Fabrication firm Dar Metal Industries, foreseeing greater business opportunities in the near future, has invested in new factory equipment, vehicles, office space and workers.

The company’s main projects in 2009 were a 500-bed hospital, another development called Al Sahu Commercial Building (both in Riyadh) and Al Ehsaa Mall in Hofuf. They contributed the bulk of the year’s revenues of SR30 million ($7.9 million), according to project engineer Bong Briones.

Both 2008 and 2009 recorded sales of SR30 million but Briones says 2010 could fetch SR35 million.

Dar Metal aims at providing cost-effective solutions in structural and architectural metal, composite cladding, curtain walls and glazing work. The company undertakes design, engineering, manufacturing, supply and installation and the work encompasses structural, architectural and stainless steel, brass and aluminium.

“We’re backed by a strong engineering department, particu- larly in the structural sphere, and we sometimes utilise third-party consultants to assure the quality and integrity of our final products, which also adds up to our credibility,” said Briones.

Well-known projects
As well as the main projects it accomplished last year, the company has in recent years worked on a number of well-known buildings and developments including Al Qasr Mall, Riyadh; Hail University, Jizzan Mall, Ministry of Higher Education projects in the Western Region, Saudi Investment Bank, south wing, Al Maather Street, Riyadh, and Jawaharat Al Falak in Jeddah.

Dar Metal worked on the Tous ‘R’ Us building in Riyadh

As part of its current expansion programme, the company requisitioned a new 6.5 m bed CNC router machine that not only minimises fabrication manpower but also drastically lowers production time while bestowing a higher degree of quality.

Dar Metal also recently finished an extensive expansion of its offices, doubling their total area.

The company purchases all its steel requirements locally, being very careful to buy in bulk, especially fast-moving materials such as tubes and sheets, with cost-cutting in mind, says Briones. Standard aluminum profiles are ordered locally but if need be orders are placed with foreign suppliers, particularly when systems are not readily available within Saudi Arabia. Composite cladding is imported.

Eye on overseas deals
Dar Metal currently does not deal with projects outside the kingdom but has made clear that with expansions it has recently undertaken, winning overseas contracts is very much part of its plans. In anticipation of foreign business, the company has entered into a joint venture agreement with a Dubai company to win high-rise projects.

In its vision to capture a greater share of the local market, Dar Metal has hired and is still hiring skilled workers and buying additional fabrication equipment. The company recently purchased brand new vehicles which followed similar purchases it made last year.

To become more competitive, Dr Metal is concentrating on providing ‘one-package deals,’ as Briones puts it.

“Because of our general manager’s vast insights, broad outlook and a mentality of cooperation and teamwork within the  company, we can conveniently say that the only way Dar Metal can move is forward,” the official adds.