Lisburn company opens office in Dubai

Lisburn-based Powershield Steel Doors has set up an office in Invest NI’s Technology and Development Centre (NITDC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The company will use the office to develop business opportunities it has already identified throughout the Gulf region.

Powershield, a winner of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is the fifth Northern Ireland company to locate in NITDC Dubai – the others are Mivan, Antrim; Kelman, Lisburn, Rutledge-Joblink, Coleraine; and MWM Sports, Holywood.

Brian Sofley, Powershield’s Sales and Marketing Director, said: “NITDC provides us with a very cost-effective base in what has become one of the world’s most dynamic construction markets.

“Huge investment in hotels, residential accommodation and commercial facilities on massive projects such as the Palm Island, World Islands and Jebel Ali Island is creating a substantial demand for the type of high quality, fire-rated doors that we design and manufacture in Lisburn.

“We have also appointed a local sales representative to follow up the large number of new business leads that we have identified in Dubai and other parts of the Gulf. Feedback from the market has been very positive,” he added.

Alan Hingston, Invest NI’s Trade Director, said: “Powershield’s decision means that the office facilities that we provide for local companies in Dubai are now fully let. Encouragingly, the tenants represent a broad spectrum of local industry and include companies in construction, manufacturing and internationally tradeable services.

“Dubai is one of three Northern Ireland Technology and Development Centres – the others are in Boston and Denver – which provide a base and expert support from staff experienced in doing business in these markets. Over the past year, the three centres have helped companies using these facilities to secure business worth more than £30 million. They are intended for use by smaller companies wishing to explore opportunities and to develop contacts that will lead to export orders."

Powershield currently employs around 80 people at its manufacturing plant in Lisburn.

The company designs and makes steel doors and glazing systems for contractors engaged in commercial and industrial projects worldwide.

It has recently supplied doors for contracts in Oman, Singapore and Hong Kong.

(SP)