Construction Machinery ME

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ISSUE 14 2012 DECEMBER

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

FROM CAD TO RAK

TR100s land at Stevin Rock Plus: ACROSS THE INDUSTRY

* NEWS & VIEWS * RAW POWER * making cranes safe * AND MORE


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Contents

IS S U E 1 4 r 2012 dEcEmbE

04

Editorial Good news is coming out of Dubai, reasons to be jolly?

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What’s happening accross the region in construction machinery?

page 34 CATERPILLAR ON FILM

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“We were basically shooting through the middle of Adana, Turkey and had the added danger of a high-speed car chase next to the train.”

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NEWS aNalySiS IronPlanet makes a change in its approach to pushing tower cranes to the market.

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CommENt The advantages of moving from price to advice.

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NEWS

a rEgioNal opErator CMME meets up with Doosan’s Gaby Rayhem to discuss the seismic changes in the Middle East and North Africa.

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From Cad to rak A fleet of the world’s biggest quarry machines arrives at one of the world’s biggest quarries.

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hoW do CraNES Fail? A panel of experts meet to discuss a roadmap to ensuring that we keep towaer cranes as safe as possible.

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CatErpillar iS 00-rEviNg How Caterpillar found itself as one of the stars of the latest James Bond adventure.

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Raw power

39 NEW RELEASE ROUND-UP Some of the hottest machinery hitting the region’s inventories this month. Page 45 HOW DOES THE EARTH MOVE FOR YOU? A look at the world of earthmoving equipment. Page 49 FLEXING YOUR APPS Smart phone apps that make you a smarter operator. Page 53 BIG-5/PMV LIVE REVIEW CMME spends the week at the region’s biggest construction show. Page 58 THE LAST WORD New Yorkers wake up to a crane hanging over their heads -– they’re not best pleased. Page


Editor’s Letter

PubliSher Dominic De SouSa GrOuP COO naDeem HooD ManaGinG DireCtOr RicHaRD JuDD eDiToRiaL GrOuP eDitOr STepHen wHiTe stephen@cpidubai.com +971 55 795 8740 DePuty eDitOr GaVin DaViDS gavin@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9118 COntributinG eDitOrS cHaRLeS maRTin, meLanie minGaS

party like it’s 2008

D

o you remember 2008? When everything seemed possible and the roads of Dubai appeared to be paved with gold or was it platinum? When every week seemed to have an announcement about the world’s biggest theme park or world’s biggest space hopper was going to be built out of the desert. Well we’re about to enter 2013 with the emirate daring to dream again.

maRKeTinG & aDVeRTiSinG PubliShinG DireCtOr RaZ iSLam raz@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9129 COMMerCial DireCtOr micHaeL STanSFieLD michael@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9128 MarKetinG ManaGer caRoLe mccaRTHY carolem@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9157 DeSiGn JuniOr GraPhiC DeSiGner peRciVaL manaLaYSaY SeniOr GraPhiC DeSiGner ReBecca Teece rebecca@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9168 ciRcuLaTion & pRoDucTion

Three major announcements have been made in the past few months, including November’s announcement that Dubai wants to build a huge tourism and retail development. According to reports, it will include the world’s largest shopping mall and will soon be underway on the outskirts of the emirate’s current downtown area. This was followed by news that an area adjacent to the Jebel Ali Free Zone is to become the home for a $2.7 billion theme park resort with no less than five separate theme parks. We also heard that $408 million is going to be spent on the extension of the Business Bay Canal Project with the aim of creating a new tourist hotspot in the emirate complete with floating hotels and restaurants lining the canal – thus creating yet another a new attraction for visitors and residents. Throw in the Falcon City of Wonders with the world’s biggest Taj Mahal and you would be forgiven for thinking the last few years of stagnation in the emirate have all been a blur. So what on earth is going on? Well, undeniably Dubai already has an abundance of shopping malls but it really lacks any logical reason for a non-shopaholic to spend more than a few days. Building theme parks – assuming they are on a grander scale than the existing, charming but kooky Global Village – is one way to keep families coming back. If the forecasts of global air traffic are to be believed then both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are going to be hosting many more millions of travellers in the next few decades. As it was back in 2007 and 2008 development as a tourist location makes a lot of sense, at least on paper.

CirCulatiOn anD DiStributiOn ManaGer RocHeLLe aLmeiDa rochelle@cpidubai.com +971 4 368 1670 DatabaSe anD CirCulatiOn ManaGer RaJeeSH m rajeesh@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9147 PrODuCtiOn ManaGer JameS p THaRian james@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9146 DiGiTaL www.constructionmachineryme.com DiGital ServiCeS ManaGer TRiSTan TRoY maaGma Web DevelOPer JoeL aZcuna online@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9100 puBLiSHeD BY

Registered at impZ po Box 13700 Dubai, uae Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 pRinTeD BY printwell printing press LLc

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, the past few years have shown us enough mirages to encourage us not to run headlong into the sand like a bunch of entertainment ravaged so and so’s. It was not too long ago that there were gloomy predictions about Dubai falling behind Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi and I for one won’t be getting exciting until the tender board starts to light up. But let’s allow ourselves some optimism for the moment. After the past few years, we’ve earned it.

© copyright 2012 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.

(December 2012 cover illustration by Percival Manalaysay)

Wishing you all a happy New Year.

ISSUE 14 2012 DECEMBER

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

Stephen White, Group Editor, CMME

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CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

December 2012

FROM CAD TO RAK

TR100s land at Stevin Rock Plus: ACROss THE INDusTRY

* NEWs & VIEWs * RAW POWER * mAkINg CRANEs sAfE * AND mORE

nOW Online You can now catch the online edition every month at: www.constructionmachineryme.com



News Round-Up

NEWS New machines, new offices, new projects, new initiatives – we look around the region at what’s new this month.

THE JiB oF DAMoClES Hurricane Sandy tore its way through the East Coast of the United States leaving devastation in its wake, caused billions of dollars of damage. in New York the storm snapped a crane backwards off a $1.5 billion Manhattan skyscraper. it was a very public reminder that even in the most developed part of the world you can’t take crane safety for granted.

“Basra needs 100 contractors”

The level of current opportunities in Basra’s construction market is so high the province will require “50 large architecture firms and 100 contractors” in the coming years. Executive director of Dewan Architects and Engineers, Ammar Al Assam, said that he expected there to be 950 projects launched over the next year. He predicted that a number of major names would enter the market over the next two years. “iraq has been served by a very centralised government state and all the big projects were government owned; there are no contractors in iraq who can develop to the quality we are used to

and there aren’t even any private sector consultants,” Al Assam said. Naming the problem as one of three key hurdles to the development of the province, Al Assam added: “it’s competitive but it needs everybody to go in and there is opportunity for everybody. “iraq needs professional people to move in. The government doesn’t need partnerships because they have money. There is a lot of land up for development in iraq. if you have a business plan, a project masterplan and you can show that you are serious they, will give you the land,” he explained.

Tragedy at Zahid Tractor as fuel truck blast kills 23 people

A

spokesman for the Civil Defense department in Riyadh confirmed the driver of the crashed fuel tanker that exploded and killed over 20 people, including workers for Cat dealer Zahid Tractor, lost control of his vehicle on the Khurais Road before colliding with the bridge. 23 people were reported to have been killed and injured more than 130 others following the accident. The blast from the collision collapsed a flyover and devastated a plant and showroom belonging to Zahid Tractor. “The tanker had a full load of fuel when the driver lost control on the curved flyover in the city and rolled over an adjacent industrial building housing some workers.” said Captain Mohammed Hubail Al-Hammadi. “The truck driver caused the tanker to crash into one of the pillars of the bridge.”

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There were deaths from what he called a massive accident involving a tanker that hit the bridge, causing fuel to leak in huge quantity and a huge fire that engulfed the whole area including adjacent buildings. The Ministry of Transport has announced that it will demolish the Khurais Road-Sheikh Jaber intersection bridge rather than restore it with minister of transport Dr Jabarah Al-Suraisiry saying that new designs are being worked out to redevelop the entire area. A statement from the ministry said that 70 engineers, technicians and workers were working to create a detour at the site, one of the Saudi capital’s main arteries. Furthermore Prince Muhammad Bin Saad Bin Abdul Aziz, Acting Emir of Riyadh region told a press conference that two committees have been formed to assess the damage and investigate

the cause of the accident. While he was unable to confirm the extent of the damage, a report from Arab News predicted that the damages could mount to more than $80 million. The director of the Riyadh Traffic Administration Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Abu Haimed said the negligence of the driver, Robin Kebang, of the gas tanker was blamed for the accident.

Roben Kebang, a Filipino national, was held for questioning by the police. Philippine officials have reportedly offered legal assistance to the truck driver. Foreign affairs assistant secretary and spokesperson Raul Hernandez told Gulf News that Philippine embassy in Riyadh “is prepared to provide Robin Kebeng with legal assistance to help him in his defence.”


Company intelligenCe Dealer GENSERV (general engineering Services est), a leading construction equipment dealership in oman, has unveiled a trio of high-performance additions to its signature Volvo range including the new eC380D and eC480D excavators the equally impressive Volvo l250g wheel loader, the industry’s first in the 35-ton weight class. RiTCHiE BROS has announced that it will be holding its first unreserved public auction in China during Spring 2013. Ritchie Bros. has formally leased land in the tianzhu Free trade Zone (Shunyi, Beijing) in preparation for this first unreserved public auction in China. the tianzhu Free trade Zone is connected to one of China’s largest roll-on, roll-off ports in tianjin. the question is whether this is a good or a bad sign for China’s industry? Senior management at SPEEDY iNTERNATiONAL were confident of a successful return to the abu Dhabi international petroleum exhibition and Conference (aDipeC) last month, as the UK-based company prepares to man two stands at the four-day trade event. “We made our ADiPEC debut in 2010, following our market entry into the middle east that same year. now, two years on, we are looking forward to a second successful outing at the show, as our name continues to grow in the region,” said andy Carter, managing director of Speedy international. Spider and pick & carry crane manufacturer JEKKO appointed ALATAS as its distributor for the middle east. the two companies exhibited together at last month’s Big 5 show in Dubai. alatas provides cranes parts and service worldwide for a wide range of marine, offshore and mobile cranes. the agreement was finalised by edoardo marcon managing director of Jekko owner ormet and Harald muehlhauser managing director of alatas middle-east. backhoe loader as it prepares for a pick up in construction in the country.

tenDeR UpDateS

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Poject involving the construction of a new global head office for NATiONAL BANK Of ABu DHABi (NBAD) in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s new Central Business District on Al Maryah island has been announced. The new building will cover an area of 67,300 square metres and located on a key site within the Al Maryah Master Plan facing both the waterfront and a main access road.

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Meraas Development (Dubai) is constructing an OuTLET ViLLAGE at the intersection of Al Khail Road and umm Suqeim Road in Dubai. it comprises retail high-end luxury brands. Construction work is scheduled to commence in 2013, with the large-format destination set to host a total of 160 top-tier outlet stores.

MAN Trucks “hAppy” wiTh growTh iN The Middle eAsT ANd AfricA Markus Geyer, SVP, head of sales of region Middle East & Africa, says that the company is making progress in the competitive market of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is the strongest market in the Middle East and Africa for German Truck manufacturer MAN Trucks but it is still experiencing strong growth across the region despite increasingly strong competition. Talking to CMME at the PMV Live exhibition in Dubai, Markus Geyer said the company had been pleased with the progress of its TGS range, which includes the recently introduced TGS-WW truck. He said that the range accounts for 80-90% of sales, depending on the country. “MAN Trucks has developed nicely,” he said. “Saudi is the strongest market overall. It’s a stable political environment. We are also positive about the Qatar, Iraq and Oman.” Dubai-based United Motors and Heavy Equipment has been awarded top performing service centre in Middle East and Africa by MAN Truck & Bus MEA. United Motors and Heavy Equipment’s MAN service centre in al-Qusais was recognised with the award at a ceremony during this week’s Big 5 International Building & Construction Show in Dubai World Trade Centre.

During the event Geyer presented the award to Khalifa Saif Darwish Alketbi, managing director of United Motors and Heavy Equipment Co.and Darwish Bin Ahmed. The UAE service centre outperformed 42 service centres from 35 participating countries in the region, in addition to being ranked among MAN’s top performing service centres globally. Ten service centres from the Middle East and Africa were recognised for excellence, proving the high quality of aftersales support MAN says that it is committed to providing to its customers in the region. “On this occasion, I would like to congratulate United Motors & Heavy Equipment for this achievement. Their superior service delivery team and customer oriented mind-set has been the key to winning

this award. The harsh terrain, climate and intense work load demands strong after-sales support to maintain high vehicle performance. MAN has a big product footprint in the Middle East and North Africa region, with more than 70,000 trucks and more than 8,000 buses currently in operation on regional roads,” said Rudolf Wiegand, MAN VP, aftersales in Middle East and Africa. He added: “Our product range and dedication to customer services are focused on maximising our client’s investment, with our vehicle range recognised for delivering a high level of driver and passenger comfort and safety, efficient and economical fuel consumption, high performance in difficult terrain, superior payload and on-road performance.”

