MAY 2020
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
SERENE LUXURY Nicholas Naples, Chief Executive Officer, AMAALA, talks to CBNME about the latest developments around AMAALA and why this project is unique
A MEMBERS OF EMIRATES TRANSPORT BUSINESS CENTERS:
CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Director
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Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net
MAY 2020 // ISSUE #63
Group Publishing Director Joaquim D'Costa
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jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706
Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818
Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net
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NEWS EXPERT INSIGHT TALKING POINT COVER STORY OPINION PROJECT BUSINESS CONNECT
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Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net Marketing Executive Aaron Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net
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// EDITOR'S NOTE
EDITOR’S NOTE ABU DHABI REAL ESTATE MARKET Abu Dhabi’s real estate market witnessed marginal declines in both values and rents during Q1. This was buoyed however by a 22% increase in transactions and mortgage values to AED19.2 billion, according to the latest research from the Chestertons’ Observer: Abu Dhabi Market Report Q1 2020. Off-plan sales in some of the capitals most sought after locations, including Al Reem Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Reef collectively accounted for over half of the
total transaction value. A range of favourable developer-led off-plan payment options, and the more recent revival of rentto-own schemes, have piqued the interest of potential buyers. Overall, the capital’s real estate market continued to see declines in both values and rents, although at a slower pace. Average apartment sales prices declined by 1.2% and villas by 1.8% Q-on-Q. In the rental market, apartments witnessed decline of 1%, while villas fell by just 0.6% in Q1.
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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Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net
اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻓﻲ دﻳﺮة إﻛﺘﺸــــﻒ ﻣﺘﻌﺔ اﻟﻌﻴﺶ اﻟﺠﺪﻳــــــــﺪة
إﻧﻀــﻢ اﻟـــﻰ اﻟﺤﻴـــﺎة ﻓـــﻲ دﻳــﺮة، ﻗﻠﺐ دﺑــﻲ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
DEIRA LIVES EXPERIENCE THE URBAN REJUVENATION JOIN THE DEIRA COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF THE DUBAI TRADING HUB
ﻟﻺﺳﺘﻔﺴــﺎر
FOR ENQUIRIES
ﻣﺎرﻛﺔ اﻟﻮاﺟﻬﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﺮﻳﺔ WATERFRONT MARKET
ﺑﻮر راﺷﺪ
CO
ﻣﺸﺮوع إﺛﺮاء دﻳﺮة
اﻟﻤﺮﺣﻠﺔ اﻻوﻟﻰ
DEIRA ENRICHMENT PROJECT
PHASE ONE
HE
IC
RN
PORT RASHID
IRA DE
T AT CY HY EN G RE ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻟﻠﺤﺎﻓﻼت BUS STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو ﺑﺎﻟﻢ دﻳﺮة
PALM DEIRA METRO STATION
ﺳﻮق دﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﺬﻫﺐ
DUBAI GOLD SOUK DUBAI AIRPORT
ﻣﻮﻗﻒ ﺣﺎﻓﻼت اﻟﺼﺨﺒﺔ
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﺮاس
AL RAS METRO STATION
AL SABKHA BUS STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﺳﻮق اﻟﺬﻫﺐ اﻟﻘﺪﻳﻢ
DEIRA OLD SOUK STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﻐﺒﻴﺒﺔ
اﻟﺼﺨﺒﺔ
AL GUBAIBA METRO STATION
AL SABKHA
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﺑﻨﻴﺎس ﻟﻠﻨﻘﻞ اﻟﺒﺤﺮي BANIYAS MARINE TRANSPORT
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﻔﻬﻴﺪي DU
BA
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IR
PO
EK
RE
IC
BA
DU
AL FAHIDI METRO STATION
RT
.اﺣﺠــﺰ ﻣﻜﺘﺒــﻚ أو وﺣﺪﺗـﻚ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳـــﺔ اﻟﻴـــﻮم ﻓـــــﻲ ﻗﻠـﺐ دﻳﺮة اﻟﻨﺎﺑـﺾ .ﻣﺴﺎﺣــﺎت ﻣﺘﻌﺪدة ﻣﺘﻮﻓـﺮة ﺑﺸﺮوط ﻣﻴﺴـــﺮة RESERVE YOUR OFFICE OR RETAIL UNIT TODAY IN THE HEART OF DEIRA. MANY SIZES AVAILABLE AT GOOD TERMS. 04 605 3000 اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﻨﺎ اﻟﻴﻮم ﻗﺒﻞ ﻧﻔﺎذ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﺣﺎت اﻟﻤﻄﺮوﺣﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﺄﺟﻴﺮ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ
أو ﺗﻔﻀﻞ ﺑﺰﻳﺎرة ﻣﻮﻗﻌﻨﺎ اﻹﻟﻜﺘﺮوﻧﻲ ﻟﺘﺴﺠﻴﻞ اﻫﺘﻤﺎﻣﻚ
CALL US ON 04 605 3000 BEFORE LEASING SPACES RUN OUT OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
www.deiraenrichmentproject.com leasing@ithradubai.com KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
ﻣﻌﺎﻟﻢ اﻟﻤﺸﺮوع اﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴ ّﻴﺔ
POPULATION 30,000+
40 + RESTAURANTS
OFFICES GFA 721,182 FT2
2 METRO STATIONS
8,000+ PARKING SPACES
30,000+ ﺗﻌﺪاد اﻟﺴﻜﺎن
ﻣﻄﻌـــﻢ٤٠ +
إﺟﻤﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺔ اﻟﻤﻜﺎﺗﺐ ٢ ﻗﺪم٧٢١،١٨٢
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺘـــﺮو٢
ﻣﻮ ﻗﻒ ﻟﻠﺴﻴﺎرات٨,٠٠٠ +
RETAIL GFA 834,203 FT2
700+ SHOPS
ﻣﺘﺠﺮ٧٠٠ +
NEW EXTENSION TO THE GOLD SOUK
1,450 HOTEL ROOMS, 8 PROPERTIES
VERTICAL STORAGE
إﺟﻤﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺔ ﻣﺘﺎﺟﺮ اﻟﺒﻴﻊ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﺠﺰﺋﺔ ٢ ﻗﺪم٨٣٤،٢٠٣
إ ﻣﺘﺪاد ﺟـﺪﻳﺪ ﻟﺴﻮق اﻟﺬﻫﺐ
ﻣﺒﺎﻧﻲ٨ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﻓﻨﺪﻗﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ١،٤٥٠
ﻣﺨـــﺎزن ﻋﻤﻮدﻳﺔ
.إن اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣــــﺎت واﻟﻤـــﻮاد اﻟــــﻮاردة ﻫﻨﺎ ﺑﻤــــﺎ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ اﻟﻨﺼــــﻮص أو اﻟﺮﺳﻮﻣــــــﺎت أو ﻏﻴﺮﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻨﺎﺻـــــﺮ " أﻋــــــﻼه" ﺧﺎﺿﻌـــــﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﻐﻴﻴـــــﺮ The information and materials contained herein including text, graphics or other items are provided “as is” and subject to change.
