Armacell, a global leader in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a leading provider of engineered foams, has broken ground on its greenfield manufacturing plant in Bahrain.

Establishing a manufacturing facility in Bahrain is part of Armacell’s goal to grow the group’s manufacturing footprint in the Gulf region, said senior company officials at the ground-breaking ceremony held at the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) in the presence of Bahraini government representatives.

Starting production in 2018, the group, through Armacell Middle East Company, will manufacture a comprehensive range of products at the BIIP, including high-density materials and elastomeric insulation for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Patrick Mathieu, the president and CEO of Armacell International, said: “The greenfield construction of our own production site in Bahrain reinforces our commitment to the Gulf region, strengthening our presence in this high-growth market where we have been operating since 2008.”

“We are excited to begin our operations early next year, benefiting from Bahrain’s modern business environment, central location and world-class infrastructure,” stated Mathieu.

Located at the BIIP high quality 247-hectare business park, the plant will initially provide 100 jobs. Armacell’s Middle East team has been active in the region for a decade and is led by Neville D’Souza, general manager of Armacell Middle East Company.