SOME of the key specialised technical products that will serve and keep critical areas of the King Hamad University Hospital optimally operational have come from veteran trading firm Y K Almoayyed and Sons (YKA), which last year marked 70 years of service to the Bahrain market.

Through its Industrial and Building Systems (IBS) division, the multi-disciplinary group has provided a range of services to the prestigious development. Apart from a substantial supply of material, this has entailed design, installation, testing, commissioning, engineering and software integration of most systems involved, according to Ajit Bolar, general manager – IBS division.

Under a near-BD1 million ($2.65 million) order, IBS’ scope of work on the state-of-the-art medical facility covered the supply of products and systems for building and car-park ventilation; CO (carbon monoxide) monitoring; security systems (CCTV and access control); hospital systems including nurse call, patient queuing, bed head modules, master clock, central intelligent emergency lighting; and cast resin medium-voltage main transformers.

Bolar attributes the successful execution of its undertaking – which is almost complete – to its competent and innovative employees who overcame critical engineering, technical and contractual challenges on the project. The IBS division started work on the iconic landmark in 2007/2008.

Well done ... Bolar (fourth from left) and members of the team involved in the project on site.

YKA’s IBS division offers specialist integrated building energy management/ automation systems and ventilation systems for the construction and industrial sectors. These include building and car-park ventilation; CO monitoring in closed car-parks; integrated building energy management systems (IBEMS); building automation controls, including field devices; security systems including CCTV, access control, intruder/burglar alarms, perimeter security, traffic barriers, and secure car-parking systems; fire alarm and detection systems including early warning detection; public address and voice alarm systems; and smoke management/alarm systems. Its product portfolio also covers ICT (information communication technology); structured cabling systems; hospital systems; home automation; central intelligent emergency lighting; and hotel guest room management systems.

In addition, the division provides pumps; valves; industrial safety equipment and supplies; transformers and cables for the infrastructure network; industrial shelving; building wires and fire-resistant cables; commercial and domestic extract fans; contractors’ building products; and automotive equipment and tools.

Among its recent landmark projects, the IBS division also counts the Bahrain City Centre, where it executed the IBEMS, fire alarm detection, advanced early warning fire detection system, public address and voice alarm, ventilation and smoke extraction system, central intelligent emergency lighting and fire-resistant cables. The main contractor on the project was WCT Cebarco with the mechanical and plumbing contractor being Voltas of India; and electrical contractor being Comsip Al A’ali.

Hands on ... YKA’s team on site.

Commenting on the company’s performance over the past year, Bolar admits that the economic slowdown has negatively impacted the construction sector where prominent projects have been halted or delayed. This, in turn, affected IBS’ business last year.

In view of the downturn in the construction industry segment, the IBS division is now re-assessing its business strategies in order to study the possibilities of meeting current challenges – both in terms of its product/systems offering and market segments, according to him.

“IBS is focused on diversifying its product portfolio to maintain its competitiveness amidst challenging times,” he says. “The division is consolidating its gains and identifying new strengths acquired through executing major projects.”

On the strength of its successes in Bahrain, the IBS division is drawing up a business strategy aimed at expanding into other GCC countries. “The business models and new products/systems proposals have been worked out,” he adds.
Bolar is confident that despite the current recessionary pressures, a growing population will help Bahrain’s construction industry develop at a steady pace.

According to him, YK Almoayyed and Sons as a whole performed better than forecast early last year as it recorded positive growth in its core businesses. “This was due to effective management of its finances, inventories and receivables, aggressive and yet focused marketing initiatives and a strong commitment to customer-centric programmes.”

The group was founded in 1940 by the late Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed as a shop that dealt in imported electrical goods and traded in sugar, tea, coffee and sandalwood. In 1949, the company obtained the agency agreements for General Electric Company (GEC) and Lister Blackstone. Additional agency agreements from multinational companies worldwide were acquired over seven decades of operations.

From a fledgling electrical shop, YKA has grown into a diversified conglomerate comprising Y K Almoayyed and Sons, Almoayyed Contracting Group, Ashrafs and Almoayyed Properties operating under the leadership of chairman Farouk Yousuf Almoayyed. The group also enfolds National Concrete Company, Almoayyed Furnishing and Building Materials division.

Today, the group represents more than 300 brands serving a wide array of diverse market segments ranging from government and corporate to walk-in clients. The group caters for the market requirements for automotive, heavy equipment, furnishing, building materials, industrial and building systems, construction, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) contracting, medical technologies, integrated facilities management and properties.

Retail operations cover consumer appliances, electronics, home and office furniture, sanitary ware, tools and hardware. The company is also a high-end retailer and distributor of luxury goods, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion and business equipment.

YKA is based in Bahrain and has key operations in Qatar, the UAE and Oman. It employs 5,000 personnel who are involved in sales, distribution and services facilities.

The group has witnessed growth in a number of sectors over the past year.

The automotive division acquired a dealership agreement for Foton and Great Wall Chinese automotive brands with an initial offering of Foton 3.5-tonne payload pick-ups and light vehicles and Great Wall commercial vehicles. The full range of automotive models will be introduced soon.

Its electronics and home appliances business introduced Sansui LCD televisions in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE with other Sansui products to be marketed later on. The division also introduced the Indesit brand in Oman and Ariston brand in the UAE, which has been instrumental in improving the company’s operations in the Emirates, he says.

The electronics and home appliances division also achieved the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation.

Another group company Almoayyed Furnishing expanded its operations from being purely a retailer to an executor of turnkey projects, covering interiors and furniture supply. The company has executed projects for both external (Batelco, Oracle, Nass and Mahooz Apartments) clients and group companies (Foton and Great Wall, Nissan Service Centre and Ashrafs).

Almoayyed Building Materials finalised projects for Ishbilya Village, Riffa Views, ITCO Building, Ministry of Health (500 villas) and the airport expansion, to name a few.

“Y K Almoayyed and Sons continues to set the standards in customer satisfaction by bringing quality through its products and services. It encourages constant feedback from its customers to ensure that every product purchased or service availed of is of the highest quality and caters to specific needs,” Bolar concludes.