Emirates Glass is an architectural glass processing company which has been going from strength to strength especially in the high-rise market.

The Dubai-based firm has won worldwide respect for the quality of its products and its reputation has helped it capture markets in the Far East, Indian sub-continent, South East Asia, Middle East and other Gulf regions.

For the Dubai Creek Hilton, Emirates Glass supplied 6,000 sq m of 8 mm RB-14 Clear H/S and 8 mm SS - 14 Clear H/S glass.

In the recent past, Emirates Glass has executed large projects such as the Fairmont Hotel, Deira City Centre, Dusit Hotel, Dubai International Airport, Le Meridien extension, Marina Mall and Etisalat Ajman, all located in the UAE. Elsewhere in the Gulf it was involved on the Citibank headquarters project in Bahrain and Social Security Services complex in Kuwait.

Overseas, it is currently busy with major prestigious projects such as the Bank of India in Mumbai and Cyber Hitech City in Hyderabad, both in India, and Nanyang Technical University in Singapore.

Emirates Glass says it offers a comprehensive single-source supply capability - coating, tempering, insulating, opacifying, laminating, ceramic frit and edging - in one centralised location sustained by a dedicated sales team, qualified technical assistance and efficient production guaranteeing on-time deliveries.

''Emirates Glass' wide range of products offers numerous creative options to designers and architects in modern building designs to produce stunning and exciting facades,'' says a spokesman for the company. ''They cover a range of clients' requirements in terms of energy conservation, thermal properties, colours and external cladding.

''It also supplies monolithic glass for the double-glazing industry.

''Its premium product is low emissivity (low-E) glass, which is very highly regarded for its multifunction ability to keep the building environment cool. Emirates Glass is a pioneer manufacturer in the region for this type of glass.''

The major advantages of low-emissivity coatings are their climate adaptability and enhanced thermal resistance, he points out.

The spokesman elaborates: ''Low-emissivity coatings can - when adequately designed and properly used in an insulating glass unit - save up to 40 per cent of the total energy cost of a major building. Its use will furthermore decrease substantially the initial capital cost of climate control equipment. Combining good thermal performance with high transmission, low-E is found to be very useful in the Gulf's climate.

''The demand for low-emissivity glass types in the Middle East region is steadily growing. Applications range from major curtain-walls and windows to atriums and skylight glazing.''

Set up in 1997, Emirates Glass has a production capacity of one million sq m per year of glass utilising Leybold technology from Germany.

The company operates two shifts on a six-day week. However, during peak production, the facility remains operational round-the-clock.

Emirates Glass was accredited to ISO 9002 in June 1999, just 18 months from start of operations, the spokesman points out. The company imports clear glass from the region and the body-tinted glasses from the UK, US and Europe. Sourcing raw material from all over the world allows the company to offer a bigger product range.

"As a local producer, Emirates Glass offers a tremendous a amount of flexibility for local as well as the Middle East and Asian region contractors and builders. It relieves them of the hassle of awaiting long deliveries from US and European suppliers, time constraints and financial losses,'' he adds.

The company is well-placed to increase its share of the market because of the quality of its products, timely delivery, price, logistical support and state-of-the-art production facility, particularly for low-E glass which has gained rapid popularity, the spokesman concludes.