Sharjah-based Aluminium and Light Industries (Alico) undertook cladding work worth Dh12.3 million ($3.35 million) on the Mazaya Centre project. The company started work in March last year and completed it in November the same year.

Giving details of the work carried out, Haybat Khalid, project manager for Alico, says: ''The project utilised 11,000 sq m of aluminium cladded composite panels; 5,000 sq m of aluminium curtain-wall, 800 units of doors and windows, 14 spaceframes, 300 m of cast aluminium balustrades, and stainless steel column cladding for 100 columns.

"All the materials used on the project are of a very high-quality, imported from well-known companies.

"Composite sheets were imported from the US and were fabricated on site. Column cladding was custom designed at our workshop. Spaceframes were manufactured in Singapore. Balustrades were fabricated at our workshop.

"We faced difficulties during the fabrication and installation as externally the design of the building is complicated. A lot of care was needed during the installation process. Supervision was very strict. The co-ordination and co-operation we received from the project manager, consultants, main contractor and our staff at the main workshop helped us overcome the difficulties.

"At the peak of construction there were about 120 labourers on site. Strict quality control was maintained as per Alico standards," he adds.

An ISO 9001 company, Alico is one of the largest curtain-walling firms in the Middle East.

It was established in 1976 to manufacture aluminium doors and windows. The 1980s saw the implementation of a concerted diversification programme, which resulted in a group of integrated operating divisions offering a comprehensive range of construction and industrial products.

Such products and services are backed by joint venture or licensing agreements with leading European and American manufacturers and consultants.

"Alico has a reputation throughout the region for producing premium-quality aluminium glazed curtain-walling. Employing more than 1,500 personnel from all over the world, the company's annual turnover exceeds $90 million," says a spokesman for the firm.

He continues: "The most important feature of Alico's capabilities is its facility to manufacture tailor-made items to suit consultants and clients' design and specifications. To achieve this, Alico employs qualified engineers and technicians with extensive field experience in its technical design department. It also operates over 60 computer-aided design (CAD) stations."

"Its factory is equipped with technically advanced computer-aided machinery together with suitable qualified personnel to operate them.

Experienced factory managers and supervisors ensure that exacting standards and production targets are met. All procedures follow guidelines set out in the company's quality assurance manual, which is in line with ISO 9001 requirements.

"Installation teams consist of well-trained and experienced, highly-skilled field operatives. A continuous feedback system from site to factory and technical design department and vice versa, ensures that customers are provided with the best possible cost-effective and practical solutions.

"Two coating lines at Alico's factory offer high-quality finishes in either Duranar or Valspar fluoropolymer wet coating, or dry-applied polyester powder coating."

Alico is also active internationally and has completed projects in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, India, Pakistan, Sudan, Nepal, Russia and the UK.

"Over the years, Alico has completed many and varied projects in the UAE and has introduced new and innovative systems and technologies to the curtain walling and glazing market," the spokesman says. "Projects have included the use of conventional curtain-walling from the entire range of Schuco systems, glazed space frames and skylights as well as sliding and hinged Schuco windows and doors. Alico's ability to remain in the forefront of facade technology is demonstrated by its long list of market firsts."

Most recent developments feature fully unitised, thermally-broken curtain-walling and new bolted frameless glass walling system. Alico's projects include luxurious residential buildings, high-profile retail complexes and headquarters buildings for some of the most prestigious corporations in the UAE.

Some of its prestigious projects in Dubai include the Dubai 2000 Air Show, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the National Bank of Dubai (a pioneering unitised curtain-wall project), the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the Dubai Airport Free Zone, Emirates Airline Training Centre, the Abu Dhabi Golf Course and the Saleem Al Sayegh Building in Sharjah.

Some of its current jobs include Nahda Shopping Mall (job worth Dh10 million) and 30-storey building on Buhaira Corniche (both in Sharjah).