Construction Machinery Middle East by Construction Machinery ME

ISSUE 7 MAY 2012

TECHNOLOGY GAP

Is the region getting left behind?

SALE SEASON IN SAuDI

The Construction Machinery Show

INVENTION AND INNOVATION sPECIAl

THE ART OF DESIGN

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

Plus: ACROss THE INDusTRY

The inspiring story of Merlo * NEWs & VIEWs * Off-ROAD TRuCKs * INTERMAT REVIEW * AND MORE

Contents

IS S U E 7 M AY 2 0 1 2

Editorial Now’s the time to have some quality time with consultants in Qatar – it’s not like they’ve got anything better to do, is it?

page 16 InnovatIon and InventIon specIal

a cMMe special looks at the stories behind some of the great inventions in the world of construction machinery.

NEws What’s happening across the region in the world of construction machinery.

NEws aNalysis: CMME at ProJECt Qatar

iNsPiratioN aNd iNvENtioN: MErlo’s MoMENt

CMME goes to Project Qatar and finds an industry that is happy to bide its time and wait for the serious work of the World Cup to begin.

CMME begins its look at the art of inspiration by finding out how a trip to Ireland and a restaurant table, helped Amilcare Merlo invent the telehandler.

thE toP tEN MaChiNEry iNvENtioNs CMME invents a time machine to look at the ten greatest construction machinery inventions.

whErE NExt for tEChNology?

thE CoNstruCtioN MaChiNEry show Buyers queued up at the Jeddah event in April.

Is the Middle East getting left behind when it comes to new technology?

fiNaNCiNg How easy is it to get financing in the GCC?

Raw power page

neW Releases

Your quick guide to what’s new in machinery. Page

Best oF InteRMat A special report on Europe’s biggest show. What was in it for FInd Me a dealeR! Guide to dealers in the Qatar. Page 58 tHe last WoRd German confidence

to the latest in Off-Road Truck technology. Page Middle East operators? Page

hit by the Schwing-Stetter deal.

49 oFF-Road sectoR analYsIs Your guide

Editor’s Letter

Publisher Dominic De SouSa GrOuP COO naDeem HooD ManaGinG DireCtOr RicHaRD JuDD eDiToRiaL eDitOr STepHen WHiTe stephen@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9110 CreatiVe DireCtOr RuTH SHeeHY info@ruthsheehy.com GraPhiC DesiGner GLenn RoXaS glenn@cpidubai.com COntributOrs conRaD eGbeRT, DaVe ReeDeR, KaRen YounG aDVeRTiSinG

What do consultants do?

ver wondered what consultants do in their downtime? Me neither. However, while I was in Doha last month, I found out they have a new way to keep themselves occupied while they wait and wait, for construction to begin in earnest for the World Cup in 2022, namely taking tours of trading houses and attending dealer open days.

Qatar has several large groups that run diverse operations. Take the OGE group for instance. It sells and rents heavy equipment and power solutions, but it also produces industrial chemicals, flooring and, most surprisingly, swimming pools. The idea that consultants could end up at a wheel loader demonstration is a bizarre one but it is now highly likely as they busy themselves in preparation for when they are actually busy in 2013 (or is it 2014)? It strikes me that a unique opportunity has presented itself to contractors and plant managers in Doha that really doesn’t exist anywhere else. Doha is a small place with big plans, most of which will be sculptured by consultants and engineers concerned with speccing projects. The plant managers, fleet operators, even the trading houses and dealers should make the most of their free time while they can. Obviously networking is helpful in a competitive market place, but being able to talk directly and openly before a trench is even dug could prove to be invaluable. Especially in Qatar, where it grows exceedingly likely that construction will need to be conducted at a pace and scale that may dwarf what has been seen elsewhere. Costly and timely mistakes could be avoided and inventories could be properly planned for. The last thing Qatar can afford is the rush for equipment that almost killed off the industry in Dubai. We look at raising finance this month in CMME and there remains a distrust in lending for heavy equipment by some banks. Much of which was caused by planning for a pipeline that disappeared overnight but also because inventories were not properly managed and the wrong types of machines – albeit in hindsight – were ordered. Mistakes that even a decade away, Qatar can ill-afford.

COMMerCial DireCtOr RaZ iSLam raz@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9129 business DeVelOPMent DireCtOr micHaeL STanSFieLD michael@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9128 ciRcuLaTion Database anD CirCulatiOn ManaGer RaJeeSH m rajeesh@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9147 pRoDucTion OPeratiOns DireCtOr JameS RaWLinS jamesr@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9108 PrODuCtiOn ManaGer JameS p THaRian james@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9146 DiGiTaL www.constructionmachineryme.com DiGital serViCes ManaGer TRiSTan TRoY maaGma Web DeVelOPers JeRuS KinG baTion eRiK bRioneS JeFFeRSon De JoYa online@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9100 pubLiSHeD bY

1013 centre Road, new castle county, Wilmington, Delaware, uSa branch office po box 13700 Dubai, uae Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 pRinTeD bY atlas printing press L.L.c. © 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. ISSUE 7 MAY 2012

TECHNOLOGY GAP

Is the region getting left behind?

SALE SEASON IN SAuDI

The Construction Machinery Show

stephen White, Editor, CMME INVENTION AND INNOVATION sPECIAl

THE ART OF DESIGN

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

Plus: ACROss THE INDusTRY

The inspiring story of Merlo * NEWs & VIEWs * Off-ROAD TRuCKs * INTERMAT REVIEW * AND MORE

COVer artist pauL JacKSon www.tankaxelove.com

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

News Round-Up

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

THE X-fACTOR An army of machines were used to turn Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residences sea front into a track for the Red Bull X-Fighters in April. Levi Sherwood won the 2012 season opener of the $1 million World Tour with a brilliant performance in front of 20,000 spectators on a stunning dirt track set up on the white sands between the city’s glittering skyscrapers and the Gulf’s turquoise water.

ArAbtec gets positive over UAe prospects

The boss of one of the Gulf region’s biggest developers has hailed its latest award win as a sign that the UAE market is beginning to recover. Christofides, CEO, Arabtec Construction, said the Arabtec Holding’s subsidiary had been awarded a $60 million contract with Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments to construct and complete a residential development at Najmat, Abu Dhabi. “This is another positive sign that the UAE economy is growing and that the construction markets in the UAE are active again,” said Christofides. The project includes construction and maintenance of a residential tower

comprising 229 apartments over 23 floors. The duration of the project will be 22 months. “With the recent award to the company in Dubai and others expected in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the UAE is still an important market for the company, and forms an important part of our GCC strategy that included our expansion in Saudi Arabia in recent years,” Christofides said. Christofides positive outlook and the greenlighting of the project contrasts with falls in the value of property in the capital of the UAE. Average residential rents in Abu Dhabi fell by 3.5% in Q1 as a raft of new properties entered the market.

XCMG close to sealing Schwing-Stetter deal

Red-tape the only thing standing in the way of second Chinese/German deal

hinese manufacturer XCMG (Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group) says that it has agreed to buy a majority stake in German concrete specialist Schwing-Stetter. Coming hot on the heals of Putzmeister’s acquisition by the Sany Group, XCMG will be acquiring one of the biggest sellers of concrete pumps and technology. The deal had been rumoured since the beginning of the year, but XCMG has now publically declared for the first time its interest in the company. In a statement released to the market, XCMG chief Wang Min said: “The premium brand Schwing is a central part of our strategic development.” While both Putzmeister and Schwing are familiar names to the construction industry, Chinese companies have been actively seeking German counterparts to further their geographical and technological expansion since the turn of the year. Hebei Lingyun bought

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

September May 2012 2011

rival German car parts maker Kiekert in March and LDK Solar bought fellow solar technology specialist Sunways in January. Other similar deals are now rumoured in a number of industries. The acquisition of Schwing is particularly pertinent for the Middle East given its strong position in Saudi Arabia and record of working on high profile projects such as the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. It has also been working on New York’s One World Trade Center. An unnamed XCMG source revealed to the media at Intermat that it would be a “big thing” for the industry should it complete the deal, especially as the company is aiming to be a “top three in construction machine sales in the world by 2015.” “We feel they (Schwing) can contribute to our competitiveness in the concrete machinery sector. Our lower manufacturing costs and their high level technology make us fit together naturually.”

Company intelligenCe LINCOLN ELECTRIC says energy-driven business and particularly the oil and gas segment in the middle east has continued to drive strong demand for its products. Robust fourth quarter sales into this segment continued into the first quarter of 2012, with yEaR-OvERyEaR saLEs INCREasEs Of OvER 60% INTO ThE REgION . the middle east and north africa market remained a positive for equipment and consumable exports from the United States and China, said the company. Q-faB aNd IRON PLaNET have had a successful launch to their partnership and has already sOLd 32 usEd CRaNEs in Qatar. ironplanet and Q-FaB came together to create a working relationship that will promote the sales of used equipment in ironplanet’s global online marketplace. together Q-FaB and ironplanet offer the market new machines but also a channel to sell the used. abu Dhabi-based NfT CRaNEs says work is proceeding well on the Barwa Financial District in Doha’s West Bay District. the company has provided all the tower cranes on the project. the fINaNCIaL dIsTRICT Is aN ENsEmBLE COmPLEx, Of TEN sTaTE Of ThE aRT BuILdINgs gROuPINg INdIvIduaL aNd adjaCENT BuILdINgs . the buildings in this group of ten, average 20 to 25 floors per structure and will be built on an approximate land mass of 380,000-plus sqm. Crowning the District will be a 45-storey high tower.

tenDeR UpDateS

The Qatar 2022 supreme Committee has issued a tender for the masTER PLaNNINg aNd LEad dEsIgN CONsuLTaNT – aRChITECTuRE aNd ENgINEERINg TEam for an fIfa compliant stadium. Interested applicants must submit one page worth of a letter of interest, with no other additional documents and will be required to sign a nondisclosure agreement (Nda), issued by the supreme Committee of Qatar 2022, prior to collection of pre-qualification documents.

The department of Transport in abu dhabi is inviting all qualified companies registered with the department of Economic development - abu dhabi, and classified as special-grade contractors for road and bridge works, to participate in a tender for completion of the aL faLah INTERChaNgE in the capital.

The department of Transport in abu dhabi has also issued a major road tender for the improvement of the mafRaQ TO aL ghwaIfaT BORdER POsT hIghway (section No. 3a: Bayfounah forest to al mirfa). It is inviting interested contractors to submit their bids. Contractors have to hold classification in main roads and street contracting, as well as bridges, tunnels and interchanges contracting.

Abu DhAbi promotes itself At intermAt The Department of Economic Development took the opportunity to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination for construction machinery companies looking to invest in the Gulf Region. While Dubai remains the key import and export hub of the UAE, a spokesman for the government-run organisation said that the capital’s investment for its 2030 plan – which is focused on lessening the dependence on oil revenue and diversification of its economy in terms of industry and tourism – should make it a desirable location. Speaking prior to the event, His Excellency Mohamed Meer Abdalla Al Raeesi, the UAE ambassador to France, said Intermat was a crucial worldwide platform to demonstrate the

GCC’s continuing funding of large-scale construction, transport, and sustainable development projects. Calling Intermat an opportunity to present the UAE construction companies, innovations, achievements and projects, and to exchange experiences among the exhibitors, Al Raeesi said: “First we need to emphasise the importance and impact of infrastructure on urban, social and economic development. It is one of the most important factors in attracting investment and capital to countries. There is also a close relationship between the quality of infrastructure and standard of living of communities.” Abu Dhabi will be the home of off-spring show, Intermat Middle East, which returns for

the second time between 8-10 October, later this year, the UAE ambassador was keen to highlight the entire country’s prospects. “Since the establishment of the UAE, the government has focused on developing its infrastructure through ongoing support for the establishment of road networks and power grids, water supply, telecommunications, schools, hospitals and public buildings,” he remarked. “The UAE offers a wide range of incentives to investors and foreign companies interested in investing, including the free-flow of capital, and exemption from income tax on companies and individuals. “There is also exemption from customs duties on capital and intermediate goods in the manufacturing industries.”

Liebherr focused on MiddLe east German manufacturer liebherr is hoping to use its success in the mobile crane business as a springboard for further growth in the middle east. Arguably better known for its tower cranes in the region, liebherr saw strong demand for its mobile cranes in 2011, especially in the latter half of 2011. holger Amann, director of sales, liebherr middle east said the company is focusing on uAe and saudi Arabia, adding that, “the big business in Qatar has not started yet but it is expected to start in 2013.” “We are trying to reach the same sales figures in 2012 as we had in the boom years 2006, 2007 and 2008,” said

Amann. “We are focusing the middle east since it seems to have recovered from the crisis of 2009 and 2010. business has improved substantially since mid-2011 mainly due to large investments in the oil and gas industry, which has always been a very attractive business for our customers. the mobile crane division is doing especially well this year.” While based in europe, liebherr’s increased growth in emerging markets such as the middle east has helped to maintain the company’s standing as one of the world’s biggest suppliers of machinery. According to spokesman Wolfgang beringer, it has managed to capitalise on its diverse and wide-ranging lines.

September 2011 May 2012

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

News Round-Up

Leading edge atlas Copco has launched the edge drill continous monitoring system which provides real-time data, reduces fuel cost per drilled foot by 10% and increased penetration by 11%.

Forked road for Hitachi/Nissan

Manlift raises safety issue in abu Dhabi Manlift Middle East held an onsite safety awareness day for the contractors and sub-contractors working on a major hotel project in Abu Dhabi last month. Manlift ran the workshop as part of The Habtoor Leighton Group’s site safety week at one of the country’s most prestigious hotel projects -The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi – in an ongoing effort to increase awareness of the need for training in the Middle East construction sector. Nearly 4,000 people are currently working on the Ritz Carlton project. And around 200 of them either work regularly at height or work closely with aerial work platforms. In order to be as effective as possible in dealing with the large number of attendees, many of whom were unable to speak English, Manlift devised and ran a two stage interactive workshop for groups of 30, lasting roughly an hour and supported throughout by a bilingual translator. Part 1 was a practical demonstration focusing on site safety, using a JLG 450AJ, articulated boom lift. Following a verbal introduction covering the safe practices of working around powered access machinery, Manlift’s group operations manager and IPAF instructor, Robert Cavaleri performed a live simulation in which he ejected a man (Dummy) with a harness and overly long lanyard from the platform, primarily to highlight the incorrect way to connect to the platform, but also to facilitate a

8 8

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

September May 2012 2011

longer drop for dramatic effect. He then went on to explain the basic ground controls of the boom lift which is the most common lift on site. Whilst the demonstration was not official training, the workshop attendees went away with the basic knowledge of bringing a platform down safely in order to facilitate an emergency rescue. Part 2 was a series of interactive short video clips designed to challenge the group’s safety awareness - ‘Spot the mistake’ produced originally for IPAF. Each of the six clips shows a typical jobsite scenario where an aerial lift operator or someone in a related field is doing a task incorrectly that may ultimately endanger them or others. The workshop attendees were then encouraged to guess/work out what the mistake is and how it could be rectified/avoided. Cavaleri said: “We’ve had an excellent day safety awareness and basic safety knowledge in the Middle East construction industry is developing, but has a long way to go to achieve a consistent and acceptable standard. We applaud groups such as HLG for organising these safety initiatives and hope that through repetition, more companies will try and copy the example. Events such as this highlight the need for correct training and the importance of someone on the ground having enough knowledge to lower a platform in case of an emergency.”

