Our company once again participates in the Suzhou Sinoma Iraq Najmadin (Raj Martin) Phase II brick factory project.
Najmadin , The project is located in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. It is an EPC + operation & maintenance general contracting project for a fully automatic fired red brick production line, a building material production line for high void ratio fired blocks.
■ Project Basic Information
1. Owner
Najmadin Group, a major local diversified enterprise in Iraq, specializing in ready-mix concrete, real estate, and building materials manufacturing, a core building materials supplier in northern Iraq.
2. General Contractor
Suzhou Zhongcai Construction Co., Ltd. (Overseas Engineering Platform under China National Building Material Group · Sinoma International)
3. Location
Suburb of Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (Northern Iraq, stable security in the Kurdistan Region, strong demand for building materials)
4. One-phase cooperation groundwork.
IN 2022, Suzhou Zhongcai signed the Najmadin Phase I 750t/d fully automatic brick factory, which commenced production by end of 2023 and passed final acceptance (FAC) in August 2024. With stable equipment operation and strong O&M service reputation, the owner promptly initiated Phase II expansion cooperation.
■ Core Content of Phase II Contract (Formally Signed on February 3, 2026)
1. Single fully automatic secondary firing red brick production line, with a daily output of 800 tons of finished bricks, slightly higher than Phase I capacity.
2. Cooperation Model: EPC General Contracting + 2-year Full-plant Operation & Maintenance (EPC+O&M)
EPC Scope: Full-process design, supply of complete brick and tile equipment, civil construction, equipment installation and commissioning, dryer and kiln system, automatic control system, on-site water & power utilities, site roads and warehousing, all under general contracting.
Value-added O&M Service: Combined 2-year full-turnkey production operation and maintenance for the two 750t/d production lines of Phase I and Phase II, including operator management, equipment maintenance, wearing parts replacement, and guarantee for the production line to reach designed capacity and quality standards.
3. Process route (mainstream external combustion secondary firing in the domestic brick and tile industry)
Raw material crushing → homogenization and aging → fine raw material crushing → vacuum extrusion molding → grouping by automatic brick setting machine → drying in drying kiln → high-temperature sintering in tunnel kiln → automatic brick unloading, finished product sorting and packing. The whole production line adopts automated robots for brick setting and unloading, which greatly cuts down labor input.
4. Fuel configuration
Heavy oil combustion for heating, complete heating pipeline and temperature control system, adapted to Iraq's local heavy oil energy supply conditions.
■ Current Project Implementation Progress (as of July 2026)
1. Signing phase: Complete commercial signing and contract effectiveness in early February 2026.
2. Domestic procurement: In June 2026, batch equipment tenders will be intensively launched: low-voltage distribution cabinets, electrical accessories, full brick-making main machinery, logistics supplies, and sea freight logistics will be tendered and awarded in batches.
3. Equipment shipment: By the end of June 2026, the first batch of equipment (B02) will be procured and shipped in bulk by sea, with domestic factories mass-producing and dispatching via multiple vessels to Sulaymaniyah Port, Iraq.
4. On-site construction: civil foundation works in the plant area commence simultaneously, project department logistics camp setup completed, Chinese construction and technical personnel arriving in batches.
5. Planned timeline: Overall construction period is approximately 10–12 months, with full-line commissioning and production expected by Q1 2027.
■ Core Features and Advantages of the Project
1. Industry benchmark positioning
This project is the largest and most automated fully automatic sintered brick factory undertaken by a Chinese enterprise in Iraq. All raw material processing and brick forming equipment adopt European technology, supplied by Shandong Qingmai Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd., fully showcasing China's brick-making machinery technical strength.
2. Fully automated configuration
Equipped with multiple industrial brick-setting robots and an automatic grouping and unloading system, significantly reducing local labor costs in Iraq, with production line automation far surpassing traditional local brick factories.
3. Integrated Service Barrier (EPC + O&M)
Unlike simply selling equipment, Suzhou Zhongcai packages a 2-year full production line operation and maintenance, solving Iraq's local shortage of brick and tile equipment maintenance technicians—the core reason the owner kept placing additional Phase II orders.
4. Market strategic significance
▪ Consolidate Sinoma Suzhou's leading position in the wall building materials market in northern Iraq.
▪ Leveraging Najmadin Group's local channels to cover the demand for red bricks in reconstruction infrastructure across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq nationwide.
▪ Open up bulk export channels to the Middle East for European-spec domestic brick and tile machinery, hydraulic double-roll crushers, toothed roll crushers, wet pan mills, and material homogenizing and dispersing equipment.
■ Supporting Equipment Categories
The entire project uses complete brick and tile main machinery, including:
1. Raw material processing: wet wheel mill, hydraulic double-roller mill, ultra-fine double-roller mill, double-roller disperser, homogenizing silo.
2. Forming system: vacuum brick extruder;
3. Automation: brick setting robot, low-voltage electrical control assembly, pneumatic control system;
4. Thermal systems: drying kilns, tunnel kilns, combustion heating equipment;
5. Auxiliary: belt conveying, hydraulic power units, pneumatic actuators, etc.
■ Project Construction Challenges (Iraqi Kurdistan Working Conditions)
1. Climate: Summer temperatures exceed 45°C, requiring high heat resistance for kilns, motors, and pneumatic equipment.
2. Dust environment: The raw material crushing workshop has high dust levels; clutches, bearings, and electrical cabinets require enhanced dust-proof sealing.
3. Logistics: Sea freight plus inland land transport has a long lead time, requiring higher spare parts inventory levels.
4. Energy: Relies on heavy fuel oil; heating and temperature control systems must adapt to heavy oil combustion characteristics.
5. Personnel: Local workers lack experience in fully automated brick plant operations, supported by a complete Chinese operation and maintenance training system.