Construction Business News ME December 2018

December 2018

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CBNME takes a tour around the construction site of the first ever Banyan Tree Residence in Dubai and is scheduled for completion in Q3 September 2019.

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// contents December 2018 // Issue #46

Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Sales Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706

Sales Manager Vishvanath Shetty

8 12 18 24 28 34 36 42 56 60 62 66

Ed Note News Cover Story Expo 2020 comment Product review Interview Big 5 Feature News Heavy trucks Vehicles Diary

vish@bncpublishing.net +971 52 119 3077

Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818

Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net Marketing Executive Mark Anthony Monzon mark@bncpublishing.net Photography Ignacio Soto Conde

SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 For all commercial enquiries related to Construction Business News ME contact sales@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved Š 2015.

Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors.

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construction business news me // December 2018 //

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// Editor's note

editor’s note

another year over

I

can’t say enough great things about my predecessor but only that the standard and quality attained is a responsibility that has fallen onto me, although this is temporary. In the near future someone else will be overseeing our Construction Business News ME, but in the interim it gives me great privilege to present the last edition of 2018.

In this edition we get an exclusive look into the first ever Banyan Tree Residences - Dubai, which brings a 5 star hotel style experience into your own apartment.

With Expo 2020 approaching ever so close-

ly, countries are lining up to reveal their pavilions grand design. We talk to the designers and architects behind the Poland Pavilion who tell us about the central message of their design.

The recently concluded Big 5 featured over 2,500 global exhibiting companies and 30+ official country pavilions. In this feature we grabbed exclusive interviews with some of the big powerhouses in the industry as they go into details about their company plans for 2019 and beyond.

We would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year & a great 2019."

On the web Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com

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// construction business news me // December 2018

Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net

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// construction business news me // December 2018

The Epitome s u o i r u x u L f o Living

CBNME takes a tour around the construction site of the first ever Banyan Tree Residences in Dubai and is scheduled for completion in Q3 September 2019.

The Banyan Tree is symbolic of the relief and comfort provided by nature.

Across the globe Banyan Tree is known for its ability to craft luxury encounters for individuals. Banyan Tree not only designs thoughtful luxury properties but also designs experiences. Banyan Tree has become a leading 5-star operator managing over 40 resorts and hotels worldwide.

Now Banyan Tree will open its first ever Banyan Tree Residences in Dubai. This is their first venture into the Middle East and is set to open by September 2019.

In charge of making sure this entire project gets completed in a timely manner are the property developers SWEID & SWEID. Founded in 2006, SWEID & SWEID is an award-winning Dubai-based boutique real estate firm targeting niche development, investment and build-to-suit opportunities.

Mr. Maher Sweid, founder and managing partner of SWEID & SWEID, www.cbnme.com

said, “Banyan Tree Residences – Hillside Dubai is on track to delivery in Q3 - 2019 and will provide the unique offering of luxury homes in a resort setting. There is a growing demand for quality housing and lifestyle in premier locations in Dubai, and what sets this project apart is the exclusive offering of design and finishes coupled with the expansive amenities managed by Banyan Tree.”

This new residence is a luxury urban oasis which is spread over 110,000 square feet of land, comprised of a single tower surrounded by sprawling greenery, facilities and amenities.

The residents-only Clubhouse & Spa includes an authentic Banyan Tree Spa experience, a state-of-the-art fitness center, saunas, a squash court, and an expansive indoor children’s play area.

Residents will also enjoy a host of outdoor amenities including a resort-style pool stretching over 31 meters, large landscaped lawns, a children’s pool,

an adventure zone, and a residentsonly poolside café.

Mrs. Valeria Sevilla, SWEID & SWEID development manager, said: “The Banyan Tree Residences is a 31-storey tower featuring 235 units and a number of unique amenities that give the development a distinct presence within the Dubai architectural setting.

The emphasis of the project was on creating a standout high-rise tower maximizing the large amount of space provided by the plot for the residences’ amenities.”

The residential tower and all other buildings throughout the entire development feature an exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS), with curtain walling represented by double-glazed high-performance tinted glass. It was the designed to avoid the standard curtain wall appearance, and hence the structural elements are expressed as vertical fins and horizontal secondary elements. The striking vertical fins

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// Cover Story

Development Manager Valeria Sevilla

that lead to the building crown are made of aluminium PPC, chosen due to its exceptional gloss and ability to retain its brightness and color.

This exclusive gated community is located on Al Telal Street, at the intersection of Emirates Hills, Emirates Golf Course, Montgomerie Golf Course and DMCC, a short journey away from the chic destinations of Dubai Marina, The Beach and The Palm –offering respite from Dubai’s fast paced life.

“Banyan Tree Residences benefits from a prime Dubai location within close proximity to Dubai Marina and 20

the Palm Jumeirah, and easy access to Sheikh Zayed Road. One of the standout features of the tower is the uninhibited views provided across the entire city in the foreground, two of the most exclusive golf courses in the UAE provide a serenity and lush beauty in keeping with the dynamic of the property itself, beyond this, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers sit just before the horizon over the Persian Gulf while in the distance, and to the north, the skyline of Downtown Dubai provides the iconic backdrop,” said Mrs. Valeria

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The residences offer a range of amenities such as fitness center, squash court, spa experiences, pool side café, a garden path and much more, guaranteeing any resident that they would be getting a 5-star style hotel lifestyle.

All of this will situated at the Club House. The clubhouse is designed as a complex within a complex, using the same finishes as the main tower, and with equal attention paid to maximising natural light and the use of space.

Mrs. Valeria elaborates, “90% of the property’s total land area is dedicated to great outdoor spaces that boast of a

Luxury is key in this new development

world-class 5-star hotel amenities that are uniquely Banyan Tree.

The resort Club House manages the amenities, which include a 31m outdoor swimming pool, squash court, spa and gym for adults, and outdoor and indoor play areas and swimming pool for children. A café and the extensive lawns and gardens complete the resort amenities offering a sanctuary for residents. All amenities will be for the exclusive use of the residents.

The development will have a perimeter wall creating a gated community, with concierge services and 24-hour www.cbnme.com

security; offering an a-la-carte services for residents and manned security from the residences and Club House receptions only.”

This is one of the features of this development that serves to distinguish Banyan Tree Residences – Hillside Dubai from other similar residences.

The clubhouse is designed as a complex within a complex, using the same finishes as the main tower, and with equal attention paid to maximising natural light and the use of space.

Not only are the outdoor amenities 5- star but the rooms too offer an out-

of-body type experience of exquisite comfort for the residents. The interior design of the development is founded on refined sophistication, reflective of the lifestyle of its residents. Aesthetically, the interiors focus on creating a harmonious synergy between the exteriors and the lush environments of the property grounds and the surrounding neighborhoods. Floor-to-ceiling windows serve to create a uniquely formulated ambience in all residential units and living spaces, allowing for plenty of natural light and extraordinary views; views are uninhibited due

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// Cover Story

Banyan Tree Residences benefits from a prime Dubai location within close proximity to Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah, and easy access to Sheikh Zayed Road.” to the reduction in the number and appearance of both transoms and mullions of the curtain wall.

Design manager, Hulya Guleryuz gives more details about the interior aspects of the residence, “Each of the bedrooms feature an en-suite bathroom, complete with contemporary fixtures and fittings, in keeping with those most commonly found within a high-end five-star hotel. The quality of the furnishings, finishes, fixtures and fittings is second to none; including branded finishes and appliances by Grohe, Siemens, Smeg and Villeroy & Boch. The kitchen is far from an afterthought in there interior design concept; becoming a “front of house” feature, and enhancing the entire interior space. The interiors boast smart layouts with a language of design that communicates effectively with the modern end-user.”

Banyan Tree Residences – Dubai is a truly unique residential development, and with the starting price at AED 1.3 million units are in high demand.

In attracting a hotel brand that is world renowned for its luxurious amenities and emphasis on providing a higher level of relaxation and escapism to its visitors, Banyan Tree Residences – Dubai has certainly accomplished all that was envisioned.

Mr. Maher concluded, “We put happiness and wellbeing of the residents at the very forefront and look forward to welcoming them to their new homes in the heart of new Dubai.”

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// construction business news me // December 2018

Scenic views of Dubai Marina from Banyan Tree Residences

www.cbnme.com

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// Expo 2020

POLAND EXPO 2020 PAVILION DESIGN REVEALED Design house WXCA and Bellprat will design Expo 2020 Dubai’s Poland Pavilion after they beat more than 30 proposals to work on the project.

The winning design featured an “open, tree-like modular structure” that has been inspired by Poland’s wildlife. An “integrated” exhibition with “kinetic flocks of birds floating over visitors’ heads” will be part of the project.

This certainly reflects the theme UAE selected for Expo 2020: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", subthemes being Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity.

"In today’s highly interconnected world, a renewed vision of progress and development based on shared purpose and commitment is key.

While a married human mind, an individual country, or a specific community is both unique and remarkable, it is by working collaboratively that we truly advance," said Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum According to the commissioner for the Polish pavilion, Mr. Tomasz Pisula, “We were one of the earliest to confirm our participation and our design of the pavilion has caught everyone’s attention. We are actually very excited by the fact that our design was featured heavily by the UAE during the promotional videos of Expo 2020 Dubai.”

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Mr. Pisula, who is also the President for Polish Investment & Trade Agency, added on about the importance of Expo 2020: “Our mission is to help Polish companies to sell around the world and to help these companies also to invest in new businesses or to open up businesses in other countries.”

CBNME had the opportunity to catch up with Marta Sękulska-Wrońska, managing partner at WXCA, and her team to ask them what their thoughts were behind the design of the pavilion, what was the message behind it, and how it reflected Poland.

Tell us about the initial idea behind the design?

Poland is the key breeding ground for migratory birds in Europe. The pavilion, imaging a cloud of birds in flight, is designed to create a strong, expressive, memorable picture.

The richness of wildlife, diversity of landscape and the strategic location in the center of Europe make Poland the most important breeding ground for European migratory birds. Inviting visitors to accompany this journey and observe the abundance of Polish avifauna is an opportunity to develop

// construction business news me // December 2018

an intriguing, multi-layered story about the beauty of Polish nature, international cooperation, mobility, exchange of ideas.

What sort of message were you looking for when designing the pavilion?

Bird migration stands for mobility, global, intercultural and trade exchange, international networking, environmentally friendly access to natural resources, sustainable energy production, cultural diversity, functioning ecosystems and beautiful, untouched natural landscapes. Birds are a symbol for lightness, clean air, flying flocks of birds convey a sense of connectivity and adaptability, nest building finally implies daring temporary and natural architecture in the Polish tradition of wooden constructions.

