Gulf Metal Craft (GMC), which commenced operations in Jebel Ali in 1989, is one of the leading enclosure and sheet metal fabricators in the region. The company's products include electrical enclosure for the switchgear industry, fire-fighting equipment cabinets, metal door frames, architectural items from stainless steel and brass, stainless steel shelving and metal cladding and ceilings.

Most of the company's clients are electrical switchgear manufacturers and building contractors and a bulk of its products are supplied to the UAE market, the rest of the output going to neighbouring Gulf countries. Raw materials for the manufacturing process are mostly imported from Europe and Japan.

GMC's origins go back to 1961 in Austria with the manufacture of steel metal cabinets. The Austrian establishment in course of time achieved a market leadership in cabinets of that kind in the home country.

"We have developed a supreme degree of technical competence in enclosure design and have structured our services to offer an effective response to the modern market challenge," says Gulf Metal Craft. "The factory in Jebel Ali has tuned Austrian expertise to the requirements of an expanded market, supplying consumer-oriented products to a wider area."

GMC general manager W Niederhauser said the design and manufacturing groups involved themselves in a never-ending process of quality improvement, both in service and products. The company has an ISO 9001 certification.

The company has invested in hi-tech machines and manufacturing processes including a CNC punch nibble centre, a computer-controlled rolling machine and a CNC pipe-bending machine. It has been executing a wide range of architectural requirements and projects including handrails with stainless steel balustrades, perforated stainless steel false ceiling, column cladding and cladding of sliding glass doors for main entrances.

The manufactures include products fabricated from different materials. The range includes external column cladding of stainless steel mirror finish, brass handrails, spiral staircases with curved glass and panel cladding, glass balustrade handrails, handrails with stainless steel square pipes and wooden columns and handrails with pipes and stainless steel balustrade.

GMC also manufactures the highest quality of electrical enclosures, control desks, and relay and control panels, among other things. The company's plants are equipped with specialised electrostatic powder coating facilities to ensure uniform quality and durability.

"We are perhaps unique in offering standard ranges as well as any custom-designed cabinets in galvanised steel, aluminium or stainless steel. Equally important, we offer a personalised service and can respond to needs effectively Ñ- from the planning stage to the completion of delivery." GMC says.