RAKEZ Drives Industrial Innovation And Investment Growth Through Strategic Alliances

In the presence of HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) signed two strategic agreements – with MAGRABi Retail Group and Mighty Industrial Park – during the 5th edition of Make it in the Emirates (MIITE), held at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the emirate’s growing position as a competitive hub for industrial investment and advanced manufacturing.

The agreements reflect increasing investor confidence in Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial ecosystem and its ability to support long-term, scalable manufacturing operations.

The first agreement, represented by MAGRABi Retail Group CEO Yasser Taher, aims to establish a Store Manufacturing Centre – a purpose-built facility dedicated to the production of furniture, store fit-outs, refurbishments, and pop-up concepts across its retail network. Designed to service up to 140 stores annually, the facility will support MAGRABi Retail’s operations across all its markets in the GCC, while creating up to 100 jobs and strengthening the company’s regional expansion and operational capabilities.

Taher said, “At MAGRABi Retail, everything we do is driven by a customer-first philosophy. This investment reinforces our long-term commitment to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah while enabling us to further elevate the retail experience across our growing network. By centralising the production of our store environments, we ensure that every detail reflects our dedication to quality, innovation, and client care.”

The second agreement was concluded with Mighty Industrial Park, represented by shareholder Guichun Guo, setting plans for the development of a comprehensive China-UAE industrial park. The project will focus on metal recycling, dismantling, smelting, precious metal refining, and advanced manufacturing, creating a fully-integrated ecosystem that supports sustainable industrial development and sector growth, while contributing to the advancement of circular economy practices within Ras Al Khaimah.

Guo said, “Ras Al Khaimah was chosen by Mighty Industry Park because it offers the practical conditions required for a resource-circulation industrial project to scale: industrial land, utility access, logistics connectivity and a manufacturing environment that can support recycling, refining, production, and export activities. RAKEZ provides a platform where our secondary copper recycling, refining, and copper products manufacturing operations can be developed as an integrated industrial chain rather than as a single standalone facility. With support from the relevant authorities during the establishment process, we see Ras Al Khaimah as a long-term base for building a circular-economy value chain, attracting upstream and downstream partners, and contributing to the UAE’s green manufacturing and industrial diversification goals.”

Commenting on the agreements, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “These two agreements reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a leading hub for advanced manufacturing and industrial investment in the region. By partnering with prominent companies such as MAGRABi Retail and Mighty Industrial Park, we are committed to developing an integrated industrial ecosystem that supports innovation and keeps pace with global shifts in value chains and sustainable manufacturing. At RAKEZ, we continue to provide a flexible and enabling business environment that allows investors to expand with confidence, benefit from advanced infrastructure, and access integrated services that support their long-term growth.”

In addition to these milestones, Jallad took part in a high-level panel discussion alongside leaders from the UAE’s free and economic zones. During the session, he highlighted the UAE’s strong industrial resilience, driven by alignment of efforts across federal entities and economic zones, and reinforced by practical, on-the-ground support for businesses. He noted that flexibility, close client engagement, and integrated ecosystem support have been key to maintaining continuity, while long-term investor confidence continues to be built on stability, scalability, and the ability to grow seamlessly within the same environment.

When asked about long-term commitments from global manufacturers, he said, “Certainty remains the key — enabled by a stable environment, seamless scalability within one ecosystem, and integrated access to logistics, financing, and global markets, allowing businesses to grow with confidence over the long term.”

This direction aligns closely with the UAE’s Operation 300bn strategy, with RAKEZ contributing by enabling industrial growth, attracting high-value manufacturing investments, and providing the infrastructure and ecosystem required for businesses to scale within the country.

Through its continued participation in major platforms such as MIITE, RAKEZ reinforces this role by creating an environment where businesses can grow with confidence, expand seamlessly, and navigate evolving global conditions while contributing to the UAE’s long-term industrial and economic ambitions.

rakez.com/

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Christina Slopek-Hauff Receives Major Industry Honor At Drupa Prize 2026

The drupa Prize 2026 has been awarded to literary scholar Christina Slopek-Hauff for her outstanding doctoral thesis in the field of English and American Studies. With her thesis “Plural Psychologies: Interrogating Mental Illness in Anglophone African and African-Diasporic Fiction”, she makes an innovative contribution to interdisciplinary literary and cultural studies. With this prize, drupa annually supports outstanding early-career researchers from the Faculty of Arts at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.

The drupa Prize, worth 6,000 euros, was presented on 7 May 2026 during a formal ceremony at the exhibition grounds in Düsseldorf. The presentation was attended by Wolfram N. Diener, Chairman of the Management Board of Messe Düsseldorf, Sabine Geldermann, Director of the drupa Portfolio Print Technologies, Prof. Dr Heidrun Dorgeloh, Vice-Rector of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Prof. Dr Ulli Seegers, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and her supervisor, Prof. Dr Birgit Neumann.

Dr Andreas Pleßke, Chairman of the drupa Committee, paid tribute to the award winner: “Christina Slopek-Hauff’s work exemplifies research that transcends disciplinary boundaries and brings global perspectives to light. Particularly in a time of profound transformation, including within our industry, such nuanced, intercultural approaches are crucial for understanding complex interrelationships and developing new ways of thinking.”

