Architects Design: Natural stone a hit Down Under
Umehiko (M) Sdn Bhd is increasing the shipment of natural stone products to Australia to some 50 containers worth about RM1mil monthly compared with 30 containers monthly last year, chairman Andy Kho Kak Hee said.
He said the products, under the brand AHE, were shipped to Melbourne and Sydney direct from Umehiko group’s stone production bases in China.
“The market for natural stones in Australia has grown rapidly over the past decade as architects, designers and individuals there have made it the material of choice for cladding, paving, flooring, worktops and bathrooms.
“Our natural stones are used, for example, in Pascoe Vale - a better living retirement village in Melbourne. Some 80 double-storey houses have been built under the first three phases. More phases will be implemented,” Kho told StarBiz.
He said Umehiko showcased its wide range of natural stone products, like granite and marble, in Designbuild, Australia’s largest building expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre a month ago.
The expo featured 440 exhibitors from Australia and 16 other countries.
Kho said Umiheko also exported more than 10 containers monthly of the natural stones to Moscow and the US.
He said the company supplied about RM500,000 worth of natural stone products to the Lima Aerospace project in Langkawi last November.
Umehiko has set up a theme garden, “The Garden of 8”, featuring modern Islamic and European ambience with natural stones at the Malaysia International Landscape and Garden Festival at Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur. The festival ends on Sunday.
Kho said the AHE natural landscape stones on display included new products for wall decor, pavers, garden furniture and streetscape items.
Umehiko also supplies its natural stone products to Jaya Jusco’s three garden centre outlets in Peninsula Malaysia.
The company has showrooms in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