‘Follow saFety guidelines or Face jail’ – cMMe panel says A panel of experts have warned contractors operating construction sites to follow the safety guidelines for tower cranes or face serious consequences such as incarceration and the withholding of their passports. speaking at a panel discussion hosted by construction Machinery Middle east at pMV live 2012, the panel said that the severe punishments faced by companies meant that they had to take the training of crane operators very seriously. “you always need to remain vigilant,” said Andrew henry, operations manager for the uAe at Al habtoor leighton. “for all our building sites, ultimately, the head contractor is responsible for the safety on the site and when something goes wrong, that’s the person the police come to.” “usually one thing that happens initially is that the management responsible on the site, particularly for safety, will end up being incarcerated and have their passports withheld. There are very serious consequences,” he added.

henry said that construction firms had a responsibility to select their partners carefully, so as to ensure that safety standards are maintained at a consistently high level. “for us as a contractor, the safety of tower cranes really starts at the inception of the project. To really comprehensively address the risks, the best place to start would be with the designers and make sure we design as much of the risk out of the proposed crane layout as possible.” “you always have to remain vigilant and make sure you select your partners very carefully and always make sure that they share our passion for safety. in the case of tower cranes, our partners are the manufacturers, the companies we buy them from. That’s the first thing. Then the staff that these people have, they have to be qualified and share the same values that we have and not cut corners,” he explained. “finally, there’s the certification of the equipment, which is an ongoing, regular thing, we need to make sure that we have faith in the organisation.”

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News Round-Up

Shantui in africa

chinese earthmoving giant Shantui has opened a new base in Ghana to take on west and central african markets. an auguration took place in the capital accra last month.

Jubail Highway fire destroys 19 vehicles ContraCtors must use abu Dhabi waste Centre for permits The requisites of the Waste Management Center - Abu Dhabi have been added to the documentation required for the municipality’s HSE Plan and permit programme, effectively making the use of the facility mandatory in the Emirate. The centre is aiming to recycle 90% of construction waste by 2018. Contractor vehicles used in the transport of waste and construction debris must now be registered and licensed by the Waste Management Center - Abu Dhabi. Companies that fail to do it face being unable to obtain building and construction permits. The number of firms registered in the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Management system of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City has soared to 627 including contractors, consultants and developers operating in the building and construction sector across Abu Dhabi city. Since the introduction of the system in July 2010, the HSE Division has carried out 3,059 inspection visits to construction sites including companies of different classifications. It has also inspected 117 workers accommodations at construction sites, and carried out other tasks falling within the realm of Municipality’s responsibilities ‘&’ legal competencies, to verify the compliance with the applicable standards and procedures. According to ADM, the HSE Division issued 250 offences against building, construction and demolition sites for failing to apply the HSE measures ought to be observed as laid down in the Best Practices Manual approved by Abu Dhabi HSE Center. In the second quarter of 2012, the total number of applications submitted through the electronic

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licensing system topped 3,916 applications for obtaining permits for building, construction, demolition, and maintenance works; which required the submission of the HSE plan or the assessment of risks by contractors or consultants. The HSE project management system is developed pursuant to the Decision of Abu Dhabi Executive Council No. 42/2009, which calls for all relevant companies and public entities to develop an HSE management system. The project will also promote the implementation of Abu Dhabi Strategic Plan 2030. Khalifa Mohammed Al Mazrouei, General Manager of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, has sanctioned the HSE Policy of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, which echoes Abu Dhabi Government’s drive towards applying the HSE requirements, and is being implemented in the context of the Municipality endeavours to enhance the deliverables of all activities and operations. The HSE requirements have been linked to the electronic system of building permits in a pioneering initiative taken at the local and regional level where the submission of the HSE projects plan has become mandatory for obtaining permits for construction, maintenance, demolition and infrastructure works. In support to building and construction workers to help them understand the new requirements, the municipality issued a manual, which is the first of its kind in the UAE and the Middle East, aims to promote the HSE culture, and will have a positive bearing on the sustainability ‘&’ human development.

A fire that broke out at an industrial site on the Jubail Highway has destroyed 19 vehicles, a Civil Defence spokesperson has said. The industrial site belongs to Al Osais and covers an area of 2,000m2. The blaze took out a large number of transport vehicles parked at the site, the spokesman said.

Grounded CMME took the Ford Raptor for test drive in the desert and promptly ditched it. Truck PRs you have been warned.

“The blaze was brought under control by Civil Defence, Jubail Emergency Committee (Jama’ah) and Hadeed fire-fighters,” said Colonel Ali Al-Qahtani of the Civil Defence.

He told the newspaper that 12 pickup trucks, five empty diesel tankers, a truck and a bus were gutted in the fire. “Alhamdulillah, there was no loss of life,” he added. An investigation has been launched to find out the exact cause of the blaze, confirmed officials. Misbah Al Musabbah, a director at Al Osais, said that his company was fully geared to combat fires, but “this blaze was too big to be controlled in a short time.” He said that he believed that the fire was the result of an electrical short circuit.

Caption: Blaze at Jlt tower A massive fire engulfed Tamweel Tower in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers early in November, causing residents to flee in panic as the fire department battled the blaze.



News Round-Up

Chinese mAnufACturers fACe sAles Crisis Sales of equipment from both Chinese and foreign manufacturers in China fell 36% in the first eight months of 2012, according to the China Construction Machinery Association. The disappointing data has also been matched by the news that two of its biggest manufacturers have been hit hard by the slowdown in government spending in the country. Newspaper China Daily reported that Sany equipment manufacturer saw its profits slump $113 million in Q3, taking its total profit for t year to date to $900 million. This represent s a 23.5% fall year-on-year. XCMG’s saw an even greater decline of 30% year on year, registering a net profit of $50 million. The slump in sales has been precipitated by tighter government controls with the larger companies turning to foreign markets to maintain momentum and shed the over capacity in their factories. Many manufacturers will be hoping that a change at the top of the Chinese government executive will precipitate a new round of spending to catch on previous public spending plans. The president of Sany, Xiang Wenbo told Reuters that he predicts growth to return in H2 2013. He said he expected that development in China was on a the brink of a ‘golden age’.

Fast-growing Fuangyuan towering in togo, nigeria ADVENTURELAND Dubai is to build a massive entertainment complex in Jebel Ali with five theme parks.

Chinese tower crane manufacturer Fuangyuan has passed over the Gulf region and is concentrating on raising exports to Africa. Fuangyuan delivered its first batch of products to Nigeria, including a concrete mixing station and tower crane, in July. This was followed by a collection of f TC6010, TC4208 tower cranes to Togo in August. Fangyuan Group manufactures over 180 kinds of

products in 30 series, such as JZC, the JS series of concrete mixer, the PLD series of concrete batching machine, the HBT series of concrete pump, the HZS series of concrete mixing plant, the TC series of tower crane, the SC series of construction elevator, the WBZ series of stabilized soil mixing plant, the JZL series of electric crawler piling machinery, the FY series of concrete mixing truck, among a full range of kit.

Jubail-Damman rail contracts to be awarDeD beFore year enD

Saudi Arabia is expected to award contracts for the construction of a planned 115km rail link between the industrial city of Jubail and Damman before the end of 2012, a senior Saudi Railway Company official said on Tuesday. The world’s top oil exporter is spending billions of dollars to boost its infrastructure, which includes several railway systems, the longest of which will be a 2,750km line running

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from the capital Riyadh to near the northern border with Jordan. “Bids were received (for the Jubail – Damman rail link) and they are under evaluation. The project will be awarded before the end of the year,” Bashar Almalik, SRC’s director of civil and track works told Reuters He declined to go into specifics about the value of the contracts.

“Most of the network has been completed in terms of construction. Passengers and freight will hopefully start in 2014,” he added. The Haramain Rail project is another major railway line being constructed in the Kingdom. According to the contractor behind the project, the line, which will connect Mecca and Medina with Jeddah, Riyadh and Damman, will be operational within the next 52 months.


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News Round-Up

Qatar records decline in worker complaints Qatar’s Ministry of Labour has said that it has recorded a decline in the number of complaints it has received from expatriate workers, with the majority of disputes resolved amicably. According to a report by the Peninsula, a Qatari newspaper, the ministry said that the number of complaints received had dropped by more than half. “Earlier we used to get about 1,000 complaints monthly,” said Saleh Al Shawi. He said that the number of complaints now received had dropped to between 350 and 400 a month. “Some 90% of disputes involving workers and employers are settled amicably following the intervention of the ministry, and only 10% are referred to the court,” he added. Earlier this year, construction firms in Qatar complained that they were facing a severe skills shortage of construction workers, mainly due to the lower salaries being offered to labourers. As a result, only a few workers were willing to renew their contracts, causing a number of projects to lag behind their schedule.

GunMEn kIll TWo RoAd ConsTRuCTIon WoRkERs In IRAq Workers on a road construction project close to the Iraq city of Mosul were shot and killed last month, the Associated Press has confirmed. Witnesses said the two men were killed by gunmen while working on

a road construction site near Mosul. The report by the Associated Press said that officials at a local hospital confirmed the killings took place at a location approximately 360km northwest of Baghdad. Earlier in the day two government officials were killed in a separate gun attack in an eastern area of the Iraqi capital. A report last year said that at least 938 Iraqi private contractors had been killed out of total of 1,487 contractors since the close of the War in Iraq.

GovERnMEnT AddREssEs sAudIsATIon ConCERns Saudi Arabians to work with contracting companies.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labour will address concerns raised by private businesses over fees being charged to companies with expatriate workers exceeding Saudi employees, the Minister of Labour said last month. Adel Fakeih said that his ministry would look to address the problems faced by businesses as a result of the ministry imposing an annual fee of SAR2,400 for every expatriate worker in excess of Saudi employees.

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Fakeih added that the ministry would look a ‘legitimate and reasonable concerns fairly’, a report in Arab News. The minister’s comments come after Abdullah Al Mubti, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers, criticised the ministry’s decision. “The ministry’s decision has caught us offguard,” he said. “About 90% of workers in the contracting sector are foreign workers,” Al Mubti added, urging the ministry to encourage

Raed Al Oqabli, deputy chairman of the Contractors Committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned that the ministry’s decision could have a negative impact on the national economy. “About 90% of the one million workers in the contracting sector are foreigners. This is because most Saudis are not willing to undertake jobs offered by contracting companies as they have to work under difficult conditions,” he explained to the newspaper. “This decision is going to affect all contracting companies in the

Kingdom as there is no company that has an equal number of Saudi workers to foreign workers.” Al Oqabli added that the cost of employment would have an impact on the cost of the project, as contractors calculated the cost on the basis of expenditures. He estimated that the increase in project costs would be at 25% with the new ruling. The country has a number of ongoing construction projects, valued at $250bn, with infrastructure attracting some 34% of total investments. In addition, approximately $100bn is planned to be spent on development projects in anticipation of the World Cup 2022.

Building Bridges: Crane provider Riga lifted a 265-tonne, 70 meter-long steel footbridge over the A6 freeway in Germany. 24 trucks were needed to bring all the required components for the CC 2500-1.


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News Analysis

IronPlanet changes crane tact Online auction house faces up to the realities of selling cranes rather than earthmoving equipment with its crane strategy programme.