Nissan Motor Co, Japan’s secondbiggest carmaker, and Hitachi Construction Machinery, the world’s largest maker of giant excavators, agreed to merge their forklift operations through a new venture.

Club ClassiC? MINI has revealed a concept for a return of its Clubvan. No word yet on an off-road version...

Rail POWER Saudi Arabia is preparing to award bids to build a railway connecting its petrochemical and mining hubs on the Persian Gulf early next year. Saudi Railway Co. may begin work on a 335km railway linking Jubail, Ras al-Khair and Dammam in 2013, Ahmed al-Balawi, the royal commission’s general manager for technical affairs at Jubail and Yanbu, has revealed.

Nissan will own 20 percent, and Hitachi Construction will hold 26.7 percent of the venture, and the remaining shares will be owned by the government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, which will provide 367 million to the new company, according to a statement from Nissan today. The merger comes as Nissan targets to win

8 percent of the global car market by March 2017, through cutting back on businesses outside its main vehicle division. Nissan Forklift Co., a fully owned unit of the Yokohama-based company, produces about 30,000 forklifts a year in Japan, Europe and the U.S., according to its website. The new company, to be called UniCarriers Corp., will begin operations this year. Hitachi Construction Machinery, Japan’s second-largest maker of excavators and wheel loaders, made TCM Corp. a forklift unit in 2005 and acquired all the shares it didn’t already own in December 2009.

GOT A JOB TO DO? WE’RE HERE TO HELP Terex Construction in the Middle East

At Terex, ‘Works For You’ is more than a slogan – it’s a promise. It’s what you can count on from our equipment and the Terex team in the Middle East, who is here to support you. From site dumpers to off-highway rigid trucks, compact excavators to backhoe loaders – we’ve got the right machine to do the work for you.

Terex offers the complete solutions: Tough, Quality Range of Construction Equipment for all Applications Network of Dealers Throughout the Middle East World Wide Parts Distribution Aftermarket Support Minimising Downtime

From choosing the right equipment, to providing the parts and service to keep it producing for years to come, the responsive Terex team is dedicated to your success.

Terex Middle East LLC Pinnacle Building, Sheikh Zayed Road P.O. Box No 282325 Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE Tel: + 971 4 3990381 Visit our new website: www.terexconstruction.com I’m a QR code. Scan me!

Bahrain Iraq Kuwait Lebanon Oman

Kanoo Autos International W.L.L. ALCA TIECO Michel Sehnaoui & FILS S.A.L. Al Fairuz Trading & Cont.Co.LLC

+973 7 709 8966 +962 6 5655070 +965 2 4819188 +961 1 580491 +968 2 456 2645

Qatar Qatar UAE Yemen Saudi Arabia

Al Obeidly & Gulf Eternit Trading WLL Rumaillah Motors W.L.L Abdulla Al Masaood and Sons Industrial Equipment Ashibami Corp.for Trading and Gen. Agencies MEDCO

+974 44 662 372 +974 44 606 091 +971 2 5507233 +967 1 420117 +96622907230

News Round-Up

ProJect flood becKons for Jeddah contractors

Saudi arabia dominateS mena pipeline A new report suggests that Saudi Arabia dominates the pipeline of projects in the MENA region, despite rebounding economies and the rise of Qatar on the back of its World Cup 2022 victory. According to analyst Citigroup, Saudi Arabia leads the way in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region construction industry with $750 billion of new projects in the pipeline, making up 31 percent of the entire regional market. As a whole, on a year-on-year basis, the value of GCC projects planned and underway crept up 2.5 percent to $1,906 billion. Iraq, which is now looking to rebuild its balance sheet, remains the third largest market in the region with just under $315 billion of new projects. It is also showing signs of spending across segments, which could mean more opportunities for contractors. In Kuwait, though the value of projects has grown 10 percent to almost $200 billion since the start of the year, the market generally is expected to be hampered in the coming months by domestic political tensions. On the negative side, the report noted that the value of construction projects cancelled in MENA has risen by eight percent since the start of the year. However, the value of cancelled and delayed construction projects in the region remained largely unchanged at approximately $719 billion since January 2012, the lender’s latest construction project tracker showed. According to the study, more than half (57 percent) of these cancelled or delayed projects were in the UAE, with the value of such projects rising 2% since Citigroup’s last report in January. The story was significantly different in Saudi Arabia, where the value of cancelled and delayed developments pared by eight percent to $316 billion. In Qatar, which has seen a huge number of new developments in recent years, the value of delayed projects plummeted by 41%, but in terms of those being cancelled the value soared by almost a third, at 32%.

10 10

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

September May 2012 2011

Suppliers of machinery in Jeddah received a boost last month after a raft of contracts were awarded for dam, trench and canal construction to combat flooding that regularly plagues the city. Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled AlFaisal said SR3.39 billion ($1 billion) of projects have been given the green light to implement long-term drainage solutions in Jeddah. Contracts have been awarded to two Saudi and two international companies to implement the projects. Ahmad Al-Sulaim, director of the drainage department at the municipality, said the initiatives include construction of five dams, expansion of existing canals in the northern, southern and eastern parts of Jeddah and construction of a new canal along King Abdulaziz International Airport. Nesma Company won a contract

worth SR803 million to build four dams in Wadi Ghaya, Wadi Um Hablain, Wadi Daghbaj, and Wadi Briman and another contract worth SR372 million to build another dam in Wadi Ghalil and renovate the southern floodwater path. Another contract valued at SR143 million was awarded to the China Communications Construction Company to renovate the northern floodwater path. Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., a company of Saipem Group of Italy, has won the biggest contract, valued at SR1.319 billion, to construct a rainwater drainage system for the new Jeddah airport. Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trade, Industry and Contracting (Sapac) won a SR751 million contract to renovate the eastern floodwater path. The four were picked from 13 companies that were prequalified to present tenders.

Korea/Uae/Qatar to target africa? South Korea is in talks to secure Qatari and UAE financial backing that could help its engineering and machinery companies to dominate in emerging markets such as Africa. The and Qatar are moving to join forces in making inroads into construction markets in third countries by utilizing sovereign wealth funds of the Middle East, Seoul officials said Thursday.

MANNAI WINs mannai Heavy equipment division (Hed) has won the ‘dealer excellence award’ at the JCb middle east & africa dealer event held in new delhi, india.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said it will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Qatar Investment Authority in May in a bid to expand joint investment in overseas construction projects.

The envisioned MOU is a follow-up on a bilateral agreement that calls for the Qatari sovereign wealth fund to help finance overseas construction projects secured by South Korean builders. The joint investment project involves the Qatar Investment Authority and Global Infrastructure Fund of Qatar as well as South Korean builders Samsung C&T Corp. and Hyundai Construction & Engineering Co. Seoul has proposed to Qatar that both sides jointly participate in two pilot projects, the construction of a road in Ghana and a coal terminal in

Indonesia, the ministry said, adding Qatar has started reviewing the offer. The ministry said the deal would help South Korean construction companies break away from the traditional win-and-build method and drastically expand their investment and development projects by tapping into Middle Eastern wealth funds. The planned MoU comes after Seoul signed a similar deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, asking the UAE to allow South Korean builders to participate in massive airport and subway projects in Abu Dhabi.

Roots GRoup secuRes fundinG Roots Group ARABiA and Mimar international have confirmed that they have successfully obtained shariah-compliant financing facilities of sR505 million. the facilities were obtained from two of the biggest banks operating in saudi Arabia, namely saudi Hollandi and sABB. Roots Group ARABiA specialises in the distribution of construction equipment and materials, contracting, and manufacturing in the Kingdom and the region. Mimar international is the contacting arm of the group, which aims to widen its operations within the Gulf area and the Middle east and to strengthen its investment through carrying out strategic projects that are in line with its development objectives. this loan is the first grouped islamic loan obtained by the group in its history and comes as part of its strategy to improve its medium-term liquidity-funding base. samir Al-shubaily, deputy ceo of Roots Group ARABiA, said the success of the funding agreement was reflective of the investment power of the group, adding that it will contribute to the execution of the strategy of promoting its solid financial position and proceeding with the further expansion and investment at both local and regional levels. Al-shubaily also thanked the banks that participated in the financing, emphasizing that Roots Group adheres to islamic principles in all its business and financial dealings and that such principles are central to the group’s operations. Al-shubaily also stated that the alliance with local banks comes in parallel to the plans of the group to contribute to the development of the Kingdom, especially through participating in the local economy and infrastructure. Al-shubaily added that the agreement is evidence of the trust of the banking community in the financial strength of the group, especially after the outstanding 2011 financial results, where revenues exceeded sR2.5 billion.

Armoured vehicles and Real Madrid come to RAK

MAN ME WINS TEChNOLOGy AWARD fOR CNG BUS Leading commercial vehicle producer, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East and Africa won the technology award for its MAN Lion’s City CNG bus at the third UITP Mena Congress Awards, held recently in Abu Dhabi. Based on 100 per cent CNG (compressed natural gas) technology, Man Lion’s City CNG bus has been especially developed for use in hot countries. MAN was the only commercial vehicle manufacturer to receive an award in the “Enabling Technologies” category this year and was also presented with a special

appreciation award at the event held as part of the 3rd UITP Congress & Showcase 2012. Thomas Weinmann, Bus senior area sales manager said: “The MAN CNG Lion’s City bus represents a transport strategy that delivers what the MENA market has shown a strong desire for – public transport solutions that are greener, cleaner and cost effective while offering a high degree of customer comfort.” “The bus is fully compliant with Europe’s strictest security standards. Our technological innovations

are always part of proactive, responsible and respectful measures towards our environment.” MAN Lion’s City CNG bus, has been operating in the UAE as part of a test phase since December 2011. The bus is equipped with a high performance A/C unit and driven by a turbocharged six-cylinder engine powered by natural gas. The engine delivers 228 kW (310 hp) while its emissions are way below the limits set for EEV and for the EURO 6 norm, currently the most stringent emission standards.

Canadian armored vehicles manufacturer Streit Group (SG) opened the world’s largest private armored vehicle factory in April in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. The facilities are located in the Technological Park of the emirate’s Free Zone, RAK FTZ. The project is divided into three phases. The first, already completed, includes the construction of the central facilities for production. The factory covers an area of 1.3 million square meters, at a total cost of AED80 million ($21.7 million). SG, which has operated in RAK FTZ since 2005, previously had only a 150 square meter warehouse in the Technological Park. The new facilities include areas for research and development, production, testing, training, and storage of armored vehicles within the same complex. Phases two and three, which will have total cost of AED120 million ($32.6 million), include the construction of a glass factory, an area for pre-production, expansion of facilities for employees, fuel stations and a heliport. Completion is scheduled for 2014. The complex has the capacity to produce and test 40 different models of vehicles for commercial, military and semi-military use. Under normal conditions, the production capacity will be up to 250 armored vehicles per month, but this may be expanded to 400 units, depending on demand. The factory is equipped with laser cutting technology,

Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC), and has automated and semiautomated production lines. With storage capacity up to 120 million units, the complex employs more than 20 nationalities. According to the CEO of Streit Group, Guerman Goutorov, the facilities will allow the company to meet large orders and customized orders in minimum time. According Goutorov, vehicles produced will be used to transport supplies to areas of conflict, for example, or as patrol cars for the military police. Currently, the factory has 400 employees, but the number is expected to reach two thousand with the growth of production. The group estimates that SG will sell the equivalent of AED150 million ($41 million) over the next five years. Often in the shadow of fellow emirates Dubai and Abu Dhabi, RAK is undergoing a spurt of development, including the expansion of its ports, residential and free zone facilities. However it may have scored its biggest coup with scoring the deal to bring Real Madrid’s first holiday resort to the UAE. Beating off competition from its rivals, RAK is helping to fund the $1 billion Real Madrid Resort Island. A presentation at the Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium showed plans for sports facilities, a marina, luxury hotels and villas, an amusement park, a club museum and a 10,000-seat stadium with one side open to the sea.

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

News Round-Up

Kingdom Tower: oFFiciaL The Kingdom Tower has been given the official goahead by the Saudi Arabian government. As revealed by CMME January, piling work for the structure began at the turn of the year, but now construction work can now begin apace. While the tower is being constructed by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, chairman of investment company Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), it partners include Abraar, International Holding Company, contractor Saudi Bin Laden Group (SBG) and business figures Samaual Bakhsh and Abdulrahman Hassan Sharbatly. In a joint statement Sharbatly and Bakhsh said: “We are confident that upon completion, Kingdom Tower will become one of the world’s great tourist destinations as well as one of the most attractive places to live and work in the region. In the meantime, it will create thousands of jobs, spurring the local economy.”

MANNAI lOOkING OvErSEAS Mannai corporation, the Qatar-based conglomerate that has a strong presence in the country’s construction equipment sector is looking to overseas markets for growth on the back of an impressive 2011. JCB, Allison Transmisson and Grove are among Mannai’s list of brands in Qatar, and the company recorded revenues of $630 million in 2011 up 16% on 2010. Meanwhile its net profits increased by a bigger margin of 21% to $76 million.

“We are very pleased to be able to report another year of significant profits growth for our shareholders despite the global economic challenges,” said CEO Alekh Grewal. “Our strategic decisions to further diversify our earnings by growing and expanding our business interests beyond Qatar is progressing well. “We made two important strategic investments in NEXThink and Axiom Telecom, and we are currently

LaFarge Faces $20 miLLion sa Fine Concrete specialist Lafarge will pay the South African government $20 million after admitting that it was involved in a cement cartel across five southern Africa countries that started in the late 1990s. A three-year investigation into the cartel unravelled a network held together by price-fixing across the Southern African Customs Union region of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and

Swaziland. The charge to Lafarge represents 6% of its annual revenues in the countries. Three other cement producers - Pretoria Portland Cement Company (PPC), Afrisam and Natal Portland Cement Cimpor have also been identified by the investigating commission. Afrisam has already been fined $16 million although PPC applied for leniency after it confirmed the cartel’s existence.

moving forward with two more significant opportunities. We are focused on investing in sectorleading companies that have a dynamic business model, a proven track record and strong growth potential across different continents.” “The Group will continue to explore further growth opportunities, in Qatar and overseas, for sustained profitability in 2012 and beyond. We remain confident that Mannai will continue to deliver superior returns.”

