Famalco.net

Fra Brettel looking forward to a good year!

david — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:14:56 +0000

As the time for grape harvesting draws closer, all is set for yet another fruitful year at Fra Brettel, Famalco Group’s wine estates.

During the 12 months several improvements have been made at Fra Brettel’s picturesque estates in Rabat. As workers continued building the vineyard’s boundary walls to shelter the vines from the winds, Joseph Camilleri, the estate’s co-ordinator acquired new equipment to facilitate the watering and weeding of the vines. In the meantime, viticulturist Randall Caruana ensured that the vines continue to grow strongly and to produce superior quality grapes.

After a year of hard work, all are now looking forward to the most rewarding months – harvesting. “This year’s harvest is expected to be a good one and its development will be expectantly followed,” Caruana explains. Harvesting is expected to begin during the second or third week of August, when the 1.5 tumoli of Moscato Bianco grapes are picked. These are followed by other white grape varieties –2.29 tumoli of Vermentino, 0.57 tumoli of Viognier and 1.5 tumoli of Albarino. Harvesting of the first red grapes, the Syrah, begins in the first week of September. This is followed by the Negroamaro (1 tumolo) and the Grenache (0.5 tumolo). Finally, harvest ends with the Mourvedre and the Graciano, of which Fra Brettel’s estates have eight and 4.5 tumoli respectively.

This year has been characterised by a very dry winter which has limited the vines’ growth rates during spring. This is very different from last year’s very wet winter. “In contrast to last year the vineyard is enjoying better health conditions with only minor disease pressure,” the expert adds, “this is a result of the reduced humidity in the vineyard and a good ventilation provided by the wind.” The greatest drawback for 2010’s harvest is the drought problem. This meant that in order to keep the vines healthy Joseph had to irrigate them more frequently.

Fra Brettel is currently working on an ambitious project to establish its own boutique winery to produce high quality mono variety wines and personalised styles. Until the winery is completed, the vineyard’s grapes are being vinified under contract by commercial wineries. This is not the best solution for the vineyard’s particular range of grape varieties as the wines to be made have to follow the established protocols of the wineries. To partially overcome this obstacle, Fra Brettel is currently seeking to contract smaller wineries capable of vinifying the smaller quantities of grapes harvested for some of the varieties at Fra Brettel.

Fra Brettel’s future

The Fra Brettel Estate is still a universe in creation. As its vineyards begin to mature both the quality and quantity of the harvests are expected to improve. These estates are ideal for the creation of rural activities targeted at tourists and locals who wish to experience the taste of our land and our passion through the wines we produce and the rich local agricultural tradition. The establishment of a small boutique winery will enable Fra Brettel to use the potential of the grapes it produces to the full. This would mean that wines of different styles and different blends can be created in response to each year’s particular characteristics and presented to visitors.

Prime Minister and Opposition Leader launch Vida Charity Appeal!

david — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:00:45 +0000

As the whole world follows the crème de la crème of the beautiful game, politicians and entrepreneurs accepted Vida Magazine’s invitation to play a charity football match in aid of the children at the Dominican Sisters’ crèche in Zabbar.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Hon. Dr. Joseph Muscat inaugurated the Vida World Cup Charity Appeal at the St. Aloysius College Sports Complex, Birkirkara on Thursday 3rd June. Through the campaign Vida Magazine is encouraging the public to donate money for the building of a new playground for the children living at the St. Joseph Children’s Home in Zabbar. The honourable guests were welcomed by Richard Muscat Azzopardi, Vida’s managing editor, and the directors of Famalco Group Sandro Mallia, Hermann Mallia and Etienne Mallia. The latter also joined the business representatives’ team playing against the MPs. Vida Magazine is published by Focused Knowledge Ltd, Famalco Group’s media, marketing and PR division.

Children at the St. Joseph Home currently spend their free time in a rundown playing field – the swings are rusted and their seats are disintegrating. There are no proper safety carpets to stop the children from injuring themselves – instead there’s just a rough concrete surface. Recently the Works Department of the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs offered to help the crèche renovate this yard. They will be providing architectural services and the required structural works. However, the Dominican Sisters still face several expenses to cover most of the materials and equipment required to complete the project.

“We thought it fit that while we are enjoying the best of football magic we also make sure that children can enjoy their games too,” Muscat Azzopardi said before the game. Through its June issue Vida invited the Maltese and Gozitan people to donate money to help make the children’s playground a safer place to play in.

