Dubai: Kuwait-owned Proclad Group will open a $25-million manufacturing facility in Singapore, home to the world's third largest oil refining industry.
Proclad, which operates major facilities in Abu Dhabi and Scotland, is a leading engineering, manufacturing and service provider for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.
Its new factory at Jurong Industrial Estate will add to Proclad's existing capacity and serve the burgeoning Asian, Australian and Chinese markets.
"This investment is in line with our global strategy of getting closer to our customers. Our Asian client base boasts of industry heavyweights who require our products and services on their doorstep," said Yaseen M Jaffer, chief executive officer of Proclad Group.
"Historically, the Asian market has been serviced by our Middle East and European factories, but with the Singapore plant we will be able to cut down on delivery lead times," he added.
The 5,000-square-metre state-of-the-art facility, due to go into production on June 1, will feature the latest in technology and manufacturing.
To be operated by 50 engineers and senior technicians, the closed-shed, fully air-conditioned plant houses the latest computer numerical control (CNC) and machines capable of handling every piping industry requirement and specification.
Proclad Singapore will provide a full range of technologies, products and services, including manufacturing of weld clad pipe and pipeline components, induction bending of unclad and clad pipe, forged standard and clad fittings and specialist CNC machining services, engineering design, project management and consultancy.
Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, will inaugurate the plant at the end of this month.
With manufacturing facilities in Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific and supported by a global network of sales offices staffed by experienced managers and engineers, Proclad is, in terms of capacity, currently the largest pipe cladding company in the world.
Following the Singapore foray, Proclad has plans to open a similar plant in Kuwait. Spread over 7,500 square metres and to be staffed by 70 people, this facility will also serve the Iraqi market.
