01 September 2005

Rowad National Plastics Company intends to make a dramatic impact on visitors to SaudiBuild this year with a vast array of new products some of which will make their debut at the show.

On display at the company’s stand at the show, will be the newly introduced range of textured designs for polycarbonate sheets, plastic mirrors, decorative acrylic tiles and HDPE (high-density polyethylene) geomembranes.
“We are currently looking at adding a fifth texture to our range of textured polycarbonate sheets and we intend promoting these textures at the SaudiBuild exhibition in Riyadh,” says Ashraf Shah, business development manager.
“These textured sheets are popular especially for applications such as decorative translucent panels for main gates or as partitions in a number of applications such as supermarkets, offices, etc.”
Rowad also intends to launch plastic mirrors – basically acrylic sheets with a special coating – which offer the benefit of safety especially in residences, where glass mirrors could pose a safety risk.
Another debutant at the show is the company’s decorative acrylic tile range. “We are currently importing these tiles which resemble hand-painted tiles and are particularly suitable for partitions and walls. SaudiBuild will give us an opportunity to evaluate the market for this product, which we eventually intend to manufacture locally,” he says.
Rowad has also set up a joint venture with a foreign company to produce HDPE geomembranes. A new SR25 million ($6.66 million) plant currently under construction in Dammam’s Second Industrial Estate will begin production in April 2006. The new venture, to be known as Rowad Geosynthetics International Company, will produce geomembranes in rolls (50 m by 7 m wide), which can be used for reinforcement, as gas barriers, as waterproofing and as a liner in the construction of dams, water storage tanks and desalination plants, says Shah.
Apart from the above, the company has launched a list of products in recent years that include: digital electric meters, new types of battery cases, and plastic pails to replace the traditional metal ones that paint manufacturers use. Rowad is also looking forward to add 18 and 21 litre containers to its range.
Rowad has seen a dramatic growth in business levels over the last five years. Says Shah: “We have witnessed a fourfold increase in turnover over the past five years. From a turnover of SR20 million ($5.33 million) in 2000, the company posted a turnover of SR55 million last year and has targeted a figure of SR80 million this year. For the near future the company has set up an ambitious target of achieving SR125 million next year and SR250 million in three years,” Shah points out.
Rowad National Plastics an affiliate of the National Industrialisation Company (NIC), is a business conglomerate with 23 manufacturing affiliated companies.
As general manager Mohammad Z Al Laabon says: “Rowad’s aim is to produce world class specialised plastic products (through extrusion and injection) and to be recognised for profitable growth with a customer focus.
The ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer, which exports products to over 20 countries including Europe, also aspires to contribute to the national industrialisation drive through technology transfer and by manufacturing plastic products that meet the expectations of its shareholders, customers and employees alike.
The company has remained upbeat over its achievements and the rapid strides it has made in adpating to today’s fast-evolving technology and increasing national developments without compromising on quality.
Shah attributes Rowad’s superior quality products to the use of the best raw materials (virgin resins), state-of-the-art machinery and qualified staff. All plastic sheets comply with quality standards meeting international specifications.
The company which started off in 1994, with a 14,500 tpy (tonnes per year) sheet-processing capacity is now achieving a 40,000 tpy licensed capacity. From its inception the company has concentrated on manufacturing local products meeting global standards. The company’s two factories in Riyadh and Dammam have a combined production capacity of 7,500 tpy of polycarbonate sheets (PC), acrylic sheets (PMMA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS), polyethylene (HDPE) and ABS sheets.

Polycarbonate (PC) sheets
The PC sheet is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic that is characterised by high clarity, heat and flame resistance, dimensional stability and high impact strength. Rowad PC sheets are virtually unbreakable and have 250 times the impact strength of glass, and its weight is approximately half that of glass. The PC sheet also provides up to 25 per cent increased thermal insulation than single pane glass. The unique feature of Rowad PC sheet is that it contains on each side a UV protection layer not less than 50 microns, which makes it more durable in maintaining colour and light transparency over long periods in harsh Middle East climate.
Supported by a 10-year warranty, Rowad PC sheets are popular for a wide range of applications such as, skylights, swimming pool and stadium roofing, doors, gates and window glazing. Rowad PC sheets are available in clear, opal white, bronze, green and blue and with textures ranging from plain to textured, prismatic, bamboo and crystal. Competitively priced, the sheets are available in different sizes with widths up to 2050 mm and a thickness of between 2 to 13 mm.

Acrylic sheeting
Acrylic sheeting, which has a wide range of applications starting from decorative sign work and display to window glazing, in bath-tubs, as light diffusers and skylight – is available in an assortment of colours – clear, bronze, green, blue, black, orange, white and red. The sheet surfaces are plain, textured or prismatic with thickness between 2 mm to 15 mm.

Polystyrene (HIPS)
HIPS has a wide range of applications and finds use in refrigerator components, house wares and moulds for industrial stones as well as in general packaging such as jewellery and watch boxes, and food packaging. Rowad has long-term supply commitments with several major local refrigerator manufactures.

ABS sheeting
This has a wide range of applications such as: automobile components, sanitary wares, refrigerator inner liners, cosmetic packaging, luggage, house wares, business machinery, telecommunications components, toys, appliances and tools.
Polyethylene sheeting
Polyethylene (PE) sheets have a wide range of applications such as pickup bed liners, small swimming pools for children and geomembrane (pond liner) application.

Battery components
Using high quality co-polymer, Rowad manufactures battery cases, covers and caps in accordance to international JIS, DIN and US standards. The raw material shows excellent chemical resistance, toughness, stress cracking resistance, load bearing strength, high elongation, dimensionally stable and weather resistance. Rowad popular battery case and cover models are available in DIN 55, 88/100 (three types), JIS N 50, N 70, N 60 (55D23), N 40//NS 60, N 100, 120, 150 (14 types) and the American 65-650, GR 74/78 etc. Rowad is one of the biggest suppliers of battery components, and now exports to GCC countries as well, he says.

A new direction
As part of its diversification and growth plan, Rowad has introduced new innovative packaging pails to differentiate and sell products in diverse markets. These products include: paints, putty, ink, grease and food products. This new direction provides an opportunity for Rowad customers to use packaging as a marketing tool, providing aesthetically pleasing packaging making the products more appealing to consumers such as paint manufacturers.
In addition, the company has embarked on a programme that deals with the recycling of industrial waste plastic. “This new initiative focuses on the disposal of crushed plastic (PP) from spent car batteries and is a bold decision by Rowad to champion the movement of environmental protection against the dumping of used car batteries in Saudi Arabia,” says Shah.

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