T

his past year, the cranes market has changed. After the strong return of previous years, the demand market has softened. This has affected everything from rental rates and residual values to the time it takes to get a large crane into the market. Even though there is limited availability, prices have not risen back to the high levels seem in the 2000–2004 period. Demand continues to be strong on a regional basis, and is driven primarily by specific industries – oil and gas, wind power, power plants and infrastructure. The buyer mix for cranes too changes by region, and is directly linked to the rental penetration of cranes in that market. Most emerging markets – such as Russia and India – have a fledgling crane rental market, meaning contractors are still the largest buyer group. By comparison, Western Europe has a much greater percentage of large cranes owned by rental companies, who in turn serve the contractor market. Europe is still a key supply market, with South America, Russia and India being good buying markets for used cranes. IronPlanet is the world’s leading dedicated online auction company for used agricultural and construction equipment. Based on the size of the market opportunity and customer feedback, they

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have identified the crane market as a segment poised for future development and growth, and rich in opportunity. According to the company, global turnover for cranes will depend upon the mix of cranes sold, but unit volumes will have exceeded 400 by the close of 2012. Furthermore, IronPlanet expects to see an up-tick in growth in 2013, as US and EU elections are decided and stimulus begins to work its way into the system. “We expect to see these volumes increase materially in 2013 and beyond, due to the added focus and resources being dedicated to this market. As such, IronPlanet has recently made strategic new appointments and significantly increased investments in order to serve this important segment,” said Matt Bousky, Vice President of Business Development, Mining and Cranes at IronPlanet. However, the differences between the crane market and the markets for other equipment, such as earthmoving equipment, necessitate a different online auction business model. Generally speaking, earthmoving equipment has a broader appeal with a greater number of potential buyers. This, coupled with the lower average transaction price of earthmoving equipment, makes it a good fit for an unreserved public auction, such as IronPlanet’s


Ritchie scoRes anotheR quaRteRly sales RecoRd Ritchie Bros, the Canadian-based auction giant, latest quarterly results demonstrate the strength of the used equipment market. Ritchie Bros revealed last month that its thirdquarter profit once saw an uptick and increased sharply from the same time last year. The company revealed that revenue increased by 16% to $92.3 million. The sales total its best-ever third-quarter results as it benefited from a surge in used equipment availability in September. The world’s largest auctioneer of equipment and trucks said that it sold $560 million of equipment at 31 unreserved auctions, the highest grossing in September and one of its largest-ever months. The company also achieved its highest ever thirdquarter gross auction proceeds with approximately $848 million of equipment sold during the quarter. With auction houses like Ritchie Bros investing in their online offering, it is perhaps unsurprising that Ritchie’s website scored 4.1 million unique visitors in the first nine months of 2012 which is a 39% increase compared to 2011. “Our record proceeds reflect steady improvement in equipment supply and demand dynamics,” said Peter Blake, Ritchie Bros CEO. “New equipment supply and demand continued to become more balanced during the quarter, which is beginning to increase the availability of used equipment in the market. This is a positive development for our business and growth prospects, though increasing equipment supply resulted in generally more variability in used equipment prices at our auctions in the month of September.” December’s Dubai auction (held at its Jebel Ali facility on 11-12 December) will see 60 Komatsu and Caterpillar pipelayers up for grabs. “Every year Ritchie Bros. sells hundreds of thousands of trucks and heavy equipment items at auctions held around the world, but it’s rare for us to offer this many pipelayers in a single auction,” said Steve Barritt, regional sales manager. “The auction features trucks and heavy equipment items too, turning it into a one-stop-shop for those who are getting ready for their next projects. Everything sells on auction day to the highest bidders without minimum bids or reserve prices, so people can find the items they need at a price that’s right and put them to work right away.” . According to Ritchie, there are currently 940+ equipment items, trucks and other vehicles being sold in the auction, including crawler tractors, wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, articulated dump trucks and many more items.

Featured Auction. Cranes, on the other hand, are an altogether different animal. “From 100t capacity and up, cranes have a unique owner base, with a unique set of needs and risk appetite,” asserted Scott McCall, IronPlanet’s director of crane operations for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia. “Accordingly, the IronPlanet Crane strategy is to offer these owners a trusted, global marketplace, on which they can buy and sell cranes with the service and expertise they deserve. Besides selling to global crane companies, IronPlanet also sells cranes to the 900,000-plus registered users from our construction buyer base. This exposure, with our modified crane business model, is what crane owners told us they wanted during our extensive market research.” “The main difference is the format of sale. While most of our general construction equipment sells in the Featured Auctions, most cranes will be sold on IronPlanet’s Daily Marketplace. This gives the seller the peace of mind to set a realistic reserve price, whilst offering the buyer a great selection, as well as a fast and efficient buying process,” he continued. Scott was, however, keen to stress that key aspects of the IronPlanet business model have not changed. “In terms of customer service, systems and inspections, the crane marketplace will use the same proven IronPlanet systems that have successfully

processed over $500,000,000 of transactions this year alone. As with all IronPlanet transactions, we will handle payments, VAT processing, registration paperwork, and our dedicated Crane Team is ready to help with logistics to ship to almost any crane around the world.” The integration of the unique strengths of the IronPlanet online auction business model, combined with an experienced Crane Team, looks set to provide crane owners with a better transaction experience. Global crane expertise, a large customer base, and the coverage of over 120 general construction representatives in the field – IronPlanet are optimistic that they will able to serve this elite customer segment. “The IronPlanet model of bringing buyers and sellers together via the internet is the way of the future. Already, we have placed cranes with buyers that the owners would never have located through existing channels,” concluded Matt. “In our 12 years, IronPlanet have worked hard, and have succeeded in establishing a reputation of trust and credibility. I am really looking forward to rolling-out this innovative model to the crane owners of EMEAR and beyond.”

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Expert Opinion

Moving from price to advice FAMCO’s Ahmad Halwani, General Manager - Construction Equipment Division, says that contractors and distributors should expect their dealer to go the extra mile.

AHmAd HAlwAni generAl mAnAger fAmco – construction equipment division

O

ur President has a saying: “We are too busy selling machines, when all our customers are looking for is a relationship”. And it is absolutely true. FAMCO’s customer’s – contractors, subcontractors and operators – need to know they can rely on us at all times and are demanding from us that we do not just sell them equipment, but get much more involved in supporting their business in other ways. Having come from a family that was involved in the sale of earthmoving equipment, it is fair to say that I was born into this industry. I have worked all over the world, traded spare parts in Canada, run a regional rental operation for Atlas Copco and am now overseeing the construction equipment arm of FAMCOs regional development. Over the years, I have been struck by how few people on both the contractor and distributor side of the industry truly understand the benefit of maximising their partnerships. There is a lot of talk about added value in the market but not enough people seem to truly understand what it means. What we’ve learned at FAMCO is that every contractor has its own set of unique requirements.

While it would be easier for us to have a fixed programme, we’ve realised that we need to design a solution for the customer that can help them to develop their business. This starts right from the initial enquiry from the customer. Rather than just trying to sell the machine, we instead look at their requirements to find out what solution they are really looking for and from there we try to work it out a package solution that suits them in the most cost effective way. For example, we start by asking questions such as what is your application? What do you need the machine for? What material do you want to move from point A to B? We try to work on the most economic solution for their requirement beyond the sale of one machine or many machines. We will work together on maintaining the machine to ensure the cost of ownership is as low as possible and keep each machine running as economically as possible. We’ve designed our service agreements and extended warranties - to ensure that the customer can focus on getting the job done and be trouble-free and avoid any unwanted surprises. Cash is king and not every customer can come and place cash on the table. Buying machinery is obviously a major cash investment, so we moved the business to be able to offer arrangements where payments can be done over several years. FAMCO Financial Services has been able to leverage our Group’s long established relations with the larger local banks through our automotive division. We’ve been able to use that tool to our advantage in our portfolio so we can finance construction equipment, trucks and buses, compressors, generators and

“WE START By ASkInG quESTIOnS SuCH AS WHAT IS

yOuR APPlICATIOn? WHAT DO yOu nEED THE MACHInE FOR? WHAT MATERIAl DO yOu WAnT TO MOvE FROM POInT A TO B?”

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other lines in our portfolio. Some customers are now looking for extra security and we’ve started offering buy-back options packaged with service agreements. The idea is to preserve the machine’s condition and ensure, via the buy-back option, that after three or four years customers can now do a trade-in. At the very least we try to encourage the customer to maintain the service programme with us, so they can maximise the value of the machine over its lifetime. Since 2010 we have also offered rental options on new machinery as well as used. We’ve recognised that we can have all the options in the world for our customers but this would not matter if our team is not ready to go when and where they are needed them. Because of the culture we have nurtured at FAMCO, our team’s priority is to do the best thing for our long-term relationship with customers. It’s a relationship built on trust. If help is needed, even at a weekend or in the middle of the night, we always make sure we have someone at the end of the phone ready to help. We know that if we get a call at that time it’s going to be like a “999 call” and we need to be there and be ready to go that extra mile. Being a regional operator can often be challenging, so we have worked hard on the localisation of our services. Our local teams have the responsibility to ensure we maintain the same level of service as that which we would provide at our headquarters in Dubai. From the people we recruit to the way we operate today we can say that across the region we have a FAMCO culture where everyone shares the same ethics. Whatever a customer wants, it’s a complete solution. Although price will always play an important part in any purchase decision, and we must always remain competitive, we seem to be moving away from just talking about price. We are moving more towards providing advice, and building value and trust. Through this our customers often become our long term partners.



Heavy Hitters

staying attached

Gaby Rayhem looks back at a tumultuous 18 months in the region and sees plenty of reasons for Doosan to continue its startling progress.

F

irst thing in the morning, I’m drinking my coffee and the first thing I do is check...” Gaby Rayhem, checking himself, he grabs his nearby laptop. “I look to the news on Construction Machinery website. I’m using it a lot. In fact I send it to my team and I say...this is interesting. I am an addict to the title!” Rayhem is a charmer, but Doosan’s regional director has been generously spreading his brand of positivity in the heavy equipment industry for many years. Under his guidance Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment – which includes the colossus orange machines, the famous Bobcat compact range of equipment and attachments,

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and the recently rebadged Moxy ADT range – the Korean company has gone from strength to strength in the region. He can now look back with some satisfaction at the work so far and be typically upbeat about what is to come from Doosan’s ongoing assault on the market. With a wide area to cover and a lot to say and sell he is understandably upwardly mobile. “It’s crazy. Tomorrow I’m travelling to Saudi, then Qatar. I’ll then come back and next week I’ll be at a workshop in the Czech Republic. There we have our annual EDAC, our Europe dealer advisory council. We have presentations from dealers, from everywhere. For the Middle East, we’ll have one for Doosan and


“LIBYA WAS A BIG CouNTRY FoR uS AS GADDAFI WAS RELEASING FuNDS FoR BIG pRojECTS. IN TWo YEARS WE WENT FRoM zERo BoBCATS To 150 THE YEAR BEFoRE THEY GoT RID oF HIM.”

one for Bobcat. There we can talk about what has happened through the year – what’s happening, what’s good, what we can do better.” These discussions he says are vital, open exchanges between manufacturer and dealer. “They can tell us. Guys on this point you are good but also this is what you must improve and you must see what the others (other manufacturers) are doing.” He reminds me, the last time we met was at DICE’s launch of the new branding for Moxy in Molde on the eastern coast of Norway. That week coincided with the last EDAC, where company president Tony Helsham was present. “Dealers there told me, look at this operation,” he gesticulates at an invisible competitor. “They have aftermarket and parts, etc. You need to be doing this in the Middle East. They are pushing us and challenging us.” Rayhem values the openness of these discussions and the says the company is pushing to meet those expectations. “We want to be in the top five [of global manufacturers].” His own finely tuned remit involves looking after the Gulf nations and Egypt and Libya in Northern Africa. “I did have (the whole of) Africa as well but it was too much. In some places you don’t have more than two flights a week, so you have to spend ten days. “However there is a boom in Africa and so we decided to split it with the Middle East.”

With both Libya (a country where South Korean contractors had billions of dollars worth of projects underway before the civil war broke out) and Egypt experiencing their own difficulties in the past 18 months he seems briefly downbeat about their current situation, if not their future prospects. “We had a lot of hopes for Libya but then we had the political situation and security has not improved there at all,” he says. “After the civil war everybody has a gun – if I look at you and don’t like you, I will shoot you. I called my dealer and asked whether he wanted to me to come and he turned around he and said, if you come and they will kidnap you. [He laughs] He told me, he doesn’t have the money to come get me!” Before the war DICE’s brands had strong demand from South Korean and Libya contractors in the country, he explains. “Libya was a big country for us as Gaddafi was under pressure and releasing funds for big projects. In two years we went from zero Bobcats to 150, the year before they got rid of him.” He adds: “I hope I am wrong but I can’t see it improving there until the second half of next year. Without security, people will not put money there.” While he is worried for the construction industry and Libya’s short-term prospects, he sees a brighter situation in its neighbour Egypt. “I tell you why,” he states. “They have a new president. It doesn’t mean that the security is better but Egypt will get money from the IMF for $4 billion [agreed as CMME went to press] and Egypt is going to be back. 2013 will be okay and we see business come back.” The past two years have been a tumultuous period for the region and Rayhem’s travels have given him a unique perspective on how the region is evolving. Turning his attention to Syria, where Bobcat had previously been winning a number of cleaning contracts, he sees a country under immense hardship

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Heavy Hitters

but still capable of a settled future: “i am sure that once it is over, then the investment will come which will have a good impact on countries such as iraq.” the challenge for the company has been to replace what he estimates could have been up to 500 machines in those countries. fortunately for dicE, it is among a group of companies that benefit from a wide geographical spread and a developed presence in the buoyant saudi arabian market. “last year and this, saudi was 70% of our business in the middle East,” he says. “and this will be still going next year, maybe even more. there are too many projects and too much to be done. Everybody is taking a profit. i would say there is even a shortage of machinery. Even with used machinery. Even the chinese are happy with saudi. Everybody is doing good business in saudi.” dicE’s operation in the region is centred around its Jebel ali office. being close to dubai is a reminder of how quickly things can shift even in a booming market. however he sees no reason to view the market with trepidation. “saudi is different for a couple of reasons,” he says. “firstly, when you have a project in a country you need to be sure you have the income for the project. well, saudi is the number one oil producer in the world at 5 million barrels per day, the second is what? 3.5 or something like that.

“EvErybody is taking a profit and i would

say thErE is EvEn a shortagE of machinEry. EvEn with usEd machinEry. EvEn thE chinEsE arE happy with saudi.”