Off HIGHWAy PrEdICTS flAT 2012 Industry Analyst Off Highway has predicted that the global market for machinery will remain near to flat in 2012 at 773,000 units. Sales in 2011 represented a sizeable advance over the previous year with a 16.7% increase to 778,421, however Off Highway predicts total sales will fall at 0.7%. Sales in the Chinese equipment market are forecast to decline 5% to 409442 units, as the market continues to be held back by tightening government controls on its fiscal spending and regional budgets. The previous year saw sales increase by 56%. Both Japan and Europe are to experience moderate declines of

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

1%. Europe will continue to struggle to see growth as it recovers from the Eurozone crisis whereas Japan’s sales look stronger considering that sales increased by 27% following the tsunami disaster last March. Perhaps the most encouraging news comes from North America and Off Highway predicts that there will be a 7% increase in sales following the 39% increase in 2011. India will continue its impressive growth and will see a 14% increase in sales on the back of 2011’s 14%. At 61,745 machines, India is now firmly established as the third largest construction equipment behind the US and China.

Facing a tough opponent? Bring it on. Perfectly suited to heavy duty work at the face or in rehandling applications, the L250G is the industry’s first wheel loader in the 35 tonne weight class. It combines the optimal mix of lifting strength, breakout force and traction, resulting in high bucket penetration. As well as exceptional productivity and operator comfort, the L250G’s powerful Z-Bar linkage offers high lift capacity and rapid hydraulic reaction, resulting in faster work cycles. Volvo’s L250G: in a class of its own. www.volvoce.com

A.A. Bin Hindi B.S.C (c) BAHRAIN Tel: + 973 17 703078 E-mail: ciesales@binhindi.com Abdelmassih Trading Company – Amtrac LEBANON Tel: +961 1 88 76 60 / 61 E-mail: michel@amtrac-lb.com

Al-Zabin International Group Co. For Heavy Equipment KUWAIT Tel: +965 433 4721/6017 E-mail: alzabin@alzabinkuwait.com ASC Turk Makine Ltd. TURKEY Tel: +90216 581 80 00 E-mail: info@ascturk.com

Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co (FAMCO) UAE Tel: +971 2 502 9100 E-mail: famco@alfuttaim.ae

Arabian Agencies Company WLL QATAR Tel: +974 44 50 0295 E-mail: araco@araco.com.qa

Al Rehab Equipment and Machinery Co. Ltd. SAUDI ARABIA Tel: +966 2 680 4444 E-mail: info@alrehab-ksa.com

Copenhagen Group A/S/ IM Jensen A/S AFGHANISTAN Tel: +45 3363 9424 E-mail: tiwa@imjensen.com

volvo construction equipment

Elaghil Trading Co. YEMEN Tel: +967 1 207 595 E-mail: elaghil@y.net.ye General Engineering Services Est (GENSERV) OMAN Tel: +968 244 90755 E-mail: sales@genserv-oman.com Nassib Saad Est. Trading & Import SYRIA Tel: +963 11 222 5432 E-mail: saadmt@scs-net.org Parsian Pishro Sanat IRAN Tel: +9821 88 77 44 99 E-mail: info@parsianind.com

Sardar Automobile and Machinery Trading Co. IRAQ Tel: +964 66 256 9888 E-mail: ihsan@sardarmachinery.com VPL Limited PAKISTAN Tel: +92 42 111 875 875 E-mail: uzair.shahid@panasiangroup.com

News Analysis

Qatar still waiting? Project Qatar was the biggest yet but Doha is no boom town – yet.

roject Qatar 2012 returned in April boasting more exhibitors than ever and expecting its biggest ever number of exhibitors. However for many people at the event it was a case of anticipation rather than expectation. Almost 50,000 visitors were expected to attend the 62,000sqm show and new areas were added. The Heavy Max exhibition, which as the name suggests promotes heavy equipment was visibly larger. Where once the outdoor area was a few stalls and machines, it is now a fully fledged event within an event, taking over an entire side of Doha’s venerable exhibition and convention centre. From relatively humble roots, Project Qatar is now a big deal for Doha, attracting support from large local organisations such as the Qatar National Bank (QNB) and UrbaCon Co (UCC). One representative of the organisers even joked that the show is now almost “too big”. QNB’s assistant general manager, Salem Al Noaimi put the show’s importance in context. “As an institution, we aim to support the growth of the Qatar economy and culture in every way possible,” said Al Noaimi. “Project Qatar has come to symbolise the growth potential of Qatar’s construction industry. We are proud to be a part of Project Qatar 2012, in particular, as well as the larger construction boom in Qatar.”

14 14

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

September May 2012 2011

Talking to exhibitors and visitors to the show, the word ‘boom’ remains an awkward one to apply to what’s happening in Qatar. Last year’s event was boosted by the news six months out from its opening that the World Cup would be coming to the country. When news of German giant Deutsche Bahn’s contract to provide a rail network to Qatar coincided with the event, it seemed likely that the country’s nascent construction sector was about to move into overdrive. A year down the line, the optimism appears to have been premature. The deal with DB has since been restructured, with the forming of QRail, a 51/49 joint venture between state-owned property development group Qatari Diar and DB International which was formed in 2009 to manage the railway project. Meanwhile tenders for the Metro were also delayed, however QRail announced just prior to the event that it had invited some five tenders for the first phase of the metro rail transit system in the country. While there is much to be done in the country, plans for what will be needed and on what time-scale are still under wraps. For those familiar with the often fluid nature of development in Qatar, it is to be expected “It’s Qatar,” said Hashim Al-Gendi, the deputy manager of sales for the heavy equipment division of one of Qatar’s largest dealers, Mannai. “Sometimes

Rachid Ouenniche, Cummins’ managing director of distribution for the Middle East said the JV will use Cummins know-how with local expertise.

Cummins powers up in Doha Cummins says that it is in for the long haul in Qatar as it continues to develop its JV with Jaidah Heavy Equipment. The US-based engine and generator manufacturer Cummins Inc and local equipment player Jaidah launched a JV, Cummins Qatar, recently to service the growing demand in Qatar. Jaidah had represented Cummins for 20 years in the country, but the two companies decided to make the change from a traditional dealer/distributor model to a fully functioning solution provider, officially opening for business in January. The company will be in full control of the business transactions which was previously looked upon by Jaidah Group. With an installed base of 5,000 engines already in Qatar, Cummins Qatar is now working independently and will render full range of Cummins’ products and services. “It is a 51/49 percent venture with Jaidah having the 51 percent. Cummins will use its own management resources to manage the joint venture,” Rachid Ouenniche Cummins managing director of distribution for the Middle East said recently. “We call it the Cummins operating system. So we will use Cummins tools and Cummins experience to manage the business.” Tim Worme, general manager of Cummins Qatar, described the new company as a natural fit for the both Cummins and Jaidah. While still in a “growth phase”, the company plans to expand its operation, opening new premises that will become its sales and service hub. “We’re not just planning for the World Cup, we’re planning for the next 25 years,” he told CMME. “We’re building on the local knowledge we have and strong, existing base.” The JV is concentrating much of its effort into temporary power generators. While Qatar is not exactly underserved by power solutions, Worme says Cummins is the only one that builds its own engines from the transmissions up to the cases of generators. “We’re different from many of the other companies here,” he affirmed. While the JV is a first for the Middle East, Worme said Cummins has built up experience globally with similar arrangements with local partners and understands, “leveraging local capability.” “This is a big opportunity and we have high expectations.”

things that should take one month, sometimes take three. When they were doing the airport (Doha’s upcoming NDIA), people were going to airport shows and coming back and changing the design.” The benefit of holding the World Cup and the ambitious projects needed to pull it off in Doha (modular stadia, advanced cooling, etc) means that the country has a deadline to meet. One that Mannai is prepared to wait for. “We believe it will pick up in Q2 2013,” said AlGendi. Mannai skipped the last Project Qatar, but felt the time was right to exhibit at the event. “This show is about raising our exposure. We’ll meet some old customers but also some new ones too.” Another company that skipped last year’s event but joined the Heavy Max expo this year was power solutions provider Aggreko. “Is the market dead? No, it will just take time,” said Russel Moxham, area general manager – Central Gulf Aggreko Middle East. “It’s a massive opportunity, the boom is coming to Qatar. It’s just nobody knows when. I actually think the exciting part is now – I think you will see things really move towards Q3, maybe Q4 (this year) as we move towards 2013.” The challenge for those that provide equipment is planning for the boom and ensuring the supply

chain is in place for the expected boost in demand. Qatar Tractor and Equipment represents Tadano, Liebherr, Schwing-Stetter and most recently Merlo, and the company is using the lull before the storm to assess its offering to the marketplace. A company representative said that already prices are being affected by the looming boom. “The rental market is really trending right now and price rises will affect small operators and rental companies. However we don’t expect a real shake up until the end of 2013. We are planning to have many more ranges ready for 2014.” Samar Pal Bais, general manager at Q-Fab which features Wirtgen, New Holland/Kobelco and surprisingly Iron Planet among its partners, explained his company’s prominent position at the front of the show. “You have to understand that if you’re not present, you’re not present in the market,” he explained. “Qatar is geographically a small market but there are a lot of opportunities here.” A deal to represent Iron Planet in Qatar has already reaped rewards he said. “In two or three months we have helped to sell 32 cranes, mainly to Africa. There is a lot of used machinery in Qatar.” As he spoke, a band started up on the stand. Pal Bais looked across at the band: “This is not just an exhibition, it’s a festival.”

September 2011 May 2012

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MIDDLE EAST MIDDLE EAST

15 15

Heavy Hitters

BELLA ISPIRAZIONE CMME meets Amilcare Merlo, the creator of the telehandler, to find out how a moment of inspiration and weeks of perspiration helped create an entirely new way of working on the ground.

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

ometimes all it takes to transform your life is a piece of paper and a pencil. And so it has proved for Amilcare Merlo. Three decades ago the likeable Italian found himself at a restaurant table preparing to draw what was to become the most important picture of his career. He had been an exhibition in Ireland and had seen something that was playing on his mind. He describes the moment he invented the telescopic handler in finer detail. “We were at this exhibition and I saw this picture of a very old, a dinosaur of a machine. But it had this long boom...”

Sketching the future The long boom pre-occupied him that night at the restaurant. Euromat (now Intermat) was coming and Merlo needed a new machine, but how to make that boom? Sitting down with a member of his team, the dinner service was set aside and he began to sketch out what would become one of the last great construction machines. Necessity really can be mother of invention. The next day the sketch was passed onto the design department and the new machine began to come to life. However time was against him and his team. Euromat was barely two months away and this was an age before computers, before CAD. He explains, “We didn’t have technological tools, no informatics but we worked very quickly. The machine had to be totally Merlo. We didn’t have time to go to another company.” Spurred on by the need to make the event, production of a prototype began in earnest. Soon the design team passed on more detailed designs and it began to take shape. In those early days, Merlo knew they were working on something entirely knew for the industry. He had

“THE MAIN PoINT WAS THE ExTENSIoN of THE

BooM. To THAT PoINT PEoPlE CoulD oNly lIfT vErTICAlly AND THE MAIN IDEA WAS To BE ABlE To MovE.”

worked extensively in the past with rough train forklifts but had been frustrated by the limits in terms of height. “The main point was the extension of the boom. To that point people could only lift vertically and the main idea was to [be able to] move,” he moves his hands upwards and diagonally, mimicking the action of a telehandler. “We realised that forklifts were not the right vehicle for construction. The innovation of the machine was the machine. The long boom profile was the big difference we gave to the market.” He adds: “We knew it was a different way to work, but frankly we didn’t realise it would be such a revolution (in machinery design).” Despite the rapid turnaround and being determined to make the exhibition there was one seemingly minor detail that wasn’t ready. “The mudguard had to be made of wood,” he laughs. “Because of the short amount of time for the exhibition.” A carpenter was quickly asked for to make the mudguards for the machine. They were promptly painted and the machine was ready, just in time, for Paris. “Today it would be impossible to do but back then it was okay.”

tAking it tO the ShOW With the machine safely on show, the world’s first telescopic handler could make its debut. Although it didn’t take long for the strange new machine to start attracting attention and so did its equally oddlooking mudguards. Andrea Bedosti, commercial director for Merlo, interjects: “At first nobody noticed, but after the first one did, everybody was coming over to knock on the wood. Everyone was coming back, checking the machine, knocking the wood, laughing and then going away.” Bedosti add: “Nobody joking at the time probably thought 30 years down the line the machine would prove to be so popular.” While explaining that the prototype was capable of lifting 13t at 6m, Amilcare Merlo recalls the debut fondly. “At the beginning, the first hours of the exhibition, people were looking at it as if saying, what is this new animal? But afterwards we met all the dealers and we explained why we were doing it.”

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

heavy hitters

“AT The BegInnIng,

The fIRsT houRs of The exhIBITIon, PeoPle WeRe lookIng AT IT As If sAyIng, WhAT Is ThIs neW AnIMAl?”

Putting the boom on the other side to the cab and engine, so the boom could be moved while retaining complete visibility, may have look strange to passers-by then, but as the main patent it meant that the Italian manufacturer was the only company able to use it for ten years. The telehandler has been instrumental in the success of his company, Merlo describes the invention of the machine as “good luck”. Beside the telehandler, Merlo is producing a range of machines with construction and agricultrual applications and continues to innovate and today produces rough terrain concrete mixers, small tracked carriers (a multi-purpose smooth carrier), and MPR access platforms that can travel at speeds of up to 40km/hour on public

roads. It is a particularly impressive piece of adaptable equipment that, Bedosti explains, has three modes of operation. “Again it was something that wasn’t existing in the market. The platforms that Mr Merlo has developed are platforms that can go on roads, don’t have stabilisers, and you can drive at 1km/hour when you are working from the top. Basically it is three machines.

INNOVATIVE IN ALL SENSES “We are a company that is innovative in all senses of the expression,” Merlo says proudly. “Innovative in technology, in the way we manufacture and are always thinking of tomorrow.” In the three decades since that first debut of

The Joy of invention

3D design, engineering and entertainment software company Autodesk was quick to recognise Joy Mining with its Inventor of the Month award when the manufacturer showed that it was possible to design safe machines quickly with prototyping software. Joy used Autodesk’s Inventor Digital Prototyping software

to develop its JOY 14ED25 continuous miner-bolter machine. The JOY 14ED25 is used by mining companies to develop underground mine entries. Combining mining and bolting operations into a single machine helps promote zero harm in the underground mining environment by eliminating the need for two separate machines within the limited space of an underground entry. By utilizing the JOY 14ED25, mining companies can safely maximize both productivity and lower cost. The resulting machines are easier to operate and maintain, while performing more reliably in harsh mining environments — all of which increases operator safety in multiple ways. “Our machines are precisely tailored to meet the mining applications of

each customer,” said Chris Flynn, director of engineering systems at Joy. “We don’t produce ‘cookiecutter’ solutions. The powerful visualization capabilities in Autodesk Inventor help us share our vision of each customer’s machine before we start to build it. We can arrive at the optimum solution virtually.” Historically, the development of underground mine entries has significantly slowed mining operations because two separate machines were required: a mining machine to cut the material and create a passageway, and a bolting machine to install large bolts that support the roof and side walls. Joy relies on a comprehensive Digital Prototyping solution deployed by Autodesk Consulting and used by hundreds of engineers in the United States, United Kingdom,

South Africa and Australia. Inventor software enables Joy engineers to digitally explore and test different ideas in 3D. In addition, Autodesk Vault Manufacturing software helps the company more effectively manage its engineering data — a critical business need when each machine contains from 3,000 to 7,000 discrete parts, and as many as 40,000 parts in total. “Equipment manufacturers like Joy must balance pressure to get products to market faster while safely increasing production and reducing costs,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. “That is often a tall order, and we recognize the innovative engineering team behind this impressive continuous miner-bolter machine.”