In today’s highly interconnected world, a renewed vision of progress and development based on shared purpose and commitment is key�

How does the design of the pavilion reflect Poland?

The idea of migratory birds inspires a story about nature, culture and the community. It is an inspiration to present the spirit and dynamics of the Polish economy by presenting ideas and technologies of wise processing of nature and international cooperation / www.cbnme.com

participation in international programs, research projects, and exchange of ideas, technologies and products.

Tell us how this design is unique and what special features does it have?

In contrast to the usual lively and entertaining atmosphere of world

exhibition, we would like to create a mood of tranquillity, contemplation, attentive observation of wildlife. Polish Pavilion will be the place where visitors can rest in the shade of the vast roofing, soothe the senses, relax and reflect on the coexistence of mankind and nature.

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// Expo 2020

US PAVILION: WHAT MOVES YOU? THE SPIRIT OF MOBILITY While the official opening of the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai -the next World’s Fair- on October 20, 2020 feels far away, Pavilion USA 2020, the partnership responsible for the United States’ National Pavilion, has been making important headway in the design and planning of the landmark building destined to represent more than 325 million Americans.

The initial plans for the building and its experiences were released at a ceremony in Dubai under the theme: “What Moves You? The Spirit of Mobility”.

The event featured the unveiling of an architectural model of the U.S. pavilion, designed by world-renowned American architect Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA; and a tour of the American experiences currently being designed by Detroitbased design firm George P. Johnson Experiential Marketing.

The event also included a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the first-of-its kind agreement between Pavilion USA 2020, AmCham Dubai, AmCham Abu Dhabi, and the US-UAE Business Council to promote the shared goal of engaging the private sector in a history-making U.S. pavilion.

Pavilion USA 2020 leadership along with Krista Pilot, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Asia, Middle East & North Africa from PepsiCo also an26

nounced that the 120-year-old New York-based company, known globally for its food and beverage products, will be a lead sponsor and Official Beverage partner of Pavilion USA 2020.

At the conclusion of the event, Pavilion USA 2020 announced its official partnership with California-based Virgin Hyperloop One, which will premiere its Hyperloop ride experience at the U.S. pavilion. This first experience reveal marks the beginning of a multi-year global engagement campaign that will spotlight the innovations showcased at the U.S. pavilion in preparation for its opening in October 2020.

Pavilion USA 2020 is a consortium of leading U.S. architecture, experiential, communications, public diplomacy, academic, financial management, and fundraising firms who have come together to fund, design, build, operate, and decommission the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. It was selected by the

// construction business news me // December 2018

U.S. Department of State to implement the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai following a competitive nation-wide request for proposal process. This multiyear public-private partnership will bring the U.S. pavilion to life, a huge undertaking that will require the collaboration of its creative, commercial, and cultural partners from across all the United States and its territories.

In a joint statement released by The Honorable Frederick M. Bush, Chairman and Gregory D. Houston, CEO of Pavilion USA 2020, the leadership said: “This Pavilion provides a unique platform for our nation to come together to showcase the very best of our cultural and commercial achievements. We are committed to the prudent and responsible management of a pavilion that engages the world with the incredible diversity and innovations that define the United States of America.”

Representing the U.S. Government at the launch event were U.S. Consul Gen-

eral Dubai Philip Frayne and Director of the U.S. Department of State's Expo Unit James Core: “We are excited by Pavilion USA 2020's release of the first designs of the U.S. pavilion and the announcement of their first sponsors. This is an important step in the United States' journey to Expo 2020 Dubai. We encourage other companies, cultural and philanthropic organizations, and citizens to learn more about opportunities to get involved."

During the launch event, Coloradobased Curtis W. Fentress of Fentress Architects shared his insight in the Pavilion’s design: “Today we’re looking at an Expo that is related to mobility, movement, travel, and sustainability – things that are very important to the world today. We have designed this building to be circular in form with slants fashioned to project a sensation of movement, making the viewer feel like the building itself is in motion. And then, once you enter the www.cbnme.com

building, it opens up to what the United States stands for: We are an open, accessible country where you can live to create ideas. It showcases all the things we are doing in America: developing technology and concepts that are going to move us forward in the future. Designing this pavilion is a tremendous responsibility -one we take very seriously- as we will be showcasing America and American ideas to over 25 million people expected to visit the Expo.”

David Rich, the pavilion’s Executive Producer and Paul Hemsworth, the pavilion’s Creative Director, both of Michigan-based experiential design firm George P. Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ) walked attendees through the immersive cutting-edge interactive experiences that the U.S. pavilion will feature.

Rich offered that “our agency is excited to be bringing to life the stories of how the most inspiring American mobility innovations are improving the lives of individuals all over the world. Along with our sister agencies Spinifex and G7, we’ll be immersing visitors in an unparalleled experience of 'mobility innovation,' from physical to digital to socio-economic, as brought to fruition by our richly diverse population of thinkers, creators, and doers who are remaking American business while helping to fuel progress around the globe. With this Expo returning to the theme of innovation, and with the effort the Expo 2020 Dubai organization and the broader region is putting toward making this a global marketplace, this is an unprecedented opportunity for American companies to share their innovations with the world. We’re honored to serve them, our country and the Expo in helping to make it happen.”

To showcase the United States’ broad cultural and social diversity, Global Ties U.S., the consortium’s public diplomacy partner, highlighted cultural programming and engagement opportunities to be featured at the pavilion. “We are thrilled to be part of U.S. pavilion at the Expo in Dubai. Along with our partners at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy and our citizen diplomacy network across

the United States, we look forward to showcasing the remarkable cultural diversity of America's states and territories through dance, music, theatre, literature, art, food, sport, and other touch points in American culture -- and to ensuring that every visitor to the Expo has a rich experience with American life” mentioned President & CEO of Global Ties U.S., Katherine Brown, Ph.D. In a joint statement, Anne Jaffrey, President of AmCham Dubai; Sharief Fahmy, Chairman of the AmCham Abu Dhabi, and Danny E. Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council said: “Today’s MOU serves as the platform from which our members can come together in support of the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. We are pleased to work closely to ensure the bilateral business communities between our two nations are fully engaged in this important effort. As a commercial priority of the U.S. and the U.A.E., there are few opportunities more deserving of our full support.”

The launch event also marks the official kick-off of Pavilion USA 2020’s international outreach campaign to engage citizens of the U.S. and the world in an awareness journey aligned to the themes of the Pavilion. Concurrent with the launch, the Pavilion’s website went live at www.pavilion2020.org – providing the seeds for an engagement hub that will continue to grow as the Pavilion comes to life.

The global engagement effort will be led by Colorado-based communications firm Human Design, in collaboration with the consortium’s communications partners throughout the U.S. and U.A.E. The “What Moves You” campaign will feature regular pavilion experience reveals, along with engagement and promotion activities with U.S. companies, culture, and technologies. The pavilion’s curation team will also focus on engaging young people through targeted educational programming, primarily in STEM and STEAM initiatives. Partners such as NYU-Abu Dhabi’s Innovation Lab, TechStars Dubai, and the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute will ensure thoughtful, well-crafted content.

construction business news me // December 2018 //

27

// Op-Ed

DATA DRIVEN PROJECTS Mr. Baraq Hadi, AVP Sales MENA and India at Oracle Construction & Engineering gives us an tell-all about the company’s operations How did the construction and engineering business at Oracle come about?

The business unit now called Oracle Construction and Engineering was formed 10 years ago following the acquisition of Primavera, a leading provider of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solutions. Subsequent to that, Oracle made further construction technology acquisitions including Textura, a leading provider of construction payment management cloud services, and most recently Aconex, a leading construction management platform.

We’ve made significant strides over the last 10 years, having managed over $8 trillion in project value and providing solutions that are used by over 125,000 organisations in over 70 countries, on every continent.

Our focus is on project and asset lifecycle management – helping organisations plan, build, and operate critical assets. We help organisations transform how they operate across those phases by improving processes and connecting the supply chain and project teams through a common data environment.

This approach drives productivity and quality while also yielding valuable project intelligence to improve decision making. We combine longstanding industry-leading products from Primavera, Aconex and Textura to provide a comprehensive and connected set of secure technology solutions that are easy to consume, deploy, and use.

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Our solutions offer insights, visibility, collaboration, and control to drive process, project and organisation performance for the engineering and construction industry (E&C) as well as other asset-intensive sectors such as infrastructure projects and energy.

With the acquisitions of Aconex and Textura, what does this mean to the Oracle Construction and Engineering business?

The acquisition of Aconex along with our Textura, Unifier, Prime Projects and Primavera P6 products, puts us in a position to make Oracle Construction and Engineering the industry standard for digital transformation in project and program management.

Our products address the complex business problems our customers face and can offer a complete data set – with the best insights and control -- to improve decision making and drive performance, as well as enabling predictable outcomes, repeatable success, and continuous improvement.

From the Textura perspective, the construction industry across the globe chiefly consists of many small and medium-sized businesses that make up the subcontractor pool for general contractors on large projects. A major challenge for this segment of the industry is getting paid on time and in full. Textura has digitised, streamlined, and automated the whole invoicing and payment process, leaving no excuse for late payment assuming

// construction business news me // December 2018

the subcontractor is compliant.

Around the time of the Textura acquisition, it was processing approximately US$4.5 billion per month. Today it’s more than US$6 billion, demonstrating the industry’s growing recognition of the need for a solution to the complex challenges arising from traditional payment management practices.

What was the thinking behind the Aconex acquisition?

Delivering projects on time and on budget are a strategic imperative for any engineering and construction organisation, not to mention the Owner Operator (OO). With the addition of Aconex to our offerings, we significantly advance our vision of offering the most comprehensive cloud-based project management and collaboration solution for this $14 trillion industry.

Aconex is trusted by more than 16,000 project leaders for visibility, control, reduced risk, and connected teams. It is easy to use, quick to deploy and helps to drive process efficiency for design and construction coordination, project controls, and field management.

Looking at Aconex before the acquisition, they were really focused on disrupting the industry, and also over the last decade the Aconex leadership team has been focused on enabling companies to capture more and better data. And now Aconex benefits from the even richer data related to the other Oracle Construction and Engineering products, so we’re able to provide

a much more comprehensive data approach. The aim now is to get this continuous loop going on and continue to iterate and improve data capture and process across Oracle Construction and Engineering products.

So, what’s Oracle Construction and Engineering’s perspective on why the industry should care so much about data?

