Arabian Aluminium Company (AAC), a member of the Abdulla A Al Ghurair Group of Companies, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.

Since its establishment in 1967, the company has striven to be a pioneer and front-runner in its field and was the first company in the region to design, manufacture and install architectural aluminium and glass elements in the local market, according to Wilfried Hingst, general manager.

At its 5,000 sq m factory in Al Rashidiya in Dubai, AAC maintains a core complement of 200 highly qualified and experienced engineers, technicians and fabricators who work at one of the most modern and technically-advanced production facilities in the region. In addition to this core of experts, AAC can call upon the extensive resources of the Abdulla A Al Ghurair Group, should a particular project or general workload require additional qualified manpower, and Hingst is confident in the company's ability to bid for and successfully execute projects of any size, both locally and abroad.

The company's marketing policy is based on AAC's ability to offer complete external cladding packages, taking complete responsibility for all aspects of the design, manufacture and installation on a turnkey basis with the major emphasis on providing the highest quality at reasonable and competitive prices.

Hingst is particularly concerned about the lowering of quality standards by competitors in the UAE market as a result of falling prices for cladding systems as more and more companies in the field chase a limited number of new projects.

"There are projects but, with too many companies in the fray, the market is witnessing drastic price reduction. Contracts are being awarded on the basis of price alone. In the long term, clients or building owners will suffer from a lack of quality," he says. "Finally, clients will get exactly what they have paid for. Lower price means reduced quality in this business."

The solution, according to Hingst, is that "the government and municipalities must play a vital role by setting certain minimum standards for specialised companies in this field. Companies must first fulfil such standards before a licence is issued to them."

"Furthermore, I believe consultants and architects should adhere to high quality standards in their specifications and ensure they are implemented 100 per cent during the execution of the projects," he emphasises.

Companies such as Arabian Aluminium, however, continue their commitment to excellent quality even in a difficult market situation, according to Hingst.

In its constant search for excellence in technology, quality and service, AAC has established extensive collaboration agreements with B Grimm MBM of Germany and Alutechnik of Austria.

MBM specialises in aluminium curtain-walls, windows, doors, cladding, skylights, canopies and special metal constructions and has an extensive track record of prestigious projects in Europe and throughout South East Asia.

MBM has facilities in Germany, the UK, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines and former Yugoslavia and its scope of expertise covers a whole range of services from initial advice and consultancy for customers through design, engineering and manufacture and on to installation, testing and service.

Alutechnik specialises in the production of combined aluminium and wood window systems for prestigious residential projects, combining the aesthetic attributes of natural wood with advanced glass and aluminium technology.

AAC is also tapping into the potential in overseas markets.

"We want to expand our market position in the UAE and abroad. The first step in this direction is our recent venture into Qatar, where we have already undertaken projects," Hingst concludes.