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| Sunday, 22 January 2006 |
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Raniyo [Pvt] Ltd in association with Union Locks and Hardware set up Sri Lanka's first specialised Union Design Centre, (UDC) at Rajagiriya. The Union Design Centre, an exclusive facility for locking systems provides the best locking solutions for domestic as well as commercial purposes. First Secretary Commercial of the British High Commission Dave Waring opened the Union Design Centre on Wednesday. Managing Director, Raniyo (Pvt)Ltd Ragunathan told a gathering at the cinnamon grand Colombo that the UDC concept came about as the result of Union's takeover by Assa Abloy, a world leader in locks and door security solutions in 2000 when Union was established as an architectural 'driver' brand with extensive branding, packaging and product development. Assa Abloy which encompasses 55 companies and 105 brands aims to provide the best locking solutions worldwide. The company's sales turnover topped US $3 billion, and is currently looking at acquiring local positions and brands in the markets that it serves while seeking long term partnerships. The Middle East accounts for 55% of Unions export market and with the opening of the Sri Lankan UDC, Union's presence in this region will be further strengthened. "It is not uncommon for small businesses to grow to heights that bring them closer to their customers and shape the lifestyles of communities, whilst earning profit for their investment, providing employment, contributing to economic growth and sharing the burden of Government; Raniyo has in its 18 years of existence joined the vast multitude to provide advancements for Sri Lankans whilst enjoying a fair share of commercial success in the Architectural Ironmongery field by relentlessly performing against many challenges particularly from the "Fake Trade" "Grey Trade" which freely dominates the market with absolute disregard to law, law makers and law administrators", Ragunathan said. Tracing the company's history Ragunathan said that Raniyo was first established in September 1992 when they entered into a partnership with Joshia Parker and Sons Ltd UK the then manufacturer of Union branded architectural products. Their success in handling the "Bello" design of locks encouraged the company to move into other designs as well, providing quality with assurance, to their many customers. Ragunathan said one of the biggest problems faced by the industry is the flourishing counterfeit trade which he said ranks second internationally only to that of drug trafficking. "We constantly face problems from pirates and counterfeiters who attempt to dupe the public. However, we have faced and overcome these hurdles with reasonable success
by adopting appropriate marketing tools and strategies. Union too in its
endeavour to find state of the art solutions for doors and windows faced
similar challenges and out of this arose the concept of the "Union Design
Centre", he said. |
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