Sister Angelina, one of the nuns who take care of the children at the crèche, thanked everyone involved. “We know that you all have important things to attend to, and to leave all that behind for a while to come and help us is a very special thing. It is a very noble act, as the background these children come from is inconceivable to many of us – that is why your help truly encourages us to continue working with these children.”

Former international referee Charles Agius officiated the game, which ended with the score of 9-1 in favour of the businessmen. The event was featured in all local newspapers and news websites, as well as in the 8’o clock news of all local television stations.

Click here to join the Vida World Cup Charity Appeal Facebook Event Page and to find out how you can donate.

Fahrenheit director interviewed by ITJ

david — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:42:01 +0000

Fahrenheit Freight Forwarders, the transport and logistics arm of Famalco Group, was recently featured in the International Transport Journal (ITJ), the renowned magazine published in English, French and German and read by an average of 90,000 industry players around the world.

Alexander Mallia, director of Famalco Group and Fahrenheit Freight Forwarders, was interviewed by the magazine’s deputy editor Jutta Iten. The full-page report, entitled ‘Top name for cool transport’, highlights the company’s continuous investment in state-of-the art technology, particularly in its temperature-controlled freight services between Malta and mainland Europe. These services placed Fahrenheit at the forefront in the provision of refrigerated transport for local producers and traders, particularly pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers and food importers.

Fahrenheit’s director also talks to the ITJ journalist about the latest developments within the company. “At the moment we are upgrading our tracking and tracing systems. The new state-of-the-art solution we are implementing makes it easier for our clients to monitor the location and condition of their cargo whilst in transit.” The company is also collaborating with its international partners to provide competitive services in new markets, including Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.”

All arrangements for the interview were made by Focused Knowledge Ltd, Famalco Group’s Media, Marketing and PR division.

International Transport Journal's interview with Alexander Mallia

First Authorised ZF Workshop in Malta opening in 2011

david — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:00:38 +0000

Top officials from ZF, the award-winning international vehicle transmissions manufacturer, were in Malta in May to finalise an agreement which will see the first ZF Authorised Workshop opening in Malta in 2011.

Through this agreement, Fapi Motors, the automotive division of Famalco Group, were confirmed the ZF Authorised Dealer and Servicing Workshop in Malta. ZF Friedrichshafen AG develops, produces and services driveline and chassis technologies around the world. It supplies manual and automatic gearboxes and transmissions for major car manufacturers including Corvette, Cadillac, Porsche, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Volkswagen and Ford among others.

Fapi Motors will be supplying owners of vehicles fitted with ZF gearboxes, axles and other transmission systems with original parts and technical assistance. This year a team of mechanics will be receiving specialised training from ZF so that during the first quarter of 2011 Fapi will have the required personnel to open the first Authorised ZF Workshop in Malta. Fapi Motors was also nominated the authorised dealer of Sachs, ZF’s powertrain and suspensions brand with an extensive range of shock absorbers, clutch systems and active launch systems.

ZF’s delegation in Malta included Claudio Bertolini, Senior Service Manager, Patrik Borgatti, Aftermarket Sales Manager, and Marco Civinini, International Projects Operational Director. The visited Fapi Motors’ showroom and workshops in Attard, and held talks with Famalco Group directors Hermann Mallia and Etienne Mallia, who signed the contract on behalf of Fapi Motors. The delegation’s visit to Malta was co-ordinated by Fapi Motors’ representatives Nathan Bartolo and Charlene Mifsud.

From left to right: Patrik Borgatti, Nathan Bartolo, Hermann Mallia, Marco Civinini, Claudio Bertolini, and Etienne Mallia

Amazing offer on luxurious apartments in Misrah Kola

david — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:30:33 +0000

Fulani Properties announced an unmissable offer on luxuriously finished residences at Misrah Kola, Attard.

Through this offer, two-bedroom apartments are being sold from as little as €109,500 (LM47,000) and three-bedroom apartments from €125,800 (LM54,000). The amazing prices aren’t all however – with every apartment Fulani will also pay your common parts expenses and give you free use of a lock-up garage in the same complex for two years! In addition, you also get one of the following packages – free notarial and bank loan fees, free kitchen and dining room of your choice, or free bathrooms of your choice.

Hurry up though, as this is a limited offer! The properties are available for viewing seven days a week, at any time. Call 9930 0527, 7959 4184 or 7905 6660 to book a viewing now.

Fahrenheit launches new courier services

david — Wed, 05 May 2010 07:00:14 +0000

Fahrenheit Freight Forwarders announced its new international courier services as part of a collaboration agreement with the renowned Italian courier AWS.

