Hafele GmbH & Company of Germany supplied the architectural hardware to the main front-of-the-house areas and the acclaimed Dialock hotel access control security system to the Dusit Dubai project.

Given its wide choice of architectural hardware materials running into more than 2,500 catalogue pages, Hafele was able to meet the diverse and precise requirements of both the design team and hotel operator, says a spokesman for the company.

"We pride ourselves on being able to listen to our client's requirements and offer a choice of materials for consideration, not just what is available on an agency basis," says Richard Roberts, regional manager of HŠfele GCC.

Another major factor which proved to have a strong influence in the choice of Hafele as the hardware supplier, was its ability to provide a uniformity of design and quality across traditionally different supply packages, he says.

"We place great importance on our ability to provide an aesthetically-balanced range of materials on a project. Our core businesses of furniture fittings, architectural hardware and the industry-leading Dialock transponder access control system have been combined and developed with this very much in mind," he says.

Roberts continues: ''The choice of Dialock for use by the hotel operator goes to prove that we have been successful in our mission. Dialock door terminals can be fitted with the same style of lever handles as on the standard doors, allowing a themed design through the project. In fact, the Dialock and architectural hardware programmes offer many hundreds of lever styles to clients, not the more common seven or eight found in other systems.

''Dialock transponder technology is rapidly replacing the outmoded and easily replicated magnetic strip cards. We are able to offer 4.3 billion possible key codes as standard. Our keys can be reprogrammed in excess of one million times and they can be produced in a three-dimensional model to the design of the client. For the Dusit Hotel, the design team chose a scaled representation of the building itself."

This innovation in hotel access control systems provides the hotel operator with a unique marketing opportunity, which can be instantly recognised worldwide especially if this key is based on the corporate logo of the client's company, he points out. Standing some 7 cm tall, the Dusit Hotel key is a faithful likeness of the structure and instantly recognisable, Roberts adds.

The key also functions with the building's energy control systems, thus reducing energy consumption when the room is unoccupied.

''In today's world where environmental issues are of concern to all responsible building operators, this is a very important consideration.

''At Hafele we have developed this system further with our Dialock programme. We are able to offer up to four active relays that can be used to control individual energy requirements. This has even led to additional avenues of revenue generation for hotel operators as they can now offer additional services such as fax and data communication in the room which can be offered to the guest and authorised on the Dialock key," he stresses.

Through its core business development, HŠfele has integrated the Dialock programme to encompass the issue of controlled access in other areas which are not possible with other, traditional types of access control. Wardrobes, mini-bars, health club lockers, vending machines, safes and so on can be integrated on the one key.

Hafele has been involved in many major projects in the UAE including the Burj Al Arab, Emirates Tower Hotel, Al Maha Desert Resort and other notable projects.