Toshiba Singapore and Olayan ABM have introduced Toshiba’s next generation multifunction peripherals (MFP), Toshiba’s e-STUDIO 3511/4511 series. Incorporating cost-saving technology for color copy and print, the MFP offers crisp black and white as well as impressive color output at a brisk 35/45ppm for black and white and 11ppm for color. With a rich set of features and low-priced color production, the MFP has been given four stars for BERTL ratings and named “Worth watching in 2004” in Better Buy for Business December 2003 Color Copier Guide. Latest addition to Toshiba’s line of color machine, the MFP is built on Toshiba’s “e-Bridge” technology — a single-board technology platform for processing and integrating the separate architectures that enable copying, printing, scanning faxing and other networking capabilities into one. Network-ready out of the box, the MFP enables easy-to-use network connections from anywhere, at anytime. Having a four-line CCD (3-line RGB for reading color and 1-line black for reading black images), described as the first of its kid in the color MFP market, it ensures vivid copy image with rich graduation as well as crisp black text reproduction. Another breakthrough is its revolver-type developing unit, featuring a separate, independent black developing unit from the color developing unit. This way, it achieves longer developer life and lowers the cost per page for black and white reproduction, similar to conventional black and white MFP. Its features: User-friendly Operation, superior productivity and integrated networking.

SABIC

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation has awarded a program management service contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of its new petrochemical complex in Yanbu Industrial City to Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. Details of the new complex were unveiled in December 2003. It will have an annual production capacity of 3.8 million mt/y of ethylene, ethylene glycol, polyethylene and polypropylene products. SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO Mohamed H. Al-Mady said the complex would be one of the world’s largest petrochemical sites and was expected to begin production before the end of 2007, boosting SABIC’s contribution to the national economy and enhancing its competitiveness worldwide. “SABIC is currently world’s No. 2 in ethylene glycol production and will become No. 1 following the construction,” he added.

Bison

Bison, an energy drink, is one of the key sponsors of Jeddah Summer Festival 25. It is energizing the six-week festival with a number of events, including triathlon and jet ski competitions, and football, volleyball tournaments, and other activities, Abdullah Abuljadayel, general manager of Abuljadayel Beverages Inc, said. “It’s our pleasure to be associated with one of the Kingdom’s largest events, and we’ll be energizing entertainment to the public this summer with our innovative activities and events. To further support the festival campaign, we’ll make the Bison brand visible in various parts of city by using new signage techniques we’ve produced especially for the festival.

Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak, described as an inventor and brand leader in aseptic packaging, manufactured 122 packs for every man, woman and child in Saudi Arabia in 2003. It also had an outstandingly successful start to 2004 in the Kingdom. The Jeddah-based carton factory produced 603 million finished packages in a single line in one month. The Jeddah team complemented this record by establishing a new benchmark in terms of productivity with very low waste figures. “This was a real team effort,” said factory Director Roberto Valenzuela. “Every one in the factory played a role,” he added. Although aseptic packaging, which was introduced in the world 20 years ago, costs more than traditional packaging, “there’s a real safety advantage on top of the good taste,” said Dr. Khalid Madani, general supervisor of the nutrition department, Makkah region, Ministry of Health, and vice president for the Saudi Society for Food and Nutrition. Meanwhile, Tetra Pak Saudi Arabia recently launched its new training and employment drive under the slogan “One step forward” by holding a career day at the College of Technology in Jeddah. Aimed at establishing a new work force in various administrative, technological and management practices, “this training initiative is in line with the national drive for Saudization and is particularly focused toward the senior most college students and graduates,” Dr. Nasser Ba-Juba, director of the mechanical technology department at the college, said. Nearly 300 students attended it.

SABB

The board of directors of the Saudi British Bank has approved the distribution of a net interim dividend of SR9 per share after deduction of zakah. This will result in a total gross interim dividend payment of SR470.5 million, representing an increase of 28.5 percent over the same period last year, according to Shaikh Abdullah Al-Hogail, chairman of the bank. He said the dividends will be credited on July 14 to the accounts of the bank’s shareholders and whose details are available at the bank’s share registry. Shareholders maintaining accounts with other banks, and who have provided details to the share registry, will have dividends transferred to those accounts. Shareholders who have not provided the share registry with account details should contact their nearest SABB branch with appropriate identification to receive their dividends. They may also provide the share registry with details of their accounts to enable the bank to credit dividends to those accounts in the future, Al-Hogail adds.

Porsche

Porsche Middle East (PME) has announced that all new Porsche vehicles purchased from official Porsche dealerships in the region as of June 1, 2004, will be delivered to customers with a comprehensive road assistance package. This program, valid throughout the two-year warranty period, offers security and backup for drivers near or far from home in case of immobilization or breakdown. The “Porsche Assistance” package covers the GCC and Levant countries as well as Yemen. PME is claimed to be the first automotive company in the region to offer such a comprehensive package and at no additional cost to customers, available 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. “The introduction of Porsche Assistance is a very comprehensive service designed to put our customers’ minds at rest every day of the year. This is yet another way of ensuring that Porsche owners enjoy the maximum mobility,” said Mark Bishop, PME managing director based in Dubai.