Until a few months ago it was not feasible for Fahrenheit to offer transport of cargoes that are smaller than one cubic metre. This obstacle is eliminated through the new courier services, which provide door-to-door service to and from any address all over the world for any small package, including documents.

Fahrenheit, the international transport and logistics arm of Famalco Group, was appointed the official representative of AWS in Malta. It will be handling all packages sent to or from Malta – delivering consignments sent to Maltese addresses and transporting packages sent from Malta to AWS’s depots in Italy. In the coming months Malta will be officially included in AWS’s international portfolio of destinations as well as in its advanced online package tracking system.

The service is being offered at very affordable rates, giving Maltese clients the possibility to import very small quantities from all over the world without having to pay excessive freight and shipping costs. At the same time packages can be delivered any day of the week meaning that clients will be saving time, and not just money, when using Fahrenheit’s courier services.

AWS joins ITG Logistics, Agility, and Cardinal Maritime among the many international companies that have chosen Fahrenheit Freight Forwarders as their local partner in the Maltese Islands.

The Italian courier company was founded in Turin in 1999. It has now grown to become one of the region’s leading couriers, processing over nine million packages every year. Its strength is the speed with which it handles shipments. In Italy this is within 24 hours – from envelopes to pallets – with the exception of the islands. Delivery overseas is between 48 and 96 hours, depending on the destination. Delivery times are clear and determined fully according to the expectations of individual customers.

AWS is one of the main sponsors of the popular Italian Serie A Football Club AC Milan! It also supports Serie B club Padova.

For more information on Fahrenheit’s new services call 2339 2279 or email sales@fahrenheit.com.mt.

Proton’s revolutionary compact cars at the Geneva Motor Show

david — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:56:05 +0000

Malaysian car manufacturer Proton, represented in Malta by Famalco Group’s Fapi Motors Ltd, has unveiled a series of concept global cars at the prestigious 80th International Geneva Motor Show.

The three concept global cars, EMAS, EMAS Country and EMAS3, signal PROTON’s long-term plan to expand its footprint within the global automotive market. EMAS, which means gold in the Malay language, stands for Eco Mobility Advance Solution, and is the result of a joint collaboration between PROTON, its subsidiary Lotus, and Italian design house Italdesign Giugiaro (IDG).

The EMAS series is a family of compact yet spacious, low-environmental-impact cars, and are expected to revolutionise the traditional car market segmentation.

The range comprises of “EMAS” – a five-door, four-seater hatchback designed for comfort; “EMAS Country” – a three-door, five-seater hatchback which is ideal for country driving; plus the “EMAS3″ three-door 3+1 plus-seater, for city driving.

The cars are powered by a serial hybrid plug-in drive system developed by Lotus Engineering, which includes a 3-cylinder 1.2 litre internal combustion engine yielding 51 horsepower (38kW) at 3,500 rpm. The engines can run on petrol, ethanol, methanol or natural gas.

The cars feature the following benefits:

Innovative interior space which is both customisable and spacious
An interactive and user friendly hi-tech multifunction display
Fuel efficient styling, with a low drag through sleek silhouette
Safety features such as excellent all round visibility via panoramic glass + LED clusters
A practical, compact exterior, offering ease of manoeuvrability

Proton’s latest range of concept cars was unveiled at IDG’s booth by Proton Advisor and former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show throughout the exhibition from 4th to 14th March 2010.

Speaking on the collaboration with IDG, Proton’s chairman, Dato’ Mohd. Nadzmi commented: “We constantly strive to acquire and jointly develop new knowledge, skills and technologies that will ultimately benefit our customers. While we continue to gain progressive technology from our subsidiary Lotus, our design collaboration with IDG will further strengthen our position within the global automotive industry. Proton wanted to work with the best and IDG topped other styling and design houses with their ideas, credibility and creative flair. Their brief was to design a compact car which offered drivers the roominess of an SUV, maximising interior space and improving access to the vehicles.”

Group Managing Director Dato’ Syed Zainal Abidin said: “Concept cars are the yardstick to gauge public opinion – Proton strived to listen to its customers to ensure that the development of a global car met their requirements and expectations. Proton’s aim is to produce the global car for the world market in the near future.”

Faceworks’ cutting edge

david — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:24:43 +0000

Faceworks, the demolition, internal alterations and excavation company set up early in 2009, reported a successful first year and announced it will now be expanding its operations to provide new services.

During its first year this Famalco Group company set up a fleet of state-of-the-art new Volvo and Iveco excavation vehicles and a team of experienced operators and drivers. The new machinery gave the company a considerable advantage over other excavation companies and it quickly built a reputation for being able to carry out excavation works that cannot be completed with older machinery. It secured several large-scale demolition and excavation works including major construction projects in Msida, Qormi, and Zebbug.

