What does ‘Saudi Made’ mean to WP Refrigeration from a strategic business perspective, as showing a commitment to the Kingdom’s stated objectives of manufacturing in the country and putting products within immediate reach of customers?

‘Saudi Made’ is the process of localising technology. It is about taking advantage of local expertise, resources and experiences. And it is about integrating them with advanced technology and the long experience of Bitzer Germany. All of these to achieve customised products that perfectly suit the requirements of the Kingdom and the surrounding region, support the national economy and seek to be the best choice for customers.

How will the factory fuel the growing HVACR needs of the Kingdom, in line with the vast scale and diversity of projects being announced in the Kingdom?

The selection of units and products has focused on the field of commercial and industrial refrigeration, and production will move gradually and according to stages studied with Bitzer Germany, so that it covers the market need in all applications.

What is the profile of products that would be manufactured initially? And what is the long-term vision in terms of a wider range of products, as and when necessary?

The beginning was with outdoor condensing units of all types, air-cooled and water-cooled, and we are now working on launching high-efficiency units, such as Ecostar and Ecolite, in addition to central racks, and we continue to expand to industrial racks.

Does having the factory in Saudi Arabia mean being able to manufacture products that meet region-specific requirements?

Of course, we study the needs of the local market and surrounding markets and work to meet them.

Does the factory include a testing facility that would apply region[1]specific testing and certification parameters?

In the factory, the testing and quality control processes necessary for the products are applied exactly with the same technology and precision that is used in Bitzer Germany. As for the efficiency tests for new products, they are carried out in cooperation with local and international laboratories.

What convenience will the factory offer to WP Refrigeration’s base of existing and potential customers in terms of availability of mission-critical spare parts and overall aftermarket services? The factory includes the main service centre licensed by Bitzer, called Green Point, which is staffed by engineers and technicians who were trained in Bitzer facilities. The factory also contains a special warehouse for the necessary genuine spare parts.

What would be the range and depth of the aftermarket services to customers, given the proximity to them?

We have specialised and trained teams to carry out maintenance work during and after the warranty period, in addition to the high technical ability to evaluate the condition of existing refrigeration systems and give recommendations to improve their performance.

Would the factory supply only to Saudi Arabia, or is the intent to supply to the broader GCC region?

The factory was launched to mainly meet the Saudi market, and with the increase in production capacity, we seek to cover the countries of the region.

What does the collaboration with Bitzer include in terms of transfer of cutting-edge manufacturing technological knowhow?

This project is completely based on the partnership with Bitzer, starting from design and transfer of technological knowledge to operation, training, supervision and application of quality requirements. Bitzer supplies all basic production components that ensure the highest levels of operating and energy efficiency.

What is the built-up area of the factory? Is there scope to expand at the very same site, as per growing needs?

The factory is based on an area of more than 7,000 square metres, equipped with a supporting storage area, and there is a plan to expand in the same industrial area on an area of more than 10,000 square metres.