Saudi Lighting Company Limited, already an important player in the manufacture, supply and installation of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures, hopes to capitalise on the numerous projects likely to be launched following the announcement of the Saudi budget.

The company, which recently expanded into hazardous lighting, the hazardous switchgear range of junction boxes and the central emergency battery back-up supply systems, plans to increase its product range and market share.

'For sure, year 2001 will have more projects coming up and this is the effect of the splendid government budget,' says marketing support manager Bandar Al Toaimi.

Saudi Lighting surpassed its business target for 2000, and has set a target of a 10 per cent increase for the current year.

The company's product range covers commercial and industrial indoor and outdoor lighting, street lighting, air-handling lighting fixtures, area (floodlight) lighting, hazardous indoor and outdoor lighting and switchgear, emergency lighting, hospital and amenities lighting and downlighters for indoor and outdoor use.

'Saudi Lighting is a forerunner in energy conservation products and cost-effective installations,' says Al Toaimi.

Saudi Lighting's laboratory conducts checks on the safety and operational efficiency of the company's products including whether they can withstand high heat, dust and rain. These processes are important for meeting the IEC 598 and Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (Saso) standards, according to Al Toaimi.

The company's products have been supplied to a range of customers including the ministries of defence and aviation, interior, education, health and transportation, Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, the Kingdom Hospital Centre, Kingdom School, the Lexus showroom, the Riyadh Biscuit Factory, Al Amer Furniture, Al Faisaliah tower, Al Megleya Commercial Complex, Al Sadhan Supermarket and Al Yamamah Printing Press.

Saudi Lighting is currently working on lighting projects for the Sabic headquarters building in Riyadh where the approximate value of the contract is SR8 million ($2.1 million), the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh (SR6 million), the King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dhahran (SR6 million) and schools of the General Presidency for Girls' Education (SR15 million).

Last year, the company completed a car-park project for the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the value of which was SR35 million. The contractor for that work was the Binladin Group. In 1989 it executed two high-value lighting projects, one of which was for the King Fahd Medical City (SR22 million) and the other for the Ministry of Interior (SR20 million).

Among other lighting projects completed in recent years were the King Fahd International Airport (SR5 million), the King Fahd Causeway approach roads to Bahrain (SR6 million), the NCCI (Abraj A'atuwenya) headquarters building (SR8 million), the Spimaco and Inara Plaza (SR3m), a slaughter house at Mina (SR3 million), the basement parking for the Al Faisaliah Tower (SR1 million), the Kingdom Academy School in Riyadh, (SR3.5 million), the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, (SR2.5 million) and the Mina tent project (SR5 million).

Established in 1978, the company has its main office and factory in Riyadh and a plant extension in Egypt.

Its branch offices are located in Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah and Khamis Mushayit, and its workforce numbers 509.