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29 March 2024

Dubai Investments' aluminium units mull new plants

Emirates Extrusion Factory in Ajman. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

Dubai-based Emirates Extrusion Factory (EEF) and White Aluminium Extrusion (WAE), both subsidiaries of Masharie – the private equity arm of Dubai Investments, have announced major expansion plans amidst surging demand for aluminium products as construction activities intensify across the UAE and the region.

EEF and WAE have reported that demand for their aluminium profiles have increased from 24,100 metric tonnes in 2013 to 27,250 metric tonnes in 2014, registering a 13 per cent year-on-year increase, in line with heightened construction activities.

To cater to the increase in demand, EEF has recently announced plans to commission a new production line at its aluminium extrusion plant in Techno Park, Dubai which will start commercial production at the end of the first quarter of 2015. This line will increase the capacity by another 6,000 metric tonnes per annum.

In addition to this, EEF is finalising a new powder coating plant with a capacity of 7,200 metric tonnes per annum. The plant will engage the latest technology from Europe to produce the quality specified at the international level.

On the other hand, WAE is finalising an anodizing plant from Italy with a capacity of 4,800 metric tonnes per annum. Once complete, this will be a fully automated plant with the latest technology.

Both EEF and WAE are exporting around 60-70% of its finished goods to GCC countries and nearly 25 countries across the Mena region. The companies plan to expand its scope to over 50 countries over the next five years.

Downstream projects are expected to increase in the coming years, due to the surge in the capacity in prime aluminium within UAE and across the GCC.

Khalfan Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of EEF and WAE, said, "Architectural, building and construction applications accounted for over 80% of the extrusion market in the Middle East. UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are witnessing a spurt in construction activity, and this has put added demand for aluminium profiles at our plants. In view of this latent demand, we have planned aggressive expansion of our production lines."

He added, "Apart from construction, there have been significant investments in the transportation, electrical and industrial sectors across the GCC countries, and the demand for aluminium extrusion products for these sectors is expected to increase in the coming years."