A major Chinese firm and Bahrain-based Abahsain Fiberglass ME (AFG) will set up a 200,000 tonnes per year glass fiber unit in Bahrain.

Chongqing Polycomb International Corp (CPIC), one of the largest producers of glass fiber in China, and Abahsain Fiberglass M E (AFG), producing ECR glass fiber in Bahrain, have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture for the project.

CPIC has been in glass fiber production in China since 1970 and is the first manufacturer to produce E-glass fiber by the direct-melt process in China, in 1986, a statement said.

Today, CPIC is the leading E-glass and ECR-glass manufacturer in China, it said.

AFG is a joint venture between Saleh & Abdulaziz Abahsain Co Ltd, a leading Saudi group established in 1947, and Glass Strand Inc, a leading ECR technology provider from US.

The first furnace, with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes, will be fully operational in summer 2008.

The joint venture will build a second 30,000 tonnes furnace in 2008 and will have a 120,000 tonnes capacity by 2010, growing to 200,000 tonnes in 2012.

Glass fiber is used in the manufacture of various transport, industrial and consumer goods, such as boats, car bodies, aircraft assemblies, wind turbine blades, tanks, pipe systems, power poles, transmission towers, building panels, corrosion resistant goods and sport equipment.

ECR glass has advantages over traditional E-glass. These are: it is environmentally-friendly being a zero-boron glass fiber, has superior thermal resistance, higher di-electric strength, better surface resistance and higher tensile strength and modulus, said a spokesman.

“The demand for glass fiber in the Middle East is growing rapidly, especially with the boom in construction. With this joint venture we can realise our growth strategy much faster”, said S K Maqsood, director of S & A Abahsain.

“With new production locations closer to our Middle East customers, we can offer more flexibility and supply faster and more reliable than before”, added Wu Min, president of CPIC.

“We are pleased to be associated with CPIC in glass fiber and I am confident that CPIC - Abahsain JV will be the leaders in Glass Fiber technology in the area”, said Abdullah Abahsain - president and  CEO of S & A Abahsain group of companies. - TradeArabia News Service