Ashut Engineers: A Leading Manufacturer of Plastic, Steel, Wood and Aluminium Products in Kenya

Mehul Shah, Director at Ashut Engineers Ltd, a leading manufacturer of plastic, steel, wood and aluminium products in Kenya, discusses recent trends in the sector, mentioning growth in terms of drums and furniture manufacturing.

“In terms of the current growth within the channels we have now, we have seen a good opportunity in the drum section. These drums are made for the petroleum industry. There is a huge scope there because everything is made locally. We have one other competitor in the market so we are doing well there. On the lube side, we work with a lot of shops and convenience stores that are very prominent in the lube industry. There are a lot of small shops within the petrol stations. People are now tending to use more of the convenience store way of shopping. If you want milk and bread, just go to the convenience store instead of going to supermarkets, waiting in lines, paying for parking, etc. The trend is moving again to the small shops, which was the case in the 1980s before the big supermarket boom came in. A lot of shop fittings are moving in that direction and we saw a lot of opportunity in that sector. We also introduced our home furniture range which is four years old now. With a bit of marketing and word of mouth and making sure that quality and pricing is good, we are making headway in that sector. On the education side, we were known for making desks and chairs. There are a lot of private schools in the market and they did not know that we made furniture. Now, we are getting those leads. We have taken part in exhibitions for education as well. People are now learning what we are actually doing in that sector. In the banking sector, we were not focusing much. With this new direction, we are making quite a bit of headway. We are trying to lock in businesses and customers and they are also seeing what we are doing. Our quality is better than the imported furniture that is coming in. Also, you can get your own brand colors, your own designs, and we maximize your space. So, it is a good opportunity with good potential. We just have to maintain the pricing side. Our service level is also very good. If we tell you that in two weeks you will get your goods, that means you will get them. You do not have to wait for something to come from overseas and two months later there is a delay or issues of clearing, etc. It is a one stop shop in Kenya”, says Mehul Shah.

ABOUT ASHUT ENGINEERS: Ashut Engineers Ltd was incorporated in 1980, and has become a leading manufacturer of a wide range of products made from plastic, steel, wood and aluminium. From its origins in a small workshop in Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi (Kenya), Ashut has grown into a corporate entity with an office space of 250,000 square feet, across 10 acres of land.

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