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NEW RELEASES ANd LIvE dEMONSTRATIONS – ALL ThE ACTION fROM ThE CONSTRUCTION MAChINERy ShOW 2015
PLUS: RAW POWER
NEWS & ANALySIS
ThE LAST WORd
SITE vISIT
ANd MUCh MORE
Contents
page 32 Sadara Lift
IS S U E 4 2 5 a p r Il 2 0 1
Sarens ME uses its new Terex Boom Booster on a major lift at the Sadara Chemicals site in Saudi Arabia.
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Editorial Why companies should look at upskilling their staff rather than hiring extra workers.
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NEws What’s happening across the region in construction machinery?
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kit spottiNg A JCB remote-controlled excavator working on a demolition site.
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CapitalisiNg oN Comfort Linde MH and FAMCO have a precise measurement of the cost of ownership for their lift trucks.
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partNEriNg oN quality GENAVCO is the new distributor for Liebherr earthmoving equipment in the UAE.
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CoNstruCtioN maChiNEry show 2015 Highlights and new machine launches from the annual Construction Machinery Show in Dammam.
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sturdy liftErs Why rough terrain cranes are a vital workhorse on almost any
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Raw power
project site.
xx
40 NEW RELEASES The latest and greatest new releases in the world of construction machinery. Page 47 TOP TEN: ROAD CONSTRUCTION TIPS How best practices can help you get the most out of your machinery on a road job. Page 50 ELECTRIC SHOW Middle East Electricity (MEE) brings together the generator industry. Page 56 GOING SOLAR Kanoo powers its Jeddah office with solar. Page
FASTER, FUEL EFFICIENT
Contents
F SERIES
10% FUEL ECONOMY
Models 721F, 821F and 921F deliver 10% fuel saving,with reduced exhaust emissions
PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY
Four mode power control and new generation five-speed transmission result in faster cycle times and increased productivity
CASE LOADERS DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY
New generation of axles, new chassis, new Hydraulic hoses lay out, Larger buckets and special tires, designed for hostile environments, Waste & Scrap handling BioGas, Compost and Agricultural applications
Country Bahrain UAE Kuwait Qatar KSA Lebanon Jordan Egypt
Dealer
Abdulla Ahmed Nass & Sons Al Shirawi Enterprises Instant Access Co Nasser Bin Khaled & Sons Co Roots Group Arabia Someco The Commercial & Industrial Co (C.I.C) Unimar Egypt
Contact Number
+973 1 770 31 23 +971 4 371 85 85 +965 2 225 99 72 +974 4 458 01 38 +966 2 699 66 28 +96 1 125 36 00 +96 2 550 62 60 +202 3 346 51 80
Web Page
www.nassgroup.com www.alshirawienterprises.com www.instantaccess-co.com www.nbks.com www.arabian-roots.com www.somecointernational.com www.cic.com.jo www.unimaregypt.com
www.casece.com
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EDITOR'S CHOICE
READERS' COMMENTS
Site visit: Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights
Governments and company bosses can do all they like to ensure better fire safety. But in the end it’s the onthe-ground employees that really matter – everyone from site managers to security guards in finished buildings. So there needs to be more safety training and awareness campaigns – as well as greater recognition of these workers.
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Riot police called in over workers’ strike near Dubai Mall Police were called in during a rare pay dispute by employees of the Arabian Construction Company working on Emaar’s Fountain Views development. PHOTO GALLERIES
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Dubai Torch fire: Façade materials called into question Doubts raised over the quality of the material used in 79-storey tower following dramatic fire that left many residents temporarily homeless.
A look at Dubai’s latest five-star hotel as it prepared to open its doors to the public. See photo galleries at: meconstructionnews.com/photos
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Dubai protest: Contractor “not obliged: to pay incentives Arabian Construction Company says “No one will be deported” after strike of estimated 200 workers.
Ahmed Abbas, Comment to the story, ‘Dubai Torch fire: Were lessons from Tamweel incident heeded?’
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Architect Chris Brown appointed Middle East design director at Woods Bagot Brown is a familiar face in the industry, with 21 years’ of experience in the UK, Hong Kong, the US and the Middle East.
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Dubai property group offers free flats to Torch fire victims The First Group to provide 20 apartments as temporary accommodation for those left homeless after blaze on February 21.
READER POLL
What is the biggest challenge your company faces?
6% VIDEO
Watch the Liebherr L550 wheel loader in action An open day was held in Dubai to demonstrate Liebherr’s earthmoving equipment to prospective customers. See videos at: meconstructionnews.com/videos
Cost of raw materials
20%
Competence of sub-contractors
13% 60% Poor contract margins
Non-payment or slow payments
Log on for the latest from across the Middle East construction sector. Write to the editor at contact@meconstructionnews.com 4
CONSTRUCTION
MIDDLE EAST
April 2015
AFGHANISTAN FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. LLC) + 971 4 213 5100 (UAE) famco@alfuttaim.ae AZERBAIJAN Aztexnika Ltd + 994 502 452 555 a.aslanbayov@aztexnika.az BAHRAIN A.A. Bin Hindi B.S.C (c) + 973 17 703078 ciesales@binhindi.com GEORGIA Elite Motors Ltd + 995 577 769 615 zantelidze@elitemotors.ge IRAQ Sardar Automobile and Machinery Trading Co. + 964 750 344 4701 ihsan@sardarmachinery.com KUWAIT Al-Zabin International Group Co. For Heavy Equipment + 965 2433 4721 alzabin@alzabinkuwait.com LEBANON AMTRAC (Abdelmassih Trading Company) + 961 3 425625 michel@amtrac-lb.com OMAN GENSERV (General Engineering Services Est) + 968 244 90755 sales@genserv-oman.com PAKISTAN VPL Limited + 92 42 111 875 875 uzair.shahid @panasiangroup.com QATAR Arabian Agencies Company WLL + 974 44 50 0925 araco@araco.com.qa SAUDI ARABIA FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. LLC) + 966 12 680 4444 famco@alfuttaim.sa SYRIA Nassib Saad Est. Trading & Import + 963 11 222 5432 g.ali@saad-syria.com TURKEY Ascendum Makina + 90 216 581 80 00 info@ascturk.com TURKMENISTAN Ez Aziya-Hyzmatdash + 993 124 37278 h.hangeldyev @aziya-hyzmatdash.com UAE FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. LLC) + 971 4 213 5100 famco@alfuttaim.ae UZBEKISTAN C&H International + 998 711 475 003 hojinhan88@gmail.com YEMEN Elaghil Trading Co + 967 1 207 470 elaghil@y.net.ye
35 TONNES OF STRENGTH AND PRODUCTIVITY When we set out to make our 35 tonne excavator, we wanted to put strength and productivity first. So we put in a Volvo D8 engine to give it high performance yet with superb fuel economy. We gave it a Volvo CareCab – acknowledged as being probably the best operator environment in the market today, with climate control as standard. And we gave it a strong, reinforced undercarriage and frame to help it survive even the roughest of terrains. We believe this makes it the best excavator in its class. We think you’ll believe it too. Talk to your dealer. Discover a new way.
volvoce.com
Editor’s Letter
GROUP GROUP CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA GROUP CEO NADEEM HOOD
Upskilling workers ticks many boxes
W
hen there is growth in the construction sector, it is natural that inflation will start to creep in, and higher costs can be the determining factor in a company’s profitability on a project. As the industry has witnessed growth in the construction sectors of the three main GCC markets, it has also seen the extra demand for raw materials push prices up. A similar dynamic is evident in the labour market, but with the additional factor of improving economies in India and in other regional markets that supply labour, meaning workers want higher wages if they are to be convinced to leave their home country. Economic growth in India and across the wider subcontinent may force a new balance in the Middle East construction sector as far as labour is concerned. With expat workers from the subcontinent occupying a large number of positions in the key sectors in the GCC, workers will be faced with broader choices – whether to return home to better-paying jobs, or to attempt to leverage better wages and conditions in order to stay put. The situation in the construction sector will be acute, since construction activity in the Gulf is labour-intensive, relying especially on large numbers of relatively unskilled workers to get projects completed. Rising wages are nothing new, and the construction industry has always shopped around, recruiting manpower from regions and countries where growth remains slow. But as the economy in India and elsewhere grows, the pool of workers willing to work for low wages will shrink. One of the great myths of construction in the GCC is that labour is cheap. While individual wages may be low on a global basis, when looked at on a project-by-project basis, the labour component is just as high as in any other part of the world (and at times even higher). Using large numbers of lessskilled workers is no more cost-effective than using fewer high-skilled workers, and – when a project over-runs or work needs to be redone due to errors on-site – is even less economic. With a smaller pool of workers to recruit from, construction contractors should look at implementing more efficient systems and processes on their job-sites. While training staff and investing in new plant and equipment is expensive, it pays for itself through better work-site efficiency and improved project performance. Marginal benefits can include lower staff turnover due to better remuneration and job satisfaction, better safety with more alert workers and a track record of performance leading to further contract wins. Contractors can also look to suppliers as far as upskilling is concerned, as there is a wealth of talent in the GCC when it comes to implementing job-site efficiency, as well as technology that has been proven time and time again on job-sites in Europe and around the world. As ever in the business world, when change is on the horizon it is the companies who embrace it that tend to thrive, rather than those who remain stuck in their way until change is forced upon them.
