Mabani Steel has already been contracted for 64 pre-engineered steel building (PEB) projects within six months of having launched commercial production and is eagerly waiting to get its expansion projects on stream to cater to the growing demand for its products.

Of these supply-only and supply-and-erection projects, the Ras Al Khaimah-based specialist in design, manufacture and erection of PEBs has already completed 23 supply projects and six supply-and-erection contracts.
The company is set to complete the construction of its new 2,000 tonnes per month structural steel fabrication (SSF) facility next month (December), with commercial production of hot rolled steel structures (structural steel) expected to commence in January. 
This apart, Mabani Steel is also expanding its head office building by 50 per cent or 1,000 sq m to accommodate the additional engineering requirements of the structural steel fabrication unit and those of an identical factory that it is planning to construct in Saudi Arabia next year.
Mabani Steel currently produces 2,500 tonnes of PEBs per month, which is expected to rise to 6,000 tonnes by next July as the engineering department and the PEB factory are gradually staffed to achieve the targeted levels.
Says Muayyad Khudairi, president of Mabani Steel: “All the covered space, material handling systems and equipment to achieve our monthly targeted production capacity of 6,000 tonnes of PEBs and 2,000 tonnes of hot rolled steel structures will be in place by December this year. Our challenge now is staffing. We have made a decision to recruit only experienced steel engineers and detailers and we are progressing well in this effort.
“However, there is a shortage of experienced fabricators in this region and in Asia and this is delaying our earlier goal of achieving full PEB production capacity by January 2008.  We are now hiring structural steel fabricators and training them in PEB and we are confident that we can achieve our full PEB production capacity of 6,000 tonnes by July 2008.”
He continues: “Mabani Steel owns the most sophisticated and the most automated shot blasting and painting equipment in this region and has dedicated an entire 4,000 sq m building for this activity. The equipment we bought enables us to meet the demand for the highest end multi-coat epoxy and polyurethane paint system that are often specified by consultants in this region.”
Mabani Steel claims the distinction of being the only PEB manufacturer in this region that complies fully with the latest US codes applicable to steel buildings.  The company offers erection services for its products in the UAE and employs 150 erectors for this activity.
It markets its products through sales offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and welcomes enquiries for PEBs and structural steel from general contractors, specialised PEB contractors, consultants and owners.
“We promise potential customers a level of transparency and performance that is unmatched in this region,” Khudairi concludes.