The fourth edition of Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) 2011 excited keen interest among the business community while serving as the Northern Gulf’s premier industrial exhibition. It was also the region’s most comprehensive platform for manufacturing industries and sectors allied to it including consultancy, logistics, industrial parks and free zones.

It was a good opportunity for Bahrain companies to show off their industrial prowess but participation also came from a number of exhibitors from other Gulf states and beyond who were keen to present the latest technologies, product offerings and services.

For the business visitor the repertoire was vast – from primary metal to heavy equipment, marina products, environmental services and industrial training.

Here are brief sketches of some of the companies that exhibited during the three days of GIF 2011, February 8 to 10, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Chevron
Chevron’s ‘low-ash’ diesel has drawn major interest among visitors, says the company’s Bahrain sales team leader Fawas Altamimi, who rated the response to the company’s stall “as good as last year”. 

“We had some enquiries from Polaris International, which is among some key leads we got at the fair,” he said. Altamimi said the company mainly aimed to establish new contacts at the fair.

Around the world, the family of brands - Chevron, Caltex and Texaco - is recognised for a legacy of technological innovation, performance, and reliability. Caltex’s Delo 400, for instance, continues to be the leader in diesel engine oil technology, said Altamimi.

Waste treatment, one of Taimweser’s areas of specialisation

Delo has demonstrated exceptional filterability and protection against sludge formation; protection against valve train wear and injector adjusting screw wear; oxidation resistance; piston cleanliness; bearing corrosion.  

Livart Marine Industry
Participating from China, Livart showcased marina products such as gangways, pontoons, floats and marina accessories and equipment including power systems and mooring and safety equipment.

The company also provides design consultancy for issues related to marinas.

The company has a factory in Shenzhen and offices in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Singapore. It enjoys long-term cooperation with firms around the Pearl River Delta for supplies of anti-corrosion marina products such as HDPE floats, stainless steel and aluminium alloy sheets.  Lee Woo, general manager, said the company was involved in two projects recently, one in Jeddah and the other in Dubai.

Elsewhere it has participated in projects in Qatar, Iran, the UK, Australia, Korea, Poland, the Philippines, Norway, Spain, Fiji and Holland, among other places.

Woo said: “This is the first time we’re taking part in a trade fair in the Gulf. We see this region as a good market for our future.”

The official said he was in discussions with a party from Qatar that wanted a pontoon for a new marina project. “We are also in talks with a company in Bahrain and have submitted our quotations. From enquiries made earlier, we are expecting three contracts from Saudi Arabia,” he added.

Taimweser
Spanish firm Taimweser promoted a range of products at GIF. The company supplies cranes, provides turnkey solutions for waste treatment and develops projects for generating energy from renewable resources.

Basrec’s yard in Bahrain

“Last year, at Gulf Industry Fair, we fielded several enquiries about our activities in various fields. This year, the enquiries have become more specific and interest is focused on treatment plants for household waste,” said Taimweser’s GCC sales representative Helmut Eppich.

“During the past two days we had discussions with three officials on separate occasions, one from Iraq and the other two from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

“Among our areas of specialisation is the building of waste treatment plants for household refuse, and our four plants in Barcelona, Spain, are good examples of what we can achieve.”

 Eppich said among the attractive things of the system was that there was no noise or smell and the facilities were well covered and laid out unobtrusively within a structure.”

Eppich also said Taim Weser was hopeful of signing a contract with Saudi steel firm Hadeed for the supply of a meltshop crane. Discussions had been ongoing for some time prior to the exhibition.

Also, last December, Taim Weser submitted a wind assessment report to the Bahraini government that specifies areas best suited for wind farms.

Cellmac
Cellmac’s primary objective at the show was to project itself as a Bahraini company that has been successful in indigenous product development.

The company showcased its sewage pumps control panel, which according to development director Hamza Omruddin “is totally a made-in-Bahrain product tested to international standards.”

Another highlight was Siemens’ extra low voltage (ELV) LED traffic signals. The ST900 ELV system besides providing significantly improved electrical safety offers real environmental benefits. These include significant reductions in CO2 emissions due to lower power requirements, and reductions in raw material usage, resulting from the need for fewer street cables. The end result is significantly lower costs compared to traditional LED solutions, due to improved technology.

The Bahrain Polytechnic stall

Bramco
The firm, a regular at the GIF, fielded some key enquiries, a happy development considering the slump of recent years, said sales manager Huda Hammadi.