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5471 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713 EDITORIAL ACTING EDITOR STIAN OVERDAHL stian.overdahl@cpidubai.com +49 176 271 203 87 REPORTER JERUSHA SEqUEIRA jerusha.sequeira@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5477 SUB EDITOR AELRED DOYLE MARKETING & ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR MICHAEL STANSFIELD michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5497 MARKETING MANAGER LISA JUSTICE lisa.justice@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5498 DESIGN ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON DESIGNER LUCY MCMURRAY CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION MANAGER SUNIL KUMAR sunil.kumar@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5476 PRODUCTION MANAGER VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713 DIGITAL WEB DEvELOPER MOHAMMAD AwAIS WEB DEvELOPER UMAIR SHAMIM PUBLISHED BY
Registered at IMPZ PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 www.cpimediagroup.com PRINTED BY Printwell Printing Press LLC © Copyright 2015 CPI All rights reserved while the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.
Stian Overdahl, Acting Editor, CMME
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NOW ONLINE You can now catch the online edition every month at: www.constructionmachineryme.com
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News Round-Up
NEWS
Bin Lahej Crushers signs partnership with etihad raiL
New machines, new offices, new projects, new initiatives – we look around the region at what’s new this month AN IMPERIAL jOB A Chinese road contractor has highlighted the productivity of four Volvo CE ABG8820 tracked pavers. Before the road opened to traffic in November last year, the Volvo pavers worked 14 hours a day paving the final layer of asphalt.
Etihad Rail has signed a partnership with Bin Lahej Crushers, a firm specialising in the production and sale of quarry products. The agreement is the latest in a series of deals signed by Etihad Rail with quarrying, crushing and construction companies. The rail network is set to boost the UAE’s aggregates sector by providing faster and more reliable logistics services across the country and GCC, and will have the additional benefit of removing
Towerlight rebrands as Generac Towerlight announces name change to Generac Mobile Products
L
ighting tower specialist Towerlight has announced it is now called Generac Mobile Products. This follows the company’s acquisition in 2013 by Generac Power Systems, a Wisconsin-based company. The acquisition by Generac, a manufacturer of gas generators in the US, has allowed it to develop and widen its product range, currently over 50 models. Generac also resumed production of the portable diesel-driven water pumps that Towerlight previously manufactured.
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The company has a big footprint in the Middle East, said regional sales manager George Darrous. Its most popular models are the VT8 and the Linktower 7m. The VT8 has an 8m verticaltype galvanised telescopic mast with manual lift, with 4x1000W metal-halide lamps and an 8kVA generator. The Linktower 7m lighting tower has no engine or alternator inside and its 4x400W metal halide lamps can be linked to the VT8 or any other external power source, and it is also available with 4x150W LED.
Business in general is good in the Middle East, and they anticipate more growth in 2015, said Darrous. Their general equipment profile is of a sturdy build and long lifetime, ideal for the regional conditions. “Our engineers’ main concern is to design a machine that can run longer with less component failures. Our unique vertical galvanised telescopic mast design makes our light towers safer to use, have a smaller footprint and resist rust in our high humidity and high temperature weather.”
heavy vehicles from the roads. Under the MoU, the quarrying firm will use the rail network to transport five million tonnes annually from the Bin Lahej Crushers location in Fujairah to Etihad Rail export and distribution terminals across the UAE. This five million tonnes will comprise about 9% of the total annual aggregate flow the Etihad Rail network will transport from the Northern Emirates once the 279km third stage of the upcoming railway is operational.
Progress on Dubai Canal RTA announced in March that 40% of Phase 1 of the Dubai Water Canal Project is complete. Works include a bridge on SZR comprising eight lanes in each direction.
1,000 attend FaMCO deMO events in Ksa FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co.) has held three launch events in Saudi Arabia, attended by a total of over 1,000 visitors, a mix of trade professionals, contractors and dealers involved in construction, warehousing and equipment rentals. The events had a distinct Saudi f lair and featured product displays, presentations and videos, and in Jeddah, where the Saudi operations are headquartered, a live demo event followed by dinner. FAMCO’s market share in KSA is currently at a record high, said Paul Floyd, senior managing director, FAMCO Group, evidence that buyers in Saudi Arabia have responded well to the prominent Al-Futtaim name. FAMCO entered the market in 2011 with the acquisition of Volvo Construction Equipment dealer Al-Rehab. “Since [we acquired the previous Volvo CE dealer in December 2011] we have been busy building our organisational structure, processes and product offering in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Floyd. “We have
grown from one product in 2012 to 10 products in 2015, also adding our horizontal services of rental and used and enhanced after-sales service capability.” “With these three events, our aim was to demonstrate the strength of FAMCO so that customers understand that we are serious contenders in the Saudi market and that we are here to serve them with our extensive product portfolio, our unique service approach and the FAMCO way of doing business,” he explained. Attendees were informed about brands such as Volvo Construction Equipment, Himoinsa generators and Dexion racking and storage systems. Customers and attendees also had the chance to interact with FAMCO’s regional management team and FAMCO KSA associates. “In line of our strategy, and following our significant improvement of the after-sales services and our strategic roles in countless undertakings in the Kingdom, demand for our products has increased exponentially,” said Amal Almizyen, FAMCO’s managing director in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “We are pleased to see our machines operating in some of the country’s largest infrastructure projects, as we have successfully established ourselves as one of the key players in the market.”
tadano launches 51 tonne rough terrain
aramCo viLLas for araBteC Arabtec has won a $283m contract for the design, construction, completion and maintenance of 380 villas in Dhahran for Saudi Aramco.
Tadano has launched a new 51 tonne rough terrain crane, the GR500EXL. Designated for the international markets, the crane has a 42 metre fivesection boom, which is the longest boom available in its class, according to the company. The boom length is designed to meet customers’ needs for lifting loads to high and remote places. Extra reach is provided by a twostaged under-slung jib that stows alongside the base boom section and is able to be installed even at confined job-sites.
Safety is enhanced by a new elevating cylinder approach, which uses a shorter twin cylinder-design, rather than a longer single cylinder. By also moving the cabin position forward, visibility from the driver’s seat has improved, making it safer while driving on a work site. The GR-500EXL uses a compact carrier to minimise the set-up space necessary. With reduced carrier length and heavier counterweights, the required extension width of the outriggers has been shortened.
Ksa mining hits $4.8Bn The total revenues of licensed companies working in the field of mining exploitation in Saudi Arabia are almost $5 billion (SR 18bn). The total net profit of these
licensed companies has hit $1.3bn, while the total number of valid mining licences at the end of 2014 amounted to about 1,800, and 420 million tonnes have been exploited.
September 2011 April 2015
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News Round-Up
dubai deCrees ‘green’ COnCrete
All new buildings in Dubai will have to be built with ‘green’ concrete starting from April, the city’s municipality has announced. Builders will have to use eco-friendly alternatives for original Portland cement (OPC) currently being used in construction projects, Dubai Municipality (DM) officials said at a press conference on Sunday. Each tonne of OPC emits more than a tonne of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.
Additionally, cement production also causes high amounts of dust to be released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and causing respiratory diseases in people living close to factories. Consultants, contractors and cement companies will, therefore, now have to use greener and safer substitutes such as Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and fly ash. The UAE’s construction industry
currently depends on 12 companies for cement production. These firms will now have to ramp up their production capacity to make greener building materials. “The capacity of the 12 cement companies in the UAE is 39 million tonnes. But we are producing only 19 million tonnes as per the demand, which is going up slowly,” said Abdullah Raffia, DM Assistant DirectorGeneral for Engineering and Planning Sector.
Hartl CrusHer launCHes new sCreen Hartl Crusher has added a compact two-deck screening plant to its range of material-processing equipment. Designated HSP 3300, it has high screening efficiency, said Georg Haberfellner, chief designer at Hartl Crusher. Depending on the material, throughput can reach up to 90m3/hour. “The main advantage lies in the screen box’s electro-hydraulic drive, which provides more power than comparable pure electric drives and is also much more robust and durable. “At the same time, with this drive system the speed of the screen’s rotation is continuously variable and a reversal of rotation direction is also possible. “The screen box is spring mounted and thus provides the best power transfer for both screen decks. All components are high quality and are designed with component protection in mind,” said Haberfellner.
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SITECH KSA AWARDED By TRIMBLE FOR FAST GROWTH
This product is used in natural stone processing as well as in the classification and refinement of recycled materials. The screener is also able to be used in road construction and earthworks as well as forest road construction and excavations. The HSP 3300 adds to Hartl’s existing range of excavator-mounted hydraulic attachments for crushing and screening. When directly fed by a bucket crusher, up to three categories of material can be produced: in combination with a bucket screener this can be increased to four. Hartl also offers electrically driven conveyor belts which provide a maximum discharge height of 2.5m. The folding mechanism guarantees simple belt changing and reduces transport dimensions to a minimum. The screening system, including conveyor belts, has an electrical power consumption of only 14kW.
SITECH KSA, the dealer for Trimble’s heavy civil construction products in Saudi Arabia, has received an award for excellence in performance in emerging markets. The 2014 award “recognises the SITECH Saudi Arabia team who go above and beyond in their efforts to penetrate the local market, actively sell and promote our solutions,” said Chris Shephard, Trimble corporate vice president. The dealership was established in 2013 with 16 employees, and now employs 30. The company contributes to the education of the market about the benefits of adding technology on job-sites and has already set a high standard for service and distribution in the region, said Shephard. “SITECH KSA takes great pride in being part of this unique network and strengthening the market presence and bringing local contractors the most extensive and reliable choice of customised solutions,” said Yousuf Zahid, CEO of SITECH KSA. Meanwhile, Trimble has expanded its operations in the GCC through the opening of a new office in Dubai Internet City, one of Trimble’s first offices dedicated to construction-related
technologies. It will be Trimble’s largest office in the GCC and the regional headquarters for Trimble’s network in the region – which includes offices in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The office will enhance the company’s collaboration with regional stakeholders and enable it to expand its service, support and training offerings to its customers in the region. “GCC nations have seen some of the world’s strongest population and commercial growth in recent years, making it vital for local construction projects to keep pace with demand,” said Steven W Berglund, Trimble president and CEO, at the launch. “Companies in this region have demonstrated a strong interest in technologies that will boost the efficiency, quality and productivity of construction processes from concept to completion and operation. This is where Trimble’s solutions can play a major role.” Bryn Fosburgh, sector vice president, said they view Dubai as a hub. “We have used Dubai in the past when we moved into Africa and we’ll continue to do so. It’s not only for the Middle East, it’s also for Africa.”
