Expansions set for completion this year at Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (Balexco) will place the company in a stronger position to meet future demand as construction activity in Bahrain is expected to pick up pace and Saudi Arabia looks forward to large-scale development in the housing, commercial, industrial and infrastructure sectors.

The expansions at the Sitra complex involve raising the production capacity from 24,000 tonnes annually to 33,000 tonnes and boosting anodising capability from 11,000 amps to 60,000 amps.

The new extrusion line is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2011, while the expansion to the anodising capability will be accomplished by April of the year. The extrusion press complements three lines already operating at Balexco while the anodising plant is going through a major refurbishment to achieve the additional capacity.

“The inclusion of the new automated press, which is a most modern and advanced equipment, has given Balexco the added advantage of meeting requirements of critical and complicated profiles,” said Balexco CEO Jassim Mohamed Seyadi.

Balexo will be able to extrude billets ranging from 177 mm dia to 230 mm dia. Work will begin at the end of 2011 on installing a vertical coating line  which will enhance coating capacity to 9,000 tonnes annually.

Seyadi – offering varied solutions

Seyadi said Balexco, since its inception in 1977, had remained an outstanding company in the manufacture of aluminium extrusions.

“Our clients are aware we are committed to manufacturing high-quality products, which is a result of our investment in modern technologies and the constant upgrading of our human resources.  The company will continue to provide solutions for homes, offices, industrial and other applications using aluminium extrusion and related technology.

“With the new anodising plant, which uses state-of-the-art technology, we will be able to offer services to the highest quality,” Seyadi said. “It is a process of creating a protective film of aluminium oxide over the aluminium when direct current at the sufficient voltage is passed through an electrolyte. It gives the aluminium a covering of colour and protection and this is used in creating quality kitchens and other aluminium fittings,” he added.

The expansion work is being carried out by Mohammed Jalal Contracting and the project has been designed by Adel Ahmadi Associates, both leading Bahrain companies.

Sales looking up
During the peak of the economic recession in 2009, Balexco’s sales turnover slipped to $66 million against $97 million in 2008. In 2010 unaudited figures estimated turnover until September to be $59 million and it is likely the figure will reach $75 million by year’s end.

The company expected to achieve its targeted production of 24,000 tonnes for 2010 and hopes to produce 27,000 tonnes in 2011.

Seyadi observed that despite competition Balexco had been able to achieve good sales.

The company expects 2011 to be a “very good year.”  Saudi Arabia’s construction momentum is gathering pace with new projects planned for the next few years. Balexco witnessed improvements in its business in the last quarter of 2010, benefiting from new projects announced in Saudi Arabia and expects the positive trend in its sales to continue in the New Year.

As much as 70 per cent of Balexco’s profiles are exported, the major overseas markets being Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As well as GCC states and Yemen, the company has also been exporting its products to Sri Lanka. To jack up sales in is prime market of Saudi Arabia, the company operates an office and warehouse in Riyadh, enabling it to make just-in-time deliveries of its fast moving commercial products and system profiles. Balexco also has a branch office in Dubai.

The company gets its billets and ingots from Aluminium Bahrain (Alba). Balexco says obtaining raw material from a world-class producer like Alba is a major advantage for the extruder, enabling it to produce high-quality products.

Balexco has a remelt furnace with capacity to produce 12,000 tonnes annually. “The remelt plant has stringent quality control measures and the contents of the aluminium alloy are checked for chemical properties by a highly sophisticated and advanced spectrometer that provides data to 100 per cent accuracy.

“Balexco’s remelt plant is a fine example of the company’s commitment towards making maximum use of its resources as well as protecting the environment,” said Seyadi.

Attention to quality
“Aluminium extrusions are manufactured in strict accordance with Din standards in terms of usual and special tolerances. They also meet equivalent BS requirements.”

Balexco offers technical support to customers and fabricators to ensure they use the right product for the right application. Constant rapport with consulting engineers and architects is maintained to promote use of the Balexco 100/45 systems and Balexco 60 curtain wall systems in new projects, says Seyadi.

The company has a special fabrication unit inside its Sitra premises where post-operation fabrication is undertaken as an additional service to customers who prefer to have thermal insulated profiles with a process called thermal break crimping.

It also operates a retail outlet in the Bahrain area of Salmabad – Bahrain for off-the-shelf sales of small quantities of aluminium profiles and related gaskets or accessories.

Balexco’s system profiles including curtainwall have found a place in prestigious Bahrian projects, among them Riffa Views, Gulf Air simulator, the Student Council Building in Bahrain University, the new building of the Bahrain business chamber, villas of Zayed Town and Saar Gate and various other Bahrain projects in Juffair and Mahoos.

Kuwait projects that Balexco was involved with include Kuwait Finance House, Al Adaan Hospital, Alghanim Towers, AlFuhihiel Society, Australian College, Al Andalus Disttict Centre, Waterfalls Mall and Sheikha Mall.