Al Futtaim Engineering, a member of the Al-Futtaim Trading Group of Companies, is a multi-disciplined engineering company providing products and services to the construction sector. With six divisions including Scaffolding and Formwork; Elevators; Building Products; Security Systems; Engineering Services and Aftron, the company is now in an excellent shape for a real push into the market place following a comprehensive restructuring of its management processes during 1999.
The company is looking towards significant growth in all its divisions during 2000, says managing director John Ashcroft, and plans to move into new areas and increase its export activities, especially with Aftron.
Elevators and Scaffolding were, in 1999, once again the largest contributors to the company's turnover, but Al Futtaim now sees great potential for its Aftron brand of white goods in the project market.
In recent years, the company has seen its profile lifted significantly with its involvement in some of the most prestigious of Dubai's construction projects.
What divisional manager John Farr refers to as The Big Three - Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers, and Dubai International Airport - have not only made a major contribution to the company's turnover, but have really put it on the map as one of the top guns in the construction sector in the UAE.
"Our involvement in numerous large-scale developments in the UAE has given us a wealth of experience in the project sector," says Ashcroft. "Whether it is Scaffolding, Elevators, Security Systems, Air-conditioning or Sanitary Ware, the Al Futtaim name means quality, reliability, and value for money".
All divisions of the company are ISO 9001 certified, he adds.
The company's activities includes:
The company is a major supplier of air-conditioning and refrigeration services to Dubai Municipality, with current maintenance contracts for 200 locations throughout the Emirates.
The division's range includes integrated security systems, perimeter protection, intruder alarm systems, access control systems, CCTV camera systems, electronic article surveillance and hotel access control systems.
Al Futtaim has close association with a number of specialist suppliers - Chubb Electronic Security, Sanyo CCTV Systems, Plettac Electronic Security and Gateway Security.
The world-class range of products that it offers include Toto, Sphinx, Flaviker, Damixa, Delta Faucets and Gamco.
Al Futtaim Engineering is currently looking at providing building management services in a big way. "We are keeping an eye on the market as we are convinced that there is a future for a full facilities management service," says business development manager Andy Gatling.
He is also very excited about the huge potential for security systems. "With the rise in the population of the UAE, security will become an ever more important issue in both the commercial and domestic sectors," he says. "There are a number of new products that we are currently looking at very closely, and we will hopefully bring some of them into the market later in the year."
Ashcroft is confident of an upturn in construction activity during the second half of the year and is looking forward to a busy start to the millennium.
"We are prepared for the challenges ahead and are very optimistic," he says. "Whatever happens, we are now a much stronger company and are ready for whatever challenges the market has in store for us".
Abu Dhabi is now being viewed as an area for some good growth. The recovery of the oil price and the reconstitution of Khalifa Committee have given a new momentum to the market and Al Futtaim Engineering is determined to grab a slice of the pie.
"In addition to our traditional markets, we are now looking towards the industrial sector as an area of growth especially for our Scaffolding and Formwork division," says Gatling. "With oil prices back to the current levels, the petro-chem sector is looking particularly attractive."
The company's workforce of almost 500 have witnessed some major changes during 1999.
"Last year, we successfully introduced a very comprehensive computerised management system. In addition, we carried out a complete personnel audit and made some excellent appointments and promotions," Ashcroft continues. "Unfortunately this, of course, meant that some of our people had to be released, but as a result we are now leaner, stronger and far more focused. In short, we are in excellent shape to tackle the challenges and opportunities of this exciting market place."
