RAK Ceramics opens Dh 180m ninth factory in RAK

The new hi-tech ceramics factory, named MC-8, is the ninth unit of RAK Ceramics in the Emirate. It will have a production capacity in excess of 35,000 sq. metres of high quality granite ceramic tiles per day.

The factory has three gres porcellanato (porcelain) ceramic production lines.

Speaking after the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new factory, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, said that the tremendous growth of RAK Ceramics was a testimony to the pro-business environment existing in the emirate for industries to thrive in. "RAK Ceramics has become a formidable player in the global ceramic industry and it is a good sign of success not only for RAK but for the entire UAE", he said and added that the Government was taking steps to replicate such successes in other sectors too.

Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Ceramics and Advisor to the RAK Crown Prince, said that the new factory is one of the most technologically advanced ceramic tile plants in the world, both in respect to the technology and machinery used and the state-of-the-art equipment it incorporates. "This factory is equipped to produce the most deluxe and high quality tiles in the world which would cater to the increased demand for our products in the international and regional markets", he said.

He noted that with the opening of the ninth factory, the combined daily production capacity of all RAK Ceramics factories will exceed 200,000 square metres of tiles, a number expected to rise to 300,000 square metres daily by the end of this year, after the completion of the ongoing internal and overseas expansions. This will be in addition to the production of more than 3.3 million sanitary ware pieces every year.

Dr. Massaad said that the total investment of RAK Ceramics in its nine factories within Ras Al Khaimah, and its factories in China, Bangladesh and Sudan, as well as its factories in India and Iran, have so far surpassed Dh 1.5 billion. He said that the company's new plant in Iran was commissioned on Sunday and added that the new manufacturing facility in India will go on stream in October this year.

He also announced the commencement of construction work of the company's tenth factory in Ras Al Khaimah, to be set up at a cost of Dh 180 million. The proposed factory, which will be commissioned next October, will have a production capacity of 45,000 square metres of tiles per day. Dr. Massaad added that in spite of the huge global expansion drive undertaken by the company, it is in a race to meet the ever-increasing demand for its high quality products which are exported to more than 130 countries.

RAK Ceramics is in the process of rolling out an ambitious global expansion drive which would see the company expanding its combined annual capacity to over 100 million square metres of ceramic tiles.

Eugenio Emiliani, General Manager of Sacmi, the top Italian ceramic producing machinery manufacturer, said that RAK Ceramics tops the list of Sacmi customers world wide. He said that the steadfast commitment to quality and substantial investments made in cutting- edge technology were the leading factors which helped RAK Ceramics become a global industry leader.

Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Finance Department, Sheikh Muhammad bin Kayed Al Qasimi, Vice Chairman of RAK Economic Department, and a number of dignitaries were present on the occasion.