Hundreds of construction industry experts will meet in Dubai next month for a series of international conferences set to examine four key sectors of the Middle East construction industry.

The Portuguese Trade Centre, which is making its appearance at the Big 5 show for the second year in succession, will coordinate the presence of 15 companies at the Portuguese pavilion at the event. Portugal's participation in the show will offer a wide range of high-quality materials to the construction sector.

Buoyed by its success at last year's Big 5 show, the Building Centre is looking forward to welcoming another 21 companies to the British Pavilion, of which 13 are completely new to the Middle East market.

Canam Asia Limited (CAL), a joint venture between Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC) and Steel Plus Limited, an affiliate of the Canadian Canam Manac Group, is all set to launch Hambro, a composite floor joist system, in Asia and Africa. Hambro is an advanced up-to-date answer to elevated floor construction challenges.

Making its debut at the Big 5, the Dubai office of Madi International Group will promote saunas, heaters and steam generators as well as other products at stand B103.

UAE-based Al Huraiz Establishment for Industry will have its wide range of water heaters and air conditioners on display at stand number 4D171 at the Big 5 show. The manufacturer of Everhot water heaters had last year diversified into the manufacture of air-conditioners under the brand Evertemp.

The UK Trade and Investment-funded UK pavilion will occupy a new location in Hall 2 at the Big 5 2003, and will feature the likes of ACO International, Haddonstone, Corus, Don Construction, Command Alkon, Steelfields and Genesis APS.

Kaleseramik (Kaleseramik Canakkale Kalebodur Seramik Sanayi) Turkey's largest ceramic manufacturer will present its range of ceramic tiles and exhibit its new products and technologies at stand 8A 431 of the Big 5 show in Dubai.

Ozone designs and manufactures architectural glass for interior and exterior applicationsUK-based Ozone Holdings, the Ofex-listed designer and manufacturer of contemporary architectural glass, has announced plans to set-up a new joint venture design and manufacturing operation in Dubai to service the Middle Eastern market place.

India-based Avanti Builders, which is making its maiden appearance at the Big 5 show, will be introducing many new designs and profiles in brass builder's hardware. The company, which manufactures and exports builder's hardware, was launched in 1976 and claims to be the fastest growing firm in its field of specialisation.

Aluminium window and curtain-wall specialist Thomas Bennett Gulf has built a reputation as a leader in the field of glass and aluminium construction through its philosophy of innovation, design development, value engineering, flexibility of choice, rigorous quality control and a determination to excel.

Al Bahar International Dubai, a sister concern of Lebanon-based Al Bahar Group, expects to complete the second phase of its expansion in the UAE this month with the launch of the Al Bahar Crusher in Fujairah. The facility, which covers a 2.

National Pest Control of the UAE, which claims to be the sole agent for the Insect-a-clear range of quality electronic killers in the Middle East, will put on display a wide range of electronic fly killers at Dubai's Big 5 show.

Al Siddiq Trade Services, a Saudi-based supplier and stockiest for some of the big names in sanitary ware and fixtures will open its fifth showroom at Jeddah, as a part of its expansion drive. The company already has four showrooms: two in Dammam, one in Al Khobar and one in Riyadh.

Leading pipe manufacturer Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company is building on success by diversifying activities to design, build operation and transfer (DBOT) projects.

As in previous years, the German pavilion (supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour) will be one of the largest national pavilions at the Big 5 show 2003. The participation has increased from about 80 last year to more than 130 exhibitors this time around.

UK-based specialist fire glass manufacturer CGI International Limited will be making its debut in the Middle East market by introducing its range of fire products at this year's Big 5 Show in Dubai.

The UK-based Bolton Rubber and Silicone (BRS), considered to be one of the world's leading rubber-polymer manufacturers, will make its debut at the Big 5 show this November.

The Middle East office of UK's leading supplier of specialist flooring, Flowcrete, which has provided flooring solutions to some of the bigger projects in the Middle East including the BurJuman Centre of Dubai, has been nurturing major plans of expanding its business interests in the region.

