Supporting the region s diverse industries

The Kongdom of Saudi Arabia has a thriving plastics industry supporting the growth of other industries, sectors. International Plastics News - Middle East (IRNE) talked to Abrar Ahmed, Marketing & Sales Manager - Infrastructure Management (IM) Business Unit of Zamil Plastic Industries Limited (ZPIL) on the company's operations and its various products.

IRNE: Zamil Plastic Industries Limited is one of the leaders in the plastics manufacturing industry in the region. What are the products that made their mark in this highly competitive industry?
Ahmed: Zamil Plastics Industries Limited (ZPIL) is part of the Zamil Group Holding Co., a leading industrial group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company has established itself as one of the Middle East regions' largest plastic converters. While our product line is continually being developed to meet customers' needs, we currently provide custom-moulded products such as electrical appliance parts for airconditioners, sewing machine carriers, containers for chemicals, paints and adhesives; plastics products for household and consumer applications; as well as preforms and closures for mineral water, carbonated beverages bottles. Basically, we cater to chemicals, food & beverage, automotive and airconditioning industries.

Around 90% of the automotive parts, engineering and industrial products that we produce are intended for the local market, while 10% are exported. As one of the pioneers in the industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ZPIL has achieved prestige in plastics manufacturing over the years and has captured a major share in both regional and international markets through sustained growth and commitment to provide customers with quality products, prompt service, innovations and cost-effective solutions.

IRNE: What are the new trends in the production of plastics products today that your company has adopted?

Ahmed: ZPIL started its operations in 1980 with only three machines and today, we have three manufacturing divisions equipped with more than 150 machines to convert a wide range of products using different plastic processing technologies. We now have three divisions: Extrusion & Thermoforming Division; Injection & Blow Moulding Division; and Polyethylene Terephthalate. All these divisions serve the needs of our customers for high-quality products.

Our company optimises the efficiency of sophisticated technology on multi-cavitation injection moulding and automation. Automation and process optimisation have helped maintain our price and quality competitiveness.

Since we recognise that the packaging requirements today are fast changing, ZPIL continuously seeks ways to improve existing product lines and develop new ones. This is achieved not only through research and development but also through investment in more advanced technology and production equipment. We have advanced injection moulding technology from France, Switzerland, Canada and the Far East.

We are also on the lookout for new raw materials which we choose based on our customers?requirements for their products and their specific quality standards. We currently import 60% of our raw materials from Europe and the Far East, and 40% from Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) as SABIC does not produce engineering materials locally.

"ZPIL is now equipped with 150 machines to convert a wide range of products using different plastic processing technologies. Automation and process optimization have helped us maintain our competitieness." Abrar Ahmed

We have also been complying with known international standards and obtained ISO 9001: 2000 & HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point ) certificates since 1996. It is ZPIL's policy to improve and update regularly our compliance with international standards for thNike Air Max 90 Women