01 August 2006

Swiss fastening systems manufacturer SFS intec has, in a short span of time, captured the market with its top-quality, high-precision and innovative products for the trade and industry.

Since it was founded last year in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, it has become an increasingly active player in the Middle East’s construction industry offering its expertise and high-quality products for industrial buildings, aluminium smelters and other productions plants.
“We started our direct operations from Dubai in early 2005 and quickly consolidated our existing business and explored promising new opportunities in this region,” says Thierry Metay, general manager of SFS intec FZCO, who in fact, had come down from Switzerland to set up SFS intec Middle East. With 20 years of experience under his belt, he was the right choice for the job when the firm realised that, for logistical and technical reasons, it needed to establish its presence here.
“As a Swiss company with 12 manufacturing plants spread across the globe, over 20 national distribution companies and a staff of 3,800, SFS intec can ensure direct contact with its customers in the Middle East,” says Metay.
Its mechanical fastening systems are widely used in the transport and construction sectors.
“The manufacturers of doors and windows benefit from our hinges, which offer a combination of aesthetic appeal and a high degree of reliability,” says Metay.
SFS intec’s quality and technical superiority has won it many projects in the highly competitive market and the firm is now involved in the Dubai International Airport expansion project, providing roofing, fastening, and cladding and sliding door systems for two mega-size hangars where the world’s largest aircraft, the Airbus-380 will be parked. It was also involved in the prestigious Dubai Flower Centre, which has been completed recently.
“SFS intec fastening systems undergo rigorous tests before being marketed and are therefore in the forefront in terms of safety, productivity and ease of use and our fastening solutions are tailored to the customer’s and the industry’s needs,” emphasises Metay.
The firm, which notched up a total turnover of $900 million worldwide, has built up a good reputation for quality. SFS intec has won four top certifications, namely the EN/ISO 9901/2000, EN/ISO 14001, ISO/TS16949 and the IS/ISO 17025. It focuses all its innovative power, flexibility and application on turning ideas into profitable solutions. With its years of experience in the chosen core technologies of cold forming, powder metallurgy and plastic injection moulding, SFS intec ensures its customers have a competitive edge in the market.
Its total customer-oriented approach has also ensured it enjoys a leading position as the development and supply partner to many a blue chip company.
“With SFS intec’s specification support system, it’s a load off the customers’ mind,” says Metay. “Every project is different, and with the increasing number of fastener products on the market and shortening timelines, sifting through the mass of available information and specifying the correct fastener can be time-consuming. This is where the expertise of SFS intec plays a key role. Its technical team can quickly step in and work with the architects, designers, structural engineers and contractors to provide informed, detailed and reliable specification guidance, right from planning to seeing the project through to the end.”
Its team can also help resolve fastener issues that might crop up during the designing phase of a building and work alongside the architects and engineers to ensure the strict performance requirements are met.
Creating a building is all about forging an effective partnership and, through its network of technical advisers, SFS intec maintains a close partnership with the architects, engineers and contractors on all building projects. It is this dialogue and solving of problems commonly encountered by end-users that triggered many new ideas for fastening systems, he says.
In a competitive market where clients are constantly looking for added value, be it a higher level of specification, greater longevity of the building or improved performance, SFS intec products, because of their high quality standards, play a key role in giving value for money, says Metay.
“Precision during installation can make the difference between a secure roof or performance problems. To help its users eliminate such risks, SFS intec offers free on-site training in the use of its semi or fully-automatic purpose-designed fasteners installation tools, thus ensuring that each and every fastener is consistently and securely installed in an ergonomic and economic manner,” he says.
Whether the installation of roofs, cladding, curtain walls or other precision SFS intec is today the partner of choice for a growing number of leading systems suppliers, Metay concludes.

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