September 2011 April 2015
CONSTRUCTION TIONTION CONSTRUC CONSTRUC MIDDLE EAST EASTEAST MIDDLE MIDDLE
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Kit Spotting
JCB remoteControlled exCavator
Where: Internal demolition works on a train station redevelopment in Birmingham
J
CB has supplied a UK demolition company with a remotely-operated excavator, purposedesigned for demolition work. The machine combines a JCB JS190 upper structure with a JS220LC undercarriage and rubber track pads, in order to be powerful enough to deploy a 4t multi-processor attachment, while weighing less than 25t. Remote control enables the driver to operate the machine while standing beside it or on an AWP
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above beams that have to be demolished, allowing close assessment of the work. The excavator is working 20 hours a day on the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Train Station. The current phase of demolition work requires the removal of 6,000t of mass reinforced concrete, including beams that weigh as much as 80-90t and are 2.5m wide and 1.5m deep. Existing reinforced concrete floors are being removed to create a void beneath a new atrium roof. The work is taking place inside
the station, directly beneath the atrium steelwork structure which must be protected from the demolition work, since the station is still in use, with 140,000 people travelling through each day. An integrated infrared laser fence restricts the machine’s operation to a designated safe zone, preventing it from operating too near the edge of the suspended floor. It also has LED lighting for night vision, a safe fuel system, onboard auto fire fighting equipment and dust suppression.
Style Guide
Experience the difference
VOLVO’S I-SHIFT AUTOMATED MANUAL GEARBOX is something else. Thanks to built-in intelligence, it quickly and automatically chooses the right gear. This makes the truck easier to drive, even off-road, reduces wear and tear and improves cost-efficiency. Try the new Volvo FMX with I-Shift and experience the difference. It is good news for your drivers – and your operations will be a lot more profitable. For MORE INFORMATION ABOUT I-SHIFT please visit volvotrucks.com
Volvo I-shift Gearbox
January 2015
CONSTRUCTION
MIDDLE EAST
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Forklifts
CapItalIsIng on Comfort An emphasis on operator comfort and total cost of ownership is at the heart of FAMCO’s sales strategy for the new Linde H30D lift truck, executives tell Jerusha Sequeira
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n a price-conscious market, customers looking to buy a forklift usually don’t want to shell out extra for a premium truck. But Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO), the distributor for Linde Material Handling equipment in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, is working to convince customers of the long-term value proposition of premium forklifts, through a new sales approach which emphasises operator comfort and total cost of ownership. The company has an impressive list of existing Linde customers, but still,
“IT TOOk sIx MOnTHs TO DEvELOp THE TCO TOOL. WE AnALysED THE InFORMATIOn CAREFULLy, CROss-REFEREnCED CLAIMs AnD TEsTED IT WITH COnCERnED pARTIEs TO EnsURE THEIR BUy-In”
Winning over potential customers requires convincing them of the benefits of a Linde MH truck, and with its higher price tag, convincing them that these benefits will pay for themselves over the life of the machine.
convincing potential new customers of a machine’s benefit can be a long, involved process that requires information sessions and demonstrations. In a recent training session for Linde dealers from across the GCC at the Al-Futtaim Training Centre in Rashidiya, FAMCO trainers drove home the advantages of their Linde H30D diesel forklift. Equipped with a Deutz engine, like all Linde lift trucks the 3t H30D is built with a hydrostatic transmission that doesn’t require a conventional drivetrain. The forklift, therefore, has no torque convertor, no clutch and no differential or reduction gears. The advantages for the operator are step-less acceleration from rest, smooth braking and precise operation regardless of engine speed. “It’s like just having an engine in a car without anything else. There’s no mechanical areas to lose power,” explains David Dronfield, regional general manager, storage and handling solutions division at FAMCO. And as the H30D has a smaller engine than its counterparts, it also consumes less fuel, he points out. “Reduced fuel consumption and increased operator performance equates to lowest cost of operation per pallet moved.” Linde makes a strong case for ease of operation. After the sales training, we proceed outside to give the H30D a test run. Unlike its counterparts, the Linde forklift has no clutch or brakes – just a twinpedal system, wherein one pedal propels the truck forward and the other moves it in reverse. When one pedal is pressed the other rises, ensuring both cannot be pressed at the same time. Releasing the pedal brings the forklift to a smooth stop almost instantly. The truck is also relatively easy to manoeuvre around the compound; it may take a little getting used to, but it’s quick to get the hang of. The enhanced ease of operation means operators have more time to focus on moving pallets, thereby increasing productivity. The absence of mechanical components like clutches or brakes also means less wear and tear, leading to lower downtime and longer intervals between servicing, Dronfield explains. Over time, lower maintenance costs and better utilisation also help to reduce the total cost of ownership.
In a region where fuel costs are less of a concern, operator savings are a significant value proposition for customers. According to data gathered by FAMCO, the total cost of operating a forklift over a five-year period can be roughly broken down as follows: 25% on unit price, 28% on fuel cost, 34% on operator salary and 13% on service. As over a third of long-term costs are on the operator, it makes sense for the firm to focus on operator comfort rather than fuel efficiency; the latter would be a key selling point in Europe, explains Carmen Dyck, a trainer with Linde. Moreover, less operator fatigue implies a reduced risk of health problems, leading to lower downtime, she notes. “Therefore, the ergonomics is important. It’s a good argument, and I think that more and more owners and companies will have to focus on that.” The H30D also offers more efficiency thanks to Linde’s load control feature, FAMCO claims, potentially reducing the number of machines and operators required. Having a load control unit on board means the operator doesn’t need to rev the accelerator pedal while lifting a pallet, Dronfield says. “The control unit determines what the engine speed has to be to raise it based on the load. so
again you save fuel doing that, instead of revving it manually, trying to gauge it yourself.” Linde has a partnership of over 30 years with porsche Engineering, and porsche has helped shape the look and feel of the Linde trucks, including improving the ergonomics of the forklift. “porsche reviewed all aspects of the unit operation and delivered practical gains in terms of visibility and seating ergonomics,” Dronfield says. The advantages of the H30D, however, place its price tag slightly above the market rate. At AED 115,000 ($31,309), it costs approximately AED 15,000 ($4,083) more on average than its nearest competitor in the segment. “Our aim is to justify that purchase price differential, traditionally a difficult obstacle. This is what we want to overcome,” says Dronfield. Emphasising operator comfort and using the new TCO calculator that FAMCO has developed can help the dealer address objections over unit price. “It took six months to develop the TCO tool. We analysed the information carefully, cross-referenced claims and tested it with concerned parties to ensure their buy-in and cover all possible objections before we released the tool to the sales team.”
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The R 934 crawler excavator has a 31.3t operating weight, is powered by a 145kW engine and has a bucket capacity between 1.35 and 1.65m3.
Quarry performer Liebherr has long been selling its earthmoving equipment in the UAE, but mainly focusing on niche applications and areas including quarries. Arend says they have a good number of machines, especially large ones, running in the country. He singles out the quarry sector as one that especially appreciates the importance of machine quality, since a breakdown can have a significant impact on production. “The reliability of the product is very
important in the quarry industry, because if these products are down, the whole production line stops. So they’re high stakes for the customer, so the customer invests in reliable products for these activations. And that’s where we have strength – we have high-quality and reliable products.” The partnership with GENAVCO, which sells quarry plant equipment including crushers and screens, is a chance for both companies to push further into the quarrying sector.
April 2015
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Show Report
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show CoNsTRUCTIoN
MIDDLE EAsT
April 2015
The Construction Machinery Show 2015 featured 20,000sqm of construction and heavy equipment on display, and 10,000sqm of demonstration space, held over four evenings in Dammam, KSA.
time
The Construction Machinery Show 2015 featured live demonstrations, new releases and heavy machinery and vehicles. The show was held at the DIEC in Dammam April 2015
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Show Report
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s the only construction machinery show in the region featuring live demonstrations, the Construction Machinery Show is a natural draw. This year’s edition was held from March 30 to April 2 at the Dhahran International Exhibitions Centre (DIEC) in Dammam, co-located with BUILDEX, Saudi Arabia’s International Building & Construction Exhibition. It featured over 20,000sqm of construction and heavy equipment on display, and 10,000sqm of demonstration space. The show was opened by the Deputy Mayor of the Eastern Region for Construction and Projects, HE Jamal bin Nasser Al-Melhem. Speaking at the ribboncutting, Al-Melhem thanked Michael Stansfield, commercial director of the show, for bringing the show to the Eastern Region, saying he is in full support of seeing it continue to grow every year. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Al-Melhem toured the large show and demonstration areas, flanked by Mohammed Al-Hussaini, managing director and CEO of Dhahran International Exhibitions, and HE Sheikh Tariq Abdullah Al-Qahtani, chairman of Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al Qahtani Group of Companies (AHQ). AHQ and LiuGong assembled an impressive 2500sqm stand that featured more than just machines, with a
simulator room, a large screen displaying videos of major projects LiuGong and AHQ have been involved with, and a children’s excavator section, all topped off with a sixmetre LiuGong transformer – attractions that were designed to give their stand a family-friendly flair. AHQ held regular machinery demonstrations, including of their backhoes and skid steers. General Trading & Equipment (GTE) used the show to display new products, including the Bobcat S450 skid steer, its first showing in the Eastern Province. The company had on hand one of the world’s best professional Bobcat drivers, provided by the manufacturer, general manager Shams Elramly told CMME during the show. It’s perhaps not surprising, as Elramly revealed that in 2014 GTE was the biggest Bobcat dealer in the world, thanks to its large volume sold across Saudi, with some 1,400 machines sold in the calendar year. It is also the top dealer for skid-steer loader attachments, said Elramly. Sweepers, breakers, planers and wheel saws are the top-selling attachments, and pallet forks are ubiquitous.
