Kirby Building Systems says innovations it has introduced in recent months are helping raise its market competitiveness with cutting-edge solutions at a time when regional and international economies are recovering from the global slowdown.

Even as the Kuwait-based company acquainted the market with two new techniques, namely curved built-up members and open web joists (OWJs), Kirby said it was able to weather the recession storm in 2009 and maintain its market position with several large-scale and unique projects that it secured.

“In Kuwait, Kirby has performed well and looks poised to build on its successes in 2010. There are currently a number of large projects that Kirby looks set to secure and cater to over 2010,” said the company’s vice president Praveen Tandon.

Expressing optimism of a brighter 2010, Tandon said he was looking to further strengthening Kirby’s position in markets such as Saudi Arabia in order to cater to a wider range of customer requirements.

The company’s area of specialisation covers the design and manufacture of custom-engineered, high-quality pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs) and steel structures for industrial, commercial, warehousing, healthcare, education, airports, oil and gas and petrochemicals applications.

Kirby improved upon the efficiency of its customer services by implementing SAP systems and adopting operational excellence strategies such as 5S techniques, which also helped cut costs. “Internally, we keep improving our operations to eliminate waste and reduce operation time,” Tandon pointed out.

Kirby has held seminars to introduce its technical innovations including curved built-up members and open web joists and highlighted the new processes at trade fairs and forums

Curved built-up members

Kirby’s curved built-up members cater to the realm of architectural steel structures and come with a load of features including on-time delivery; design and production system integration with the building structure; accurate design and manufacturing techniques assure correct appearance and perfect fit at site; flanges range from 130 mm x 5 mm to 400 mm x 16 mm; minimum radius of 10 m, else produced with double curves offline; depth ranging from 200 mm to 1,200 mm; variable tapered depth.

Elaborating on the key qualities of curved built-up members, Alaeddin Jarrar, director for engineering and sales support, says: “This product enhances the architectural and aesthetic appeal of buildings. These pure steel members made from hot-rolled plates are manufactured to the highest accuracy and quality, and can be easily fixed at site. They do not require additional lead time and come as an integrated part of the building structure. The minimum radius for such members is 10 m and can have tapered depths along their curved pass, giving flight to the imagination of architects and opening a new era for PEB and steel structures in the region.”

OWJs

Kirby improved the efficiency and production capacity of its open web joists line, following the launch of its innovative curved built-up members.

OWJs are secondary truss members made of hot-rolled or cold-formed grade 50 steel, fabricated from crimped angles welded onto top and bottom chords.

“Manufactured to the highest quality standards under tight quality control conditions, OWJs are lighter than regular floor beams, are low cost and can be easily erected at site. This product is suitable for long roof and floor spans, provides large column-free space, allowing passing of ducts and services through its web openings and conforms to SJI (Steel Joist Institute) specifications,” Jarrar points out.

Presence at shows and forums

The new products shared the limelight at The Big 5 show held last November in Dubai where Kirby participated along with insulation specialist Kimmco, a sister concern under the umbrella of Alghanim Industries group of companies. “Kirby staged a strong presence at this major construction forum, with its stand portraying its extensive manufacturing capabilities,” says Ashish Gurnani, the company’s marketing manager for the Middle East.

Kirby also took part in the Dubai Airshow in November, where it held the distinction of being the only PEB and structural steel manufacturer at the exhibition. “At the air show, we showcased our ability to cater to the aeronautical industry with several prestigious aircraft hangar projects to confirm our wide experience,” he says.
Over the past year, Kirby also participated in the Building and Construction exhibition held at the Mishrif Grounds in Kuwait and at Saudi Build exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, both held during October.
Last month it promoted its products at the Gulf Industry Fair in Bahrain.

A glass factory in Kuwait supplied by Kirby

According to Gurnani, all these exhibitions proved successful for Kirby, having generated several enquiries. “Kirby’s participation in these events and in others planned for 2010 portrays the company’s proactive approach to showcase the engineering capabilities and increase awareness of the quality of its products and services,” he adds.

Current projects

Kirby is currently working on various prestigious projects, one of which is a police academy project of over 3,500 tonnes for the Kuwait Government. In the recent past, it has been involved with three multi-storey healthcare buildings for Kuwait’s Ministry of Health. “This was completed in record time and is a unique project for Kirby and one of its most prestigious jobs,” Gurnani says.

About challenging projects that Kirby has been involved in, Tandon cites the examples of the pedestrian bridge for the Marina Mall and an aircraft training centre for the Australian College of Kuwait. “Both projects in Kuwait were one of a kind since they were non-conventional steel projects,” he explains.

“The structures were carefully designed, manufactured and erected to suit each individual requirement. At the Australian College, for example, the building had to be erected around an aircraft. Such projects show the true strength of Kirby’s engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities,” he emphasises.

Kirby Building Systems was established in 1976 in Kuwait with its headquarters located in Mina Abdullah Industrial Area.  The company has five manufacturing plants – in Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Hyderabad and Haridwar (both in India) and in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) – giving it a total annual capacity of 425,000 tonnes.

Kirby is present in more than 70 countries and has a network of over 250 builders who have carried out more than 50,000 projects.