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“secondly it is a very huge country with little infrastructure and few connections between cities. so you have rail expansion. don’t forget mekkah either. for hajj, we had between 150 to 200 bobcats working 24 hours per day cleaning. wheel loaders are too big for this work and you have to keep the city clean. the machines working for the month are doing the equivalent of one year. plus, the government wants to give its people houses. the buildings are old and they have to invest.” while dicE can see its bobcat and doosan brands continue to grow in the region, he says that it is its attachments range (now numbering close to 100 for skid steer loaders) that ensures that it will maintain its momentum. he considers it a major advantage. he uses the example of wheelsaws in saudi arabia which are used to cut 80cm trenches for electrical lines as a sign of their popularity. “we have said from the beginning that we have a solution beyond your expectation. our attachment range stretches from snow to sand: construction to agriculture. we can go to our customers and say what do you want to do?” bobcat – an identifiably us marque - has kept its branding as dicE looks to cash in on the name but this has not been the case for moxy which has been absorbed into the doosan brand. does being a south korean carry any weight with middle East buyers? “ten years ago when you talked about korean brands, people said no, no we want Japanese. televisions, phones, who is thenumber one today? samsung. where are the Japanese now?” he questions. “however doosan has to prove that the machine is reliable, so we encourage people to put it beside the competition. if they are worried that is coming from korea, i tell them i want to guarantee the machine; i’ll give you an extended warranty. we can also now tell people we have the same infrastructure as the competition.” that infrastructure is supported by some strong dealers in the region. saudi diesel in particular has proven to be an effective partner helping to share 50% of the excavator market in the middle East with its nearest rival. “in saudi we are now number two in excavators, number two in wheel loaders. the people who bought doosan at the beginning were hesitant but saudi diesel understood, put in a lot energy and investment. when you have the right product and the right people, then you will succeed.”


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Special Feature Report Slug

From CAD to rAK

CMME ventures to Ras Al Khaimah to see the final leg of Stevin Rock’s massive order for a fleet of Terex TR100s arrive and get ready to roll-out December 2012

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Special Report

Stevin Rock controls one of the biggest open pit quarries in the world. Ten Terex TR100s arrived in early November and ten more will follow as the company continues to invest in new equipment.

W

hen documentary makers from the Discovery Channel’s Factory Line programme went into Terex’ cavernous Motherwell factory they were astounded by the production line of the giant TR100 rigid dump trucks, giving them the nickname of ‘Scottish heavy metal’. CMME was in Ras Al Khaimah last month to see ten of the beasts roll off the barges at Khor Khwair, the harbour which sits at the base of Stevin Rock’s mountain-moving quarry. Overseeing their arrival was Stevin Rock’s quarry manager Simon Turner who told CMME that he couldn’t wait to get them working. “As soon as they are cleared at the harbour, we’ll get them over to the quarry and working. I needed them yesterday.” The trucks arrived at the rocky outcrop of the northern emirate having completed a sea voyage from Scotland (via Jebel Ali) which CMME had been tracking via updates from Terex over the course of four weeks.

A different scAle Despite the immense scale of the Motherwell operation, when representatives from Stevin Rock ordered nearly a dozen of them at October’s InterMat Middle East, it was big news for the factory. Quarrying and mining has been a relatively safe industry during the downturn, but it is also highly competitive, squeezing the operations of the major players in the sector. However orders like Stevin Rock’s are clear indications that there is a global marketplace

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for the Scottish-built quarry dwellers. Bulky all-action heroes that dare to go where others fear to roll, rigid dump trucks really are the Arnold Schwarzeneggers of heavy vehicles. Terex’ TR100 is a 1,000 hp behemoth that weighs 67t, is 11m long and 5m high. Capable of hauling 100t, it’s all-important heaped capacity at 57m3 is the equivalent of 15,000 gallons. In terms of water that would be enough to last an average household for two months. At Stevin Rock, the TR100 will be expected to carry the load at least twice daily. It takes 500 people along the four production lines at the plant to forge the titanic TR100 rigid dump trucks. It’s not just the dimensions that are impressive either, the definition of rugged and robust, these trucks are expected to work thousands of hours in the most extreme of conditions. Their usefulness at locations like Stevin Rock will be measured by their durability and Terex will be expected to provide machines that can be used on a 24/7 basis to maximise production and provide the maximum return on investment. From the moment the order came in from Stevin Rock, the wheels began turning in Motherwell. The factory can turnaround a TR100 in 15 days and is run on just in time and Kaizen lean manufacturing principles. Most of the British heavy industry learned the lesson of using such philosophies far too late and were overtaken by modern manufacturers across the globe. Fortunately these have been embraced at the plant, ensuring that Stevin Rock’s largest barge was able to


Ras Khaimah (RaK):underline Boxal header 1 white industRial Gateway to the uae. On 24 February 1972, Ras Al Khaimah became the last of the seven emirates to join the UAE federation. The former ruler of the emirate, H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who had been in power since 1948, was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. Ras Al Khaimah, or RAK, is the UAE’s most northernmost emirate. Due to its strategic geographical location, it has become a focal point for industry, quarrying, and manufacturing. The government of Ras Al Khaimah encouraged the manufacturing and service industries by creating infrastructure conducive to free trade and free enterprise. RAK Ceramics, Ras Al Khaimah’s flagship company, is the world’s largest manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles and exports to more than 150 countries across 5 continents. It serves as a shining testament to Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial potential.

Since 2003, the government of RAK has invested heavily in education and public utilities, and has pursued an economic diversification policy, promoting industrialization and tourism. In the pursuit of economic diversification, RAK has made tangible progress in its effort to become a top destination for investment. Ras Al Khaimah was ranked first on fDi Magazine’s list of “Cities Most Attractive for Foreign Investment” and sixth on the list of “Top 20 Middle Eastern Cities”. Today, RAK is estimated to have a population of 250,000. The emirate is 2,478 sq. km with a GDP of nearly AED 16 billion ($4.3 billion). Yearly imports are estimated at nearly AED 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) with exports and reexports totalling nearly 10 billion ($2.7 billion) and 3.5 billion ($952 million) respectively.

pick them up at jebel ali a few weeks after the deal was made. by the time the machines arrived fresh out of their wrapping at stevin rock’s quarry, they would have also undergone hundreds of quality assurance tests. although turner says that they are not quite fit for purpose as they sit patiently stacked at the sevenberth harbour. they’ll need to be sprayed to be prepared for the quarry “before they go anywhere near it”, he explains.

scalinG the wall as we ride out of the harbour, looming large inland and rising hundreds of metres out of the ground is stevin rock quarry, the place where mountains are moved. the tr100s are to be deployed on the stevin rock half of what is actually two quarries, which between them are digging into the north-east tip of ras al Khaimah. both are owned by stevin rock - it bought out neighbour ras al Khaimah rock company in 2007 - and between them can churn out almost 60 million tonnes of limestone per year. the quarry is being expanded extensively on the stevin rock side, and in the past five years millions of tonnes have been shattered effectively reshaping the coastline. the quarry itself is a wall of limestone rock that forms an open pit. the system at work is straightforward enough; involving the practice of drilling and blasting planned rock benches; the loading of material with either a wheel loader or excavator with hydraulic grab;

and hauling to the selected destination with a huge fleet of off-highway trucks. “the width of the quarry is about 1.75km, and we’ve got 20 benches over 30 km of face,” says turner. “You have to get your access first to generate the faces. the first job was to get the accessing up the ridge. at the moment we’re blasting 800,000t per week – 3.2 million tonnes per month.” the tr100s are joining an ageing collection of Komatsus, caterpillars and older types from terex’ family, their route into the quarry will take them past machines that are no longer needed and stripped of their parts. “it’s an elephants’ graveyard,” says turner. it could take decades but eventually they will find themselves in that yard, but it is the here and now that turner is concerned with. it is his job to make sure the quarry’s huge inventory of equipment is kept ticking over.

tRaininG the top Guns while his role involves the complete operation of the quarrying, previous experience in training and quality assurance has proven vital.

“You have to get Your access first so You can generate the faces. the first job was to get the accessing up the ridge.” December 2012

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14-17 April 2013 Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Co-located with

Saudi Building & Interiors Exhibition

The region’s largesT ConsTrUCTion

eqUipmenT eXhiBiTion Following a successful 2012 event, the Construction Machinery Show, the largest construction machinery exhibition in the Gulf region, returns to Jeddah between 14-17 April 2013. With the total value of awarded construction contracts reaching $72 billion in 2011 and with much more to come, the Construction Machinery Show is the ideal opportunity for buyers of construction machinery and heavy equipment to meet manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. A total of 450 billion Saudi Riyals ($120 billion) will be spent on construction projects between 2012-2016, and much of the development is focused on turning

Jeddah into a world class city, making it the perfect location for the Construction Machinery Show. The 2012 exhibition proved that Saudi Arabia is the most dynamic country in terms of construction in the region, drawing praise from exhibitors for the quality of his attendees and the number of deals signed on the show floor. With over 20,000 sqm of space at the Jeddah Exhibition Centre dedicated purely to construction equipment the Construction Machinery Show in 2013 will once again stand out as an event where visitors come to buy. We will be back in April 2013, Will you?

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Special Report

“i have to make sure it’s used efficiently,” he says. “the biggest challenge we have is ensuring that the workers – of which the vast majority are very unskilled and illiterate - have the right training. “Some of the guys we get have a huge amount of confidence with zero amount of competence backed up with no ability.” with much of the equipment in use worth up to half a million dollars, Stevin Rock is putting a lot of effort into raising the standard of operator knowhow. experience has taught turner that the best way is to appoint champions from within the ranks who receive training direct from manufacturers on how to best use the equipment. through them the message of greater awareness when operating equipment is filtering through the workforce. “these guys are not stupid, they’re just not educated. in the uk you can send them away to do their nvQs, here we have to work on giving very intensive training. and it has to be show and tell.” he says, before giving an example of how it can work. “our excavators used to be broken down two days out every seven, usually because of operator error. but we cherry picked five or six of the best guys who were given a two-day training course, they were then assessed by the attendants we have here from the uk and we’ve generated a 15% increases in machine productivity and the availability is now

95%. we give them 5 dirhams a day extra and call them our top guns.” “now they’re all coming out of the woodwork wanting to be top guns!” he laughs then adds seriously, “but the benefit we get is huge.” at the hub of the quarry operation is the workshop, a series of bays and a store of new and refurbished parts from machines that have outlived their usefulness. within hours of rolling into harbour, the new rigid dump trucks from terex are checked in at the quarry and being checked out by Stevin Rock’s crack team of technicians. with targets to meet and the work constant, turner cannot wait to get the tR100s into service. ahead for those ten machines – and another ten more that were ordered in november – is a lifetime of hard labour and little rest. “no, they won’t be getting a day off unless they break down. the site is extremely intensive. brutal. these trucks are like a super-tanker, once you get it moving in the right direction and at the right speed. leave it alone.”

The best operators at Stevin Rock are awarded the title of Top Gun. Some will be given the job of operating the massive 56t TR100, a rigid off-road rock truck that can carry loads of up to 100t.

“they won’t be getting a day off unleSS they bReak down. the Site iS extRemely intenSive. bRutal.”

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Special Interview

WHY DO CRANES FAIL?

CPI Construction group editor, Stephen White conducted a panel discussion during PMV Live. The event brought together some of the foremost experts in the world for a discussion on tower crane safety.

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to expect every single element of that change to move forward at the same pace. there is work to be done but there is also a strong foundation to build on. the Crane Safety session at last month’s pMv Live event, was an opportunity to discuss how the region can best approach the challenge of ensuring that the industry is a safe as it possibly can be. It was a chance to examine some of the major challenges that are ahead for the industry if it wants to take the subject seriously.

Stephen White: What makeS a toWer crane Safe?

“WHAt MAkES A toWEr CrANE SAfE IS A SEt of pEopLE, proCEdUrES ANd tHINGS INvoLvEd. It’S Not JUSt oNE ELEMENt tHAt MAkES A toWEr CrANE SAfE, It’S A CoMbINAtIoN.”

