DEWA & ADWEA join Ducab to celebrate completion of 148m factory tower

Dubai, December 7, 2010:  Ducab-HV, a joint venture company between Ducab, DEWA and ADWEA, has announced that the construction of its AED500 million factory is on track for completion in early 2011, which will be the first dedicated high voltage factory in the region. The news came during a celebration marking the completion of the factory's 148m high tower, a new landmark in Jebel Ali, which is believed to be the highest industrial tower in the GCC. The ceremony was attended by Ducab-HV board members H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA; Saeed Al Darmaki, Deputy Managing Director of TRANSCO and Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab. Also in attendance were Mr. Tariq Hussain Khansaheb, Director, representing the main civil contractor, Khansaheb and Mr. Jon Vail, CEO Ducab-HV.

The 44 storey tower, housing state of the art extrusion equipment, is the most noticeable feature of the new Ducab-HV factory. It is designed to ensure that the very high voltage products are manufactured to the highest standards necessary to provide faultless service.  The tower will also contain a series of Clean Room facilities in the top levels to ensure no contamination of the critical cable insulation. 

"We are glad to announce the completion of the 148m vertical extrusion tower at the Ducab-HV factory which demonstrates that the project is on track for completion in early 2011," said Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab-HV. "These types of high-voltage cables carry electricity loads great enough to power an entire downtown district, and as such, we will ensure that the quality standards of our products not only meet but surpass the highest international standards in the industry."

"Within one year of breaking ground, we are celebrating this key construction milestone thanks to the excellent work by Khansaheb, and the great efforts of the whole project team.  We are approaching the completion of the civil works and the first machines are already being installed.  Commissioning will start in early 2011 followed by rigorous testing and then production of cables for the market later in the year," said Jon Vail, CEO.

"We have enjoyed working closely and successfully with Ducab-HV team to deliver a quality contract in a very challenging time frame," says Richard Browne, Operations Manager at Khansaheb. "This unique project is another great example of the commitment of Khansaheb to providing quality construction services to its clients during its 75th year of operation in the UAE."

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About Ducab
Ducab is jointly owned by the Governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi (50% each) and has one of the most modern manufacturing units in the region. It occupies an area of 590,000 square meters of land in Jebel Ali, Dubai and nearly 330,000 square meters in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi spread over 2 factories. Today, Ducab produces over 110,000 copper tonnes equivalent of low voltage, medium and high voltage cables, emerging as the leader and the first choice of prestigious customers in the Middle East. Ducab's product range covers High Voltage cables up to 132kV, Ducab Powerplus Medium Voltage cables up to 33kV, Low Voltage power cables, control & auxiliary, wiring and lead-sheathed cables, Ducab-Smokemaster- Low Smoke and Fume cables, and Ducab-FR (Fire Resistance Cables), cable components and cable accessories, as well as copper rod that Ducab manufacture in their own copper rod plant.

Ducab is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company for both its factories. The Abu Dhabi factory was recently awarded an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certificate and an OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety certificate by BASEC (British Approval Services for Cables). The cables comply with and are approved to the full British Standard of the Loss Prevention Certificate Board (LPCB) and Lloyd's Register, UK. These certifications are the latest in a string of recognitions achieved by the company including a two time winner of Gulf Excellence Award, two time winner of Dubai Quality Award, Gold category 2004 & 1998.

Ducab was recently honoured with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Business Excellence Award for their achievements in the manufacturing sector; this award ceremony was in the presence of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Ducab has also won other awards such as the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) Chairman's Award for Outstanding Economic Value Creation in the Industrial Sector.

For more information, please visit: www.ducab.com

About Khansaheb:
In 1935 Khansaheb became the first contractor to work in, what was then, the Trucial States. Since then Khansaheb has grown along with the United Arab Emirates to be today, one of the leading contractors in the region. While the Construction Division remains as the core of the business, the company also operates separate divisions including Joinery & Interiors, Ceilings & Partitions, Architectural and Structural Metals, Building Services, Building Products and Facilities Services.

Khansaheb have completed numerous land mark projects including the Dubai International Conference Centre, the Mall of the Emirates, Raffles Hotel Dubai and the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort.

For more information, please visit: www.ksaheb.ae

For further information please contact:
Rashad Al Ghadban
PR Account Manager
Tel: +971 4 3122 777
Mob: +97150 9682628
rashad.g@o2pr.net

© Press Release 2010