Gulf Construction Online - Zamil Steel getting bigger and bigger

Industrial Construction

Zamil facility in Pune ... can produce 30,000 tonnes of PEBs and other steel products per year.

Zamil Steel getting bigger and bigger

Zamil Steel continues to grow its international presence through new factories and projects worldwide.

01 January 2009

As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) and the Middle East’s premier supplier of steel construction products, Zamil Steel has been involved in the construction of numerous industrial facilities in the region, apart from a host of commercial development projects.

Since its inception in Dammam in 1977, Zamil Steel has supplied more than 50,000 buildings to more than 85 countries, worldwide - from Panama and Mexico in the west to Australia, China and Japan in the east.
Its customers list reads like a who’s who of global and international companies, including names such as, ABB, Procter & Gamble, General Electric Company, Coca Cola, Kraft, Pepsi Cola, Nestle, Parson, Toyota, BMW, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Toshiba, Honda, Unilever, Fuji Film, Isuzu, LG, Daimler Chrysler, Bechtel, Saudi Aramco, and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), to mention but a few.
In Saudi Arabia, last year, Zamil Steel supplied industrial facilities with PEBs for a refining and petrochemical factory in Rabigh, a storage building for Sabic and the Logistic Improvement Factory for Hadeed, both in Jubail, Future Ceramics’ factory in Dammam and a warehouse for Toshiba in Jeddah, among others.
To get closer to its markets, Zamil Steel has set up factories in various parts of the world. Last November, for example, the company officially opened a state-of-the-art facility in Pune, India.
The facility has a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of PEBs and other steel products per year and is designed to cater to the demand in the Indian and other export markets in the region.
The company is also planning to set up a second PEB manufacturing facility in India by 2011, depending on the growth of that market.
Other Zamil Steel’s divisions that it intends to launch in India include structural steel, towers and galvanising, and Canam joists and decking.
A total investment of $32 million has been made on the new plant in Pune, which has been built over an area of 87,000 sq m. The facility is already producing and supplying high-end PEBs to various customers in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Jamshedpur.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Adnan Al Mansour, president of Zamil Steel Industries, said: “India represents a key market location in our overall growth strategy. The new facility has already demonstrated the value of proximity to India’s rapidly expanding customer base. It will enable us to continue to provide a broad and expanding range of products that meet the varied needs of our widening customer base, appeal to new and current clients, and function as a building block of our growth and expansion across the region.”
Commenting on the new facility, Gandhi Tayoun, general manager of Zamil Steel India, said: “We closely assessed the market opportunity of the Indian PEB sector over the last few years and we are now ready to make our presence felt in the marketplace with the launch of our new plant. We look forward to bringing our global expertise and best practices along with world-class products to our customers in India. The new plant also significantly strengthens our position in the global market place for steel products.”
Apart from India, the company’s other factories are located in Egypt, Vietnam, and Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) and employ more than 600 engineers.
Zamil Steel manufactures more than 500,000 tonnes of fabricated steel per annum of low-rise and high-rise steel buildings and structures for diverse industrial, commercial, agriculture, aviation, entertainment and military applications and support of infrastructure and development projects.
Hatem Turki, marketing manager of Zamil Steel, comments: “Our inventories and production lines vary from one region to the other. All our factories are connected to a unique distribution network, which enables us to monitor sales and production activities to manage any temporary drop in demand or excess capacity that may take place during the current market situation.”
In addition to PEBs, Zamil Steel is the region’s leading supplier of structural steel products and process equipment, and transmission and telecommunications towers.
It also runs a joint venture with Steel Plus, a subsidiary of Canam Group, Canada, to design and fabricate open web steel joists and floor decks.
As an industry leader, Zamil Steel excels in engineering, manufacturing, sales and project management, and offers clients a diverse range of products from which to compile a total building solution. The company utilises state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing software and machinery in designing, estimating, shop detailing and manufacturing each of its products.
Zamil Steel’s commitment to service at the local level is evident by its network of area offices – 62 area offices in 52 countries – which are fully staffed and equipped to provide quick, comprehensive responses to customer inquiries, as well as extensive after-sales service. The company also engages the services of a wide network of certified builders around the globe.
Zamil Steel is one of the diverse sector businesses of Zamil Industrial Investment Company (Zamil Industrial) and its flagship, the other major sectors being Zamil Air Conditioners, Zamil Glass Industries, Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Company (Afico), Ranco & Zamil Precast Concrete Industry and Acico for aerated concrete products.