E

nsuring the safe deployment and operation of tower cranes is a global challenge. Just two weeks ago, Hurricane Sandy tore its way through the east coast of the United States leaving devastation in its wake, caused billions of dollars of damage. Last month, the Hurricane Sandy storm that ripped through the Atlantic coast snapped a crane backwards off a $1.5 billion Manhatten skyscraper in New York. It was a very public reminder that even in the most developed part of the world you can never take the operation and safety for cranes for granted. Even when you’ve been building tall for well over a century. When a crane fails, construction stops. Crane accidents are often very public, costly, and lives can be lost. And while these are obvious consequences and costs, there is also the potential for criminal charges and arrests with jail sentences a reality. Given the UAE is a very young country at 41 years old, there has been a lot of remarkable progress here in a short amount of time. However when things as complicated as national development moves forward quickly, it is impossible

The panel peter Schieffer, ceo Wolffkran andrew henry, operations manager Al Habtoor Leighton richard colley, regional lifting operations manager Velosi thibault Le Besnerais, global product manager Manitowoc’s Potain Cranes engineer alia ismail ahmed mohammed: head of the inspection Section Inspection Bodies Accreditation Section, Dubai Municipality

thibault Le Besnerais: I think talking about safety is not a matter of technology, it’s also about a matter of processes for our industry. We’re in an industry where lack of safety can have tragic consequences. this is why we believe that safety is not only a feature, but also a culture and it starts from design. for sure, we completely follow all the standards and the compliance to the safety requirements, but because of the technology and experience that we have, we’ve also developed, at the design stage, some very strong models, calculation models, where we can very precisely plan for the crane behaviour and values and stress it will be exposed to. Dr peter Schieffer: What makes a tower crane safe is a set of people, procedures and things involved. It’s not just one element that makes a tower crane safe, it’s a combination of things. one is the design of the tower crane, the material being used; the second is the safety features that you actually design into the crane, it includes things as simple as having proper handrails or no wide gaps in the crane, reaching out to elements like anti-collision interfaces. the next element is operators: trained operators, operator training, correct dismantling training, skilled people basically, that’s another element that makes tower cranes safe. And then of course there’s inspection, servicing and maintenance of a crane to avoid the unthinkable one day happening. there’s a lot prevention you can take by just maintaining the crane properly. andrew henry: for us, as a contractor, the safety of our tower cranes really starts from the very inception of the project. to really comprehensively address that risk we very closely with the December 2012

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Special Interview

construction and design team to make sure that we take out as much risk out of the proposed crane layout as possible, and minimise potential crashes and make sure there’s a safe way of pulling them down at the end of the project.

SW: HoW concerned SHould We be aS an induStry about tHe fake and counterfeit crane productS tHat Have crept into tHe market? tlb: It’s difficult to control; with the internet you can buy things from anywhere. So that’s difficult, but the best way is to contact the original manufacturer. It’s a big project, it started with Asia and now it’s moved to the Middle East, spreading to Europe and it’s a real issue.

aH: We work very carefully to ensure that we select our partners who we work with in this space very carefully, to make sure that they share our passion for safety and quality. In the case of tower cranes, we obviously have manufacturers we work with. We have a fleet of 87 cranes, so we have to choose who we buy them from. Just like a car, you can either buy a very cheap one, or a very good one. And you need to have a good one, so that’s the first thing. Then the staff that these people have, they have to be qualified and share the same values that we have and not cut corners. We need to make sure that we have faith in the organisation doing the certification, they have to be independent, they act with high integrity and they don’t cut corners either. SW: WitH tHat in mind, WHere doeS a developer or a contractor’S 30

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“UlTIMATEly, ThE hEAd conTrAcTor IS

rESponSIblE for ThE SAfETy on ThAT SITE, And If SoMEThIng goES Wrong, ThEy’rE ThE onES ThAT ThE polIcE coME To.”

reSponSibility begin in termS of crane Safety on projectS? andreW Henry: Ultimately, the head contractor is responsible for the safety on that site, and if something goes wrong, they’re the ones that the police come to, they’re the ones that lead the investigations if there’s been an incident. Usually what happens initially is that key management responsible for a site, particularly for safety, will end up being incarcerated and their passports confiscated. These things can happen. So that’s one incentive, apart from that no one wants to see anyone get injured any way. pS: To put it politely, we cannot at the end of the day, make the crane idiot-proof, but we’re working on it to eliminate, as far as we can, any operator error. Today’s technology and computer systems actually to take complexity out of the process, rather than adding complexity by really using smart control systems to make sure that the crane operator, and whatever condition the crane is in, will not do something stupid.


It’s our people erecting and dismantling cranes, it’s our own people operating cranes and you want to make sure that these people get home safe and healthy and alive at night and you don’t want to take any chances on that. so clearly, you have to be a driving force in that respect. It’s not a feature, it’s a culture and it should be mandatory.

EnginEEr AliA: our priority is safety, safety and safety. we don’t want to come to an end where having an accident, or major high risk problems. at the end, the reputation of dubai will be affected, and to reduce (the risk of accidents), we have different types of departments controlling construction sites. we have a pool of inspection bodies accredited from dubai municipality and we make sure that they’re competent at an international level. they will judge the company and the inspection bodies and make sure they are performing inspections to an international standard. this will add credibility to the certificate being issued to the construction site, guaranteeing that the tower crane is safe to be used. this is one of the elements that affect safety. we do have the manufacturer, we do have the installation, but we want more than this. the building department and dubai municipality inspect the building sites and they make sure contractors are following dubai’s regulations and rules.

“It starts wIth the manufacturers, but

It goes through to the operators, the constructIon companIes, the way you lay out the cranes, how you operate them, In what condItIons, how much pressure you put on them, how you traIn people.”

SW: Which dirEction do you think thE crAnE And gEnErAl conStruction induStry Should procEEd from thiS point? richiE collEy: It depends on the client really. some of our clients now are enforcing more stringent rules, but with tower cranes, every time it’s altered, it must be inspected. every time you make it higher, shorter, etc, you must inspect it. for the gcc countries, this is the one that’s leading the way for the inspection of tower cranes. all over the uae, especially dubai. they’re driving it forwards, the way it should be. now they’re tying in with abu dhabi, and abu dhabi is going in that direction, and the more they drive it, the better it will be.

Ah: what we’re passionate about is adding a higher level of mandated safety regulatory body here. that would create a more even playing field for all contractors and balance the costs for everyone. well, I suppose ultimately the municipality is a key player in that and they’ll determine which body will dictate that, I suppose. pS: how practical is it to end up in jail because you’re not watching the rules and you’re doing something that’s not safe? It starts with the manufacturers, but it goes through to the operators, the construction companies, the way you lay out the cranes, how you operate them, in what conditions, how much pressure you put on them, how you train people and all these things. when you ask yourself if it’s practical or not, (you have to realise) at the end of the day, we’re talking about lives of people and some catastrophic consequences if you don’t watch out. I don’t think it’s an option. It’s in your best interests, anybody involved in a construction site, should be invested personally to watch safety. December 2012

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Special Interview

A license to drill CMME puts on its dinner jacket and straps on its exploding pen to talk to the team behind Caterpillar’s cameo in Skyfall, James Bond’s latest adventure.

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The machine’s modifications have not gone unnoticed by bloggers, but the changes were necessary to ensure the stunt worker was safe and dramatic. The final result is a highlight of the movie.

W

hen the producers went back to the drawing board with the James Bond series they knew that they had to take it into a new direction. The idea of a suave British secret agent who relied on his wits, pithy remarks and gadgetry was starting to look out of step with a world that had moved on from the cold war. Cinema-goer tastes had changed as well. Special effects driven movies like Transformers were throwing millions of pixels a minute to distract you from wondering where the plot had gone. Meanwhile grittier takes of outcast figures like Bruce Wayne or Jason Bourne dragged you into worlds of damaged heroes that were shaped by brutality. Batman may exist in the extremes of Gotham city, but compared to the iceberg surfing Bond and his invisible car, the Dark Knight seemed like a character out of a Mike Leigh movie. In short, by the mid-naughties Bond was showing his age. Then came Casino Royale and Daniel Craig in 2006. Taking Bond back down to the status of the blunt instrument of the British secret service, the movie propelled the secret agent back into peril. The action was correspondingly much grittier, with an early scene set on a construction site that mixed parkour with plasterboard in a particularly stunning sequence that screamed danger. Shot in the Bahamas, the scene’s highlight was Bond’s fight with the cat-like Mollaka at the top of two Linden Comansa cranes. Both men fight then leap from crane to crane (Bond with a little less grace than Mollaka, it must be said) before jumping to a halfbuilt building below.

“THERE WERE A LoT oF UNKNoWNS. WHEN

FILMING DID BEGIN, IT TooK A CREW oF ABoUT 300 PEoPLE To CoMPLETE THE SHooT.”

The sequence only runs for a couple of minutes of screen time but it took months to prepare. Uk company City Lifting sent over two LC5211 flat top tower cranes as well as two operators for the shoot. Another UK outfit Lee Lifting delivered other equipment including a Grove GMK5100 all terrain mobile crane to the Bahamas. While both men and cranes arrived directly in the Bahamas for City Lifting, Lee had the extra logistical challenge of dealing with local transport regulations. Broken down before being shipped from UK port Southampton to Jacksonville, Florida, the equipment was then dismantled even further (local transport regulations restricted weight to 10 tons per axle) for the relatively short leg to Miami. Having made it to Miami, they were then rebuilt in the docks and loaded on to ships for shipment to Nassau - joining 11 excavators, 28 pickup trucks and 25 production trailers to the film set. The two companies’ massive contribution helped make Casino Royale a roaring success – Bond was back.

Caterpillar in Skyfall The combination of dramatic and realistic action scenes with an awardingly complex plot signalled a return to form,and the movie went on to make $600million at the box office, becoming the highest grossing Bond movie of all time. The re-booted Bond franchise was underway and ready to thrill a new generation of movie fans. A second film, Quantum of Solace followed in 2008 and now James Bond is back in his latest adventure Skyfall. Again marrying a character-driven plot with more gritty action scenes, the film starts with Bond in Turkey tracking an assailant across Istanbul and onto a train where Bond forces his way on board using a Caterpillar 320D L. Planning for the excavator’s participation began in July 2011. Art director, James Foster, who collaborated on the early plans for the scene, said “We originally had three ideas for this stunt during the

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Special Interview

opening scene, including using the 320D L somehow on a flatbed train carriage. It was the idea that leapt out at us as a cool thing to do and we liked the idea that the excavator’s boom is Bond’s arm reaching out to grab the train.” In the opening sequence, Bond is engaged in a chase, part of which takes place on and around the 320D L. Speeding down the tracks at 70kph, the flatbed carriage carrying the excavator is uncoupled from the rest of the train. To continue the chase, Bond uses the excavator’s arm and bucket to grab the separated train. Bond then uses the arm as a bridge over which he crosses to continue the chase. The stunt took extensive coordinating and planning. “We had a rehearsal period of about four months (starting February 2012) and then another two months shooting the scene,” says Martin Joy, the location manager in Turkey. Adding to the challenge was the fact that this kind of stunt had never been attempted before. Gary Powell, the stunt coordinator, said: “There were a lot of unknowns so we started with simple studio testing. When we eventually arrived in Turkey, we made test runs of the train’s entire route to check for hazards such as low cables. When filming did begin, it took a crew of about 300 people to complete the shoot.” The crew chose Adana because railways there went through the right kind of landscape. Plus, one of the five tracks had the kind of bridge needed for the end of the scene. Not all filming was done in the countryside, however. “At times, the set was 2km long and went right through town,” Martin Joy added. Caterpillar has plenty of experience of designing and building equipment to meet customers’ needs and in this case, the customisation involved something unique – putting the cab on the opposite side of the 320D L as requested by EON Productions, the James Bond production company.

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Darren Litten, action vehicles coordinator, explains: “Because of pre-visualisations, the location and interaction between Bond and Eve, it only worked if the cab was on the other side.” Changing all the electronics and hydraulics was a huge task for the special effects department. “Probably 50 percent of the work done to that machine was changing the cab around,” said Litten. A lot of time and effort also went into making sure actors, stunt people, crew and bystanders were safe. For example, the excavator was held to the train using a metal track so the 26-ton machine could travel along the length of the rail car and not fall off. “Safety was critical,” says Chris Corbould, special effects supervisor. “We were basically shooting through the middle of Adana, Turkey and had the added danger of a high-speed car chase next to the train.” For the 320D L, some creative “set dressing” was used to make the stunts as safe as possible. James Foster said, “We discretely added hand holds and used grills to cover some of the hydraulics. We also used a grippy paint finish on certain areas of the 320D L so there was extra traction.” Cat dealers Finning UK and Borusan Makina were integral in making the filming a success. Finning UK assisted special effects (SFX) in technical support and supply of parts for the excavators. At the site, Borusan Makina provided on-site expertise and services as well as equipment, such as gensets, a skid steer loader and mini hydraulic excavator, for the shoot. Despite Caterpillar’s involvement in more than 20 movies,

“YOU hAvE TO ACCEPT ThAT ThE ArT DEPT WANT

IT TO FIT. IT’S ON A TrAIN AND YOU CAN’T hAvE A MAChINE ThAT IS CLEAN AND SPArKLING.”