“WE HAD CUSTOMERS COMING SPECIFICALLy TO SEE THE MACHINES, AND WE WERE DOING DEMONSTRATIONS EvERy HOUR” AHQ and LiuGong made a big impression with their stand, including a transformer and a wide range of equipment, from earthmoving to forklifts to cranes, as well as simulators and large-scale demonstrations.
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The show featured live demonstrations of a wide range of machinery with skilled drivers, including skid steers and backhoes. Below: The LiuGong 777A backhoe loader is demonstrated to visitors.
Also on show was the new T40180, an 18m telescopic handler that has been a popular seller for Bobcat, and the new E50, the 5t mini-excavator, which was shown with rubber tracks. “We had customers coming specifically to see the machines, and we were doing demonstrations every hour for our customers,” said Elramly. GTE used the show to display a full line of its machinery, including large Ammann compactors, showing the ASC 100, a large single-drum roller for soil compaction, the AV 110X tandem roller, and an AP 240 pneumatic tyre roller for asphalt, as well as other Ammann products including plate compactors and walk-behind compactors. Also on show from GTE was a self-loading concrete mixer from Italian firm D’Avino, designed to produce concrete on job-sites in remote locations, with the 4m3 mixer on show, its first outing in Saudi Arabia. “This product is perfect for customers who have a job outside of the city and cannot get the transit mixers to reach their job-site, and they cannot use an ordinary mixer because they do not have enough labour. The unit mixes the cement and sand, and the concrete can be used for any application.” Also demonstrated was GTE’s innovative beach cleaner attachment, fitted to a Bobcat S630 skid steer. Not only is it cheaper than a large truck-mounted beach cleaner, but the beach cleaner attachment creates far less disturbance, meaning it can be used on a beach or sand area without disturbing the people using the facility. Kanoo Machinery used the show to launch new equipment including the JLG 4017RS tele-handler. Designed for rental applications and contractors, the
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Show Report
Kanoo Machinery displayed a wide range of machines designed for working at height, including JLG telehandlers, an array of aerial work platforms from Snorkel, as well as the Grove RT550E rough terrain crane.
machine has a 17m maximum lift height and 4,000kg maximum lift capacity. Kanoo placed two of the machines on display. Kanoo has exhibited every year since the show‘s inception, and Srini Kadaba, divisional manager of Kanoo Machinery in Saudi Arabia, said that the 2015 edition of the Construction Machinery Show has seen overall good visitor numbers. It benefited from mild evening weather, with visitors from across Saudi, including Riyadh and Jeddah, and from Bahrain. Kadaba said that the show is a good chance to reinforce connections with existing clients, as well as meet new customers. The co-location with BUILDEX means that there is spill-over from the building materials show. Also on show at Kanoo’s stand was an RT550E Grove mobile crane, the first time they have exhibited an industrial Grove mobile crane. They were also able to display a large fleet of Snorkel work platforms, the first time they were able to display the entire range at a show. “There are many infrastructure projects going on all over Saudi. The Riyadh Metro is all elevated work, so these access platforms are ideally suited for that project. Our exhibits have targeted these kinds of infrastructure development projects in Saudi Arabia.” Also on show was a loader from Irish company Combilift, which has produced the world’s first multidirectional forklift. “This is a new concept, a multidirectional machine used for the handling of long or wide loads, such as steel pipes or steel construction components. It’s a three-wheel AWD machine, designed to be able to be operated in confined spaces, and can handle rough terrain with good manoeuvrability and traction,” said Kadaba. Saudi Diesel is one of the best-known equipment distributors in Saudi Arabia, with an operational base in the Eastern Province. The company is the market leader in Saudi Arabia in a number of segments in the wheel loader and excavator markets with Doosan, and their stand featured wheel loaders and excavators,
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“THE RIyADH METRO IS ALL ELEVATED WORK, SO THESE AWP’S ARE IDEALLy SUITED FOR THAT PROJECT” examples both tracked and wheeled. They also exhibited the DISD (Doosan Infracore Shandong) range, Doosan’s Chinese construction equipment brand that focuses on small and midsized wheel loaders. Special promotions for the show included a free attachment with an excavator and extended warranty terms. Everdigm products on display included concrete pumps, a stationary line pump and the KSA debut of the company’s new transit mixer. The company also highlighted Doosan’s commitment to boosting Saudi Diesel’s after-sales and parts and service offering. A mobile service workshop on the stand demonstrated their after-sales capability. TATS (Trans Arabian Technical Services), a sister company to Saudi Diesel, displayed its new range of Daewoo Trucks. After signing an exclusive distribution deal last year, they received the vehicles in early 2015. This was the first major outing for the vehicles, explained Mustapha Addada, country manager of the Trucks Division at TATS. The Daewoo range is focused on medium and heavy vehicles, with vehicles available in 20t, 30t and 40t classes, with the new 15t truck to come in three months. New vehicle types include tractor heads and tippers. Addada says the vehicles were wellreceived at the show, with specifications including Bosche fuel pump, ZF gearbox and a Doosan engine. Standard features on the 40t include hub reduction, AC-equipped cabin and 24-inch tyres, putting the
truck in competition with European OEMs. The show gave the vehicles a lot of exposure. “We wanted to show people that there is a new truck brand in Saudi Arabia. Everyone who saw the vehicles was impressed with the specs, and they like the look.” Addada says it may take some time for the market to become familiar with the product but is confident that in the long run it will sell well: “Our price is competitive with the same spec of other brands. If you compare apple with apple, we’re better on spec and better on price.” TATS’ lighting towers division also provided the lighting system for the show with its Magnum brand of light towers (recently bought by Generac USA). A new Magnum product is the Link-Tower, which allows the light tower to be operated from an AC source, including connecting to other light towers, without requiring a diesel generator on the unit itself. This is especially good for noise-sensitive events, allowing the lighting towers to be positioned in the areas most sensitive to noise, running either from an AC outlet or with the generator positioned in a back area. Elsewhere, Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) exhibited its range of Toyota MH forklifts, as well as spare parts; and Jamjoom Vehicles and Equipment presented an array of its Hino trucks ranged from small to large, including heavy vehicles with a cement mixer body and a tipper body.
Feature
The Grove RT 550E has sold well in the Middle East, somewhat surprisingly since it was designed for European markets. But its longer boom has been winning over customers thanks to its ability to reach higher.
out new products they will all have the same CCS,” explains Semple. “The idea is that a crane rental company or fleet owner can have a pool or operators and maintenance
Demand rising in Qatar, Eqypt for RTs – Link-Belt Mobile crane manufacturer Link-Belt sees Qatar and Egypt as growth markets in the rough terrain segment in 2015, following a slowdown in the oil sector in the GCC, says Elias Saliba, the company’s Lebanon-based Near East district manager. This follows growth in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, most notably in the oil sector in the eastern province and the construction sector in Riyadh, and in Qatar in the construction sector for rough terrain, says Saliba. “Generally, the growth in the rough terrain crane sector is mostly related to the need for a simple, less expensive crane that can do the job with lower operational cost, compared to an all-terrain crane. “Manoeuvering a crane in a construction site with limited space is much easier with a rough terrain crane, and the market demand for cranes is a factor that cannot be undermined.” Saliba says that the Link-Belt RTs are based on the principles of “simplicity, reliability [and] easy maintenance”, using in-house load moment indicator system Link-Belt Pulse, and that dealer and manufacturer commitment to product support is also important for customers.
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He sees contractors buying cranes in the 30-60t range in particular, while for larger capacity cranes they usually rent rather than make a big investment. Outside of the RT segment, Saliba expects that they will see growth in the telescopic crawler crane category, where rental houses will likely be the first users. Link-Belt sells fourand six-wheel rough terrain cranes in the Middle East. The fourwheel RTC-8050 Series II features a full flat deck design for improved safety, while ladders provide six points of access for the operator regardless of the rotated location of the upper structure of the crane. Other safety features include a winch working platform with steps and left side guardrails, making it easier for technicians to perform maintenance and service on the winches and wire ropes, and for the operator there are cameras to monitor winches and right swing. In the larger sixwheel RT range, they boast the best turning radius (6.7m) and lowest carrier height
(3.78m). For easier transport, the crane can be loaded onto a trailer without removing the boom and tyres. Outrigger boxes and counterweights can be removed to decrease the weight, and the crane can assemble itself.