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Heavy Hitters

Amilcare Merlo (below left) with a model of the first telescopic handler. He and his team visited FAMCO in Dubai to discuss taking their five-year partnership further in the region.

the telehandler, Merlo has guided the company to become a major force in the European market. Aware that Merlo needs to continue to find new markets rather than rely on its reputation, he and his team were in Dubai to finalise a distribution deal with Volvo dealer Famco. He explains that it is not the first time Merlo is in the UAE but it is the company’s biggest step into the Middle East market. “Dubai is a crossing point. It’s not our first time, today is important for me personally, as it is the first time that I get to visit Al Futtaim.” While it his first time at the Al Futtaim offices, his company has been working with the distributor since 2007. Bedosti jokes, “when the Pope visits Cuba you know something is moving and today we bring our pope!” Merlo adds: “It’s an important market for sure. We have been watching this area for 10 or 15 years but when we met Al Futtaim (in Italy), we realised that something is common with the way of thinking. We share a similar point of view. It’s important.” “A marriage doesn’t happen overnight, it must be consolidated over time. We are here now because our marriage is more and more... interesting. We want to reach another milestone.” While his dealer is among the most prominent players in the Gulf, Merlo insists that he is more concerned with being content in their partnership.

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

“The person is important as they manage the aftersales service. If we don’t have a good understanding, the rest is does not matter.” Merlo describes his company as “not fixed to the ground. We are always looking for growth.”

INterNatIoNal recogNItIoN This is reflected in an impressive recent resume including being recognised by the French government for its innovation with Amilcare Merlo being appointed Officer of the French Republic Légion d’Honneur for his Achievements in the Agricultural Sector. The award was presented by the president of the French Senate at the presidential residence of Rambouillet. Typically given to contributors form within French industry, winning it as an Italian manufacturer is a significant achievement. A typically modest Merlo says: “It was presented to a person but it was not for me. It was for the product for the company. It’s important as it recognises the innovation of the machine. “One man does not realise nothing. It took a team to make the machine. There was not just one man behind this machine.” The Australian government too has recognised the company’s worked in the area of safety using the Merlo Load Management System, a load limiting system that includes an automatic tool recognition

The great inventor No other character of history sums up the phrase Renaissance Man better than Leonardo Da Vinci. The 15th century Italian painter, inventor, scientist and astronomer is one of the great geniuses of western culture helping to further man’s understanding of aeronautics, anatomy, astronomy, botany, cartography, civil engineering, chemistry, geology, geometry, hydrodynamics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, optics, physics, pyrotechnics and zoology. Contemporary Giorgio Vasari, a talented writer and artist himself, as well as a notable historian described Da Vinci as designing a myriad of machinery including waterpowered mills, fulling machines and engines. Vasari said that: “In addition he used to make models and plans showing how to excavate and tunnel through mountains without difficulty, so as to pass from one level to another; and he demonstrated how to lift and draw great weights by means of levers, hoists and winches, and ways of cleansing harbours and using pumps to suck up water from great depths.” Da Vinci dedicated himself to understanding mechanical principles proving an aptitude to combing existing technologies and applying them in a variety of, for want of a better word, inventive ways. Some, like his

designs for military applications (he foresaw the use of submarines to combat invading fleets) he kept to himself. However there are hundreds of surviving notes and sketches of machines using leverage and cantilevering, pulleys, cranks, gears -including angle gears and rack and pinion gears; parallel linkage, lubrication systems and bearings. Pre-dating Amontons’ Laws of Friction by 150 years, a work that helped lay the roots down for the industrial revolution, Da Vinci’s machines and designs incorporated a deep understanding of momentum, centripetal force, friction and the aerofoil which applied these to his inventions. According to his Wikipedia entry: “it is impossible to say with any certainty how many or even which of his inventions passed into general and practical use, and thereby had impact over the lives of many people. Among those inventions that are credited with passing into general practical use are the strut bridge, the automated bobbin winder, the machine for testing the tensile strength of wire and the lens-grinding machine pictured at right. In the lensgrinding machine, the hand rotation of the grinding wheel operates an angle-gear, which rotates a shaft, turning a geared dish in which sits the glass or crystal to be ground. A single action rotates both surfaces at a fixed speed ratio determined by the gear.”

“A MARRIAge Doesn’T HAppen oveRnIgHT,

IT MusT be ConsolIDATeD oveR TIMe. We ARe HeRe noW beCAuse ouR MARRIAge Is MoRe AnD MoRe... InTeResTIng. We WAnT To ReACH AnoTHeR MIlesTone.” for enhanced performance and peace of mind, to set new safety standards for equipment. The system employs a novel Digital Rating Chart which shows the current rating chart, including the position of the load in real time, as well coloured band regions which adapt to the current lift load. Audible alarms from the inbuilt speakers give positive feedback to the operator as limits are being approached or exceeded as well as when configuration changes occur such as the stabiliser position changing or a new attachment automatically being selected. The company hopes that its adoption and standardisation in Australia will lead to it being introduced as part of health and safety regulation elsewhere in the world. It’s yet another Merlo patent that could give it an essential advantage in what is now a crowded market. While he is reticent to reveal too much about what Merlo has up its sleeve, he stresses the company is determined to maintain an edge at the frontline of technological development. He is however prepare to make one enigmatic statement “I think machines in four or five year will be completely different.” Merlo then offers some advise for wannabe inventors. “When you have an idea you must patent it,” says Merlo, and then grins, “personally, I have one patent. My name.”

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Top Ten Inventions

As part of our invention special, CMME looks at the top ten inventions that have shaped the course of heavy machinery history.

big

Small,

and perfectly formed FLUID THINKING - THe HyDraULIc powereD craNe wHaT was ITs LeGacy? Massive leap in port technology landMark in industrial revolution

History first notes the use of cranes powered by hand or animal by the Greeks in the 6th Century BC. Before the crane, large material had to be place by using ramps and ropes, limiting the types of buildings but relying on the grunt of human beings or donkeys meant that constructing tall buildings became possible. While the development of jibs and pulley technology evolved over time, it took over two thousand years and the industrial revolution to propel the crane design forward. Mechanical power from steam engines in the late 18th and early 19th centuries lifted the possibilities of crane-use tenfold. Instrumental in that development was UK industrialist William George Armstrong. Armstrong had a genius for hydraulics, developing a rotary engine powered by water for his friend Henry Watson, who was overseeing the construction of the High Bridge project that would link the industrial centres of Newcastle and Gateshead. Building on the work of the rotary engine, Armstrong designed a pistondriven engine for driving a hydraulic engine. While

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

helping to create a piped-water scheme in Newcastle, Armstrong realised he could use excess pressure from the system to power a quay-side crane in the city’s docks. The project was a success leading to three more cranes and one of Britain’s most successful industrial age manufacturing empires was born. By the end of the century the company was producing 100 cranes per year and helped to install the hydraulic works of the London’s famous Tower Bridge.

wHeeL To reeL - THe coNTINUoUs TracK wHaT was ITs LeGacy? rough terrain capability the founding of caterpillar

Certain experimental archaeologists claim that logs held together with belts were used in the construction of the pyramids, helping the builders move stones. But the invention of the modern-day continuous track is attributed to English writer and inventor Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744–1817), who first came up with the idea in 1770. However, it was another Briton, Sir George Cayley, who patented a continuous track in 1826. The invention, which he called a ‘universal railway’, first appeared in The Mechanics’ Magazine. In 1837, Russian inventor Dmitry Zagryazhsky designed a ‘carriage with

mobile tracks’, which he patented that same year though, due to a lack of funds, he was unable to build a working prototype and his patent was voided in 1839. Nine years later, British engineer James Boydell patented an ‘endless railway wheel’. The first to enjoy commercial success was the American Alvin Lombard, who assembled and patented the first steam log hauler using a continuous track system in 1901. 83 steam-powered log haulers were produced by 1917 and, between 1917 and 1934, the company’s continuous track vehicles were equipped with by petrol or diesel engines. Under license from Lombard, similar tractors were manufactured by the Phoenix Centipeed Company and, in 1903, the license was also purchased by Benjamin Holt (1849–1920),

innoVation Special

innovation can be an overused word, but cmme takes a trip through time to see the personalities and inventions that shaped this indusutry.

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Top Ten Inventions

founder of the Holt Manufacturing Company (later becoming Caterpillar), who immediately saw the invention’s potential. The novelty rapidly became very popular as it enabled the vehicles to adapt very well to the contours of the surface and achieve excellent traction on uneven and soft terrain where other machines got stuck and even began to sink. The Holt Manufacturing Company produced their first continuous track steam tractor as early as 1904, which was followed by a petrol engine version in 1906. But this was merely the beginning of the development of continuous track vehicles, as the licensed designs they purchased were perfected using the company’s own knowledge. During the First World War, the Allies mainly used continuous track vehicles manufactured by Holt.

One of the first hydraulic excavators, the TU, was produced in 1951 by Poclain in France. A departure from excavators which transmitted their digging power by the use of cables and winches, it employed a hydraulic pump and cylinders. The TU was unable to rotate a full 360 degrees of rotation. Poclain subsequently introduced the TY45, the first machine to fully revolve,in 1960. By the early 1970s the hydraulic excavator, with its easier operation and higher rate of production has largely replaced its predecessor — the cable excavator.

BALL GAME - ThE BALL BEArinG

To many people, a telescopic boom hydraulic excavator is recognized and referred to as a Gradall; thanks to the dominance of the classic truckmounted telescopic boom hydraulic excavator that was developed by brothers Ray and Koop Ferwerda with their FWF Corp. in Beachwood, Ohio, in 1944. The Gradall tractor was invented by Ray and Koop Ferwerda of Cleveland, Ohio. Ferwerda is known for creating a telescoping-boom excavator that was unique for being mounted on a truck. The Ferwerda brothers, who moved from the Netherlands to the U.S., became partners in a highway contracting firm. Due to many men leaving the workforce for the war effort, the Ferwerda brothers were in need of a machine that could perform slope grading work. Their first design, a tractor-mounted excavator, had two beams that sat on a rotating platform and a telescopic cylinder that moved the beams forward and back, producing the excavation motion. Although not produced for commercial purposes until a later date, the hydraulic excavator, available in 15, 24, 36 and 60-inch bucket sizes, was launched in 1941. The success of this led to the production of three more between 1942 and 1944.

WhAT WAs iTs LEGAcy? advanced ship and vehicle technology high performance engineering

The modern ball bearing was constructed by the Swede Sven Wingquist in 1907. Similar constructions had been used in mechanical devices since the Middle Ages but Wingquist’s construction represented a true improvement, which has been of great use to the car and shipbuilding industries, among others. The company that started producing the new ball bearing, SKF, still holds a strong international position.

BOOM TiME - ThE TELEscOpic BOOM ArM WhAT WAs iTs LEGAcy? first true slope grader led to telehandlers

in ThE Mix - ThE rEADy-Mix Truck WhAT WAs iTs LEGAcy? large scale construction put building onto the road

sTrOnG-ArMED TAcTic - hyDrAuLic ExcAvATOr WhAT WAs iTs LEGAcy? 360o rotation greater digging power

The earliest recorded hydraulic shovel appeared in 1882 and was produced by Sir W.G. Armstrong & Co., a British company that previously built hull docks. Armstrong also built two water hydraulic shovels. Another company to make an attempt was the Kilgore Machine Co. of Minneapolis in Minnesota, who patented the shovel in 1897. In 1948, a wheeled prototype Stafford DUI lawyer of the excavator was developed by Carlo and Mario Bruneri. They gave up the patent and manufacture rights to a French company named SICAM in 1954, the same year SICAM built the Yumbo. The Yumbo, an S25 excavator, had a truck mounted on it. Wheelers and crawlers made their way into the picture as buyers became interested in the product.

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

The first portable concrete mixer patented in America. Titled “Mortar Mixer,” it was patented on February 9, 1904 by Richard Bodlaender of Breslau, Germany. The front axle and wagon wheels were replaced by a large drum with paddles inside, and as the vehicle was to be drawn along, ostensibly by horses, the mixing drum rolling along the ground would create the mixing action. While it could be called a portable mixer, this patent really did not fit the criteria of the first concrete truck, since a “truck” has its own power source. Another portable mixer, invented by The patent that preceded this early model as the first true concrete truck was approved in 1920. This 1904 patent combined the mixer and the front wheel on a horse-drawn trailer. Alvah Handsel of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was patented on January 12, 1909. It employed a hexagonal drum, but not one that rolled along the ground. A coal-fired steam boiler attached to a piston pump powered the mixer, which had a gear-train to drive the chain drive.

e215b

NEW GENERATION

New HollaNd crawler excavators. superior precisioN, more fuel saviNgs, boost your productivity by 10%.

COUNTRY Bahrain Kuwait KSA UAE Lebanon Sudan Oman Qatar Egypt Turkey

DEALER Ahmet Mansoor Al A’Ali ICTCO AAA ALSAQER MEDEVCO The Central Trading IECC Q-FAB OMATRA CUKUROVA ITHALAT

CONTACT NUMBER +97317772256 +965 24749312/13/462 +96626695595 +97125545900 +961-9-233550 +249 187 14 4164 +968 9533 5107 +974 66852999 +20235390051 +902163953460

Online Auction Wednesday, 16 & 30 May

No deposit required for Middle East registered users!

Excavators

Telehandlers

Compactors

Wheel Loaders

Trucks - Off Road

Skid Steer Loaders

Looking for good quality used construction equipment? Look no further than IronPlanet the leading global marketplace for used construction equipment. Visit our website to see the complete list of equipment, review the guaranteed inspection reports, and place your bids.

