THE Technal brand, which was created 50 years ago, continues to maintain its strength in the Gulf markets, building on the reputation it has earned over the past 32 years since it made its debut as the first international architectural aluminium system to be introduced in the region.

Over the past year, the leading regional office of Technal, Technal Middle East (TME), has exerted extra efforts to achieve its sales targets and despite the global credit crunch, has continued to invest in reinforcing its organisation, its logistics facilities, and its support teams in the region.

“Despite the global economic downturn over the past couple of years, TME has had another good year in 2010,” says Hesham Kameshki, marketing and business development manager of TME, the Bahrain-based regional office of the French brand. “This is thanks to our constant efforts to provide the most suitable cost-effective engineering solutions at competitive prices.”

TME is currently looking at further strengthening its sales team to serve the markets even better, and having drawn up a focused business strategy, it is confident of improving its sales performance this year (2011).

TME’s efforts in the region are backed by the constant drive for innovation by its parent company Technal in France, which celebrated its 50 anniversary in 2010. Technal’s new products are designed to suit future market needs and trends, with its range of complete systems meeting various architectural aluminium requirements in both residential and commercial buildings construction.

Notéal, a versatile range of casement and suspended sliding shutters ... advanced concepts.

The company has developed a range of high-tech systems with cutting-edge designs for casement windows and doors as well as a new concept for the sliders, both with thermal insulation options. These include Luméal sliders and patio-doors, Soléal casement windows and entrance doors, Notéal, a versatile range of casement and suspended sliding shutters used for the external building envelope and Sunéal aluminium sun shading systems.

“Technal has recently unveiled new concept products that aim to revolutionise the architectural aluminium segment. These new advanced concepts offer global and ideal solutions that are cost effective and ensure high performance. These new products – Soléal, Luméal, Notéal and Sunéal – are scheduled to be gradually available for the international markets during 2011,” Kameshki says.

Last year, TME successfully tested and acquired certification for its engineered solutions for a blast-proof aluminium façade and window applications from a specialist UK-based blast testing facility centre. The system has been supplied and installed on a landmark institutional project in Kuwait with another project to follow in Bahrain.

Another major success for the company was having its new-concept unitised façade system supplied and installed in some landmarks across the region – the most recent being the United Tower, which is currently the tallest tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The United Tower is a striking project because of its 100-per-cent glass elevations, where no aluminium profiles are externally visible. For the project, we have developed a custom-designed unitised façade system with a unique glass replacement feature,” he says.

During 2011, Technal’s research and development (R&D) will be taking this hi-tech product to further heights in advancement with additional innovative features and versatile design concepts, according to Kameshki.

Technal has been active in the Gulf since 1978 serving all GCC markets from the Bahrain headquarters with regional offices in Dubai (UAE) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), a strong network of ‘metal builders’ or aluminium fabricators, and dedicated technical and sales teams and a logistics team with central distribution warehouse located in Bahrain.
As the company continues to invest in reinforcing its organisation, it is focusing on localising its services and support teams in key regional cities during 2011.

Technal offers a wide range of technically-advanced proprietary and bespoke products developed to meet specifiers’ requirements for enhanced thermal performance, design flexibility and visual appeal. These include innovative solutions for all types of façades, windows, doors, skylights, balustrades, brise soleil and internal office partition applications in the region.

“Technal architectural aluminium systems – renowned for their quality, innovative French design, durability and technical performance – are increasingly specified and utilised in landmarks across the Middle East,” Kameshki says.

Some of the landmark projects that the company secured over the past year (2010) are Dar II, Al Banadar Hotel and Fakhro towers in Bahrain, where Technal Géode MX series designed for façades has been specially adapted for the projects.

In Qatar last year, Géode MX series systems have been supplied to the Al Jasimiya, Arwa and Al Mirqab towers while in Kuwait, the new National Assembly headquarters and the Police College, are using the Géode MX series (with blast-proof solution) and a customised version of Technal’s MV series.

Turning to the Omani market, Kameshki says: “Technal made a breakthrough in the sultanate through Technal Middle East with its first project in the Omani capital, Muscat – the Maritime College – where the Technal Mecano VEC series is being utilised.”

Meanwhile, in the UAE, following its outstanding achievements in 2009 crowned by the landmark Yas Island Formula One racing track project, TME secured other major projects including two residential buildings consisting of 132 apartments and the Naqfa Mall at Al Ain, 13 Future Schools and the Baniyas Complex at Abu Dhabi, where the Géode MX series and Topaze B series are the main systems being used.

In Saudi Arabia, subsequent to its stunning success with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust), TME secured the United Tower and King Saud University, both in Jeddah, and the Princess Nora University and Dream Tower in Riyadh. “The products being used in these projects are mainly Géode MX series and the new Technal unitised façade with the special glass replacement feature,” says Kameshki.

TME is now poised to launch another wave of marketing campaigns and conduct seminars to generate greater awareness in the Gulf markets about sustainable buildings and new technologies.

“We will continue to sustain our growth and customer networks as our ‘metal builders’, who are our business partners, are financially sound and fully capable of taking on challenges. We have a long-term commitment to our customers and markets and are confident that our efforts will earn rich dividends in all markets,” he concludes.