An expansion at Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Company’s production facilities in Kuwait has enabled it to go well beyond its licensed capacity of 50,000 tonnes annually.

The company reported that production in 2007 was 54,050 tonnes compared with 50,800 tonnes in 2006, an increase of 6.34 per cent. Gulf Cable together with its newly set up Jordanian subsidiary were able to realise KD83.9 million ($316 million) in sales in 2007 against KD65.91 million in the previous year. Profits were KD26.87 million, an increase of 33.9 per cent. The profit figure included KD18.44 million from industrial activities and the remainder from returns on investment.
The Gulf Cable group comprises the parent company, Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries which was established in 1975, and its recently formed 94.8 per cent Jordan subsidiary, Gulf Cable and Multi-Industries Co.
The group is engaged in the manufacture and supply of cable and related products as well as making investments.
 Industrial activities include the design, development and manufacture of power cables up to 33 KV and a variety of cables for control, instrumentation, telephones and data transmission. It also makes single-core wires and flexible cords, bare and insulated conductors, lead-sheathed cables and copper rods.
Other products it makes includes cable joints and polyvinyl chloride for insulation.
The company will receive new equipment during this year to facilitate work in the production and maintenance departments and in laboratories.
During 2007, the company went through several significant developments. As well as the capacity expansion at the Kuwait complex, four of its nine Jordan factories started production operations, namely the plants for cables, enameled wires, BOPP films and carton cores. It obtained the ISO certification 14001-2004 for environmental management as well as the OHSAS certification 18001-1999 for occupational health and safety management systems. It won renewal of the ISO certification 9001-2000 for the quality management system.
Gulf cable’s management also said the cost of cable drums was reduced through the recycling of old drums, scrap wood and wires. Among orders Gulf Cable received in the first quarter of this year was one from Masnad Electrical Equipment Company in Abu Dhabi for the supply of electrical cables worth several million dinars.
 It received an order from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Water for the supply of links for soldering low-pressure cables. Its value was put at nearly KD1.5 million.
Gulf cable will also supply medium voltage cables to a leading public institution, which was not named by the company. The order is worth nearly KD 6 million.