Italian water heater maker Ariston Thermo opened its manufacturing plant in Bahrain last month, marking its first industrial operation in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

The 7,000-sq-m plant located in the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) in Hidd was inaugurated by Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani in the presence of Italian ambassador Domenico Bellato and Ariston Thermo Rapid Development Countries and Americas director Dr Carlo Andreatini.

The new plant will have a capacity to manufacture up to 250,000 storage electric water heaters branded Ariston, which will be mainly marketed in the Mena region, Andreatini revealed.

In the initial phase, Ariston will manufacture about 100,000 units and will gradually ramp up its production based on the market response. The company will, however, continue to import its large commercial water heaters through its trading partners.

A leading company in the water heating and heating industry, Ariston Thermo group has 26 production sites in 15 countries in addition to 65 operating companies and five representative offices in 38 countries.

The company had been looking for a location for its production site in the region since 2010 but finally zeroed in on Bahrain’s BIIP, stated Andreatini.

Speaking at the launch, Alzayani said: “The selection of BIIP for Ariston’s first manufacturing facility in the region demonstrates the quality of the location and the competitive advantages which Bahrain has to offer to global companies.”

Alzayani pointed out that the project was an important one for Bahrain as it met several key objectives, enabling the growth and diversification of the country’s economy, as well as creating quality skilled jobs for Bahrainis in the fields of engineering and business. The plant currently employs about 50 people.

With the new production site in Bahrain, Ariston hopes to boost its presence in the region, where it claims the brand has already been leading the water heating category for many years.

“We have a significant market share in the Mena region and our aim is not just to market it in this region but also to a larger area,” Andreatini added.