Gulf Construction Online - IRC 'one of a kind' in region

Al Abbar Group

IRC products have been used on prestigious projects such as the Emirates Towers.

IRC 'one of a kind' in region

01 October 2003

Dubai-based International Rubber Company (IRC) says it is one of its kind in the Middle East to manufacture industrial profiles which match the finest from Europe and America in terms of quality and range.

Set up by a Saudi group, IRC started operations in May 1996. The company, which has staff strength of 35, has at its helm Yousef Al Bassam, who is company chairman, and Hashim Al Hashim, the managing director.
The company offers total solutions to customer requirements - not just a product, says Urfi Kidwai, head of operations with IRC. He attributes the company's success to the quality of its products and the service it offers.

''Quality is built into our product right at the planning stage. Our range of products is engineered to meet the tough environmental and operational conditions of the Middle East,'' Kidwai says. ''Our ultra-modern plant, equipped with some of the best machinery in the world, uses up-to-date microwave technology for continuous vulcanisation of ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber profiles - the most efficient, clean and environmental-friendly method developed so far. EPDM vulcanised rubber has excellent resistance to weathering and ozone attack, very good aging, low temperature flexibility, low electrical and thermal conductivity, and therefore result in perfect sealing, easier fitment, tight hold and long life.''

The company follows ISO 9001:2000 quality procedures. With total quality management well in place, IRC profiles meet relevant ASTM, BS and DIN standards, he says.
IRC's factory, which is located on a 12,000 sq ft plot, has a production capacity of 45 tonnes per month (tpm). Its current output stands at 30 to 35 tpm.
The company is to soon launch a new facility for moulding.

IRC has two PVC extrusion lines with a large output to cater to the requirements of the construction sector. The company also has a fully-equipped laboratory to test its compounds and the latest equipment to test the finished products.

IRC also claims to be the only manufacturer of silicone gaskets in the Middle East. Silicone sponge gaskets for electrical applications and door seals for Caprice cars are other products produced by the company.
Its product range caters to the following applications:

Structural seals - to cover all major American and European aluminium systems;

Container seals - for marine and cold storage applications;

Automotive seals - glass and door applications in automobiles;

Moulded rubber - moulded corner joints and setting block in aluminium systems; doorstopper and D-fender; pipe seals for potable and non-potable water pipeline and joints;

Plastic items - aluminium doors and window accessories;

PVC water stops - for concrete structures such as foundations, roof, slabs, parking areas, reservoirs, storage tanks and retainer walls.
''Our rubber goes into the fabrication of glass and aluminium, he says. ''We directly deal with companies such as Schmidlin.
The company has been associated with Al Abbar Aluminium for nearly five years. ''We are proud of this association with Al Abbar Aluminium and have worked with them on their major prestigious projects,'' Kidwai adds.

From the outset, the company has paid special attention to all aspects of product planning, turnaround time and execution of orders that suit the requirements of its customers.
''Compound supplies are sourced from the same suppliers that supply to major European rubber industries, thus helping achieve the same level of standard of products,'' says Kidwai.
IRC products are exported to all GCC countries and some parts of Europe.

The company has been growing at the rate of 20 to 25 per cent annually and currently enjoys around 60 per cent of the market share in the UAE and around 30 to 40 per cent share in the other parts of the GCC.

Some of the projects IRC has been associated with in the UAE include Emirates Towers, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Shangri-La Hotel, Dusit Dubai, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Gulf Tower, Bur Juman expansion, 21st Century Tower, Al Gurg Tower, (all in Dubai); Adia Tower and Al Darwish Tower, both in Abu Dhabi; Crystal Tower in Sharjah, Fujairah Tower in Fujairah.

In Saudi Arabia it has supplied its products for the Core Area annex building for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran and Al Faisailiah Centre, Saudi Hollandi Bank, Saudi American Bank, and Holiday Inn Hotel, all in Riyadh.