people who are able to be transferred very easily from one crane model to another, since the control system, the architecture, the way that features such as the sensors and hydraulic actuators work – the principle will be the same across the whole range.” Standardisation also brings advantages to the manufacturer at the factory, including easier purchasing and fewer component suppliers. Per Semple, “It’s win-win. There are benefits for us as a manufacturer, and from the user standpoint, there is the ability for the user to share operators and technicians between different models of any Manitowoc range. It makes things simple for everyone.” Christian Kassner, senior manager sales & customer support at Terex Cranes Middle East, says that when considering the market requirements for rough terrain cranes, the availability of skilled labour – not only for operators, but also for maintenance and the whole support crew – is one important factor. This means designing a crane that is easier to operate and to service, meaning less electronics, lower complexity and improved access. Kassner says that in the Middle East region, the 50-80t range is key. Terex recently launched three new Quadstar RTs. The 75t Quadstar 1075 was launched at the Bauma in 2013, while the Quadstar 1065 (65t capacity) and the Quadstar 1100 (100t capacity) were both launched in 2014. Kassner says the imperative for the manufacturer has been to design these with as much commonality as possible for operators and maintenance crews. As far as servicing goes,
access points for maintenance and lubrication have been designed so that no additional equipment is required to maintain or reach them. Safety and serviceability have also been improved by making the flat deck an entirely flat surface by removing steps, and by making cabin access easier. For the operator, the focus on commonality means standardised cabins and a standardised load moment indicator (LMI) interface. Operation has also been made simpler with the introduction of electrical proportional joysticks for operators (replacing hydraulic levers), the aim being to increase precision during lifting operations. “The ultimate aim is to simplify and standardise the whole fleet, from the load moment indicators to the design, so that we can reduce the training efforts and everyone benefits from lower cost of ownership benefits, greater spare parts availability and we can generate higher up-times,” says Kassner. Standardising operator interfaces and maintenance also incentivise customers to stay loyal. “That’s a side benefit,” he notes. Beyond technical features, Kassner says the company is always looking to develop relations with its customers, relationships that span finance, service, equipment and support. “It’s all about how you deal with your customer, it’s not really about the ‘spec game’.” This includes helping customers decide on the best crane for their needs. “The major challenge for any end user is predicting what they want to do on a job-site. In the past, people said they wanted a 50t or 80t crane. What we are trying to develop is an understanding of what the customer wants to do.” The company recently launched its Terex Liftplan product, a free lift planning tool. While historically only customers with big machines and complicated lifts have used lift planning tools, Terex is offering the service to anyone who uses a Terex crane, “as it will allow smaller jobs to be better planned and therefore safer. It might be the fleet owner contracted to carry out a particular project, or one of his hire customers needing information on-site.” Kassner says that Liftplan encompasses all the variables encountered on a job-site, including ground pressure, slewing angle, optimised configuration, where to position the crane and with which radius or luffing angle. The tool can be used on an ad hoc basis; when conditions change, the driver enters the new information and the system automatically updates the lift plan. Talking about regional demand, Kassner says that 2014 was a good year for RT sales in the region. “Overall, the market in the GCC remains strong. KSA was the most exciting market of all.” Historically, the crane has been popular in the petrochemical sector, especially on rig moves, when they are out in remote areas where manoeuvrability is needed. “Rough terrains are more popular when there is a longer-duration project,” explains Kassner. But they’ve also seen strong demand from construction projects, including major highway jobs
and large infrastructure projects. “The Riyadh Metro is a very exciting project that is absorbing a lot of equipment. At the moment there is a really good mix of projects out there.” Kassner believes that in 2015 the drop-off in spending in the oil and gas sector is being balanced by rising demand for RTs on key infrastructure projects. “[Currently] we haven’t felt any difference, and we are observing very carefully. We have seen that the higher importance of infrastructure projects has absorbed any reductions in the oil and gas sector.” On the demand front, Semple says the GCC has been very active over the past 12-18 months. “After the crisis years we were highly dependent on KSA to drive demand. We are now in a market environment where we are no longer relying on KSA.” While there is some general anxiety in the market as a result of low oil prices, and the expectation that this will cause levels of spending and investment in infrastructure to go down, no impact is evident yet. “I more see it as a 2016 risk rather than a 2015 risk.” In terms of competition in the market from the newer Chinese producers, especially in the lighter tonnage capacity classes, Semple says that while they’re competing on price, they’re not competing on quality. Lower-cost producers are building a
“more disposable product”, where the crane is not expected to last for as long. Semple says it’s a legitimate business model – “but it’s not our way.” “Our view is that the crane should be an investment. They should be able to last 20-25 years lifting safely – of course not without maintenance, not without checks – but that is the spirit and approach we take to the way we do our business. It’s a fair market. Our low-cost competitors are not trying to say that their cranes will last 20 to 25 years.” Safety is the essential element of the crane industry. Semple believes there are important safety advantages in buying from established manufacturers, since they have been instrumental in developing the safety standards which govern production in markets including Europe, Japan and the United States. “Generally speaking, the safety element in cranes has progressed in leaps and bounds as long as I’ve been involved in this industry,” says Semple. “There is a strong push from regulators in the Western world to ensure that cranes are as safe as they can be made, and we – the manufacturers – are part of that industry, and we help drive the standards. This encourages crane users to go for the well-known premium brands, rather than the lowercost products.”
“WE HAvE SEEn THAT THE HIGHER IMPORTAnCE OF InFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAS ABSORBED AnY REDUCTIOnS In THE OIL AnD GAS SECTOR”
The nature of rough terrains is seeing manufacturers adopt an approach of simplification of operation and maintenance, and in some cases standardisation of control systems with a larger mobile crane range, such as ATCs and crawlers.
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Sadara LIft Sarens Middle East used its new Boom Booster at the Sadara Chemical plant in Saudi Arabia, one of the first jobs in the world for new boom kit. CMME talks to Sarens ME about the Sadara lift and how to keep cranes mobilised in the Middle East
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n April 2014, Construction Machinery Middle East visited the main Terex Cranes factory complex in Zweibrücken in south-west Germany. On Terex’s proving ground, its new Boom Booster kit (not yet released to the market) had just finished its final testing. The widened boom lay on the ground, covered in wires to measure the forces across its structure as it was used to lift heavy test loads. By the end of the year, the kit had been used by Sarens Group on major job-sites across the world, including erection of wind turbines in the Netherlands and on the major Sadara Chemicals site in Saudi Arabia.
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Sarens Group, one of the largest heavy lift outfits in the world, was not only the first customer of the new Boom Booster kit, but was also closely involved in the product development process. Designed as an add-on for the Terex CC 8800-1 crawler crane, the Boom Booster extends its operational capabilities, allowing it to lift heavier loads and to extend the total length of the boom and jib system over the standard issue crawler. Terex Cranes describes the kit as “a must-have for heavy lifting applications with long-boom configurations such as petrochemical, wind turbine erection and power plant installation... increas[ing]
THe sadara lifT • Heavy lift company: Sarens Middle East • location: Sadara, Saudi Arabia • Total load on main lift: 902 tonnes • lift height: 90 metres • Maximum allowed wind speed: 9.8m/s • lift conditions: Sunny, low wind • lift time: Six hours • Cranes used: Terex CC8800-1 (with Boom Booster) and Terex CC2800-1 as tail
covering the region. For their part, Sarens Middle East has about 15 cranes with capacity larger than 500t working in the GCC, though these cranes are also used in North Africa and in CIS states. “Some of them leave the continent depending on customer needs, so the population fluctuates but never drastically. A peak time in a certain country can happen in parallel to a downtime in another country, therefore you have to be everywhere to maximise planning,” notes Verdeure. The Boom Booster is designed to be transported around the world, with its sections fitting inside eleven 20ft containers including necessary accessories to rig it up. Once the decision was made to use the kit on the Sadara lift site, the containerised boom expander was sent directly from the Zweibrücken factory to the Sadara Chemicals construction site in Jubail Industrial City. One key consideration for Sarens in selecting the Boom Booster over a larger capacity crawler crane was the faster set-up time, which includes transportation, assembly on-site and the required ground preparation. “It’s an extravagant enterprise to mobilise a [large tonnage crawler] as it actually has more freight
the CC 8800-1 crane’s lift capacity by up to 90%, enabling it to outlift any crane within the 1,000 to 2,000t capacity range and 3,000t capacity range cranes under certain conditions”. With its distinctive design, strengthening the boom for a maximum length of up to 72m, the Boom Booster is an elegant solution to a complex problem, namely a crawler crane that must be able to perform over a wide range of lifts, while still being easy to transport and fast to set up – these being key determiners of a crane’s profitability. For the Sadara lift, using a Boom Booster wasn’t the original plan, explains Philippe Verdeure, sales manager – Middle East at Sarens. The company had originally planned to use a larger capacity crawler crane, but the timing of the Boom Booster’s release to market meant that it was optioned as the best crane for the lift, which entailed hoisting the 902t single-module unit to a height of 90m. As Verdeure explains, plans can quickly change in the heavy lift industry. On the demand side, large lifts are usually notified well in advance. In peak times, with many projects happening across a country, clients normally have to notify a heavy lift company a year in advance, although during downtimes this can be reduced to a few months. However, demand can emerge spontaneously, and if a company already has the right piece of equipment in a region or on a megaproject, it makes sense to use it there and arrange suitable alternatives for other scheduled jobs. This flexibility relies on the breadth of the fleet
tonnes than the basic CC 8800-1. The Boom Booster is a much more elegant solution. Depending on site conditions, it takes about seven to ten days to set up, or two weeks when it is done in parallel with the crawler,” explains Verdeure. “The sections can then be brought in by trailers – at Sadara SPMTs were used – and assembled directly onto the boom. Depending on skills and rigging crew, the assembly requires six to ten riggers and a couple of supervisors.” Another consideration is that the ground-bearing pressure induced by the CC 8800-1 plus the boom booster is the same as the basic crane, meaning less ground preparation time, including the ground compaction (normally carried out by the client). The result is a crane able to lift heavier loads to higher heights. “Technically, the Boom Booster works right where it should: on load moment, not on a pure capacity,” says Verdeure. Typically the wind speed allowed for a Terex CC 8800-1 with a Boom Booster is 9.8m/s. On the day of the lift the weather conditions were perfect, sunny and no wind, says Verdeure. The main lift, of a 902t module, was carried out in six hours. “We had to stay away from a massive concrete slab and clearly find a good balance between radius
“WE HAD TO STAy AWAy FrOM A MASSIVE CONCrETE SlAB AND ClEArly FIND A GOOD BAlANCE BETWEEN rADIuS AND CAPACITy” A chemical plant with a $20bn price tag The sadara complex, a jointventure between saudi aramco and dow Chemical Company, is the largest chemical complex ever built in a single phase, with the total contracts for the projects worth a cumulative $20 billion.
