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2009.10.22
Silicon-based materials leader Dow Corning establishes Middle East operations
Dow Corning, one of the world’s
largest silicon-based materials developers and manufacturers, has established a
Middle East headquarters and commercial entity in Manama, Bahrain. The
company’s Bahrain operations will help Dow Corning provide the region’s
vibrant
construction, textiles,
petrochemical and oil and gas industries with
silicon-based materials and solutions.
Dow Corning’s Bahrain office will house engineers, chemists and sales
professionals with diverse expertise in silicon-based technology. The
company expects there will be as many as 20 employees working out of the office
within the next year.
“The Middle East is growing rapidly and quickly diversifying its
business footprint,” said Dr. Stephanie A.
Burns, Dow Corning’s chairman, president and CEO.“We recognize the
region’s growing impact on the global economy and are now better positioned to
share the benefits of Dow Corning’s silicon-based materials and technology
to help the region continue to grow and compete in the global economy over the
long-term.”
While Dow Corning’s Bahrain office is the company’s first location in the
Middle East, the company has been active in the region for many years.
Most recently, Dow Corning’s silicone construction materials are being
used in the construction of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dow Corning has worked closely with the
building’s structural engineers to ensure the building can withstand the
region’s high winds and extreme heat, some of the biggest challenges
construction projects in the region.
“We have done extremely well to grow our business in this region in the last
few years, even when servicing from afar. Now is our chance to drive
business forward through both the Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands,” said Jean-Paul Mollie,
Dow Corning’s president, Middle East, South Asia and Africa. “With
the special challenges of high temperatures, sand and wind, there will be no
end of uses for the incredible silicon atom in this area. The potential
is yet to be realized.”
Dow Corning is seeking collaboration opportunities in the region, not just
with customers, but also with academic, government and other research
organizations that are focused on innovating products and process to make them
more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
“Now Dow Corning will have better access to local knowledge and a better
understanding of the needs of the people and businesses in the region,” said
Mollie “Developing links and collaborations with academic institutions in the
region will become essential and we will work alongside local governments to
help fill the skill gap in local labor forces and teach and develop nearby
communities.”
Bahrain is the latest example, following Russia and Vietnam, of
Dow Corning’s effort to expand globally and represents the company’s
continued efforts to meet increased demand for silicone products and services
around the world
The applications of silicon-based materials are diverse. These
materials are used in nearly every industry and are oftentimes used to make
products or processes more efficient of sustainable. Silicon technology
enables sealants and adhesives that enable aesthetically beautiful and
environmentally sustainable construction of buildings, roads and
infrastructure. In textile manufacturing, silicon-based materials are
used to improve process efficiency and product quality. In the oil and
gas industry, these materials help on-and off-shore drillers cut costs,
increase reliability, and boost output.
About Dow Corning
Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to
serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global
leader in silicones, silicon-based technology
and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services
via the company's Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands.
Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company
and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales
are outside the United States.
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