Shijo Raphel
Managing Director
Reliable International LLC
Among the young crop of entrepreneurs in the Sultanate, Shijo Raphel stands out for his acumen and dedication to excellence. He is the Managing Director of Reliable International LLC, which has been an integral part of the construction materials and aluminium fabrication industries in the Sultanate since 2009. By focusing on the needs of customers and collaborators, Shijo’s enterprise is clocking one milestone after the other, and it is forging ahead by taking a different road with optimism and inspiring creativity and growth.
A Journey That Began in Chalakudy
Shijo hails from Chalakudy in Kerala’s Thrissur district. He was born to the late T K Rappai, an NRI who retired from the UAE Defence service, and Rosily Rappai, a homemaker. It was in 1998 that Shijo began his professional life by joining Samra Jewellery in the UAE as a salesman. But within a few years, his calibre and dedication saw him promoted to Sales Manager. In 2005, he left the organisation and joined Blue Topaz Jewellery in Dubai as manager. In the 2008-2009 period, he took the entrepreneurial plunge by launching Reliable Building Materials in Dubai. In search of safe and secure prospects, he moved to Oman the following year and started Reliable International LLC, which dealt with construction services. It is engaged in the retailing and wholesaling of aluminium and glass hardware accessories. It has one of the biggest and fastest distribution networks with branches and warehouses across the Sultanate. For aluminium solutions, the company uses noted brands such as NAPCO, ALUMIL, Forster, Technal, Sykon, ALUK, AREXCO, Gulf Extrusions, Fintech, Gutmann and Kawneer, among others. For glass hardware, prominent brands such as Wacker, Giesse, Zoo, Kin Long, Unyk, Glasspro, Consort, Tekna, Fenzi and Safeline to name a few.
Exploring New Frontiers
It was in 2009 that Shijo established a construction company for the fabrication and installation of aluminium, glass, ACP and stainless steel works. Within a short span, the firm has made a name for itself by undertaking all orders and delivering quality products. It also fosters innovation and welcomes emerging technologies. It also goes the extra mile by specialising in complex and prestigious construction and infrastructure projects in Oman.
Thanks to their long-standing contacts in the region, highly skilled and dedicated workforce, innovative methods and a no-compromise attitude when it comes to completing projects on time by adhering to quality have given Reliable a competitive edge in the industry. It is totally committed to development and change, and it is gunning to accept more challenging opportunities in the Sultanate to prove its mettle and give an impetus to its voyage of excellence.
Where Quality Meets Durability
From exteriors to the interiors of both office spaces, apartments and villas, Reliable’s footprints are clearly visible through a whole gamut of products. When it comes to the exteriors, the firm has wall claddings or external panels made of different materials like wood, stone or metal that are affixed on the structure to protect it from rain and the sun. They also have an aesthetic appeal as they take the visual appeal of structures several notches higher. It also deals with the cladding bridge.
Another feature on modern buildings is curtain walls-non-structural outdoor cladding system that protects against the vagaries of weather while providing adequate lighting. Reliable has durable curtain walls that are moveable and made of lightweight materials. They are made in such a way that they resist air and water infiltration. It also provides Mashrabiya screens, which suit the ethos of the region, and plantation shutters that evoke a colonial charm.
Sprucing up the Interiors
Coming to the interiors, the company provides doors and windows that are durable, visually-appealing and convenient. They come in different shapes and sizes, and they are made of both glass as well as aluminium. Today, new-generation office spaces sport partitions. Shijo’s firm deals with both framed as well as frameless partitions, and they include durable glass, too.
Gone are the days when wood ruled the roost in interiors, right from furniture to the fittings, including handrails and balustrades. Now, they have given way to glass and stainless steel. Reliable also comes out with a visually pleasing and long-lasting range of glass and stainless steel handrails.
For homes and apartments, state-of-the-art kitchen/pantry cabinets are in vogue these days. Reliable has classy cabinets made of both aluminium and HPL or High-Pressure Laminate sheet. It is a durable material that is used in building interiors. Made of several layers or paper or fabric that is combined with resilient thermosetting resins, HPL is known for its strength. A veneer of decorative material on the strong core layer gives it an aesthetic twist. Under high heat and pressure, all these different layers are bound together. HPL sheets also sport a protective layer to protect them from moisture, wear and tear and the elements.
