Driven by an ambition to achieve maximum energy savings in buildings, Sharjah-based Gulf International Trading Group (GITG) will be putting the spotlight on new-age eco-friendly building products that will launch on the market at the Big 5 show.

“We are targeting an eco-friendly market with the launch of PowerGlaz building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels,” says Dr Unus Abbas Hamza, executive officer/finance manager of GITG, which will be making its debut at Big 5 show.
Established a little over a year ago in September 2007 and owned by Khalid Mohammad Ibrahim Al Midfa, GITG was founded to provide an alternative to inefficient building materials,
“GITG’s desire to provide environment-friendly building products was inspired by a legacy of traditional construction. The efficient and beautiful wind towers, the iconic symbols of the Gulf region, have provided inspiration to GITG’s new generation of innovative leaders,” says a spokesman for the company.
GITG has strategically partnered with leading international experts to provide the region with innovative construction products and the highest quality and most advanced technology in green building solutions.
The company has tied up with Aluflam of Denmark and Romag of the UK and will be promoting the attributes of their aluminium profiled fire-rated UL-certified glazing systems and PowerGlaz panels and security glazing systems, respectively at the Big 5 show.
“We expect to get good mileage from the Big 5 show, which continues to see an increasing number of participants from the various sectors of the construction sector,” Dr Hamza adds.
As sole distributor for these two companies, GITG is responsible for the supply and supervision of installation of products from Aluflam and Romag.
GITF has partnered with Aluflam in response to the growing need for fire-safe solutions throughout the region, in view of the increasing number of developments at risk of poor electric circuitry and fires.
“Aluflam’s aluminium profiled fire-rated glazing system is the only product available in the market having UL and Civil Defence certifications, claims Dr Hamza.
Based in Europe, the Aluflam Group is a market leader in aluminium and glass fire resistant construction products. 
“The Aluflam Group is a leading company in fire construction using aluminium and glass. We cover the range from EI 15 to EI 90 – all made from our specially-developed aluminium profile system,” says a spokesman for Aluflam “Aluflam is committed to continuously develop high quality and competitive fire-resistant products through meeting international standards and delivering world-class services. We have a wide range of fire-rated products namely; doors, windows, sliding doors, single-leaf door sets with hardwood framing, curtain-walls, glass roofs and skylights. These products are uniquely designed for high durability and custom made to size and colour.”
Meanwhile, Romag Holdings is a manufacturer of specialist transparent composites for the security, renewable energy, architectural and specialist transportation markets. The company produces a range of laminates, including laminated solar panels that generate renewable energy by combining float and tempered glass, modern plastics technology and specialist interlayers. Its glass provides bullet and bomb-blast protection to military vehicles, government buildings, embassies and VIP residences in worldwide locations, as well as cash transfer vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and public-figure limousines.
Key areas of activity are the supply of photovoltaic panels and glass and glazing products to the renewable energy, architectural, safety/security and transportation markets.
Among its latest products is PowerGlaz, a solar panel sandwiched in glazing system. It can be used as windows, skylights and other application where it can generate electricity while enhancing the aesthetics of its setting as it is custom made, according to a spokesman for Romag.
Elaborating on PowerGlaz, he continues: “The principle of BIPV is that PV panels (or modules) are incorporated into the building envelope substituting standard glass and other cladding materials with glass/glass laminates encapsulating photovoltaic cells within. The modules are then incorporated into the building façade or roof where they generate electricity at the ‘point of use’, thereby maximising energy efficiency by eliminating transmission losses incurred when electricity is supplied via the national grid. PowerGlaz BIPV can be integrated into vertical glazing, pitched glazing to canopies or walkways, and glazed roofs such as atria. It can be single or double glazed, and will fit easily into most proprietary glazing systems.
“PowerGlaz standard modules provide excellent performance whether operating DC loads directly or inverter-equipped system AC loads. Enhanced efficiency polycrystalline or mono-crystalline silicon cells are connected in series and will charge 24-volt batteries efficiently in virtually any climate. PowerGlaz standard modules use Romag’s extensive glass processing experience to produce high-quality photovoltaic modules using the latest materials.”
GITG, which employs a staff of 10, has registered a turnover of $45 million in its first year of operations. The company has been pleasantly surprised with the response from the market, which has “more potential than we expected,” Dr Hamza says.
The company has already clinched some of the mega projects in the UAE including the ongoing Dubai Metro project and the UAE University project in Al Ain, where it is supplying  fire-rated aluminium glazing system to the contractor   Oger  Abu Dhabi. Work on Phase One of the project is currently under way and Phase Two and Three are expected to be completed next year.
Buoyed by the response it has received to Aluflam, GITG intends to set up a factory to produce these panels locally with a view to reducing prices substantially, according to Dr Hamza.
He continues: “We also intend to activate our premium licences for construction, consultancy, real estate and block manufacturing, so that we can fulfil the vision of our chairman for constructing 100 per cent energy-efficient buildings.”
GITG will be pursuing its dreams in a phased manner by initially developing its own properties and then extending its services throughout the Middle East market.
Gulf International Trading Group will be present at Stand ZG3 and ZG 4 at the Big 5 show.