Zamil Steel in the Middle East- Leading by example

To people working in the metal fabrication or construction industries in the Middle East, Zamil Steel is a household name. In fact, the company was recently ranked the number one construction industry supplier amongst GCC countries. From their humble beginnings in Saudi Arabia in 1977, Zamil Steel has grown from strength to strength and now operates in over 90 countries worldwide, providing pre-engineered steel buildings, engineering solutions and many other quality building products. Zamil Steel is a true Saudi success story, and in this month's Boardroom Connection we take a look at Zamil Steel and their impact on the Middle East. Recently, Anthony Evans of International Metalworking News- Middle East spoke to Hatem Turki, Corporate Business Development Manager of Zamil Steel's global operations about the company's experiences operating in one of the world's most dynamic and innovative economies. IMNE: Is there any country in the broader Middle East where Zamil Steel has not left its mark? HT: Since its inception in 1977, Zamil Steel grew into the Middle East as its natural market. And it is only in the late 90s that we felt the need to established production facilities outside the region starting with Vietnam then Egypt and recently UAE and India. Therefore, the Middle East is considered our legacy core market and we cover all its parts with an actual presence through a network of sales offices. IMNE: What products and services do you offer? HT: Zamil Steel excels in engineering, manufacturing, sales and project management and offers clients a diverse range of products from which to compile a total building solution. Zamil Steel is a global leader in the design and manufacture of Pre-engineered Buildings and Pre-Fabricated houses, and the Middle East's premier supplier of structural steel products and process equipment (Pressure Vessels, exchangers, reactors), power transmission and telecommunications towers, building components and open web steel joists and decking. IMNE: What do you believe sets apart Zamil Steel's products and services from its competitors? HT: Quality is a prime factor in our competitive edge criteria. We design and manufacture our products to the highest quality standards and to each client's customised requirements with consistent quality. Moreover, service is of great importance to Zamil Steel in differentiating our offering to the market. We pride ourselves in having focus on unique quality, service as an ultimate goal for customer retention as well as attraction. All of this is aligned together to reflect the brand image that we consistently adopt and apply to all of our products and services. IMNE: What are some of the more challenging projects you have taken on in recent years? HT: Some of the key projects Zamil Steel is involved in include, the Princess Nora University and King Abdul Aziz University buildings in Riyadh, and Obeikan Glass Factory in Yanbu, all in Saudi Arabia; Texhong Textile Factory in Dong Nai Province and a forged steel mill for the Thep Viet Corp Group in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, both in Vietnam; Techno Pack Factory, Damascus, Syria; and the Royal Tank Museum building in Amman, Jordan. IMNE: How many production facilities does Zamil Steel operate in the region? HT: Zamil Steel Industries is headquartered in the First Industrial City, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where its main factories are based. Other factories are located in Egypt, Vietnam, the UAE and India making our total factory count 11. Zamil Steel's commitment to service at the local level is evident by our network of 65 area offices located in 37 countries. It engages the services of a wide network of certified builders around the globe and exports to about 90 countries worldwide. IMNE:Entrainement Nike