More data provides an opportunity for better insights and helps maintain continuous improvement, so the broader solution for end-to-end life cycle management is going to be a much more compelling offering for customers.

To best manage any project, access to a common data environment to ensure centralisation and collaboration around the data is imperative.

The Oracle Construction and Engineering vision is to provide a platform that gives insights into this data, including showing how the project is tracking today based on what's already happened, and predicting what might happen based on assumed learning insights.

Historically, the construction sector has seen projects run over time and budget. This is due in part to the absence of a master data set across projects as well as a limited ability to analyse project data. Having access to this information helps project teams to learn lessons from previous experiences. However, technology use is growing all the time and we are now gathering data in the cloud allowing us to make better predictions into the future.

We believe that for organisations to drive performance and continued improvement across their processes, projects, and organisation, they need the right tools and data strategy. Data helps them learn what’s working and not working, what’s on track or off so they can make more-informed decisions or act faster. Big data can help them predict future outcomes – on current and future projects.

But there’s a flow to this which starts with buy in across the business or project. Accurate data is dependent on www.cbnme.com

product adoption - people actually using the product. Adoption requires that people trust using a system, which is important in project delivery where you need insights from what’s happening across the supply chain, not just from one company. Also, adoption requires that teams have a good experience working with a new solution. It’s easy to use, it’s fast, and it’s accessible from where they do their work.

That’s why our key investment areas will focus on cloud products – to bring innovation faster, with seamless and immediate upgrades. We’ll also be focusing on connecting processes across the project and asset lifecycle as well as on security, which remains a top priority for Oracle.

What does this technology mean to the construction and engineering industry?

Global construction is in a boom period, and all predictions suggest that for at least the next 15 years, the growth rate for construction will outpace the world's GDP. If you look globally, technology is gaining penetration within the industry. Why is that?

Because engineering and construction businesses today need to find the competitive advantage in what’s fast becoming a very crowded industry. To do this they need to reduce risk, work faster, deliver higher quality projects, safely– and repeat that over and over.

They need standardisation, they need to be compliant, they need to connect the supply chain to transform how project teams collaborate. They need to make their processes faster more transparent for both their subcontractors and customers.

In summary, they need to innovate – and do so faster than their peers.

There is an opportunity to help organisations within the industry migrate to the cloud, decrease operational and infrastructure costs, and free up IT resources.

Construction companies have always had limited IT staff, and the cloud enables them to have the infrastructure, security and controls for projects.

Companies embracing innovation

and digital transformation increasingly have a ‘margin advantage'. In a competitive environment, a ‘margin advantage' is going to win more profitable business.

What does the future hold for construction technology?

The worksite of the future will be all about connecting project teams and supply chains as well as the processes and systems used across the project and asset lifecycle. The cloud and availability of 5G will enable real-time collaboration from virtually anywhere, and a range of technologies will also deliver dramatic project delivery improvements: IoT, drones, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, powered exoskeletons, prefabrication, etc.

This combination of connectedness and innovation will enable organisations within the industry to unlock new levels of productivity, safety, and quality.

Construction really is on the verge of an exciting and dramatic transformation as the physical and digital worlds increasingly blur in the built environment.

The future is one where the emerging technology we see today become the disruptive technology of tomorrow.

Cloud, mobile, IoT, big data, AR/VR, machine learning – create an incredible opportunity for innovation, and we are investing significantly to be at the forefront of that.

We’re driving innovation and have created an Innovation Lab in the United States. It’s a simulated project worksite with integrated technologies enabling visitors to interact with leading-edge solutions, including connected devices, autonomous vehicles, drones, augmented reality, visualisation, and artificial intelligence tools. By presenting these hands-on experiences within a simulated connected worksite, the Innovation Lab is able to powerfully bring to life the performance improvements and data insights these technologies can deliver. And given the growing role of digital transformation in organisations’ success, the need for such a facility has never been greater.

construction business news me // December 2018 //

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// Op-Ed

Ensuring transparency and enhancing regional infrastructure Robert Jackson, RICS

I

nfrastructure in the Middle East has always been a critical part of the built environment and has played an integral role in facilitating the region’s economic growth.

Dubai government passed their largest ever budget for 2018 (AED 57 billion), of which 20 percent was allocated to infrastructure, an increase of more than 40 percent since 2017.

With Dubai gearing up for EXPO 2020, which is helping drive construction volumes, particular focus has been given to the infrastructure projects.

Dubai has nearly 200 active transport projects in the pipeline worth $34 billion, and for its 2020 Urban Master Plan $2.9 billion has been set aside for three key projects; Dubai Metro Red Line extension, Phase 2 expansion of Al-Maktoum International Airport and multiple road works.

It’s not just the UAE that is poised for significant infrastructure developments, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy also outlines infrastructure projects covering power, water, hydrocarbons, construction, road, rail, seaport and airport sectors. Significant projects in the country include: Riyadh Metro The Riyadh metro project, worth an estimated $22.5 billion, will have six lines traveling 176km with 85 metro stations and aims to become fully functional by 2021.

Public Transport Network By 2030, more than 1500km of new roads are planned which will be a part of the new, world-class public transport network, at nearly $23 billion, and once completed it is expected to become the world’s largest planned public transport project.

30

International Standards supporting local developments Large-scale infrastructure projects are often extremely complex, taking several years to complete and often have many stakeholders working on infrastructure already in public use. It is critical that these projects are delivered on-time and on-budget, with minimal disputes and legal costs between delivery parties.

To drive efficiencies and mitigate the risks of disputes, the application of common international standards becomes essential. With projects costing billions, it is crucial that a consistent method of presenting costs is used, aligning national standards with universal frameworks such as the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS). This allows projects to benchmark construction costs consistently and transparently, identifying causes of difference in costs between projects and allowing for the early avoidance of issues.

At present, the many ‘standards’ that exist have contributed to uncertainty and confusion in reporting construction and infrastructure costs. Research has shown that different approaches to presenting costs of construction can vary

// construction business news me // December 2018

significantly due to inconsistent methodology and standards. This is why standards such as ICMS are required to ensure global consistency.

Bent Flyvbjerg, an expert in project management at Oxford University’s Said Business School estimated that nine out of 10 mega projects (infrastructure developments over US$ 1 billion) go over budget. The reasons for this vary from project to project and they will be complex but ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is cited as a solution. An alternative name for this is ‘construction cost prediction’ and ‘cost benchmarking’ which are central to the benefits of ICMS that helps to provide the right data in the right standardised form.

Real estate is another sector where different measurement standards are used among nations, creating inconsistencies of up to 24% variances when measuring the same floor space or built up areas. In an interconnected global marketplace, with projects involving parties from diverse backgrounds and practices, such variances lead to confusion and risk for all property owners, occupiers and investors, especially operating across borders. The International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS) Coalition aims to address this by expanding over-arching principles that can work across all specialisms of the built environment, including architecture and engineering.

Without such standards, accurately forecasting costs and comparing on a ‘like for like’ basis, driving transparency for infrastructure megaprojects would be challenging. With the increase of construction and infrastructure projects in the region, globally recognised standards will revolutionise how the projects are reported and managed.

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// Op-Ed

Defined Provisional Sums: Be Commercially SMART! Colin Mcbride, Associate Director for Turner and Townsend, tells us why provisional sums in construction projects need to be commercially 'SMART'

I

am an Associate Director for Turner and Townsend, working primarily in the Real Estate Sector in the Middle East. It is evident that the pace of today’s construction in the region intrinsically puts pressure on design programmes, tendering procedures and construction durations. The use of provisional sums is often a by-product of this demanding environment.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the New Rules for Measurement – Detailed Measurement for Building Works (NRM2) defines provisional sums as ‘a sum of money set aside to carry out work that cannot be described and given in quantified items in accordance with the tabulated rules of measurement’. For traditional procurement methods their existence is commonly as a result of design not being completed to full RIBA Stage 4 or equivalent. The reason for which can vary from design delay to undefined client requirements or end user requirements.

Whilst provisional sums are a useful tool to expedite execution of a construction contract, commercial caution should be exercised. Using provisional sums creates uncertainty and introduces risk for both Employer and Contactor. To make them effective it is essential that the reason for their use is professionally justified, and not simply moving an issue further down the construction process. Furthermore the responsibility of managing these sums has to be explicitly understood and detailed in the Employers project team. It is imperative that defined provisional sums are commercially SMART! ‘Specific’ – they should be described in their fullest possible form thus ensuring the contractor has a clear understanding of the following key considerations: nature of the construction works, extent of the scope, indication of the quantity of works, interface with other works sections, and 32

any specific works limitations. This detail should be provided in the bills of quantities and aligned with the design information, clearly segregating the provisional sums from other measured works scope.

Providing this information will allow the contractor to provide for the correct general attendances, specific attendances, coordination and the necessary preliminary items required. Failure to provide this information will render the provisional sum an undefined provisional sum, effectively putting the preliminary cost at large, a practice that should be strictly avoided.

‘Measurable’ – There should be a clear commercial strategy as to how these works will be valued. This often is evident from the nature of the works. I.e. they maybe an extension to existing measured works and will be valued at bill rates, or they may be a specialist trade where three quotations will be instructed the Engineer.

The strategy however should be clearly understood from the outset, informing the provisional sum value, protecting the budget from commercially loaded rates and forming part of the programme procurement timeline. An effective communication tool to avoid conflict post contract is utilising pricing preambles, detailing the pricing intent and methodology.

‘Achievable’ – Ensuring a specific defined provisional sum or indeed the wider provisional sum items as a whole is achievable are critical to the health of the project from a time and cost perspective.

I.e. what is the proportion of provisional sums to measured works? If this is too high, time pressures on Employer information release, design development, and successful commercial close out within programme may be unachievable. All parties must be aware of their responsibilities and resources required to execute them in a timeous fashion. As a guide the percentage of provisional sums to measured works should be as low as it

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possible, targeting less than 5%, dependent on the nature of the procurement and the context of the items.

‘Relevant’ – Ensure the use of the provisional sums is relevant and justified. Do the works in question naturally sit with the wider contracted scope? Simply should the provisional sum reside separately as an individual contract or a separate work package that should be tendered separately?

Commercially it is important to understand why an Employer should pay a contractor overheads, profit and attendances – there must be a quid pro quo for the Employer in terms of time, cost, quality or risk.

‘Time-Bound’ – The release of the design information related to the provisional sums is arguably the key consideration. Ensuring the design programme is aligned with the construction programme is paramount. Based upon the nature of the works, a date will ultimately be agreed upon in the construction programme for the release of the full technical design information. Failure to meet this date will lead to time and cost implications for the Employer. There should be adequate time allowed for review of the design, ensuring it aligns with the original budget and if not providing time for value engineering remedies.

