construction, keeping pace with the growing demand for residential, commercial and industrial projects from regional and international investors. The opening of the new office in Saudi Arabia is in line with Gulf Extrusions’ strategic expansion plan in the region, and will enable the company to consolidate its presence in the regional market.”
It added that the Dammam office would allow Gulf Extrusions to provide an enhanced level of services to its existing clients in the kingdom, while providing a greater opportunity to the company to attract new clients, at a time when the consumption of extruded aluminium there was more than the production.
According to the company, the demand for aluminium extrusion in 2007 was 140,000 tonnes, while production stood at 136,000 tonnes, and demand in the Middle East as a whole is expected to reach an average of 450,000 tonnes in 2008, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait accounting for most of it.      
“Saudi Arabia represents one of the most important markets in the region for Gulf Extrusions, with unprecedented real estate and construction activity taking place across the kingdom. We are pleased to open an office in the KSA, which is a move that fully complements our market consolidation strategy in the country and the region as a whole,” said Modar Al Mekdad, general manager, Gulf Extrusions.        
“Having a direct presence in the KSA will enable us to serve our clients in close proximity, while being able to cater to their requirements for aluminium profiles with greater efficiency. The Dammam office also gives us an opportunity to promote the latest designs and developments in architectural systems in the Saudi market,” he added.
The company has made new investments in technology from time to time.
Gulf Extrusions recently increased its production line by 40 per cent as it moves ahead with its expansion programme to accommodate the region’s growing demand for aluminium extrusion products. It installed two new extrusion press lines to add to its four existing presses, achieving more than a 30 per cent increase in output capacity in 2007, compared to the previous year.