COVER THE CITY
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CONTRACTS
ETIHAD RAIL AWARDS AED 846mn CONTRACT FOR O&M FACILITY AT AL FAYA
Etihad Rail board members confirmed that the O&M facility in Al Faya contract, valued at AED 864m, had been awarded to a joint venture led by VINCI Construction France, in line with the company’s future strategy to provide a railway network that supports and strengthens the long-term growth of the national economy. The decisions was made at a remote meeting chaired by H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Exec14
utive Council, and Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court. During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Theyab also carried out a virtual visit of the construction site in Saih Sheib region, and launched the civil works on Package B of Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway network project, which is developed and operated by Etihad Rail with the aim of placing the United Arab Emirates among the best
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countries in the world in terms of transport quality. Package B extends over 216 km and includes the construction of a second concrete railway sleeper factory and rail routes to Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), Khalifa Port, and the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD). Etihad Rail has now awarded all civil works and construction contracts for Stage Two of the national railway network. The com-
pany has also launched construction on Package A of Stage Two, signed a contract for the construction of a series of Freight Facilities centres, and awarded a contract for the supply of locomotives to expand the company’s fleet to 45, underlining the fact that Etihad Rail is progressing at a strong and steady pace towards completing one of the largest and most important infrastructural projects in the UAE.
DIGITALISATION
ELTIZAM ONE OF FIRST COMPANIES IN REGION TO IMPLEMENT NEXT-GEN ERP SAP S/4HANA
Eltizam announced the implementation of the intelligent enterprise resource planning (ERP) system SAP S/4HANA, with an aim to transform and streamline the company’s core back-end operations such as finance, human resources, and procurement to keep up with the changing digital economy. As part of its USD 5mn technology investment program, the next-generation ERP equips Eltizam with enhanced process automation, increased mobile caWWW.CBNME.COM
pability, productivity and flexibility, and real-time analysis of business data at lower cost of ownership. Through the implementation of the solution, Eltizam will be able to benefit from the platform’s ability to seamlessly enable operations and facilitate business growth by providing realtime analytics of large volumes of data, using built-in HANA Analytics. In addition, it prepares companies for future development and
integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). The ERP software package SAP S/4HANA covers all Eltizam’s core back-end operations, such as order-to-cash, procureto-pay, plan-to-product, and request-to-service and other core capabilities. Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam Asset Management Group, said: “Eltizam remains keen to drive digi-
tal transformation across various operational areas of the organization to enhance efficiency. Adoption of technological advancements have become so important, both for individuals and corporations, in order to fully benefit from the advantages of digitization. Eltizam remains committed to staying ahead of the curve by investing in, and adopting the latest industry technologies to work better, faster and ensure customer satisfaction. Furthermore, technology is one of the six important pillars of our company’s culture, which we call ‘Get Wonky.’” “We look forward to reaping the benefits of SAP S/4HANA platform – from sales transactions to complex analytical applications – which is also set to significantly increase our productivity and enhance the services that are being offered to our clients. Apart from improved customer experience and productivity, the speed of SAP S/4HANA cloud will help our business arrive at better, more informed decisions thanks to its capability to process data in real-time. We are already seeing benefits of SAP S/4 HANA in allowing our teams to work remotely, with full system capabilities, which is critical during the current challenges posed by the COVID 19 virus.” added Roberts.
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// NEWS
DIGITAL
URBAN LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND DIGITAL DASHBOARD FOR LANDLORDS
As COVID-19 keeps the UAE under lockdown, it has also spurred digital transformation and innovation across sectors, with Urban launching a digital Landlord Dashboard, empowering landlords to track performance of their properties, store documents and manage payments – all in one place. Unlike other services in the market which focus on a single aspect of the rental cycle, Urban’s landlord dashboard is the first of its kind to provide data analytics across the entire rental journey to help landlords make better informed rent16
al decisions and achieve optimal asset performance, from the moment a property is listed to property management. Commenting on the launch, Rashid Al Ghurair, CEO and founder of Urban said: “In the current Covid-19 environment, our Landlord Dashboard empowers landlords to make better informed rental decisions predicated on data-led insights, resulting in higher occupancy rates, optimal asset performance and greater returns. Landlords need to actively manage their portfolios and our digital rental
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solution ensures that for the first time they have clear visibility on their portfolio and the tenant market rather than taking a stab in the dark on letting, pricing and management.” Urban’s one-stop platform includes real-time analytics on the landlord’s portfolio, such as the number of visits per property, data-driven pricing information on offers received, and calculations on rental yields and return on investment. In the near future, Urban plans to introduce an additional feature that will allow landlords to make data compari-
sons with aggregated market data on property types, rental levels and locations. The pioneering digital rental solution comes at a time when the novel coronavirus pandemic has created an urgent need for a tool that accommodates landlords and tenants equally to achieve their goals. Renters are still on the hunt for homes and taking the journey online in terms of viewings, negotiations and payments, while landlords need to innovate to market their properties in ways that are safe and accessible.
DIGITAL
IKEA LAUNCHES ONLINE HOME PLANNING & INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES
With the extra hours everyone is spending at home, now could be the right time to revamp your space. Want to add more colourful touches to your living room, get your bedroom more organised or even make more space in your kitchen? IKEA has got you covered with its recently launched online home planning & interior design services. IKEA consultants will help you create the perfect room setting and choose the right product design that suits your needs and meets your style. The platform offers free digital consultation from IKEA’s experts for kitchen, wardrobe, and storWWW.CBNME.COM
age space planning. Meanwhile, the Interior design services start at AED250 and will let you to have a oneon-one conversation with a professional to help you make your perfect home. All you need to do is visit the IKEA website or call to book a one-on-one appointment with one of the designers, which you can do from the comfort of your home. IKEA’s priority is always the health and safety of its employees and customers and during this critical time it is taking all necessary health precautions as advised by the World Health Organisation to ensure everyone’s well-being is safeguarded.
