A new range of building materials based on cement has been launched by the Al Moajil Cement Products Plant (MCPP), a traditional leader in blocks and tiles. The new range consists of interlocking tiles, turfstones and flowerpots.
These are being produced in a new plant set up just a few months ago in the Dammam First Industrial City, said Mr. Sami Saad Al Moajil, General Manager of the MCPP. He disclosed that the new plant was built at a cost of SR 15 million.
MCPP's new plant which is based on German technology (MASA-9001) will concentrate on producing interlocking paving stones for which there is growing demand in the local market following the current boom witnessed by the real estate and housing sector and other on-going development activities by the government, said Mr. Al Moajil. He added: "Initially we have planned to produce one million square meters of interlocking tiles a year, but we have extra capacity to raise production considerably based on the market demand."
He said that the Saudi builders and the real estate developers are now using interlocking tiles to increase the value of their property. These tiles enhance the beauty of landscapes and withstand intense heat during the summer. The interlocking pavements are also flexible. This flexibility means that loads on the surface are distributed through the base by point-to point contact which protects the soil sub-grade from deforming under loads. The base also moves slightly when there is a heavy load and returns to its original position when load is off.
Mr. Al Moajil claimed that MCPP's decorative interlocking tiles are of high quality since it has installed latest machinery and used treated water from its own plant. MCPP has also introduced a highly functional paving system to add value to its products. It offers an excellent range of interlocking tiles in brilliant designs and colors.
MCPP's interlocking tiles have received very good response in the local market. It has already started supplying to Saudi Aramco, SCECO, SABIC, Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu and different municipalities. MCPP has also received export orders for this product from some Qatari companies, pointed out Mr. Al Moajil. Turfstones, supplied by MCPP, have some special qualities which include lowering ambient temperature around them, apart from reducing the storm water runoff. These turfstone pavements are also used in erosion control of slopes and lakeside embankments.
"We have test-marketed turfstones and flowerpots, "said Mr. Al Moajil. He added that he was expecting some orders from Saudi Aramco as well as other potential users soon. Meanwhile, MCPP is planning to add new wet pressing machines to its manufacturing line for its curbstones and slabs in order to increase quality as well as production. "Our production will reach 300,000 pieces (30 X 50 cm each piece) a year", claimed Mr. Al Moajil.
He emphasized the need for the production of high quality curbstones, but he observed that quality curbstones are now being dwarfed by the low quality products which are available in huge quantity in the market. "We are facing this problem because people particularly private builders are not generally aware of exactly which products are of high quality and which are not," said Mr. Al Moajil. He urged the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to introduce British Standard in the Saudi market to maintain the quality of curbstones and slabs.
MCPP's main products are hollow blocks which are produced using German and American technology and machinery. It produces over 60, 000 pieces of hollow blocks of various sizes a day. "Our hollow blocks are of best quality in the market," claimed Mr. Al Moajil. He said that to maintain quality, blocks are put in chambers for 48 hours and are treated in heat and moisture to attain the highest strength. These blocks are also cubed and palatalized for delivery in order to reach them out to the job sites in the best condition. Water, cement, sand and aggregates as well as finished blocks are all tested to meet SASO, ASM and British Standards.
MCPP was established in 1978. It is a subsidiary of the Al Moajil Group of Companies. It manufactures and markets a range of products which includes hollow & solid blocks, paving slabs, tiles and curb stones.
© Saudi Commerce and Economic Review 2004
