01 February 2000

Finsa Middle East Limited (FMEL), a subsidiary of Spain's Finsa, has recently introduced a floor covering called Finfloor on the market.

''Finfloor is a decorative, laminated HDF (high-density fibreboard) parquet flooring, that is attractive, easy to install, easy to clean, does not fade, is scratchproof, anti-allergic and carries a 10-year guarantee,'' says a company spokesman.

Finsa, a privately-owned Spanish multinational group (Financiera Maderera SA), is one of the leading manufacturers of medium density fibreboard (MDF) and particle board (also known as chipboard), a raw material for the furniture industry, interior design and construction.

Besides Spain, Finsa has production bases in Ireland and Portugal. The Finsa Group has evolved from one factory in 1931 to 12 factories at present.

The company says it is a pioneer with regard to creating new products and finding new applications for existing ones. Finsa is a specialist in MDF, supplying a full range in regular and big sizes.

The MDF range comprises Fibranor, Fibrapan and Iberpan, in thickness varying from 2.5 mm to 60 mm, and offering properties such as moisture resistance, flame retardancy, an exterior grade, as well as light and ultralight MDF. The company also stocks melamines and veneered MDF in various designs.

Fibraplast is a melamine-faced MDF (laminated) in thicknesses varying from 3 mm to 30 mm. It is available in various colours and as moisture-resistant; while Fimaplast, a melamine-faced chipboard in sizes ranging from 8 mm to 30 mm, is available in various colours and also as a moisture-resistant type.

Besides the company also offers plain and moisture-resistant chipboard in thicknesses ranging from 8 mm to 40 mm.

''By using some of our products, clients can save costs by replacing more expensive materials - for instance, the use of thick MDF in standard grade, moisture resistant or exterior grade MDF instead of Meranti or hardwood in manufacture of doors - and saving time in their manufacturing process," the spokesman explains.

In addition to its sales offices in Spain, Finsa has overseas subsidiaries staffed by Finsa employees. These offices are located in Portugal, France, UK, Holland, Poland and the Middle East.

''By having our own sales staff and stocks on the ground in these locations, we are giving customers a commitment and by being close to them we can serve them better. There is also support of our factories and nearly 2,000 employees to ensure that service is a priority," he says.

FMEL was established in 1991, having been in existence for two years prior to that as a joint venture with another company.

FMEL is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Finsa Group and is the largest importer, wholesaler and retailer of MDF and chipboard products in the Gulf.

It imports and stocks a wide range of these products in its warehouses based in Jebel Ali. These include a wide range of melamine-faced (laminated) MDF and chipboard in decorative colours and also the complementary backpanels and edging.

The company says it offers European quality materials at value-for-money pricing on the doorstep of the market.

''We supply technically-superior MDF products with regards to density, reaction to moisture, workability and ease of finishing with paint and lacquer. We have detailed technical data for the products we supply and supporting documentation for it," the spokesman states.

FMEL takes break-bulk shipments from its factories on a regular basis for stock and special customer orders. Containerised shipments are also an option. In addition, the company supplies complementary products such as matching decorative edging tape and laminates (polyester and CPL) exclusively from Casco Decor, a division of the Akzo Nobel Group.

FMEL has been supplying major clients in the trading, furniture manufacture, interior decoration, joinery and contracting sectors in the Gulf market for almost a decade and its materials have been used in a number of prestigious projects, the spokesman adds.

FMEL believes that its Finfloor product is a departure from the conventional. ''Not only does it cater for the existing customer base (trading, interior decoration and contracting clients), but also appeals to the end-user.''

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