US-based Mifab is hoping to win over consultants and electromechanical contractors in the region with its high-quality drainage and commercial plumbing products, which boast a number of cost and quality advantages over rival systems in the market.

Using its decades of expertise in manufacturing a wide variety of commercial plumbing products, the company is on a constant quest to enhance its products, says a spokesman for the company.
“Over the years, we have expanded from manufacturing access doors and grease interceptors into commercial and residential wall hydrants, trap seal primers, water hammer arrestors, no hub couplings, trench drains, floor, area and roof drains, cleanouts, fixture carriers, backwater valves and floor sinks,” he says.
The company has managed to secure a number of high profile projects in the region over the past few years. Having started with a distributorship network and representatives in the Gulf in 2003, Mifab is now represented in all the six regional markets with a local inventory in most.  Some of its recent projects in the region include the Ministry of Interior headquarters building by Inco/MPW and the Ommoma Hospital project designed by Projacs in Kuwait as well as the Metropolitan Hotel project in Dubai.
“Mifab products offer a number of advantages to the consultant and electromechanical contractor. For instance, our cast Type 304 stainless steel floor drain, area drain and cleanout tops are available at the same price as the industry nickel bronze; our ductile iron adjustable area drain strainer assemblies are offered at  the same price as the industry standard cast iron non-adjustable strainer assemblies. In addition our products feature a modular body design,” says a spokesman for the company.
He elaborates: “Compared to nickel bronze, Type 304 cast stainless steel offers key material advantages in  the areas of dishing, corrosion and finish.
“With Mifab’s stainless steel grates, there is less dishing of grates and covers which is unsightly and potentially a trip hazard to the owner. The heavy-duty product is ANSI rated to withstand loads between 5,000 lbs (2,267.96 kg) to 7,499 lbs (3,401.48 kg), which compares to only a 2,000 lb load rating with the industry standard nickel bronze material.
“The material composition of Type 304 cast stainless steel is also such that corrosion does not occur to the same extent as with nickel bronze material. Often, one sees nickel bronze grates/covers that over time will tarnish to a black/grey colour that no longer matches the finished floor or surrounding material finishes.
“A foot-friendly finish can also be achieved as these steel grates and covers have less of an edge between the free area slots and the finished surfaces when compared to nickel bronze. This is because nickel bronze must be more highly polished in order to be finished, compared to Type 304 cast stainless steel material.” Mifab’s ductile iron, adjustable area drains also offer four key benefits, he says.
All its area drains have a standard 7/8-inch-thick ductile iron tractor grate to provide a special-duty ANSI load-bearing capability of over 10,000 lbs live load; are made standard with adjustable top assemblies instead of the usual fixed top assemblies; have a stainless steel veneer option which is superior to the nickel bronze option as it will not discolour and will maintain the load rating of the ductile iron grate underneath it; and have 3/8-inch-wide slots in the grate to prevent large matter from entering the drain, thus rendering the sediment bucket unnecessary and ensuring greater flow through characteristics through the piping system, says the spokesman.
The modular design of Mifab’s products enhances the versatility of its range.
The spokesman explains: “The same Mifab A1 body can be used to produce a floor drain, a cleanout and a roof drain. A different body for each application requires excess inventory and leads to confusion, but the modular design eliminates this costly problem.
“Mifab’s F1100 Series floor drains do not require a clamp ring to connect the top assembly or strainer to the body.  All the floor drain bodies have 4-inch diameter integral machined threads at the top of the body to accept the threaded strainer assembly.  Other systems require a clamp ring to act as the transition piece between the body and the top assembly.  Most floor drain applications do not require a waterproofing membrane except on above-grade shower and special-purpose applications — therefore there is no need for a clamp ring. The clamp ring is not only an addition cost to contractor but also takes up his time for installation.  For a membrane floor installation, the contractor can simply bolt membrane clamp ring to the floor drain body.
“These floor drain bodies are a compact, being 2 ¾-inch in height, whereas rival systems are at least one inch higher. Since a more compact body offers the contractor more flexibility during installation, Mifab’s F1100 Series floor drains are the preferred choice by contractors.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Mifab has a global network of representatives marketing its products throughout the US, Canada, Asia and the Gulf. The company’s 60,000 sq ft facility at its headquarters allows it to manufacture a wide variety of standard and specialised products that are shipped across the world.