Whilst FIDIC is the common contact of choice for traditional procurement routes in the Middle East, it should be noted that some more modern contracts do not include the term provisional sum. This indicates the direction of travel for best practice and should serve as a warning that we should extend specific caution when advising Employers of their additional obligations. The principles above, and asking some simple good practice questions prior to implementation will provide guidance, and if deemed acceptable, mitigate any negative consequences in relation to time and cost.

// Product Review

Blue Star introduces the new VRF IV PLUS 100% Inverter Blue Star has been a global leader for close to 75 years in the air conditioning and refrigeration products, making it a preferred company to cater to the increasing demand in this region.

The company is present in 18 countries across the Middle East, Africa, SAARC and ASEAN regions and has 5 modern manufacturing facilities.

With a well entrenched network of distributors and dealers across the region, Blue Star has been constantly engaging with the end user in UAE with its wide and varied range of products. Blue Star is offering a wide range of eco-friendly and energyefficient cooling and refrigeration products catering to every related requirement in the residential and commercial space in UAE. It has been catering to an ever increasing consumer base, which has representation across various sectors including: construction and manufacturing, government agencies, schools and educational institutions, hospitals, showrooms & retail units. Every Blue Star product is a result of robust R&D, a strong understanding of design and superior manufacturing processes.

These core attributes have made Blue Star the preferred cooling and refrigeration solution provider.

“Blue Star offers a range of cooling and refrigeration products, specifically catering to the UAE market, backed by superior technical specifications and unmatched product features. We 34

proudly present to you our VRF IV Plus 100% Inverter Systems,” remarks CEO of Blue Star International FZCO, Mr. Dawood Bin Ozair Blue Star is now presenting the new VRF IV Plus range, specially designed for the UAE market. Blue Star’s VRF IV plus units are equipped with 100% inverter compressors. The unique logic of the VRF system is that it optimally loads compressors in such a way that maximum efficiencies are achieved under any load condition. The other advantage of 100% inverter is the low starting current. This helps optimize electricity requirements, such as generator capacity and cable sizes.

Blue Star manufactured products are tested and approved in precisely calibrated laboratories. Blue Star products laboratories are accredited

by National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories.

NABL is member of International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. Blue Star laboratories are accredited by NABL as per ISO/IEC 17025 testing and calibration standards. The products are tested in these laboratories are up to international standards such as AHRI, EN, ISO, GSO, SASO, MEW, QCC etc for various products. Blue Star laboratories are approved for satellite level program for safety testing as per IEC/ EN 60335-1 & 60335-2-40 standards

by Intertek & TUV for testing of products manufactured by Blue Star.

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“Blue Star’s VRF IV Plus is specially designed to deliver 100% capacity even at a higher ambient temperature of 43°C. Superior engineering in designing of electronics, efficient heat exchangers, patented oil return controls and algorithms, enables VRF IV Plus to provide 100% capacity at 43°C and non-stop operation even at 56°C,” said Mr Ozair.

The company’s manufacturing strength is spread across five state-ofthe-art manufacturing facilities across the country. The Blue Star VRF IV Plus units are manufactured at the contemporary and modern factory at Dadra. Set up in line with international standards, the products manufactured at this ISO 9001-2015 certified factory are sold in different countries across the globe. All machines manufactured at Blue Star factory are rigorously tested for various parameters before dispatch. Customers too can witness actual performance tests conducted on VRF IV Plus before dispatch of their machines. Blue Star is one of the few companies in the air-conditioning industry that offers this facility.

Mr. Ozair concluded: “With a legacy of over seven decades of experience in providing expert cooling solutions, we would want to position ourselves to cater to the ever-increasing needs for cooling and refrigeration products, for both the residential and commercial consumers in UAE.”

www.cbnme.com

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// Case Study

CBNME recently chatted with Mr. Alvaro Silva Santisteban, Director of Peru’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Office -Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism in the United Arab Emirates, who gives us an in-depth view about his countries goals abroad and their valuable relationship with the UAE. The Trade, Tourism and Investment Office of Peru in the UAE is the economic and commercial office of Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. It contributes to the sustainable economic growth of Peru by identifying business opportunities, promoting exports and tourism, internationalizing companies and attracting foreign investments. The Office helps to establish, foster and maintain strategic alliances with public and private in36

stitutions in the UAE, and strengthens the presence and participation of Peru at an international level.

When you were appointed as the first Director of Peru’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Office, at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, in the United Arab Emirates, what were your initial goals and objectives?

From the outset, we had envisioned Peru as a significant player within

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the commercial and economic relations with the UAE, which was a very ambitious forecast considering our trade figures were starting at 6 Million USD. With this in mind we planned a 3x3 strategy, which is composed of three divisions: • To introduce at least three new products every three months into the market • To elevate and conceptualize our objectives within the strategy every

three years, hence going from introduction to positioning and what the scope entails within • To place ourselves amongst the top three most important partners of the UAE from Latin America (LATAM) based on our economic and commercial scopes - The objective when we opened the office in 2011 was to position Peru as the 5th largest trading partner of LATAM between the first and second phase (year one to three), and as the fourth most important partner between the end of the second (four till six year) and third stage (six till nine) - By the end 2017 we already position ourselves as the second biggest trading partner, and also UAE’s second biggest investment destination in LATAM What are the potential business opportunities you see for Peruvian businesses in UAE? What potential www.cbnme.com

industry do you feel would benefit businesses in UAE for them to be interested in opening up business or investing in Peru.

There are four sectors where Peru can contribute with a competitive advantage and these are where we foresee greater growth: Food and Beverages, Fashion and Home Decoration, Construction Material, and Mining. On another level, sectors that will also start making a difference are Auto Mechanics, wood products, their derivatives, and metal machinery.

What steps have been taken to encourage investments in the UAE and also back home in Peru?

The biggest activity we had was the ‘In Peru’ roadshow event. A delegation of 35 government and business leaders from Peru, participated in the roadshow that took place in UAE. The roadshow was highly successful, promoting awareness of investment opportunities in Peru, as well giving

Peru the opportunity to identify areas for greater collaboration and participation with the UAE. More than a hundred meetings with business representatives and Government Officials in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were held between the two countries, following the great success of the roadshow.

Today we can see the direct results of the roadshow, on the day to day basis, from the investments made by ADIA and Mubadala, amongst others.

The latest investment made by DP World, is a clear example that can put into words present opportunities, whereas their initial participation has now been complemented with the aim to have a full integrated logistic perspective.

Tell us about what steps have been taken to encourage travellers in the UAE to visit Peru?

- Peru is currently ranked as one of the world’s top ten travel destina-

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// Case Study

tions, based on a research conducted

by Ernst & Young, and is reached by more than 4 million travellers per year.

- It is one the favourite destinations for the Middle East travellers going to South America. Peru was also listed in Time Out Dubai's best holiday destinations in 2018 - Peru has rapidly embraced change, and modern Peru is an evocative blend of the past and the present, from fashion to popular art, music and literature. Tourists can experience the ancient cultures, aspects of which were passed down by generations.

- The San Isidro district in Lima is now home to Peru’s first-ever Muslimfriendly hotel. Sonesta Hotel El Olivar was awarded accreditation by CrescentRating, receiving five out of seven stars based on facilities provided to Muslim guests, - Our efforts are focused in creating awareness about the country and its opportunities. We conceptualize and implement activities with a 360 degree approach, meaning that within one activity we articulate all our responsibilities. With a scope as ample as ours, and moreover very different in each section, the activities planned have to account for at least one major display or participation for each sector.

In 2013, you were successful in implementing Peru's first representation in Turkey as well as being responsible for the activities and initiatives deployed within India and South Africa.

Tell us about that? How successful was it and what initiatives you took over there have you used when it comes to the UAE. Each country has been a completely different experience as they all have different opportunities and business models. However, in all there is one common denominator; lack of information thus likewise as within the UAE our first steps were geared towards informing and communicating the needs, opportunities and possibilities.

Each country presents its own individual challenges and thus 38

although communicating was the base, the messages had to be catered for each market.

For example, in South Africa our efforts were set on regulations and their impact on trade. A parallel aim was set on using the country as a platform for the south part of the continent.

Another layer was identifying the specifics of each big city and applying the appropriate strategies.

In terms of numbers, as per above we manged to increase trade by 30%

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as well as diversifying the same. If you speak about connectivity, we managed to place Peru as one of the three countries within the world promotional campaign of ZA airlines.

It was reported in 2018 that exports from Peru to UAE had increased by 10,000%. $6million in 2011 to $600million in 2018. In those seven years what were the steps taken to increase the amount export from Peru to UAE. One main aspect of our strategies and activities is communication and

// Case Study

understanding on how and where Peru can mark or make a difference.

The lack of information in terms of the opportunities and possibilities within both nations is still a factor to very much consider.

Another important factor is air connectivity. Currently there are no direct flights between the UAE and Peru, although there are to other South American countries.

We believe in the importance of generating greater connectivity, and it is one of our top priorities. Acquiring air connectivity will facilitate all key sectors -Food and Beverage, Fashion and Home Deco, Construction Materials, Investments Opportunities and Tourism- to be boosted exponentially.

Tell us what you vision, goals and objectives are for 2019 and beyond?

Connectivity, connectivity and connectivity. The emphasis on connectivity is a holistic approach, envisioned not only for Tourism, but rather for the increasing effect it would have on trade and fostering of investments.

A brief, example of this could be the importance of having fresh produce within 24 hours. Considering that, it’s important to note that Peru, ranks amongst the top 5 exporters in the world of products such as asparagus, 40

avocados, grapes, quinoa, mangos and berries, to name a few.

On the same note, the UAE benefited from around 600 million USD of Peruvian gold - a product that can only be air freighted.

Likewise, this is not just a matter of air connectivity but also all types of seamless linkage.

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Beyond 2019, surely Expo 2020 will mark a new milestone on all type of perspectives, including connectivity. We believe the initial tasks and ground-breaking has been done and now it is time to grow it exponentially thus we believe that our participation in the economy of UAE is to remain as a leading one in all sectors.

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// Event review

T h e B i g 5 2018 CBNME recaps the events most notable stories and grabs in-depth interviews with the leaders of the construction industry who talk about their latest products, technology, and what their future ambitions are and how they are going to achieve it.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially inaugurated the 39th edition of The Big 5 International Building and Construction Show, which will run until November 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Under the theme “Shaping the Future of Construction”, the 39th edition of The Big 5 introduced never seen before technologies and innovative solutions.

