German fire protection manufacturers Audax-Keck GmbH revealed its plans to build business in the Middle East and release a new passive fire protection product at The Big 5 exhibition in Dubai in November 2013
Speaking to Technical Review Middle East, Audax, which specialises in high-performance passive fire protection paints as well as floor-coating compounds and protective films for glass and windows, wants to take advantage of the business opportunities it sees opening up in the GCC region.
Audax managing director Gunther Keck said that his company, which has worked in the Middle East for more than 20 years and already works with agents in Dubai and Qatar, intends to settle with agencies in neighbouring countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
"There is a big potential. In Saudi construction is quite big, the growth is much more than the average here in the region," he explained, adding that he is also looking to Iran. "It seems that a new era is starting, [...] there is some good hope that the sanctions will be lifted soon, making the business easier and this means also that there is a big potential."
With Dubai now hosting the World Expo 2020, Audax has considered the effects this could have in the UAE and Dubai.
"This will boost business very much, there will be a lot of new construction and a lot of investments so this will effect the market positively," Keck said.
Keck also revealed that the company is set to release a new product, suitable for the oil and gas sector and resistant to hydrocarbon fires. Currently undergoing tests, it is expected to be ready by summer 2014.
"We are continuously developing and improving our materials for better application, easier application and we're moving to environmentally-friendly products so they can meet the LEED requirements and we're also working on using less material for the same retardation time," Keck added.
Previously Audax has worked with paint applicators on large projects, such as the New Doha International Airport in Qatar where it has delivered paints for one of the largest A380 hangars in the world. The company has been working on a ferry terminal in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it started supplying its passive fire protection solutions earlier this year.
