Saint-Gobain Isover to support the Alghanim Industries plant with its REX process technology

First Saudi Insulation Manufacturing Company (FSIMC), a company owned by Alghanim Industries, plans to launch a new stone wool manufacturing facility in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. FSIMC will manufacture a variety of stone wool products for thermal and acoustic insulation with the support of Saint-Gobain Isover (France), and using its latest state-of-the-art REX process technology.

The plant is expected to be commissioned in 2013 and will serve both the industrial and building segments. “The manufacturing facility in Yanbu will have an installed capacity of 64,000 tonnes and serve markets in Saudi Arabia, as well as those in the other GCC states, Egypt, Iraq and Levant,” says a spokesman for the company.

With the support of Saint-Gobain Isover (France), FSIMC will manufacture a variety of stone wool products for thermal and acoustic insulation. The facility will complement Alghanim Industries’ two stone wool facilities in India, which have a total installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes. The production of stone wool insulation in Yanbu will also enable the regional construction sector to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials. The spokesman says stone wool insulation products can play a key role in the successful development of ‘green’ building solutions with great energy savings for Saudi Arabia and improved living comfort for the people. “This investment will also create valuable jobs for Saudi nationals,” he adds.

“We would like to acknowledge and thank the strategic planning and investment development team of the Royal Commission of Yanbu for the strong support provided both for the industrial land as well as for the associated utilities that are necessary to build and operate this greenfield manufacturing facility,” the spokesman states.

Apart from FSIMC, Alghanim Industries and Saint-Gobain also have a joint venture in Turkey known as Izocam, which has been producing stone wool products since 2006. The installed capacity of the facility, which operates under Saint-Gobain Isover licensed technology, is expected to reach 75,000 tonnes this year.

Izocam manufactures stone wool, glass wool and other insulation products, and exports to markets in the Middle East, Far East, Europe, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Saint-Gobain Isover is a division of Saint-Gobain, which designs, manufactures and distributes building materials. According to the company, it provides innovative solutions to meet growing demand for energy efficiency and for environmental protection. The company recorded 2011 sales of €40.1 billion ($52.57 billion) and has more than 189,000 employees worldwide in 64 countries.

Alghanim Industries, a major privately owned company, has operations in 40 countries with established strongholds in the Middle East, India and Turkey. Its operations also extend to Eastern Europe, Africa, East Asia and Southeast Asia. The multi-billion-dollar conglomerate has more than 30 businesses and over 300 brand affiliations. The group has a strong international insulation manufacturing presence through Kimmco, Rockwool India Limited and Izocam.