Manufacturing

Jörg de la Motte and Dr. Michael Löbig. (Image source: HIMA Group)

The HIMA Group, a family-owned business and a provider of safety-related automation solutions, has marked a successful financial year in its history with the conclusion of the 2023 fiscal year. The company plans to further expand its global presence and solution portfolio for the process industry and railway technology.

In 2023, HIMA achieved sales of 151.4 million euros, reflecting an organic growth of 12%. The acquisition of Sella Controls in February 2023 contributed to an overall sales increase of 20%.

Expanding global presence and reach

The HIMA Group is steadily advancing its international expansion. Building on last year's acquisition of Sella Controls in the UK, the HIMA Group further extended its reach by acquiring Norwegian technology company Origo Solutions in February 2024.

HIMA has received a significant order from the Norwegian energy company Equinor to supply equipment for both onshore and offshore plants. The development of the SCADA+ system by Origo Solutions has broadened HIMA's expertise into renewable energy.

The company's presence has grown with new locations in Saudi Arabia and expanded operations in Slovakia and the Middle East. A new subsidiary in India is set to open by the end of this year. In regions where HIMA lacks a direct presence, the company is expanding its partner program to enhance engineering and support capabilities through qualified partners.

Advanced solutions

HIMA has seen success in various sectors, including new rail projects in the UK, Italy, and India. The railway industry, alongside the process industry, remains a key market for HIMA. Thanks to Sella Controls, the company's product and solution portfolio has grown, leading to new projects such as an overspeed prevention system in the UK, which automatically reduces rail vehicle speed and enables driver monitoring. Additionally, HIMA's safety controllers are securing the earthing system in Italy's high-speed train tunnel "Galleria Ceraino," operating fully automatically and remotely in compliance with SIL 4 standards. A partnership has been established with an Indian company to develop the Automatic Train Protection System ("Kavach").

"Our growth strategy, which is based on the digitalisation of functional safety with added value in parallel with international expansion, paid off in 2023," says Jörg de la Motte, CEO of the HIMA Group. 

"HIMA continued to grow profitably in 2023 – for our shareholders this is a good basis for further investments," adds Dr. Michael Löbig, CFO of the HIMA Group. By region, Europe dominates the business of the HIMA Group with a 55% share of sales. This is followed by Asia (20%) and the Middle East (17%). The Americas account for 8% of sales.

Global demand for aluminium is expected to grow by 50% to 80% by 2050. (Image source: EGA)

EGA has published its Green Finance Framework to support decarbonisation projects and initiatives that contribute to a low-carbon economy. The company also announced that its recent acquisition of the European specialty foundry Leichtmetall was fully financed through EGA’s first green loan facility.

The Green Finance Framework outlines eligibility and governance mechanisms for financing from third-party institutions and funds that prioritise sustainability in their capital allocation, among other sources.

By publishing this framework, EGA advances its sustainability goals by accessing a broader range of funding options for loans and bonds. This can potentially lower borrowing costs and ensure greater transparency.

Citi and ING served as the lead sustainability structuring banks, while First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) acted as the sustainability structuring bank to assist EGA in developing the framework.

EGA has publicly committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

Global demand for aluminium is expected to grow by 50% to 80% by 2050. Recycled and low-carbon primary aluminium are anticipated to account for about 60% of supply growth between now and 2030, and approximately 70% between 2030 and 2040.

EGA completed the acquisition of Leichtmetall in May. Leichtmetall uses renewable energy to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of aluminium billets annually at its German plant, with secondary aluminium comprising about 80% of the input material.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, said, “The aluminium EGA produces plays an essential role in the development of a more sustainable society. It is also important how sustainably it is produced. This is both an enormous opportunity and a significant challenge for EGA and our wider industry. Our Green Finance Framework enables us to access a deeper pool of liquidity to finance projects and initiatives that advance our decarbonisation goals. Our use of green financing for our recent acquisition of Leichtmetall is another first for EGA in our sustainability journey.”

The plant site in Kuwait. (Image source: ASCO)

Wet processing experts CDE and Kuwaiti construction company Associated Construction Company (ASCO) are collaborating on their fourth project.

The investment by ASCO, in its fourth CDE solution, a new M-Series modular sand washing plant, comes as its first, an M2500 commissioned back in 2013, records an impressive over 54,000 operating hours – equivalent to over six years of uninterrupted operation.