Running from 26 to 29 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event shed light on rising entrepreneurs who promise to disrupt the con42

struction sector. It addressed gender diversity in the workplace by supporting the women who are pushing the industry forward. Once again, it paved the way for new partnerships and investments, connecting professionals from around the world, in Dubai.

This year, five exhibitions ran as part of The Big 5, creating one mega event for the entire construction lifecycle: HVAC R Expo – the new event dedicated to the HVACR industry; The Big 5 Solar – bringing solar solutions for construction; the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo (UDLE) - the region’s only event dedicated to landscaping, infrastructure and urban development; The Big 5 Heavy – the

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leading event dedicated to infrastructure and heavy construction in the Middle East; and Middle East Concrete (MEC) – the region’s largest event dedicated to concrete.

In total, over 2,500 global exhibiting companies and 30+ official country pavilions will display 360-degree building solutions and innovative products at the event, catering to the needs of the entire regional construction industry and showing a growing interest in the expanding UAE and GCC markets.

Also, more than 100 local and international industry experts participated at The Big 5 2018 speaking at 5 highlevel summits and 100+ workshops across the four days of the show.

MAKING THE GCC GREENER, HEALTHIER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE A KEY FOCUS FOR THE FIRST URBAN DESIGN & LANDSCAPING SUMMIT The first Urban Design & Landscaping Summit launched at the Dubai World Trade Centre bringing together landscape architects, municipalities, urban designers, property developers, parks and resorts to focus on the opportunities and challenges faced in turning the region green.

The high-level summit, which runs under the theme “Promoting greener, healthier and more sustainable built environments with best practices in urban design and landscaping” took place as part of the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo (UDLE), a new event dedicated to the growing green and outdoor public spaces.

Portfolio Director, Josine Heijmans, said: “There is a major focus on growing the region’s outdoor spaces to make them habitable during the hotter summer months.

Well-designed, interconnected urban areas are transforming previously arid areas into breathable and walkable environments, all year round.”

“The lively discussion and impassioned presentations experienced during the inaugural Urban Design & Landscaping Summit are a reflection of the growing opportunities within urban greening and landscaping both within the public and private sectors.”

One of the major topics of discussion at today’s Summit was the link between the development of the public realm and the happiness of citizens. www.cbnme.com

According to Ceylan Belek Ombregt, Director at Martha Schwartz Partners, mixed-use design that promotes diversity of spaces with programmes responding to specific needs of the people is a major driver for happiness.

“Being close to nature and other living beings is important to people. Therefore, urban design should provide habitats for faunas and floras, preserving diversity in our living environments. Another key element for urban design as a drive for happiness is to create spaces with well thought patterns. This means repetition of certain elements such as streets. Continuity and alternation of these formal elements between architecture and landscape would allow recognizable spaces to be formed,” she added.

Initiatives taken up by local government bodies in the GCC were in the spotlight during the first interactive panel session of the day. The audience heard from a line-up of

high level speakers including Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain Municipality and Dubai Creative Clusters Authority, among others.

Attendees were given an overview of the major landscaping projects and public parks in the GCC, as well as insights into the needs of the community, how to design for the harsh regional environment, and how to increase the focus on agricultural production locally through innovative pilot projects.

Val Zillig, Urban Planning Advisor, Sharjah Urban Planning Council (SUPC), said: “The Gulf region has reached a number of economic milestones, and this is primarily attributed to the on-going developments and initiatives made by a number of authorities and councils in the region dedicated to comprehensive urban planning.”

Speaking about the panel session, he added: “The panel session was one of the most important platforms to ad-

dress the integration of urban planning public realm practices with the on-going climate change and environmental challenges, since this issue is one of the most vital factors for the future generations and development of green environment. The Emirate of Sharjah, as well as SUPC, is a world leader who are ensuring careful infrastructural and public realm projects are being developed with respect to the environment, and reinforced with technologies and services which are eco-friendly.”

Sustainability was another key principle discussed during the second interactive panel session of the day, which centered on the integration of sustainability principles in urban design and the growing need for Green Urbanism in the region.

Robert van Aerts, Founder and Managing Director of NextGen Living Walls, said: “The fact that cities will house over 75% of the world’s population and people need green appearance in order to achieve a better balance in life and performance, mean that the green business overall is just at the beginning of a new era in landscaping. In the Middle East and its rapidly growing cities, business and new industry developments will need to invest in green as an asset for keeping workers satisfied and inviting new creative and capable workers who will add value to the future of the Middle East.”

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// Event review

CONNECTED TECH WILL PUSH FORWARD GCC INDOOR COOLING, SAY EXPERTS AT LEADING HVAC R EXPO

According to HVAC R Expo intelligence partner, BNC Network, the GCC urban sector currently consists of 18,000 projects and accounts for 49% of the region’s USD 2.3 trillion construction market.

Undoubtedly one of the main solutions for providing comfort in the arid built landscape, leaders in the industry have gathered at HVAC R Expo to showcase the latest indoor climate innovations and techniques.

On the back of the growing urban market, HVAC R Expo has launched for the first time as part of The Big 5 this week.

Both events run until 29 November 2018 at Dubai World Trade Centre, with HVAC R Expo open to Project and Design Engineers, Consultants, Facilities and Operations managers and more.

Faisal Rashid, Director of Demand Side Management at the Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai says: “HVAC R accounts for heavy usage of 44

energy in buildings or industries, representing 70% of the total energy consumption of on average.” He adds: “It is logical to assume that HVAC R can yield to the greatest saving potential of any sector of the economy.”

The leading industry dedicated event in the region, HVAC R Expo hosts over 200 exhibitors, presenting products including Air Conditioning and Ventilation, Heating and Refrigeration Systems, as well as increasingly popular measuring technology and climate control solutions.

Colin Bridges, Business Development Director at exhibiting company Belimo Automation FZE comments: “The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is a major opportunity in the GCC construction industry, where data driven smart devices are being increasingly used to improve and enhance performance of cooling systems.”

Global market leader in

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HVAC R solutions, Belimo Automation FZE commits to investing in new technology to help push the industry.

They are showcasing their latest Energy Valves at the expo, offering 'total visibility by monitoring and storing data and making it available for recording, analysis, and trending reports'.

He adds: “The integrated logic helps to manage circuit performance, save money and improve efficiency” In a further bid to push the industry forward, HVAC R Expo is also hosting 20 freeto-attend CPD (continuing professional certified) workshops. The HVAC R Talks are delivered by some of the most prominent industry names, yet to update attendees on the most recent and upcoming industry regulations, as well as give insight into ventilation design for super-tall buildings.

Saziye Dickson, Senior Market Research Consultant

at BSRIA (Building Services Research & Information Association) has covered "HVAC R market drivers and challenges today and beyond 2020" at the HVAC R Talks.

She affirms: “Over the past three years we have seen a trend towards implementation of smarter HVAC R systems thanks to advances in smart controls. As the systems and requirements of them become ever more sophisticated, the use of smart controls is having a significant impact in reducing energy consumption.”

Dr. Omar Abdelaziz, ASHRAE Global Training Center Instructor, concludes: “HVAC R Expo brings a muchneeded exposure of the stateof-the-art to the GCC HVAC R industry. It provides an opportunity to learn about the newest commercial HVAC product offering for the GCC market with a special emphasis on hot climate conditions, while offering free-learning.”

// Event review

WAKECAP WINS THE START-UP CITY COMPETITION AT THE BIG 5

WakeCap, the IoT-based enterprise solution aimed at improving safety and productivity at the construction site, won the Start-up City Pitch Competition at The Big 5 today.

Construction's poor productivity leads to 98% of the construction projects incurring cost overruns or delays due lack of connectivity, slow information sharing and a lack of automation on site. WakeCap enables real-time field 46

reporting via integrated sensors into the existing personal safety equipment & connecting job-sites via wireless mesh network technology.

Ishita Sood Kochhar, cofounder and CEO of Wakecap, said: “The Big 5 Start-Up City Competition has been a great experience and I would really like to thank dmg events and the team organizing the StartUp City initiative.

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We are a tech-based construction start-up, trying to improve safety and productivity on work sites. We are based out of Dubai and we are running multiple pilots here to test the market and to promote rapid product development.

This platform has been really encouraging; we have met with many suitable business partners and we have made a wealth of contacts to follow up with after the show.�

Competing with other 14 start-ups from around the globe, WakeCap was awarded a prize worth USD 25,000 by a panel of experts, including Kavya Aggarwal, Project Manager at Consolidated Contractors Company, Hana Barakat, Program Manager at StartAD, Ned Jeroudi, Senior Advisor, Innovation + Future Technology at Expo 2020 Dubai, and Tiberiu Iacomu, Founder of the Improbable Agency.

B i g 5 Ga l l ery

www.cbnme.com

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I ntervie w

Laurent Longuet, CEO at SirajPower Can you tell us about the goals and objectives that you wish to achieve with SirajPower?

Our ultimate objective is to contribute in changing the way the world is powered, starting with the Middle East. We want to continue encouraging businesses to adopt renewable energy sources for a better future, especially solar power as it remains highest value in the region due to the highest solar radiation. We aim to further cement our position as the leader in distributed solar generation in the UAE and the Middle East and become the regional green champion.

Can you tell us what steps you have taken to achieve these goals and objectives?

We have set-up a company that has the capability to design, build, finance and operate large rooftop solar projects with its own resources. We have started by doing it in Dubai where we are proud to be positioned as the leader in the leasing solar rooftop market. We are now expanding in three directions: 1) we want to propose other technical solutions such as carport systems or offgrid systems, 2) we want to expand our operations beyond Dubai in the rest of the UAE, the wider GCC and 3) beyond the pure leasing business model, and we are keen and ready to support our customers with other services.

Tell us about the latest technological advancement or development that excites you and what should potential buyers expect?

We welcome the recent progresses made by PV manufacturers to propose at a very competitive price some higher efficiency photovoltaic solutions. In the same time, we are thrilled to get some larger size inverters which allow a reduction in capital costs. Both contrib48

ute in giving us the opportunity to offer our customers much more competitive offers. For the near future, we are very excited by the battery technologies and the possibility it offers in term of providing an affordable cost of electricity for solar autonomous systems.

During your panel discussion you talked about sustainable finance options solar power projects. Tell us more about this?

Finance is key when talking about solar.

Overall, now, solar is much cheaper than any other source of electricity.