Top 5 MaCHINERY MovIE CaMEos He was back: Terminator 2 truck chase Between filming the first Terminator movie and its sequal, Arnold Schwarzenegger had become an international movie phenomenom. However it was a Freightliner truck that stole the show in the movie’s most iconic scene. Rescuing future leader of the human resistance John Connor (Edward Furlong) the two are chased by the Terminator v2.0 upgrade, the T1000, down a flood control channel in the San Fernando Valley. Proving as impossible to kill off as its driver, the Freightliner is eventually killed off by the classic movie move of an exploding fuel tank. JCB Indahouse Before Sacha Baron Cohen terrorised right-wing America

as Borat, he was wannabe rapper Ali G. As part of the the promo campaign for Ali G: Indahouse, model Vanessa Perroncel was covered by mini-JCBs. Ten years after its release, CMME still doesn’t know why. Don’t panic: JCB descends on Arthur Dent’s soon to be demolished home. Arthur Dent played by Martin Freeman wakes up to find out that a fleet of JCBs are about to tear down his house, that his best friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) is from Betelgeuse, and that galatic contractors Vogons (with their giant construction fleet) are about to demolish the Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass. You can only imagine the size of the tender document for that job. The JCBs used included 8060

including 1999 Bond film The World is now enought, Robert Woodley, communications manager for Cat Europe, Middle East and Africa, tells CMME that the company’s involvement was not necessarily a given when the call came in from Eon Productions. “You don’t know really what you are going to be saying yes to,” he says. “You always have to be cautious as you don’t know what the scene is and whether it is going to be an onscreen view of the logo. Is it going to be mentioned as an endorsement? Somebody utilising the equipment is even better for you. To get all three is perfect. In this one we don’t quite get all three. We got some really good visuals of Daniel Craig at the controls and it’s a working model.” The machine in the film is as battered and bruised as Bond’s MI6 psychological profile, Woodley says that looks are deceiving. “It’s a new machine,” he chuckles. “You have to accept that when the art department puts it together they want it to fit with the rest of the scene. It’s on a cargo train and you can’t have a machine that is clean and sparkling.” Construction kit has a notoriously observant set of followers and Woodley says that the modifications to the 320D have not gone unnoticed on blogs. The use of demolition guards on the rig seems to have drawn the most attention. The filmmakers uses the guard to provide a ramp for Bond to scale the machine’s hydraulic arm, a manoeuvre that would have been incredibly difficult in any other way. “They didn’t want to go into doing green screen and post production shots, I had talked to them about the types of demolition equipment and I said theoretically having a guard over the hydraulics could be a customer requirement. I said I could live with that. But there are some excavator experts that have wondered why we have a running platform.” One thing that may have been missed is a placement of a Caterpillar power genset earlier in the scene. It is a smaller cameo than hoped for. Revisions

midi excavators, a JS200 wheeled excavator, a JS130 wheeled excavator, a 722 dump truck, a 456ZX wheeled loading shovel, a 4CX backhoe loader, a 3CX backhoe loader, a 411 wheeled loading shovel and a 532-120 Loadall telescopic handler. Cat to the future: Ripley has her P-5000 license Caterpillar machines have appeared in a number of films over the decades, but perhaps the one that no discerning machinery lover would like is the P-5000 Power Loader. James Cameron has always been a heavy machinery fan, and this futuristic forklift is a belter. Used by Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in her climatic fight with the Alien Queen. If you look carefully you can see Cat’s old pacman style logo on its legs.

A license to thrill: Linden Comansa swings into Casino Royale The producers of Casino Royale turned to the Bahamas (doubling for Madagascar), where writer Ian Fleming wrote the Bond series, to film this stunning sequence set on a construction site. The newly annointed 007 (Daniel Craig) chases his lead Mollaka, played by parkour artist Sebastien Foucan up to the top of two cranes provided by Spain’s Linden Comansa. The two fight jumping from one crane to another before Mollaka leaps onto the roof of a nearby building, Bond takes off in hot pursuit. Literally. Look out for another brief cameo by a JLG access platform near the end of the sequence.

to the script and the intervention of Volkswagen meant that Woodley’s hope for a flatbed of gensets was replaced by VW Beetles. “In the script ‘M’ says “what is that?” to [MI6 agent] agent Eve who replies “oh, Beetles. Originally there was supposed to be a couple engine enclosures (that would be knocked off by the excavator) .” He says that Cat and Eon had discussed doing it and the 16 enclosures were shipped out: “But when they got to the train they realised that the time it was going to take them to knock off the enclosure, knock off the Beetles it was too long. So we re-positioned the enclosure for another shot.” With the movie breaking records at the box office, the next challenge for Caterpillar is to maximise its role in the film. It’s a process that started during filming he says with customers invited to the famous 007 set at Pinewood Studios. “I don’t get care about how many seconds we get the Cat logo on film but I do want it to be about when the customer is in the car with his children, they are going to say look, that machine is a Cat. If the association means that people are now saying ‘let’s get Cat to quote’ then that’s enough for me.”

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Product Focus

Raw power EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

page 42 UPWARD CURVE Is concrete canvas’ newcomer to the region the answer to civil engineer’s dreams? Apparently it’s already racking up impressive landmarks in the Oman and UAE markets.

page 40

IT’S A BIGGY!

Cifa and Zoomlion reveal their mighty seven stage 80m concrete pump at this year’s Bauma China show in Shanghai.

page 42

POWERFUL FIT

Drawing from more than 100 years of experience and a collaborative effort of global Terex engineers, the new Powerlift 1000 increases capabilities and efficiencies for lifting contractors.

page 56 EARTH MOVING

CMME tales a look at what’s shfiting in the region’s earthmoving equipment scene.

page 41 FLAT-TOP FIX

Linden Comansa’s Chinese subsidiary COMANSA JIE exhibits its 21 CJ 400 Flat-Top tower crane and 110kw winch at Bauma China.

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New Products

WORLD’S LARGEST PUMP TO MAKE OFFICIAL DEBUT AT BAUMA CHINA WHY GET IT? RECORD BREAKING REACH MEGAPROJECT MACHINE

Z

Scania’s 15.5m chassis was specially commissioned to Swedish company Laxå Special Vehicles and the truck is powered by a 620 hp V8-engine.

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oomlion and Cifa’s Pump 101 concrete pump giant made its first public appearance at last month’s Bauma China. As the name suggests, the pump is 101 metres long and has a 7-section boom, the last 4 sections being made of carbon. The new Guinness Book of Record’s entrant was made as a result of the joint efforts of the technical departments based in Changsha and Senago. Over 60 employees worked full-time on the project, from the design stage to production and assembly. “CIFA together with Zoomlion, is back in the Guinness Book of Records a year after the presentation of the 80-metre pump”, said Research and Development Director Nicola Pirri. “Our group’s innovations, involving new materials and electronic systems, tell the world that we are always forwardlooking. Every single detail, designed with meticulous precision, makes us stronger and more prestigious on the international market every day.” “Zoomlion asked us to make the tallest pump in the world”, said Alessandro Macera, Head Product Manager at the R&D department in Senago, “and we have been engaged on an amazing feat of coengineering with our Chinese counterparts since March. The Changsha team dealt with the structural and hydraulic aspects, while the Italian team focused on the structure and calculations for the 4 carbon sections.” “The carbon used in the Zoomlion-Cifa 101 pump has a high modulus of elasticity, and is a very different material from the one used in the Carbotech range to date”, said Technical Area Manager Mauro Cortellini. “There are obviously many other innovative solutions, which we will evaluate at the internal testing stage.” “The most important thing”, added Paolo Maini, a member of the calculation team, “is that the pump structure is mounted on a vehicle chassis, not on a special vehicle, which means that it will comply with the maximum dimensions and footprints imposed for road transport.” Cifa’s Managing Director Davide Cipolla highlighted the new strategic partnership between

the Zoomlion Group and the Bucci Group.“We not only had to expand the Italian and Chinese teams to ensure continuous technological and design development and achieve absolutely unique results, but also developed a new technical and manufacturing structure with our partner company Riba Composites Srl, with which Cifa signed a Joint Venture Agreement a few days ago. The created company Top Carbon will handle production and development of the application of carbon fibre to construction machinery. Pump 101 is currently at the prototype stage, and is due to undergo a detailed structural and functional analysis, with very strict tests. The target market for this product is certainly China, but there may well also be demand from Europe in future.” Swedish truck manufacturer Scania says that the chassis for Zoomlion and Cifa’s Pump 101 truck is the largest it has ever built. To carry the weight of the 7-section boom, a 7-axle chassis was designed and built by Scania in Södertälje, Sweden. The 15.5m chassis was specially commissioned to Swedish company Laxå Special Vehicles and the truck is powered by a 620 hp V8-engine. Scania says that in order to ensure high uptime, Scania China has trained personnel at Zoomlion’s own service workshops and has also established special teams of service technicians that can assist in the event of operational disruptions. Altogether this very special vehicle is 18.5m long. An exceptional feature is the fact that the pump structure is mounted on a “normal” truck chassis, not on a special vehicle, which means that it plies with the maximum dimensions and footprints imposed for road transport. Scania has delivered trucks to Zoomlion since 2008. The truck chassis have been increasingly customised to facilitate and streamline Zoomlion’s work of fitting superstructures. “Scania’s strong position as a supplier of trucks to the premium segment for concrete pumps represents a success for our entire organisation’s cross-functional working method,” said Peter Sjöblom, Managing Director of Scania China.


DOOSAN LAUNCHES LARGEST, MOST POWERFUL WHEEL LOADER FOR MENA WHY GET IT? TIER 2 POWERHOUSE... ...WITH NOD TO BEING GREEN

Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment has launched the new generation DL550 wheel loader, the top-of-the-range model in the company’s new family of wheel loaders intended for markets in the Middle East and Africa. With a bucket capacity of 5.4 m3, the DL550 wheel loader is designed to meet a wide range of material-handling needs from loading and transporting granular material (such as sand and gravel) to industrial, mining and quarrying applications.

A key feature of the new DL550 wheel loader is the Tier 2 12.7 litre Scania DC13 turbo-charged, air-to-air intercooled diesel engine, which is ideal for use in the Middle East and Africa, delivering ‘best in class’ power with a maximum output of 294 kW at 2100 RPM. The high engine power output is combined with new ZF transmissions and several other features which, in addition to reducing fuel consumption, provide exceptional performance, high durability,

ease of handling and serviceability, and significantly enhanced operator comfort. The new DL550 wheel loader has three engine working modes: ECO, NORMAL and POWER, to adapt the machine to different applications, with different engine speeds and gear steps according to the working mode engaged. With the ‘Power-Up’ function, the operator can manually adjust to the next highest working mode by applying a full stroke of the accelerator pedal. With this function, the operator can travel in moderate NORMAL mode and switch to POWER mode when it is really needed, such as when taking material from a pile. This capability helps to reduce fuel consumption. The ECO Bar provides information in real-time about fuel consumption in relation to machine performance, allowing the operator to select the driving mode for the best fuel efficiency. The operator can set a password for machine start. There is also a new Auto Idle feature which, when activated, reduces engine speed by about 200 RPM after 10 seconds if there is no machine movement. Auto Idle is ideal for applications with long waiting times, such as truck loading and lowers fuel consumption significantly.

LINDEN COMANSA SHOWS OFF NEW FLAT TOP AT BAUMA CHINA

NEW DOOSAN BRANDED LIGHT COMPACTION RANGE WHY GET IT? WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS HONDA POWER ASSIST

WHY GET IT? BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? MAST CHOICE FLEXIBILITY SPECIFICATIONS: • Max load: 3,000 kg • Max jib length: 80m • Max height: 90m • Cross base: 6-10m • Mast section width: 2m

Linden Comansa Chinese subsidiary COMANSA JIE exhibited its 21 CJ 400 Flat-Top tower crane and 110kw winch at Bauma China. The exhibited crane was a 21 CJ 400 from COMANSA JIE Hangzhou factory, with maximum load capacity of 18 tonnes. Linden’s 21 CJ 400 Flat-Top tower crane can load up to 3,000 kilos at its maximum jib length, 80 meters. It can be erected with the 6-meter-wide or the 10-meter-wide folding cross base, and allows an extreme modularity of mast sections to achieve freestanding heights of up to 95 meters, says Linden Comansa. Two types of mast sections are available for this crane. The DJ23 mast section is 2-meter-wide and especially useful for congested jobsites at standard heights and when internal climbing is needed, although a hydraulic cage for external climbing is available too.

BRIEF SPECIFICATIONS FOR DOOSAN DL550 WHEEL LOADER • Capacity, heaped: 5.4 m3 • Length with bucket: 9,870 mm • Width with bucket: 3,400 mm • Height: 3,785 mm • Bucket hinge height: 4,795 mm • Maximum travel speed: 36.0 km/h • Engine: Tier 2 12.7 litre Scania DC13, delivering 294 kW at 2100 RPM • Operating weight: 31470 kg

The SJ35 mast section is 2.5-meter-wide and is recommended for high rise construction and jobsites where external climbing is necessary. The 110 kW winch is available as an option for the 21 CJ550-24t, exhibited by COMANSA JIE on the last edition of Bauma China with the standard 80 kW winch. The winch drum capacity is 1450 meters of wire, an especially useful configuration for high rise construction and other industrial applications, which are very common in today’s international market, such as power plants.

The new Light Compaction Equipment Range from Doosan Portable Power comprises vibratory plate compactors, upright rammers and walk-behind single and double drum rollers designed for a wide variety of applications. The selection of Doosan vibratory plate compactors comprises six single direction vibratory plate compactors. All are powered by Honda engines. The three lighter BX-6WH, BX8WH, BX12WH

plates offer plate sizes of 400 x 525 mm, 480 x 585 mm and 550 x 650 mm, respectively. operates at 93.3 Hz. The BX-120WH plate has the same vibration rate as the other two models with an impact force of 25.4 kN and compaction depth of 41 cm. Three upright rammer models, the RX264H, RX-304H and RX-344H, are also part of the range and are designed for efficient compaction of a wide range of soils from mixed and cohesive to heavy clay in backfilling.

