Welsh firm helps Alam Steel Industries become Gulf first UK CARES approved fabricator

R-Tech is the only metallurgical testing and consultancy company specialising in the reinforced steel industry. Its advice enabled Alam Steel Industries to obtain CARES approval in just four months for the fabrication of reinforcing bar and coil, welded pile cages and mechanical splices to British Standard requirements.

UK CARES accreditation covers a series of product certification schemes for the complete reinforced steel supply chain, from steelmaking and rolling through to fabrication and delivery to site. The approval of Alam Steel Industries will give the company a competitive advantage as designers and contractors can have confidence in the quality of their products.

R-Tech Services Director Dr Franks, an acknowledged UK expert in the manufacture and testing of reinforced steels and chairman of the BSI committee on reinforced steel, explained 'Our help was crucial in enabling Alam Steel Industries to develop and implement its quality system to CARES standards in such a short period of time. Alam Steel Industries opened its state-of-the-art reinforcement fabricating facility at the Dubai Investment Park in June 2007 and our involvement began with a visit to the plant before production even started.

'As well as providing consultancy on establishing a quality management system meeting the requirements of both ISO 9001 and the CARES product approval scheme, we advised on the development of welding procedures for the manufacture of pile cages. We also conducted all of the testing to approve the procedures and qualify the welders to the requirements of the scheme, before producing the necessary documentation and conducting a follow-up audit to check on implementation prior to the initial UK CARES assessment.'

R-Tech Services has provided consultancy to a number of companies in Dubai and is aiming to establish a laboratory in the Gulf region. It is currently exhibiting at Big 5 2007 with assistance from International Business Wales, the overseas trade and investment arm of the Welsh Assembly Government.