Sika, the global chemicals and building materials manufacturer, has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art production facility and offices in Dubai Industrial Park, which comes as part of the Swiss companys ongoing expansion and growth plans for developing its operations in the UAE and the region.
Developed with an investment of $10.9 million, the new facility will have an annual capacity of 240,000 tons annual production capacity, and it will constitute the basis for the production of high-performance concrete admixtures.
It will play a strategic role as a key sales and distribution centre in the region, Sika said in a statement, adding that the new facility has been designed to ensure a high level of productivity and quality consistency through a fully automated system and an advanced technical training centre.
Sikas new facility in Dubai Industrial Park is constituted as our strategic production, distribution, and sales centre for the entire GCC area, creating the ideal conditions for further developing our growth potential in these booming construction markets,” said Ivo Schädler, Regional Manager EMEA Sika.
With the construction industry benefiting from growing tourism as well as the UAEs development into a regional logistics centre and a hub for renewable energies and green technologies along with Dubai hosting Expo 2020, we foresee a great growth potential for our operations in UAE and region.
Sikas 2020 growth target and strategy fall well in line with UAEs vision and plans that will provide a further boost to the construction sector with estimates of growth at close to 7% for the next few years, he added.
The official inauguration ceremony of the facility was attended by Ivo Schädler, EMEA regional manager, Abdullaziz Zaidan, Sika Arabia chairman, Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, managing director, Dubai Industrial Park and Chris Watts, consul general of Switzerland.
Dubai Industrial Park (DI) is a business hub for an ever-growing region, boosted by growth in key industries, and a strategic geographical location, Al-Shawareb said.
As one of the largest industrial hubs in Dubai with a sole objective of fast-tracking growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the UAE, DI is committed to driving economic growth and ensuring a progressive ecosystem for the manufacturing sector. We are thrilled to be the first choice for large manufacturing brands like Sika seeking to establish and grow operations in the UAE and region, he added.
Sika has grouped together and greatly expanded its mortar and concrete admixtures production, warehouse capacity, technical training centre and offices at the new location in Dubai Industrial Park, said Joseph Nabih, general manager, Sika UAE.
Material streams, logistics, and the cost structure will thus be optimised, and the course set for further growth, he added.
The new facility is an additional milestone towards the growth of Sika UAE which will further accelerate and maintain our leadership position in the market. Sikas state-of-the-art facility will enable us to continue developing and introducing the latest innovative technologies into the UAE market as well as act as a hub for serving neighbouring GCC markets.
The new local polymer production facility will help to significantly cut costs and make it possible to supply customers not only in the UAE but all across the GCC with customised concrete admixtures for demanding construction projects, he concluded.