COVID-19
ACWA POWER AND THABAT TO BUILD A FULLY EQUIPPED 100-BED MOBILE HOSPITAL ACWA Power has signed an agreement with THABAT to build an integrated mobile hospital with a 100 bed capacity, fully resourced with the medical equipment and supplies needed to treat COVID-19 cases – the hospital will provide comprehensive healthcare services and aid in handling the pandemic. The agreement was concluded under the patronage, and in presence of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy; HE Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Health; and Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power. The signing was executed by Thamer Al Sharhan, representing ACWA Power, and Essam Al Muhaidib, representing THABAT. Commenting on the agreement, Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, said: “I would like to extend my deep appreciation to HRH Abdulaziz bin Salman
bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, for his kind support in enabling us to implement our initiative to build a mobile hospital for combatting the spread of COVID-19. This initiative is part of the efforts driven by the national energy sector to address the crisis in our beloved Kingdom”. The new hospital will be fully dedicated to caring for COVID-19 patients. It comes as part of ACWA Power’s commitment to reinforcing the efforts of the Saudi energy sector to enhance prevention actions taken by the Saudi Ministry of Health during these times. As per the agreement, ACWA Power will utilize its extensive expertise and capabilities in the swift implementation and delivery of projects that require the highest standards of safety and security. Upon completion of construction within 70 days, the assets and contracts will be handed over to the Ministry of Health.
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// NEWS
PROJECTS
FUGRO AWARDED CAIRO MONORAIL MEGAPROJECT SITE CHARACTERISATION CONTRACT COVID-19
DUBAI LABOUR AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DELIVERS COVID-19 AWARENESS GUIDELINES FOR WORKERS The National Authority for Tunnels represented via the Arab Contractors has awarded Fugro a geophysical and geotechnical investigation contract for the second phase of the Cairo Monorail megaproject. The megaproject involves the construction of two monorail lines that will create the first public transport links from both Egypt’s as-yet unnamed new administrative capital (NAC) and 6th of October City to the Greater Cairo area. Drawing on their unique expertise and capabilities in land site investigation in Egypt, Fugro plans to deploy up to 15 geotechnical drilling rigs along the 43 km line that will connect 6th of Octo18
ber City to Giza via 12 new stations, demonstrating the size of the scope of work required. The advanced testing on the soil samples will take place in Fugro’s IAS-accredited laboratory in Cairo. The Cairo Monorail contract is Fugro’s second largescale urban project in Egypt and solidifies Fugro’s commitment to strengthening its Egyptian capabilities. “We are constantly striving to improve our service offering and deliver a comprehensive range of site investigation services that allow our clients to forge ahead with the design and construction of their strategic projects,“ said Mohamed Mostafa, Business Line Director for Land Site Characterisation at Fugro.
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Dubai’s Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs, PCLA, has distributed COVID-19 awareness guides to workers, drivers and accommodation supervisors, across 500 companies in the emirate. The guidelines are part of the PCLA’s efforts to conduct awareness campaigns and initiatives on safety and preventative measures undertaken to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a statement by the PCLA, this latest campaign targeted companies across the Emirate of Dubai, labour accommodation sites and workplaces, to ensure their health and safety, and raising understanding and awareness on COVID-19 health risks, and means to prevent the spread
of infection. PLCA teams carried out field visits to workers at their accommodation beginning 15th March 2020, providing individuals with educational materials and guides on preventative measures to protect themselves against coronavirus, and to ensure that they are familiar with health and safety regulations. Guidelines and pamphlets were distributed in various languages, including Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and English, in a bid to encourage individuals to commit to hygienic practices and preventative measures in dealing with the pandemic. Hygiene kits were also provided to the workers residing in the accommodation buildings.
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// NEWS
COVID-19
PH REAL ESTATE BROKERS OFFERS FREE SERVICES DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK FOR FRONTLINE DOCTORS AND NURSES
PH Real Estate brokers is reacting to the ongoing pandemic with the offer of support, advice and free services. Established in 2008, the leading broker is offering free Ejari registration to help lighten the greater financial burden experienced by most of us this year. 20
PH Real Estate is also offering free tenancy contract renewal to further help ease the stresses and strains for frontline doctors and nurses in Dubai. Despite the extraordinary era, PH Real Estate is pragmatic and prepared to continue driving its success in these troubled times.
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Managing Director Nick Grassick says: “We are speaking to tenants where we manage their properties and tenants who are considering moving but are now looking to re-negotiate their existing rent. During these troubled times we are able to double check with the
property owners and negotiate a rental payment hiatus or renegotiate the entire rent for the upcoming term. “There are a variety of ways in which our sales, leasing and property management teams can help you – so reach out today if you need help.”
// EXPERT INSIGHT
DRIVING SMART CONSTRUCTION FORWARD Ammar Kaka, Provost at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, tell us how Industry and Academia Can Come Together to Drive Smart Construction in the Middle East
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Shortly after I took up the professorial appointment at Heriot-Watt University in October 2000, I gave my inaugural speech which highlighted some of the major challenges facing the construction industry; low productivity and profitability when compared to other manufacturing industries, vast amounts of carbon emission attributed to the construction and occupancy of built assets, in addition to reputational challenges as a result of frequent delays, cost overruns, health and safety and workers’ welfare in general. I strongly believed that for the industry to make a step change, collaboration and partnering were necessary. Today the productivity gap has widened – industries such as automobile, shipping and aerospace have managed to double their productivity rates owing to their adoption of technology. By contrast, construction productivity remained static at best and carbon emissions reached unprecedented levels. Yet, demand for construction will continue to rise. Around the world, 200,000 people a day are migrating to urban areas, requiring significantly more shelter and infrastructure. A report by ReportLinker states the conWWW.CBNME.COM
struction industry in the Middle East & Africa alone is expected to reach USD 822.1 billion by 2024. Digital transformation is therefore the way to go. It calls for a shift in mindset, requires project teams to collaborate, enables transparency and more. It also requires joint investment in research and development. By embedding digital technology into design, construction and occupancy of built infrastructures, we can ensure that customers get value for money and be willing to pay for it. Both clear vision and implementation are both needed, and these must be led by people who understand both the technology and the industry. In other words, R&D must come together with the appropriate talent to take this forward. Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC) is one such joint initiative by industry and academia set up with the sole purpose of driving digital transformation in the construction industry. Industry possess the context and practical experience, but most importantly they are also the ones with the challenges for which they are seeking solutions.
