Sri Lanka’s first tempering plant awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification

Globe Mirror Industries (GMI), the first tempering plant to be established in Sri Lanka in 1969 has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification, a clear indication of its growth and credibility in terms of maintaining a high standard of quality throughout the years.

GMI was started by late Mohammed Nawaz and has since grown to be one of the most respected entities in the construction trade today.

Nawaz started his empire from scratch by initially purchasing glass from importers and hand crafting the mirrors with his team of just four staff members to be sold to the local market. Just a decade later the company expanded into the retail and wholesale side of the industry. Firaz Nawaz then joined his father after completion of his education to strengthen the business and its expertise further. At this juncture the company diversified into glass machinery that further added value to the supply and expansion of glass and mirrors to the construction industry. The company also further expanded its product portfolio by importing various varieties of glass such as reflective and thick glass as per the market requirement.

With the dynamic ever evolving market trends, GMI was able to adapt well to the changes by catering to the vast demand and investing in a special plant for the production of tempered glass. This step put GMI at the forefront of its competitors by further opening windows of opportunity for the supply and installation of tempered glass doors and panels as its competitors had to import it.

This also helped contribute to the local economy as the outflow of foreign currency was curtailed. With the expansion also came the requirement of keeping to high production quality and standards with quality control systems in place enabling GMI to secure the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) ISO 9001:2008 certification in Management System.

“The certification will help improve efficiency in our production process and reduce waste which in turn would secure a greener environment for our community in which we operate. It will also help us to develop a professional culture within the organisation and boost employee morale. Our dream is to achieve international recognition as the processor of excellent quality tempered glass,” stated a spokesperson for the company.

Today GMI employs 200 staff including top management and three sales outlets in Pettah, Kotahena and Kalubowila.

To handle logistics and distribution the company has 10 lorries and trucks which cover the whole island. A recent addition to the infrastructure was a state of the art Tempering Furnace and a Lamination Machine to the factory in Mattakkuliya. This eliminates the dependence on imports and shipment delays. The projects department has also successfully completed many tempered glass façade systems for many buildings in Sri Lanka thus consistently providing products that meet and exceed customer satisfaction and meeting regulatory requirements.

Being the first to tackle many avenues in the glass industry GMI has also grown to be the largest stockiest of all kinds of glass and mirrors in Sri Lanka. The company has been an active participant at the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects exhibitions held annually attracting many foreign suppliers and buyers alike. GMI reinforces its constant alliance with many reputed architects and construction firms and professionals in the industry who have continuously endorsed the organisations quality and service delivered.

Future expansion plans for the company include a state-of-the-art, architect-designed, four story commercial building at Dutugemunu Srtreet, Kohuwela which will serve as GMI’s main showroom providing a wide array of products for the discerning customers. A quick and efficient service will be provided to our customers at much easier and faster pace.

GMI’s core objective in the coming years is to satisfy their customers and suppliers with innovative products and services in an effective manner and to strive for continuous improvement.