More than 260 architects, real estate investors and contractors turned up for the 'Keys to Glass Processing Perfection' seminar organised by Bahrain-based Al Yousuf Thermo Glass at gulfBID 2008.

The seminar looked at how customers could select specific glass for specific jobs within the construction industry.

Al Yousuf, a major exhibitor at the show, is drawing up an ambitious expansion plan, which will see it boost its sales from the Bahrain market across the region.

Alyusuf Group managing director Basim H Alyusuf said the company made a considerable number of contacts during the show, which would likely result in more business when the glass company increases its capacity.

The company makes structured-glass for high-rise developments.

It currently controls about 40 per cent of the market in Bahrain, with very little in the way of exports elsewhere in the GCC as its capacity is largely taken up by the local market.

But it recently opened a new factory in Tubli and purchased state-of-the-art machinery from Austria, which will see its production increase from 1,000 sq/m a day to 2,400 sq/m a day by next year when the operation is up and running.

"We currently sell a little of our production into Saudi Arabia but the booming demand in Bahrain takes up most of our capacity," said Mr Alyusuf.

"With the extra capacity, which will see us increase staff, we will be looking to target the Qatar and Kuwait market as well as expanding sales into Saudi."

He said that, unlike other building materials, glass had not been particularly hit by higher prices, with raw materials for his operations up just about 10pc.

"Demand for high-quality glass is at an all-time high in the region and we have started two 10-hour shifts every day to meet this. We are also working with the Labour Fund and Labour Ministry on training new staff to operate the machinery."

He said gulfBID had played an important role for the company in building the kind of contacts they needed for this expansion.

"This year's exhibition is much better organised than last year," he said.

"It was better promoted so, while last year most of the people we talked to were from Bahrain, this year we have seen a strong presence from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the GCC."-TradeArabia News Service