They seek competitive advantage which could limit collaborative research and knowledge exchange. Academia on the other hand, employ and have access to talent with significant expertise in specific disciplines as well as experience in undertaking novel research and advancing knowledge. However, there is also a gap between the two in some ways – industry wants quick solutions and academics prefer new approaches that advance knowledge. CESC therefore fills this gap perfectly. Industry partnership succeeds only when both parties have a shared goal. In this case, CESC will do this by undertaking research aligned to the needs of industry and underpinned by leading academics at our global campuses. It also builds required skillsets in the construction industry – several partners are employers of our graduates, and this linkage with industry helps students learn and grow. This, in turn, also provides industry with access to talent. And finally, CESC can support the government in the development of innovative policies and legislation for the benefit of all stakeholders in the construction sector.
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// TALKING POINT
ENERGY RETROFITTING By Chris Aird, Director, JLL Improving the energy performance of existing buildings may not be the highest profile trend in the UAE real estate sector right now, but I would argue it is one of the most important. Similarly, the work the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) is doing to create an operational energy rating system for existing buildings, may be one of Dubai’s best kept secrets. There is a recognition that more needs to be done to improve the en24
ergy efficiency of buildings in the UAE. It is estimated that around 40% of the world’s carbon emissions emanate from buildings (and construction thereof) and this figure would be higher in the UAE given its dependence upon air conditioning for much of the year. Recognizing the problem, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy is targeting a 30% reduction in emissions from real estate by 2030. While there has been much discus-
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sion on how to improve energy ratings in new buildings (e.g. Abu Dhabi’s Estidama program), there has to date been far less focus on improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings. This gap is counterproductive given the fact that the vast majority of buildings in the UAE are existing and not new. With the exception of residential villas, we estimate there are around 30,000-35,000 existing buildings in the UAE, compared to just 3,500-4,000
that are added to the stock each year. In other words, if the energy council targets are to have any chance of being met, far more attention needs to be given to the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Against this background, it is good to see that RSB continues to make good progress behind the scenes in establishing an operational energy rating system for existing buildings. The rating system analyses actual data from a range of existing residential, hospitality and commercial buildings, and assesses this against the most suitable benchmark data for that type, size and activity of building. It will then apply a rating to that building against preset criteria, allowing both owners and tenants to benchmark their space against their competitive set. Owners of poorly ranked buildings will then be able to identify areas in which they need to invest to increase the efficiency of their assets to an acceptable level. This may require modifications to the building’s energy infrastructure to bring it in line with current best practice standards. Data has been collected on around 175 apartment buildings, 69 office buildings and 50 hotels across Dubai. This data will allow the RSB to set rating thresholds (an essential starting point for the future rating system). The next stage of the process will involve the selection of a number of pilot buildings where the rating schemes and processes will be tested more fully, allowing any necessary modifications to be made to the initial rating assessment. The launch of the pilot phase of the project is currently scheduled for Q4 2020, but this deadline looks unlikely to be met, due to additional modifications, tweaking and adjusting of the software taking longer than expected. We would envisage this assessment method being launched in its full capacity to the market in Q3 2021, with the results of the initial tests being available very soon afterwards. The resulting energy assessment WWW.CBNME.COM
Chris Aird, director, JLL
applications are likely to be one of the most important software tools available to existing building owners in the next ten years. To maximize the benefits of these tools (and reduce overall energy consumption) far more building owners must come to recognize the importance of improving the energy efficiency of existing building. There are multiple methods being applied to help owners tackle the inefficiencies of existing buildings, with some contractors offering to undertake energy retrofits for building owners with zero upfront investment required, on the basis of a shared savings scheme contract which typically last 5-7 years depending on the level of retro fit needed. The benefit of the proposed energy efficiency improvements are not confined to meeting environmental targets. There are also clear financial benefits for individual building owners and tenants. In an increasingly competitive
and oversupplied market, where tenants are ever more concerned about energy efficiency (for both moral and financial reasons), owners run the risk of losing tenants to more energy efficient buildings. The creation of a transparent and widely publicized operational energy rating system is an essential prerequisite for demonstrating that a building is more energy efficient than its competitors. Owners should therefore be doing all they can to support the work of the RSB and ensure that the resulting operational energy rating system is completed and applied without further delays. Tenants will also benefit from access to information on the energy efficiency of alternative premises. Not only will this information help them reduce their energy bills but will also contribute to a more employee pleasing work environment, a major objective of most occupiers.
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// COVER STORY
SERENE LUXURY Nicholas Naples, Chief Executive Officer, AMAALA, talks to CBNME about the latest developments around AMAALA and why this project is unique 26
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OVERVIEW OF AMAALA AMAALA is an exclusive offering, set within the Prince Mohammad bin Salman Natural Reserve, which epitomises serene luxury. AMAALA seeks to strike an emotional chord with guests, crafting a comfortable, relaxed, and unhurried atmosphere, that touches upon the senses, attracting both regional and international visitors. Built with sustainability at its core, AMAALA’s trio of communities – Triple Bay, The Coastal Development and the Island – will represent three different sets of experiences for visitors. • Triple Bay will be the world’s most comprehensive wellness retreat supported by top-tier luxury medical
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and integrative wellness resorts, and numerous recreational activities. Triple Bay will also be home to a sports performance academy, an equestrian resort and polo academy and world-class sports facilities including golf, tennis, equestrian, polo, camel and falconry • The Coastal Development will be home to leading arts and cultural events, and feature a cultural district comprised of a museum of contemporary art, a film festival venue, performing arts venues and a biennale park • The Island will become one of the world’s most exclusive enclaves, offering exquisitely designed Arabic botanical gardens showcasing works
of art, sculptures and breath-taking landscapes, surrounding beautifully appointed private residences Starting with Triple Bay, we aim to have the entire project completed ahead of the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030. UNIQUENESS OF AMAALA First and foremost, it is a fresh, new concept – not just in Saudi Arabia but within the region. AMAALA will be a one-of-a-kind destination serviced by its own airport, with state-of-the-art housing, sporting, yachting, and diving facilities. Each community within the AMAALA fold will represent worldclass standards in innovation, design,
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// COVER STORY
and service delivery. Secondly, as part of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman Natural Reserve, we are set amidst a rich biosphere. Maintaining the integrity of our surroundings is critical to the project, with sustainability underpinning our design as well as our operations. Sustainability has never been incorporated on a project of this scale before - existing properties’ sustainability aspirations largely involve playing catch up to balance offsets, but AMAALA will be meeting these standards from the ground up, creating a coastal oasis that elevates the role of responsible tourism globally. SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is one of the cornerstones of AMAALA and given the scale of the project, we have been diligent and meticulous in embedding sustainable practices into our design, operations, and overall culture. We have been net carbon neutral from day one of our operations. We have about fifteen criteria for sustainability, covering everything from the use of full solar fields to waste management and recycling. An example of this is the plans for water production: there will be a dedicated desalination plant that has zero impact on the coral reefs. All wastewater will be treated and reused in agriculture, while all organic waste will be used in agriculture, including Triple Bay’s organic farm. Only biodegradable materials will be used within the resort, while energy requirements will be met by using renewable sources, with the entire AMAALA development having a zero-carbon footprint. FEATURES OF THE COMMUNITIES Our three communities were conceived following extensive market research into our target clientele and what was important to them, i.e., Arts & Culture; Wellness & Sports; and Sun, 28
Sea & Lifestyle; all rooted in philanthropy. Triple Bay will represent the world’s most exclusive wellness retreat. Here, guests will be able to immerse themselves in a fully holistic wellness retreat, featuring state-of-the-art diagnostic medical facilities, and authentic treatments designed to reflect the local environment. The Costal Development will cater to the arts and culture aficionado, featuring contemporary art museums and a cultural district. Last but not the least, The Island will function as a haven offering exquisitely
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designed Arabian botanical gardens showcasing works of art, sculptures and breath-taking landscapes, all surrounding elegant private villas. As with any project of this scale, development will be rolled-out in key phases. With the Master Plan approved by our Board of Directors, an extensive feasibility has just been completed, with contractors already on-the-ground conducting the necessary assessments and ground works. Starting with Triple Bay, we aim to have the entire project completed ahead of the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030.
