Gulf Construction Online - Attieh Steel poised for expansion

Steel

Attieh Steel's warehouse facility in Dubai.

Attieh Steel poised for expansion

01 July 2004

Saudi-based Attieh Steel, a specialist manufacturer and supplier of steel and steel-related products which has notched an impressive turnover of SR500 million ($133.34 million) in the last five months, is currently planning a major expansion drive in the region.

“Attieh is considering the expansion of its operations to Oman, Qatar, Iran and Iraq, which will allow it to service the fast-growing markets in the region, and also realise its aim of establishing a long-term close and truthful business relationship with each client, thereby ensuring the best possible service to all its clients,” says Rasheed Al Khwaja, general manager, Dubai operations.
The company is planning to achieve this end by using a strong marketing plan that involves forecasting and following two supply methods – ex-stock and forward delivery. At any given time, the company has in stock 70,000 to 80,000 tonnes of steel in its factory in Jeddah and 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of steel in Dubai, which it claims will help save on time as well as transportation.
The products available ex-stock include various types of beams, hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanised iron (GI) coils and sheets, chequered coils and sheets, angles, stainless steel and aluminum sheet, flat, square and round bars, square and rectangular hollow sections, mild steel and GI pipes, prepainted coil, corrugated sheets, steel plates and deformed bars.
Founded in 1957, as a small steel trading and fabrication business, Attieh Steel has emerged as the kingdom’s major steel and metals stockist, and is regarded the backbone of the Attieh Group.
The company provides services as a steel stockist/supplier to heavy engineering, process industries including steel mills, cement factories, power generation groups, water desalination, fabrication and construction, steel pre-engineering and electrochemical companies, truck body makers and ship builders, repair companies, refrigeration contractors and the oil and gas sector.
With eight outlets and warehousing facilities in the kingdom and a wide range of steel and metal items – close to 4,000 line items – Attieh Steel caters to the needs of the kingdom as well as the neighbouring GCC countries, Yemen and some parts of East Africa, says the spokesman.
Its sister company SMC (Sidc Metel Coating) produces 120,000 tonnes per year of pre-painted aluminum and GI coils, in sizes ranging from 0.32 to 0.8 mm.
“Our market positioning gives us an edge, be it through international steel markets or through strategic alliances with local mills such as Hadeed-Sabic (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) and United Gulf Steel,” says Al Khwaja.
In view of the importance of adapting modern technology in the overall development in oil, gas and construction sector of the UAE, the company has an office and warehouse facility in Dubai to service customers in the UAE, the GCC, Iran as well as Asia.
One of the strengths of the company lies in its ability to supply many different international grades of steel including BS (British), ASTM (American), DIN (German) and JIS (Japanese) and to complement the products with manufacturers’ test certificates showing the full chemical composition and mechanical properties of each grade produced, he says.
“Our steel is used within the oil and gas, petrochemicals, offshore, shipbuilding, construction, civil and mechanical industries – so quality and certification of materials is of prime importance,” says Al Khwaja.
The company has already been certified as conforming to ISO 9002 and ISO 9002-1994 standards and has also received the International Quality Crown award from London, he claims.
The company has an excellent trading relationship with many steel producing mills in Europe and throughout the world, which enables it to offer its clients the widest possible range of sizes and grades at extremely competitive prices.
The Jeddah-based Attieh Group is a Saudi holding company owned 100 per cent by the Attieh family. The group is mainly engaged in trading, processing, and manufacturing of steel and steel related products. In addition to this, the group has companies engaged in electro-mechanical works, medical equipments, and office furniture.