Two global ceramic majors have jointly set up a new $15-million manufacturing plant in Ras Al Khaimah.

Crown Prince and Ras Al Khaimah Deputy Ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurated the Kludi RAK LLC, a joint venture between RAK Ceramics and Kludi group of Germany to produce top of the line bathroom and kitchen fittings.

The state- of- the- art plant will manufacture high quality bathroom and kitchen fittings including faucets, mixers, showers and other accessories, the company said in a statement.

Sheikh Saud said the basic tenet that has guided the reform and development agenda of the RAK government is to create an enabling atmosphere where entrepreneurs could feel at home and pursue their dreams.

“The mandate we gave to Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA), when it started three years ago, was to create the right atmosphere where entrepreneurs could come in and duplicate the success model created by firms like RAK Ceramics,” he added.

Sheikh Saud said the opening of Kludi RAK marks the addition of yet another successful enterprise in the industrial sector of Ras Al Khaimah.

RAK Ceramics holds 51 per cent stake in the new venture with Kludi having the remaining 49pc. The manufacturing plant, spread over an area of 76,715 square metres, has an annual production capacity of one million pieces of bathroom and kitchen mixers.

RAK Crown Prince adviser and Kludi RAK chief executive officer Dr Khater Massaad said the new company draws strength from the synergetic combination of industry leader RAK Ceramics, which has a significant market share in the ceramics and bathroom fittings industry, and Kludi, a high profile German manufacturer in kitchen and bathroom fittings.

“The joint venture is poised for great success as it can make use of the market knowledge of RAK Ceramics and the long standing expertise of Kludi in the field. This marks another step in the diversification efforts of RAK Ceramics to extend and compliment its existing product range,” Dr Massaad added.

He said Kludi RAK will acquire ISO 9001:2000 BVQI certification by June 2008 and added that the company is set to create new benchmarks by attaining highest quality standards in the faucet industry.

Kludi RAK managing director Bernd Neidhardt said the plant would cater to the fast growing Middle East market and exports to other regional and global markets. – TradeArabia News Service