Nicholas Naples, Chief Executive Officer, AMAALA
specialised in hospitality to provide a bespoke experience for guests.
TOURISM BOOM The tourism sector is one of the most promising parts of the Kingdom’s diversification efforts and AMAALA is part of the drive towards advancing the tourism sector and attracting 22.1 million international visitors by 2051. A transformative idea, AMAALA is a new project on situated on the Red Sea, , which aims to establish a unique tourism ecosystem, in support of the kingdom’s economic diversification and the creation of high-value job opportunities. WWW.CBNME.COM
Within the Kingdom’s growing tourism portfolio, AMAALA has carved out a unique positioning, catering to those select travellers looking for innovative experiential escapes, individually crafted to the needs of each guest. Featuring over 2,500 hotel keys and 700 residential villas, AMAALA opens numerous opportunities for tourism and as well as the real estate sectors. From apartments to estate homes to high end retail establishments, we will partner with private sector companies, worldclass operators and market investors
REAL ESTATE IMPACT Through the development of communities built to the highest international standards, we are creating an active pipeline of projects for the real estate and construction industries. Spanning 4,155 sq.kms in area across land and ocean, this development will be helmed by world-class architects, elevating the calibre of both sectors within the nation. Foster + Partners have been appointed as the executive architect for the masterplan, international design firm HKS Architects have been appointed as master planners for Triple Bay, and The Coastal Development while Denniston, led by internationally renowned multi-awardwinning French-Belgian architect, Jean-Michel Gathy, will be master planners of The Island. The project will also act as a key driver of Vision 2030’s objectives, cultivating investment opportunities, supporting economic growth with a focus on the development of new economies, driving employment in new economic sectors such as wellness, healthy living and sports, art and culture; and sea, sun, and lifestyle.
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// OPINION
BLOCKCHAIN IN CONSTRUCTION “Huge strides have been made in digitising the construction industry already, but an uptake in blockchain technology is poised to be a game-changer in the built environment.” says Andrew Skudder, CEO of CCS
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The fourth industrial revolution and the paradigm-shifting effect it will have on all industries has been a hot topic for years. While there have certainly been skeptics, some of the digital technologies that have emerged promise to unlock profound efficiencies, transparency and competitiveness. Huge strides have been made in digitising and transforming the construction industry already, but an uptake in blockchain technology is poised to be a game-changer in the built environment. UNDERSTANDING BLOCKCHAIN Blockchain shot to prominence through Bitcoin, as it is the platform that enables the crypto currency. However, innovators have found creative ways to leverage the powerful potential of blockchain in various industries.At its simplest level, blockchain is a distributed ledger, or database, on multiple computers at the same time. It grows continuously as new blocks are added, and each new block contains a timestamp and link to the previous – hence the second part of the name: chain.
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In essence, blockchain can enable a registry and a sequence of smart contracts that are all traceable and almost impossible to manipulate because of the distributed nature of the infrastructure. POTENTIAL PARADIGM SHIFT In the construction context, it could well represent a paradigm shift by unlocking immense efficiency in aspects such as contract processing and payments, as well as supply chain management. Smart contracts represent a fundamental shift for the industry. Automated contracts reduce the necessity for intermediaries, who would have to be paid. The system of smart contracts, built into the blockchain, will automatically enforce the rules such as regulations, deliverables or penalties. Besides the efficiency, the real-time nature means discrepancies or anomalies will be flagged much earlier and disputes resolved faster. In terms of payments, blockchain enables streamlined moving of money and enhanced security, with traceable transactions.
TRACEABILITY OF MATERIALS Another exciting use is in supply chain management. Here, traceability of materials is paramount. For example, in boiler manufacturing - where the steel and welding material used is critical to meet performance and quality standards - these materials need to be traced from source to application. The blockchain provides an interesting tool to manage, trace and pay all along the supply chain. Beyond enhanced efficiency, it can help improve transparency, which keeps all parties abreast of projects in real-time and mitigates against potential oversight. Merged with Building Information Modelling (BIM), blockchain is poised to take construction a few more leaps forward into the digital age. Ultimately, technology’s promise is to improve every aspect of a business and industry, and in this case the potential blockchain has to fundamentally improve construction across the entire value chain is very exciting.
