MK Electric Co., the wiring accessories division of Novar PLC Intelligent Building System (UK), has launched its latest range of switching devices, MK Aspect, in Saudi Arabia. The Middle East Wirings Accessories Division has the fastest growth within the Novar Intelligent Building System (Middle East) portfolio and holds a 28 percent share of the British standard market, Dilip Sinha, general manager for the division for the Middle East and Africa, told a press conference at Jeddah Hilton on Tuesday. The regional office here is part of Novar PLC, a $2.2 billion company. “The region has grown over 20 percent in the last two years alone, and is on track to achieve significant growth n 2004,” he said, adding that the division’s growth makes it one of its most successful operations internationally. “We’re known for making the switches, but we’ve an inventory as vast as it’s unique. Our other products are sought after for their high level of safety and integrity.” Rodney Kemp, international business manager, Novar International, said that in a rare case of the parent company following the brand, Novar International was over two years old in the market whereas MK had been a strong brand globally for 90 years and in the Middle East more than 30 years. Since Novar set up a regional office in Dubai, the division has expanded to include customer support, product management, channel management, sales and business development. Mohammad Farooq Khan, regional business development manager, Saudi Arabia, said MK switches and sockets featured the “most trusted” safety mechanism.
SABIC/ Zamil
Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has recognized Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC) as an outstanding supplier in 2003. An award for honoring the sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC) was presented to Abdullah Al-Zamil, COO, ZIIC, at a ceremony held at SABIC’s premises in Jubail on Tuesday. The award was conferred upon ZAC as a recognized contractor to SABIC for its performance efficiency over the past year, for its consistently high customer service levels and for its timely response to SABIC’s varied needs. The selection of ZAC as a contender for the award was based on recommendations from SABIC affiliates, including Hadeed, Petrokemya Ibn Zahr and Ibn Sina. In total, 48 companies from around the world received awards, eight of which were feted for their work in the customer services sector. “We’re greatly honored to receive this significant award as it endorses our customer value proposition, the tenets of which have been largely responsible for our ability to achieve the position of a leading international manufacturer of air-conditioning systems and a Middle East leader,” Al-Zamil said.
Xerox
Xerox Corporation has extended its product line in the Middle East with the introduction of the Phaser 6100, one of the company’s most advanced laser printers designed to meet the high color quality printing needs of small to medium enterprises as well as their budgets. Xerox is represented at GITEX Riyadh, which ends today after a five-day run, through CCS-Jebel Ali, the master distributor for Xerox Office Printing Business in the region. “On show at GITEX are the latest Xerox offerings including the Phaser 6100 for the office the result of more than $1.9 billion R&D investment we’ve made in office products over the past five years. We’re breaking new ground in the Middle East for small to medium enterprises that require high-quality color printing,” Roy Harding, VP & GM, Xerox Distributor Operations, Middle east & Africa, said. The Phaser 6100 surpasses the competition in print speed and delivers more features than comparably priced offerings. With a black-and-white print speed of 21pages per minute, the new product is 30 percent faster than competitor products, and its color print speed of 5ppm is 25 percent faster.
Ajmal Perfumes
Ajmal Perfumes has extended its line of exclusive oriental fragrances with the launch of “Alf Lail O Lail” eau de parfum, a convenient spray form of the “mukhallat” used by both men and women. As captivating as the legendary tales of “1001 Arabian Nights,” which have fascinated generations, Alf Lail O Lail perfume encapsulates romance, mystery and adventure, evoking a journey back into the enchanting times of heroism and magic. “Following the success of the concentrated perfume introduced in 2002, we created Al Lail O Lail to offer more choice to our consumers and cater to a wider range of perfume-lovers,” said Nazir Ajmal, Ajmal Perfumes’ chief perfumer. The new perfume embodies the same rich blend of both oriental and modern ingredients, but in a slightly lighter form, making it ideal for those who prefer more subtle scents, while also bringing the convenience of an atomizer to the fragrance. United deep-rooted traditions with modern times, the new perfume comprises spicy and smoky notes, which evolve into a menagerie of floral elements, complemented by the lingering effect of musky and woody notes.
ARAMEX
ARAMEX International has moved its regional courier hub to the Express Mail Center (EMC), which was inaugurated by Ahmed ibn Saeed Al-Maktoum, president of the department of civil aviation and chairman of Emirates Groups recently. The EMC’s total built-up area of 4,000 sqm constitutes DNATA’s screening and customs offices including X-ray and security, a conveyor belt for the transfer of packages throughout the facility and a fully equipped warehouse. ARAMEX’s courier hub facility will service the company’s one-stop site for handling inbound and outbound courier packages and complete on-the-spot customs clearance of consignments. The facility will handle the entire process of receiving and dispatching courier packages to over 250 origins and destinations. The service provider manages a transshipment volume of about 300,000 kg per month. ARAMEX is increasing its presence in the UAE by investing $3 million to expand its facilities in Jebel Ali.
Element K
Element K, a leading global e-learning provider which offers over 1,200 online courses in 15 languages, is participating in GITEX Saudi Arabia 2004 being held in Riyadh for five days from Sunday. “Our comprehensive range of new courses and e-learning solutions are being added to our portfolio of courses available to e-learners,” Haytham Al-Ohali, assistant general marketing manager, Element K Middle East, said. Element K’s courses run on the state-of-the-art learning management system dubbed the KnowledgeHub, a software that manages and administers the training programs. The system can automate registration of users, identify skill gaps for each user and record data from learners.