Need specific equipment? Text SEARCH to +44 753 740 4852 for a call from our multilingual agents *Texts may be charged at international rate, please refer to your network for charges

Inspected and Guaranteed To consign equipment for our next auction contact your local Rep Alison Young E: ayoung@ironplanet.com T: +974 662 55 992

WWW.IRONPLANET.COM

IronPlanet Europe now with two auctions per month - 2nd & 4th Wednesday

Top Ten Inventions

POWERFUL IMPACT - DIEsEL-POWERED PLAnT WhAT WAs ITs LEgACy? greater size and stability two-stroke engines

hIngED ThInKIng - ARTICULATED TRUCK WhAT WAs ITs LEgACy? MassiVe load caPabilities reMote working

Alexander Winton invented the semi-truck in 1898 and sold his first manufactured semi-truck in 1899. This concept came in the midst of more than one hundred fifty patents of automobile and engine designs that he filed. This Scottish man started his career manufacturing bicycles in Cleveland and moved into the construction of “horseless carriages” in 1896. He sold his first manufactured car in 1898, and this led him to inventing the concept of the semi-truck to handle the delivery of his manufactured vehicles. Later George Cassens took the vehicle hauling business to the next level in the 1920s. As a car salesman needing to deliver the cars that he sold, he relied on car haulers extensively. When in the early 1930s, manufacturers attempted to ship the new cars directly to the buyers, he realised that the shipment costs were prohibitive for the car manufacturers. He stepped in and offered to haul the cars from the manufacturing site to the car owners. He devised a $1,850 four-car auto trailer that was pulled with a two-ton Dodge truck.

PUsh FACTOR - ThE BULLDOzER WhAT WAs ITs LEgACy? gaVe Mules a Much needed rest greater earthMoVing Might

The first bulldozer was invented by James Cummings in USA. He had observed that while the actual digging of the trench had been mechanized, backfilling the trench was still being done with mules and dirt slips. He realised that a machine for filling the trench was in order and developed therefore the very first bulldozer existing of a tractor and a blade that he in 1927 applied for patent. The tractor he used was a Fordson with 2 gears forward and a top speed of 7 mph (11 km/h). The name bulldozer is a combination of bull and a very powerful medicine doze. The bulldozer was later built with a caterpillar tractor as the basis and got the shaping it has today for approximately 50 years ago. The basic principles of the bulldozer remain with weight and size that has increased.

While diesel engines were developed much earlier, Rudolph diesel famously described the slow combustion engine in 1893, the work of Charles Franklin Kettering revolutionised their use as power plants for heavy machinery. The American engineer and businessman, he was head of research for General Motors for 27 years. His work led to the advancement of the first practical, lightweight two-stroke diesel engines, revolutionising the locomotive and heavy equipment industries. Born in 1878, the Ohio-born polymath was later heavily involved in the research for new diesel engines, including two-stroke designs and lightweight designs. This research was instrumental in the development of diesel locomotives, the first of which was a 600-horsepower unit that powered the “Pioneer Zephyr” for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The Electro-Motive series of corporations, including its incarnation as a GM division, became a principal builder of locomotives. The work of Kettering and colleagues with diesels also led to the Detroit Diesel Series 71 family of two-stroke diesel engines for trucks and heavy equipment. In an interview about his diesel research, he was asked if the development of diesel locomotive engines presented any unusual problems. Kettering’s classic response was, “Let it suffice to say that I don’t recall having any trouble with the ‘dipstick’”.

BACK TO BACK - ThE BACKhOE WhAT WAs ITs LEgACy? the first true all-rounder set jcb on its way

J C Bamford is a member of a closed set of personalities identified with a particular innovation. Bamford, his full name being Joseph Cyril Bamford, first invented the backhoe in 1953. The machine that would become synonymous with his company JCB was based on a tractor; a loader on the front and a hoe, well, on the back. Backhoe loaders are also not generally used for towing and usually do not have a power take-off (PTO). When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine usually has a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the hoe controls. Removable backhoe attachments almost always have a separate seat on the attachment itself. Five years after started JCB in October 1945, Bamford’s company employed just six people, by the time of his death in 2001, the company was the biggest privately-owned company in the UK, employing 4500 people and manufacturing 30,000 machine in 12 different companies. Bamford’s philosophy is one that is doubtless shared by many of the other personalities that have changed this industry. “Focus on what you do best, be innovative, and re-invest in product development and the latest manufacturing technologies.”

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Innovation

Will there be a next generation? The Middle East is notoriously slow to adopt new technology, but why is that? CMME looks at new technology on the horizon that could re-shape the industry, if it makes its way into inventories.

missions regulation in North America and Europe has been a double-edged sword for manufacturers.On the one hand it has been forced upon them. Many manufacturers will talk – off the record – about scaling development costs and difficulties in incorporating requirements into equipment. Of course, they have had a long lead time. The first regulation was introduced at the close of the 1990s, with a second stage, being introduced across 2001 to 2004. Stage III followed in Europe between 2006 and 2008.

A new stAge We are now up to Stage IIIB, new regulations that require a 90% reduction in emissions compared to Stage II. Engines are now much more complicated

than ever before and are set to become even more intricate as they enter a new phase, Stage IV which will be introduced in 2014. The timing for the new regulations has not been ideal. The global downturn has increased pressure on the cost of research and development. The relentless turnover of emission regulation has skewed where investment is required, with engine development prioritised over other potential avenues. “Ideally they should’ve re-appraised it, but we’re talking politics here. And that complicates things.” a representative of a major OEM told CMME recently. Gert de Boon, product manager at Genie, describes the differences between stages. “The changes are huge in terms of the amount maintenance and fuel quality,” explains Boon. “If you don’t have the right quality of diesel, the engine

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Innovation

Feature caption pudaeperibus ratecus nessiment que modit velesti volore, optius ea dolupta doloresti ommolorum rerro iminus. Bus, eum diorem sum harum, optatem. Nequo et que dolent dolupta.

“RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS ELECTRONIC. THE FIRST QUESTION CUSTOMERS ASK US IS HOW COMPLICATED IS IT?”

breaks down. People need to be aware of it, our customers have to invest.” At each stage the changes have required not only for cleaner engines but as a consequence cleaner diesel. With low-regulated regions such as the Middle East now a decade behind, a chasm has opened that may never be bridged. One exhibitor at Intermat put it this way. “Unless they skip stages like some countries have I don’t see how it is possible. But do you want to effectively tax industries that you are relying on for growth?” The problem confronting manufacturers and buyers of equipment in the Middle East is a ticking time bomb in the used machinery sector. Staying at Stage II might be cost effective now but what happens six years down the line when machinery comes obsolete and needs to be replaced? There is another side to that double-edged sword as suggested above. While it may have skewed development investment, it has also ensured that machines need to be upgraded by those that buy machinery. Caterpillar, for instance, is experiencing a boom period not only because it has been aggressively increasing its share of the emerging markets but also because of the pressure to replace ageing equipment on its customers back home. In a Wall Street Journal article last month called, Cummins Thrives on New Air Regulations, the engine maker said it was benefiting from the tough, new government regulations. Cummins stepped into the hole left by Caterpillar’s departure from truck engine manufacturing (citing escalating costs) in 2010. Interestingly it has also poured money into ensuring it has a flexible offering for vehicle manufacturers in Asia and Latin America who need

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

to side-step the cost of development to make their vehicles compliant with regulation. “You’re seeing a very strong push for better environmental regulations by governments in almost every country,” CEO Tom Linebarger told the Wall Street Journal. “We have technologies that can help those countries meet emissions regulations with a relatively low impact to their economies.” JCB launched 33 new machines at Intermat, among them excavators designed specifically for the emerging markets where it has made such impressive progress over the past half-decade. “As you know, developing economies tend to have less stringent regulation and we’ve taken the opportunity to install our 4.8l Tier 2 Dieselmax engine into our JS200, 210 and 220 (excavator_ models for the first time,” said Tim Burnhope, innovation and growth officer at JCB. “These are our flag-ship models in the 20-24t range which accounts for one-third of excavators sold around the world. The power rating remains the same at 128kW but with advanced hydraulics, optimised pump settings, revised spool configuration and advanced management system, customers can expect a fuel efficiency improvement of 24%.” The company also offered a tantalising teaser for Middle East contractors at Intermat interested in the raft of Tier 4 Interim models it has launched. “We fully understand the need for the kits and for some machines we will,” said Burnhope. “And with our solution it is easy to do that. We see a considerable advantage (combining it) with the Tier IV solution.” New Holland has taken a very different approach, racing ahead in terms of emissions technology and

at the same using a partnership with Kobelco to service emerging markets. “We feel we’re ahead of the Tier 4 Final game because we chose SCR early,” said Mario Gasparri, president, CNH Construction, speaking at a New Holland press conference. The company says it has learned the ins and outs of SCR technology from sister company Iveco‘s truck engine experience. The Tier 4 Final engine will offer a 95% decrease in NOx. At Project Qatar, the company had its New Holland/Kobelco E215B and E385B excavators on show as part of the Q-Fab display. While not boasting next generation engines, they are still packing the new generation HINO Common rail engine that introduces electronically controlled fuel injection and reduced emissions. They also include ergonomic cab designs and the AEP display that provides service and warning information. It’s relatively advanced equipment for the region, and contrary to the belief that the less complicated a machine, the better. However, according to Genie’s Boon this will remain for the foreseeable future. “[Emission regulation] may not be a factor for the Middle East but it’s interesting as because in five or six years these machines cannot be moved. Obviously the local dealers are not going to sell it [now] as it is not their engine. It has got to be split. “If we ship machines to Kazaksthan or India they want Tier 1 engines. They worry about the quality of the fuel and the simplicity of the engine, piston, pressure, up down. The classical diesel engine. Right now everything is electronic. The first question customers ask us is how complicated is it?” Pointing to the company’s newest machines, that boast greater ergonomics, greater durability, improved accessibility and visibility but are also reassuringly straightforward to use he adds: “What you see out there is the same as the Middle East until you open up the truck and there is a different engine. We like to keep it simple.” It is a sentiment that many in the region would agree with.

A Product of Hard Work

BAHRAIN:

+973 1770 0008

OMAN:

+968 2470 3844

SAUDI ARABIA:

+966 3898 4045

KUWAIT:

+965 2483 0384

QATAR:

+974 4455 8888

UAE:

+971 4 338 5461

For other countries, please find your local JCB dealer at www.jcb.com

Total Innovation. Maximum Support At JCB, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re totally committed to provide you with a range of tailored solutions that combine Innovation and first class Dealer support. Our understanding of your industry and the vast array of products & services we offer will undoubtedly deliver better performance, efficiency, productivity, reliability, versatility and real savings that will make your business more profitable and competitive. Go to our dealer locator to experience our innovation and first class dealer support. www.jcb.com

Show Review

biG sHOW

At 20,000 sqm it is the biggest show in the GCC

Open fOr business

Interest in infrastructure machinery made Aprilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Machinery Show held in Jeddah a storming success.

sk most exhibitors at a trade event about their expectations for the show and they will tell you that they will hope to meet new customers and raise their profile in the marketplace. Rarely are they bold enough to predict that they may even make a sale or two. The Construction Machinery Show held in Jeddah last month turned that perceived wisdom on its head, proving that events remain a key opportunity for contractors and plant managers to source new equipment. Officially opened by Mohammed Wafi, director, Governorate of Jeddah, major brands represented at the event included Doosan, Terex, Liugong and Sullivan Palatek with some of the Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest distributors and dealers

COnsTruCTiOn

MiDDLe eAsT

May 2012

participating. Machinery and equipment specialist Saudi Diesel completed the sale of its first machine within hours of the show opening. Project manager Ammar Abuseir revealed that the company had sold an Everdigm EPC 50CS-5 concrete pump truck to customer Al-Zaidy. Meanwhile Jeddah-based Medco, which distributes names such as Putzmeister, Sandvik, Terex, Gehl, Dynapac, Sullair and Genie in the Kingdom, also enjoyed a successful event, completing sales across its range of international brands. The company had a particularly successful third day, selling a number of machines including Gehl 4240 skid steers, Dynapac pavers, an Atlas Copco hand roller, and a Terex TLB820 backhoe.

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Show Review

Amr Sami, sales engineer, said that dealers approached the distributor looking for new technology that can help them to stand out in an increasingly competitive environment “The Dynapac paver can do 60cm. It is not common here, nobody has one. When they see it, they want it. The deals are a good indicator. These are new customers that didn’t come to just watch.” Show director Raz Islam said the event demonstrated why Saudi Arabia is one of the most exciting markets in the GCC. “We knew that we made the right choice by bringing the event to Jeddah, but we have been pleased with how well the event has been received,” he said. “I want to thank the exhibitors and visitors who helped to make the show such a success. I think this event shows that Saudi Arabia is the number one market in the GCC, and we look forward to playing our part in its growth over the years ahead.”

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

QUALITY & STRENGTH Digging wayy to success gg g your y

Al Khobar P.O.Box: 2841, Al Khobar-31952, Saudi Arabia. Tel: + 966 3 8576769, Fax: +966 3 857 4681 Email: Construction@saudidiesel.com.sa Web: www.saudidiesel.com.sa

BRANCHES Riyadh Tel: + 966 1 231 1931 / Fax: + 966 1 231 1031 Jeddah Tel: + 966 2 659 8500 / Fax: +966 2 659 8600 Jubail Tel / Fax: +966 3 363 4050

OTHER AREAS ( DEALERS) Tabuk Tel: +966 4 422 4490 / Fax: + 966 4 422 7225 Unaizah Tel: + 966 6 364 4555 / Fax: + 966 6 364 5969 Abha Tel: +966 7 227 0000 / Fax: +966 7 227 1944

Financing

Seven Rules For Cash: More than a cost centre... One OF the biggeSt ObStaCleS FOR Fleet and plant ManageRS iS COnvinCing the pOweRS the be, that they aRe MORe than a COSt CentRe. heRe aRe Seven wayS tO enSuRe that yOu tuRn thinking FROM COSt tO Revenue.

1 Rightsizing Rightsizing refers to two aspects: the first pertains to achieving an optimal quantity of vehicles in the fleet; the second is “rightsizing” vehicle specification. An example of this includes spec’ing four-cylinder sedans instead of six-cylinder models. this approach lowers acquisition and fuel costs, without sacrificing performance. Most fleets, in good times, get very bloated. so, addressing fleet size is a great place to start to reduce costs. You can also take the level of executive vehicles down a bit or take out some of the features, such as CD players in trucks or go with two-wheel drive instead of four-wheel drive, if it’s not absolutely necessary. 2 Upfits Are there any upfit specifications that are overkill? Could a fleet omit any of those options without negatively impacting vehicle performance and crew productivity? shifting from steel to fiberglass service bodies, for example, may increase initial cost, but could also double or triple the usable life of the body. Can long-term savings be achieved by going to a fiberglass body, based on how long the fleet plans on keeping the body? Or, does it make more financial sense to stick with a less expensive steel service body?

Underwritten rUles Just how easy or difficult is it to get financing for new machinery in the Middle East? CMME looks into the complicated issue of raising capital.

aising finance for new machinery has become a thorny and time consuming issue in the Middle East. This is especially true in the areas worst hit by the downturn – and especially true in the UAE. Pre-2008 it was fairly straightforward. Go into a bank, present your business plan, show some figures and leave with a tidy amount of capital tucked under your company’s arm. However the loss of confidence in the heavy machinery sector has meant banks have come increasingly reluctant to lend to small and medium enterprises. Emirates Money, a consumer finance company and wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates NBD Group used to lend money for investment in heavy

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

machinery but has now put that on ice, preferring to target the commercial vehicles sector instead. Unsurprising perhaps as the market for commercial vehicles in the UAE will continue to witness double digit growth in 2012,building on the 15 per cent growth in 2011.

