Dubai, UAE - 7th December, 2011 - In a further step to fortify its position as the leading polyurethane systems and polyurethane raw material supplier in the Middle East, Baalbaki announced that it has commenced construction of its new 40,000 MT Polyester and Prepolymer production plants on its existing 30,000 sqm industrial site at Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah UAE.

The new plant, expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2012, will enable Baalbaki to serve the GCC, India, Pakistan and Iran with footwear, rigid, cold cure polyurethane systems, aromatic and aliphatic polyester polyols, as well as specialty polyurethane and food packaging adhesives.  

Baalbaki is the pioneer in introducing aromatic and aliphatic polyester polyol technology including "green technology" to produce polyester polyols based on scrap PET, into the GCC. "Baalbaki remains the only manufacturer of this product in the Arab World and the largest manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa regions for this product range," commented Dr. Ihsan Baalbaki, Chairman of Baalbaki Group, during a dinner held in Dubai to celebrate this new mile stone in the Group's development.

With this new expansion in the UAE, along with the planned expansion during 2012 of pre-plomer and polyol blending capacities in Egypt and Turkey, Baalbaki will raise its total production capacities in the UAE, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey to 55,000 MT of polyester polyols and 70,000 MT of isocyanate prepolymers.  

"Baalbaki will continue to serve the Levant markets from its existing production facility in Syria; Africa from its existing production facility in the production facility in Egypt; and Turkey from its facility in Pendik, Instanbul. However, the headquarters of our polyurethane business unit will be relocated to the United Arab Emirates as of January 2012," said Mr. Karim Baalbaki, Managing Director of Baalbaki Group.

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About Baalbaki:
Since 1957 Baalbaki has been a pioneer in introducing cutting edge European technologies into the Middle East industrial sector. Under License from Linde AG and Mauser gmbh Baalbaki established in 1957 one of the first factories in the Arab world producing refrigerators, gas ovens and steal furniture. Today Baalbaki is a leading regional industrial Group in the Middle East and Africa regions with manufacturing and technical service facilties in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey and Syria employing more than 800 people. The Group's industrial and commercial activities are focused on the polyurethane raw material and systems, polyurethane processing industries, construction material (including precast insulated cement houses, and specialty dry mortar mixes), heating ventilation and air conditioning and home appliance industries. The Group is also active in real estate investment and development, agriculture and private equity investments.

© Press Release 2011