Meram set to sign Dh200m deal with UAE developer
Meram Building, a US-based building materials company, said it is in the final stages of signing a Dh200 million strategic partnership with a major UAE-based developer, who has projects across the GCC .
The company started its Middle East operations six months ago by setting up an office in Abu Dhabi.
Francis Meram, President of the Detroit-based family-owned business, yesterday told Emirates Business that the company aims for a turnover of Dh1bn within the next two years.
"This is the first premiere of our product on a global base and we chose Abu Dhabi because of its global reach. It is a very exciting time for us," said Meram.
The company is marketing its multi-patented product Sabs (Saebi Alternative Building System), a composite building system that utilises expanded polystyrene (EPS) as the core material for all structural members – walls, roof, floor – that is sprayed with a composite coating made up of a blend of sand, cement, glass fibre and other additives.
"Use of the product can save companies cost by almost 30 per cent and energy by almost 60 per cent. The economic situation has come as a boon for us as developers today prefer cost-saving mechanisms, without affecting quality. Today we have more takers for our product compared to earlier times," said Meram.
The Sabs product has been approved by the international code council for use as a standalone product for up to two floors. "However, if we integrate steel framework and take this in a high-rise building, all of demising walls and exterior walls can be made out of these products."There has been a great interest expressed from the region. We have been talking with many groups locally. Before the end of Cityscape, we will make a major announcement for strategic partnership as well as sign several MoUs for large scale projects that are being executed here," said Meram.
"We are in talks with Tamouh to provide demising walls for Al Reem project. We are also in talks with Al Jabber for Masdar City. We are expecting to sign an MoU with a large project in Jordan," he added.
The Sabs product, according to him, has two parts – an EPS core that can range in thickness from four to 16 inches, depending on design and insulation needs, and a 1/4-inch thick coating of reinforced concrete.
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