Turning away from machinery Emirates Money currently caters to approximately 30% of the UAE commercial vehicles market, which grew by 15% through 2011. The move away from heavy machinery is unlikely to be regretted. Vipul Malhan - Head Commercial Vehicle Finance, said “Emirates Money offers a wide range of financing options for commercial vehicles at extremely

competitive interest rates and down payment for both new and used commercial vehicles. “Our loan evaluation criterion is unique and evaluates the customer’s loan repayment capacity, asset risk and contract risk when evaluating any loan proposal. Emirates Moneygives the right credit to the deserving customers ensuring that the customers are not overleveraged.” While it is true that some banks have become increasingly conservative the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank’s SME division says cash is still available to company’s interested in expanding their equipment. As part of its offering the ADCB Construction Equipment Loan is a financing facility that offers funding up to 90% of the equipment cost

PROFESSIONALS RELY ON CASE

SEE YOUR BUSINESS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE COUNTRY Bahrain Qatar KSA Oman Jordan Lebanon Kuwait UAE Turkey

www.casece.com

DEALER Nass Commercial NBKS Roots Ihe C.I.C Someco Instant Access Al Shirawi Cukurova Ziraat

CONTACT NUMBER +97317703123 +97444580138 +96626996628 +96824591299 +9625506260 +9611253600 +96522259972 +97143718585 +902164512404

Financing

3 Vehicle Standardization StandardiSation is the practice of developing common specs for particular vehicles. this approach simplifies the ordering process (improving productivity), helps control vehicle acquisition costs, and bolsters buying power. 4 Fuel coSt ManageMent all fleets have significant fuel costs, and if you put in programs to buy gas at a certain price or below, that can lead to substantial savings. other initiatives that fleet managers can implement to reduce fuel costs include: route optimisation. uses real-world data to plan vehicle routes in a way that minimizes miles and left turns (which increase idle times and fuel consumption). anti-idling policies and technology. 5 Vehicle acquiSition there are three key areas that impact acquisition costs:

at competitive rates, which it promises has “simple documentation and a quick turn around time”. The gap in lending has opened up an opportunity for other parties to enter the financing fray, and a handful of other companies have started up, including Megafin Capital (Al Reem is also rumoured to be starting up a lending operation), but it’s a tentative step back into providing liquidity in what is still a vulnerable financial market. The situation is not helped by relatively low levels of regulation. The market is still held back by a lack of the kind of recognised credit scoring and risk assessment system behind the scenes. One bank admitted to CMME, that while it will examine financial reports and audits, its most secure way of assessing the risk of lending is to ask around its network and talk to rival companies and suppliers. The situation is different in the neighbouring countries, especially in Oman where, as one manufacturer representative put it, “there is a habit of lending and regulation.” Oman has arguably the most sophisticated approach to evaluating the risk of lending and the clearest system for companies taking on a loan in the GCC. It is also a state where individuals may take on equipment as an investment to lease out for work. The government has also been actively encouraging SMEs to take on equipment while strengthening and expanding the role of financial institutions to provide loans to SMEs with favourable conditions in terms of the grace period and guarantees. With Saudi Arabia currently the most active country in the GCC in terms of construction it

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

is also looking to how it expands equipment ownership while protecting those providing loans. The Saudi Credit Bureau (SIMAH), a fledging credit bureau offering consumer and commercial credit information services to respective members in the Kingdom. There is hope that it will provide a framework for capital investment. Beyond the banks, contractors and plant managers are turning increasingly towards OEMs and dealers for finance. While this is in the very early stages in this region, there are options out there. Perhaps the best established OEM-backed financing service in the Gulf is Cat Financial. Established in 2007, Cat Financial Dubai is Caterpillar’s finance companies’ hub established to develop financing solutions to support the sale of Caterpillar equipment in the Middle East and Africa. It is part of Cat Financial, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar and was originally started in 1981. Today it has a managed portfolio of $26 billion. The Dubai operation is focused on supporting Caterpillar customers through good times and bad, says Richard Kinsey, sales and marketing manager, Middle East, Caterpillar Financial Dubai. Cat Financial underwrites loans rather than a local bank or lender, Kinsey explains, providing know-how and expertise to those looking to raise finance. The Dubai operation is a young company in a marketplace that has changed considerably in the past five years, but Kinsey says that it has grown and continued to evolve in that period. “The business has grown in that time,” he says. “The reason for this office is to develop financial service solutions. As we’ve developed are business model, we’ve gone from the big fleet deals to looking at the one or two machine, local contractors because that’s where the SME gap is; it’s guys that are running one to ten machines buying two or three machines at a time. We know there’s a gap in the market.” He adds: “We’re here to support Cat customers and construction which is not a bank’s prime reason to be. The banks are not relationship lenders like they used to be, and people are looking at their options in terms of spreading their costs. ”

acquisition strategy: cash, finance, or lease? a fleet manager should have a clear understanding of how each of these strategies impacts the accounting department and make recommendations, based on vehicle usage and replacement cycles, and which approach works best for the organization. Vehicle pricing: is the organization purchasing vehicles at the lowest possible price? this pertains not only to fleet pricing agreements negotiated with original equipment manufacturers, but also those with local dealers and/or fleet management companies. Factory ordering: When executed properly, the least expensive way to purchase a vehicle is via factory order. the challenge is that this approach requires intimate knowledge of the fleet and timely ordering. if orders are not planned or managed well, this could force organizations to acquire more vehicles out of dealer stock, which drives up the price per unit. a savvy fleet manager knows how to manage these three areas to squeeze extra cost savings for the organisation. 6 total coSt oF oWnerShip (tco) a vehicle’s total cost of ownership (tco) encompasses acquisition cost, operational costs (fuel, maintenance, repairs, etc.), and depreciation. a lot of companies think: ‘once we pay off the lease, we’re not paying that $500, $600, or $700 per month anymore.’ that seems to be savings moving forward,” in reality, it’s not because they’re going to run that truck into the ground and sell it for scrap. if that company has a good fleet manager, that fleet manager can show [senior management] through tco and other metrics that selling the vehicle after four to six years and getting cash out of that vehicle and reinvesting it in buying a newer, more fuel-efficient one would actually lower operating expense and be much more beneficial to the company. 7 preVentiVe Maintenance (pM) With the latest engine technologies and oils, many fleets are able to extend their oil change cycles from what was once considered the standard 3,000-mile interval to up to 5,000 miles, 10,000 miles, or even further, based on the fleet’s oil testing and vehicle oeM recommendations. lengthening the interval not only lowers the actual oil change cost, but, for fleets that handle their own maintenance, it frees their technicians to work on more urgent repairs. this reduces costly vehicle downtime, while enabling the technician team to get more done without adding personnel costs.

Lifting your

business

higher

Toyota Forklift is the #1 Lift Truck worldwide and in KSA. With outstanding reliability, industry-leading quality and value and a variety of models and load capacities, we can meet all your business needs. And our comprehensive service network and mobile fleet workshops keep your business on the move.

Jeddah: Tel: 02 6877058 - Fax: 026812311 Riyadh: Tel: 01 4950898 - Fax: 01 2131779 Ext 212 Dammam: Tel: 03 8176593 - Fax: 038177169 Asir: Tel: 07 2234347 - Fax: 07 2215651

concrete@saudidiesel.com.sa

Product Focus

Raw power EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

page 46 SENSITIVE STUFF

Bobcat promises its new sonic tracer system for use with the two largest 244 and 274 cm (96 and 108 inch) heavy duty attachments are ready to meet the grade.

page 46

NEW TIER 2s Intermat proved to be more than European-style machines and saw the launch of many Middle East-capable equipment.

page 50

THE BIG GUNS

A look at the machines you’ll be glad are too busy mining and quarrying to meet you down a dark alley.

page 49 GOING OFF-ROAD

A look at new equipment that’s not afraid to hit the off-road track.

page 52 BEST OF INTERMAT

Reviewing the West’s biggest show of 2012 to see what was in it for the Middle East.

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

New Products

Dieselmax powering Tier 2 JCB exCavaTors Why get it? New geNeratioN tech LocaL dieseL compatibLe

CB has announced a series of major changes to its 23-strong range of tracked and wheeled excavators with the unveiling of a line-up promising to be more “stylish, productive and more efficient machines”. In, what it is calling a ground-breaking move, some of JCB’s excavators are being powered by JCB Dieselmax engines for the first time ever – and in some cases deliver a staggering 24% improvement in fuel efficiency. In addition all 19 tracked and four wheeled models from 11 to 46 tonnes get a brand new cab and also take on a new look, a restyle which gives the JS range a stronger more rugged appearance. Typically the emerging markets tend to get left behind when new engine tech comes out of the OEM workshops, but JCB, which has a strong presence in China, India and several other developing markets, is fitting a Tier 2 variant into its 20-24 tonne ranges. The largest market segment for excavators is in the 20-24 tonne weight range, accounting for just over one-third of all machines sold. A total of 80% of these are used in the developing economies, which are not subject to the more stringent US or

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

European engine emissions legislation. Today JCB also announces that the 4.8 litre Stage 2/Tier 2 JCB Dieselmax engine will power all 20–22 tonnes JS excavators destined for these markets. The model numbers are: the 20 tonne JS200 the 21 tonne JS210 the 22 tonne JS220 While engine power rating remains at 128Kw or 172hp, JCB has made a number of key changes, in particular incorporating new advanced hydraulic technology, with optimised pump settings and revised spool configuration. JCB has also modified the Advanced Management System to ensure that the excavator defaults to Economy mode on start-up. SpecificationS • engine: 4.8 litre Stage 2/Tier 2 JCB Dieselmax engine • power Rating: 172hp • Upgrades: Advanced hydraulic technology Default economy mode Revised spool configuration Optimised pump settings

toUgh at the top poRtable poWeR Why get it? it’s a site survivor possibLe eveNt appLicatioNs

Doosan portable power is launching new versions of the popular 7/26e and 7/31e portable compressors, equipped with the ‘tough top’ polymer canopy. as well as offering outstanding durability, the tough top canopy is also non-corrodible and can be supplied in customer colours. the new compressors complement the 7/41+ tough top model launched in 2010. the new 7/26e+

model supplies 2.5 m3/min of compressed air at 7 bar output pressure and is powered by a 3-cylinder yanmar liquid-cooled engine producing 21.2 kW of power at 2800 rpm. powered by a 3-cylinder 26.0 kW yanmar engine running at 2800 rpm, the new 7/31e+ compressor supplies 3.0 m3/min of compressed air at 7 bar output pressure. the 7/26e+ and 7/31e+ compressors combine durability with aesthetic design, making them an investment for everyday applications in the toughest working conditions.

Mission: CoMpaCtion Why get it? Steal a march on competitorS leSS bounce per the ounce

speCifiCations • Max. operating mass 12,700 kg Operating mass (incl. ROPS) 11,265 kg Module mass (front/rear): 6,800/ 4,465 kg • Centrifugal force (high/low amplitude): 246/ 119 kN • nominal amplitude (high/low): 1.7/ 0.8 mm • static linear load: 31.9 kg/cm Vibration frequency (high/low amplitude) 33/ 33 Hz Drum width 2,130 mm Optimised pump settings • Manufacturer/Model: Cummins 4BT 3.9-C (*) • type: Water cooled turbo Diesel • rated power: 76 kW (102 hp ) @ 2,300 rpm

Dynapac is continuing to roll out (ahem) its fifth generation CA rollers adding mid-size models to the earlier released larger brothers in the range. Like the larger CA5000, CA6000 and CA6500 models the mid-range comes loaded with the fifth generation single drum vibratory rollers, which the company says has been “enthusiastically received”. The CA2500, CA2800, CA3500 and CA4000, and their variants share features with the larger models, such as improves to serviceability thanks to their cross-mounted engines. “Other time and money saving features are optimised amplitude for superior compaction performance and Active Bouncing Control that prevents damage to the machine and over-compaction,” says Dynapac. European and North American manufacturers have been seeking higher operator comfort

drastically reduced noise levels and fuel consumption in the past few years, and Dynapac is pushing the range as stateof-the-art single drum soil compactors that will make a major contribution to cutting costs and “raising productivity for customers worldwide”. With static linear loads ranging from 25 - 45 kg/cm, the mid-size CA rollers are ideal for compacting a range of materials, from sand and gravel to rockfill. Amplitude of 1.8 - 2 mm for the CA3500 and CA4000 models allows rockfill to be compacted in 1.25 – 1.5 meter layers. The better depth effect results in higher volume capacity and less passes to reach compaction specifications, thus saving fuel and reducing the cost per compacted cubic meter. Environmental impact is also lower. The Dynapac “Silent Weights” eccentric concept Is an option

that enhances compaction performance even further. There is much more to compaction than the roller. During the development of the new CA generation Dynapac specialists applied their unmatched know-how in the field to the entire compaction process. The aim was to make the user’s compaction mission as fast, simple and profitable as possible. Dynapac’s advanced “mission control” systems raise productivity by enabling the user to control the entire “rolling mission” in three clear steps. Preparation: planning the task with Dynapac CompBase software, Performance: performing the work using the Compaction Meter and analyzer on the roller, and Protocol: analysing the results afterwards using the Dynapac Compaction Analyzer (DCA). The new rollers are available with Stage IIIA or IIIB engines.

haulotte’s CoMpaCt Cut out for logistiCs Why get it? huge variety of applicationS rapid height go-getter Designed to meet the needs of a wide range of industries, the electric scissor lift Compact 14 offers many benefits and is particularly suited to building maintenance, logistic operations, the shipbuilding industry, and many others applications. The scissor lift has been designed for optimal compactness, with only 1.20 m width, 2.50 m height in the stowed position, and pull-down guardrails, the C14 can go everywhere. Continuous optimum movement management, a removable panel control in platform, and a tight turning radius make of the electric scissor C14 a general-purpose machine. The C14 has a 13 cm ground clearance allowing easy circulation on industrial floors which are not perfectly flat. The C14 has a Pot Hole device offering a maximum safety for the user. It also has a tilt control, a load limiter in the basket and a manual emergency descent handle. All the characteristics developed above offer many advantages which allow a faster maintenance

and servicing and optimal productivity. Furthermore, the C14 offers drives at 3 km/h, has gradeability of 23 % and a load capacity of 350 kg. The free wheeling device and the integrated forklift pocket into the frames facilitate loading and the unloading for transporting. The C14 has also towing hooks. Maintenance is facilitated by the access to components in a drawer. Finally, the battery charger has an automatic stop. Offering maximum safety, C14 complies with the latest labour regulations, to European (EC marking, EN 280) and also international standards (ANSI, CSA, AS). speCifiCations • Max. operating mass 12,700 kg Operating mass (incl. ROPS) 11,265 kg Module mass (front/rear): 6,800/ 4,465 kg • Width: 1.2m • height: 2.5 • ground clearance: 13cm • Drive speed: 3kph • load capacity: 350kg • gradeability: 23%

