Gulf Construction Online - Ducab inaugurates new Abu Dhabi plant

UAE Focus

The dignitaries at the inauguration.

Ducab inaugurates new Abu Dhabi plant

01 April 2005

As part of its ambitious expansion plans for the region, Ducab – a leading manufacturer of high quality power cables in the Middle East – has inaugurated its new production plant in the Abu Dhabi Industrial Area last month.

The new facility, which will have a production capacity of 25,000 copper tonnes is Ducab’s biggest investment since its inception and was built as part of Ducab’s corporate strategy of tripling its business to Dh2 billion ($545 million) by 2010.
“Our Abu Dhabi factory will help us achieve our goal of trebling our business by 2010, as the plant is projected to increase Ducab’s annual capacity to almost 65,000 tonnes,” says chairman Abubaker Khouri. “Over the coming years, Ducab will be a top global brand, renowned for the highest standards of quality and we will expand both our Abu Dhabi unit as well as the Jebel Ali factory, as we establish ourselves as the leading cable company in the Gulf region”.
The 180,000 sq m facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and latest machinery, acquired from renowned suppliers around the world, is strategically located to provide high-quality and efficient service to Ducab’s clients in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, he says.
“The new factory depicts Ducab’s strategy of supporting industrial and economic development in Abu Dhabi and UAE in general,” says managing director Colin Paskins. “The plant, with its high production capacity will complement the impressive growth in the region by providing support to the local market and the expanding export markets. Moreover, more than half of our UAE sales are in Abu Dhabi and this was another reason that led us to establish our presence in the emirate. The project is also in line with Ducab’s emiratisation drive, as it will provide more employment opportunities to UAE nationals.”
“The new plant, which will specialise in manufacturing Ducab’s entire range of low-voltage power cables, when fully operational will process 25,000 tonnes of copper conductor per year and it will be the best and most efficient factory of its type in the world,” adds Paskins.
Set up as a privately-held company in 1979, Ducab is jointly owned by the Governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and produces mainly low-to-medium voltage power cables and auxiliary products. Ducab recently expanded its business by entering into new export markets of Iran, India, Jordan and Tanzania with major projects and distribution agreements. The company has maintained an average annual sales growth of 15 per cent since 1981.
Ducab recorded sales of Dh687 million ($187 million) in 2004 – an increase of 30 per cent compared to the previous year. “During the last 25 years, Ducab had notable achievements on various fronts. The company set new delivery benchmarks, sales records, won major international contracts and was presented with a number of quality, environment and safety awards,” he says.