AED 500 million plant will produce high voltage cables for the region

Dubai – November 29, 2011: H.H. Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated Ducab-HV’s new factory today (November 29th 2011) in a ceremony also attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court. The joint venture between Ducab (50%), ADWEA (25%) and DEWA (25%) offers High Voltage cable systems up to 400 kV. The plant, whose 148m tall vertical extrusion tower has become a Jebel Ali landmark, will be the first dedicated high voltage facility in the region, and will increase Ducab’s production capacity by 15,000 tonnes of conductor. Senior managers from the joint venture partners and other regional leaders were also present at the event.

“We are very proud that Ducab-HV has opened as scheduled and we extend our heartfelt thanks to H.H Sheikh Mohammad for his presence and support. Ducab-HV will benefit the UAE economy by offering an excellent quality alternative to imports. Ducab-HV products will cover the highest voltages used in the GCC, ensuring that our utility partners and other customers can source vital energy infrastructure cables from a local supplier. When fully operational, the factory will also generate 130 new jobs, which means more opportunities to hire and develop UAE Nationals,” said Ahmad Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab and Ducab-HV.

Machine installation for the plant was completed earlier this year, and extensive commissioning testing was also finished to schedule. Most of the machinery at the HV plant has been sourced from European suppliers, and their experts provided assistance to the Ducab Project Team during commissioning and installation.

The most notable feature of the Ducab-HV plant is its 148m tower (equivalent to a 44 storey residential tower) housing state of the art extrusion equipment. It is the tallest industrial tower in the GCC, and is designed to ensure that the High Voltage cables are manufactured to the highest quality standards.  In addition to the extrusion equipment the tower also contains a series of Clean Room facilities to ensure no contamination occurs during production.

“Ducab-HV will offer the latest in global HV technology to the UAE and the region.  The plant is the most advanced in the region and is designed to ensure that the high voltage products are manufactured to the stringent quality standards demanded both regionally and internationally. All products will be rigorously tested at the state of the art High Voltage Laboratory, a specialised facility that also gives the capability for advanced research and development in high voltage systems.” said Jon Vail CEO of Ducab HV.

DEWA & ADWEA join Ducab to celebrate completion of 148m factory tower

Dubai, December 7, 2010:  Ducab–HV, a joint venture company between Ducab, DEWA and ADWEA, has announced that the construction of its AED500 million factory is on track for completion in early 2011, which will be the first dedicated high voltage factory in the region. The news came during a celebration marking the completion of the factory’s 148m high tower, a new landmark in Jebel Ali, which is believed to be the highest industrial tower in the GCC. The ceremony was attended by Ducab-HV board members H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA; Saeed Al Darmaki, Deputy Managing Director of TRANSCO and Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab. Also in attendance were Mr. Tariq Hussain Khansaheb, Director, representing the main civil contractor, Khansaheb and Mr. Jon Vail, CEO Ducab-HV.

The 44 storey tower, housing state of the art extrusion equipment, is the most noticeable feature of the new Ducab-HV factory. It is designed to ensure that the very high voltage products are manufactured to the highest standards necessary to provide faultless service.  The tower will also contain a series of Clean Room facilities in the top levels to ensure no contamination of the critical cable insulation. 

“We are glad to announce the completion of the 148m vertical extrusion tower at the Ducab-HV factory which demonstrates that the project is on track for completion in early 2011,” said Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab-HV. “These types of high-voltage cables carry electricity loads great enough to power an entire downtown district, and as such, we will ensure that the quality standards of our products not only meet but surpass the highest international standards in the industry.”

“Within one year of breaking ground, we are celebrating this key construction milestone thanks to the excellent work by Khansaheb, and the great efforts of the whole project team.  We are approaching the completion of the civil works and the first machines are already being installed.  Commissioning will start in early 2011 followed by rigorous testing and then production of cables for the market later in the year,” said Jon Vail, CEO.

“We have enjoyed working closely and successfully with Ducab-HV team to deliver a quality contract in a very challenging time frame,” says Richard Browne, Operations Manager at Khansaheb. “This unique project is another great example of the commitment of Khansaheb to providing quality construction services to its clients during its 75th year of operation in the UAE.”

The joint-venture between Ducab, DEWA and ADWEA appoints Jon Vail as CEO

Dubai, March 9, 2010- Ducab—one of the leading manufacturers of high quality power cables in the Middle East—has announced at WETEX 2010 the appointment of Jon Vail as the CEO of a new company Ducab HV Cable Systems. This comes exactly one year after announcing the formation of the joint venture company in which Ducab has a 50% share with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) each holding an additional 25%. 

The new company will sell cable systems in the voltage range of 66kV to 400kV, covering the highest voltage currently used in the GCC and operating as the first dedicated high-voltage facility in the region. Once fully operational, the company plans on selling over AED 1 billion of cable and associated services annually, approximately 60% of which will be consumed in the UAE.

Andrew Shaw, Managing Director at Ducab, affirms that Vail’s history of working in diverse fields ranging from technical to product development as well as business management make him the ideal candidate  to lead the launch of the Ducab HV Cable Systems.

“It is an honour to be able to serve as CEO of such a young and promising venture,” comments Vail.  “Providing a reliable, local supply of strategically vital HV cables to the Middle East is our ultimate goal, and we look forward to being the only high-voltage facility in the region dedicated first and foremost to reducing GCC dependency on foreign suppliers.”  Vail also confirmed that construction of the new dedicated factory is in progress at the Jebel Ali site and the machinery will start to be installed later in 2010.

Vail will be joining representatives from Ducab and DEWA as the companies showcase their latest technologies and projections during WETEX 2010—Dubai’s foremost water, energy technology and environment exhibition.