An Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer of world-class ambulances and fire fighting vehicles has announced it is close to meeting its 2013 production capacity and has started looking for orders for the rest of the year.

It did not say how it would accommodate additional business within its facilities.

Bristol Vehicles Manufacturing Division, a subsidiary of the Concorde-Corodex Group and the MH Al Mana Group, opened less than a year ago in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi.

“Since then, we positioned ourselves in a segment that specialises in the manufacture of fire fighting vehicles, ambulances and rapid intervention vehicles. To date, we have already secured a significant number of orders making us booked till August 2013,” said Farid Ismail, business unit manager, vehicles manufacturing, Concorde-Corodex Group.

Ismail: capacity surpassed

The division was set up to help address the Middle East region’s growing demand for world-class fully efficient and reliable fire fighting and safety vehicles. “Bristol VMD is bound by the key objective of implementing quality management procedures with primary emphasis on continuous improvements,” said Ismail.

The official commented that the company had invested much in the project and would keep on investing particularly across research and development. Bristol VMD’s product outputs range from ambulances and fire trucks to rapid intervention vehicles and mobile workshops.

“This is definitely the long term plan for the company,” he noted. “Our continued investments into R & D complement our vision to develop newer products that are integrated with the latest technologies while at the same time meeting new potential principals who can support us.”

Touching on the business, he said: “The division has performed very well during the few months of operation. The launch was excellent, which has given me the confidence and positive outlook about market demand. In fact, we are already about to meet our 2013 production capacity and have started looking for orders that could be lined up until 2014.

“Ever since we established operations, the new division has come across a wide range of customers – from all the chassis dealers to the local police authorities, army and civil defence as well as from the private sector, particularly the oil and gas segment.”

For the time being, the company wants to focus on the UAE market and other nearby GCC states. However, its long-term vision is to expand its presence beyond the region. “We have already started looking for new markets, especially across the African region,” Ismail revealed.

For this year it plans to establish a customer base and provide strategic value add-ons, which it says will help build customer satisfaction and position Bristol VMD as a leading manufacturer and provider of world-class fire fighting vehicles and ambulances. 

TERRADYNE AGENCY  
It was recently appointed official UAE agent for Canadian Terradyne Armoured Vehicles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Magna International. Bristol VMD will be responsible for marketing and supporting the product range within its territory. Terradyne is known for its Gurkha range of armoured military and law enforcement vehicles that employ the respected and robust Ford F550 chassis and power platform.

During the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex), the only international defence exhibition and conference in the Mena region, Bristol VMD trained the spotlight on the Gurkha Light Armoured Patrol Vehicle (LAPV) and the Gurkha Rapid Patrol Vehicle (RPV), two of the latest tactical vehicle models from Terradyne and ones which employ the robust Ford F550 chassis and power platform.

An ambulance built by Bristol VMD

“Following the successful participation of our LAPV in the 2012 UAE Land Forces summer field trials, we are delighted to formally introduce the Gurkha range of vehicles to the Middle East region in association with of our UAE partners, Bristol VMD,” said Andrew Preston, director of marketing, Terradyne, prior to Idex’s opening. “Gurkha represents automotive industry manufacturing standards and quality combined with established survivability, on-time delivery, dedicated maintenance and support and value for money.”

GROUP’S MISSION
The Concorde-Corodex Group, a part of the MH Al Mana group of companies, is one of the Middle East region’s pioneering providers of fire protection, water and waste treatment and environmental services. Established in 1974, the company has evolved as a large group that offers a diverse portfolio of products and services including a complete kit of water treatment services, fire fighting equipment and marine and industrial chemical cleaning to name a few.

The company is guided by its commitment towards protecting life and being a major player in the global move to preserve the environment. Looking to meet the continuously changing demands and requirements from customers across various industry verticals, the Concorde-Corodex Group has diversified itself into 17 individual companies each excelling in their respective fields of expertise and operating as an independent entity. Collectively, all subsidiary companies continue to consolidate the Concorde-Corodex Group’s market leadership in the Middle East with assets worth over $90 million.

The group’s client list includes leading names such as the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Civil Defence, Adco, Zadco, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), Haya Water (Oman), Asghal, Qatalum, Qatari Diar, Nakheel, Aldar and  Emaar.