Alucopanel & Alubond USA upgrade UAE facilities to produce more fire-resistant aluminium panels

<p>The UAE based Danube Group, manufacturer of the aluminium cladding range Alucopanel, has won the coveted deal of constructing the region's first A2-standard fire-resistant panel manufacturing&nbsp;factory beating another Indian company Mulk Holdings headquartered in the Middle East.<br /><br />Mulk Holdings claimed in a release that they have also gained certification for their new A2 panels. But Danube Group, which produces the Alucopanel aluminium cladding range under licence in the Middle East from its factory in Dubai Technopark, said they will be the first to begin commercial production, scheduled for an early start this month.<br /><br />Aluminium A2 Standard panels are being made compulsory under the UAE&rsquo;s Fire &amp; Life Safety Code following a series of fire hazards which shook the region early this year. The panels have a stone core, making them much less susceptible to igniting than many existing panels that have a polythene (LDPE) core. These have been highlighted as contributing towards a string of building fires in the UAE.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Danube-Corporate-Office-Pic-2.jpg" alt="News" width="550" height="258" /><br /><br />Alucopanel began trial production of aluminium A2 panels early last month. "After the launch is over, we can start commercially," said Zohaib Rahman, the division head of Alucopanel Middle East, part of Danube Group.<br /><br />He updated that an extra production line has been to its factory in Technopark, which began operations last year. With two production lines operating in full swing presently, the plant is now capable of churning out up to 4 million square metres of A2 panels each year.<br /><br />Meanwhile in Sharjah, Shaji Ul Mulk, the founder and chairman of Mulk Holdings, which produces Alubond USA aluminium cladding panels in the Emirate, has announced a US$50 million upgrade to its facility which will lead to it having three new lines capable of producing A2-standard panels.<br /><br />Alubond USA also operates a factory in Turkey. With a per annum production capacity of 2 million sq metres of A2-rated aluminium panels, Alubond USA is currently well positioned to supply the UAE market showcasing a growing demand for aluminium structural systems.</p>