Bekaert and IKK Mateenbar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on lower-carbon concrete reinforcement solutions that combine Saudi-made glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar with Bekaert’s Dramix® steel fibers and Synmix® synthetic fibers.

Under the MoU, the companies will jointly develop, engineer, and promote reinforcement systems for industrial floors, outdoor and port pavements, rafts, concrete roads, and precast elements across the Middle East and North Africa. Bekaert executives said the partnership merges the performance of steel fibers with the corrosion-free advantages of GFRP to meet structural and sustainability goals.

IKK Mateenbar noted that the hybrid approach offers toughness, crack control, reduced weight, and corrosion resistance, resulting in more durable, lower-carbon concrete at competitive cost. Hybrid and GFRP systems can reduce lifecycle emissions and extend asset life.