Riyadh-based fabricator Dar Metal Industries attributes “constant growth” in the Saudi construction sector for a surge in its sales turnover.

It reported its sales climbed to SR40 million ($10.6 billion) in 2010 against SR30 million in the previous year.

The company fabricates and installs architectural and structural steel items, composite cladding products, curtain walls and skylights in its three factories.

Curtainwall facades and cladding contributed to 60 per cent of the business with structural steel work accounting for the remainder, said production-in-charge Bong Briones.

Dar Metal does not take up overseas projects as adequate opportunities exist in the kingdom but has plans to accept foreign contracts sometime in the future, Briones said.

The company expanded its production capabilities in 2010 by adding a new CNC router machine and a milling machine and is on a drive to recruit 50 technicians, the official said. The additional staff will be required because this year the company plans to buy a 12 m bed CNC router machine, nearly twice as large as the one it installed last year, as well as other equipment.

The company has kept its operations cost effective by procuring steel in bulk from within the country. Standard aluminium profiles are ordered locally but overseas suppliers are tapped if required systems are not readily available within Saudi Arabia. Composite cladding material is imported directly from Dar Metal’s suppliers.

Ongoing projects
Its ongoing projects include Al Qasser Mall in Riyadh, Jizan Mall in Jizan and Ministry of Higher Education projects in Hail, Jizan and Hafar Al Baten.

The company is also working on a seven-story structure called Platinum Building in Riyadh which will house commercial offices and a 10-storey structure for residences in Jeddah called Platini Building.  All these projects will be completed by the end of this year.

The company’s main shareholders are Ayman Tuwaijri, a Saudi national, and US citizen Mohammed Salman, who serves as the general manager.