Concord company continues to produce despite challenges posed by COVID-19

CONCORD, N.C. — From the sea wall that strengthens the Burj Al Arab in Dubai to the reinforcement of the finish line on the Formula 1 Track in Abu Dhabi, Mateenbar serves the world in producing rebar.

“Rebar is what makes concrete strong,” CEO Nick Crofts explained.

The international company’s only office in the United States is in Concord. The 100,000 square foot, $20 million investment sits off Highway 49 and is largely empty right now. Currently, there are two work stations set up, with a desire to increase production rapidly.

“This has been one of the most challenging, turbulent economies to work in,” Crofts said.

The machinery comes from New Zealand, a country with some of the strictest COVID restrictions, making it tough to bring in anything or anyone from there.

If workers make it out of the country, they face a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine when they return.

“The availability, there’s just not enough hotels, you can’t book them,” Crofts said.

To train workers on the machines, the company has to rely on workers from Dubai. But they have run into Visa issues when trying to bring workers from the UAE. The state department has been stepping in to help out, but what’s happening to Mateenbar is happening to many other companies.

The type of training necessary for Mateenbar isn’t something that can be accomplished virtually.

“The world of Teams and Zoom, that’s my life, but nothing substitutes help on the ground,” he said.

Crofts is optimistic about the company’s future and hopes to increase capacity by the end of next month.

“This factory needs to step up, the volume needs to step up, and we need to see a lot of these trucks coming in and leaving,” he said.

Even though COVID has brought supply chain issues, Crofts is happy to have a big presence in Cabarrus County.

“The people, the restaurants, the lifestyle, we are just loving being in North Carolina,” he said.

(Watch Below: Airline industry shows signs of rebounding from pandemic lockdowns)

Airline industry shows signs of rebounding from pandemic lockdowns

©2021 Cox Media Group