For superior quality hardware, finishings and features

Windhoek Express recently visited Gelmar Namibia, located in Windhoek's southern industrial area, where we spoke to manager Japie Greyvenstein."Gelmar opened its doors in Windhoek in January 2020. It is a well-known franchise in South Africa that specialises in carpentry products like runners and hinges, and inserts that you can use in your kitchen to make life easier for you," he says. "But we also have so much more in store here."The company boasts many well-known brands of carpentry and kitchen products, including Kreg and Franke."Franke is known for its quality," Greyvenstein says. "While it is a French brand, they have an assembly plant in Durban which means parts are readily available. This means we can sell these products with confidence, and they have a wide variety to boot, not only for household use but also for commercial purposes."Gelmar is often involved with the fittings in commercial bathrooms, including both Standard Bank and Nedbank’s new head offices in the capital. "When you walk into their bathrooms or that of your closest mall and you see soap dispensers, toilet roll holders, paraplegic rails and such - these are mostly Franke products that are of a high quality,” Greyvenstein says.In terms of kitchen sinks, Gelmar stocks inset, onset and undermount varieties. So, what is the difference?"It’s wonderful when one sees what is being designed today. In years gone by, you had sinks that you put on top of counters. But these days, with granite tops, people want to see and display the beauty thereof. Undermount sinks are installed from under the counter, while inset sink units are mounted on top of the workspace.What’s new?In terms of what's new, Greyvenstein says that Franke now also produces fraganite sinks. “To create this product, granite is finely milled and then mixed with PVC at an 80/20 % ratio. The result is a robust, durable sink. Gelmar stocks these in white, matt black and a grey,” he says.To go with a beautiful sink, you need a beautiful tap, and Gelmar has a wide variety on offer.The latest addition is the Atlas Neo Sensor tap, with its non-contact function, which means you can easily wash dirty hands while preventing stains, fingerprints and dirt on your tap. As a hybrid kitchen mixer tap, this elegant product also comes with a traditional lever for manual control.The sensor is incredibly smart. It uses an infrared motion sensor that knows when to start and stop the water flow to properly wash your hands – saving you at least 3 litres of water with every wash and cutting normal consumption by at least 50%. You can also pre-set the tap to a cooler temperature to keep your electricity costs low.Who are their biggest clients - DIYers or carpenters?"Generally, carpenters. They bring their clients here to have a look at our designs. We have a beautiful display area here in the shop. Then they design the kitchen and come and buy the stock from us."Greyvenstein says that contemporary products are made for ease of use - from cabinet carousels to spice racks and even bins.Gelmar also sells a wide selection of complimentary products on sale, like saw blades, silicon, and thinners and carpentry essentials. Naturally, if you're an eager carpenter, you will need a few tools, and Gelmar can assist with this too.“What's especially great about the Kreg range that we stock, is that it makes carpentry so much easier - no matter if you're a professional or a weekend warrior," he says.Another innovation, especially for bedrooms, is sliding doors rather than conventional doors, which save a lot of space, and you can opt for glass rather than wood. Then there is also a range of "gadgets" that will make your life easier, including tie racks and built-in hanging room for your trousers, and pull-down levers for those high-to-reach closets. Simplifying life indeed!"Gelmar easily adds around 20 new products a week for your kitchen or bathroom. I literally have clients that come in every week just to check out what's new,” Greyvenstein says, adding that their passionate team of five staff members is eager to assist.Opening times are Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 and from 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday.Visit www.gelmar.co.za or their Facebook page for a comprehensive look at their stock.

For superior quality hardware, finishings and features

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-03

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For superior quality hardware, finishings and features

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-03

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