Bramco is one of the largest mining, earth moving and marble supply companies. Since 1908, the Bramco companies have developed strong effective partnerships with the equipment manufacturers they represent, enabling them to work together to meet customer needs, which in turn has allowed Bramco to become the largest Komatsu and Ingersoll-Rand distributor in the country. Bramco offers some of the most productive machines available for use in the construction, mining and quarry industries. The Bramco companies represent the following equipment manufacturers: Komatsu Tramac, Kobelco Cranes, Kleemann Crushers, Tadano Cranes, Sennebogen Material Handlers, Gorman Rupp Pumps, Wirtgen Mills, Vogele Pavers, Hamm Compaction.

SK Al Al Durazi & Sons
The Bahrain-based company implements civil contracts for the Ministry of Works and private companies. The clients’ roster is quite large and includes big-name companies such as Alba, Tatweer, Bapco, Asry and Banagas.

The company is part of the Sayed Kadhem Al Durazi & Sons Group. An important division of the group is Alhadariya, which hires or sells heavy equipment.  R Naresh Kumar, business development manager, says such machines have been given out for rent to Asry, Bapco, Alba and GIIC while the company has also sold some machines to parties including Abdulla Ahmed Nass, Al Taweel Co and Al Mabnaratain.

Kumar said several engineers from the Gulf states visited the company’s stall to discuss possible partnerships with their firms.

Bahrain Development Bank
The Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), a regular participant at the fair, aimed to promote activities of its project financing department. Abdulaziz Buchaary, assistant PR manager, said the response had been encouraging. Senior officer of the project finance department Maryam Ebrahim Taleb said: “Our primary target is the SMEs. We finance industries ranging from fast food to industrial and export-oriented projects.” They had a number of serious enquiries, she said. BDB now covers a broader spectrum of sectors including manufacturing, tourism, health, education, fisheries, agriculture and other value-added services and activities.

A Yateem Energy facility in Bahrain

Abdulla Khamees Mirrors & Tempered Glass Factory
The company promoted its stain designs at the fair in addition to artistic designs, the crack repair system, manpower material and vehicles. 

Its assistant sales manager S H Khadeer Basha said there was discernible interest for the company’s products among business visitors with stain designs on mirrors and the crack repair system generating the most interest. The system works well when the mirror or glass is damaged in any accident. The company also put up ware such as double glaze, triple glaze, structural glazing and interior partition.

Basrec 
Teams (Bahrain) was the focus of Bahrain Ship Repairing and Engineering Company (Basrec)’s participation at the show. The Technical Engineering and Marketing Services (Teams) is the contracting and trading (electrical and mechanical) division of Basrec. Manager Rohnish Sabharwal said: “Though Basrec’s core business is ship repairing and allied engineering services for commercial and naval ships, we are also engaged in the repair of small boats, inspection and repair of containers, and the repair of industrial pumps through our associates.”

Al Jalahma Factory
Bahrain-based Al Jalahma Factory is presently concentrating on business for exports and is planning to move into a 4,000 sq m area in the Hidd Investment Park soon.

“We’re the only manufacturers of industrial vacuum cleaners in the GCC and have a quality customer base,” said proprietor Mohammed Mubaark Al Jalahma.

The company lined up its ET (Elephant Trunk) vacuum systems, which are “a model of choice for service stations,” said engineer Syed Javed Iqbal.

Another highlight of the fair was Al Jalahma’s new engine descaling and radiator flushing machine that is suitable for all types of cars, trucks and buses.

Al Jalahma Chemical Cleaner Factory is another unit of the factory.

Al Noor Group
Bahrain-based Al Noor Group’s stainless steel kitchens and accessories received an enthusiastic response. According to manager A R Kumar, the visitor response was better than last year. Some of the ware that was promoted at the fair included the latest designs in stainless steel handrails for business and home. The group also specialises in finished carpentry work that includes installing doors and trims, crown mouldings, wood floorings and cabinetries.

Polaris International made its debut at GIF

Bridge International Services
This Bahrain-based company provides wide-ranging services to the automobile sector with the use of heavy equipment. It repairs large land and marine engines.

It moulds and shapes steel, makes moulds for concrete blocks of all sizes and fabricates truck bodies, frames, trollies, low bed trailers and trash containers. It carries out welding on aluminium, stainless steel and mild steel and manufactures spare parts such as worm gear, shaft, helical gear and drive flanges. Bridge’s repertoire also includes the melting and remoulding of all types of metals including copper, aluminium, bronze, cast iron and steel to desired shapes and patterns.

Bahrain Polytechnic
The polytechnic put up its ‘work ready’ courses on show. Tutor Iain Dobby, who is a mechanical engineer, said: “The polytechnic aims to generate a structural learning environment where the focus is on acquiring skills with practical training.”

