Wooden Flooring Among Prominent Products At SAUDIBUILD 2003

The 15^th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Show (SAUDIBUILD) was held at the Riyadh Exhibition Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 19-23 October 2003. Annually organised by Riyadh Exhibition Company Ltd. and held under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, SAUDIBUILD remains the largest building construction show in the city, showcasing a wide range of building materials and construction equipment, technology and related services. Held concurrently with SAUDIBUILD 2003 was the 6^th SAUDISTONE, a dedicated show segment for granite, marble and ceramic tiles.

SAUDIBUILD 2003 attracted a total of 24,197 visitors comprising specifiers, architects, traders, retailers, interior designers and manufacturers mainly from Saudi Arabia and some neighbouring Gulf countries. It was participated by 223 Saudi Arabian companies and 629 foreign companies. MTC has been participating in SAUDIBUILD since year 2000. The show was dominated by manufacturers, traders and agents exhibiting steel, aluminium, plastics, ceramics and marbles. In the wood-based sector, wooden flooring companies formed the bulk of wood-based companies participating at the show. A large number of local companies representing European and US-based flooring manufacturers displayed a range of HDF laminated flooring and two- and three-ply wooden flooring. These types of flooring are popular among the middle- and high-income earners in Saudi Arabia, while the more expensive solid wooden flooring are highly demanded for projects involving palaces, luxury villas and sports complexes. The common timber species used for flooring displayed at the show were Oak, Beech, Ash, Maple, Cherry, Teak and Merbau.

Most wooden doors displayed at SAUDIBUILD 2003 were manufactured locally in various sizes and designs with intricate decorative inlays to cater for the different customers' requirements. Solid wooden doors on display were made of Meranti, Beech and Oak while veneered doors were offered in Teak, Oak and Mahogany. There were also companies exhibiting furniture items including kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as wardrobes in natural finish and in various stains of brown, pink, yellow, blue and green.

MDF, plywood and flooring were the most enquired products at MTC’s booth. There were also enquiries on other Malaysian timber products including sawntimber, doors and furniture. Malaysian dining sets and office furniture seem to have enjoyed increased popularity in the Saudi market. Among the preferred Malaysian furniture are buffet & hatch units made of solid Malaysian Oak (Hevea brasiliensis) stained in dark Oak, Cherry and Mahogany finishes; solid wood dining tables of rectangular, oval and round shapes with 8-12 chairs and large individual office furniture sets with contemporary or classical designs.