Amiantit achieves technology breakthrough

• Successful testing of flexible Flowtite GRP pipe joint speeds up pending projects in Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.

DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, July 10, 2006 -- Amiantit has achieved a technological breakthrough with the successful testing of its DN2000 PN25 Flowtite joint which passed all requirements without problems.

"This is a really ground-breaking event. Passing this test proves the robustness of our flexible joint and demonstrates Amiantit's ability to design and manufacture GRP products for high pressure applications," said Eng. Fareed Al-Khalawi, Amiantit president & CEO. "This development now enables us to bring forward pending projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America, and paves the way for further expansion of the Group."

The joint is qualified according to ASTM D4161 as well as to the more stringent requirements of ISO 8639 and EN 1119: angular deviation at 50 bar for 24 hours and sheer load at 50 bar for 24 hours, as well as cyclic loading and vacuum.

The demand for large diameter, high pressure, GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) products has been increasing steadily in recent years, partly because of the high price of steel, but also because of the merits of Amiantit's environment- friendly GRP products which are corrosion-resistant, strong yet lightweight and easy install, and offer a cost-efficient alternative to steel.

With six technology companies supporting more than 30 manufacturing facilities in various countries around the globe, the Amiantit Group is a world leader in research and development of pipe manufacturing technologies and is the exclusive owner of worldwide patents for Flowtite™, which is the foremost technological process used in the manufacture of fibreglass reinforced plastic pipe products. This latest success with the Flowtite joint is yet another demonstration of the importance of the work done by Amiantit's research scientists to further the pipe manufacturing industry's understanding of the behaviour of composite materials under the stresses and pressures involved in practical applications.

The Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company was established in 1968 at Dammam as a limited liability company and was converted into a joint stock company in 1994. It started with a paid-up share capital of one million dollars, which is currently standing at US$ 308 million. Its shares are traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange. The prime activity of the company is to initiate and manage new industrial projects, and market its technologies and products. The company also monitors and controls the business of all the Amiantit Group subsidiaries through its corporate management office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The Amiantit Group (www.amiantit.com) is a leading industrial organization with global strength and is comprised of companies in the Kingdom and abroad that manufacture various kinds of pipes, joints, fittings, tanks, rubber products and related accessories. Other activities include own and transfer technology, and water project consultancy and management all around the world.

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Also see:
-- "Dubai municipality gives contractors go ahead to propose GRP pipe systems"
-- "Amiantit CEO opens new Dammam headquarters building for GRE Division"
-- "Amiantit's Indian joint venture wins $22.5 million in contracts to supply pipe systems for oil refineries, power projects and tank systems for petroleum retail outlests"
-- "Amiantit pulls $20 million in South American contracts"
-- "Amiantit pre-qualifies for Kaia Desalination Plant project"
-- "Amiantit awarded US$25 million Tabuk-Saudi Arabia Water Transmission Pipeline contract"
-- "Amiantit awarded US$25.4 million in 11 piping orders in U.A.E., Saudi Ariabia"

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