Banz Trading & Contracting
“The Gulf Industry Fair has been a successful platform to boost our presence in the market,” said sales and marketing manager Sanjay Dey. Visitors from mostly Kuwait and Saudi Arabia visited the Banz stall.

The highlight of the Banz product line was the new anti-freeze coolant for radiators.

Banz Trading & Contracting is a fully owned subsidiary of the Banz Group and one of the oldest and most reputed trading, engineering and projects companies operating in Bahrain.

Darvico
Jubail (Saudi Arabia)-based Dresser Al Rushaid Valve & Instrument Co, better known as Darvico, manufactures products such as process control valves, digital instrumentation, liquid level controllers, pressure regulators, control equipment and accessories and pressure relief valves. The company seeks to increase production and is building a spare parts unit while also expanding its services offerings. (See Saudi Review).

Alaa for Industry
The Dammam (Saudi Arabia)-based company showcased a range of products that included sealing and lubrication solutions, security systems and bolting solutions. A first for the GCC region was the new ‘e-chain’ of which Alaa is the agent.

Chief among the products displayed was the world-class centralised lubrication systems from Germany’s Lincoln for industrial machines and systems, mobile equipment such as earth moving, agriculture and commercial vehicles and workshop equipment for the maintenance of mobile units. Product specialist Vincent Sonsona said: “The systems are based on the principle of grouping lubrication points that are supplied from a single point. The system modules can be progressively added – so that they easily match your requirements. As a result, we always provide an individually suited lubrication solution.”

Ghorfa
Germany-based Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry or Ghorfa is a non-profit organisation and serves as an important link between Germany and the Arab countries. For more than 30 years now Ghorfa has been building sound bridges between the two partners. “We promote and strengthen business relations among our members and the wider Arab and German communities,” said Kathrin Lemke, business officer for the GCC states.  “We focus on networking, communication and providing information about relevant economic and industrial developments”, she added.

Ghorfa operates under the umbrella of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab countries and acts as the official representative of all Arab chambers of commerce and industry in Germany.

Mac Stores
Until recently, Mac Stores was known primarily as the largest wholesaler and retailer of automotive spare parts in Bahrain. However, the family-owned company is currently expanding and diversifying its business portfolio to exploit new opportunities, including introducing global brand products aimed at the kingdom’s industrial sector.

Mac Stores showcased a selection of these international brands at Gulf Industry Fair, says company director Mahmood Mac. “These include Japan’s Hitachi Power Tools, for which Mac Stores recently became the sole agent for Bahrain; Toptul, high-quality, high-specification professional tools from Taiwan for which Mac Stores has been the sole Bahrain agent for the last two years, and Korea’s Global Battery, a well-established manufacturer of super maintenance-free batteries. The move into industrial products represents the latest phase of Mac Stores’ business evolution, says Mac. “Mac Stores is perhaps best known in Bahrain as the leading supplier of automotive body parts. The company moved into chemicals and paints 25 years ago, and more recently diversified into industrial products.”

RedX Industries
RedX Industries is a major player in the manufacture and supply of readymix concrete, precast products, concrete blocks, interlocking paving stones, artificial stones, precast kerb products, crusher products, washed sand and asphalt in Bahrain.

It has modern manufacturing infrastructure capable of executing large and mission-critical assignments with a highly competent workforce. The company supports large-scale civil construction projects by leveraging new-age technologies.

Bahrain Polystyrene Factory (BPF)
BPF, a division of JA Zayani & Sons Group, specialises in manufacturing polystyrene blocks and injection moulds. As manufacturers of foam, Bahrain Polystyrene Factory is able to supply tailor-made products. “We export foam blocks to quality-conscious customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Paul Uruvath, BPF manager. “In another two months’ time we will start the production of spring mattresses, a mattress base and latex mattresses,” he added.

ITSS
Bahrain-based International Technical Supplies & Services WLL (ITSS) is a subsidiary of Gulf Markets International WLL and is focusing on industrial trading activities of the group.

ITSS’ objective is to serve all industrial customers by fulfilling their supply requirements. ITSS provides a wide range of products and after sales services in fields such as material handling, conveyer belts/chains, dust control systems, filter bags, steel plates/bars, lubricants, chemicals, industrial tyres, equipment, spare parts, temperature measuring equipment/accessories, industrial consumables and raw materials.

At GIF, ITSS promoted thermo couples, filter bags, engineering products, refractory solutions, belts and mac valves as well as the second generation of the Airco Saver, an electronic control unit used in air conditioning systems.

