March 30, 2009

Saudi Converter to Add Second Davis-Standard Line

Obeikan Investment Group of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, recently purchased a new stretch film line from Davis-Standard, LLC to accommodate the company’s global business expansion. As one of the largest converters in the Middle East, Obeikan is a leader in the liquid packaging, flexible film, publishing and printing markets. The new line, slated for a June 2009 installation, will further develop Obeikan’s stretch film capabilities to accommodate customers throughout the region and the world.

According to Saad Alazwari, Chief Operating Officer of Obeikan Group, the decision to purchase the Davis-Standard line came down to reputation, value, support and a quality relationship established in 2004 when the company purchased its first line from Davis-Standard GmbH for board coating applications.

“Davis-Standard has shown excellent support over the last four years for the existing line at our facility. With the reputation Davis-Standard has established in the market, the professionalism among its staff, and our past experience with them, we have decided to move forward with a second line.”

The new line is a high-output “Bleed-less” 3-meter wide cast stretch film line. It is engineered to produce stretch rolls 500mm wide of a five-layer structure, at a net output of 1,800 kilograms per hour. Line components include four air-cooled extruders, a Cloeren feedblock and cast film die, resin loading system, and associated downstream equipment including an IR thickness gauge, BMW-II stretch film winder and fully automatic roll handling system.

According to Davis-Standard’s Middle East District Sales Manager, Adnan Bdour, Davis-Standard’s presence in the region is growing rapidly.

“The Middle East is becoming one of the largest plastic product manufacturing regions in the world due to lower energy prices, lower cost resins, reasonable labor costs and other factors,” said Bdour. “The purchase by Obeikan further solidifies our presence here. They are a major player and we look forward to supporting their business goals with the installation of this new line.”

For more information about Obeikan, visit www.obeikan.com.sa. For more information about Davis-Standard’s capabilities in the Middle East, contact Adnan Bdour at bdoura@bc-egan.com.