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// PROJECT
AL MAHSAMMA PROJECT Egypt builds the world’s biggest agricultural drainage treatment, recycling and reuse plant. The project is developed by Metito-Hassan Allam joint venture
H.E President AbdelFattah El Sisi has officially inaugurated Al Mahsamma agricultural drainage treatment, recycling and reuse plant in Ismailia Governorate today. The project has a capacity of 1 million m3/day and is built in an area of 42,000 m2, making Al Mahsamma the largest plant of its kind in the world. The project worth USD100 million has been developed by the joint venture (JV) comprised of Metito, the multinational global provider of intelligent water management and alternative energy solutions, and Hassan Allam 32
Construction, Egypt’s leading engineering, construction and infrastructure company, under the supervision of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. The JV scope of work for this flagship project includes the engineering, construction, operations (EC&O), commissioning and operation and maintenance (O&M) for a period of five years. Al Mahsamma is part of Egypt’s progressive and multipronged approach to ensure the country’s water security through wastewater treatment, desalination, and preservation of natural water
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resources. The plant’s daily capacity will contribute to the conservation of the natural ecology of the Al Temsah Lake, located west of the Suez Canal, which has been impacted by wastewater disposal. Commenting on the official inauguration of Al Mahsamma plant, Eng. Karim Madwar, Managing Director at Metito Africa said: “Metito is honored to play its part in this world-class mega national project located in the highly strategic east of the Suez Canal area. In this project, we make use of the latest
technologies for the treatment of agricultural drainage to produce suitable water for irrigation and land reclamation, following the highest quality standard and specs set by the Egyptian government.” Madwar also highlighted Metito’s commitment to utilize state-of-the-art technology and systems across its projects and in the various stages of water treatment, coupled with the integration of advanced digital and information technology. The IT system used aims to monitor the effectiveness of the site operations and to ensure the quality of water remains compliant with industry standard and client specifications. Madwar further explained that all Metito project sites are equipped with laboratories for on-site water analysis and quality testing round the clock supervised by dedicated experts. “We are extremely proud to have been selected to contribute to the development of a project of such strategic WWW.CBNME.COM
importance, which we have been able to complete in a fast track record of ten months, amounting to 2.5 million man hours with no injuries or time lost – a testament to the state’s confidence in our capabilities,” said Hassan Allam, Chairman at Hassan Allam Construction. “Al Mahsamma plant will significantly contribute to combating water scarcity in the country and will have a resounding impact on Egypt’s water security agenda, transforming the scope of wastewater treatment across Africa. We are extending our efforts to provide the latest solutions that solve water poverty, one of the major regional and global concerns,” Hassan Allam added. The plant will contribute to the irrigation of 70,000 acres of land in the Sinai, as part of the government’s efforts to develop the region by creating sustainable urban communities and job opportunities in the area. The water is transferred to the plant from Ismailia irrigation drainage canal, located west of
Suez Canal, using two individual pump stations crossing underneath the Suez Canal into Srabuim siphon. The water is further pumped through the plant’s pump station via eight vertical turbine type pumps - six working pumps and two on standby - with each pumping at a speed of 7000 m3/hr. As the global economy navigates its way through the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic across all businesses, the Al Mahsamma project marks a significant achievement for the Egyptian government and the wider African region, demonstrating sustained commitment to development in the water sector. The project was named ‘Infrastructure Project of the Year’ at Dubai's 2019 Construction Innovation Awards and has been shortlisted for the ‘Wastewater Project of the Year’ award at the Global Water Awards, with results set to be announced at the Global Water Summit in Spain on a future date.
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// COVID-19
BUSINESS CONNECT Dubai Chamber launches ‘Business Connect’ to assist the private sector
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the launch of an innovative information platform to follow developments and impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on the economy and business sector in Dubai. The new platform, called “Business Connect”, aims to help companies and institutions in Dubai to overcome the economic repercussions of the spread of the virus. The page includes news, economic and educational resources and various economic viewpoints related to the existing challenges and ways to confront them. In addition to this, it also contains short promotional videos on various topics related to the business sector, some of them from representatives of the private sector on the Chamber’s campaign #BeSafe #WorkSmart His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry pointed out that the information platform will 34
contribute in guiding the private sector towards making informed practical decisions based on reliable data. It will also help companies to overcome challenges and enhance their competitiveness based on their ability to keep abreast of all developments related to the business environment, indicating that this platform will benefit companies in managing its activities and operations. His Excellency pointed out that the Chamber is committed to playing its strategic role in supporting the business sector, preserving its interests, and keeping it up to date with the current developments. He stressed that the availability of reliable and accurate information is an essential part of plans to confront and overcome these exceptional circumstances. The platform also includes interactive questionnaires for readers about the economy and the effects of the current crisis on their work, and pro-
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posals to confront them, in addition to providing a comprehensive guide that is constantly updated on the various incentive packages announced by the UAE and Dubai for the private sector. It provides a guide for companies on the National Disinfection Program program and the excluded vital sectors. This guide will be regularly updated according to developments announced by the relevant government authorities, which makes the “Business Connect” platform, a primary source of information, articles, analysis and documented news. This platform has been launched in cooperation with Entrepreneur Middle East, and also provides advice for entrepreneurs and SMEs on how to deal with the current situation, remote working in addition to information on the Community Solidarity Fund. The platform can be accessed by visiting the following link https:// www.dubaichamber.com/covid-19
His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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// MACHINERY
CARBON EFFICIENT GENERATOR With up to 37% footprint reduction and higher power density, Al-Bahar introduces updated CAT® C18 Diesel Generator Set Al-Bahar announced the availability of the new power-dense Cat® C18 Diesel Generator Set, enabling its customers to meet power needs and emission targets with greater precision. The new C18 will deliver the benefits of high power density to customers across the Al-Bahar territory, which includes UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar markets. Designed to meet challenging restrictions on capital, site size, emissions, and cost, the new power-dense C18 requires less overall space for installation. Engineered to maximize power output and reliability, the new C18 ratings are 706 to 850 kVA at 50 Hz. It features a smaller footprint of up to 37 percent and offers more power density than competitive power solutions in the market today. It significantly decreases customers’ installed and ancillary costs through reduced overall footprint and weight. With this newly uprated Cat C18 diesel generator set and other similar power-dense models, Caterpillar is reaffirming its leadership in delivering a full range of dependable, space-conscious power solutions that makes power solutions increasingly cost-effective. Talking about the highlights of the new C18 generator set, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Kamal, Power Systems EPG Retail Sales Manager, Al-Bahar said, “With its reduced installation costs and low fuel consumption, C18 brings down 36
the total cost for our customers1. Moreover, with a range of highlights like Advanced Fuel system, Improved Combustion system, Better Thermal management, High Spec Core Components, and Next Generation Air system, the new C18 maximizes the return on
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investment for our customers, whilst offering proven power solution.” The generator set meets NFPA 110 loading requirement and meets ISO 8528-5 transient response requirements. The EMCP controller features the reliability and durability one
expects from a piece of Cat equipment. The EMCP4 included in the new C18 is a scalable control platform that ensures reliable generator set operation, providing extensive information about power output and engine operation. Moreover, customers can further customize the EMCP4 systems to meet their needs through programming and expansion modules. Other highlights include higher flow rate injectors with improved fuel delivery control and pressure, enhances power output. The new high-efficiency parallel turbo allows for increased airflow and achieves high boost pressure delivering higher power density with faster response. Improved combustion chamber design allows fuel to burn more efficiently, extracting more energy from the fuel. Higher specification pistons rings WWW.CBNME.COM
and valves sustain higher operating temperatures, which minimize oil consumption for longer engine life at higher output ratings. Higher specification advanced core components ensures improved component durability while the engine delivers more power. Adding to the C18 narrative, Mr. Mohamed B. El-Kaddour, Vice President – Energy & Transportation, Al-Bahar said, “Caterpillar always thinks more than the equipment they’re designing. They think about the people they are designing the equipment for, which includes the person who needs their backup power to perform flawlessly.” “Fewer units offering more power – is the ideal situation. Our customers are always looking for more power from an existing engine, and C18 promises exactly that at lower fuel consumption. Its smaller size
and lower weight make it a smaller displacement engine, lowering shipping costs as overall packaging size reduces. Further, it demands lesser oil and coolants, leading to reduced maintenance costs, and environmental impact, all adding more value to the bottom-line. In the end – lower shipping costs, lower fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs, all add up to savings, making it an ideal engine for varying requirements,” added Kaddour. Caterpillar has always delivered innovative power systems engineered to provide exceptional durability, reliability, and value. The region-wide product support, with parts and service available globally through authorized service and dealer network like the one offered by Al-Bahar, makes C18 a complete package for mission-critical applications.
