02 April 2008
Leading region for waterproofing and thermal insulation solutions in line with 'Green Buildings' initiative

Henkel Polybit, a leading manufacturer of waterproofing products and allied construction chemicals, has reported increased regional demand for its products with 40% growth year end 2007. The company - a joint venture between Germany's Henkel KGaA and the UAE's Polybit Industries - has also revealed its plans for further investment in the region with the opening of two new manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"The current dynamic environment of investment and development in the Middle East, with the increasing demand for building adhesives and insulation solutions, is fuelling our phenomenal growth.  The United Arab Emirates in particular is a key focus for us," said Alois Linder, Henkel's Executive Vice President.

"We have achieved significant success since launching our joint venture operation in 2006, exceeding all initial expectations. By leveraging Polybit's 20 years of local knowledge and experience, we have been able to create maximum awareness and demand for Henkel's global product portfolio throughout the region."

Recent new business wins for the company encompass the installation of the world's largest parquet flooring for the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai and a world-leading thermal insulation solution for the Palm Jumeirah's Atlantis Hotel.

"This is the largest parquet job in the world and equivalent to covering 18 football pitches. We competed against a host of the world's best adhesive producers and have been awarded the Burj Dubai contract to supply the full substrate preparation and adhesives for an impressive 92,000 square metres of flooring," said Mohammed Salem Mohd Al Melehy, Henkel Polybit's Chairman.

In addition to the Burj Dubai project, Henkel Polybit had also been awarded an AED 2.6 million contract to supply and apply the external thermal insulation for the façade of the Atlantis Hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.  The company was given the contract, which is currently executed utilising Henkel's External Insulation Façade System (EIFS), after demonstrating the aesthetic and functional superiority of the system compared to other market solutions.

"Henkel Polybit is the only GCC company able to offer full thermal and waterproofing encapsulations for entire buildings, starting from the foundations to the walls and the roof itself, and we are committed to providing sustainability and safe energy solutions," explained Melehy.

"These solutions are vital to increasing energy efficiencies of buildings and decreasing the environmental impact of carbon emissions, in line with the January 2008 'Green Building' initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai."

In answer to increasing regional demand for its products, Henkel Polybit has opened a new construction chemicals manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia this month, which will produce waterproofing membranes and thermal insulation products.   

Construction is also currently underway on an additional powder adhesives plant in Abu Dhabi.  The company provides training to enhance the skill base of its workforce and will open a new dedicated training and education facility in Dubai in 2009.

"Henkel Polybit has proven beyond a doubt that we are the industry leaders for waterproofing products and allied construction chemicals, and we expect continued forward momentum in our future growth," continued Al Melehy.

"Our aim is to maintain our superior products and solutions portfolio, such as EIFS and total building envelope systems, and continue investing in the regional manufacturing industry and in developing the skills of construction personnel."

-Ends-

About Henkel Polybit
Henkel Polybit is a leading manufacturer of waterproofing products and allied construction chemicals. Since its inception two years ago, Henkel Polybit has burgeoned into a successful organisation which believes in creating quality products which are effective solutions available to our customer at the best cost result ratio.

Henkel Polybit, a division of Henkel AG (Germany), has grown exponentially and today houses manufacturing facilities in different parts of the world catering to the varied needs of the construction industry.

A bitumen membrane manufacturer initially, Henkel- Polybit today has a comprehensive range of products which include a wide range of waterproofing materials, sealants and concrete related products like epoxy coatings, polyurethane floorings, grouts and adhesives etc.

Although an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, Henkel Polybit believes in the fact that a product is perfect only when applied properly and to realize this has extensively involved in training application personnel through in-house trainings, product seminars and site demonstration

Working hand in hand with leading consultants, construction authorities and chemical manufacturers, Henkel Polybit is ardently working to find and improve products and solutions to lead the global construction industry.Henkel Polybit's vision is to become the world's leading and most competitive enterprise for thermal and moisture protection systems.

For further media inquiries please contact:-
Kamal Zain al Din,
MCS/Action
Mobile: +971 50 482 3371
Email: kamal.z@actionprgroup.com

© Press Release 2008