OFIS projects 50 per cent growth for 2006

Revenues were bolstered by the completion of several turnkey projects for UAE-based clients such as Unilever, DHL, Mashreq Bank and Commercial Bank of Dubai. OFIS predicts 50 per cent growth in 2006.

OFIS has recently introduced into the UAE the US$125 million dollar American carpet company Bentley Prince Street (BPS). A subsidiary of the US$1.2 billion dollar Interface Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of modular commercial carpets, Bentley Prince Street is a leading manufacturer of commercial carpets for corporate, healthcare, hospitality, institutional, residential and retail interiors.

OFIS provides office design, installation, and furniture selection advice to its clients across the board. This year, the company projects 50 per cent growth in productivity across all its brands.

"UAE's real estate boom and the demand for office space are driving the OFIS business," said Ajai Dayal, General Manager, Retail and Marketing, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. "The total value of real estate projects in the UAE is AED800 billion, and the flooring business is a significant niche of the real estate market."

Dayal added:

"It is our goal to provide our customers products that can be adapted to their needs. Bentley Prince Street allows for complete customisation, even if the order is only 50 square yards."

BPS has devised carpet manufacturing processes that can translate any design vision to a tactical application. This unique service is a key competitive advantage of BPS.

George Maibach, Senior Vice President, Bentley Prince Street said: "As part of our global sales expansion, Bentley Prince Street is looking at the UAE as a key strategic market for the Middle Eastern region as the quality of architecture in Dubai and the UAE is extremely high."

Maibach recently visited the UAE along with other senior officials of BPS to understand the nature of the market and devise an investment plan for its products in the region.

He said: "Our relationship with OFIS of the Al Gurg Group is also important. The group has been in the business for over two decades and gives us the right support to leverage our brand in the market."

BPS manufactures and retails 110 standard broadloom products and 40 carpet products. BPS operations have been registered to the ISO 9001 Quality Standard and the ISO 14001 Environmental Standard by registrar BSI Management Systems. Earlier in 2005, all BPS's standard broadloom and modular products also received Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) Certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent, third-party certifier. These standards make BPS the world's only 100 per cent environmentally friendly carpet brand.

OFIS (Office Furniture Interior Solutions) offers international office furniture brands such as Wilkhahn, Unifor, Della Valentina, Ergo, Dauphin, Trendline, Benel, Interface, Parador and now Bentley Prince Street. Together they provide complete office furniture and flooring solutions. The OFIS showroom in Dubai is located at the foot of Maktoum Bridge.