The intensive construction – there were 54,000 workers on-site at the end of Q4 2014 – has sucked in a considerable amount of specialist equipment, and crane rental operators have seen high demand.
But while smaller job-site lifts are almost matter-of-course, larger lifts require huge amounts of planning and logistics, since there are only a limited number of companies – and cranes – capable of carrying out these lifts.
The Sadara Chemicals lift. The CC8800-1 with Boom Booster lifted the 902 tonne module on-site. The release of the Boom Booster made it the right option for the job, rather than a larger and more expensive crawler crane.
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Going higher The Boom Booster expands the CC8800-1’s operational capacity as well as being efficient to transport, says Rüdiger Zollondz, director product marketing at Terex releasing Terex Crane’s new Boom Booster kit, an addition for its super large CC8800-1 crawler crane, helped to satisfy a key customer demand, says rüdiger Zollondz, director product marketing at Terex Cranes: the desire to go higher. “Customers always ask for higher capacities than what the cranes can do. for us, it was about understanding the business situation of these companies who operate the larger cranes – how they operate their cranes, what would the total cost of ownership be and what would be of benefit to them,” says Zollondz. The CC8800-1 is a stalwart of the heavy lift sector, but Zollondz says there are several lift types that exceed its capacity, especially those requiring very high capacity at bigger heights (found mainly in petrochemicals, powerplants and wind towers). The solution is the Boom Booster – up to 72 metres of widened and strengthened boom, which from an engineering perspective has “perfect properties” for the jobs it is required for, he says. “it’s not a compromise, it’s the best possible solution that we could provide, with the stiffness and stability we require to perform these lifts.” a chief benefit of the Boom Booster is that it can increases the capacity of the crane by up to 90%, particularly on long boom systems, where ‘long’ means 100 metres or longer. “This helps customers who have the CC8800-1 to do much bigger lifts than the crane was capable of doing in the past. There is a significant population of CC8800-1 cranes, and Boom Booster is retrofittable, which protects the investments of our customers.” along with heavier lifts, the Boom Booster also allows a longer boom system. Where the previous limit was 108 metres main boom plus a 108m luffing jib, this can be extended to 108m plus 120m (or vice versa). When a heavy lift requirement pushes towards the edge of a crane’s operational capability, different limiting factors are at work. for lifts with very long boom systems the limit is normally in the boom, whereas for a very high load on a short boom and radius the limit is more likely to be in the machine or stability. The Boom Booster works to extend the capabilities which in the past were limited mainly by the boom – allowing the lifting of heavier loads with the same boom length, or lifting to higher heights with the same load. One example is the installation of flair stacks – the limit was previously around 180 metres with the CC8800-1, but the limit with the Boom Booster is now 20 metres higher. “Customers can now build bigger modules, and save a lot of time in construction and erection, and ultimately save money,” says Zollondz. “it really extends the capabilites of the crane by far when it comes to long boom systems and lifting it high.” This means that heavy lift companies can now carry out jobs that previously would have required a far larger (and far more expensive) crane. The kit is also designed to be shipped across the world, able to be disassembled and shipped
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in standard 12.2m (40ft) open-top containers. “Our customers may have three cranes but only one kit. Therefore we decided on transportation parameters that give very efficient transportation worldwide.” in markets that limit gross weight of containers to 28 tonnes, it takes a total of nine truckloads to transport the entire 72m boom length; where containers up to 40 tonnes can be used, only seven truckloads are required. When it comes to heavy lift operations transportation, costs and safety are the major concerns for companies. Having an excellent safety record by fulfilling zero
incidence plans is essential to winning new business. Both of these factors have led to enthusiastic uptake of the new kit since its launch last year. “almost everyone is considering having a Boom Booster added to their 8800-1.” Terex customers may also see similar developments in the future for smaller capacity crawlers, if the economic rationale is there in terms of transportation. “for sure this is a principle that could be added to other sizes of cranes as well,” says Zollondz.
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Raw Power
HigH stability Why Get it? HigH productivity crawler crane from an oem tHat knows How to make tracked macHines
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uilding on a strong pedigree in crawler cranes and heavy-duty cycle excavators, Hitachi Sumitomo Cranes’ (HSC) new SCX1500A-3 crawler crane is designed for fast set-up time on-site and easy transportation between jobs. With lattice boom lengths between 15 and 75m, the boom on the new model has been thoroughly strengthened and made more rigid compared with the previous generation, wider both across the boom sections and at the boom foot. The bracing strength has also been increased. The stronger boom helps to deliver advanced stability during work, to reduce side deflection and twisting throughout the front of the crane and make positioning loads quicker. The power of the 12t-rated line pull winch has been increased by 8%, to increase scope for lifting heavy loads with line speed of 45m/min and provide better capability for simultaneous movements. A new Eco winch mode allows high line speeds under light loads without having to increase engine speed, designed for high-elevation construction sites and work requiring many wire replacements. The Eco mode also limits fuel consumption and noise, as engine speed can be minimised. Operator control is improved with HSC’s combined hydraulic circuit, which increases and optimises pump pressure by using a mixed circuit to control the hydraulic oil from two hydraulic pumps, ultimately giving an enhanced sense of operability in travelling, hoisting/lowering, swing and boom hoisting. A new cabin design with extra-wide windows improves visibility, and green-tinted safety
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glass protects the operator from UV rays and objects that come free during operation. The cab features a motion limiter display as standard in order to boost safety, and accident prevention measures and multiple redundant safety devices have also been included to provide comfort for the operator. A new anti-two block using a lifting height indication device is offered as standard, while safety options include a swing restriction unit, which prevents the boom from swinging outside a set working range, and a drum and rear view monitoring system that uses four cameras. In addition to its features as a crawler crane, the SCX1500A-3 can be operated as a dutycycle crawler with a clamshell bucket.
SCX1500A-3 (lift CrAne) SpeCifiCAtionS: • engine: Isuzu 6HK1 • rated output: 200.1kW @ 1,850rpm • operating weight: 139t w/basic boom (150t hook block) • Max lift capacity: 150t to 4.5m radius • Basic boom length: 15m • Max boom length: 75m • Jib lengths: 10 ~ 28m • Gradeability: 17°
Raw Power
loAd With effiCienCy Why Get it? Better system integration and efficiency for 5t payload wHeel loader LiuGong has revealed its new 17.8t wheel loader with a 5t payload, the 856H. The wheel loader is the first in a new generation of H-series wheel loaders, and in the Middle East will replace the current 856G. The machine makes extensive use of technology from LiuGong’s two major joint ventures in China, with engine producer Cummins and axle and gearbox producer ZF. The 5t payload machine will eventually be followed by a 9t payload class loader, and machines with 7-8t, 3t and 4t payloads will all be introduced to the market over the next 18 months, says David Beatenbough, vice president of LiuGong, who is in charge of LiuGong’s research and development. The Middle East version will use a GCIC engine, produced by the LiuGong-Cummins joint venture, with a power curve specifically developed for wheel loaders. In the Middle East, most machines will be sold with axles and transmissions from the ZF-LiuGong JV. All the integrated component systems, including the software controller, have
been designed by the LiuGong team. “We build our own controller, writing the software and optimising the machine for the needed applications,” says Beatenbough. Common features across the range are improved fuel efficiency, a new and wider cabin and improved rear visibility. Existing LiuGong customers will notice improved efficiency, coming from the tuned engine curve and the integration with the controller, says Beatenbough. “In terms
of owning and operating costs, they’re going to see a difference. You’ll see the same machine response for less fuel burn.” 856h SpeCifiCAtionS • engine: GCIC engine (Cummins-LiuGong) • operating weight: 17.8t • payload: 5t • Cab features: ROPS and FOPS
VArioBASe on ShoW Why Get it? improved safety and operating radius for lieBHerr moBile cranes Liebherr has announced that all its mobile cranes on show at this month’s INTERMAT will be presented with the new VarioBase, a lift support system that improves safety for mobile crane work. Mobile cranes are often used in difficult, constricted conditions where it is not possible to extend all the supports evenly. The VarioBase system, using support bases for the outriggers, allows every individual crane support to be extended to any length. Crane operation is then made safe by the load moment limiter within Liebherr’s LICCON control. The extension length and support force of every single support is measured, and the maximum lifting capacities for this situation are calculated by the crane control. This means that it is possible to work safely with any support base. Accidents caused by incorrect operation can be avoided both during the setup process and when handling loads. The system allows for higher lifting capacities and a wider working range, with largest increases in the operating ranges directly above the supports.
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Al-Qahtani Vehicle & Machinery Co. Tariq Al-Qahtani & Brothers
Raw Power
h65eS/h65e SpeCifiCAtionS • recommended carrier weight range: 3,0009,000kg • impact frequency: 720-1,740 blows/min • energy class: 1,085J • rated flow: 40-115 L/min • Max pressure: 16,500kPa
hAMMer tiMe Why Get it? new cat e-series Hammers feature 47% fewer parts Caterpillar has launched ten new E-Series hammers, developed for use on a broad range of machinery: mini excavators, skid-
steer loaders and backhoe loaders. The hammers are are available in both silenced and side-plate versions. Four sizes – H35, H45, H55 and H65 – are offered in two mounting configurations for installation on both Caterpillar and on competitive carriers. Engineered for easy maintenance, the new E-Series hammers have 47% fewer parts than their D-Series predecessors, for quicker and easier servicing. For daily maintenance, a single grease point is conveniently located and easily accessed. Tool changes are accomplished with common hand tools. Silenced hammers, identified with an ‘s’ in the model designation and designed for sensitive work environments and in smallmachine applications with the hammer in close proximity to the operator, use a fully enclosed housing to suppress noise. Non-silenced sideplate models are available for all four sizes. These hammers are designed and engineered to match auxiliary flows and pressures of the Cat machine, and hydraulic ports are positioned for convenient installation. The suspension system on the silenced models includes buffers at the top and bottom to absorb reflective forces and isolate them from the machine. A suspension jack helps dampen vibration and sound, for quiet, reliable operation and reduced operator fatigue. To protect the hammer from internal stress, an automatic shut-off can be activated. This instantly stops the piston when the hammer breaks through material, which in turn protects the hammer from blank-firing.