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// MACHINERY
NFT DEFENSE AGAINST COVID-19 Ayad El Hage, QHSE Manager, NFT, tells in detail to CBNME the full measures taken by the company to combat COVID-19
At NFT, we are committed to our customers, employees and communities. The biggest challenges faced by companies during this crisis is ensuring business continuity while ensuring, with equal weight, the safety of its employees. During this global pandemic we are united as business owners, employees, clients, suppliers, government entities, to combat the spread of the COVID-19. At NFT, we are a big believer that Knowledge and we share through through our BLOG the latest publications regarding the effects on the pandemic on the construction sector as well as business and safety measures to consider during this crisis. Our QHSE department has been 38
monitoring with full devotion the developments around the COVID-19 pandemic and strictly NFT is implementing all the recommendations from trusted sources who are experts in the field, such as Department of Health in the UAE, World Health Organization (WHO), or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The health and safety of our employees and customers are and have always been our number one priority. By default, our occupational activities are relatively safe and in line with provisions taken to combat spread of COVID19. We work with steel structures in open spaces that are exposed to the sun and high heat, which makes it resistant to the spreading of the virus.
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From the very early stages, we set up Crises Management Committee formed from out top management, QHSE, Administration, Operations, and HR departments. The job of this committee is to follow up on the current situation, development of COVID-19, contact with UAE officials, contact with our sister companies overseas, and come up with measures in line with the official recommendations. The second step was for NFT to conduct awareness sessions and NFT ran more than 15 dissemination and educational sessions about the virus and methods to control its spread to different groups in all employee languages. We made sure that the sessions were tailored to each vocation. Special attention
sessions and trainings were conducted with sanitation people, drivers, or the more vulnerable groups who can be more exposed as per our risk assessment surveys. In addition, flyers, posters, videos, and publications were circulated wherever possible inside the offices, workshop, vehicles, and even labor camps dormitories. COMMUTING AND TRANSPORTATION We adjusted our modus operandi and adopted several work procedures according to International Recommendations and mitigation measures mandated by the UAE Government, starting with vehicles. The highest risk of transmission occurs while commuting to work or living in labor camps that have high concentration of people. Commuting to work according to the UAE authorities’ directives, follows 30% occupancy in the vehicles. Effectively it means, we tripled our bus trips to labor camps, we increased our fleet of small vehicles and minibuses. In addition, we added separate plastic sheet inside the bus in order to separate the driver from the passengers. Each vehicle carrying more than the driver, is disinfected at least twice a day or as necessary. The labor camps posed as a threat to the spread of the pandemic. However, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the health Authorities in the UAE, we managed to screen all our working force and implement extra precautions in collaboration of labor camps management. On site and in our workshop, all teams were divided into segregated groups that work in isolation from each other. QHSE team is closely monitoring all laborers in our workshop by testing their temperature and ensuring they are wearing full PPE. In case any symptoms appear on any of the team members, the one with symptoms would go for testing, while the others in the same team would be sent to self-isolation until further verification. Meanwhile, the job would be WWW.CBNME.COM
carried out with another group, hence keeping workflow uninterrupted.
entrances have been equipment with hand sanitizing stations.
OFFICE In parallel, the same measures were conducted to maintain social distancing in the head office, when possible the employees could carry out their jobs without the need to come to office. In case coming to office is essential, we restructured the office distribution as to maintain necessary social distancing as recommended. An infrared gun thermometer was placed at the reception for all those entering to voluntarily check their temperatures. A special team is deployed for disinfecting all surfaces, office appliances, doorknobs, handles, restroom facilities, round the clock during working hours. Paper circulation was reduced to minimum, and when necessary special disinfected plastic files were used to carry the papers. Masks and gloves are distributed in different types and frequency according to the risk analysis. Special awareness sessions and measures are put in place for the more Vulnerable people (by virtue of their age, underlying health condition, clinical condition or are expecting). They follow the highest strict precautions. Fingerprinting for sign in/out were temporarily deactivated and replaced with web sign in/out. The hallways and
ON CLIENT PROJECT SITES All our technical teams received dissemination on how to take precautionary measures against COVID-19; and they were instructed to take extra vigilance to their surroundings while being full equipped with the PPE as required. Because a full mechanical team is composed of 4-5 members, we have increased our fleet to dispatch the same number of teams as usual in order to ensure we continue to service our clients as per their schedule. Tower Crane Operators, by nature of their occupation, are in isolation in the Cabin from other workers. However, they were provided with instructions and disinfection material to be applied in case there were rotation in the Cabin. The advice is not to have rotation of shift in one Cabin. If necessary, the cabin should be deeply disinfected after old operator use and before new operator use. It is our social responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus while ensure business continuity in support of the economies we are contributing to. Therefore, in these unprecedented times, NFT will continue to offer its products and services in a safe, responsible manner as long as we are able to do so. Our commitment to our clients and to our employees is uninterrupted.