SunPipes, a remarkable mirror-finished aluminium product from UK-based Monodraught, is set to make one of the greatest impacts on energy saving of any product being used in building services at the present time, claims chairman and managing director of Monodraught UK, Terry Payne.

A senior delegation from the UK will visit the UAE to coincide with the Big 5 show, and will participate in the Annual Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Conference 2003 organised by Gulf Construction magazine.

Saudi-based aluminium manufacturing and casting company Al Esra, which will be participating in the Big 5 show, will be promoting its wide range of custom-made mashrabiyas, balustrades, grills, fences, light posts, furniture, windows, doors, and several other ornaments made of aluminium.

Austria-based Doubrava is set to introduce to the UAE market its innovative plant for the production of granules that conform to the new stringent environmental and building regulations of the UAE.  The plant, which has been designed to produce lightweight granules using desert dune sand, will be promoted at stand 7B360 at the Big 5 show.

Turkey'S Alkosan Aluminyum Sanayi Ve Ticaret will promote its range of aluminium-wooden composite door window systems and glass painting systems, in association with its partner Atis Anadolu Dis Ticaret, at the Big 5 show.

Dubai-based Emirates Specialities Company (ESC) has recently entered into agreements with several local and international firms to market its products in the UAE. The company says that the move is in line with its policy of improving product range and services.

THE Middle East office of Italian company Giacomini will unveil a range of new mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) products at stand number 3A102, at this year's Big 5 show. Giacomini focuses on the Gulf markets since they offer great potential for our products, says general manager of the Middle East office Ramzi Fasheh.

The UAE's Mammut Building Systems claims to have captured 60 per cent of the market for pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs) in the UAE in the past 18 months. The company, which claims to be the largest manufacturer of PEBs in the UAE, attributes its meteoric rise to be a result of several strategic decisions taken in the past couple of years.

Dubai-based Sat Insulation Materials Industry (SAT), a member of the Sat Group of companies, has set up a new factory manufacturing pre-insulated panels, which are currently being imported from Europe.

Buoyed by the results of the Big 5 Show 2002, Malta will present itself at the 2003 event, with a larger exhibition area and 13 companies in the building materials and related sectors. Malta Enterprise, the country's new agency responsible for trade and investment promotion, will co-ordinate the participation of Maltese companies.

Techstyle acoustical ceilings, a blend of superior acoustic technology and sleek contemporary style from Hunter Douglas, will be launched at the Big 5 show, by the company's Middle East office.

Dubai-based Modern Noor Group (MNG), plans to open its fourth showroom in Dubai on Salahuddin Road, and a large warehouse in Jebel Ali in the coming months, says managing director of the group Dr Maisan Askari.

Movable partitioning systems from Germany's Dorma Huppe provide an enhanced quality of life within modern living areas. Known as Variflex-EM, these systems allow rooms to be partitioned effortlessly, to make them smaller or re-proportion them to suit individual requirements.

CAPER chairs and Avio tables, which were featured in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi blockbuster AI, are not the only products of US-based Herman Miller that have had a brush with showbiz.

Germany-based Sommer Anlagentechnik, which is specialised in the production technology and automation systems for the precast concrete industry, is keen to enhance its exposure in the Gulf and is participating in the regional expos.

US Chiller Services, which has offices in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, claims to be the preferred organisation in the Gulf that is factory and industry certified to service and repair York, Carrier, Trane and McQuay liquid chillers. The company will be present at the Big 5  to reinforce its presence in the region.

Cormix International, a British construction chemicals company based in the Far East which manufactures a broad range of products including waterproofers, concrete repair materials, epoxy flooring, grouts and admixtures, will use the Big 5 show to launch its products in the Middle East.

Dubai-based Al Rahmani General Trading, a diversified building materials trader, has extended its product line to include doors, gypsum boards and parquet flooring and plans to add ironmongery and kitchen cabinets, later this year.