Interdisciplinary contribution to literary and cultural studies

In her dissertation, awarded a summa cum laude, Christina Slopek-Hauff analyses literary texts as spaces in which dominant, often Western-influenced concepts of psychology and mental health are critically questioned and expanded. In doing so, she combines approaches from the Medical Humanities, Disability Studies and Postcolonial Studies. The work demonstrates how literature helps to make diverse (“plural”) perspectives on mental health visible and to challenge hegemonic structures of knowledge. In doing so, it makes both an academic and a societal contribution to the current debate on diversity and cultural perspectives on health.

drupa.com/

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MAAG Group Reinforces Industry Leadership At Plast Milan 2026

The MAAG Group will attend Plast Milan in Milan, Italy from June 9 to 12, 2026 and will present modern solutions for polymer processing, and manufacturing as well as pipe and hose production in Hall 13, Booth L09 M10. This will be the first joint appearance in Italy since the acquisition of SIKORA in June 2025. SIKORA is a leading provider of innovative measurement, control, inspection, and sorting technologies.

At the booth visitors can see:

• First gear pump specifically designed for pumping hard PVC
• Efficient strand pelletizing for demanding polymers – low dust, stable, economical
• High-performance melt filters for recycling processes
• PURITY CONCEPT V for inspection and analysis of pellets, flakes, and test plates
• PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED for inspection and sorting of demanding plastic applications
• CENTERWAVE 6000 for measuring the wall thickness and diameter of pipes from 32 to 1,600 mm

Together, MAAG Group and SIKORA show their combined expertise along the entire value chain of plastics processing. “Our aim is not only to provide customers with first-class machines and systems, but also to support them as a long-term partner with in-depth process expertise,” summarizes Ueli Thürig, President MAAG Group.

maag.com/

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X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED Optimizes Inline Defect Detection In CV Lines

Energy cables place high demands on their function and their production. As submarine and underground cables, they ensure that energy is reliably transported to where it is needed. To ensure that electricity is delivered safely, the highest cable quality is essential. For over 30 years, SIKORA’s X-RAY 8000, with over 2,000 systems installed, has been considered the global industry standard in CV lines.

Directly after the extruder, in the CV pipe, the X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED X-ray measuring system measures the dimensions of the cable – such as wall thickness, eccentricity, diameter, and ovality. Unlike conventional systems on the market, the X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED features unique High-Speed Technology (HST). It is equipped with 16 measuring sensors, which reduces the measuring distances and thus measures at least 10 times faster than conventional systems. The result: the measuring values are available in less than 30 seconds for immediate centering and distortion-free control to the target dimension within 100 seconds.

Continuous use of the X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED enables a wall thickness reduction of around 5%, resulting in significant material and cost savings. The 5% material savings correspond to a CO₂ reduction of around 375 tons per year – comparable to approximately 125 round-trip flights between Frankfurt and New York. The X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED thus contributes to greater sustainability in cable production.

The durable XLL X-ray technology ensures a long service life. Special, self-cleaning, and non-toxic (NTX) measuring windows guarantee particularly safe and healthy handling in the CV line. In addition to the measuring system, a control cabinet containing an industrial PC for evaluating the X-ray image is supplied. All measuring values are clearly visualized and logged in real time on a TFT monitor.

The X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED can be integrated both vertically in CCV lines and VCV lines as well as in a horizontal line for medium-voltage cables. It can also be used in hybrid CV lines where both XLPE and PP are used as insulation materials.

For final quality control at the end of the CV line, the X-RAY 8700 NXT records the cold values of the cable. In combination with the X-RAY 8000 ADVANCED at the beginning of the line, the shrinkage values for all three insulation layers of the cable can also be precisely determined. This ensures optimal process control and meets existing cable quality requirements for maximum reliability and safety.

sikora.net/

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Evonik And Fuhua Strengthen Asian Specialty Chemicals Market Presence

Evonik and Fuhua have completed construction of a state-of-the-art hydrogen peroxide plant in Leshan, China. Set to produce specialty-grade hydrogen peroxide for cutting-edge industries like photovoltaics and semiconductors, the facility will enter trial production soon, with full operations expected by Q2 2026.

• Joint venture partners to offer hydrogen peroxide for photovoltaics, semiconductors, and further markets
• Facility now entering trial production of specialty grades
• Full start-up expected in Q2 2026 with annual production capacity of 20,000 tons

Evonik Fuhua New Materials has completed construction of its hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China. The joint venture between Evonik and Fuhua Tongda Chemicals Company (Fuhua) will purify industrial-grade H₂O₂ into specialty grades to serve high-growth markets in the region. The plant is now preparing to enter trial production, with the first commercial volumes expected in Q2 2026.

Based on technology licensed from Evonik’s Active Oxygens business line, the facility utilizes industrial-grade H₂O₂ produced by Fuhua as a feedstock. The resulting specialty grades will be offered to meet growing regional demand for high-end applications such as solar cell production, semiconductor manufacturing, food packaging, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The plant is designed with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons.

Christian Kullmann, Chairman of the Evonik Executive Board, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration: “Evonik’s leading position in the global specialty chemicals industry is built on innovation, strong technology platforms, and a global network. This project showcases our exemplary cooperation model with important partners like Fuhua: By combining Evonik’s technological strengths with Fuhua’s industrial chain and local capabilities, we will jointly provide high-quality solutions for customers in the region and globally.”

Dr. Claus Rettig, interim CFO of Evonik and President of Evonik Asia Pacific, added: “This facility will strengthen Evonik’s supply capability and service efficiency in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China. Through local cooperation, Evonik will be better positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for high-purity specialty-grade hydrogen peroxide products, ensuring reliable and efficient support for our customers.”

Fuhua Chairman Zhang Hua underscored the significance of the collaboration: “This partnership with Evonik marks an important milestone in Fuhua’s development toward higher-end and more international operations. The project will further enhance Fuhua’s competitiveness and support national development priorities in new energy, advanced manufacturing, and future-oriented chemical production.”

Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile chemical needed for a wide array of industries. It plays an essential role in applications ranging from electronics to renewable energy and aseptic packaging. Yet after use, the chemical breaks down into only oxygen and water – giving it a particularly beneficial environmental handprint.

evonik.com/

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