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

New Products

Region-capable models in new genie telehandleR Range why get it? Reduced complexity Best in class peRfoRmance

why get it? Region-specific line-up easy to maintain

Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) announced the launch of new telehandler models at Intermat including a comprehensive redesign of their popular range of high reach and rotating models. The new GTH™4014 and GTH™4018 fixed models are in the 4ton class and offer a reach of 14 meters and 18 meters respectively. “Our three new designs reinforce the Genie commitment to reduce the complexity and cost of telehandler ownership,” said Gert De Boon, Terex Aerial Work Platforms Telehandler Product Manager for Europe. “With energy efficiency, simple operation and innovative serviceability features for straight-forward maintenance, these redesigned models also offer best-in-class performances in their respective categories from a smaller footprint. This makes them ideal for tough work in congested environments.” The new models give the operator an excellent field of vision of the worksite and the lift performance of all the machines is also notable, offering high lift capacity and reach from each compact chassis. The GTH4018™ has a lift height of 17.60 meters – a record in its class. It also offers impressive telescoping speed, at 13/8 sec (lifting/ lowering) and 22/13 seconds (extending/ retracting), again accompanied by record-setting compactness. The outside turning radius of 3.80 meters is the tightest in its class, its cabin height the lowest, and its overall width

is the narrowest, enabling easy manoeuverability in congested workspace within a wide variety of industrial and construction applications. Whether they are acquired by rental companies or the end-user, the new telehandler models provide easy access to their components for daily inspections and maintenance work. Their engine compartments are also simply laid out and easily accessible, with durable front and rear lights protected by metal grills, along with a dense rubber fender and on the GTH™-4018. specifications • lifting capacity maximum: 4,000 kg • lift capacity at maximum height: 2,000 kg • inside/outside turning radius: 1.97 m/4.12 m • break-out force: (with 800 L shovel SAE J 732/80) 5,900 kg • engine: Perkins 1104 D-44T 4-cylinder turbo diesel 99 hp (74 kW), stage III • weight: 14,000 kg

Sounding out BoBcat graderS

obcat has launched a new sonic tracer system for use with the two largest 244 and 274 cm (96 and 108 inch)

heavy duty grader attachments. The tracer emits ultra sonic signals to maintain a set distance or elevation from an object, surface or the ground. Installed on the blades of the 244 and 274 cm graders, the sonic tracer allows them to be used to grade, level, and backfill on a multiple slope terrain when following a string line, kerb stone, the gutter or even a previous pass as a grade control. Grade accuracy is 6.4

mm, and the detection range of the sonic tracer is from 200 to 1300 mm.The system comprises a sonic tracer, two slope sensors and one rotation sensor, all of which are high quality Trimble components. The sensors communicate directly with the Bobcat Attachments Control Device (ACD). The operator can set the desired grade and tracer offset, while getting a read out of the grade and graphical feedback.

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

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

middle east eXcavatoRs fRom doosan

doosan is launching a new range of crawler excavators intended for the middle east and african markets. the new range comprises the dX225lca model, which were exhibited at intermat, and two larger models, the dX300lca and dX340lca models. all of the new excavator models, which replace the previous solaR range, offer a new design and features particularly suited to the specific needs of the middle east and african markets. the new excavators combine high robustness for

increased reliability and lower running costs with several important new functionalities and technical improvements. the doosan tier 2 compliant engine is suitable for use in the middle east and africa and offering significant fuel savings (up to 15% depending on the working mode and the nature of the work site). even if there is an electronic fault, it does not affect the performance of the machine and is easy to repair in the field, says doosan.

specifications • buckets: 0.39-1.28 m3 • operating weight: 21.5 to 23.2 t • digging depth (std front): 6620 mm • digging reach (std front): 9900 mm • digging height (std front): 9750 mm • digging force:15.2 t • digging force over arm (iso): 10.8t • lifting capacity: 7.8 t at 6m • engine (sae J1349, net): 6cyl DB58TIS Tier 2 • power: 110 kW (148 hp) at 1900 rpm

POWER

YOUR PROJECTS WITH PEAX

Get in touch

Toll-Free 800 166 PEAX (7329) KSA A branch of Saudi Diesel Equipment Co. Ltd. www.peax.com info@peax.com

2012

Sector Analysis

Off-road trucks Your guide to the heavy trucks that are ready to perform anywhere and at any time.

ugged, robust and powerful off-road trucks are equipped for the harsh environmental conditions of the Middle East region. Manufacturers such as Renault, Scania, MAN and Mercedes now all feature ranges that more than capable of coping with the demands of going offroad here while also being able to cross-over onto roads when needed. Likewise heavy machinery makers such as Terex and Doosan have been busy developing their dedicated off-road equipment such as articulated dump trucks ADT. The region is also becoming a hotbed for local companies ready to convert existing vehicles for niche applications such as mining. Scania is continuously expanding its offering of construction

vehicles to suit new applications and new customer needs. New solutions are often found when digging deeper into the possibilities of Scaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modular product system. New systems and components are always in the pipeline and often find widespread use thanks to modularity. Maximum uptime and robustness are usually top priorities for new construction vehicle developments. Besides the new off-road trucks and new looks for the P-series, a host of new features and bodywork options have been specifically developed for construction operation. While the Swedish company has been expanding its local presence in the region it has been modify its production lines and improving the range of factory

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Sector Analysis

The kings of the Off-Road Massive “Off-Highway” mining dump trucks boast diesel engines that weigh as much as 25,000 pounds, have as many as 12 turbochargers, and make more than 10,000 lb-ft of torque. The trucks stand more than two stories tall, ride on 63-inch tires, and are stopped with the assistance of multiple-disc, oil-cooled brakes. Most of these trucks use hybrid diesel-electric drive systems to maximize efficiency and power delivery. To support payloads of up to 400 tons, these massive haulers have frame widths and depths that are measured in feet, not inches. The GVOW (gross vehicle operating weight) can exceed more than 650 tons. In fact, most of these dump trucks are so big that the parts have to be shipped to the job site so the trucks can be built on-site.

KOMaTsu

preparations to ensure that their vehicles arrive almost ready to work. To address the needs of the off-road market, Scania has added bigger non-slip steps, an additional step for windscreen cleaning and light guards to its offroad range of tractive units and multi wheelers. As an option the chassis can be supplied with factoryfitted PTO hydraulics and tank to power tipper rams or similar. “Preparations already fitted at the factory will improve quality and shorten the time needed for bodybuilding, which in turn means that the vehicle can be put into operation one to two months earlier than usual,” claims the company. “Some complete vehicles are produced centrally, others in cooperation with local bodybuilders.” Pexi Gulf, a Sharjah-based off shoot of US company Pexi Inc has been building on its work of taking proven chassis, such as the Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG

and the MAN KAT, to create a series of mine protected vehicles, mobile work shops and cranes to assist in the mine clearing operations in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been heavily in construction contracts and projects, often converting surplus military vehicles for off-road applications. “We offer trucks and equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers. Over the years we have built relationships with dealers in key regions,” the company says. “We also have a network of workshops we partner with to build up trucks and equipment to your needs and delivery them according to the schedule. In addition to trucks and truck mounted equipment, we supply the entire range of construction equipment your project needs. Be it loader, dozer, grader or crusher .” Much of Mercedes’ progress in the region is being driven by its Actros truck, which has been

Komatsu 930E: 3,500 hp / 320 tons Engine: Komatsu SSDA18V70 / Cummins QsK78Cylinders: V-18 Displacement: 78L (4,735 ci)

Power: 3,500 hp Top speed (loaded): 40 mph Body Height: 24 ft 2 in Body Length: 51 ft 2 in Turning Radius: 49 ft 1 in Fuel Capacity: 1,200 gal Curb Weight: 235 tons Gross Vehicle Operating Weight: 556 tons Maximum Capacity: 320 tons

LIEBHERR

Liebherr TI 274: 3,000 hp / 320 tons Engine: MTU/DD 16V 4000 Cylinders: V-16 Displacement: 78L (4,654 ci) Horsepower: 3,000 hp

Top speed (loaded): 40 mph Body Height: 23 ft 10 in Body Length: 41 ft 4 in Turning Radius: 53 ft 6 in Fuel Capacity: 1,250 gal Curb Weight: 187 tons Gross Vehicle Operating Weight: 507 tons Maximum Capacity: 320 tons

KOMaTsu

Komatsu 830E: 2,500 hp / 244 tons Engine: Komatsu SDA16V160 / Cummins QSK60 Cylinders: V-16 Displacement: 60L (3,674 ci) Power: 2,500 hp

Top speed (loaded): 40 mph Body Height: 22 ft 7 in Body Length: 46 ft 5 in Turning Radius: 46.5 ft Fuel Capacity: 1,200 gal Curb Weight: 181 tons Gross Vehicle Operating Weight: 425 tons Maximum Capacity: 244 tons

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

deployed in a wide number of off-road applications, supporting mining and the petrochemicals industry in particular, where operations tend to be located in remote and tough environments. The design and material of the actros’ frame equip it or withstanding very high loads. The longitudinal and cross members are 9.5 mm thick. The material used is cold-formed, high-strength steel grade e 500 TM. With bolted and riveted joins, the frame offers superb torsional rigidity. it also exhibits remarkable torsional flexibility that helps it to handle off-road conditions when fully laden. Wheelbase versions ranging from 3300 to 6000 mm are available. “all chassis components, whether frame, suspension, axles or brakes, are designed to withstand the extreme conditions that are commonly encountered in the Middle east,” says Mercedes. “The way the components are matched up likewise reflects the harsh operating conditions in situ: a robust basis for vehicles with a lengthy operating life.” While some companies tend to downgrade their vehicles to suit operators and contractors in the region Mercedes has taken an alternative route and has been using electronics for many years: “successfully so, because the systems used are not only reliable and safe. They also prevent operating errors and therefore protect the vehicle.” all vehicle functions are interlinked in the Telligent system. via the serial can data bus, its component systems retrieve, process, regulate and control all important vehicle data. Whether for the powertrain or the chassis, the systems achieve smooth interaction between all important vehicle functions. earlier this year, renault Trucks launched its latest iteration of the Kerax truck (reviewed in cMMe’s april 2012 issue), which looks like an impressive desert dweller. originally planned to launch in 2010, progress for the truck in the Middle east was slowed during the downturn, but the french company believes the time is right for the 11l, 6 cylinder polymath. arguably the two most prominent off-road trucks in recent years (certainly in the gulf region) have been the launches of volvo’s fMX, an off-road version of its f-series truck and Man’s on/off-road truck, the Tgs-WW. based on the fM platform, volvo has developed the software and hardware (some are optional extras) to suit aggressive and heavy off-road operations. i-shift has been tweaked to cope with muddy and dusty conditions, and to meet the higher demands of running in hostile environments – where surfaces can offer little in the way of grip, and where driver skills may be tested to the extreme. The fMX comes with a choice of four chassis heights, two engine types with eight power outputs,

“The sysTeMs used are noT only

reliable and safe. They also prevenT operaTing errors and Therefore proTecT The vehicle.” and three transmission options (with new software packages for i-shift). The markets in which Man nutzfahrzeuge is offering the Tgs WW are largely in the regions of the Middle and far east, africa and russia. in many instances, the climate as well as the typical road conditions are very different from those found in europe. for off-road operation Man offers the Tgs WW at weights ranging from 18 to 41 tonnes in mediumheight and high-body design. This means more ground clearance beneath the planetary hub axles. 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x4 and 8x8 configurations are available, all with leaf suspension. as far as power is concerned, Tgs WW drivers can rely on economical d20 and d26 in-line sixcylinder engines with the common-rail injection that has demonstrated its reliability thousands of times over. depending on the regulations for registration, the engines comply with the euro 2 or euro 3 emission standards.

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

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Best of Intermat

Rain and shine

An unseasonably cold and wet week in Paris did not prevent the industry from unleashing its latest wave of machinery and equipment at this year’s Intermat

h, Spring time in Paris. A magical time of year where the cafe awnings are unfurled and tree blossom colours the streets; reminding a weary traveller why Paris has been the favourite muse of artists for centuries. Shame then that Intermat was treated to a downpour that would have left a street painter’s canvas a soaking mess. Lesser industries may have made their main event a wash-out but the construction machinery industry is not one of your lesser industries. In fact Intermat was arguably the most bolshie show in years. According to the show organisers, it was certainly the best attended event yet, tempting 200,000 visitors through the show doors of Paris’ Parc des Expositions. The fact that over 70,000 of them were overseas attendees speaks volumes of the show’s growing popularity in the annual calendar and finally consigned its troubled history – the credit crisis in 2009, Bird Flu in 2006 - to where it belongs, in the past. The European manufacturers have had a

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

tempestuous few years in the lead up to the event, particularly in the western and southern parts of the continent. Financial uncertainty at home has left it vulnerable to shifts in global markets. Postdownturn, the world is looking more and more to the east and the traditional powerhouses on the continent are less assured of their position than at any stage since the rise of the Japanese in the 1960s and the South Koreans in the 1980s. Sany’s acquiring of Putzmeister earlier this year has focused minds on Europe’s loosening grip on its own industries and the growing potency of the Chinese manufacturers. It may have been disquieting for some to see the massive Sany stand in the outside area dwarf Putzmeister’s own which was tucked away between two halls (you could’ve fitted Putzmeister’s own stand within it several times over), especially with XCMG using the show newspaper to declare that it is close to acquiring a large stake in SchwingStetter. Whether it was competition with the largest

“WE WErE LUCKY WITH CrAnES THAT DUrInG THE BEGInnInG of THE CrISES, THE DEMAnD for LArGE CrAnES WAS HIGH To fILL A LACK of EnErGY.”

privately-owned construction company in the world, or a chance to make its own statement of intent in the home of European industry, XCMG chose to go public on its desire to take control of Germany’s other major concrete player at the event leaving no doubt that time since the previous Intermat has not been overly kind to Europe. However, a new European industry may be forming out of the mist that has descended over the region. It has been forced to rethink its approach towards production and development, and this was evident on many stands and in conversation with exhibitors. Like Putzmeister, Liebherr is a family-owned company, but has taken great strides to ensure that it is better positioned in 2012 than in 2009. It showed a typically diverse range of equipment and cranes at the event – majoring in large heavy excavators for the mining sector – and clearly it has continued to invest in its lines. Despite being happy to have experienced a plateau and not a dip over the past three years, there was scant evidence of Schaudenfreude regarding the taking of Putzmeister by the Chinese. “It is fair to say it is big news in Germany but I think there were some circumstances with Putzmeister and Sany,” said Dr Gerold Dobler, corporate communications trade press at Liebherr. “You know (Karl) Schlect wanted to retire and he doesn’t have