Metals of Bahrain
Metals of Bahrain (Meba), which was established in Bahrain in 1992, specialises in the production of engineered ferrous and non ferrous-castings and fabricated products for the industrial community around the world. They are the manufacturers of pumps, valves, hydraulic power transmission tools and waterline fittings.

Maskati Bros & Co
Maskati Bros & Co is the manufacturer of paper converters and polyethylene in Bahrain. It produces more than 20,000 tonnes of paper and plastic products per year, solely from its manufacturing operations located in Hidd, Bahrain. Its offerings include facial tissues, kitchen rolls, toilet paper, hand towels, sanitary pads, table covers, cling wraps, clinical rolls, aluminium foil, flexible straws, sandwich bags, plastic cutlery, dispensers and adhesive tapes.

Balexco
One of the Gulf’s leading aluminium extrusion companies, Balexco showcased a broad array of new and traditional products, including extruded aluminium sections, system profile sections, thermal break sections and curtain wall profiles.

“At GIF we introduced the Balexco Luxury System that includes Balexco 100/100i for sliding windows, Balexco 45/45i for casement windows and Balexco 60 curtain wall systems,” said Suresh Babu, its sales executive. The company plans to launch its ‘lift and slide’ window system with multipoint locking mechanism soon.

Lulu Store
A Bahrain-based industrial supplier, Lulu Store has been serving various industries in the kingdom by providing industrial maintenance components.

The company specialises in industrial spare parts including bearings, oil seals, fasteners, lubrication items, automotive parts, maintenance tools, steel, nylon and bakelite. “Our aim is to provide a complete range of reliable industrial maintenance products at the best possible price,” said a company spokesman.

The company also provides value-added services such as extensive technical support and after sales support.

Mabani Steel
Mabani Steel is a designer, manufacturer and erector of pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs) and hot rolled structural steel (HRSS).

The company’s head office and main factory are located in the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) emirate of the UAE. It undertakes erection for select customers in select areas and executes erection using its own in-house erection staff, specialised erection companies or a combination of both.

Tebodin
Tebodin Consultants and Engineers is a multidisciplinary organisation that offers a full range of engineering services from conceptual and feasibility studies to engineering, procurement, construction management, and validation.  The company has offices in more than 20 countries employing over 3,000 staff.

Yateem Oxygen
Yateem Oxygen is the leading manufacturer and supplier of gases in Bahrain. It offers a range of gases and services to suit different customer requirements including speciality gases, bulk gases, gas delivery equipment and on site management services. Long years of experience, consistent quality, and high standards of customer service have made it the preferred supplier of gases in Bahrain, says the company.

It offers a comprehensive range of gases in all purities, ranging from industrial grade to ultra-high-purity grades.

Y Kawoosh Co
Bahrain-based Yousif Kawoosh Company started its operations in 1994.

“We are dealers for international brands in heavy equipment such as Hi-Force, Greaves, Chicago Pneumatic, Unibar, vertex, Seco, Unibore etc and we aim to be a leading supplier serving both small industrial companies and large industrial organisations,” said a spokesman.

Larox Flowsys
Finnish valve and pump maker Larox Flowsys,  which has offices in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and exhibited as part of the Kuwaiti Industrials pavilion, showcased its peristaltic pumps, automatic valves, flanged knife gate valves and rotary disc valves.

NSK: unravelling the secrets of a machine

Area manager Jani Akkila said Larox’s products had found favour in the Gulf. “We are the preferred supplier of flow control solutions for the most demanding media. We focus on abrasive, corrosive and other demanding shut-off, control and pumping applications, serving a wide range of process industries worldwide.”

Bahrain Logistics Zone
The Bahrain Logistics Zone is the first designated customs-free value-added logistics area in Bahrain.

Strategically located within the Hidd Industrial Area, adjacent to the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port, the multi-modal logistics park is focusing on attracting a niche of re-export and value-added logistics activities, such as but not limited to: component assembly, packaging, repackaging, bottling, deconsolidation/consolidation, palletising for distribution, labelling, testing and repair.

It has signed tenancy deals with a number of companies including Almoayed Wilhelmsen, GLS Logistics Company, Ceva Logistics, Danzas AEI International, Awal Gulf Manufacturing, Landmark Group and Marina Gulf Trading.

Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia)
This is the first time the organisation has participated in GIF.

Rakia is an investment behemoth which has structured itself along eight strategic business units namely Industrial Parks, Education/Technology, Real Estate, Transportation, Investments, Manufacturing and Energy, RAK Offshore and Rera.
It is vigorously pursuing the goal of making Ras Al Khaimah a regional hub for industrial manufacturing, trade and commerce. The GDP of RAK has grown significantly over the past few years. The growth is driven by increased focus on manufacturing, services, real estate, construction and tourism.

