UAE manufacturer says local furniture production can dramatically reduce costs and delivery times

Bafco, exhibiting at The Office Exhibition from 3-5 March in Dubai, is set to announce a doubling of its local production and a commensurate cut in its reliance on imported products in order to meet strong demand for cost-effective, ergonomic office furniture.

The company, which currently manufactures office furniture from facilities in Al Quoz and Rashidiya has announced a significant increase in local production processes that will see production rise from 20% to 50%, drastically cutting costs and delivery time for customers in the UAE.

Gilbert Grino, Senior Marketing Executive at Bafco said:

"Given that customers in the UAE can wait for up to three months for their office furniture to be delivered, there is clearly a strong incentive to manufacture locally. This also means we are able to customise our products to suit local tastes and provide a local servicing centre. In the end, the consumer could also see savings of ten to 60%."

Bafco is well established in the UAE as the exclusive agent of Humanscale products and recently completed an Dhs11m fit out of customised workstations at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3. They have also been awarded a contract to fit-out the Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (formerly eTQM College) in Dubai.

Sinead Bridgett, Exhibition Director at dmg world media, organisers of The Office Exhibition, said that while the UAE is an attractive market for imports, many UAE-based manufacturers are discovering it is more commercially viable to produce their high quality office furniture locally.

"According to industry experts, the country's manufacturing sector grew at 15% in the first three quarters of 2008. Bafco is one of a growing number of companies who have capitalised on the UAE's increasing industrial infrastructure.

"In the current global economic climate, businesses are looking for ways to cut costs while still improving the services they deliver. Manufacturing locally fits both of these criteria," said Bridgett.

Now in its eighth year and taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Office Exhibition is a valuable one-stop shop for the region's architectural and interior design firms, consultants and specifiers, agents and distributors to meet and do business with potential clients.

The event will feature a networking area called the Indy Lounge and the two-day 'Office Talks' seminar programme, new to the exhibition in 2009. High calibre industry experts will share their views on a wide range of topics including sustainability in office design, how to achieve a healthy workplace, logistics and facilities management.