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// TRUCKS
GRADUAL RESTART Renault Trucks prepares a gradual and safe restart of its plants in France
Disinfection of machinery, workstations and work tools, the wearing of masks, gloves and overalls, social distancing rules, organised movement in shared areas... Production has been at a standstill since 18 March, but Renault Trucks is now preparing for a slow, gradual and safe resumption of activity in its production sites, constantly following the same baseline approach, namely to protect the health and safety of its employees. Since the start of the lockdown and despite the temporary interruption in production, Renault Trucks has carried on serving its customers, as far as reasonably possible, by continuing in particular to supply spare parts and repair trucks. These activities are 40
essential to ensure the continuity of vital services to society, especially to transport and deliver basic necessities, medicines and food. However, although some employees have carried on working, production, sales and R&D have come to a halt and the vast majority of employees have been in short term layoff for almost a month. Concerning Renault Trucks in France, an agreement has just been unanimously signed by trade unions to ensure fair compensation for these staff members in short term layoff. Applying until July 3, 2020, the agreement erases the disparities between the different categories of
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employees, resulting from the legal provisions and the Metallurgy collective agreement, protects the lowest wages and aligns compensation for all employees at 92% of their usual net pay thanks to the solidarity of managers, and thanks to an additional contribution from the company. “This agreement allows all employees to be treated fairly during this unprecedented crisis period. It enables all employees to get close to 100% of their usual remuneration through a vacation buy-back plan, while safeguarding the company's future," emphasises Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks. “In addition to the employees' solidarity, the company is contributing around 8% of the total payroll."
Renault Trucks is planning to resume its activity. Factories in France will be restarted gradually, from April 22, 2020, starting with Lyon-Venissieux Engine Plant. Other Renault Trucks production sites, such as Bourgen-Bresse and Blainville-sur-Orne assembly plants, should gradually resume their activity in the following weeks. The restart of industrial activity is planned, for all plants, at a very low level. Ramp up will be slow and be spread over several weeks, in line with customer demands, the ability of suppliers to deliver the required provisions, and in synchronization with the other Volvo Group plants. The industrial restart will be conditioned by the implementation of reinforced health protocols adapted to each site, in consultation with the trade unions and employee representatives. Drawn up by the company's occupational physicians based on the precise route taken by employees, from the cloakroom to their workstation, they aim to eliminate the risk of coming into contact with the virus. “We will only resume activities if health and safety conditions are exemplary – there will be no compromises.
This is why we are envisaging a gradual restart, involving an initial period during which we will be testing the health protocols, as well as the supply chain and logistics, before considering a ramp-up" explained Bruno Blin. Measures to be taken in Renault Trucks plants include: • Applying social distancing rules and protective measures, • Widespread use of alternative masks, • Wearing FFP2 masks with goggles or visors and gloves when the one-metre distance cannot be respected, • Keeping doors open (except fire doors) to prevent contact with handles, • Cleaning of workstations, work tools, logistics equipment, changing
rooms and canteens, • Organising movement in all common areas, changing rooms, corridors and canteens, extending the opening hours and limiting the number of people present at any given time, • Introducing a special seating plan in transport shuttles to guarantee space between passengers. For sales and research & development entities, the company will favor home office for employees who will have to resume their activity. In a parallel move, the company's management is examining requests from its customers, dealers and bodywork partners and analysing market trends to adjust production rates for the coming months.
Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks
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// MATERIAL HANDLING
NEW TRUCKS, SAME YALE PROMISE Yale Europe Materials Handling launches the ground-breaking expansion of its product range with the introduction of four new trucks for low-intensity applications. After researching current market trends, Yale uncovered a demand for materials handling products that are engineered to provide high levels of efficiency and productivity, yet are only used for short periods at a time. Yale has identified the specific challenges that customers with these applications face, and has now introduced new solutions to complement its existing product range. In a first for the materials handling company, Yale will now offer equipment designed for intermittent use or low-intensity applications. These additions are ideal for customers focused on applications requiring intermittent use, and yet still demanding a truck that is capable of undertaking high priority tasks. For operations that necessitate a forklift or warehouse truck to move loads, but are not used for many hours per day, the new Yale® trucks offer a solution to fulfil customer’s needs. Although these new trucks are designed for low-intensity applications, they stay true to the same Yale philosophy. The high standards of dependability, serviceability, ergonomics, productivity and low cost of ownership associated with the Yale® brand are all carried through this product range expansion. Iain Friar, Yale Brand Manager, said: “We’re very proud to add four new trucks to our growing range of materials handling equipment. As part of our people, products and productivity concept, we are always talking to our customers 42
about the challenges they face and how we can best meet their requirements. By extending our product offering, we can now provide solutions for a broader range of lower intensity applications at an affordable price to customers.” SIMPLY EFFICIENT TRUCKS The MS15UX and MP20XUX trucks extend the Yale warehouse range, with both offering high performance in confined areas. The MS15UX is a highly controllable and agile pedestrian stacker with lift capability suitable for a range of operator heights and experience levels, while the MP20XUX is ideal for productive horizontal transportation and vehicle loading and offloading.
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Engineered to deliver high productivity in general purpose applications, the GP20-35UX has an ergonomically designed operator compartment with easy reach controls and a clear 3.5 inch LCD display. The GP20-35UX offers reliable operation and efficient filtration and cooling. It provides easy maintenance thanks to a 70° opening engine cover and quick floor plate removal. No special tools or diagnostic tools are required for servicing which makes this truck ideal for self-servicing. The truck further benefits from high visibility masts and highly responsive steering. The ERP15-35UX is an energy-efficient electric fork lift truck with highly responsive steering, which optimises manoeuvrability for confined spaces. The operator compartment is ergonomically designed to offer all-round visibility and a practical and comfortable working environment for the driver. AC Controllers optimise battery power, which is particularly helpful on ramps and long runs as well as high lift usage. Iain Friar, Yale Brand Manager, said: “The introduction of our new trucks for low-intensity applications further enables every customer to find the right Yale forklift for their precise requirements. At the core of these new trucks is the same Yale philosophy of high standards of dependability, serviceability, ergonomics, productivity and low cost of ownership, which is the essence of our entire range. We are pleased to offer a simply efficient solution to our customers.”
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