H.H.Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member & Ruler of Ras Al Khaimar (UAE), has inaugurated the capacity expansion at the manufacturing facility of Arc International, the world leader in tableware, by commissioning a new furnace which will double the production capacity of the RAK factory at a function held in the Emirate in September. The new capacity addition to Arc International Middle East (AIME) is part of the group;s ambitious strategy for international development and regionalisation of its manufacturing facilities. The company has added a state-of-the-art fourth furnace (RAK-4) to ramp up production which has touched peak capacity on the strength of the double-digit growth experience by the company in the region during the past few years. The new furnace will double the company's current capacity of 64,000/tpa. The extra sales made possible by the new capacity addition are expected to be in the order of US$ 80M in 2012. The company sees considerable development potential in the dinnerware, drink ware, hot drinks, kitchenware and decoration segments in the region. The factory mainly produces items for the Luminarc and Arcoroc brands, as well as for the RAK Glass brand, which is distributed in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Arc believes that by 2015, emerging countries should represent 50% of Arc's turnover.
