Steel Focus

Global Steel sees good pro-spects

The RMA Pipeline Equipment Plant in Bahrain was Global Steel’s biggest PEB project

Bahrain-based erection firm Global Steel Contracting expects to see its involvement in projects doubling over 2014 on the back of strong Saudi demand for steel work including pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs), an official says.

“2015 has been good for us. We have already matched 2014 in terms of projects,” said Saravanan P, Global Steel’s sales and projects executive. Saravanan expects to see a 100 per cent increase in projects by year’s end compared with 2014 and says the Saudi market is driving the surge.

In 2014, the company had won four major PEB projects compared with two in the previous year.

Global Steel is currently installing a seam roof cladding system as part of renovation work on the Saudi Causeway Tower. The work is being undertaken in conjunction with the civil engineering and building contracting firm GP Zachariades.

“We’re now working on two major projects in Saudi Arabia, whose value surpasses the combined Bahrain projects we have this year,” said Saravanan.

In Bahrain, Global Steel’s ongoing projects include the erection of PEBs and roof and wall panels for two training facilities of the Ministry of Works, two buildings for Arabian Gulf Cement and seam roof systems for Chapo and Mondelez.

The company has completed several steel erection projects over the years including ones for Alba, the Kooheji Group, Kia Motors, the Bahrain Prism Glass factory, an Agility warehouse, the Bahrain Pipe Factory, the Kuwait Trade Centre  and the German firm RMA’s Bahrain production facility.

Its involvement with the RMA Pipeline Equipment plant was its biggest PEB project. “It entailed the supply and erection of the But-ler PEB model with roofing, overhead cranes and furnace works,” said Saravanan.

Global Steel is the only authorised distributor in Bahrain of Butler Steel, an American brand which is said to be a pioneer of the PEB concept. The Bahrain firm procures parts from Butler Steel and other parties worldwide through its trading arm United Steel Prod-ucts.

United Steel receives Butler Steel products from Saudi Building Systems, a joint venture between Butler Steel and EA Juffali & Brothers which specialises in the design and production of pre-engineered steel buildings and components for commercial, industri-al and institutional applications.

Global Steel installed steel structures at the Kuwait Trade Centre building

Global Steel installed steel structures at the Kuwait Trade Centre building

Most PEBs built by Global Steel are based on the widespan structural system which, in conjunction with the Pronto order engineer-ing system, is regarded as one of the most versatile systems for such structures. It combines the proven practicality of a rigid frame with almost unlimited design flexibility, thus providing economical solutions without compromising quality.

Elaborating on some completed Bahrain projects, Saravanan said it built a refractory workshop for Alba, a body shop for Kia Mo-tors and warehouses for the Kooheji Group. It erected PEBs and roof and wall panels for Bahrain Prism Glass Factory, Bahrain Pipe Factory and an Agility facility in the Hidd area of the country.

The company also accomplished re-roofing at the Bahrain National Stadium.

Within the category of stainless steel, the company worked in Bahrain on the Platinum Tower where it fabricated and installed stainless steel cladding and a canopy as well as railings including some in glass.

Other projects in the category included the Riffa Views International School, the Al Hilal Construction Office Renovation and the Nu Asia Restaurant.

A BROAD RANGE

Global Steel has been in the erection business since 1995 and has PEBs accounting for 25 per cent of its revenues. Its activities in-clude designing, fabricating and installing structural steel units, the erection of high-rise buildings and undertaking glass interior work.

“We’re among a few in Bahrain who can erect high-rise towers. One of our achievements is the Kuwait Trade Centre, which in-volved the installation of complete steel structures for the 45-storey building. This operation used up 4,600 tonnes of steel and 26,000 sq m of metal decking,” said Saravanan.

Other projects in structural steel works it accomplished were the Four Seasons Hotel and ABG Tower at Bahrain Bay, Moda Mall at the Bahrain World Trade Centre and the LED ticker structure at the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

Steel building erections it worked on in Bahrain include the Trust Insurance office tower, the Elite tower and the Diplomat Resi-dence Apartments.

Global Steel utilises the expertise of Arabian Profiles, UAE, for total design solutions and for unexpected or difficult architectural challenges. Arabian Profiles is a premium manufacturer of panel cladding in aluminium steel and composites for roofs and facades.

When the Bahrain firm entered the promising Saudi market earlier this year it did so in conjunction with Arabian Pro-files.