Whatever the methodology used to assess it, solar is the most competitive solution. Anyhow, as it requires a significant capital cost, but very limited operational cost, for a client it’s like paying your next 15 or 20 years of electricity bill on day one. For many industrial, commercial or residential customers, this is clearly a strong challenge and it slows down the development of solar. For this reason, at SirajPower, we strongly believe that our offers should be a turn-key solution where not only do we provide the technical expertise but we take care of the investment as well. This is what we have been successfully proposing in Dubai for the past 3 years and this is the way we want to continue developing this business in the region.

How big is the solar power market here in the UAE and how appealing is it?

On a regional level, we have seen a lot of positive initiatives and policies to encourage the adoption of solar energy.

Even though the market hasn’t reach maturity yet, the transition is accelerating and we are seeing good momentum in Dubai and the UAE where there are a lot of opportunities.

For instance, Dubai has been putting a lot of efforts to have all rooftops fitted

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with PV panels. According to DEWA, Dubai has achieved 55MW (as of July 2018) of installed capacity connected to the grid, with a growing interest estimated to be over 400MW to date.

Initiatives such as Shams Dubai which was launched in 2015, with an objective to have solar panels on all rooftops across the Emirates by 2030, played a key role to promote Dubai’s sustainable development and transformation into a green economy. Dubai is targeting to generate 7% of its total power output from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. While the majority of renewable energy capacity installed by 2030 is expected to emanate from the MBR solar development, Dubai is relying on the successful implementation of its ambitious Shams rooftop solar programme to meet its 75% clean energy goal by 2050.

Do you believe that solar energy or renewable energy can one day be on the same playing field as the oil industry? If so, what steps need to be taken in order to achieve this?

During the last few years, the world has put into operation far more renewable energy plants (in term of capacity) than any other technology. In Dubai only, the solar plants under construction at this time are much larger than the largest existing nuclear reactors in the world. Solar energy and, more generally, renewable energies are not a solution for tomorrow, it is happening and it is starting in the region from the UAE today.

If the regulatory framework could surely be improved, it is already sufficient for a wide adoption of the solar rooftop solutions throughout Dubai.

Public awareness for a sustainable development is another key success factor that should be broadly communicated and be part of the education program.

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I ntervie w

Giorgio Menegazzi, Group Marketing Director, DAB

Tell us about your experience at the BIG 5 and how is it impacting the company in a positive way?

We are happy to return to the Big 5 this year continuing the great momentum with a line-up of innovative, energy-efficient water management solutions targeting the region’s infradevelopment sector. Our commitment is continuously growing, thanks to the solutions that drive innovation based on simplicity.

As part of our strategy to grab the Middle East market share, we showcased technologically advanced solutions at The Big 5 in Dubai this year.

We are very focused on expanding the reach of our solutions in the Middle East, apart from the European, the US and Chinese markets.

The range of products on display includes specialist devices for water boosting, water supply and waste water sectors that are suitable for this market and capable of offering extremely high and efficient performance levels. We are expecting to get more approvals from consultants 50

to explore the region’s residential building projects.

Tell us more about DAB Water Technology.

DAB is an Italian water tech major and frontrunner in the global water management industry. DAB brings to Dubai a range of solutions utilising the advantages of renewable energy for urban development. DAB introduces a range of solutions, focused on innovation, digitalisation and safety of people. DAB invests more in products with higher technology for standard sustainable solutions.

DAB is among a few water technology solution providers globally to offer a comprehensive range with more than 2,000 products. DAB produces over three million pumps per year catering mainly to residential, commercial, and agricultural irrigation sectors.

These solutions set themselves apart thanks to their ease of installation, energy savings and maximum reliability in the domestic, residential and civil sectors.

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Tell us about the region’s huge requirement for sustainable solutions in line with the exponential infrastructure-development activities currently underway.

DAB caters to the higher demand for energy-efficient tech solutions. DAB offers energy-saving Italian technologies, in line with its interest in sustainability and strong awareness of the environmental impact of our solutions.

DAB’s focus is the exponential infrastructure-development underway in this region with a huge requirement for sustainable water pumping, submersible motoring and other water management technology solutions.

For residential sector, DAB provides high energy savings in heating, air conditioning, water supply and pressure boosting, irrigation and gardening, and filtration of swimming pool water.

For commercial applications, DAB provides circulation systems for heating and cooling, pressurisation in water supply and fire prevention systems and disposal of waste water. For agricultural irrigation, the company provides pump-

ing solutions for extraction of water from subsoil in agricultural applications, as well as for irrigation.

What are your biggest concerns when it comes to the environment and what are the initiatives taken by DAB Water Technologies to overcome these problems?

We are committed for environmental conservation, in line with the current transformation of Dubai and the region towards green technology.

DAB specifically focuses on environmental issues by promoting various initiatives to reduce the environmental impact, and 100 per cent of the water used in processing is filtered and reused. DAB solutions enable ease of installation, energy savings and maximum reliability in the domestic, residential, and civil sectors. www.cbnme.com

Tell us about the goals and objectives for DAB Water Technology in 2019?

DAB plans to enhance its business in the GCC by increasing competitiveness and offering high-quality pumps with energy saving features and advanced technology. DAB has already a network of distributors for the region with a strong team to manage the business development. Our structure is the same in the different GCC markets, so we support our official importer to work in the UAE. For the GCC market, we have specific products made with stainless steel.

What is the latest technology that DAB Water Technology has introduced?

DAB comes to the Big 5 with the world’s best energy-efficient water management and innovative safety solutions. The new products and improved solutions offer optimization of customers’ experience. Some of the

key solutions showcased at the Big 5 Dubai 2018 are: Powered mainly by solar energy (if available), DAB’s Sundriver solution for use in several types of pumping systems, from collection from the subsoil, to circulation, swimming pool filtering, transfer and accumulation of water.

E.syline, a ground-breaking innovative technology with a new line of products and accessories with integrated inverter that guarantee consistent water pressure in residential and commercial applications.

All the innovation of E.swim, the variable flow rate high energy efficiency built-in inverter electronic pump.

The complete NKV range of stainlesssteel multi-impeller vertical centrifugal pumps for circulation of water in heating and air conditioning systems, designed for pressurisation in civil and commercial environments as well as for agriculture and irrigation systems.

D.Project: A support package to use DAB products for residential and commercial projects providing a complete service of analysis, selection, consultancy and technical support.

D.Connect: The smartest energy-efficient water management solution for urban development, provided with a smart and fast mobile App and a dedicated website. This service helps commercial and industrial developments to optimise their water management system. This solution enables remote interaction for the real-time modification of parameters and monitoring operation of connected products.

D.Learning: A platform that helps customers keep their professional skills up to date with the times and technological developments. The digital portal ensures standard learning procedures with online training and multilingual webinar programs of D.Training, DAB's technology training institute.

D.Training - a training institute for water handling technologies with a customized and modular teaching proposal including online sessions made possible thanks to the new interactive D.Learning platform.

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Viken Ohanesian, Executive Director, Harwal Group Tell us about the goals and objectives that TSSC has in 2018 and how they were achieved? What are you looking forward to the most in 2019?

Being the largest manufacturer of sandwich panels and steel cladding in the Middle East, TSSC has been keen to expand its reach to add significant value to our customers we have achieved this in 2018.

As the largest building envelope manufacturer in the region, we offer a wide range of products including sandwich panels, cladding, cold stores, facades, windows, and doors, among many others and we decided to bring all these building materials under complete building systems to provide our contractors and builders turn key solutions. To do this, we needed to add a number of critical components to our product range which include steel structures in cold rolled steel, pre-engineered steel, and cement wall panels. We also needed to add the design engineering required to deliver complete building system to our customers.

From supplying individual building products and components, we have now started offering complete systems like warehouses, poultry farms, modular housing, cold boxes and cold stores with MEP systems.

The Complete Building Systems approach is designed to deliver a unique one-stop shop experience to all our customers who can go to one place and get the entire system, value engineered as a turnkey solution. It is a cost-effective choice because our customers do not have to arrange agreements with dozens of different 52

vendors, and instead get them all from one source. We see this bringing significant value to all our customers and we are looking forward to boosting our market presence in 2019.

Tell us about the new products showcased during the Big 5?

We showcased a number of new products such as the cold-rolled steel, hot-rolled steel, pre-engineered building systems, the easy wall panels, ducting systems and many others. Our complete MEP systems for cold rooms was also featured during the event to cater to the cold store segment as we also provide the sandwich panel for cold stores, including MEP with the full turn key installation.

It was a very good participation as we were able to strategically position the importance of value engineering solutions to the market and feature our new building system and highlight as well our complete range of products such as facades, doors, pipelines and electrical systems from our associated companies under the Harwal Group.

Tell us about your thoughts on having a unified building codes for all

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seven emirates and ensuring a tighter import controls for non-certified and substandard aluminum panels?

It is a highly positive move and we welcome the importance of such policies aimed at improving the overall sector. Certification and quality systems play a huge role for the sector and we ensure that we do adhere to the highest international standards throughout our manufacturing processes. We always support the UAE government's proactive role in maintaining worldclass standards and best practices. As a leader in construction innovation, we ensure to bring in certified products from where they are manufactured.

I believe unifying the building codes will further accelerate the pace of innovation which results in better products and promote value engineering which contributes to saving resources and help developers meet their project targets on time. Substandard products definitely should not have a place in this region as it will only ruin the reputation of contractors and builders and thereby negatively impact the country's goal towards sustainable development.

Tell us about the company’s take on current market conditions and organizational plans for the future?

The current market situation may be soft however we feel that the market continues to open new opportunities and we are optimistic that Dubai is in a strategic position to maintain its leadership in the region as a trade and commerce hub, as well as in new areas of development in innovation and knowledge economy. We already

// Event review

have manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia and we are looking forward to expand our presence in Africa and India.

Thoughts on the new Fire Life and Safety Code introduced by the Dubai Civil Defense to instill higher standards of fire safety at all stages of construction?

It is an extremely important aspect in the sector and we welcome this new code. We have always maintained a proactive stand and we are at the leading edge when it comes to fire safety compliance. All our products are FM approved from our wall panels to our standing seam systems to our cladding. Fire safety is a major concern especially in this region and it is a great thing to witness that 54

standardization in this arena is making huge progress.

How does the company ensure products and services help in achieving carbon dioxide reduction targets stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement?

The built environment sector is noted as one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions and significantly reducing them is one of the main commitments of countries signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement. TSSC as a pioneering company plays a central role in promoting sustainability and reducing energy wastage by providing energy efficient building materials, specifically in building insulation. We are really a 'building envelope' company because we provide all the materials such as sandwich panels,

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the faรงade, the cladding, the roofing, and steel structure that ensure energy used in buildings do not leak from inside. Our entire system should be implemented in such a manner that energy used in air conditioning or heating the building do not escape across the panels and walls.

