Glass processing specialist Alma Glass of Saudi Arabia is now promoting a range of hi-tech automatic doors from Europe in the Gulf market.

The range of doors, from Ditec of Italy, features cutting-edge technology for automatic entrance systems, according to a spokesman for the Riyadh-based glass manufacturer.

One of the pioneers in Saudi Arabia's glass processing industry, the Riyadh-based Alma has been serving the Kingdom for the last 22 years with a range of products from its tempered security glass and double glass plant.

The company sees its move into the door business as a logical extension of the top-quality glass it manufactures.

"Alma, by its quality and services, has maintained the top rank in frameless glass since its establishment in 1978," explains the spokesman. "After 22 years of experience, Alma has now taken up the agency for the best available automatic door and we are confident that Ditec will become the best-selling systems on the market, due to its superior quality."

Ditec was born out of the experience of three formerly independent companies: Aprin, Novotecnica and PA Automatic Pedestrian Doors

The manufacturer has two production facilities: one in Venice which produces the Novotecnica automatic systems for gates and the PA automatic pedestrian door and another in Varese which produces Aprin automatic industrial doors. Both factories possess Research and Development and Technical Service Departments for the respective production Divisions.

"Ditec's PA Division is one of the world's leading companies in the field of automatic pedestrian doors," the spokesman says. "It is capable of satisfying all practical requirements in residential, commercial and industrial contexts for all types of standard, anti-panic, fire-barrier and many other uses."

He continues: "Ditec gives the customer a choice of over 100 different models of automatic systems such as sliding, curved, revolving, swing doors and shutters.

"For main pedestrian entrances with intensive traffic such as at airports, large supermarkets, hotels or hospitals, Ditec offers the GTV, GTS/L, GTS/P, GTE, BIS, Supertransit and Transit 97 sliding doors. The company also offers Exeo revolving doors.

BIS is a new range of automatic systems for rectilinear sliding doors that represents the evolution of the GT range, due to its technological development, very high level of performance, quality and extreme flexibility and reliability. It is available in three versions: BIS O, horizontal expansion model, with a transom box height of just 100 mm; BIS V, vertical expansion model, with a standard transom box height of 180 mm; and BIS T, vertical expansion model for 1+1 or 2+2 telescopic doors.

"Its distinguishing features are maximum opening speed of up to 1.6 m/s with a standard load in heavy duty and up to 250 kg with the use of special reinforced wheel/carriage units. A very important feature is represented by the perfect integration of the models that, along with the excellent rationalisation of the system, enables the BIS range to offer an excellent performance at very competitive prices.

"For areas of frequent traffic, such as shops, company and apartment entrances and small supermarkets and hotels, Ditec offers Rex sliding doors, DOK M motorised guides for straight sliding doors, GTC curved sliding doors and Sprint and Transit UE swing doors.

"For pedestrian entrances with non-frequent traffic such as houses and offices, Ditec markets the Civic and Jolly M internal sliding doors.

"For other special applications, there are sliding industrial doors and fixtures, emergency exit doors (anti-panic), fire-barrier doors and doors designed for people with mobility problems.

"Also on offer is a range of safety, opening and adjustment accessories and profiles and accessories for the construction of straight sliding doors."

Ditec doors conforms to ISO 9W1, Cemark and TW (for safety products), according to the spokesman.

Ditec doors have been installed by one of the world's leading cruise lines for its fleet of ships which carry between 900 and 3,000 passengers on each vessel and are providing both luxury and excellent performance, says the spokesman.

Alma has already installed several Ditec doors throughout the Kingdom and several top international franchises have selected Ditec doors for their stores located at the prestigious Al Faisaliah Center and Kingdom Centre mixed-use developments in Riyadh, the spokesman adds.