A one-stop shop for all industrial service and support equipment covered by the Big 5 show, Aikah Establishment of the UAE offers more than 100 product lines for a diverse range of sectors.

The company provides the complete spectrum of electromechanical equipment, LV switchgear, lighting, fire protection and security systems which are largely consumed by the building and construction industry, water technology, air-conditioning and industrial sectors.

Aikah was set up in 1979 by local businessman Mohammed Tayyeb Khoory. The company says it has grown steadily by adapting itself to market demands.

"We started with offering pumps for agricultural applications and spanned into generators and specialised electromechanical products such as valves and pressure vessels.

"Today we have a complete line of water, power, lighting and fire products, and we are now focusing on the specialised needs of customers in each of these segments," says general manager Marcel Mascarenhas.

The company has set up sales and service outlets in all major business centres of the country.

With its head office in the recently-constructed sprawling corporate building off Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Aikah has branches in Deira, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman.

"All branch offices function as independent business units with full freedom to offer the very best solution to customers in their territory," says Mascarenhas.

The company's operations are divided into four major business units to offer customers a more specialised product focus.

The four units are switchgear division, offering assembled LV switchgear and components; engineering products division, offering electromechanical equipment for water, electricity and agricultural applications; lighting division, specialising in domestic, commercial and industrial luminaires; and fire and security division, offering total solutions in fire protection, security and communication for buildings.

All four divisions are supported by independent service departments which are manned by trained staff, he says.

"The company's staff training policy is consistent with international norms and continuous training is given at all levels of the organisation," Mascarenhas adds.

The company supplies products from a number of renowned international companies including Merlin Gerin, Telemecanique, Iveco aifo, WFM, WEG, Ritz, Franklin Electric, DAB, Well Pumps, Himel, C-Tec and Schrack.

"Our engineering products division was one of the first in the region and growth in this field has been phenomenal with over 4,000 of our gensets currently in operation," says Mascarhenas. "Equipped with an array of gensets with a huge range of applications and specially tropicalised to suit the harsh environment of the area, our clientele varies from government departments and ministries, private sector including building, construction and traders who buy for re-export.

"Our gensets are already approved by all leading consultants in the UAE."

Aikah provides gensets from Iveco aifo and WFM of Italy.

Iveco, one of the world's largest manufacturers of diesel engines, produces over 300,000 engines and gensets which are marketed to all parts of the world.

Aikah distributes Iveco aifo gensets ranging from 30 to 2,000 kVA, both for prime power and standby applications. Apart from standard gensets, it also offers a variety of special ranges - soundproof, canopied and trailer gensets - to suit different applications.

The WFM range complements the Iveco range of gensets. WFM offers a wide range of gensets from 0.5 to 30 kVA which also include petrol engine driven versions.

Aikah also offers products from Ritz, E-Tech and Well Pumps, makers of a wide range of pumps.

Ritz of Germany is one of the foremost large scale manufacturers of a comprehensive range of pumps for both clean water and effluent services.

The range covers a variety of applications - submersible pumps, fire pumps, water transfer sets, water booster sets, chilled water, sewage, drainage, water treatment, etc.

High-performance submersible pumps in 6 and 8 inches in complete stainless steel 304 and 316 construction versions are now available from E-Tech, a leading European brand.

E-Tech pumps can be used for a variety of applications such as water, agricultural, fire-fighting and various industrial applications.

Well Pumps of Belgium offers 4-inch submersible pumps in complete stainless steel construction. These pumps can be used for heads even up to 1,200 ft.

Aikah says it has been able to popularise these brands in the Middle East in a very short period.

The company also offers pumps from DAB of Italy. The DAB range includes centrifugal, vertical and bare shaft pumps and circulators, for water and agricultural applications.

Electric motors from WEG of Brazil are also available from Aikah. WEG is one of the top five multinational giants making electric motors. It offers an extensive range of motors up to 22,000 kW including LV squirrel cage and slip-ring motors, synchronous motors, HV motors up to 13.8 kV, turbo and hydro generators, DC motors, among others.

Aikah also markets locally-assembled fire pump units, assembled with imported equipment. These diesel and electric automatic fire pumps sets are approved by the civil defence authorities and are made generally in accordance with LPC and NFPA regulations.

It says its divisions making assembled switchgear, fire pumps, water transfer and booster sets are certified ISO 9002. Its assembled switchboards are ASTA type test certified for ratings up to 2,500A.

The company has recently set up a sister concern in Muscat, the Al Khoory Establishment, offering a product mix specific to local needs.

Aikah says it has been consistently posting growth of above 10 per cent each year.

"We have managed to maintain this growth over the last two decades and we expect it to increase further since I feel there is still room for expansion in the company and in the product lines," says Mascarenhas.

"We work continuously on a long-term product line plan and our strategies are aimed at offering a product line that has sufficient width and depth to accommodate future market expectations."