Inkjet segment in UAE printer market registers 57% growth in Q2 2008

Recording an 87% growth for its inkjet multifunction centres (MFCs) within the same period, Brother Gulf, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, communication and digital imaging products for homes, SOHOs and enterprises, has announced its extensive participation at the upcoming GITEX 2008, as part of a campaign to further drive its growth within the Middle East market.

In addition to inkjet, other segments have also recorded substantial growth in the UAE, including the Mono MFCs, which has risen by 47% with Brother registering a 25% growth rate and the printers segment, which witnessed a 19.6% growth and where Brother achieved an impressive 119% increase.

Driven by the positive outlook on the growth trends of Colour Laser Printers and MFCs in the region, Brother is continuously developing new technologies to incorporate more innovative and high-technology features to its latest products, which will be highlighted during its participation at this year's GITEX.

"Brother Gulf's sustained growth across various segments in the UAE market is a clear indication of the effectiveness of our efforts in generating consumer awareness and action."

said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf.

"As the pioneer of the concept of MFCs, which is a trend that is catching on at an impressive pace, having recorded a 25% growth in the second quarter of this year, we are proud to announce that we have seen a 95% jump in this segment of our business. Our aim is to leverage the outstanding growth prospects in the UAE and across the region by launching our newest MFC innovation during the GITEX event, which we expect to bring forth excellent exposure for our latest products."

The highlight of Brother Gulf's participation at GITEX 2008, which will run from October 19 - 23, 2008 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will be the launch of its first ever A3 Inkjet Professional Series MFC and the unveiling of its new range of Mono Laser Printers and MFCs.

The manufacturer's booth, which will be located in Hall 4, Stand B4-10, will have individual product isles focusing on 'Inkjet' (DCPs and MFCs); 'Mono Laser' (Printers and MFCs); 'Colour Laser' (Printers and MFCs); 'Wireless Connectivity for Printing, Scanning and PC Faxing'; and 'P-Touch' labelling solutions with the new QL series of high speed label printers.

In addition, detailed demonstrations will be provided on featured products to visitors, to highlight the high-end MFCs under each category.

"The demand for colour laser printers and MFCs is growing rapidly across the region and we are optimistic that this trend will continue in the coming years. As a matter of fact, our Colour Laser MFCs sales has grown by 95% merely a year since the launch of our new Colour Laser MFCs. Our commitment to providing best-of-breed printing solutions that match the requirements of today's business users is driving us to launch more leading-edge equipment, which are being designed to offer the market with exceptional features and efficiency."

concluded Tada.

Prior to the launch of its latest products at GITEX 2008, the leading manufacturer has unveiled its new range of laser MFCs for the region - the Mono Laser 7000 series.

Furthermore, Brother Gulf has also announced its plans to strengthen its regional operations in a bid to fuel its global revenue growth, with the Middle East contributing 8% to its worldwide earnings in 2007.

As a testament to its growing global repute, the company has been given the prestigious Spring 2008 'Pick of the Year' award by Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the world's leading independent tester of document imaging products.