RX-264H SPECIFCATIONS: • Engine: 2.1 kW Honda GX100 • Power: 2.1 kW • Shoe size of 230 x 330 mm • Weight: 58 kg • Impact force: 11.2 kN • Frequency: 600-650 bpm.

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New Products

TEREX UNVEILS POWERLIFT 1000 CRAWLER CRANE GOAT-PROOF CONCRETE CANVAS WHY GET IT? Offering a maximum 55-t lifting capacity and TAILORED TO EMERGING MARKETS 203.5-mt load moment, the new Powerlift 1000 MAKES BIG-5 DEBUT COMPETITIVELY ADVANTAGES

The new 55-t capacity class Terex Powerlift 1000 crawler crane unveiled at Bauma China features a compact design and best-in-class reach and lifting capacity. Drawing from more than 100 years of experience and a collaborative effort of global Terex engineers, the new Powerlift 1000 increases capabilities and efficiencies for lifting contractors throughout the emerging markets. “When we combine the efforts, talents and experience of our team members from around the world, great outcomes, like the Powerlift 1000 are possible,” says Ken Lousberg, president of Terex China. “Built in our Jinan, China facility, the crane offers the most compact design in its class for fast and efficient transport without sacrificing lift or reach capabilities. This is just one example of how Terex Crane’s global presence and wealth of applications experience delivers value and competitive advantages for our customers.”

FUWA LAUNCHES GLOBAL CRAWLER RANGE WHY GET IT? A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK PROMISED RANGE SUPPORT

Fuwa used Bauma China to launch the first models in a new crawler crane range from 55 to 285 tonnes capacity, which it plans to market worldwide. According to Dutch-born Hemmo Luijerink, who Fuwa put in charge of the project, the seven-model FWX range will feature a modular design principle, which will help deliver advantages in quality, design speed, manufacturing efficiency, cost control and after sales service. All of the new models other than the largest one are due to go on show at Bauma China. The models

offers the highest capacity performance throughout its entire work range among its capacity class. This new lattice boom crawler crane offers up to a 55-m main boom and a maximum 61-m system length. Customers can equip the Powerlift 1000 with 6-, 9-, 12- or 15-m fixed jibs, which offer 10° and 30° offsets to increase versatility at the jobsite. “Our new Powerlift 1000 offers the longest main boom and fixed jib reach among competitive cranes,” continues Lousberg. Its self-rigging design boom affords fast and easy onsite setup. Class-leading high/low lifting speed settings of 124/73 m/min give operators the flexibility to match line speed to the load and increase lifting efficiency. At only 3-m wide, the Terex Powerlift 1000 is the most compact crawler crane in its class, boasting a 10% narrower structure than its closest competitor. It is the only crane within its class that can fit through the narrow toll-ways that contractors in China must go through, saving customers transport time and money. Even with its convenient narrow design, the crane sacrifices nothing with regards to lifting performance on the job. SPECIFICATIONS: • Lifting Capacity: 55t • Load moment: 203.5mt • Boom length: 55m • System length 65m • Jib offset range: 10o-30o

on show will comprise, the FWX55, a standard lift crane with a 210 tonne-metre load moment rating and a maximum main boom and fly jib combination is 40 + 18 m. The 75 tonne capacity FWX75 shares components with the FWX55, but offers a s 46 + 18 m main boom and fly jib combination. The FWX85 meanwhile offers 85 tonnes of capacity, full selfassembly capabilities and a maximum main boom and fly jib combination of 49 + 18 m. Further up the range, the FWX135 replaces Fuwa’s QUY150. Capacity is 135 tonnes at 5 m radius and a luffing jib will be available giving a maximum combination length of 48.5 + 49 m. Similarly, the 180 tonne capacity FWX185 will come with the option of a luffing jib, offering a maximum combination length of 58.8 + 52 m. The largest Fuwa crawler crane on show at Bauma China will the 225 tonne capacity FWX225, which supersedes the QUY250. A luffing jib will be available, giving a maximum combination length of 58.8 + 70m.

Tel: +966 3 802 4938 Fax: +966 3 826 9894 www.ahqsons.com info@ahqsons.com

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WHY GET IT? CUTS EQUIPMENT USE CUTS LAYING TIME

UK company Taffys says that its concrete canvas product has enjoyed a successful deployment in Ras Al Khaimah despite searing summer temperatures and interference from a hoard of goats. Concrete canvas is a flexible cement impregnated fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable water proof and fire proof concrete layer. The lighter alternative to prefabricated products can be laid on the ground, channels or slopes, minimising the use of heavy equipment. Speaking at Big5, Richard Thorne said that the RAK government turned to the company while constructing a road by the Al Jais Wadi in the heart of the emirate. The new road is being constructed to allow tourists to reach the peak of the mountain range and Taffys worked alongside with resident engineering company Halcrow and contractor is GMC. The key issues for the road were the effect of large volumes

of rain, which fall in a short period of time and in many cases only once every couple of years, causing the erosion of the slopes which in turn fall and block the road or wash parts of it away. According to Taffys: “Halcrow sought a fast and effective solution to creating gullies down the mountain side to channel the water. Due to the steepness of the slopes old fashioned methods of precast channels to pouring insitu concrete with form work and steel were difficult to implement and added significant time, potential for injuries and on costs.” The rolls of concrete canvas were delivered in earlier this year and stored over the summer. Thorne revealed that goats picked at and removed the wrapping leaving the rolls exposed in temperatures of well over 40 degrees. Fortunately Taffys’ products survived the ordeal and was ready to be laid in August. Concrete Canvas allows quick implementation, reducing risks significantly by only needing to be pegged into the slope. No heavy equipment was needed, with the exception of a crane to allow the CC rolls to be laid down the slope. Water was poured then poured down the gulley to set.


Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons Co. Tariq Al-Qahtani & Brothers

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Sector Analysis

Does the earth move for you? CMME gets down and dirty to look at the shifting earthmoving scene.

Box header 1

W

hen Shantui pitched up its flags in Jebel Ali last year, the company thought it had solved the riddle of how to best approach the Middle East market. Finally it had its parts office and was fixing its gaze on Jebel Ali South as a possible second location for its arriving earthmoving equipment. Behind the scenes the company was in advance negotiations with an established dealer that would give the company nous and a network. For that dealer it would also fill a gap in terms of its own offering. It seemed that in very near future Shantui would have achieved the ultimate goal for Chinese manufacturers: an established base and a proactive sales arm. Months passed and no announcement was made; that was until the latter part of this year when the company’s executives arrived in town and at the offices of Karama’s Genavco. CMME understands that Genavco was not its first choice – but it is a good fit. Perhaps best known for its dealership of Isuzu’s light vehicles, Genavco is no slouch in the arena of equipment either and includes Hamm, JLG and John Deere among its racks of brochures. According to the Chinese manufacturer the partnership complements Genavco’s diverse product range with Shantui’s earth-moving equipment adding a solid site workhorse to its numbers.

Through the relationship the Chinese manufacturer says that it will witness a strong market positioning of its equipment with Genavco’s “strong sales staff will be focusing on promoting sales of bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, pipe layers, motor graders and diesel forklifts from the Shantui product range in the UAE.” Shantui’s bulldozers have secured 65% market share in China and they are the number one producer of bulldozers in the world for the last three consecutive years. Like other fellow Chinese equipment makers, it needs the Middle East and Africa (see its new set-up in Ghana) to help grow the company. While Shantui is nicknamed the ‘king of the hill’ in China and its biggest single seller of bulldozers, it is also using Genavco to sell a whole range of construction equipment. Among them is its lesser known ‘excavator’. Straddling a range from 6t to 40t, the machine follows the dozer programme at Shantui by being a kit of some of the best names in the market, including the proven Cummins Engine powerhouse and Kawasaki produced hydraulics. Of course Shantui says its machines will be at an attractive price point for the Middle East market. Genavco was proud to have pushed its rivals aside to get Shantui’s signature on its books. “We are proud to be associated with Shantui brand in the UAE” said Isam Abu Nabah, president

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Sector Analysis

Pushing forward It is not certain who invented the first bulldozer, however, the bulldozer blade was in use before the invention of any tractor. It consisted of a frame with a blade at the front into which were harnessed two mules. The mules would push the blade into a heap of dirt dumped by a cart and spread the dirt or push it over a bank to fill a hole or gully. The fun part came when you wanted the mules to back up for the next push. The term bulldozer technically refers only to a shovel-like blade, over the years people have

of the dealer. “This will complement our product range and enhance our positioning in providing comprehensive business solutions to our clients in the road, construction, quarry and mining industries, and I am confident that with such quality products in our range, together with Genavco’s strong sales and service back-up, we are definitely looking for a bright future ahead”. Industry veteran Asif Sayeed Khan, the equipment divisional manager at Genavco chipped in: “The prime objective of Genavco and Shantui is to provide quality product backed by professional sales and after-sales support to meet and exceed customers’ expectations in the UAE construction industry.” On their side Shantui hinted the company was going to use Genavco as its partner in a full on assault in the markets close to the UAE. “It was a very important decision for us to partner with a sound and renowned group - Juma Al Majid Group , for the Oman, Qatar and UAE regions” remarked Chang Yang, general manager, Shantui Construction Machinery FZE. “Their experience and success in the construction industry will contribute further to the growth of the Shantui brand in the GCC. Genavco’s reputation as a supplier of quality products perfectly matches our philosophy and we have full confidence in their capabilities in delivering and achieving our common objectives.” So what about the machines themselves? Well there’s the excellent 23t SD22, which packs a 162 kW Cummins engine in tandem with Shantui’s patented central lubrication technology, central pressure measurement and automatic track tensioning, as well as a GPS satellite positioning system. The company has introduced the 105 tonne SD905 which it claims is the largest bulldozer in China at the Bauma China show. The size may be the attention grabber– it is powered by a 708kW engine,

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come to associate the term bulldozer to the entire vehicle both blade and crawler tractor combined. There is also some debate about who first fitted a bulldozer blade to a track-laying tractor, perhaps the La PlanteChoate company, one of the early manufacturers of bulldozer blades.” Again, there are various claimants for the title of being the first to fit a power control to one of these bulldozer blades with Robert Gilmour Le Tourneau considered by historians to be the leading contender.

and equipped with a 45 m3 capacity blade – but it is the other features that demonstrate the company’s progression in the international scene. The Bauma China model included on-board technology such as colour display instruments with automatic fault detection systems and a remote monitoring system to allow real-time diagnosis of servicing needs. Shantui also says the machine’s hydraulic fan system can adjusts speed according to working conditions to temper power use. New types of earthmovers will not be in short supply in the Middle East’s market in 2013. Doosan recently launched its new generation DL550 wheel loader, the top-of-the-range model in the company’s new family of wheel loaders intended

“YOU GET A MACHINE WHOSE COMPONENTS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION, GREATER RELIABILITY, AND VERSATILITY.”


for markets in the Middle East and Africa. With a bucket capacity of 5.4 m3, the DL550 wheel loader is designed to meet a wide range of materialhandling needs from loading and transporting granular material (such as sand and gravel) to industrial, mining and quarrying applications. CMME goes into greater detail in this month’s Raw Power but it is worth mentioning the machine’s new ZF transmission which it says improves the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels and contributes significantly to the overall reduction in fuel consumption. According to Doosan: “The new transmission provides better response and acceleration, especially on slopes. Engine speed variation is less thanks to smaller gear steps, and lower engine speed throughout the whole drive range reduces fuel consumption. Thanks to higher shift quality, noise levels are lower while driving performance and productivity have been increased. A 5-gear transmission with torque convertor lock up is available as an option.” Also worthy of attention on the Tier 2 bulldozer side of things is the Komatsu’s D475A ‘superdozer’. Around since the early 1980s, the Komatsu D475A is the second largest bulldozer in the Komatsu line after the D575A, the world’s largest production bulldozer. The current version is the 108,390 kg, 670 kW, D475A-5. There are several versions of the D475A that are used in surface mining, open-pit mining, quarries and construction worldwide making it relatively safe punt if you’re looking for new kit. “You get a machine whose components are designed to work together for higher production, greater reliability, and more versatility,” says Komatsu. As fellow machinery magazine Equipment World revealed in late summer JCB is retiring its 456 wheel loader model. While this will now be replaced by the practically named 457, there is also the 24-tonne 467 wheeled loader to consider. The machine is powered by a 290bhp Cummins QSB Stage IIIA/Tier 3 engine and has a 4m3 capacity bucket as standard. JCB has said it is its biggest ever wheeled loader and is designed

“JCB SAYS IT IS ITS BIGGEST EVER WHEELED

LOADER AND DESIGNED FOR COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY AND AFRICA.” for countries in the Middle East, Russia/CIS, Latin America, Turkey, Africa and Australia. LiuGong Machinery Corporation showed off its line of Dressta designed dozers in the middle of 2012. The three dozers, manufactured in the company’s newlyacquired plant in Poland, gives the Chinese company a potent ‘in’ o bulldozer technology. Included in the range is the TD-14M with an operating weight of 15,550kg and a blade capacity of 4.28m³; the TD20M (operating weight 23,650kg and a blade capacity of 8.45 m³) and the TD-40E, which has an operating weight of 67,700kg and a blade capacity of 39.8m³. Quarry buyers looking in the large category of wheel loaders should also comtemplate the Tier 2 version of Caterpillar’s 993K. The Tier 2-equivalent of the Cat C32 engine comes with new engine control and powertrain features, and a new Cycle Timer feature. The updated 993K’s fuel consumption is reduced as much as 10 percent, Caterpillar says, achieved by lowering rated speed and equipping the machine with Auto Idle Kickdown (reduces throttle-lock speed after a set idling interval) and Engine Idle Shutdown (shuts down the engine after extended periods of idling). A new battery management system shuts down electrical power after the latter system activates. Complementing these features is the Delayed Engine Shutdown system, which allows the engine to idle after key-off to cool the turbocharger.

