Rawlplug Middle East, which has witnessed a significant growth in its regional business, says sustainability is built into the entire lifecycle of its products as well as its operations.

UAE-based Rawlplug Middle East, a leading fixings specialist,  plans to boost its comprehensive line of solutions with a new range of products, including green fixings for sustainable projects and passive fire protection systems, in line with its surging business in the region.

“Sustainability is at the heart of Rawlplug’s business. We fully understand that to be a successful, effective and responsible business today and into the future, sustainability needs to permeate our whole approach to what we do and how we do it,” says a spokesperson for the company.

The company was recently nominated for the London Sustainability Award. “This represents strong recognition of our ongoing commitment to sustainability,” he says. “We are proud of the recent steps we have taken towards sustainable growth. We are the first company from our sector to do so.”

Diverse range ... Rawlbolts.

Sustainability initiated recently by the company include:

• Redesigning its packaging and distribution processes leading to a calculated yearly saving of 3,000 truck journeys and a million litres of fuel. This has reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2,800 tonnes per year as a result;

• Implementing a new packaging and labelling system. The use of high-quality, fully-recyclable corrugated cardboard in its packaging reduces the impact it has on the environment. Water-based inks and paints and varnishes derived from renewable resources eliminate the use of heavy metal and petroleum-based products. Packaging design reduces materials and ink required by incorporating user-friendly colour-coded labels containing instructions, descriptions or technical information. This innovation is measurably more efficient than its industry counterparts, according to the spokesperson;

• Introducing an environmental policy across the entire organisation. This aims to educate employees on how to help Rawlplug achieve its environmental goals by concentrating on individual environmental, as well as corporate, responsibility; and

• Contributing to the communities of which it is a part. Rawlplug supports those in need at a practical level. It also promotes, encouragse and delivers education and training to students, clients and stakeholders alike.

Sustainability is built into the entire lifecycle of Rawlplug products and operations.

Mechanical anchors insulation fixings ... from Rawlplug.

“Our business mission is to supply clients with the highest-quality products possible, and to continuously drive innovation into our products and processes. Today, the Rawlplug brand is built on a heritage of providing high-quality goods to the premium and mid-range segments of the industry. This has enabled us to establish a position of leadership in the European market.

“In what is a highly competitive global industry, we understand that both maintaining our existing position in the European market and successfully expanding into fast-growing markets will be instrumental in securing our long-term future,” says the spokesman.

“We firmly believe that our sustainability goals go hand in hand with our mission and vision for the Rawlplug business. By improving the environmental efficiency of our operations, using natural resources with greater consideration, driving sustainable processes into our production and business processes, looking after our people, and contributing positively to the communities we inhabit, we believe that we will be optimally positioned to succeed internationally for decades to come,” he remarks.

Regional operations

The UK-based Rawlplug, which has been operating in the Gulf for more than 30 years through a network of distributors,  set up its regional hub at Jebel Ali in 2006 to better serve its customers and reduce delivery time. The company has plans to expand its warehousing facility next year to cope with an increased demand for its products in the regional markets and to streamline logistic operations.

Rawlplug has witnessed 65 per cent growth during the first half of this year compared with same period last year.

“Business has been very good and we are looking at new markets in Asia for further growth,” says the spokesman.

The product range of the company – which comprises almost 30,000 line items corresponding to products and its variants – includes bonded anchors, which are offered in a wide range of systems like glass capsules, cartridges and foils, and mechanical anchors, which are metal anchors.

Commonly referred to as chemical anchors or resin anchors, bonded anchors can be split into two main groups – capsule and injections systems – both of which consist of two chambers, one filled with a polymer resin and the other with a hardener. Various resin types are available in each system from polyester to vinylester and epoxy.

Mechanical facade insulation fixings ... from Rawlplug.

Bonded anchors are used for fixing threaded rod, internally threaded sockets and rebar to many types of structure. They can be used in all structures from concrete to low-strength blockwork, including solid and hollow materials such as perforated brick, hollow block and hollow precast concrete.

Mechanical anchors, used for high-load and technical applications, are offered as throughbolts, shield anchors and heavy-duty expansion anchors.

Rawlplug also offers a wide range of façade insulation fixings including external thermal insulation composites (Etics) and insulation fixings, and frame fixings available as fixings, screws and anchors.

On the construction scenario, the spokesman says: “Given the expanding population and increased demand for housing, infrastructure and service, we expect a steady growth in the construction sector at least for the next decade.”

Rawlplug has recently been awarded key projects in the UAE including Al Fattan Plaza, Nakheel Mall, City Walk Phase Two, Hard Rock, Akoya Oxygen, Marina 106, Rotana Hotel, and Blue Waters Island.

Some of its other major projects in the region include Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Kempinski Marsa Malaz Hotel in The Pearl Qatar and Brooq Residential Tower in Dafna – all in Qatar; and Makkah Holy Haram expansion, Mataaf, Shamiya Extension Hospital, North Haram development power transmission cable in Makkah, Haramain High-Speed Rail Phase One and King Abdulaziz International Airport Development Phase One in Jeddah, all in Saudi Arabia.