Gulf Construction Online - Saint-Gobain Gyproc to expand portfolio

UAE Focus

Chambers ... committed to the Middle East.

Saint-Gobain Gyproc to expand portfolio

01 November 2010

SAINT-GOBAIN Gyproc, which recently launched a new manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi, will boost its portfolio with eight new products by the end of this year and a further 20 into 2011.

Gyproc manufactures and supplies all the components required for complete drylining wall and ceiling systems. This includes the local manufacture of a range of regular and performance plasterboards in more than 37 sizes and dimensions which enable significant improvements in fire, acoustic, impact and moisture performance.

“In addition, we supply Gypframe metal components that provide the structure to the system and a range of high-quality accessories, such as Gyproc jointing compound, jointing tapes, Gyproc Fibre and Gyproc Paper Tape, and Gyproc screws for direct fixing of plasterboard to metal framing and also for metal-to-metal fixing,” says Craig Chambers, managing director, Saint-Gobain Gyproc Middle East.

“All of our products are backed by the SpecSure warranty, guaranteeing that any complete Gyproc system – when constructed as per Gyproc’s design details – will perform to the parameters specified,” he said.

In addition, the company offers a range of service solutions from assistance and guidance at the design stage through to on-site support during the construction phase.

Gyproc was established in the Middle East in 2004 in Jebel Ali Free Zone, initially as a trading company bringing in products from manufacturing facilities within the group, primarily from the Far East.

Earlier this year, the company inaugurated its state-of-the-art $60-million plasterboard manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.

“The factory opening was a major milestone for the local business and Saint-Gobain. It is the first manufacturing facility for the company in the Middle East across the entire group, which produces glass, pipes, insulation and packaging. It clearly demonstrates both the group’s and the local company’s commitment to the region,” Chambers says.

“Our business model is based on a distribution strategy in the UAE and throughout the Middle East. Some of the biggest names in construction product distribution are our direct customers. However, through our unrivalled technical and on-site support we have close relationships with key developers, architects, consultants and contractors throughout the region,” he says.

The company works alongside its varied customer segments from the design through to completion stage. Its products and systems have been used extensively in a number of key prestigious projects including the Burj Khalifa, Yas Marina Hotel, Dubai Metro and the Masdar Institute of Technology.

Two of its recent projects include the Ferrari theme park and Capital Gate tower.

Elaborating on these projects, Chambers says: “Ferrari Experience, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest indoor park, forms one of the centrepieces of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Gyproc’s role was to provide 6-m-high, 120-minute fire-rated curved partitions to a specific thickness of 150 mm. In addition, the partitions had to be as light as possible to reduce the imposed load due to the large spans of the floor slabs and to help compensate for the live loading during peak times.”

“Meanwhile, Capital Gate is an iconic tower that soars 160 m above ground and has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most inclined building with a westward incline of 18 degrees. Gyproc worked closely with the entire project team of Capital Gate, providing a unique solution for the construction of a partition that could only be built from one side. In addition, the partitions needed to be stepped to account for the unique design of the tower.”
Commenting on the state of the market, Chambers says 2010 has been a very challenging year for the company as it has for other businesses in the region and globally.

“We have been working hard to build solid strategic foundations for our future development in the region,” he says. “We see good growth returning to the region in the future, although we envisage 2011 to still be a challenging business environment. We have massive potential to convert more traditional build methods into drywall system constructions, as we increase the awareness of the benefits of such systems.”

Chambers says Gyproc is committed to the Middle East as it looks to “embed our business and brand throughout the GCC”.

“Though the market has been unstable with many projects being delayed or put on hold, we have continued to support our customers with availability, high-quality products, technical support in the development stages and on-site and customer service, which is key to our business,” he says. “In 2011, we are sure we will see more projects commencing throughout the region, although there are still unsettled times ahead for the construction industry.”