DUBAI - The present boom in the construction sector has boosted growth of 20 per cent for building materials in general including architectural ironmongery and hardware fittings, according to industry sources.
With the current focus in the UAE on real estate and the trend to construct luxury buildings and villas as well as renovating old ones, there is a great demand for hardware which includes door-control systems and locking devices as well bathroom/sanitary fittings which are beautiful and functional. Basically, it is said that ironmongery is to architecture what buttons are to a shirt.
According to an official of a company marketing and distributing hardware fittings in the UAE, "In recent years, however, the need for architectural ironmongery is gaining much importance in the UAE due to complexity and performance requirements of modern building design. Hardware allows movement within a property, whether it is a hinge that swings the door, a pull that slides a drawer or a lever handle that opens, function must exist along with decoration."
According to a building contractor, "This boom in the construction sector, which is the largest sector in the non-oil segment, would continue for at least another four to five years because more and more new projects are being announced and it will boost the architectural ironmongery / hardware business in the UAE.
Various companies dealing in architectural ironmongery and hardware fittings are recording good growth and expanding their business.
For instance, Al Kuhaimi Metal Industries based in Saudi Arabia has opened its office in Dubai to meet the growing demand of the UAE market for engineered metal products and supplying doors to many big projects in the emirate. Most of the products offered by Al Kuhaimi industries are sound resistant doors, aircraft hanger doors, electronic access control, hotel security systems and many more.
One more company, Haroon company established in 1981 in the UAE with the aim of servicing the construction sector as professional architectural ironmongers are providing complete and co-ordinated high quality hardware packages for doors, door-control systems and locking devices as well other fittings.
According to the managing director of the company, "Presently the company is marketing and distributing, various products from Onity, Briton, Southern-steel, Normbau, Kafli, Frascio, to name a few. These products are designed and manufactured to the highest standard, to withstand heavy-duty usage and to last the life time of a building.''
Over the years, the company has supplied various hardware packages in the UAE which include palaces, hotels, hospitals, shopping complexes, commercial & residential buildings, sport complexes, golf-courses, schools, army & labour camps, private villas, UAE's diplomatic buildings in foreign countries etc.
BY MOUSHUMI DAS CHAUDHURY
© Khaleej Times 2004
