ETA-Melco – part of ETA-Ascon and Al Ghurair Group – achieved a significant milestone last year by almost doubling the sales of cladding products.

The company, which registered an exceptional growth in the region with its products division, completed 250,000 sq m of Alucobond cladding in 2004 as compared to 160,000 sq m and 120,000 sq m in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
“We expect this growth to continue in the near future considering the number of projects launched in the region and the continuing demand for ETA-Melco’s products and services,” says Moinudeen Sadiq, manager-sales and operations.
To meet the anticipated demand, the company has also expanded through recruiting specialised staff both in its technical and sales departments and by investing heavily in infrastructure for the Alucobond division.
“It is an overall expansion on both the fronts. We have increased our human asset by hiring technicians, and project and workshop engineers for the markets of Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. In addition, we have invested on a new workshop and warehouse in Doha, two Holzher automatic machines for Dubai and Doha and an additional warehousing facility in Dubai. ETA Jeddah has invested in a workshop, warehouse and Holzher machinery recently for the Alucobond business,” he says. “The full-fledged workshop in Doha will cater to the demand of Alucobond cladding from Qatar and Bahrain. “We have already ordered for a new automatic panel saw machine for this operation.”
“Apart from this, we are looking to add new high-quality products and agencies for the construction and engineering industry,” the spokesman continues.
“This has kept all our end customers, architects and contractors happy and therefore, we are automatically preferred and specified by consultants for the prestigious projects,” he adds.
Besides Alucobond aluminium composite, ETA-Melco also undertakes subcontracting works involving building construction products such as Besam automatic doors.
Recently, the company has also acquired the agency for Bezault-Rivalu accessories for aluminium doors and windows from France.
“Rivalu accessories, manufactured by Bezault of France, are one of the leading brands in the world of accessories and the complete solution to aluminium windows and doors,” Sadiq says.
Bezault, an ISO 9001:2000 company and established in 1980, is an Assa Abloy group company with outstanding competence of design and innovation in the field of accessories for aluminium windows and doors, he adds.
The Bezault-Rivalu product range includes:
• Top hung open out windows;
• Side hung open-in windows;
• Tilt-and-turn opening windows;
• Sliding doors and windows; and
Handles for aluminium doors and windows.
ETA-Melco – the sole agent for Besam automatic doors – has successfully installed hundreds at prestigious locations all over the UAE.
Besam, also a part of the Assa Abloy group, has a manufacturing facility in Landskrona, Sweden and is considered the largest locks and security systems company in the world. Among others, the most popular varieties are the automatic sliding, revolving, swing and curved doors in Besam’s range of door automation, says the spokesman.
 “These doors have multiple application and can be installed quickly at any location be it a showroom, restaurant, hotel, commercial or residential building etc,” the spokesman adds.
“Besam doors offer enormous benefits as they have a stylish look, high personal safety and security features, saves on air-condition and heating costs, capable to allow movement of large materials, no maintenance required, and can be installed within a few hours,” he says.
The company has also recently launched Besam automatic doors sales operations in India and is marketing and executing projects through a branch office and distributor network in the major cities across the region.
Although the company considers the UAE as its main market, its products have been well received in the markets of the Middle East, India and CIS countries.
“Already we have executed a number of prestigious turnkey projects in Qatar, Kazakhstan and India. Besam automatic doors have been installed at international Airports of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Almaty (Kazakhstan) besides the Abu Dhabi Municipality; and the Hyatt Regency, Mumbai; to name a few,” he adds.
Being a part of the ETA-Ascon, the product division banks on a large body of experts. It branch offices and sub-distributor networks around the Middle East, CIS countries and India.
The group, which has an annual turnover of over $2 billion and 30,000-strong team, undertakes activities ranging from escalator and electromechanical contracting, power projects, civil engineering to the trading, retail, travel and shipping divisions.
One of the major divisions of the group – ETA Melco Elevator – established in 1975, is the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Elevators and has established itself as the market leader in 15 countries across the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and CIS countries.