Kirby Building Systems has launched several new initiatives to further automate its engineering and manufacturing systems and add new products to complement its existing line.

Kirby has  implemented the Kirby advanced automated drafting system (KADS) for PEBs after a four-year effort in association with a third party vendor, says Nabil Sliman, general manager, Kirby Building Systems Kuwait. KADS auto-generates erection drawings, shop drawings and bill of materials and production cut sheets with a quick menu driven user-friendly input.
Kirby has also implemented an ERP system throughout the company that integrates the engineering system with all other functions resulting in a totally integrated business system. All sales offices have been provided with an automated design and pricing system (Smartest), which allows Kirby’s sales engineers to provide customers with quick and cost-effective building solutions.
The company has further launched its new structural steel product line, and has delivered about 3,000 tonnes of structural steel projects last year.
Kirby structural steel program is supported by a state-of-the-art 3D drafting and manufacturing system, licensed from Europe to produce fast and accurate drawings and bill of materials for virtually any type of steel structure including high-rise buildings and power stations to international standards.
For the first time in the steel fabrication industry, Kuwait-based Kirby has launched a robotic plasma steel cutting system, which according to the company, will produce accurate structural components from plates and hot-rolled sections by directly downloading shop drawings, thereby ensuring a high-quality end product. It minimises shop errors and allows faster delivery of structural steel projects.
This system will be directly linked to the engineering drafting system through computer aided manufacturing interface (CAM), which is an advanced version of computer numerical controls (CNC), says Sliman.
In addition, the company will also be introducing large-span curved roof structures (K-span) by June. These structures will be economical and architecturally attractive for large parking sheds and storage shed applications. The curved roofing will be site-rolled without end joints using a mobile roll forming line and will have field seamed side laps to ensure weather-tightness, he says.
Kirby is certified to ISO 9001 quality certification, and is in process of updating its ISO certification to the latest version ISO 9000-2000.
These announcements of advancements in technology translate into further improvement in customer service through faster turnaround times and deliveries to customers, and offer a wider product range to meet the architectural requirements on special projects, says the spokesman.
Kirby is confident that with its relentless pursuit of latest technology and expanding product range, it will maintain its position as a leading supplier of PEB’s and structural steel projects in the industrial and commercial market segment.
Kirby Building Systems, Kuwait, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Alghanim Group of Industries, one of the largest privately-owned groups of companies in Kuwait. Kirby is a premier manufacturer of PEBs in the Middle East and has become a generic name for high quality PEBs, particularly in the Gulf region, he says.
Since 1975, Kirby has supplied over 25,000 buildings for industrial, commercial, recreational and various other applications to over 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Far East markets, and has built a reputation for its outstanding product quality and customer service, he says.
Kirby operates through an extensive distribution network of sales offices staffed with well-trained and experienced sales engineers who provide optimum building solutions to customers at their doorsteps.
Kirby certified builders in each market, complement Kirby sales offices in providing total solutions to customers from civil works, erection of Kirby steel buildings to complete turnkey services.
Kirby Building Systems also operates a state-of-the-art PEB manufacturing plant at Hyderabad, India, with a 50,000 tonnes per year capacity supplying projects to the Indian subcontinent and East Asian markets.