Link issue12 Final One - SCLG

40 Construction
Schüco takes quality to new heights
Nael Afieh,
Director, Schuco International KG
It's a very competitive world. And
everyone wants to be innovative,
creative and offer quality products. If
you're scouting for environment-friendly
and supreme quality products for the
building envelope then no choice is
better than the market leader Schüco
International KG. But its young and
energetic Director Nael Afieh says quality
does not come cheap. And rightly so.
The German major is known for
pioneering a number of technologies in
the creation of building envelopes and
providing state-of-the-art quality
products. The company offers, apart
from the comprehensive range of value
engineered facades and Skylights,
products including traditional PVC-U
windows, balustrades, high quality
aluminium conservatories and solar
systems. The company also has a range
of top quality automation
products which are
available throughout the
Middle East and North
Africa region.
The German-headquartered Schüco
began operations in 1951 with
aluminium shop fronts, windows and
doors. Through integrated thinking,
power of innovation and the pursuit of
perfection a system of building
components were soon developed.
When Schüco International KG
expanded in 1961, its rise to
multinational company status began.
And now it has strong presence in 68
countries. The company retains a
workforce of 4,500 employees and over
12,000 partner companies. The
company has also strong presence in
the Middle East for the last 25 years
with regional head office based in the
Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ).
Led by a young, dynamic and
creative Dubai-based Nael Afieh,
Schüco International business in the
Middle East has leapfrogged in the
recent few years, carrying out
mammoth and iconic projects such as
the National Bank of Abu Dhabi
headquarters, Dubai Chamber of
Commerce and Industry building,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi
Conference Palace, Etisalat head office
and Capital Towers etc. In the region, it
has wrapped up the construction of
façade of Kuwait Trade
Center in Kuwait,
Al Fardan
Center in
Qatar
and Al
Qala
Tower in Makkah and many of the Saudi
Arabian projects etc. According to Nael
Afieh, "Schüco has just completed one
of the toughest jobs in architectural
and engineering designing in Lebanon.
We're working on an iconic and twisted
Marina Tower in Beirut which is a real
marvel of science and technology. We're
also looking at other regional markets
such as India and North Africa where we
see a strong potential for growth in the
next five to six years."
"Schüco registered an impressive
growth of 300 per cent in the region
last year and controls over 60 per cent
market share of the top-niche
construction market, thanks to the
company's innovative, creative and
competitive products. Our products
such as casement windows, sliding
patio doors, balconies, canopies,
balustrades and solar products alike
gave fillip to the company's strong
growth in the region. Apart from a
variety of design options, we offer
virtually
maintenance-free
constructions, economical and without
the need for major building work – but
with a maximum cost/benefit ratio and
maximum living value," he added.
"Our products quality is so good that
they are used as high as 3,500-metre
high Alpine mountains in Switzerland to
the lowest point on the earth which is
Dead Sea – where we recently
accomplished few prestigious hotel
projects. The quality products provided
by Schüco can be gauged from the fact
that we completed a project on the
Sheikh Zayed Road some 20 years ago
and we have until now, not received
any complaint from the company so far.
Certain projects demand quality
products and that
high standard
w e