A NEW state-of-the-art master key cylinder manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia – the first of its kind in the region – has recently been launched by Universal Building Materials Merchants Company (UBM), a leading supplier of door hardware, specialised architectural hardware, drainage and plumbing product in the kingdom.

The facility in Riyadh, which has a capacity to produce about 3,500 master key cylinders per month, has already provided bespoke solutions to two hospitals and two educational facilities within two months of its launch, according to Pawan Singh, general manager (doors division) at UBM.

“The response to our master key cylinder manufacturing plant has been excellent,” he adds.

As a pioneer in the field of architectural ironmongery, UBM has proved its excellence in the field of master keying by offering a unique concept, a “one key for all” – in collaboration with CES, a German manufacturer of locks, cylinders and master keying systems – which bridges both the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards and European Normative (EN) standards cylinders and can also combine padlocks and cabinet locks under one master key system.

“Generally, users are offered a master key that can unlock only European cylinders or only American ones. Our master key solution can handle all different types of both European and American cylinders,” Singh points out.

This apart, the master key cylinder manufacturing plant provides different key profile systems including PSM and WSM profiles, which ensure high security of locking systems as the keys cannot be duplicated by key cutters.

“The client can come back to us if they need a replacement as we maintain records of all our master keys,” he adds.

UBM's specification and design facility in Riyadh.

Established in 1979, UBM has been rendering quality products and services to the Saudi market in two distinct sectors within the building materials industry – namely plumbing and drainage products and door hardware products and accessories.

Its door hardware section offers a comprehensive range of products, such as door handles – standard and architectural (ANSI and EN), locksets, panic devices, door closures, EM locks, hinges and concealed hinges and door sealing systems

Over the years, the company has grown to become a complete engineering solution provider for everything revolving around door. It has an in-house engineering team which provides complete project solutions right from concept, design, specification to supply chain management.

“UBM has proven itself as a one-stop solution by becoming the exclusive distributor for various well-reputed and esteemed architectural ironmongery manufacturers,” he says.

The master key cylinder manufacturing plant comes in the wake of two key initiatives taken by company recently to grow its business and enhance its support to the Saudi market. These include the Porta showroom, which Singh describes as a ‘designer’s dream’ and a specification and design centre.

The Porta showroom, which was opened by UBM a little over a year ago, is a unique boutique for the finest door handles, levers, locks and fittings available from Europe and North America. A new concept in the region, Porta allows the company to provide a canvas of the various designs of high-end brands, right from antique period door hardware to modern bespoke luxury collections.

The showroom has brought together some of the world’s best-known door hardware brands, including Brassart, a British manufacturer of solid brass architectural hardware and homeware which holds the distinction of having supplied for the Buckingham Palace; Baldwin from the US, which has a legacy for producing door ornaments/jewellery for special clients including the White House; Rocky Mountain Hardware, a US-based manufacturer of handcrafted architectural hardware; Martin Pierce, a US-based designer whose portfolio of items are based on nature; and Dorma, a market leader in door controls, whose origins go back over 100 years.

Other manufacturers represented by UBM include CES of Germany; AGB, an Italian specialist in hardware systems for doors, windows and shutters; Kwikset of the US, which offers a complete line of door locks and door hardware; Frank Allart, a specialist in architectural hardware in a variety of materials and finishes; Mandelli, an Italian manufacturer of high-quality door handles and accessories; Ghidini, an Italian producer of handles and accessories; and Simonswerk, a German manufacturer of hinges and hinge systems.

The Porta showroom allows specifiers to meet with clients in an environment where both the technical and aesthetic aspects of the products can be presented.

The Porta high-end door hardware showroom ... a ‘designer’s dream’.

Architectural ironmongery encompasses a wide range of hardware right from door handles, locking systems and closers to hinges which need to be designed for the specific applications whether it is an entrance door or doors to kitchens or pantry areas, says Singh.

Highlighting the importance of these systems, he says: “Door hardware probably accounts for one per cent of the project value but it can be the undoing of many a project especially as it comes at the finishing stage of a project.”

Through UBM’s 500-sq-m specification and design centre, which opened last year, the company provides valuable support to designers, architects, consultants, contracting engineers and other clients.

“The specification and design centre is UBM’s move beyond hardware and products supply to provide services further up the value chain. We have in-house engineers who are capable of working through the architectural plans to ensure the codes and standards are met and provide accurate solutions, choosing the products from UBM’s extensive product portfolio,” he says. “In addition, we also have product managers who have the competency to combine the client’s functionality and aesthetic requirements. In addition, other product managers can provide support in terms of electrified door hardware and software to provide solutions for security, time and access management requirements.”

UBM is also unique in supply chain management in terms of appreciating the importance of ensuring the project schedules are met and delivering to meet the requirements of clients, contractors and end-users. It excels in terms of pre-sales specification, schedule engineering and after-sales service through its well-experienced, talented workforce, he adds.

The company has branches throughout Saudi Arabia supplying a wide range of specialised building materials from stock and undertakes direct import of materials for specific requirements/projects.

UBM is a total solutions provider of door hardware and mechanical products categories, providing a comprehensive offering, from engineering design to delivery of products and services and manufacturing.

It has supplied materials to most of the major projects in Saudi Arabia as well as the region, holding a leadership position in the building materials market segment, thanks to its quality products from renowned manufacturers, stock availability, highly-trained product specialists, and excellent after-sales service.