Mahnoor Lighting Industries is hopeful it will emerge a little stronger through customer support in 2002. The company produces light fixtures and luminaires under the Sigmalite brand and has enjoyed the technical collaboration of A & Co International, UK, the alliance ensuring that its products conform to British and other international standards.
Sales and marketing manager Tariq Mahmood is confident Mahnoor Lighting is on its way to becoming a strong player in its field. The company reported sales of Dh4.7 million in 2000, and with 2001 having ended, Tariq estimates the turnover improved by at least 10 per cent. The luminaires that did particularly well were of size 2 ft by 2 ft, and the official contends the company had a fair share of tailor-made deliveries.
The company installed some new machinery last year but there were no new products added to the range. Tariq also does not expect any expansion in production capacity, at least in 2002. As usual, the company will tap both the local and Gulf markets, and it is to be seen if the proportion of exports will change from the 50:50 of 2001. It is particularly interested in entering new markets overseas with the UAE already crowded with manufacturers or distributors.
The light fixtures and luminaires industry has prospered with the large-scale development of infrastructure and general industry in the UAE. Construction activity is continuing, and new business for the industry is forthcoming. Yet, like most UAE companies of its kind, Mahnoor Lighting is spreading its wings wide, not wanting to restrict itself to the home market. Besides, the Gulf states are also going through infrastructure modernisation and industrial and commercial development.
Mahnoor Lighting's fixtures and luminaires come in three designs - aluminium louvers and prismatic and opal diffusers - and are of the recessed type suitable for installing in false ceilings or of the surface-mounted type for installing in ceilings.
"We import our raw materials from Europe and ISO-certified mills," says Tariq, while explaining about the care the company takes during manufacture.
"The body of Sigmalite light fixtures is made of spot-welded construction from CRC sheets and all body parts are chemically cleaned with the frames phosphated and coated with white epoxy polyester powder (60 micron average thickness) to give a high, reflective surface finish," he explains. "The light fixtures/luminaires are equipped with electrical components of internationally approved standards meeting required electrical parameters 110/220/240 volts, 50-60Hz."
The company was set up in 1996 in Umm Al Quwain. By the time the equipment was acquired and installed items such as shearing machines for steel and aluminium, power presses, pneumatic bending machines, auto spot welding equipment, automatic spring-making machines, roller, lathe machines and brake press bending machines, drilling, shaper and tool-grinder machines, air compressors and gas welding plants - a year had elapsed and the factory was ready for production in 1997. Covering some 34,000 sq ft, the pant comprises body production and paint shops and assembly and testing lines besides office and storage blocks.
Tariq is concerned over the proliferation of cheaper Chinese products, warning that they might be wanting in quality. "You are more likely to find that some of the best light fixtures and luminaires are made in the UAE," he says.
Another concern is the cost of importing raw materials. "A waiving of the four per cent customs duty on imports into the UAE would serve as a great support to the industry," he says.
