Germany-based leading pump manufacturer Wilo has announced an investment to build a local facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai.

The investment plan consists of constructing offices, a training centre, warehouses and local assembly plant over an 8,000 sq m plot of land, to be used by Wilo Middle East FZE, the Middle East regional subsidiary of the Wilo Group. The new facility will be located in Jafza South.

Wilo Middle East originally opened in Jebel Ali Free Zone in 2008 and subsequently moved to another facility in 2011 to accommodate its regional business expansion and meet growing market demands by incorporating a showroom, sales office and state-of-the-art warehouse in the new premises.

Significantly, the new facility will include the ‘Wilo Academy,’ the training centre where distributors, engineers, installers and end users will receive training on its various water technology solutions. The firm believes that this will greatly assist its development in three defined market segments: Building Services, Water Management and Industry. In addition, it reinforces the company’s motto “Wilo is going beyond pumps”, said a statement.

Carsten Krumm, COO of Wilo SE, said: “By further expanding to a bigger facility by the end of 2017, we believe we can better serve our distributors in the region by offering locally tailored and assembled products and services. The new offices will strengthen Wilo Middle East’s position as a regional platform that supports the Gulf and surrounding countries.”

In addition to its investment in the UAE, Wilo last year announced the formation of two other subsidiaries in the region, in Egypt and Iran. Wilo Middle East FZE currently serves 10 countries in the region - the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Yemen, Iran and Pakistan.  

Bishara Khalil, managing director of Wilo Middle East FZE, said: “The company’s rationale for making the investment in Dubai was based on several factors, including the city’s role as a platform and hub for logistics and commercial trade in the Middle East, Dubai’s efficient sea, land and airports infrastructure, and of course, its long-standing business stability.” - TradeArabia News Service