Gulf Construction Online - An aesthetic edge

Saudi Build 2009

An aesthetic edge

01 September 2009

SOME of the finest ranges of marbles and granite will be introduced to the market at Saudi Build by Saudi Marble and Granite (SMG), a Riyadh-headquartered specialist in the stone sector.

Topping SMG’s latest product line is resined granite. This latest offering from the industry involves the resining process that strengthens fragile stones before the polishing process. It also helps fill in pitted stones and lend a smooth finish. Resined slabs, used for kitchen and bathtubs surfaces, as well as floors, are unlikely to be damaged during shipping.
A pioneer in the mining industry, SMG has kept pace with the requirements of the marble and granite markets, both in Saudi Arabia and outside through constant innovation. A search for vibrant colours and architectural designs led to the creation of various specialisations. Some of the divisions set up by SMG include:
Art Stone: This division helps produce some of the finest marbles and granite in the world and has won several contracts in the kingdom. It holds sole agencies for several international companies in the Middle East and is supported by a design and planning department;
Salalah: It specialises in importing and marketing Omani and Turkish marbles that combine strength and beauty, are available in various sizes and colours and conform to international standards;
Yara Ceramica: It produces a range of ceramic tiles in distinctive colours and qualities for the construction industry. The products are available in different sizes and thickness for walls and floors;
Natural Stones: This division helps develop products offering unique features that give a distinctive architectural finish to buildings. Natural stones are available in white, beige and yellow colours.
Art mosaic and Grani art mosaic will soon join the list of speciality products from the company.
SMG operates one of the most advanced stone cutting facilities in the Middle East. It has the technological sophistication to supply the largest-scale projects, regionally and internationally and has an annual production capacity of 1.8 million sq m, according to a spokesman for the company.
Advanced equipment include stone cutting machinery, slab processing lines, with bridge cutters and modern gang saws for cutting to size, tile processing line, polishing and automatic cross cutting machines. Its design machines like water jet, wire saw and CNC machines lend precision and finesse to products and also help meet specific client requirements, he adds.
The company’s slab product ranges include Tropic brown, New Rosa, Ancient brown, Spring green and Silver sea green.
Saudi Marble and Granite Factory was established in 1991 as a subsidiary of Al Harbi Group, a pioneer in Saudi Arabia’s mining and construction industries. Over the past two decades, Al Harbi Group has explored the kingdom’s rich mineral deposits in search of fine quality construction stone, which has been used in major building projects throughout Saudi Arabia. Today, the company operates several quarries producing a range of distinctive colours and qualities for the construction industry including Saudi Bianco, Saudi Salmon, Ancient Brown, Saudi Green, New Rossa and Sweet Gold. The lighter tones like Bianco, Sweet Gold and New Rossa have become well known granite in the Middle East.
Quality assurance is a cornerstone of all SMG operations from quarry to shop floor to building site and SMG claims to be the only company that is ISO 9001:2000 certified in the granite manufacturing field. Its production facilities are certified by the leading certifying institute, TUV-Germany. A 50-member quality control team work in the field and in the laboratory, sampling, testing and grading materials according to internationally-recognised quality control procedures.
SMG has supplied quality, cut-to-size marble, granite cladding and floor tiling for a wide range of large-scale projects throughout the kingdom as well as other Arab countries, which include commercial and residential complexes, hotels, medical facilities, mosques and places.
More than 1,000 employees man the operations of SMG, whose main markets include the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, Europe, and North America.