Rakia has been instrumental in attracting more than $2.5 billion in industrial investments alone.

HKO
Germany’s HKO, a leading manufacturer of high-performance products to withstand extreme temperatures, promoted its innovative technical textile products at the ITSS pavilion.

“We have extensive know-how in the field of heat protection, sealing and thermal insulation,” said company representative Mirness Imamovic. The official said the company promoted its range of high-quality yarns, fabrics, woven webbings, hoses, ropes, packings and mats which can withstand temperatures of up to 1,600 C.

NSK
Among manufacturers of machine tools and accessories present at Gulf Industry Fair was NSK, which commenced operations as the first Japanese manufacturer of rolling bearings back in 1916. It is today one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rolling bearings, linear technology components and steering systems. NSK has a long tradition in patent applications for machine parts. The company concentrates on the development of new technologies but also on the continual improvement of quality based on the integrated technology platform of tribology, material technology, analysis and mechatronics.

Leifield Metal Spinning
The German firm, a first-time exhibitor at GIF, introduced to the region its hybrid AFPM (automatic flagpole machine) technology which relies on the sophisticated, market-ready necking-in and flow-forming technologies. The AFPM can be used in a wide variety of applications, particularly in the manufacture of long tubes and poles, said sales and project manager Martin Thiele, adding that the machine offers flexible processing of steel and aluminium tubes in a wide range of diameters and wall thickness.

Polaris International
The company, a division of Saudi Arabia’s Khalifa A Algosaibi Group, made its debut at GIF. Polaris is putting the finishing touches to a state-of-the-art factory at the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP).

A Binder official in discussions

The facility, which is due to be commissioned soon, will produce flexible waterproofing membranes (polymeric, PVC and TPO-componded, co-extruded  sheets for single waterproofing systems) as well as manufacturing, assembling and trading of single-ply waterproofing system components, ancillary products and application equipment.

Binder
Germany’s Binder, a world-leading specialist in environmental simulation chambers, incubators and equipment for controlled preservation for scientific and industrial applications, launched the KBWF 720 climate chamber with three flexible positionable illumination cassettes.

With temperature, humidity and light in one unit, the KBWF series shines with its homogeneous light distribution with natural illumination from above, said a company spokesman.

“Our list of customers includes every renowned company in 120 countries. Our passion for technology is what distinguishes us from the rest,” said the spokesman. “Much of what automatically comprise temperature chambers nowadays were originally designed by Binder. This is impressively documented by numerous patents.”

Midal Cables
The company is one of Bahrain’s foremost privately owned industrial companies and is committed to development and expansion in line with market requirements.

It was the first to set up a cable manufacturing plant in the Gulf. It recently adopted an innovative method of “conform” extrusion technology which helps to manufacture both simple and different shapes in solid, hollow and sheet forms of aluminium and aluminium alloy.

Midal has been a supplier to major electrification projects in Yemen, Iran and most of the Gulf states. Its products are being regularly supplied to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East, Europe, the US, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Tamkeen
This Bahraini organisation, which provides financial resources to equip Bahrainis with skills for employment, has awarded the Scottish Qualifications Authority the mandate to deliver a framework and clear policy for national criteria for Bahrain’s training service providers.

The move is part of far-reaching educational reform in the kingdom and part of extensive plans by the leadership of Bahrain and the Economic Development Board to revamp the kingdom’s education and training opportunities and prepare Bahrain’s next generation for the workplace of the 21st century. The implementation of a Bahrain Qualifications Framework will provide a clearly defined, transparent and better integrated qualifications system and provide students as well as employers the benefit of a modern and globally recognised educational and training system.

National Institute of Industrial Training
The institute is a premier training organisation helping Bahrainis meet national requirements in the filling of positions in various fields. National Institute of Industrial Training recently signed a big project with Tamkeen for job seekers. Under the programme, the institute will impart training for nine months after which the students can hope to get a good start with a fair salary. The institute will train 100 students who have graduated from technical school.

Last year National Institute of Industrial Training held 200 short courses and the number of such courses was a good 30 per cent up over the previous year. There were also some 50 long courses.

Palletco
A manufacturer and distributor of plastic packaging products, UAE-based Palletco has a wide product range. The company makes pallets, pallet boxes, jerry cans and drums, garbage bins, cold store converters and a variety of hand jacks.

“We provide our customers excellent quality at competitive rates and provide prompt delivery,” said marketing manager Haroon Babu. The company’s production facilities are in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi., The company exports to the GCC states and Africa. This is Palletco’s first appearance at GIF. “We have some customers here,” said Babu.