Gulf Construction Online - Reynaers launches Middle East base

Glass & Aluminium

Reynaers systems ... supplied to a number of landmark projects worldwide.

Reynaers launches Middle East base

01 October 2004

High-quality aluminum systems from the leading European manufacturer Reynaers Aluminium are now available from the Bahrain-based Reynaers Middle East, thanks to a tie-up between the Belgium-based Reynaers Aluminum and its local partner Ali Khalaf.

Reynaers Middle East started operations in the region in July this year and is initially marketing Reynaers products and services in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company will open its office and showroom facility in Bahrain this month.
Commenting on the company’s decision to move into the region, Frank Goudman, export manager of Reynaers Aluminum says: “The Gulf region is currently one of the fastest developing markets in the world. Construction activity in the area has grown massively over the last few years. Major developments are under way, ranging from high-rise office buildings to large leisure projects and apartment blocks. One of the features many of these new buildings have in common is their aluminum and glass facade.
“The start-up of our operations in the region is consistent both in terms of market conditions and the partnership with a well-introduced local partner. For Reynaers Aluminum, the start of an office in Bahrain is an important strategic step in getting our high-end aluminum systems to architects and construction companies in the Gulf region.”
“Our aim in setting up Reynaers Middle East is to extend the choice of quality aluminum systems available in the booming regional market,” comments Ali Khalaf, manager of Reynaers Middle East.
“Developers, architects and contractors in the region are looking for innovative and high-quality solutions for realizing their creative designs. Reynaers’ comprehensive product range offers them the required solutions. One of the leaders in Europe in terms of volume of sales, Reynaers brings 40 years of excellence to our region!”, says Khalaf.
“One of the main systems that will be targeted at the Gulf market will be unitized systems which are designed for high-rise buildings,” he adds.
Khalaf, a 35-year-old Bahraini, has extensive experience in the aluminum system industry, having previously worked for other international aluminum systems manufacturers in the region.
The profiles will be extruded by the Saudi-based Al Taiseer Aluminum Extrusions while all the accessories will come from Belgium. The profiles can be supplied anodized or powder-coated as per the client’s requirements.
Reynaers systems are not new to the region, Khalaf points out. In the 1980s, the systems were supplied directly from Belgium for the construction of Al Wasel Hospital in Dubai, a palace in Riyadh and a police headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.
As a first project, Reynaers Middle East will supply its systems for a multi-purpose hall at the University of Ajman in the UAE. The project will be carried out by Reynaers authorised fabricator in Sharjah, Becon Aluminum and Glass Contracting.
In the meantime, other authorized fabricators are being appointed throughout the region. Reynaers Middle East has newly appointed Abdul Aziz Aluminum as its authorized fabricator in Bahrain, while negotiations are under way with a view to appointing fabricators in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. These fabricators will undergo training at Reynaers’ own institute in Belgium which serves as a forum for the exchange of knowledge and information among fabricators, architects, contractors, suppliers, institutions for architectural education, developers and official authorities.
To enable fabricators to calculate and implement their projects, Reynaers offers a range of software products that include Reynaers’ profiles and accessories.
Reynaers Middle East is part of Reynaers’ global operations, with its corporate headquarters in Duffel (Belgium) and a presence in 25 countries. The office established in Bahrain will cover all pan-Arab operations starting with the member countries of the GCC. Khalaf intends to visit all the GCC states on a monthly basis to reinforce the company’s presence in these markets.
To support the introduction of the company in the Gulf region, Reynaers Middle East will participate in the Big 5 show in Dubai from November 20-24, 2004 (Stand 2G 56).
“The Big 5 show is the largest trade event for contractors and specifiers, architects, engineers and buyers throughout the GCC countries,” says Goudman. “Reynaers will present its latest innovations to the key decision-makers from the public and private sector attending the trade fair.”
Complementing its presence at the trade exhibition, Reynaers will also be represented at the Gulf Construction Conference Week’s Annual Aluminum & Glass Conference 2004 with Erik Rasker presenting a paper entitled ‘Efficient Energy Management in Buildings through External Sunscreening Systems’.
In his paper, Rasker - chief technical officer of Reynaers Aluminum - will examine the growing interest in integrating external sunscreening systems into more comprehensive facade and building systems in a manner that increases comfort and productivity for occupants, reduces operating costs for building owners, and contributes to improving the health of the planet by reducing overall energy use and negative impacts.
Founded in 1965 as a family-owned business, Reynaers Aluminum specialises in the development and marketing of aluminum systems for external constructions such as windows, doors, sliding systems, curtain-walls, brise-soleil (sun louvers) and conservatories. The company offers standard curtainwalls, two and four-sided structural glazing curtain walls, sliding doors and windows, and casement windows, shopfronts, conservatories, as well as sun screens.
Through an extensive network of aluminum fabricators, Reynaers systems are distributed in most European countries, as well as in a number of countries in Asia and Africa.
The company’s main strength, according to Khalaf, is its research and development (R&D) facilities. Reynaers has two R&D units: one dedicated to the development of new products and the other for project research and development which basically adapts and fine-tunes certain profiles to suit the requirements of particular projects.
Last year, the group realised a turnover of $212 million with 820 workers and sold 17,850 tonnes of aluminum products.