Corus International expands presence in Gulf construction sector
11 Jul 2006
Corus International is investing in a new facility to produce metal decking profiles at its Middle East base in Dubai. The move enables the business to continue with its growth plan by enhancing its packaging of steel products and services for construction projects in the region.
Corus will produce two steel decking profiles, CF46 and the deeper CF80, at its site in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The profiles offer advantages to engineers in that they allow for long spans of up to 4.5m between beams, reducing the use of hot rolled sections in the structure. Both products are certified by the SCI (Steel Construction Institute) in the UK for composite action and fire resistance and will enable Corus to produce the first fire-rated steel composite decking in the middle-east – which up until now has had to be imported.
Corus International, with 69 sites around the world, currently operates in the Gulf States through its Dubai headquarters in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It holds projects’ stock in Doha, Qatar and in Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has a strong history in supplying steel packages with a high service content for construction such as multi-storey buildings, airports and shopping malls.
Bob Fletcher, General Manager, Commercial commented: “As the need for taller buildings here increases, so too will demand for steel structures. What this investment now means is that we are able to offer existing and new customers a locally manufactured flooring solution to complement their requirement for steel in the main structure of the building. This is the first time this product has been manufactured in the region.”
Manufacturing of the new product is set to begin in August 2006.
Corus Group Plc (LSE/AEX: CS; NYSE: CGA) is one of the world’s largest metal producers with annual turnover of over £10 billion and major operating facilities in the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium. Corus’ four divisions comprising Strip Products, Long Products, Distribution & Building Systems and Aluminium provide innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, rail, general engineering and packaging markets worldwide. Corus has 47,300 employees in over 40 countries and sales offices and service centres worldwide. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength.
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For further information, please contact:
Annanya Sarin, Corporate Relations, Tel. +44 (0) 20 7717 4532