Intermat Facts

1,350 Number of exhibitors

International exhibitors

a successor. We’re owned by the Liebherr family but they want the company to be successful and has a social commitment to the region. We felt the crisis but there was no particular time we were dramatically affected.” As a consequence of the downturn, Liebherr has begun rotating staff across its product lines, moving team members away from one line on its broad spectrum of equipment to others that are performing more strongly. Liebherr as a group is also heavily diversified, it owns a successful refrigeration business, for instance, and employees were also shifted over to different fields during the downturn, Wolfgang Beringer who handles sales promotion explained. “We train our people in working groups and can get skilled workers who can start immediately,” he said. “You know at Liebherr we have high staff retention and close relationships with the local community.” “We were lucky with cranes that during the beginning of the crises, the demand for large cranes was high to fill a lack of energy. People needed power plants, wind turbines, and the jobs in the petrochemicals industry were still good. We lost a number of small, construction-related cranes, but we could keep our turnover and even increase it a little bit by selling a higher proportion of bigger cranes.” Liebherr has also invested heavily in its machines in preparation for the latest round of emission regulation which has forced or inspired (depending on your point of view), Western manufacturers to overhaul their equipment. CMME has already covered Caterpillar’s announcement that it is launching 60 new products in 2012, and UK-based JCB was particularly buoyant about its own Tier IIIA and Tier IIIB equipment. Having quickly recovered from a disastrous 2008/2009, the company most famous for its Backhoe

200,000 Visitors (incl 145,082 trade visitors)

34.2

International visitors

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

Best of Intermat

loader, recorded pre-tax profits of $570 million in 2011, up by almost 50% on 2010. The company launched 33 machines – its largest ever launch, including wheel loaders - at Intermat, many of them to ensure compliancy of machines, but to also service the emerging markets, including the Middle East. The company revealed its line-up of Dieselmaxpowered Tier 2 excavators at the show, the JS200, JS210, JS220, as well as raising the possibility of that its latest Tier IV Interim machines could also be refitted with Tier2 kits for customers. Although its 24 to 36 tonne machines for Europe and North America still retain their Isuzu Interim engines, which comply with Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB regulations. It also unveiled its complete 17-machine range of skid steers, as well as compact tracked loaders, miniexcavators, two wheeloaders and its largest ever, five-stage boom (a first for JCB), telehandler at an impressive press conference. Close to the JCB stand were Haulotte and Terexowned Genie, with both determined to show their progress in the Middle East region in terms of the AWP and telehandlers. Although not on display the Middle East-friendly GTH 4014 and GTH 4018’s sister machines on display demonstrated how the company continues to make progress in the art of keeping it simple; ideal for this market. The company also demonstrated its progress in the field of anti-crush safety equipment, with three new designs, including the OPS (Operative Protective Structure), a tubular steel system it can fit to 1.8-2.4m platforms. Haulotte’s executives said the Middle East is proving to be one of its most

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

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012

important hunting grounds while revealing its prototype rough-terrain telescopic boom, HT23RTJ. “This aerial work platform has been designed by our R&D department in close collaboration with a panel of customers to meet the needs of a range of industries working at heights up to 23m,” said the company. “It’s Ideal for many applications including construction work, the shipbuilding industry, chemical and petrochemical industries, and the aviation industry…, this machine has unsurpassed performance.” Alexandre Saubot, CEO of Haulotte said the company is particularly positive it will see growth in the Middle East market. “We have a pretty good trend coming from the emerging markets, the Middle East, Latin America and India,” said Saubot. “We see a very positive trend coming from the Middle East, mainly compared to last year where business was very weak for the first half. We are pretty confident with all the projects there in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, and many other countries, we should post very good numbers for this region.” This year’s event was especially marked by a strong global line-up. Typically Caterpillar took a large stand, choosing to lead with infrastructure machinery, even laying down a mock-up of a road between the machines. The world’s biggest construction machinery manufacturer had 40 of its 60 planned new machines on show, including the 966K CVT (constant velocity transmission) wheel loader, its new F Series backhoes, the 428F and 432F, which feature a new loader linkage with greater lift and dump heights and increased lift capacity that look highly capable for this region. It also had its tandem vibratory roller line with articulated and drum steer configurations, and its largest paver to date, the AP1055E paver, the B Series vibratory soil compactor line, and a pneumatic roller, the CW34. “The new paver range is going to be pretty huge,” enthused Francine Shore, Cat spokesperson for EMEA region. Doosan has figured quite prominently in CMME in recent months as it continues to boost its international presence, and featured its regionappealing DX225LCA excavator and DL250A wheel loader at the event. The company also unveiled its 25th anniversary limited edition E-16 Bobcat compact excavator (the star of April issue’s cover) at the show. Featuring improved ergonomic travel levers and pedals, the machines also has its own limited livery design inspired by car ranges, including mock rear-lamps and a unique numbered plate signed by EMEA president Scott Nelson. The team behind it told CMME that: “We collected all the feedback from the customers and put it into the design.”

Dealer Round-Up

QATAR Al Bahar Mannai Obaikan Qatar Navigation Rumaillah Motors

Find me a dealer!

With Project Qatar taking place in Doha last month, CMME takes a look at some of the biggest names in Qatar.

Al BAhAr GCC-wide MAin bRAnds: Caterpillar, KoneCranes, Hiab Cranes, Terex Cranes, Atlet, Landoll Trucks

www.albahar.com ConTACT: bAhRAin +973 1770 5177; KuwAiT +965 2 491 9436; oMAn +968 24 509 000; QATAR +974 4600 222; uAE +971 2 555 4200

Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar, founded in 1937, is one of the leading business houses in the Gulf. It has two major divisions: the Machinery Group and the General Trading Group. Through the Machinery Group, established in 1959, the company represents Caterpillar in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and in Oman through an associate, Oasis Trading and Equipment Company. The head office is located in Sharjah, UAE. Caterpillar machinery and power systems are supplied by Al Bahar for a wide variety of applications including

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

COnSTrUCTiOn

middle eaST

May 2012

earthmoving, building and heavy construction, mining, road making, demolition, waste and scrap handling, electric power generation and marine propulsion. In addition, the company also supplies KoneCranes lift trucks, Hiab and Terex Cranes, Atlet warehouse trucks and Landoll narrow aisle trucks. With a staff of more than 1,500 people in 11 branches around the Gulf, the Machinery Group of Al Bahar offers customised solutions for equipment and power systems requirements, including sales and rental, new and used.

Mannai Qatar Main Brands: JCB, Grove, Massey Ferguson, TCM, Daewoo Bus, Detroit Diesel, CompAir, Mitsubishi Grader

www.mannaiheavyequipment.com

heavy equipment suppliers in the state of Qatar. Today, Obaikan is the authorised distributor in Qatar of world renowned equipment manufacturers. It has a showroom strategically located with highly trained and professional sales engineers who, according to the company, will be able to discuss the benefits, advantage and features of products, equipped with sizeable warehouse for spare parts availability.

ContaCt: +974 440 76000

The HED showroom is located in the Industrial Area alongside the company’s large warehouse and spare parts counter. According to the company, it has a comprehensive engine repower workshop for diesel engines, transmission, fuel pumps, fuel injector testing and repairs and major repairs/overhaul of hydraulic components. The division provides hired equipment through its own fleet and has a range of mobile service vehicles equipped with specialised tools and operated by well trained technicians to attend to service calls in the field. The companies key activities include sales and after sales service, warranty administration and equipment field monitoring, major repairs/ overhaul of engines mounted on construction and mobile equipment, power generators and pleasure crafts, calibration and testing of fuel injection components (inline and rotary pumps), supply installation and calibration of safe load indicators on mobile hydraulic cranes and the supply, installation, repair and after sales service of refrigeration and air conditioning systems on trailers, trucks and commercial buses.

Obaikan Qatar Main Brands: Perkins, Hyster Europe, Bobcat, JLG access equipment, Bell articulated dump trucks, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Sandvik, Sakai Heavy Industries

Qatar navigatiOn Qatar Main Brands: Sennebogen, Doosan Infracore

www.qatarnav.com ContaCt: +974 4494 9624

Qatar Navigation was established in 1957 as the first public shareholding company registered in Qatar and holds the rather coveted commercial registration number of 1. The aim in establishing the company was stimulating growth in the Qatari economy through the provision of shipping, transportation, and handling services necessary to link Qatar with the rest of the world. The company has since evolved, expanded and diversified into maritime transportation, port management, shipping agencies, logistics services, ship repair and fabrication, trading activities, as well as real estate development and asset management. Qatar Navigation also has a 50% stake in Qatar Quarries and Building Materials Company, a 30% stake in Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), and owns 50% of Gulf LPG. The company has smaller stakes in a number of other associated companies. Qatar Navigation (QNNS) is publically listed on the Qatar Exchange and represents almost 5% of the Qatar Exchange Index.

www.obaikanes.com ContaCt: +974 451 4497

Obaikan is a Qatari company, which is one of the 20 subsidiaries under the OITC Group of Companies established on December 2003. According to the company, it has grown to become one of the most well- respected

ruMaillah MOtOrs Qatar Main Brands: Terex, Genie

www.rumaillahgroup.com ContaCt: +974 4450 8888

Rumaillah Motors is a supplier for industries requiring materials handling, storage, power generation or aerial access equipment. The company offers a wide range of specialist mechanical equipment and claims to be an important single supply source for those requiring a range of solutions. From mobile cranes to power generators, work platforms to forklifts, Rumaillah Motors says it has the right solution. Today, the Rumaillah group is a large concern, involved in many aspects of Qatari business life, but it began like many of the world’s greatest companies as a small family business. HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani, a leading member of the Qatar Ruling Family, established a general contracting and trading company in 1978. There are now autonomous companies – Rumaillah Services, Rumaillah Motors and Rumaillah Warehouse Equipment. Rumaillah Construction was launched in 2004 to take advantage of the requirements for quality contract management solutions for the many building projects happening in Qatar. The year 2006 saw the Group diversify into logistics while finally in 2010 Rumaillah Vehicle Maintenance company was launched.

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

May 2012

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

The Last Word gap. Bridging the the third Schwing is ncrete European co go Chinese. company to

Jobs go

ned is a family-ow er, Schwing t st in ei pr m tz ot fo Pu al Like y has a glob n pa m co e l now operation. Th le. XCMG wil er 3,000 peop million 10 $2 a r fo employing ov plication ap e th h help it to w proceed idge loan refinance a br omson to Th th id or w loan isition, sa qu ac g in w h threefinance the Sc ill be invited to join the w ks le an schedu d to Reuters. B ad show was ro (a an lo year term ong Kong). Apr il 25 in H e event’s begin on 25 rmat told th te In at on rs ld be a “big A spokespe quisition wou ac e th that the at th y , confirming show dail ry st du in al e glob ruction thing” for th three” const e op re “t a p s be g to in ts company wan ese spend 2015. by in latest Chin y n that the pa m co was revealed it t en at were ev e After th pting talks th em epr as w urce unnamed so doors. hind closed be ed g in rr occu deal was seal e th To date no understands t. E en M ev CM s ri at the Pa s g of this in ve n ti n u gi ec much and be ex e th between aled on how ase h ve rc re ll the talk at a pu en s y’ be n has pay to secure at was Sa information about made XCMG as year ’s Interm g w in it w d h en Sc e e er by th for what pr ic siness. g of of Putzmeist XCMG’s takin ding of the bu of ol s h y on it ti or ca to emerge, aj ifi m the ram have begun s il ta and de er Howev at chairman bs in ter. nfirmation th otection of jo sition. co pr Schwing-Stet po e e is th th h t g n in ou di n inclu rned ab will remai g g sector had in n w ri h u ct Those conce Sc fa d u an owner Gerhar t power ful m n. g GmbH, Europe’s mos ill also remai when Schwin ional ed rm fi n co The brand w s e ar er of internat et fe cr ag st n an or co w m r of a, er ol thei rz ak U m t th so Alfon vealed at an a cond larges ing Stetter, re tting more th w cu h Ger many’s se as Sc w at the at it es d ic serv nounce e as nor mal ahead of ould continu machiner y, an headquar ters in Her ne w e to n ov io m ct a u od as pr at its that this w d de ad fift h of jobs e H th tion in e l company. s sale. the IG Metal mpany’s posi co of e er the company’ th ei m en h ke strengt of the Eva Ker 170 jobs out According to kets. of pumps in , the loss of n of io emerging mar n on u ti rs se the sales di n ke ea co cr ein pr to a is trade wor ly like s Urzola said. “The plan ce was most ly contr ibute partnership,” on is y th tl 800 workfor ssolution en gh rr u ro cu China th many, the di stry. G, which er M du G XC in de to si on le in lli y sa bi bl the the tal $17 Understanda uring base to out of the to al the its manufact $317 million did not reve l parties. on in al M ip g by gr an s ed it W of an official well receiv is h en en in be XCMG chairm n ot io n it is s that have be ark Chinese has t of the acqu t he did rem are companie e bu t , es al es th exact amoun rg de as e la ly e th ten th Especial nouncing Schwing’s cades and of statement an ncement that ated over de ou iv n lt and regions. an s cu t n w en r to u l ei their loca in a subseq will keep th in s am er te rial action by oy t pl en em agem enced indust ri pe ex urances Ger man man er e. st Putzmei e purchas Ger many. Ass th r in t te en af s ev G on M re , a ra positi ing/XC 20 have its workforce lly, the Schw orce until 20 mpleted kf co or y w n e Sa r th g te Coincidenta n vi y af term about preser t came one da out the longpump announcemen n of the leading Ger man nced some ab – it is vi n n io co ct u ot n od isitio $425 Ger man pr r of fo ty bH ri m its own acqu ian cu G ar g se at septuagen eister Holdin rumoured th outcast maker Putzm ow n is l Schlect ar K . er n n io ow li il be m Cummins joins feteria. , Europe will in his own ca Once finalised e er h German spree w n ues tion for io at or a situ The maj q e facing up to e et whet her thes US engine manufacturer Cummins rgest concr Ger man y is es three of its la ov m c l ti il w nis Inc. has joined the rush to acquire cturers are opportu e pump manufa oking to rais ed German know-how and bought the lo ir s qu er ac n ow en y be b ons si n have all pe n assets associated with the emissions eir ow mpanies. funds for th f by Chinese co of e av vy control products of Hilite International. to st omlion Hea or attempts Changsha Zo Hilite’s selective catalytic reduction ing line and face ad ec d le t rm gh u te nglo Industry bo doser technology will become part ies of the work and to the realit p u dustry Italian form st of Cummins Emission Solutions, li ac hiner y in dling specia nstruction m co concrete han allowing Cummins to serve t ntury. cond larges in the 21st Ce CIFA (t he se all major markets. in Europe d n ki s it of company in 2008. at the time)

y r t s u d n i n a rm e G p u s e v r a China c

CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE EAST

May 2012