UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Ducab takes lead on making rubber cables

The power cable maker made the disclosure as it reported a 10 % rise in profits last year over 2011. The company is jointly owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai, a sovereign wealth fund owned by the Dubai Government, and Senaat, an Abu Dhabi state-owned industrial holding company.

Ducab also announced the appointment of Jamal Al Dhaheri, the chief operating officer of Senaat, as its new chairman.

A key priority for Mr Al Dhaheri is to help Ducab to diversify its product mix beyond its primary revenue source of PVC or cross-linked polyethylene insulated cables, as well as copper rods and wires.

As part of the drive, the company intends to begin making rubber cables in two months from its factory in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi.

"The fact we are developing local production of these products reflects our ambition to broaden our product range but also the changing economies of the UAE and the Gulf in general," said Andrew Shaw, Ducab's managing director.

"As the region builds industries and builds railways there is going to be growing demand for these specialist products and we want to be ready to support local markets and it also gives us a product we can export," Shaw added.

The flexibility of cabling insulated with rubber and its ability to withstand heat, chemicals and oil makes it suitable for use in areas such as railways, shipbuilding and heavy industry. Emirates Steel is already a user of rubber cables.

"Our success in 2012 was the result of successful expansions in new markets and introduction of new products coupled with tight financial control," said Mr Al Dhaheri. "Ducab increased market share in the core market of the UAE despite increasingly difficult market conditions in 2012."

Source: Daily "The National", Abu Dhabi; 25 Apr 2013

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)