ASCO sand division manager, Khaled Nasr said, “Over a decade on and our original investment remains a vital part of our operation. Its efficiency and reliability has remained totally consistent and we’re running the same volume of material in 2024 as we were in 2013. The plant has exceeded all of our expectations and created the backdrop for what has become a really important partnership with the team at CDE.”

Over the coming weeks, CDE will commission its fourth M-Series wash plant for ASCO, a new M4500 with a processing capacity of up to 180 tonnes per hour.

When commissioned, it will complement three generations of CDE M-Series wash plants, including an M2500, M3500, and M4500, all of which were commissioned between 2013 and 2021.

Running in parallel with one another, the three pre-existing CDE plants produce an estimated three million tonnes of sand and aggregates for concrete production every year, a figure which is expected to rise to over four million tonnes when ASCO’s second M4500 plant is fully operational.

CDE’s CustomCare Manager, Sena Biswas, said, “To chart the history of this longstanding partnership is to also chart the evolution of our equipment. We’re wholeheartedly committed to ensuring our customers keep pace with the demands of the market. The relationship we have with ASCO is testament to that, as through it we can demonstrate how our responsive aftercare service helps to get the most out of a plant and how we are continually innovating our washing solutions to build capacity and integrate the latest technology.”

Ras Al Khaimah Ruler inaugurates Sobha Modular Industries new manufacturing facility in the Emirate. (Image source: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone)

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, a member of the UAE Supreme Council and the sovereign of Ras Al Khaimah, has recently presided over the opening of the new Sobha Modular Industries manufacturing plant in Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah

Sobha Modular Industries, a branch of the Sobha Group, is engaged in the production of aluminium facades and bathroom pods, employing state-of-the-art AI-driven CNC machinery and robotics within its 250,000 m2 premises. The facility currently has a daily production capacity of 50 pods, with intentions to increase this number to 100 by the end of the year. It also has a daily output of 1,800 m2 in aluminium products, with significant enhancements on the agenda. Additionally, the establishment is poised to generate over 3,000 new jobs in the area, bolstering local employment prospects.

Sobha group founder and chairman PNC Menon said, “We are delighted to announce the inauguration of Sobha Modular Industries, our latest venture poised to revolutionise the regional manufacturing sector in UAE. The grand inaugural ceremony of Sobha Modular Industries was graced by the esteemed presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, which reflects the project’s vital role in bolstering the region’s economic and industrial capabilities. Moreover, it serves as a stellar exemplification of Sobha Group’s unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability.”

Ravi Menon, co-chairman of Sobha Group, remarked, “We are elated to announce the launch of Sobha Modular Industries, a world-class facility offering advanced production capabilities to positively transform the regional manufacturing landscape. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for sharing his noble vision for the future and being a part of the inaugural ceremony. The innovative venture aims to facilitate ubiquitous development of local industries while augmenting the manufacturing landscape.”

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We are thrilled to welcome Sobha Modular Industries to Ras Al Khaimah. This new facility is not just an expansion of our industrial capacity; it embodies our strategic vision to attract and nurture top-tier global enterprises within our emirate, where manufacturing makes up one-third of the overall GDP. The company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and commitment to sustainability exemplify the innovation we aim to foster. Furthermore, it underscores Ras Al Khaimah’s role as a prime destination for innovative and sustainable industrial development. We are committed to supporting their growth and are confident that their success will inspire further industrial innovation in the region.”

Ras Al Khaimah offers an advantageous manufacturing environment, marked by strategic access to vital raw materials and a compelling cost-value investment proposition, making it an ideal setting for Sobha Group’s new venture to thrive.

Francis Alfred, the managing director of Sobha Realty, expressed, “With heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for his support, we proudly inaugurate Sobha Modular Industries, a significant step towards innovation and excellence in construction. With state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to sustainability, Sobha Modular aims to revolutionise the construction sector. Our partnership with RAKEZ has been vital, and we appreciate their unwavering support. This step further reinforces our market presence and reaffirms our commitment to the highest quality and customer satisfaction. We aim to set new benchmarks for excellence in the manufacturing industry.”

Sobha Modular Industries has exciting expansion plans in Ras Al Khaimah not just to boost production capacities, but also support Sobha Group’s strategy for backward integration.