Metabowerke GmbH (Metabo), a leading global manufacturer of power tools and abrasives, sees huge opportunities in Qatar in the medium to long term due to the country's rapidly expanding energy, petrochemical and construction sectors.
The Nürtingen, Germany-based company estimates that Qatar's key industries besides the construction sector will require significant quantities of "premium metal tools" in the coming years.
"Qatar and the region will be a key driver for our industry in the next few years," said Metabo CEO Horst W Garbrecht in an interview with Gulf Times in Doha.
Garbrecht said productivity and safety are central to the growth of strategic energy, petrochemical or construction sectors.
"Precisely, our task is to improve productivity of the plants and facilities that use our tools. We manufacture power tools that work faster, stronger and lasts longer, even as they provide safety to those who handle them," said Garbrecht, who leads a company that has been in the industry for nearly 90 years.
Under the brand name 'Metabo,' the company manufactures electric power tools, woodworking machinery, bench grinders, bench drilling machines, drill chucks, depressed centre grinding discs and cut-off wheels as well as special machines for belt grinding, polishing and deburring.
Garbrecht said Qatar and the Gulf region are "metal-driven" and import vast quantities of high-complex power tools.
"We already have a fair share in metals, but in the construction segment of tools industry, there is definitely room for improvement. In the last couple of days, I have seen a bit of Qatar's construction industry where our products can help clients' improve their productivity and overall safety," Garbrecht said.
Founded in 1924, Metabo has production facilities in both Nürtingen, Germany, and in Shanghai and employ more than 1,800 people. Its global network comprises 24 sales offices and 100 importers worldwide.
In 2011, the company posted a turnover in excess of $500mn.
Metabo's Qatar partner is the Doha-based Gulf Incon.
Asked why Metabo decided to set up a production facility in Shanghai, Garbrecht said, "It was a conscious decision. We have shown we can get good quality out of China at competitive rates, if we manage production on our own. In all our products, whether they are entry-level products made in China or high-complexity products from Germany, quality is the buzzword and we ensure it."
In Germany, he said, Metabo has already become "competitive and productive".
"We have a high level of automation in our Nürtingen production facility," Garbrecht said.
Along with Metabo's Qatar partner for more than 34 years, the Germany-based company has drawn a roadmap for business development.
"In the next 10 or 20 years we see greater application of our kind of tools in Qatar's rapidly growing energy, petrochemical and construction sectors. We are on fast track to capitalise on the opportunities here," Garbrecht added.
© Gulf Times 2013
