Emirates Steel, the largest integrated steel producer in the UAE, won new rebar certification, significantly boosting its marketing advantages.

The company was awarded certification to manufacture Grade B500B rebar and coil conforming to BS 4449:2005 by the UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (Cares).

The company is also certified as a quality manufacturer and supplier of products conforming to BS 4449:1997 Grade 460B.

Gregor Münstermann, CEO of Emirates Steel, said, “Full tests have been carried out to demonstrate compliance with Cares performance requirements. Our products are subject to a programme of periodical testing to ensure that they remain within the performance limits of this technical approval.”

The company now operates a quality system that complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:2008 and the relevant Cares quality and operations assessment schedules. Grade B500B rebars are manufactured in the range of 8 to 32 mm and coils in the range of 8 to 12 mm as per BS 4449:2005. Emirates Steel also produces rebars in Grade 460B.

Münstermann pointed out that the steel industry is one in which technological advances are continuous and noted that there have been advances in technology since Emirates Steel’s plant was upgraded, mainly in the areas of speed, tolerance and automation.

Emirates Steel’s carbon steel bars for the reinforcement of concrete have also been accredited by the Dubai Central Laboratory Department (DCLD) of the Dubai Municipality as conforming to BS 4449:1997 with Amd1.

In another major development earlier this year, the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (ZonesCorp) certified Emirates Steel’s Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) for its compliance with the Abu Dhabi Industrial Sector Regulatory Codes of Practice.

The company is one of the first few “Category 3” businesses to receive such accreditation in the first year of EHSMS implementation in the emirate’s industrial sector.

In June 2009, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council issued an executive decree on implementation of the EHSMS Regulatory Framework in different industries in the emirate of Abu Dhabi for health, safety and protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources.

Initiatives towards higher systems

As soon as the decree was issued, Emirates Steel initiated the process of developing its Integrated Management System (IMS) to comply with the requirements of the industrial sector’s EHSMS framework. The IMS was also designed to conform to international standards ISO 14001 for the Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System. Also, the international certification body TUV Nord certified Emirates Steel’s IMS as compliant with ISO 14001:2009 and OHSAS 18001:2007.

“Emirates Steel’s initiative in developing and implementing its IMS not only stems from its desire to excel in the steel industry, but also to protect the health and safety of our employees and the community, as well as our environment,” Abdel Moneim Tawfik, Emirates Steel’s quality assurance manager, remarked.

Emirates Steel, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic), is wholly-owned by General Holding Corporation, an Abu Dhabi Government-owned company.

Emirates Steel currently has an output capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum, with capacity expected to reach 3 million tonnes in 2011 through its Dh9 billion ($2.4 billion) expansion plan.

“The many strategic alliances that the company is establishing with leading technology providers, coupled with its state-of-the-art facilities, will enable Emirates Steel to maintain its position at the forefront of the industrial sector,” a company statement said.