Emirates Glass LLC (EGL), one of the leading processors of architectural flat glass in the Middle East and a subsidiary of Glass LLC, wholly owned by Dubai Investments (DI), today announced that work on its new aed 175 million, state-of-the-art plant and headquarters, which will also house lumiglass industries, has begun at the Dubai Investments Park.
Mr. Ziad Yazbeck, General Manager, Emirates Glass and Lumiglass, said: "Emirates Glass and Lumiglass are experiencing an unprecedented growth, and the expansion project is part of empowering and enabling the company to meet the burgeoning demand in the regional and global market. Expansion of our operations in the last few years and the EGL's acquisition of a new coating plant have necessitated an upgrade of our facilities and this explains our carefully chosen decision to shift from our present location in Al Quoz Industrial Area."
Mirroring the construction boom in the Gulf region, Emirates Glass is now nursing global ambitions, and armed with savvy marketing strategy and investments in high-tech machinery and a highly skilled work force, the company is eyeing a bigger pie in the international market for architectural glass business.
The profit curve of Emirates Glass is shooting up, and this was reflected in a stunning increase of 106% in its net profits for 2007 compared to the previous year, as well as a total of 30% increase in overall productivity.
Emirates Glass had increased its coating capacity to 3.7 million square metres of flat glass products per annum by installing a new glass coating line at a cost of AED 100 million last year.
Mr. Yazbeck highlighted the philosophy that shapes the transformation of the company when he said: "Emirates Glass is now poised to maximise the return for our investors and repay their trust and confidence. In the last few years, we had dedicated ourselves to upgrade and expand our product lines. Our rigorous approach to maintain high levels of quality has captured the imagination of designers and architects and has won us many major contracts."
Mr. Yazbeck explained the logistics that is involved in the transformation when he remarked: "It is no simple task. We have to ensure that our production and supply chains are not disrupted since the list of those who depend on our top-notch service spreads over continents. We have decided after a series of brain storming sessions that the operations of both Emirates Glass and Lumiglass Industries will be shifted in a phased manner into Dubai Investments Park so as to ensure a streamlined service and continuity of supply during the migration."
During the first phase of the expansion project, the coating plant will move to the Dubai Investments Park. The initial phase of the project began in the first week of June, 2008, and is expected to be completed by March, 2009.
In the second phase, Emirates Glass and Lumiglass will be heralded into a new zone of comfort and convenience in the Dubai Investments Park. Spearheading the project, Access Engineering Consultancy is soon expected to start the work for the second phase.
In its short but glittering history, Emirates Glass has added lustre to landmark structures such as Dubai International Airport, Etihad Airways Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, London Heathrow's Terminal 5, Lancaster Airport in England and the 435-metre high Milad Telecom Tower in Iran.
A plethora of gleaming, iconic projects that dot the skylines in the UAE, the Gulf region and across the vast swathes of Asia and Europe, have the unmistakable allure and durability of the Emirates Glass.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
