Lift maintenance was its core activity for almost 13 years before Bahrain-based Gulf General Lift Services (GGLS) entered mainstream lift installation.

Hence, GGLS gained extensive experience in the lifts business since its inception in 1983, and continued to concentrate on lift maintenance until 1996 in order to consolidate its skills in that area.

''We have to learn to walk before we run,'' says Maher Mohammed Ali Abul, managing director of GGLS. ''It was only in 1996 that we got into the commercial lift business when we started supply and installation of lifts.''

He continues: ''When a client makes an expensive investment in anything as sophisticated as an elevator, he expects efficiency, longevity and serviceability.''

With this in mind, GGLS acquired the agency for Fujitec elevators from Japan in 1999.

''Fujitec - whose priority continues to be research and development on the movement people within the parameters of buildings - has been in the elevator business for more than 50 years and this Japanese firm places great emphasis on high-quality products and services,'' says Abul. ''Over a considerable length of time, Fujitec held the distinction of manufacturing the world's fastest elevator with a running speed of 10 m/sec. Other breakthrough developments on offer are double-decker elevators for high rise buildings with limited space. Advancement and studies are under way at Fujitec on the development of futuristic multi-directional elevators.''

Fujitec and GGLS are very optimistic about prospects in Bahrain and foresee several major developments in the construction sector. In Bahrain so far, Fujitec elevators have been installed at the Citibank headquarters, Le Royal Meridien spa and several commercial high-rises, which include high-speed, group control, special high-quality cabin designs as well as panoramic lifts.

Besides elevators and escalators, GGLS is also a market leader in the engineering, design, manufacture and installation of window cleaning equipment, which it produces in association with its affiliates in the UAE and Japan/Spain. These include the Dubai-based Maher Abul Industries (MAI) and Maher Abul Lifts Trading (Malt), as well as its principal Katsuyama and Katsuyama Europe of Japan/Spain.Together, the firms offer an array of access solutions to the market.

These access cradles are used in the cleaning and maintenance of high-rise buildings.

''Our experience with the world's top manufacturers of window cleaning systems and our participation in a major way in the supply and installation at some of the most prestigious projects in the Middle East has placed the group in the forefront in this specialised field,'' says Abul.

Key installations of window cleaning equipment executed include the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach hotel, both in Dubai, UAE; the Telecommunications Tower in Kuwait; and the Ankara Hilton in Turkey, among many others in the reference list..

In Bahrain, GGLS has recently supplied and installed window cleaning systems at the Seef Tower and the Citibank headquarters.

The Citibank project in Seef was among the more challenging projects undertaken by GGLS, Abul points out. This is because of the angled inclinations of both the facade and the roof of the building.

''From our extensive experience, designing an access system depends highly on how far the architects can allow us to go," he stresses.

Other major installations were at the BDF Hospital, Le Royal Meridien, Batelco, Ministry of Finance and retrofitted systems at the Investcorp building and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait tower.

Commenting on business levels, Abul says: "Business has been challenging and we are very optimistic about the future. We have gained a sound reputation in the market - so much so that we are confident of playing a sizeable role in the upcoming developments in Bahrain."

"We are also confident that our suppliers will continue to provide good support through product innovations and services," he adds.

GGLS' engineers are trained by our principals' engineers and have valuable experience, he says. Furthermore, Fujitec provides regional logical support from its affiliate Fujitec Saudi Arabia (FSA) based in Jeddah.

''Logistical, material and personnel support, if required, are just a phone call away," Abul says. GGLS, however, has been able to rely on its own in-house skills, but Abul admits that at the beginning when Fujitec support was required, he was surprised on how fast and professional FSA answered the call.

''If nothing else, it shows how serious Fujitec takes its reputation and goodwill to heart," Abul adds.

''GGLS is not a big firm. We offer all that can be expected to do efficient maintenance and keep customers happy. What the customer requires is a trusting service provider, one who will supply quality equipmetn and support the longevity of the same. Being small, gives us the flexibility and thus the ability to pass on the cost benefits to the client,'' he adds.