For more than a century, Germany-based PVC profiles specialist Kommerling has focused on research and innovation to enhance product quality.

VTS Clima, a leading European air handling units (AHU) manufacturer, will showcase its complete range of products that are manufactured to conform to the specifications and requirements of the Gulf climate, at this year's Big 5 show. VTS Clima will be at stand number 1E11 (Hall One) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

Dubai-based Zoomlux Technology, which manufactures and markets a range of high-quality engineering products for the construction industry, will be exhibiting its products along with Portlap International in the French Pavilion at the Big 5 show.

Since its inception nine years ago in the UAE's Jebel Ali Free Zone, Ostermeier FZE has grown from a small industrial unit catering to the waste management segment to a full fledged and technologically advanced stainless steel engineering company catering to the architectural, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), commercial kitchen and the sp

Inspired by a dedication to technical innovation and high standards of quality and service, Hadley Industries (Middle East) focuses on the manufacture of a range of high-quality products for use in construction projects through out the world.  Its aim is to provide the specifier and contractor with full technical and product support.

Through a policy of innovative thinking and technological advancement, Saudi Lighting Company has won recognition for its engineering expertise, creative design, and pioneering work in energy conservation products.

French company Ariadis, present in the Gulf since 1994, as been specialising in developing and selling modular software for the management of cut and bent rebar factories as well as precast factories.

Palme, an Austrian manufacturer of shower cubicles, sanitary partitions and steam sauna partitions, will introduce its innovative steam shower Scala Relax, along with several other products at Dubai's Big 5 show 2003.

Sarpco (Saudi Rubber Products Company) will promote its rubber tiles for playgrounds and other sporting surfaces at this year's Big 5 show. The company will exhibit its range of products at stand 4A152.Buoyed by the response received from its participation at the Big 5 Show 2002, the company hopes to have a repeat result this time around.

Acciaierie Valbruna, an Italian manufacturer of stainless steel bars and reinforcement, will promote its Reval bars and coils at the Big 5. The company, which is happy with the response it received at the 2002 show, expects to further strengthen its position in the regional market at this year's event.

Following its recent merger with Indian giant, Asian Paints, Berger Paints is expected to scale even greater heights. Prior to the merger Berger was a force to reckon with the world over, from Far East Asia to the Caribbean Islands, to the Mediterranean, to Africa, to the Middle East to South Asia, claims the company.

Enthused by the response it has got from its participation at previous exhibitions, Atlantic, a French manufacturer of domestic and industrial heating appliances, will be displaying its products, especially the electric water heater range, at this year's Big 5 show at stand number 3C 140.

RAK Ceramics, the $300 million global ceramic giant, has launched RAK Antimicrobial tiles, which come with the proprietary RAK Anti-Microbial Glaze incorporated at the time of firing the tiles.

Igeme, the export promotion centre of Turkey, will feature Turkey's industry, for the fourth time, at the Big 5 show 2003. Being a non-profit organisation, Igeme has dedicated itself to the promotion and development of Turkey's produce in the international markets.

Turkey-based Elmak Machinery, Industry and Trade Company has been distributing quality valves directly to its customers since 1985. The company, which started off as a wholesaler in the construction and the valves market, in 1976, diversified into the production of quality valves with the trade name of Asteknik Valve.

UAE-based Specialized Architectural Systems (SAS) has been the exclusive distributor of Pioneer Water Tanks, one of Australia's largest designated tank manufacturers, for over 12 years.

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza), which was set up as a part of Dubai government's strategic plan to be an investment-driven economy, has been playing the role of a regional base for big international companies to start off manufacturing, distribution and service activities.

Combining seven major exhibitions for the construction and contracting industry over 20,000 sq m of floor space, the Big 5 is easily the largest and most prestigious exhibition of its type in the Middle East and the quality and variety of products on display is unrivalled and matches that of the major European and US exhibitions, said the organiser