We take our work very seriously in terms of our commitment to energy efficiency by making sure our products are energy efficient and buildings are properly insulated. We have easy wall systems which have high insulating capability made of aerated concrete and polystyrene. Our cladding, sandwich panels are made of polyurethane cores, which provide the highest insulation possible. Our products are designed to optimize building space while ensuring that energy use is minimized in a building.

// NEWS

Cranes

AKEM mobilises on Downtown Bursa project AKEM Group, the official Raimondi Cranes agent of Turkey, says it has erected the first of a total of six topless tower cranes planned for the Downtown Bursa project in Turkey.

The Raimondi MRT159 crane is currently at work with a Height Under Hook (HUH) of 48m and a jib length of 65m as it heads towards a final HUH of 98m with two collars. The cranes are all rented by the project developer Atış Construction are planned to be operational for varying periods ranging from 20-28 months.

According to AKEM Group, the site planning configuration regime includes four additional 8t Raimondi MRT159s with final HUHs of 80m and one collar each, “all with an initial HUH of 60m and jibs lengths of 65m.”

AKEM Group owns a fleet size of 139 Raimondi and

also services more than 150 Raimondi cranes previously sold in the Turkish market.

A sixth crane from its fleet, a Raimondi 8t MRT152 is also due to be deployed. Beginning with an HUH of 54, it will reach a final HUH of 80m with one collar and a jib length of 65m.

“AKEM supplied three of our technicians for the jobsite installation including one Erection Supervisor, who is responsible for all safety considerations. We had presented our install

and dismantle plans to our client early in the conversations, and went forward as per the initial strategy which included a 200 tonne mobile crane,” said H. Okan Deligöz, general manager, AKEM Group.

Atış Construction’s project describes Downtown Bursa as an ambitious and prestigious hallmark project. It will include 688 residences and 83,000 sqm. of retail and entertainment facilities, hospitality outlets, an arts and cultural centre, and the

Pars City Museum.

“AKEM Group is incredibly proud to be part of this important development, invigorating of one of Turkey’s most storied and treasured locations. Bursa, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is the fourth largest city in Turkey and it plays an important role in our country’s history,” Deligöz continued.

“This is our first endeavour with Atış Construction, and we look forward to continuing to support our client onsite for the duration of the project.”

Sharjah Seaports opts for Demag ATC The port operator Sharjah Seaports Authority says it swayed by the reputation of German engineering when buying its latest mobile crane.

The United Arab Emirates-based organisation revealed last month that it hascommissioned a brand new Demag AC 100-4L all-terrain crane through the authorised Terex Cranes distributor Al-Bahar.

"We have chosen the Demag AC 1004L because of the excellent reputation of this brand, which, with the Made-inGermany seal, stands for high quality around the world," explained Eng Ahmed Bin Ahmed, Marine Engineer and Head of Plant at Sharjah Seaports Authority.

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Bin Ahmed commented that Sharjah Seaports Authority also listed “excellent service provided

by Terex Cranes and Al-Bahar” as further reasons

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for his company's decision to buy. The operation site of the new crane will be Sharjah Port Khalid, added Bin Ahmed.

Quarrying

Barford Equipment expands international network UK manufacturer Barford Equipment has just launched three new equipment models as it looks to expand its network.

Barford manufactures track, mobile and stationary screens, wheeled and tracked conveyors plus trailers and describes its new models as, “meeting demand from global customers for high specification and competitively priced solutions.”

The new Barford models received their first global unveiling during the summer and comprise the TR8048 Track Mounted Stockpile Conveyor; the BF7042 Tracked Mounted Bin Feeder; and the SM312, a Single Axle Mobile Double Deck Screen.

Earlier this year Barford successfully entered the US market, launching the SR-124 and the S-104, two new track mounted screener, to meet local demand.

Both were previewed at the Spring Sale in Kissimmee, Florida in February coordinated by top auctioneers Yoder & Frey and proved to be the perfect event to develop brand awareness amongst prospective distributor representatives and buyers, said the company in a statement. As a direct result it has signed up a number of Barford Equipment distributers and the objective is to have one in each US state.

“The world’s construction machinery, aggregate, quarrying and mining markets have long appreciated the equipment available unwww.cbnme.com

der the Barford banner and over recent months we have significantly expanded both the range of machines on offer as well as the global distributor base from which they can be sourced,” explained Stephen Murphy, distribution manager for the Barford product range.

“Barford is a well-known brand in the UK and across Europe, having built an enviable reputation and possessing a long and illustrious history, but it was relatively unknown in the US market; but that’s changing.”

In addition to the US, several new distributors have also been signed up in in Australia to cover both Perth and Sydney. The European

network is also undergoing expansion with new distributors being signed up in several of the key EU markets but others are still being actively sort particularly those with direct mining, aggregate, recycling and construction sector knowledge and experience.

The three new models include the TR8048 Track Mounted Stockpile Conveyor which has an 24m reach and a 48” wide belt. It also features a twin-drive discharge belt complete with hydraulic slew hubs and a Cat 2.2 turbo engine with hydraulic oil cooler and a remote control movement.

The BF7042 Tracked Mounted Bin Feeder mean-

while has a 1m-wide belt and an extended reach of 21m. Other features include a twin-drive discharge belt complete with hydraulic slew hubs and a Cat 4.4 elect automation control movement. It also ships with a ‘Mulch’ option that has an agitator attachment to break up material before it goes onto the belt) and there is a larger BF7048 Mulch variant.

Finally, the SM312 Mobile Double Deck is a single-axle mobile 3m x 1.29m Double Deck Screen complete with double drive pump to suit auxiliary, extended folding fines conveyors and incorporates a CAT 2.2 37kw engine and removable towbar.

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// NEWS

Attachments

MB showcases tech at Bauma China 2018

Italy’s attachment specialist MB showcased its 12-model range of crusher buckets at last month’s Bauma China 2018 in Shanghai.

The company demonstrated is BF120.4 crusher bucket during the event, a device that is suitable for excavator from 30t. It also allowed visitors to experience a range of other equipment including its BF90.3 crusher bucket for excavators 21t as well as the MB-L200 crusher bucket suitable for loaders, backhoes and skidsteers. It also highlighted the MB-S18 screening bucket 58

and the MB-R800 drum cutter.

The company said that it was offering a “wide range of machines extremely flexible, adaptable to every situation and jobsite condition, even the hardest. MB attachment versatility can become helpful in many important projects since they are solutions that help saving time and costs of transportation.”

MB has built a strong presence in Asian markets. In Indonesia, for example, one customer has installed a MB-S23 screening bucket on a Komatsu excavator to

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clean the alluvial rocks from sand, mud, clay, among other materials. Once cleaned, the screened material has been crushed and used for road maintenance work.

Mounted on a Cat 3360 excavator, the MB crusher bucket BF120.4 meanwhile has been used in China to crush rocks that have been reused for road construction.

In Malaysia there are about 65,000 km of roads that connect to every state. The country has commissioned exhaustive studies to identify the problems faced by contrac-

tors and delays in road construction and found that lack of materials, lack of workers, change of design, financial problems and lack of machinery are major problems.

MB claims its MB Crusher Bucket BF90.3 mounted on a Hyundai 210 LC-7 has managed to: “solve all of them.

“Materials are now outsourced at the site, one machine- one operator only is needed, excavators are easy to manoeuvre and transport around and last but not list the innovative MB Crusher Bucket is cost-effective.”

Energy sector powering crawler crane market

Research by Global Market Insights, Inc suggests the Crawler Crane Market size will reach $3 billion by 2024. Shipments are also expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% with increasing utilisation of crawler cranes in the energy sector anticipated to drive global demand.

“These machines offer heavy lifting operations at the nuclear and renewable energy sites and facilitate the operators in handling the materials efficiently. Several manufacturers have developed energy sector-specific machines that witness a high demand,” reported Global Market Insights.

“For instance, Manitowoc has launched a wind power crane, Grove GTK1100, that is used for wind turbine operations such as erection and construction. Additionally, the crawler crane market is witnessing growth opportunities due to the increasing infrastructure projects across the globe.”

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The analyst added that economic growth across the globe, especially in China, India, and Southeast Asian markets, has led to a better infrastructure demand.

“Growing building and construction spending due to a rise in per-capita disposable income along with enhanced infrastructure in Asia Pacific and Latin America will drive the crawler crane market. Growth in Latin America will be led by an increase in infrastructure spending, mainly transportation and energy, closely followed by spending on non-residential structures. The key areas of construction growth in emerging economies are social, transport, energy, defense infrastructure, and government accommodation.

High maintenance costs and initial investments are the major factors hindering the crawler crane market development but cranes below 50mt are

growing in popularity and are being utilised across various applications, which include construction, mining, oil & gas, and energy, driving the crawler crane market.

In the U.S., the market for crawler cranes below 50 metric tons is expected to grow at 6% CAGR from 2018 to 2024. For users requiring both internal and external lifting solutions to be operated in limited & restricted work areas, these cranes are an ideal option. Previously, many high-capacity cranes were used for small lifting purposes. With the usage of such low-capacity machinery, customers can save money and time by avoiding the use of higher capacity solutions or renting expensive cranes. These machines are easy to ship and transport, offer a narrow-aisle, operator-controlled crane making it easier to perform operations such as roof work and glass installations.

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// Heavy trucks

N e x t g en now Scania’s New Truck Generation hits the region

The global roll-out of Scania’s New Truck Generation began two years ago and the Swedish, Volkswagen-owned commercial vehicles and engine-maker has been racking up serious industry recognition ever since. With several awards under its bumper, now it’s the turn of Middle East buyers to snap up the former winner of the International Truck of the Year (an award which went to Ford’s also worthy F-Max at this year’s IAA event) as Scania works its way through its key markets in the region.

Car buyers are used to the next generation model of their car coming out every five or six years with a revision half-way through its life-time but trucks are expected to last for at least a decade and possibly two. While this is sensible from a fleet-owners point of view, justifying the cost and allowing them to build-up their fleets cost-effectively, it means that the truck companies rarely 60

get the opportunity to go to town with their promotion. The last two years have therefore seen Scania attempting to make the most of having the newest technology in the field by stealing a march on its rivals and showcasing a truck that, it feels, brings together the sum-total of its 127 years of knowledge of building vehicles and their engines.

