Since its inception nine years ago in the UAE's Jebel Ali Free Zone, Ostermeier FZE has grown from a small industrial unit catering to the waste management segment to a full fledged and technologically advanced stainless steel engineering company catering to the architectural, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), commercial kitchen and the special products industry.

The company's core expertise has been maintained very well and has already proven by more than 650 projects spread all over the GCC, including several landmark projects such as the Dubai Marina and Fujairah Chamber of Commerce.

The company has also come up with a new line of products: incinerators for medical and other waste; shredders for food, plastic, metal and rubber; self-compacting containers for wet/dry food and other wastes, particularly in the food and beverage industry; and balers for cardboard and metal scrap.

In 1995, Ostermeier Gmbh,Germany officially sold the rights and ownership of the Ostermeier Gmbh,Jebel Ali Free Zone licence, thereby transferring the rights of manufacturing and distribution of the garbage chute system as well as the ownership of the company's trademark and logos. Since the transfer, Ostermeier FZE has been operating independently from Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Ostermeier FZE asserts that its specialised products and fabrication offer a definite advantage over imported products and job-works, in terms of world-class quality achieved in the total production. This is backed by excellence in service, a commitment to customers by virtue of proximity to the market and a dedicated service culture of its staff, says a company spokesman.

Ostermeier's motto 'we care better', coined to suit its sole line of service as a garbage chute turnkey contractor, is now enhanced to 'reinforced craftsmanship', reflecting its expanded portfolio.
Ostermeier FZE's strategy has been to develop specific expertise for stainless steel and non-ferrous metal fabrication in the form of well-experienced craftsmen and advanced automated CNC machines for production and finishing.

Architectural and interior metal fit-out jobs are taken on a turnkey basis and executed in a timely manner within the specification and to the satisfaction of the client and consultants, says the spokesman. Many a times innovative ideas mooted by Ostermeier design engineers are welcomed and found practical as well as aesthetically suitable. Its proactive staff at all levels have made sure that every job is done taking clients into full confidence and delivery is made to their full satisfaction.

He continues: Though the commercial kitchen industry is comparatively large, there are only a few quality stainless steel fabricators operating locally. Ostermeier is striving to fill this gap by offering first-class custom-fabricated products for the leading kitchen equipment manufacturers and dealers and to projects. Kitchen hoods, shelving, worktables, stools, wash sink tables and other kitchen and service area furniture are few of the products that it can offer. Ostermeier has participated in many prestigious hotel, hospital and other catering and healthcare projects.

Other special fabrications include stainless steel recessed and thin-rimmed manhole covers which have become very popular with the construction and MEP contractors. There is also a tremendous growth in sales of stainless steel gratings, channels and floor traps, cleanouts, rainwater outlet, not only in the hospitality but also in the dairy and healthcare industries. Where specific needs are not met by off-the-shelf products,  Ostermeier makes the extra effort to satisfy customers' requirements. One such example is the Ostermeier slot-drains for surface water collection for the Amiri Flight project. A total of 1,200 m of slot-drains were supplied, covering all the new aircraft aprons.

Building access products like hatch covers, access panels for ceilings and walls are another area where Ostermeier has developed quality products. Fire hose reel cabinets and fascias, special-size enclosures, tanks, lockers, litterbins and other industrial custom fabrication are undertaken on a case-to-case basis.

Ostermeier has ambitious expansion plans to enhance production capacity using the latest and most appropriate machine tools. Prospects for business in the local market over the coming years are extremely promising for the existing products and in addition, an extended product range is under development, says the spokesman.

Stermeier is also implementing a new integrated ERP system, which will completely computerise the workflow of the company. Apart from automating the business processes, it will incorporate total quality control checks based on the best practices of the industry.

With the continued support and encouragement of its visionary director M N Khory, Ostermeier will really go places from 'waste to steel', demonstrating true reinforced craftsmanship, he adds.