22 September 2009
New machinery increases production capacity threefold to 3.5 million square metres of glass a year

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates): Emirates Glass LLC (EGL), one of the leading processors of architectural flat glass in the Middle East and a subsidiary of Glass LLC, wholly owned by Dubai Investments (DI), has announced that its new AED 100 million glass coating line has commenced operations earlier this month and is now online. The Terra G coating line is set to boost EGL's manufacturing capacity threefold up to 3.5 million square metres of flat glass products per annum.

The new coating facility began production for the first time on September 13th, 2009, the new glass coating line underwent installation at EGL's manufacturing facilities in June at the Dubai Investments Park, which also houses the company's multimillion-dirham headquarters. This production facility upgrade has been sourced from Germany and is part of an overall expansion programme worth AED 175 million as the company relocates its entire operations to the Dubai Investments Park.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Ziad Yazbeck, General Manager, Emirates Glass, said, "Expanded operations and a broadened clientele have necessitated that we undertake the expansion of our manufacturing line to support our ambitions of being in the forefront of the global glass processing industry. Our expertise has also enabled us to cement our position as a leading local supplier of semi-finished glass products to contractors."

"Through our international engagements to promote Dubai and the UAE as a glass hub in the region, we have been able to fortify our presence in foreign and emerging markets, particularly Europe. In line with this, we have started production on our first orders which will be exported to customers in South Africa and India," Mr. Yazbeck continued.

With a bed-width of 3.3 metres and a sputtering section 68 metres long containing 20 cathode-positions (15 installed initially, including 10 rotatable C-Mag type, and 5 Planar magnetron), the equipment is the largest and most sophisticated armada of machinery in the Middle East. It can manufacture, according to the strictest standards in the glass production and processing industry, a wide range of high-performance, energy-efficient glass types with high selectivity ratios, now being favoured among architects and developers throughout the region.

Furthermore, the company's dedication to supporting eco-friendly construction and sustainable development has exceeded expectations in meeting the challenges of green building principles and requirements.

"We are dedicated to providing our customers with the most technologically advanced and most energy-efficient glass products made available by modern technology today, and it is such dedication, together with our expertise, that enables Emirates Glass to overcome all forthcoming challenges," Mr. Yazbeck concluded.

-Ends-

About Emirates Glass
Emirates Glass LLC (EGL) was established by Dubai Investments PJSC in 1998 and has secured a position as one of the leading providers of energy efficient architectural glass in the Middle East with a rapidly growing market stretching from London to Hong Kong. Through the extensive EMICOOL range of sputter-coated solar control and thermal insulated glass products, Emirates Glass is able to satisfy the demands of contemporary architecture for colour, light, comfort safety and efficiency in all types of buildings and within realistic budgets.

The core operation of Emirates Glass is the application of ultra-thin metallic coatings by means of cathodic sputtering on to float glass substrates. These coatings, which comprise various combinations of Silver, Tin, Zinc, Chromium, Titanium and Stainless Steel, greatly enhance the colour and reflectivity of the glass. Thus Emirates Glass products provide impressive levels of Solar Control and Thermal Insulation (when used in double glazing) to minimize heat gain into all building types besides reducing the consumption of energy for summer cooling.

The EMICOOL range of coated, energy-efficient glass has been the market leader since its introduction nearly 10 years ago and continues to be widely specified for many of the largest projects in the Middle East.

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© Press Release 2009