Aujan plant fizzes into action

Dubai: Saudi soft drinks manufacturer Aujan Industries has opened a Dh200 million plant in the Dubai Investment Park (DIP).

The company's owner says the plant is just one of several expansion projects in the region. Chairman Adel Aujan told Gulf News Aujan will launch a $40 million plant in Iran in next year and spend another $50 million (Dh183 million) to expand its main factory in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The focus will be on gaining extra production capability in order to respond to growing market requirements.

"Aujan exports 60 per cent of its production. The new manufacturing plant reflects regional expansion ambitions. The facility will enable us to maintain product quality as well as distribute our products efficiently and economically to our regional customers," he added.

Aujan Industries currently claims an annual capacity of more than 300 million litres and one billion cans or bottles of soft drinks. The new technologically advanced DIP plant, which opened on Thursday, will boost the company's manufacturing capacity by more than 50 per cent.

The Aujan facility at DIP currently operates two production lines: one for cans and the other for non-returnable bottles enabling the plant to manufacture up to 30 million cases per year.

An additional third line will be put in place over the next 18 months. And fourth and fifth lines will be added over the next two years taking the overall manufacturing capacity to 50 million cases.

For the first time in the region, the new facility will enable Aujan to produce its popular malt-based beverage Barbican. Since the acquisition of the trademark 20 years ago, Aujan has imported the product from contract manufacturers in Europe. The manufacturing plant currently employs 105 people who include office, administration, process, production, warehouse, and quality as well as maintenance personnel.

The staff numbers allow the plant to operate nonstop. The company is also a distributor for Cadbury, Wrigley's and Unilever.