A Whole Gamut of Products
Reliable offers customers LED glass panels, FR steel doors, moveable wall partitions, skyfold wall partitions, foldable wall partitions, aluminium sliding windows, aluminium framed swing door with fixed glass, arch steel windows reminiscent of Saracen architecture, and steel facades. When it comes to restroom fittings, Reliable offers both sliding as well as hinged glass shower partitions.
Today, natural lighting is part and parcel of modern buildings. That is one reason why architects pay close attention to letting in as much natural light as possible by incorporating domes and skylights. While the former is a cupola made of translucent, durable material, the latter is a window on the roof that brightens interiors and improves air circulation. The firm is also a top provider of these architectural accessories and they can be spotted in several buildings bearing the stamp of Reliable.
Reliable also has a range of glass doors that are revolving, sliding and manual to suit the nature and purpose of each building. The company also provides spider glazing solutions. It is a modern, point-fixed structural glazing system that makes use of stainless steel spider fittings that hold large glass panels in place to provide a seamless, frameless feeling at first view. They mostly appear in the facades of buildings. This system creates large, transparent glass surfaces with minimal visible hardware, allowing for a sleek aesthetic and maximum natural light penetration.
Adhering to Utmost Quality
Reliable adheres to HSE and sustainability standards and prioritises the health and safety of its employees and the general public while undertaking each building project. The company has ISO 9001:2015 and 45001:2018 certification for adhering to the best quality and safety assurance levels certified by the TCI, Oman. The longstanding relationship with clients has gone a long way in providing outstanding construction contracting services to firms and government agencies.
About the Factory
Located in the Barka industrial area, the factory is spread across 16,200 sq.ft. and has more than 100 employees with highly advanced machines and other equipment.
Covetable Projects
The steel windows and doors for Omantel Head Office in Ruwi, Muscat; the steel skylight for Oman Electricity Transmission Company, Salalah; glazing works in Ominvest, Muscat Hills; steel canopy of HSBC Head Office in Al Khuwair, Muscat; glazing work of Muscat International Airport; curtain wall glazing at Arab Open University, Muscat; glazing at New World International School, Seeb; glazing of Royal Airforce Oman building at Masirah; ACP cladding at Hilton Hotel in Al Khuwair; steel canopy of City Hotel in Qurum, Muscat; curtain wall glazing and ACP cladding work of Coast Guard Police Station at eight locations in the country; glazing work of Police Complex at Majan; ACP cladding at DCDF in Barkha, Khasab, Izki, Dibba, Jabel Akhdar for the Royal Oman Police; glazing work at ROP complex at Sinaina and Jibal; ACP cladding at Al Turki Head Office in Sohar; spider glazing at Danube Showroom in Mabelah; glazing work; skylight at AGS International School in Salalah; glazing and screening of College of Banking and Financial Studies in Bowsher, Muscat; glass wall cladding and handrails at Authority for Electricity Regulation in Seeb; glazing at Water Theme Park in Nizwa and the Music School in Ghala to name a few.
Family and Passions
Shijo enjoys the support of his wife, Majo Mol, who has a Diploma in Computer Application. As a partner, she is actively involved in the entrepreneurial journey of her better half. They are blessed with two children–Angelina, who is a Class XII student in ISWK and Ben Hur, who is in Class VII in Indian School Bowsher. Apart from business pursuits, the ace entrepreneur loves cricket, football and travelling.
Under the able stewardship of Shijo, Reliable is striving to become the most trusted partner in the industry and to create more value and establish new benchmarks. It is also aiming to make a difference to the lives of all who associate with it in a bid to attain sustainable and quality growth.
Contact Information
Reliable International LLC
PO Box: 591, PC: 122, Mabelah Industrial Area, Oman.
PO BOX 591; Postal Code 122
Mabelah Industrial Area
Sultanate of Oman
