Front ends on successful note

"Its great that an event like Front, focused on the doors, windows, roofs and walls industry, gave us the opportunity to display all our products to a vast market and also to witness the excitement and demand for our products," said Ghanem Abdo Ali, Assistant Showroom Manager of Al Rahmani General Trading Co. This was the sentiment shared by most of the participants at the just concluded Front exhibition at Expo Centre Sharjah.

In its four day run, the show attracted 2749 trade visitors from 26 countries. The category of visitors included remodelers, builders, architects, interior designers, reps, fabricators, cabinet shop owners, home improvement retailers, product specifiers etc.

"Through the successful staging of Front," said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Deputy Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah, "we are proud to have opened a new door on the region's fast growing fenestration and construction industry. Already bookings have started for the next year's event, which is to be held in March 2005. We thus expect a bigger and more comprehensive participation next year," he said.

During the exhibition, 3M Gulf, the world's technology giant and a participant at Front, held a seminar focusing on 'Practical and Innovative Solutions offered by 3M for the Construction Industry.' "Essentially it's all about focusing our attention to understanding our customers' needs and developing products that help design and build projects easier and safer," said Monteiro on behalf of the company.

A first time participant in the UAE, Mehler Haku of Germany, a polyvinyl fabrics manufacturer, negotiated business in the region of Euro100,000, at the show. The company's export sales manager, Nasri Frej said, "The response is unbelievably so good, we will soon be setting up shop here to market our products in a big way." Polyvinyl fabrics' applications are vast and diverse.

Taiwan based, Uni-Soleil Ent Co, a reputed manufacturer and supplier of window coverings, components, equipment and systems for every budget and market, negotiated deals with distributors all over the Emirates, said a happy Michael Keeley, Business Manager of the firm. The company introduced its latest ready made blinds using quality components for less than container quantities, and to complement its window covering products, insulated wall and roof panels.

Mr. Agnello Sequeira, IT Superintendent of Rasana Engineering was all praise for Front. "In a growing conducive industry for space frames," he said, "Rasana Engineering is very much committed to an every-year Front show. This is based on the feedback we received from the show attendees," he pointed out. Rasana Engineering has several ongoing projects in the UAE, Middle East and Far East for setting up their attractive space frames. The new facilities of Expo Centre Sharjah, Front's venue, was one of the companies earlier projects.

Riduan Adamo, 3rd Secretary at the Consulate General of Mozambique which represented a number of timber and timber products from Mozambique said that response to their booth was tremendous. "Front suits us because timber and timber products are among Mozambique's main export earners," he said.

Middle East Insulation, a major manufacturer of insulation and cladding systems also fared extremely well. "Enquiries poured in for our sandwich panels for sheds, storage, and warehouses and claddings," said Joseph Jose, product manager. The company is all set to sign a prestigious contract to insulate the snow centre awarded to Al Naboodah Constructing firm.

The show brought together a number of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers from Taiwan, Singapore, China, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iran, India, Mozambique, Egypt, Syria and UAE, including 3M Gulf Limited, Conmix Ltd., Renner Premium Building Materials, Tamco Gulf Limited, National Paints, Middle East Insulation, Al Rahmani General Trading Co. LLC, Karam Group, Sedar, Secco Iran, Oriental Hall, Marquis Decoration, Rassana Engineering Ind. Co. LLC., Leader Aluminium & Glass Ind. LLC, Al-Arabi Aluminium & Rolling Shutters Mfg. and Al Hazza Contracting & Trading.

The show also featured companies specialising in Andalusian and Arabic architecture of the different Islamic ages, especially the Abassian - Ayoubian -The Akhchedian - The Fatimist -The Mamlouk - and the modern age Arabesque.