Gulf Construction Online - Growing interest

The Big 5

France ... a major presence at The Big 5.

Growing interest

01 November 2010

A TOTAL of 43 French companies will be exhibiting at this year’s Big 5 show, occupying more than 500 sq m of space. One-third of the companies are first-time exhibitors, according to Ubi-France, organiser of the French pavilion.
Ubi-France is the French agency for international business development.

There is a growing interest among the French companies in the Gulf region and the UAE, especially Dubai. These companies are keen to be part of the regional construction sector, says Jean-François Le Borne, project manager of Ubi-France.

“In 2009, 40 companies took part in The Big 5 show and they were very satisfied with the response they received. This year, there are more exhibitors, including first-time exhibitors, who are looking at exporting to the region. French products are renowned for their quality, reliability, originality and environment-friendliness,” he says.

This year’s exhibitors specialise in the design of machines for manufacturing rolling shutters, textile air-distribution ducts, technical solutions for cranes and construction sites, air-conditioning, heat pumps, software for processing reinforcing steel bars used in reinforced concrete, accessories for aluminium windows, electric water-heaters and adhesive.

The show will also feature manufacturers of aluminium scaffolding, movable partitions, personal safety equipment, fire protection systems, adhesives and cement, fibreglass, sporting grounds, urban furniture and kitchens, fall-protetion equipment, concrete cooling systems, time synchronising systems, composite membranes and textiles, sliding systems, woodwork, decorative products, swimming pools and accessories, storage solutions, lifting equipment, accessories for metal curtains, thin insulator reflectors for profiled sheets, concrete presses and concrete stations, terracotta and garden products.

Other products cater for potable water treatment, urban and industrial waste water treatment, biogas storage and valorisation.

“France has always been a leader in the civil works sector, thanks to its many research centres, such as the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC, Central Laboratory for Roads and Bridges), the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB, Scientific and Technical Centre for Buildings) and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe),” Le Borne says. “In addition, through the Grenelle de l’Environnement roundtable, the country is in the process of adopting one of the world’s most comprehensive legislations aiming at fostering sustainable growth. The fight against global warming, the preservation of biodiversity and the reduction of sources of pollution are all sectors where French standards are being reinforced, encouraging French companies to take the leap towards the techniques of the future.”

The French companies will be located in Hall 1 (from 1A10 to 1G11) and also in Halls 3 and 4.