Knauf to set up Gypsum Board plant in Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Industrial Park
Knauf, one of the leading producers of building materials is laying the foundation for its first gypsum board plant in the Middle East in Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone today. H.H. Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, H.H. Shaikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the RAK FTZ Chairman and H.E. Dr. Gunther Beckstein the Prime Minister of the free state of Bavaria will attend the groundbreaking ceremony. Also present during the ceremony will be H.E. the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany Johan – Adolf Cohausz.
The plant will be operated by Knauf which is headquatered in Iphofen, Germany. Once completed, the plant, an investment of 500 million AED, will produce building materials such as gypsum boards, metal studs, channels, joint compounds, drywall accessories and plasters, for construction sites accross the UAE and the Middle East. The plant capacity will be approximately 40 million square metres of gypsum boards per year.
Michael Morgan, General Manager of Knauf llc, the group’s Middle East division said: “We are one of the leading manufacturers of drywall building materials such as gypsum boards, plasters, metal framing components, floor systems and thermal insulation materials”.
”Knauf is no longer only about gypsum boards. We have developed into a complete drywall solutions provider, we can supply all of the components and we are implementing this in the Middle East.” Says Michael Morgan. “We offer free technical specification services, on site support and training of Knauf’s certified drywall systems. Backed by a strong sales network, we also provide theoretical and hands-on training to builders as part of our quality control program”.
Mr. Oussama El Omari, CEO of RAK FTZ said: „Knauf-RAK at RAK FTZ is another significant milestone on the FTZ’s spectacular progress achieved in the past few years, where the European companies including the ones from Germany reached 31% of the total registered companies in the FZ. RAK FTZ has witnessed significant economic growth during the last period and looks set to continue this success story.“
He also stressed that the RAK FTZ’s guiding principle in attracting foreign enterpreneurs has been to adopt simple procedures and to put in place and investment friendly business environment. He added that the zone is just opening a liaison office in Germany, in the city of Cologne to attract German businesses and strengthen the coordination with German Government in trade as well as the industrial sectors.
RAK FTZ, which was awarded to be the leading Emerging Free Zone in the region for a second year as succeeded in registering almost 5000 companies including international branded companies such as Knauf, Dole, DHL and Amoun Pharmaceuticals whose business volume exeeds 10 billion AED.
More information about Knauf:
Founded in 1932 by the brothers Dr. Alfons and Dr. Karl Knauf in Germany, began as a family company has turned into a family of companies. The general idea was to introduce gypsum-based building materials so that people could build faster, better and more cost effective. Today, Mr. Baldwin Knauf and Mr. Nikolaus Knauf continue in their successful footsteps as the managing partners of today’s global corporate group with its headquarters located in Iphofen, Bavaria.
Originally a producer of conventional gypsum, Knauf has bloomed into a group of companies in the industrial sectors of drywall installations, insulation technology and plastering. With more than 150 plants spread across 41 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, USA and Latin America, a workforce of 22,000 and annual revenues of about 6 billion euros, Knauf has built up a quiet but formidable presence in the GCC market as well. With its regional, Knauf is not only active in the UAE and elsewhere in the Middle East but also supplies to markets such as India and Pakistan.
All Knauf systems in the Middle East market comply with global benchmarks as well as meet all the requirements of UAE‘s stringent construction norms. Worldwide, Knauf’s Drywall Systems comply with an array of certifications DIN 18180 (Germany), ISO 6308 (International), BS1230 (UK), EN 520 (Europe), NF 72 – 302 (France) and ASTM C36 (USA).
More about RAK Free Trade Zone:
Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone is a world-class business hub and a vehicle for industrial growht and development. The free zone was established in May 2000. With its cutting-edge technology and keen customer focus, offers on-demand and custom-built support services to investors in a cost-effective and trouble-free environment.
Ther RAK FTZ has created massive awareness internationally and succeeded in registering almost 5000 companies originating from more than 100 different nationalities.
The Free Zone’s strategic plan for the year 2008 is based on attracting commercial and industrial investments. The zone offers tremendous opportunities for investors in diverse sectors like IT, tourism, industry, health care and education. Ras Al Khaimah is currently implementing a comprehensive master plan for development which would enable the emirate to attain rapid and sustainable growth in all sectors.
The zone has already constructed new executive offices, Business centre and warehouses of different sizes which suit all types of businesses provided with state of the art infrastructure and facilities as part of the zone’s expansion plan at the Business Part and the Industrial Park.
RAK FTZ is currently constructing residential units at the Industrial Park and the Technological Part for employees of registered companies. He added that the residential units should be provided with all the necessary entertainment facilities. Companies would not have to worry about housing and would be able to focus on their core business activities.