QuiCk to CruSh Why Get it? tracked cone crusHer from portaBle specialist Kleemanns has launched a new tracked crusher, the MCO 9, developed for the needs of the contractor market. Weighing approximately 30t, the MCO 9 EVO is easy to transport and ready for operation in just a few steps. The feeding unit can be shifted by a simple slide mechanism from the transport to the operation position. This slide mechanism enables adjustment of the material discharge pattern to the crusher during operation. For instance, the feeding unit can always be optimally adapted to the crushing product, thus preventing wear on one side. Together with its large stroke, the cone crusher not only enables crushing capacities of up to 260t/h, but also achieves a higher crushing
MCo 9 eVo SpeCifiCAtionS • drive unit: 248kW • Capacity: Up to 260t/h • Weight: 30t
ratio and produces a final product with a higher amount of fine particles in comparison to other cone crushers in its class. The crusher may be optioned with an anti-spin system which
prevents the crusher cone from rotating, thus significantly reducing the wear in this area. A magnet and a metal detector are also available as options to further increase operational safety.
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Raw Power
hiGher hertz
offering 1600kWe of standby power with the TRG1, and 1800kWe and 2000kWe with the TRG2 and TRG3 respectively. With more than 40,000 4000 Series in operation around the world, the 60Hz 401661TRG model offers the same exceptional powerto-weight ratio and load acceptance for both prime and standby power as its 50Hz counterpart. “Our decision to expand the range to 60Hz supports our customers who operate in and sell to
Why Get it? perkins extends 60Hz range to include HigH-performance engine Over the last few years, the 4000 Series engines have been a popular choice among generator sets in the 50Hz market for manufacturers looking for a dependable and cost-effective engine for their prime and standby power requirements. Perkins now offers this as an engine for 60Hz markets including Saudi Arabia, specifically designed for the electric power generation sector. The 4016-61TRG 60Hz model allows customers in all 60Hz territories to access the higher end of the Perkins power range,
pACe-Setter Why Get it? 28t payload Hauler from an adt specialist Bell Equipment has launched two new E-Series articulated haulers, the B25E and B30E, upgraded to meet the requirements of new emission regulations but available for buyers in the Middle East with Tier 3 Mercedes-Benz engines. The rugged ADTs feature 24t and 28t payloads respectively. Both the B25E and B30E are built with Allison transmissions and lockable interaxle differentials/limited slip axle differentials. One difference that may separate Bell from the ADT field is its adaptive suspension. Tristan du Pisanie, Bell Equipment’s ADT product marketing manager, says that introducing adaptive suspensions in 6x6 technology was one of Bell Equipment’s significant contributions to the modern ADT design. Standard in the larger Bell B50D since its launch in 2004, the sensor-controlled height adjustment of the hydraulic front struts compensates for the high payload variations to improve ride comfort. On its new haulers, Bell has developed this system to give a Comfort Ride suspension option for its smaller B25E and B30E trucks as well. “We’re fully convinced that the move to a semiB30e SpeCifiCAtionS: • engine: Mercedes-Benz • Bin volume (SAe 2:1): 17,5m³ • Weight empty: 20,140kg • Weight loaded: 48,140kg • payload: 28,000kg
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independent A-frame front suspension provides our small E-Series trucks with best-in-class driving characteristics and great comfort under all loads, and the Comfort Ride system improves our offering still further,” says du Pisanie. While a softer suspension system gives better comfort when driving over rough ground and allows higher ground speed when negotiating
corners, a softer suspension results in the truck leaning away from the apex of the corner unacceptably. The new E-series Comfort Ride leans the truck inwards towards the apex when going around corners, improving operator confidence. This, in combination with the softer suspension, enhances productivity through faster hauling cycles.
Ten Tips
Use compaction meters compaction meters ensure your workers know when the target compaction level has been reached and don’t overcompact, saving time and improving equipment utilisation.
moistUre content is critical Having the correct water content for compaction is critical; ideally you should have the exact same water content throughout the layers. make sure the system is controlled, and ideally use thinner layers to ensure water penetration.
Top 10:
Road construction tips Road-building is complex and mistakes are costly
BUy for sUpport Dealer service and after-market support are essential for road construction equipment, since breakdowns are costly. Highly sophisticated machines tend to be sold by top-notch dealers with excellent after-sales support. you can still drill down and see which is best for you, taking into account factors such as how long it takes a mobile service workshop to reach your job-site and which dealers have the best coverage in the regions you will be working in.
rigHt-size yoUr eqUipment Using machines that are too large or too small can result in extra costs. if your rollers are too small for the job at hand, it will take extra time or you will need a larger fleet. if they are too large, then you’ll pay extra up front, for a higher cost per compacted cubic metre. Dealers can help you calculate the right-size machine.
Have a Back-Up paver a paver in reserve will save you a massive amount of money if your primary paver breaks down. second-hand pavers can be bought for less than new units, or you can invest in a new paver and keep the older model in reserve with occasional use. larger contractors also benefit from having more paver units in their fleet. prepare for paver breakdown, so that if it occurs you have contingencies!
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SIX-AXLE
DOMINATION
GMK6300L
80 m of superior strength and reach
• 300 t fast setup long boom crane • 80 m seven section boom • 12 t at 80 m boom length
GMK6400
• 37 m hydraulic luffing bi-fold swing-away jib • Allison transmission • Self-rigging auxiliary hoist
Strongest 6-axle crane ever
• 400 t super heavy lift crane • 60 m five section boom • 64 t at 60 m boom length • Self-rigging MegaWingLift (rigging time < 20 minutes)
• Strong 79 m luffing jib/ 64 m fixed lattice extension (shared components)
• 8,9 t at 134 m system length with 79 m luffing jib • MEGADRIVE drive system – hydrostatic hybrid drive for unmatched maneuverability • Self-rigging auxiliary hoist • Fully rigged on jobsite within 3 hours
Visit www.manitowoccranes.com to learn more.
Ten Tips
BRing on REntals Boosting your fleet with rental equipment makes sense, especially if the road project involves intensive work with clearing of rock – if building through mountainous areas – or a large number of bridges and structures, which are more equipment-intensive than the average project. Rentals can also help fast-track critical projects or make up for lost time.
EnsuRE asphalt is hot asphalt needs to be at the optimum temperature when it arrives at your site (approximately 150 degrees Celsius), otherwise the layers will not properly bind and compact, and you risk having to redo sections. hot asphalt can be achieved by reducing truck transportation times and using double-skinned tankers with covers.
Road ConstRuCtio n is a kEy aREa of infRastRuCtuRE dEvElopmEnt, and it also requires sk ill and accuracy fr the site managers om and the machiner y operators. With sophisticated mach highly inery available fr om oems, look to dealers to provide support and train ing in order to en you get the most sure out of your machin ery fleet.
gEt quantitiEs Right
laying a high-quality road surface requires all factors to be correctly calibrated. the number of tonnes of asphalt you can deliver per hour determines paving speed, as well as the width and thickness of the layers. in turn, the cooling time of the asphalt mix must be matched with sufficient compaction capacity, meaning you must have the correct rollers in sufficient quantity on-site.
tRaCk youR tRuCks tracking asphalt deliveries gives you a view of where all your trucks are, and if there are any delays from traffic jams. you’ll know the average time it takes for the asphalt to be delivered, and if any drivers need extra training.
Rap savEs you monEy using Recycled asphalt pavement has become the norm worldwide, and can save considerably on the raw materials needed for the mix. many asphalt plants have the ability to use Rap blends. nevertheless, not all municipal authorities specify that Rap can be used on public roads. if it’s not specified, then use Rap on internal roads such as housing developments or industrial sites.
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MEE Review
Powering the Future At the Middle East Electricity show in March, the power generation industry seemed to be heading towards lower total cost of ownership and more eco-friendly options. Jerusha Sequeira reports for CMME
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The show catered to the GCC markets as well as the wider MENA region, with a broad range of OEMs and distributors in the power generation manufacturing segment represented at the show.
