Gulf Construction Online - Atlantic launches innovative range

Bathrooms, Fittings & Water Heaters

New on the market ... the ACI

Atlantic launches innovative range

A French manufacturer has launched its range of water heaters in the Gulf, which are said to be intelligently designed to ensure trouble-free operations and longer life.

01 December 2001

A new brand of water heaters from France has been launched on the Gulf market.

The electric heaters, from Atlantic, bear the hallmarks of French quality and innovation, says Paschal Gimeno, a marketing assistant at Atlantic's International Division.

Launched recently in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, the heaters also conform to Gulf specifications, he adds.

"Atlantic started manufacturing in 1968 in France and is now recognised as the leader in France and Europe for water and room heaters," says Gimeno. "With its seven industrial sites all located in France - of which three are dedicated to water heaters - Atlantic strives for the highest manufacturing standards.

"More than 1 million water heaters are manufactured in Atlantic's factories every year and the company provides one of the largest domestic and commercial ranges available on the market, in capacities of 15 to 3,000 litres."

Elaborating on the composition of the heaters, he continues: "The secret of Atlantic's long-lasting tanks lies in the high density of the enamel used. Further, an exclusive enamelling process ensures a homogenous thickness of enamel over all parts of the tank, thus protecting it for a longer period of time.

"The heaters are also made with environmentally-friendly insulation which is free of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). The polyurethane insulation injected between the inner and outer casing eliminates thermal bridges and maintains water at the desired temperature for a longer period of time.

"Steel parts in contact with water are the weakest link in a heater as they cause the most leaks. Atlantic protects these parts with a lip gasket, ensuring no contact between the steel and water."

The glass-lined water heaters are available in two ranges: the ACI and O'Pro.

"ACI stands for Atlantic's ceramic innovation," says Gimeno. "These models are floor-standing water heaters in capacities of 150 to 300 litres.

"The ACI heater has an indirect ceramic heating element which is inserted into an enamelled protective sleeve and is therefore never in contact with the water. This allows for the element to be removed without draining the tank. The ceramic element offers additional advantages: its law watt density - 4 W per sq cm of surface area - ensures reduced scaling and less noise when in use. The heater also has a manhole opening for maintenance purposes.

The O'Pro standard range is Atlantic's latest innovation for vertical and horizontal water heaters. These heaters, which have a direct immersion element, come in capacities ranging from 50 to 200 litres.

"O'Pro stands for 'ohmic protection' as the heaters have ohm resistors connected to the immersion heating element," says Gimeno. "In most tanks, the magnesium anode tends to protect the element rather than the tank. Thus the ohm resistors compensate the chemical phenomenon and balances the protection of the magnesium anode between the element and the tank, minimising corrosion inside the tank and extending the life of the heater."

Atlantic also provides a dielectic union with every heater to be installed on the hot water outlet. This prevents premature corrosion between the steel outlet and copper pipes.

O'Pro is also available in a point-of-use range. These heaters, in capacities of 15 to 50 litres, offer quick heat-up time and a slim design.

All Atlantic water heaters come with a five-year warranty for the tank and a two-year warranty for the electric parts.

After-sales support is provided by local agents in the Gulf and catalogues in English and Arabic are available upon request. In Oman, Arab Merchants Company is Atlantic's exclusive agent in the Sultanate.