DAR ES SALAAM GLASS WORKS

DAR ES SALAAM G L A S S W O R KS

Tanzania’s leading glass and aluminium contractor www.dsmglass.co.tz

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Dar es Salaam Glass Works has evolved from a one-man show to become the premier operator in a burgeoning sector, and is now looking to replicate its successes further into East Africa Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Stuart Parker

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or nearly 40 years, Dar es Salaam Glass Works has brought peace of mind and the highest quality operations to its ever-growing range of customers in Tanzania, and is now looking to leverage its influence further through expansions and diversifications across it service range and ultimately, its project portfolio.

For 38 years, the Company has thrived in the Tanzanian capital through the design, fabrication and installation of high quality fenestration products including structural glazing, curtain walls, doors, windows, roof glazing, skylights, aluminium cladding,

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suspended ceilings, partition walls, louvers and shop fronts.

Add an even more extensive array of sub-sectors within each of these divisions and it is no surprise that the business which began from humble beginnings is now the go-to operator in one of the continent’s most burgeoning construction domains.

“Dar es Salaam Glass Works is responsible for the glazing of the largest projects in Tanzania, giving its customers the confidence they need to have the best quality solutions,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sadiq Datoo notes. “From its origins in Bridge Street, Dar es Salaam Glass Works Limited has grown into the

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largest specialist glazing contractor and fabricator of aluminium and glass in Tanzania.”

Focusing largely on the commercial market through customisable fit-outs and installations, careful honing of relationships, driven by the now expected levels of unrivalled quality, have combined to make the Company an indigenous success story worthy of some of the city’s most iconic builds.

Turnkey capabilities

A potent duality of catering for almost every aspect of a building, with a portfolio that comprises the majority of significant constructs in Tanzania especially eliminates any cause for

concern that Dar es Salaam Glass Works has in terms of market competition, but this is certainly not to say that the business rests on its laurels or has become complacent in any way.

The pressure of maintaining a reputation as a regional leader - as the Company proudly is across glazing and interior glass fabrication in East Africa - is offset by the business’s continuous strive to find new projects and make its mark in the public eye.

Consequently, Dar es Salaam Glass Works has played a key role in the development of airports in Kenya, the very first green certified building in Tanzania and the once tallest building in the latter country; standing at 24 storeys high.

Once again, it is the Company’s turnkey capabilities which set it apart as a potential partner as well, with all

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projects carried out done so on more than one basis; developers making the most of Dar es Salaam Glass Works’ ability to provide a bespoke package in each case.

For the aforementioned - now fifth largest building in Tanzania - PSPF Golden Jubilee Towers, the Company demonstrated its experience and expertise across structural glazing, aluminium composite panels, energy saving glass, internal office partitions, automatic doors, glass lifts and skylights; while the NSSF Waterfront House project allowed for areas of cladding, roofing, space decks and balustrades to flourish.

The city’s International Labour Office offered further opportunities for Dar es Salaam Glass Works to showcase its skills, while The Kilimanjaro Hyatt Regency in the capital city enforced the business’ variation in terms of sector demographic, as well as product provision.

I can proudly say that most buildings in East Africa are one of ours, and we are close to announcing some new products in the near future which we are also excited about

“I can proudly say that most buildings in East Africa are one of ours, and we are close to announcing some new products in the near future which we are also excited about,” Datoo enthuses.

High quality supply and fitting

Equally contributory to the Company’s success, alongside its renowned project portfolio and product offering, is its much more all-encompassing culture of local enrichment outside of its core operations; namely embracing an almost exclusively Tanzanian approach to employment.

“As a local Tanzanian company, Dar es Salaam Glass Works is an equal opportunity employer, employing more than 200 mainly local Tanzanian staff who it invests heavily in through on-the-job training aimed at ensuring high productivity and motivation,” the Company says.

Similarly, behind-the-scenes structural improvements incorporate

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extensive capital investments to ensure that the business keeps ahead of consumer and industry trends, and to make sure it can facilitate its own comprehensive range of contemporary services and solutions as efficiently as possible.

“The Company has extensive machinery and trained personnel to ensure high quality supply and fitting,” Dar es Salaam Glass Works continues. “It has always been a priority to stay ahead of the curve by investing in the latest technologies by updating and expanding equipment to stay ahead of the industry and to ensure that local architects and partners are kept informed about these new technologies.”

To enforce such a strategy, the Company also organises a biennial conference as a collaborative forum for suppliers to gather and share new ideas, products, concepts and

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CSI construction

Where local expertise delivers international standards “A Quality-Conscious, Class 1 Tanzanian Contractor” To get in touch - www.csi-construction.cc | info@csi-construction.cc or follow us on twitter - @csiconstruct

T he Company has demonstrated its experience and expertise across structural glazing, aluminium composite panels, energy saving glass, internal office partitions, automatic doors, glass lifts and skylights

technologies, for the good of Dar es Salaam Glass Works, and indeed the wider industry in Tanzania; all standing the business in great stead for the next phase of its geographical and operational evolution.

“The driving force of the Company is the Managing Director, Mr Shiraz G Jessa, who since inception has had the vision to build up the Company from a small one-man show to the largest specialist glazing contractor and fabricator in aluminium and glass in Tanzania,” the Group concludes.

“Dar es Salaam Glass Works has [since] expanded into Kenya and Uganda where it has completed projects and won contracts for some of the largest glazing projects in the region.”

The DRC and Rwanda also now sit firmly in the sights of the Company for the coming 12 months as it capitalises on its market-leading position in East Africa.

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MIKOCHENI OFFICE Coca Cola Road, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania T: +255 22 278 0904 E: sales@dsmglass.co.tz www.dsmglass.co.tz

GEREZANI OFFICE Viwanda Street (Behind Tansoma Hotel) Gerezani Dar es Salaam, Tanzania T: +255 22 218 1419