DUBAI: Emerson has announced it is investing US$33m in the expansion of its Middle East and Africa headquarters campus in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. With new distribution and testing facilities, assembly areas and offices, the expanded headquarters campus will enable Emerson to closely support its customers in the region.
Covering an area of 13,000m2 of developed space, it will significantly increase the size of Emerson's existing facilities in Dubai and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. The expansion will enable its air conditioning and refrigeration business, Emerson Climate Technologies, to consolidate two existing Free Zone sites.

Ed Purvis, executive vice president of Emerson and global business leader of Emerson Climate Technologies, commented: 'With products and parts arriving from all over the world, having a world-class distribution operation will be a tremendous advantage to our customers. We are elevating our service levels and positioning Emerson Climate Technologies as a major supplier to the region for our various products and services. The testing and assembly facilities will enable us to further localise products to the Middle East's demanding environmental conditions, and build solutions to meet our customers' specific business needs.

'The new building will also help us support employees, customers and end-users with product and technical training that might previously have required travel outside the Middle East,' Purvis added. 'Emerson is witnessing rapid growth in the region, and the establishment of this state-of-the-art facility enhances our ability to provide full local support to our customers.'

Emerson sees significant growth potential in the Middle East and Africa region, especially for Emerson Climate Technologies, Emerson Network Power and Emerson Process Management. Emerson's total sales in the region were $1.2bn in 2011. It's existing facility was opened in January 2009.