The Seef Tower is among the latest projects that Sayyar Trading Agencies has supplied to from its extensive and expanding product portfolio.

Set up in 1978, Sayyar has grown from a family-owned trading firm to one of the leading importers and manufacturers in Bahrain mainly dealing in sanitary ware, bathroom accessories, builtin kitchens, counter tops, ceramic tiles, marble, granite and other building finishes.

The firm, which manufactures suspended ceiling strips and fabricates surfacing material, is now poised to broaden its horizons through the manufacture of metal ceiling tiles in the 60 by 60 mm format. Production of these aluminium and stainless steel tiles is expected to start at its factory in Doha, Qatar, by March. With a production capacity of 120,000 sq m per year, Sayyar Trading expects to supply the entire GCC region.

The company also intends to join hands with Amancrete of Saudi Arabia to offer stamped concrete in Bahrain by March.

We anticipate good demand for the product as it replicates the effect created by interlocking pavers and is fast to install as large areas of coloured concrete can be stamped in one go, says managing director Wael Sayyar.

The past year has seen Sayyar Trading successful in adding a number of agencies for choice products to its portfolio. These include the TimeLox card access system from Sweden, Deckelmann Wellness systems from Germany and garden and swimming pool furniture from Roland Vlaemynck Tisseur of France.

We launched TimeLox electronic door-locking systems in Bahrain some three months ago and we are currently negotiating on supplying the system for a number of projects, says Sayyar.

This software-operated card access system is suitable for hotels, government offices, hospitals and banks, among other complexes. It can also be used in retrofit applications as no major work is required and there is no cabling. Even power cuts do not affect TimeLox as each lock is battery-operated, " he points out, adding that TimeLox has recently been installed at the 6,000-room The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, US. It has also been approved for several five-star hotel chains including Radisson SAS, Westin, Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Penta Ramada, Best Western. Accor Group and Scandic hotels.

For the Deckelmann system, we can offer a complete service including design, build and operation of complete 'wellness' centres. These centres are designed to offer visitors relaxation and enjoyment and in setting up such projects due attention should also be given to the location and general surroundings. The long-term success of a 'wellness' project is underpinned through professional consultancy services" says Sayyar. "Deckelmann systems are highly recommended for hotels, palaces and resorts. The Los Palomas resort in the Caribbeans has a 3,000 sq m 'wellness centre' from Deckelman. Sayyar Trading Agencies has the agency for the entire Gulf for this product.

Other recent additions to its portfolio are parquet flooring from Bauwerk of Austria and Aliso hand-dryers, hair-dryers and accessories from Germany.

The firm's long-standing list of agencies includes leading international brand names such as Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware, Jado, Hansa and Dornbracht mixer fittings, Hoesch and Huppe bath systems, Rex laminated wooden parquet and Emco accessories, all from Germany, Bradley accessories and Elkay water coolers and drinking fountains from the US, Vervolet ironmongery from Belgium, Roca sanitary ware from Spain, Geberit concealed cisterns and Forbo PVC flooring from Switzerland.

It also promotes tiles from Caesar (ceramic), Monica (ceramic), Pastorelli (porcelain) and Sicis (mosaic) of Italy and Porcelanosa (ceramic), Vives (ceramic) and Mayor (terracotta) of Spain. Its kitchens portfolio includes Grovewood from the UK.

The fabrication of Topstone, a surfacing material for vanity and kitchen worktops, channels and accessories for gypsum ceilings and partitions are some of the companys specialities, Sayyar points out.

For the Seef Tower, Sayyar supplied sanitary ware (Villeroy & Boch), mixers (Hansa) and accessories (Emco). The company completed its order by June 2001.

Sayyar Trading is currently supplying a number of projects in Bahrain. These include the upcoming Dana Resort, Noon Plaza Tower, and 178-luxurious apartments complex near the Le Royal Meridien and Elite 3 and 5, all supplied with Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware and Emco accessories.

It has recently completed supply of mixers for the Sail Tower, Sheraton Hotel, Elite Hotels, Kooheji apartments, Amiri Court building, Ghalib bin Mahmood Building, Citibank and Regency Hotel (sanitary ware, accessories, tiles and mixers), Ahmed Mansour Al Ali upmarket villas, Sunni Waqf Directorate villas and Golden Sands apartment complex.

The company boasts a list of other prestigious projects list in Bahrain which includes Zayani Towers (Phase I & II); Hidd Power Plant, Bahrain International Exhibition centre, Al Safir Hotel, Gulf Pearl Hotel, Zayed Town, Casablanca, Phoenicia Centre, and Al Mahmoud Tower.

The company has a large showroom located on Exhibitions Avenue with elaborate displays of all leading brands of sanitary ware and fittings. Sayyar Trading Agencies is now planning to build another larger 25,000 sq m showroom on GCC Road in Sitra to promote its expansive and expanding range of products.

Sayyar Trading's workforce is involved in all sectors - the projects, wholesale and retail markets. It also has a well-experienced technical team to undertake installation of builtin kitchens and ceilings and fixing of marble and granite, Sayyar adds.