YTong to help slash energy costs

A Dh100-million factory coming up in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah Industrial Area to manufacture autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks and panels will provide 'futuristic' material for buildings leading to enormous savings in energy costs.

YTong Emirates, promoted by the newly set up Bina Group, led by Sheikh Nahyan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, has secured certification from the General Industries Corporation.

Construction will start in early 2002 of 160,000 cubic metres per year rising to 270,000 cubic metres from the second year. Some 70 per cent of the production will be panels and 30 per cent blocks that can be used in construction of buildings.

"It is a strategic material for the future because buildings constructed with such material can save 50 per cent in terms of airconditioning. The material used for producing panels and blocks protects the building from heat," said Saud Abdul Karim, general manager, Bina Group.

YTong Germany and YTong Turkey will be involved in the construction of the factory.

Production will start in the latter half of 2003 with the raw material to be imported from Turkey.

The construction material is obtained by hardening the mixture of quartzite, aluminium powder, lime, sand, cement and water.

"The system is widely used by building developers in many countries and is beneficial in places where extreme climatic conditions prevail as in Gulf countries," he said.

Also, it insulates heat and is non-flammable, light and usable.

For starters, the factory will be built with AAC and demand is expected from developers of villas, schools, hospitals, industrial warehouses, etc.

"We are hopeful the government will become our biggest customer because of the energy saving factor which the government is serious about."

The time for construction will also be lesser, by some 50-70 per cent, when this material is used as there will be no curing time.

YTong is among Europe's best-known and leading building material brands and more than 5 million cubic metres of the product is used in residential and commercial buildings every year in 24 countries.