“As thE globAl MArkEts gEt toughEr,
t
here is a palpable buzz in the air among the crowded aisles at Middle East Electricity (MEE). Even on the first morning of the three-day event, the atmosphere seems charged with energy, a refreshing departure from the sluggish environment often seen at trade shows. the big names in power generation are all present, keen to grab or retain their share of the region’s burgeoning energy market. some brands have chosen the exhibition – held in the dubai world trade Centre from March 2 to 4 – as a platform to launch new power generation product lines geared towards specific sectors, including construction, telecommunications, oil and gas, and agriculture. Caterpillar, for one, has unveiled its Cat Compact
pEoplE gEt A littlE bit MorE ConsCious About thE MonEy thAt’s in thEir wAllEt And how MuCh thEy’rE prEpArEd to spEnd”
international product range of diesel generator sets at the show, exhibiting in conjunction with its uAE dealer Al bahar. with power outputs ranging from 6.8 to 220kVA, the sets are designed for customers in the Middle East and Africa, Europe and other regions. “the Middle East market is a very, very important market for us as Caterpillar and Electric power, but also for Caterpillar overall,” says neil Mcdougall, global sales manager for Cat retail. “At the show this year, we are launching a new range of our smaller, mid-range generator sets which are fully CAtbranded and backed.” “the legacy of Caterpillar is its product support, which is very honestly unmatched by anything else in the marketplace. And the new product we launched today at the show is just really the next stage of
that,” he says, speaking at a dinner organised by Caterpillar at dubai’s Armani hotel to celebrate the launch of the product range. the event is attended by dealers from the Middle East and Africa, including Al bahar, Zahid tractor and nEFC, the Caterpillar dealer for Ethiopia and djibouti. Cat’s new range will be covered by a fouryear warranty as a standard benefit for standby applications and as an option in prime-powered applications. MEE also sees FAMCo (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co.) launch himoinsa’s new hybrid generator, equipped with a variable speed yanmar engine and battery array, allowing the unit to be charged from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. “this product is mainly focused on the telecom sector,” says guillermo Elum, sales and marketing director at himoinsa. “the good thing for himoinsa is that we are making this product for continuous application, not for standby power.” the variable speed engine, which can operate from 1200 to 3000rpm, reduces power requirements and cuts fuel consumption by 40% compared to conventional generators, he explains. “the system also allows us to reconnect it with other external sources. this could be solar panel or wind turbines. so this is a very sophisticated product, but with a high level of efficiency.” Additionally, the hybrid generator has been developed with the Middle East in mind, Elum points out. “so the genset is able to work at 55 degrees [Celsius] without any issue, the batteries can be Middle East Electricity featured an array of engine and generator manufacturers, including Cummins. On show was a QSK95 Series genset, rated at up to 9.5MW, Cummins’ most powerful diesel generator set.
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MEE Review
FAMCO had a large display, indoors and out, with its generator brands that include Himoinsa. The Spanish manufacturer Himoinsa is one of the fastest-growing genset makers in the world.
working at 55 degrees without any issue.” the genset was launched simultaneously at the MEE in dubai and the Mobile world Congress in barcelona. Another firm exhibiting its product range at the show is Atlas Copco. “we have a full range of generators for construction and mining industry, ranging from 2kw all the way up to 1000kw. And then we have a full range of light towers as well, manufactured in various places around the world,” says ben Van hove, vice president Marketing portable power at Atlas Copco. the swedish firm’s new power generation lineup includes the QEp range of portable generators in 3-14kVA ratings, available in petrol and diesel versions; the QEs generators from 9 to 42kVA for construction and industrial applications; and the Qip range for standby power in industrial use, also available with petrol and diesel engines in 4-14 kVA ratings. For bigger power needs, the firm offers the QEC container generator range, which provides 1Mw of power in a 20ft container – a solution for the rental, mining, and oil and gas sectors. “business has actually been very good in 2014,” Van hove notes. “we had double-digit growth in our Atlas Copco generator business. of course there’s always concerns in the region,” he is quick to add, on account of the oil slump. “but [from] what we see today, business is not slowing down. on the contrary, it’s still strong for us. so we’re very pleased.” the power generation business in the Middle East is clearly competitive, based on the sheer number of stands at the exhibition. Moreover, markets in the region also tend to be price-conscious. how, then, can a firm unwilling to slash prices hope to attract customers? the answer, manufacturers say, lies in offering a long-term value proposition and minimising total cost of ownership. “what rental companies and construction companies are really looking for is total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the machine,” Van hove says. “we are not necessarily the lowest in
“powEr gEnErAtion is VEry priCE-driVEn,
And it’s thE QuAlity, thE rEliAbility, thE AFtEr-sErViCE [thAt] is A diFFErEntiAtor”
price when you acquire the generator, when you buy it, but if you look at the operation cost, the transport cost involved, the potential damages and repairs to the machine, then at the end of the lifetime also the resale value of the machine, i would say we definitely set ourselves apart as being the lowest total cost of ownership provided in the market.” terry Mcguire, regional general manager at FAMCo, also stresses the need to offer more value. “At FAMCo, the mission is to never mention the price. however, power generation is very price-driven, and it’s the quality, the reliability, the after-service, the ability to meet the requirement solution [that] is a differentiator over and above the assemblers who are just providing machines.” After-sales support is particularly key to ensuring customers are willing to shell out a little extra for
a premium product, Mcdougall says. “Caterpillar is positioned as a premium brand, and we’re happy there. we have a value proposition that resonates with customers that see that while they may pay a little bit more, they get value from that.” but the last couple of years have been a bit tougher on the firm, he says. “As the global markets get tougher, people get a little bit more conscious about the money that’s in their wallet and how much they’re prepared to spend. As an organisation, Caterpillar has realised very much over the last couple of years that we need to make sure that we have not only the best products from a performance standpoint, but also maybe ensure that we’re giving the right value from a monetary perspective to the customer.” Additionally, Mcguire notes that the improved efficiency of himoinsa’s new hybrid generators guarantees a reduced overall cost of ownership. “if you take the hybrid, the key point in that is to focus on running costs. there’s also the elongated service period of four months. the engine is variable speed, dependent on the amount of charge required. so if you look at that, the overall running cost is reduced by 40%. the service cost, so the life cycle, the cost of ownership is probably 50% reduced,” he adds. with falling oil prices, fuel efficiency may not be a key concern at the moment but it will become
40%
fuel saved by Himoinsa’s new hybrid generator, compared to a conventional genset
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MEE Review
Dealing with difficult markets While getting into established markets like the UAE is clearly a priority for equipment manufacturers, some have noticed a slight improvement in business in troubled areas too. Caterpillar’s power generation business has seen a shift in focus from being more militaryoriented to supporting the redevelopment of infrastructure, McDougall says. “We’re going through a bit of a change with markets like Iraq or Afghanistan, because they have historically been very, very strong for us, and most of that has been built off the back of military business, whether that’s direct military interaction or whether that’s support for the infrastructure that is being put in place for the US military.” In the past, Caterpillar supplied gensets for camp power for troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. But different times call for a shift in approach, he points out. “As things have overall become more stable in some of those regions, we’ve had to slightly reinvent ourselves. Now we’re down to core business again and actually identifying with customers as infrastructure starts to get rebuilt.” Van Howe, on the other hand, says business is still tough in Iraq but slowly picking up.
paramount, Mcdougall says. “And as long as we’re offering an overall efficiency value proposition to a customer over the life cycle of the product, then we should be in a good position.” the emphasis on fuel efficiency across most brands at the show is indicative of the larger push towards going green. while sustainability is often a loosely tossed around buzzword, the manufacturers at the exhibition seem to be taking the environment and low fuel usage seriously. “we’d be fools if we didn’t think the market would be moving that way,” Mcdougall says bluntly. Additionally, the cost of harnessing renewables has dropped significantly, he adds, making it more feasible, with solar a good example. “the cost of solar energy and photovoltaic cells
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“iF CustoMErs ArE willing to inVEst
in longEr tErM, MorE sustAinAblE solutions As thE MArkEt MoVEs thAt wAy, thE FuEl sAVings AlonE will pAy oFF in A shortEr pEriod oF tiME” The show was a networking opportunity for many attendees. Other attractions included a series of conferences including discussion of green energy, solar and lighting. The show was held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
has gone down ten times in the last fifteen years, so something that used to cost an absolute fortune and made no commercial sense is really now becoming viable, because the capital expenditure up front is paid off so much more quickly in the fuel costs than it used to be. Many of the markets, including telecom, which is one of our larger markets for the small compact range, they’re looking at options for a more sustainable, green and, honestly, long-term cost-efficient solution.” while the majority of gensets globally are currently diesel-powered, he notes that there is a move towards hybrid options and alternative fuels like gas and biofuel to power them. the industry is seeing “a far more educated consumer that is focused on the environment now, which many of the markets
including the Middle East and Africa are looking towards”, Mcdougall adds. Meanwhile, Atlas Copco, as part of efforts to reduce its products’ carbon footprint, has launched an lEdpowered light tower which consumes 70% less fuel than a tower using metal halide lamps, for the same light output. “More and more of our products are also equipped with power management systems,” Van hove says. “And the power management systems all allow the generators to run in the optimal way to also reduce emissions.” however, there are challenges associated with getting Middle East customers to adopt renewable energy. “it’s still new. And the capital expenditure is still significantly more than buying a traditional standard generator set in a box,” Mcdougall says, noting the price difference can be three or four times as much. “that can put a lot of customers off. but if customers are willing to invest in longer term, more sustainable solutions as the market moves that way, then particularly in prime power applications the fuel savings alone will pay it off in a shorter period of time.” he also says more qualified support is needed. “you need a more trained and technical support network. so when you think about costs, you would need to invest in developing trained technicians and the support and the parts and after-market which is required.” to illustrate, Mcdougall provides the hypothetical example of a remotely located telecom site. “if it goes down, traditionally today you would send a diesel technician. tomorrow, you need to send somebody that understands photovoltaic cells, understands power inverters.” he sees this as an opportunity for Caterpillar, though. “A more technical solution really helps Caterpillar identify better with customers. it’s a whole different industry, and i think for us that really puts us in a good position as we move forward.” looking ahead, Van howe is also positive about Atlas Copco’s business prospects in portable power in the region. “it’s still a booming business. there’s still a lot of projects going on. the Middle East also has the advantage that the production cost of oil is low, so there is still projects going on. And for us it’s still a growing business.” “if you drive around here, you still see a lot of construction everywhere. so they need lighting towers, they need generators, and so for us it’s still a very healthy business here.” he expects the firm’s growth to continue in 2015. “we’re only two months into the year, but it has already been much stronger than it was last year. so the first two months are already very promising to us. i expect a very good year for us in the Middle East, and i see no reason why that will change.”
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The Last Word
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