It took a decade – and $2 billion euros – to design the truck range, building on the company’s philosophy of modularisation of the vehicles major components and parts to fuse them with modern fleet concerns of productivity and connectivity. Unsurprisingly, those are major themes that pop out when you scan through the blurb being pumped out in support of the truck but so is the idea of asking owners to view the truck as an “ingenious toolbox” wrapped round with products and services to aid their profitability.

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In practice, this means that whether you’re a transporter that carries materials on their long journeys from quarries to sites or an on/off-highway hauler that needs trucks that can negotiate tough undulating terrain, Scania can use its suite of options to build the truck designed specifically for your operation.

Take the cabs for example. The company is planning to offer 24 different cab models to customers providing a huge selection of possibilities when it comes to customised optimal solutions for each and every customer operation.

Need a cab that is heavily protected pick the robust XT or choose one that offers plenty of space for the long-haul, Scania can offer either option in tandem with a driveline and rig design to suit your needs. The total combinations offered by the modular design means that most needs can be met whether your focus is on interior space, fuel economy, maxi-

mum comfort or load carrying capacity.

Scania Middle East’s managing director Özcan Barmoro says that the company feels the New Truck Generation is perfect for the rapidly changing transportation sector in Gulf. He believes that fleets are focussing on fuel efficiency and total operating economy more than ever before and need optimised solutions to maximise their investment.

The company, he says, is certain that the New Truck Generation platform and the service solutions it is offering with it are ideal for the market.

“Scania’s new truck generation aims to drive the evolution of the transportation industry in line with the ambitions of the UAE National Agenda 2021. Inspired by our core value of putting customers first, global trends and challenges, this generation of trucks is designed to better meet the needs of our customers and the world we live in,” he remarked

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at the Dubai launch. “It has efficiency in both fuel economy and performance incorporated into a design inspired by the Scania heritage. Our new truck range will contribute to the ambitions of the UAE to become a sustainable nation, powered by smart technology solutions.”

The trucks themselves are stacked with new features such as the world’s first rollover side curtain airbag; the range is also stronger, safer and aerodynamically optimised. This new generation has been specifically developed for the utmost performance, says Scania, “with a pronounced focus on driver environment, interior space, safety and reliability.”

Scania is offering its tried and tested Euro 5 engine in the UAE on-board a truck range that further improves Scania’s already outstanding fuel performance. It’s also introduced a new 13-litre dedicated gas-powered engine.

Rated at 410 horsepower, the new engine complements Scania's existing 280 and 340 horsepower nine-litre dedicated gas units, suitable for both long-distance transport and construction operations.

Connectivity is also standard. Connected vehicles provide valuable insight into operating conditions, says the company, “as well as the necessary intelligence to develop vehicles for even better performance – useful insight for Scania’s continuous research and development work. Thanks to improved powertrains and better aerodynamics, the range pushes further Scania’s already outstanding fuel performance. The new generation trucks have been praised in nearly all aspects – for their powertrain, performance, comfort, braking capacity, visibility and steering.”

Thani Al Shirawi, CEO of Al Shirawi, distributor for Scania in Dubai and Northern Emirates, sayts Scania’s trucks are popular in Dubai/Northern Emirates due to their robustness and reliability, as well as the sales and aftersales service support extended 24x7 by Al Shirawi's factory-trained team.

“It enables customers to experience value of the advanced design and quality which is built ‘for the only business that matters, yours’,” says Al Shirawi.

“With the arrival of the new truck generation, Scania offers tailor-made, better solutions than ever before which is a result of a deeper understanding of our customers’ businesses. We welcome the new range of Scania trucks and are anticipating a strongly positive response from our customers.”

Fellow distributor Moeen Bin Brook, CEO of Scania’s representative in Abu Dhabi, Bin Brook Motors & Equipment LLC, adds that Scania’s focus on tailormade solutions for each application will increase uptime and the earning capacity of construction segment who have to cope with tough challenges.

“Scania products are designed for different customer applications, with the total operating economy in mind. For us in the region, especially with the new Scania XT,” said Bin Brook.

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// Vehicles

C ontinenta l s h i f ts As far back as 50 years ago, Continental was already doing ground-breaking work in preparing for the future of mobility

In 1968, tyre giant Continental’s first electronically controlled driverless car was taken to the Contidrom test track in northern Germany to determine how tyres could be tested precisely using scientific methods under programmed conditions. However, the Continental engineers were pushing the limits of what was technically possible at the time and, in a sense, were paving the way for the future of driving.

“We salute the inventive pioneering engineers who developed a driverless car five decades ago. In doing so, they achieved a significant technological milestone in our corporate history, 62

which boasts a wealth of innovations,” said Continental CEO Dr Elmar Degenhart as he honoured the accomplishments of those former Continental employees. “The driverless car of 1968 represents an ongoing common objective at Continental, then a tyre manufacturer and now a technology company, which is ensuring safe, clean and intelligent mobility in the future.”

The new systems for the driverless test vehicle were developed for Continental

by Siemens, Westinghouse and researchers at the technical universities of Munich and Darmstadt. The vehicle was guided by a wire on the road surface.

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The electronics system in the car used sensors to detect whether it was still on track and automatically adjusted the steering accordingly, enabling precision electronic control.

In the Mercedes-Benz 250 Automatic (also known as the “Stroke Eight”), Continental engineers installed a range of equipment including electro-mechanical steering, an electro-mechanical throttle regulator and a radio system for reporting measurements – cutting-edge technology at the time. In addition, the bumpers were adorned with an array of antennas, with the control electronics and an electro-pneumatic braking sys-

// Vehicles

Beating the heat Tyre giant Continental says it’s new Port Plus compound for V.ply tyres boost its extensive portfolio of port tyres engineered to meet the safety standards, weather, road, payload and driving requirements in the Middle East.

One of the causes of tyre failure in this region is the build-up of heat in tyres due to lack of maintenance. Ambient temperatures in the region often exceed 45°C in the summer, increasing wear and reducing durability of standard tyres. The Port Plus compound is a composite that reduces heat generation and abrasion, the two primary causes of tyre wear, to significantly extend tyre life, the company claims.

“Continental are always looking at ways to innovate technologies and improve safety standards for our customers,” said Jose Luis de la Fuente, managing director of Continental Middle East. “In the Middle East, over half of measured trucks and trailers are underinflated, resulting in road safety risks and unpredictable costs for fleets. We believe that the new port radial tyres coming to the region next year, combined with our new digital technology, ContiPressureCheck and ContiConnect, will contribute to enhancing tyre safety in the Middle East.”

Overall, Continental says its radial tyre portfolio will be available with integrated tyre sensor in preparation for its digital solutions ContiPressureCheck and ContiConnect which will be launched in the region mid-2019.

tem housed in the trunk. Right from the very first driverless vehicle at Continental, development activities were focused on safety in the event of an accident.

Via the wire to the car, the control station next to the test track sent commands telling it to brake, accelerate or sound the horn, with the aim of ruling 64

out the possibility of human influence resulted in a considerable increase in the accuracy of the measurements.

The engineers recorded the car losing the wire and come to a halt. Engineers also placed a sheet of glass built into the track and placed a high-speed camera underneath that was capable of taking

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10,000 photographs per second. The goal was to see how the blocks in the tread behaved when the car was in motion.

At numerous events between 1968 and 1974, the driverless e-car was one of the main attractions for visitors to the Contidrom. Despite all the innovations, the objective of the automated vehicle

The engineers were pushing the limits of what was technically possible at the time and, in a sense, were paving the way for the future of driving� test for tyre development was not yet achievable at that time.

Following numerous modifications and thousands of test runs, the Mercedes Benz 250 Automatic was decommissioned in 1974. It continues to reel off laps on the Internet.

Continental’s goal is seamless, autowww.cbnme.com

mated mobility without accidents in all variations. To that end, the technology company is currently working on getting highly automated driving ready for production and, at the same time, on the systems necessary to enable fully automated driving on the autobahn by 2025.

Highly automated autobahn driving in

itself is designed to allow car drivers to temporarily focus their minds on activities other than driving.

Continental also believes in autonomous driving. The technology company is testing components and systems for driverless robo-taxis in cities with its Continental Urban Mobility Experience (CUbE) test platform. At the same time, Continental is already pursuing the concept of developing vehicle systems for autonomous vehicle fleets in the distant future. If Continental’s plans come to fruition, the BEE (Balanced Economy and Ecology mobility concept) will one day form a swarm of autonomous vehicles of various sizes and configurations, all powered by electricity.

Fifty years after the e-car blazed a trail at the Contidrom, Continental is now working on the next generation of test systems for reliable, efficient and reproducible tyre tests in real-life conditions.

The new driverless tyre test vehicle for the test facility in the USA has been adapted to suit the requirements of the tyre test on the basis of the Cruising Chauffeur system developed for highways by Continental. Whereas with the Cruising Chauffeur, development has focused primarily on assisting the driver with automated driving on autobahn routes. The tyre test vehicles are designed to drive autonomously along the test track. The medium-term plan is for multiple autonomous vehicles to cruise around the track at the same time, all monitored from a control centre. The main goal is the optimised endurance test on the different test tracks.

These days, in scorching heat and extreme environmental conditions, test drivers have to pilot the vehicles hundreds of miles to identify potential weaknesses in new tyre designs and rubber compounds. Thanks to automation and the ability to control vehicles down to the very last detail, not only should it be easier to compare results, but it should also be possible to optimise the way in which the vehicles drive on the track and thereby to minimise wear on the track itself.

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GRI China-Brazil Infrastructure Summit SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil The GRI China-Brazil Infrastructure Summit, organized by the Global Real Estate Institute will take place from 5th December to 6th December 2018 in SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil. The conference will cover areas like airports, energy (generation, transmission, distribution and marketing), railways, waterways, social infrastructure, urban mobility, ports, roads, sanitation and waste and much more.

The Construction Super Conference Las Vegas, USA The Construction Super Conference, organized by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will take place from 10th December to the 12th December 2018 at Encore in Las Vegas, USA. The conference will cover areas like The Conference Will Showcase Many Notable And Expert In-House And Outside Construction Counselors And Consultants Who Will Take Up The Many Challenges Of Advising Construction Industry Participants In A Challenging Economy.

// construction business news me // December 2018

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13-16

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Taipei Building Show Taipei, Taiwan Taipei Building Show really is a special Trade Show, Fair and Exhibition which will cover the topics of Building, Building Industry, Business, Construction, Interior Design and Decoration and far more.

International Conference on Civil and Architectural Engineering Istanbul, Turkey The International Conference on Civil and Architectural Engineering goal is to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working in and around the world.

The conference will be held every year to make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in Civil and Architectural Engineering related areas.

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