In 2010 the company is seeking to promote the services it offers to homeowners. The modern equipment the company uses means that it can also carry out several works in built-up areas, including minor alternations to residential homes, without putting neighbouring properties at risk. No job is too small for Faceworks. Its compact excavators are narrow enough to drive through a house doorway (a width of less than 1 metre), and they have rubber tracks (rather than metal), which means that they can be driven through a living room or a garden without damaging the tiles or paving.

This flexibility means that Faceworks can also offer:

Excavation of wells in gardens, basements, garages or other buildings
Excavation of swimming pools
Excavations and alterations in agricultural areas
Internal alternations in houses/apartments, including opening of doors and demolition of walls
Demolition of washrooms/upper floors for redevelopment
Alternations in houses of characters/farmhouses
Removal/shifting of debris, soil, and construction waste

For more information, a site inspection, or a detailed quotation, contact Nathan on 7905 6660 or 2339 2260.

First winner of the Employee Suggestion Scheme Award announced

david — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:23:34 +0000

Paulette Spagnol‘s proposal to regularise the use of the company vehicles available to office staff is the first winner of the Famalco Group Employee Suggestion Scheme.

Ms Spagnol, a clerk at Fahrenheit Freight Forwarders Ltd, was presented the prize – a cheque of €250 – by her Head of Department at the end of February. Less than a month after announcing the scheme the Heads of Departments recently met to discuss the first proposals submitted by the staff and voted to select the first winning suggestion.

Elaine Sant Galea, Head of Famalco Group's Shipping, Documentation & Administration Department (left), presents the prize to Ms Spagnol.

The winning suggestion targeted a problem which was costing the company expenses amounting to thousands of Euros as well as a lot of waste of time.

The Heads of Departments agreed to implement Ms Spagnol’s suggestions immediately. Their decision was based on several factors. The detailed suggestion did not only identify a spoke in the wheel of the group’s operations, but also proposed feasible solutions that could be put to practice straight away. Moreover, through the new arrangements, both the directors and the employees stand to gain. They cut down the number of traffic fines incurred by the company cars. At the same time the newly-implemented proposals mean that these vehicles can be constantly kept in good condition and, as a result, be more accessible to the employees.

The Heads of Departments agreed that the Employee Suggestion Scheme Award will continue to be awarded to employees who submit effective, feasible, proposals that, when implemented, boost the success of the group and its companies.

First Vida issue delivered to 162,000 families!

david — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:19:14 +0000

The first issue of Vida Magazine was printed in December, days before it was shipped to Malta to be distributed to all families in Malta and Gozo.

Vida is the first Maltese lifestyle monthly distributed to all Maltese and Gozitan households free of charge. With an unparalleled circulation of over 162,000 copies, it is by far the publication with the widest reach in the Maltese islands.

Pallets stacked with the first issue of Vida arriving at the Maltapost depots

It is the first media product of Focused Knowledge Ltd, the latest member of the Famalco Group. As the local and international economy struggled to survive the 2009 recession, the group invested heavily in this new company to consolidate its position in the media, marketing, and public relations sector. Through Vida and a team of media professionals, Focused Knowledge can now offer tailor-made marketing and public relations services to all companies within the Famalco Group as well as to third party companies.

“With a wide selection of articles, Vida includes something for everybody,” explained Richard Muscat Azzopardi, the magazine’s managing editor. “From motoring to fashion, food to beauty, a historical relic to this year’s World Cup – we have chosen to be exciting but down to earth, far reaching but inclusive and most of all concise and to the point.”

Additionally Vida also includes a Shopping Section with several features helping readers make the best out of their money. It includes buying guides, information on the latest products and services, offers from local businesses, and more.

The magazine’s contributors include Richard Muscat Azzopardi, david vella, Miriam Dalli, Marika Azzopardi, Joyce Guillaumier, Sarah Micallef, Zillah Bugeja, Joe Tanti, and more.

The 64-page magazine is designed in Focused Knowledge’s design studio, and printed in Milan, Italy. A container holding the 162,000 copies of the first issue was transported to Malta by Fahrenheit, the logistics and freight forwarding arm of the Famalco Group. On 28th December, the magazines reached the depots of Maltapost, which immediately started distributing them to every residential address in Malta and Gozo.

After the publication of the first issue, Focused Knowledge is now finalising the second issue, which will be distributed in the first week of February 2010.