Industrial Concrete confident of 20% growth

August 29, 2007 – 12:24 pm

Industrial Concrete Products Bhd (ICP) is confident of achieving over 20% growth in revenue for the financial year (FY) ending March 31, 2008. Chief executive officer and managing director Mah Teck Oon said to meet the demand of its order book, the total production capacity for its pre-tensioned spun concrete (PSC) piles was set to increase from 1.32 million tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes per annum with its new production line in Kapar, Selangor, expected to come on stream next month. 

“Our estimated order book value is RM150mil for the next five months and we are confident that mega projects like the second Penang bridge and the electrified double-tracking rail project will boost demand for our PSC piles as well,” he said after the company AGM and EGM yesterday. 

ICP has eight factories with 10 lines in Malaysia (inclusive of the new line in Kapar) producing PSC piles, commanding 75% share of the local market. 

Mah added that ICP has invested RM43mil for the construction of a new plant in Johor to capitalise on the potential demand from the Iskandar Development Region as well as the booming Singapore construction sector. 

“Singapore contributes 12% currently to ICP’s PSC piles revenue, making it our biggest overseas market, ,” he said. 

The Johor plant would increase ICP’s production capacity to 1.7 million tonnes per annum when it commences operation by December 2008. 

The group reported net profit of RM58.84mil on turnover of RM612.28mil for the year ended March 31, compared with net profit of RM32.89mil and turnover of RM458.57mil in FY06.  

AZEK Building Products Launches New Deck Product Line

August 29, 2007 – 12:23 pm

AZEK Building Products, Inc. announced the launch of a new brand of cellular PVC decking called AZEK Deck, made with proprietary Procell technology. The company acquired Procell decking on January 31st, and continued to sell under the Procell brand name until today. AZEK Building Products is the manufacturer of AZEK Trimboards, the #1 brand of trim and added a full line of AZEK Mouldings in May of 2007.”This is an exciting milestone for AZEK Building Products,” said Ralph Bruno, President. “The addition of the next generation of decking elevates our company to a full line supplier of premium exterior products.”

The company will also sport a new logo, incorporating arrows to show future growth and forward movement. Each of the company’s product logos, AZEK Trimboards, AZEK Mouldings and new AZEK Deck will highlight the product name in its own designated color. The company is launching a new advertising campaign highlighting the evolution of decking; first there was wood, then composites and now AZEK Deck.

“AZEK Deck has excellent synergy with our trim and mouldings,” explained Bruno. “They are all exterior building products leading their respective categories and sold through the same Distribution and Dealer channels.”

Suez Cement buys 47% of Hilal

August 29, 2007 – 12:22 pm

Suez Cement Company, Egypt’s largest cement producer, has submitted a binding offer to Boodai Enterprises Company to purchase a 47% equity interest in Kuwait-based Hilal Cement Company in a deal that values Hilal at approximately $89 million. Boodai has accepted the offer, and subsequent to the sale it will remain the second largest shareholder in Hilal