Specialist cables firm to receive critical funds injection under Middle East ownership
Dubai - UAE, March 6, 2014: Ducab, a leading United Arab Emirates-based cables manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of AEI Cables, one of the oldest cable makers in the world. AEI, a specialist cable manufacturer, will immediately expand Ducab's cables and wires product range, give Ducab access to specialised expertise, and also provide a point of entry into the European market with a broader range of certified and type-approved products.
The acquisition of the company, which is based near Newcastle in North-Eastern England, includes all the manufacturing assets of the business as well as 200 experienced employees.
Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, Chairman Ducab, said: "Given our growth strategy, we have evaluated many opportunities, and AEI Cables is the right fit for what we see as the direction of the market - not just in the Middle East but beyond as well."
"This is an especially strategic acquisition for Ducab as we have seen the demand growing for specialist cables in the region, and through AEI Cables, we will be able to fast-track the expertise development in our factories in the UAE", he added.
Ducab's MD Andrew Shaw said: "Our intention is to reinvigorate the operations at AEI Cables, and to expand both home and export sales. This is our first plant overseas, and the expertise of the staff, the library of certifications and approvals, the strong client-base and the market reputation of AEI have all played key roles in our decision".
"The focus of the company will continue to be the manufacture of cables for the industrial sector including Defence, Construction, Rail and Oil and Gas with particular emphasis on fire performance products", he added.
AEI currently serves a number of industrial market sectors including defence ship-building, mining, rubber industrial, rail (over and underground), tunnels, air-field lighting, shipping and offshore.
About Ducab www.ducab.com
Ducab is a leading provider of copper cabling products and is the first choice for many prestigious contractors due to its record of quality and customer service.
Jointly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai and the Senaat (General Holding Corporation), Abu Dhabi, Ducab operates five manufacturing facilities in the UAE with capacity of over 115,000 copper tonnes per annum. The company's product range includes High Voltage cables up to 400kV, 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 FlamBICC (Fire Resistant Cables), cable components and cable accessories. Ducab also operates 110,000 tonnes per annum capacity copper rod plant and has recently announced a new Aluminium rod plant in Abu Dhabi.
Ducab is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company and is also certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety issued by BASEC (British Approval Services for Cables). Ducab cables are also approved by the Loss Prevention Certificate Board (LPCB) and Lloyd's Register, UK.
© Press Release 2014
