Glass fibre joint venture to be set up in Bahrain

A memorandum of understanding has been signed to set up a joint venture company to produce glass fibre in Bahrain. China-based Chongqing Polycomb International Corporation (CPIC), and Abahsain Fiberglass (AFG), which produces ECR-glass fibre in Bahrain, have signed the memorandum to establish the joint venture firm to produce 200,000 tonnes of glass fibre annually in the kingdom.

AFG produces ECR-glass fibre in Bahrain.

CPIC has been in glass fibre production in China since 1970 and was the first manufacturer to produce E-glass fibre by the direct-melt process, in 1986.CPIC is the leading E-glass and ECR-glass manufacturer in China, a fast growing enterprise specialised in producing glass fibre.

AFG is part of Saleh & Abdulaziz Abahsain Company, established in 1947. AFG started the construction of an ECR-glass fibre factory in Bahrain last year in a joint venture with Glass Strand, a leading ECR technology provider from the US. The first furnace, with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes, will be fully operational in summer this year.

The joint venture will build a second 30,000 tonnes furnace this year and will have a 120,000 tonnes capacity by 2010, growing to 200,000 tonnes in 2012.

"The demand for glass fibre in the Middle East is growing rapidly, especially with the boom in construction. With this joint venture we can realise our growth strategy much faster," said S & A Abahsain director S K Maqsood."With new production locations closer to our Middle East customers, we can offer more flexibility and supply faster and more reliable than before", said CPIC president Wu Min.

"We are pleased to be associated with CPIC in glass fibre and I am confident that CPIC-Abahsain joint venture will be the leaders in glass fibre technology in the area," said S & A Abahsain group of companies, president and chief executive officer Abdullah Abahsain.