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Show ordinary skid steers the door.

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Nobody rivals our vision. JCB has always been a visionary company, from the invention of the world’s first fully-suspended Fastrac tractor to the only skid steer with a side door. Now, we’ve redesigned our skid steer from the ground up. 17 new wheeled and tracked models give you greater visibility, efficiency, accessibility, comfort and serviceability – all without sacrificing the unique safety. Step into the industry’s only side door and you’ll learn why this is no ordinary skid steer. For your nearest dealer go to www.jcb.com

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Apps to buy

APPS N O I T C U R T R CONS priced U O Y easonably X E L F pps are r a O und or st T o o r M g E p e TIM k on th ogle sho r o o g W e to th y r re o abilit itunes sto y aid your can reall it’s apple’s at er th h s et n h o W luti e shelf so r dealers. and off th uipMent o eq eW n e c ur help to so

CANvAS’ INSPECTION APPS Canvas has dozens of inspection checklist apps for all kinds of diverse heavy equipment. These checklists cover critical items such as brakes, grab irons, lights, tires, steering components, body, transmission and several other areas. The checklists also include detailed items for the engine, cab and body. Some of the checklists apps available cover specific types of machines including hydraulic excavators, landfill compactors, demolition hydraulic excavators and many others.

RESALE WEEkLY- RESALEAPP Machinery professionals looking to buy or sell heavy plant, equipment or spares anywhere around the globe can now access the latest, up-to-the-minute information on what’s available, where and at what price, with the release of the latest free to download iPhone version of the ResaleWeekly.

DIggERS AND OThER hEAvY EqUIPMENT An educational app that with a single tap on the screen you hear the sounds of the engines. Switch to narration and your preschool child will also get useful information about all the vehicles. Children from the age of 1 can learn about Excavators, tractorshovels, JCBs, dumpers, concrete mixers, tractors, cranes, cherry pickers, bulldozers, asphalt pavers, road rollers, forklift trucks, road-sweepers, rubbish lorries, snow ploughs and slurry pumps.

IRONPLANET’S APP Place your bid and receive instant alerts when you have been outbid or won the item. IronPlanet’s mobile app lets you buy used heavy equipment and vehicles from your mobile device. IronPlanet members can search for items by category or upcoming auction dates. You can review the features, inspection report, and photo gallery for the item along with our exclusive IronClad Assurance.

Top 10 apps for your kit

Let your smart phone or tablet turn you into a smarter construction operator.

vOLvO DEALER LOCATOR volvo Trucks’ Dealer Locator smartphone app makes it easy to find information about the nearest dealer or service workshop. The app is being constantly updated to incorporate volvo Trucks’ entire global service network.

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Selling Kit

ConstruCtion estimating app this is an easy to use app that allows the user to estimate jobs on the go and email a proposal from the convenience of an android mobile phone or tablet. an expample user review: “A must have tool for both DIY’s and profes sional projects. The ability to begin a project, save it, nd add more data to it as I continue makes this my all in one recorder for expenditure and estimating costs. A feature I’d find useful would be the option to open the last saved project on startup - just to save myself a few clicks, but then again I’m probably finding more uses for this app than it was designed for. Excellent work. Five stars.”

handyman CalCulator multi-function ‘true’j handyman Calculator, like camouflage. Complete construction calculator with simple inputs. easy to use and very quick as well. well tested by 200,000+ contractors and home owners.

read the reviews User rev

iews are fa ntastic w can work ays to get in the rea an idea of l world. a download how an a lso look s that yoU pp oUt for U have mad pdates on e as they any are consta ntly impr oved.

plangrid plangrid, an innovative app for the ipad, allows for blueprint management that includes cloud storage capabilities, on-the-go changes, and pushed updates to ensure that the plans in the field are the latest version.

my measures & dimensions this app boasts more than a million downloads from the apple store. with data provided in metric and imperial units, it’s apparently an apple staff favourite. it also can store and share object dimensions.

Bridge ConstruCtor 5 million downloads for Bridge Constructor, the game that let’s you become an accomplished bridge builder without any formal training.

Tel: +966 3 802 4938 Fax: +966 3 826 9894 www.ahqsons.com info@ahqsons.com

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Show Review

Keeping it live CMME walks PMV Live with a former exhibitor and asks whether he regrets missing this year’s event

Around 2,371 exhibitors from more than 60 countries participated in this year’s event, the organisers said. Having been around for 30 years, the show has become a crucial barometer for the construction industry in the region, and all the signs point towards a successful 2013.

T

he Big 5 in Dubai is the region’s largest construction related event, with thousands of exhibitors and visitors flocking to the show to meet with suppliers, manufacturers and producers from all across the world. Over the last few years, the exhibition has seen the effects of the financial crisis hit attendance to the show, with exhibitor numbers dropping and visitors looking for quality over quantity. However, in perhaps the clearest sign that the construction industry is back in business, the 2012 edition of the show has proved to be the biggest in a very long time. “This has been the biggest event in the show’s history and there has been a constant buzz from the show floor. What has come across from all events is that real business is being done throughout the four days and it is an excellent opportunity for regional and international companies to come together and understand where they can work together in the

future,” says Andy White, the event director for The Big 5 event. Around 2,371 exhibitors from more than 60 countries have taken part in this year’s event, organisers said. Having been around for 30 years, the show has become a crucial barometer for the construction industry in the region, and all the signs point towards a successful 2013. Figures released by organisers show that millions of dollars in deals were confirmed during the four day event, across a number of different sectors and exhibitors from The Big 5, Middle East Concrete, PMV Live and FM Expo. Echo Barrier, a Middle East Concrete exhibitor, says that it had signed no less than 45 deals for its noise control barriers during the week, despite it being the first time it had taken part in the event. “We came here to test the market, and we’ve been very surprised by the uptake and the understanding of the product, for us it’s been an amazing show,”

Tel: +966 3 802 4938 Fax: +966 3 826 9894 www.ahqsons.com info@ahqsons.com

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Show Review

THE 5 WAYS PMV LIVE COULD BE BETTER NEXT YEAR This year’s show was the most international yet, demonstrating the Big 5’s growing importance to international companies looking to grow their businesses by coming into the region. PMV Live was full of companies looking for local partners. With markets like Europe continuing to slump and Africa getting ever more accessible this will continue into 2013. While it is becoming more international, the signs from Dubai at the close of 2012 are pretty positive. Contractors are also seeing tenders returning. Dubai has announced that it is planning for a huge tourism and retail

development, including the world’s largest shopping mall. Located between Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Al Khail Road, the project is regarded as a symbol of Dubai’s resurgence after the crippling debt crisis that engulfed it three years ago. With Intermat Middle East now not returning until January 2013, Big 5 now has a free run at the end of next year. Exhibitors this year were tempted away to the Abu Dhabi event that took place just weeks before. The question now is whether they will continue to support that event or see Big 5 as their major showcase.

The general opinion among visitors and exhibitors seemed to be that Qatar’s current malaise will end in the second half of next year. Big 5 would certainly be boosted if there is tangible evidence that the World Cup 2022 build has begun. Finally, and for CMME, most excitingly, we will be holding the inaugural Construction Machinery Middle East awards on the second day of the event (26 November). It may seem to be a long way away but we will soon send out details on the categories and how to nominate. So be warned CMME will spend the next 12 months looking out for worthy winners!

“SUSTAINABILITY IS NO LONGER JUST A

BOARDROOM BUZZWORD BUT A NECESSITY.” enthuses Andrew Murphy, managing director of the UK based firm. A number of the national pavilions, including Qatar, the UK and the US, were very positive about the business being conducted at the various events, with a number of firms confirming that they had secured several million dollars worth of deals. However, as positive as this news is, a number of experienced heads called for calm analysis of the market situation. Stefano Innacone, managing director of IBS-MAPEI, is one of those who warn that the increased development in the construction industry has wider implications for manufacturers and suppliers. “It’s about quality now. People don’t want to make the mistakes of saving a few hundred thousand dollars and then have to spend millions redoing a project because the quality has let them down,” he explains during an interview with Big Project ME. He adds that if the 2010 and 2011 versions of Big 5 were about testing the waters and seeing if the market was ready for a comeback, this year’s event was about making sure the market got the level of quality it demanded from its suppliers: “We expect a slight contraction in the number and value of projects.” He adds: “It’s also true that the projects that are to come, they have different specifications (to those

Tel: +966 3 802 4938 Fax: +966 3 826 9894 www.ahqsons.com info@ahqsons.com

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previously). They are more quality oriented than they were a few years ago. “The volume isn’t as high as it used to be, in terms of the value of the project, but there’s more quality awareness in the way they’re built and there’s more awareness of sustainability and there’s more use of green materials,” he says. This awareness of sustainability has underpinned a number of workshops and seminars at events this year, with Andy White explaining that he wanted to put education at the forefront of the show. “It’s a topic that is an inherent part of all sectors of the building and construction industry, and one that each event will address specifically within its own context,” he says. “Sustainability is no longer just a boardroom buzzword but a necessity in the current business landscape. Thanks to support from the government and various associations in the UAE we have seen how positive the economic impact of sustainability can be,” he adds. Both PMV Live and MEC 2012 had a host of product launches over the first two days. Formwork specialist Doka ,which was seen steady business from the infrastructure sector recently, including work on road and interchanges in Dubai and Sharjah, launched a cost-effective housing solution for the residential construction sector called Dokaflex 15. Meanwhile in the PMV Live outdoor area, Orientals Specialist Lifting, debuted the latest addition to the company’s rental and sale fleet with trailer-mounted crane and glass handling equipment from Boecker.




Show Review

Prior to the event, CMME spoke to a number of companies that for a variety of reasons had turned down the opportunity to exhibit at this year’s event. Their main concern was whether they would get value out of it. Bauma China is in a couple of weeks and industry behemoth Bauma returns early in 2013. With InterMat Middle East attracting a few crucial big names such as JCB, Liebherr and Doosan last month, it is fair to say that, on the machinery front at least, it would not be unreasonable to assume that this is the toughest event to sell to exhibitors since the bottom fell out of the floor of the UAE and Gulf market in 2009. On the visitor side, there has never been more choice for equipment buyers in terms of shows. Bauma will always be about new launches. Bauma China will be about Chinese and asian exports. InterMat Middle East, bravely pitched itself to them as a global show for a local market (and enjoyed only mixed results as a result) and did its best to draft in recognisable players. It would be understandable if they were confused about whether PMV Live and the related Middle East Concrete – both perhaps unfairly considered sideshows to Big-5 – was an event where they need to carry a cheque book. However there was genuine quality about the exhibitors there even if it is a little light on the heavy equipment side compared

to say, Bauma. There is also the robust programme of conferences and seminars there this week. All of which are worthy of your attention. The organisers clearly worked hard at ramping up the ‘experience’ inside Hall Saeed where the PMV Live and MEC 2012 event share space. Wisely there was a German Pavilion in situ, meaning you could finally visit the show and not wear out your shoe leather trying to meet relevant people for our industry. While the inside area was the best yet, the outside area compares less favourably. That is not to say that brands like MAN Trucks, Hyundai, Hino, XGMA are not showing strong products but it lacked a hook like Sany’s displays of last year. Returning exhibitors told CCME that the area lacked the through traffic of previous years. The machinery element of the Big 5 is clearly at a crossroads. It still has the pull to attract some big names but it is not currently able to match their expectations shaped by the boom years and the still healthy global events. This year was a marked improvement, but it is still a show that seems like it lacks a big idea to keep the attention.

“WHILE THE INSIDE AREA IS THE BEST YET, THE OUTSIDE AREA COMPARES LESS FAVOURABLY.” Tel: +966 3 802 4938 Fax: +966 3 826 9894 www.ahqsons.com info@ahqsons.com

December 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

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e l p p a r G g i B The rgot to Somebody fo rane safe make their c goes and New York apoplectic.

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Sydney, after it caught fire. Favco strangely opted to tell journalists that it would not confirm or deny whether the crane was made by them. Why, when any passer by with a decent phone camera could read the model number on the swaying boom, almost beggers belief.

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December 2012




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