Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (Balexco) is set tobecome more competitive in international markets following plans to implement aseries of expansions.

The company is adding an extrusion press to its existingthree as well as a new anodising line and a new powder-coating unit(vertical).   The packing bayis also being extended.

Balexco chief executive Jassim Mohammed Seyadi said $8.5million was being invested in the improvements, and the facilities would becompleted in 2011.

Seyadi said the new extrusion press would take advantage ofthe growth in the construction industry.

Production at Balexco amounts to 24,000 tonnes. Theextrusion lines have been imported from SMS Schloemann of Germany and Clecim ofFrance. The extrusion presses are capable of extruding billets ranging from 177mm in diameter to 230 mm. Balexco has furnaces from Mechatherm and an ageingfurnace from Elhaus.

The planned facilities should become operational for 6,000tonnes of anodising and 8,000 tonnes of powder coating. The upgrade to theanodising capacity is from 11,000 amps to 60,000 amps which will help Balexcodeliver anodised profiles in the shortest possible lead time.

The remelt furnace, which provides the plant with anuninterrupted supply of aluminum billets, produces approximately 12,000 tonnesper year.

The company sources its billets and ingots at Alba, locatednot far away.

Seyadi: improvements in progress

Aluminium extrusions are manufactured in accordance with DINstandards. The special tolerances follow British Standards. The powder coating process complies with Qualicoat and the anodising process complies with Qualanod.

Balexco produces aluminium extrusions in different finishesof powder-coated and anodised profiles that are suitable for a variety ofproducts with applications in the electrical, industrial and constructionindustries. The company produces profiles of bars, tubes and decorativesections as well as customised profiles.

"However," said Seyadi, "the company is focused onincreasing the share of business in the industrial sector and in architecturalsystem profiles such as Balexco 45/45i or the casement series with thermalbreak, Balexco 100 or the sliding series and Balexco 60 curtain wall systems.These constitute the sliding windows and doors, hinged windows and doors anddifferent types of curtain walling system profiles."

Balexco has a branch office in Dubai and an office cumwarehouse in Riyadh that enables 'just in time' delivery to localcustomers.  More than 70 per centof the profiles are exported, the major export markets being Qatar, Kuwait,Oman, Yemen and Sri Lanka.

Constant rapport
"Constant rapport with the consulting engineers andarchitects with a view to promoting its products and making effective use of Balexco 100/45 systems and Balexco 60 curtain wall systems in new projects isthe main focus of the company apart from providing technical sales support," said Seyadi.

"In the past four to six months metal prices have been veryvolatile. In spite of this, Balexco has been able to achieve a good salesrecord and post good profits in the recent past."

The company has a special fabrication unit inside its Sitrapremises where it provides post-operation fabrication as an additional serviceto customers. The unit fabricates such products as ladders, grilles, gates,flag posts and light posts.