Truck & Fleet ME February 2017 by Construction Machinery ME

MAN’S VON REDWITZ: “OUR SHARE IS GROWING”

037 FEBRUARY 2017

MIDDLE EAST

WE’RE AT THE TIPPING POINT CONTRACTOR TRAILER FAIL

CLASS ACT ACTROS CELEBRATES TWO DECADES AS THE REGION’S HARDEST WORKER

04 CONTENTS

A PRODUCT Of CMME

PUBLISHING DIrector RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5483 eDItorIAL DIrector VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5472 EDITORIAL

IT’s A bEAUTIfUl ThIng I watched with great interest Donald Trump’s

SUB eDItor AELRED DOYLE

to hear his words on bringing back manufacturing

ADVERTISING

west that has taken advantage of establishing factories across the world. While his words may be music to the ears of those that have seen

NETWORK

the automotive industry drift away from the

04 / nATIOnAl PREROgATIVE

mid-west heartlands of America, I do question

Al-Futtaim Motors powers on with its drive to introduce hydrogen in the UAe.

whether Trump can have the impact he hopes. Certainly in the commercial vehicles sector,

t&FMe looks at some of the best light duty commercial vehicle trucks in the market. LAUNCH

12 / ACTROs 20 YEARs EDITIOn the Actros gets an L-cab euro 3 special edition to celebrate two decades of MeNA service.

SALeS MANAGer BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 433 2856 DESIGN Art DIrector SIMON COBON JUNIor GrAPHIc DeSIGNer pERCIVAL MANALAYSAY MARKETING

I would argue that the US has failed to truly

09 / lIghT TRUCKs

eDItor StEpHEN wHItE stephen.white@cpimediagroup.com +44 7541 244 377

inaugural address last month. It was fascinating to the US, a sector like many others in the

ROUND-UP

coNSULtANt eDItor GAVIN DAVIDS gavin.davids@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5480

capitalise in global markets and definitely not to the extent the European and Asian industries have. Asking them to retreat further back while

MArKetING MANAGer LISA JUStICE lisa.justice@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5498

possibly trying to swing trade deals to enforce

CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION

a competitive edge, isn’t that realistic at the

DIStrIBUtIoN MANAGer SUNIL KUMAR sunil.kumar@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5476

beginning of the 21st Century. Not in this industry. I would also argue that the best companies in this industry have put the needs of the countries they are serving first not the ones

ProDUctIoN MANAGer VIpIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713

where their headquarters are based.

INTERVIEW

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Talking of putting ourselves first, I was

16 / MAn In ThE DRIVIng sEAT

disappointed to hear that we will no longer

MAN truck & Bus Middle east’s Franz Von redwitz talks to t&FMe about its regional progress.

see a move to Euro 4 in the region although

MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI PUBLISHED By

given the current economic climate in the Middle East it is understandable.

EFFICIENCY

Perhaps now we know that we will be making

22 / TIPPER TRAIlER EffICIEnCY

the step up to Euro 3, fleets should now be

Hyva MeA on why contractors need to take tipper trailer selection seriously.

looking at other ways to improve their efficiency. Not just by investing in new engines but in new methods of being more efficient. Being green

Registered at IMpZ pO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 www.cpimediagroup.com

OPERATOR INTERVIEW

isn’t just about saving the environment but

25 / ThE EnDs Of ThE EARTh

also saving costs. Perhaps Trump has a point.

FOUNDER

Meet Artic trucks, a company that is an explorer, a tour operator and a re-fitter with a difference.

Putting yourself first may mean we all benefit.

DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINTED By pRINtwELL pRINtING pRESS LLC

SPECIAL REPORT

28 / RIsKY bUsInEss Digital vulnerability is a major concern for Middle east operators.

STEPHEN WHITE EDITOR

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.

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 1

ONLINE

MOST POPULAR

FEATURED

READERS’ COMMENTS

CONSTRUCTION

ENFORCEMENT wILL bE kEy TO NEw UAE FIRE CODE

Dubai Harbour to include Mideast’s largest marina

CONSTRUCTION

Trump turns down $2bn deal with Dubai’s Damac

In pictures: Meraas to build 20 million sq. ft. Dubai Harbour project

CONSTRUCTION

Dubai’s $40m Deira Islands bridge to set open

FEATURES

Omnium execs survey the Mideast QS scene

INFRASTRUCTURE

Dubai Wonderland project revived, to cost $490m

2 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

Video: Time-lapse of construction at Aldar’s Shams Meera project

It is common sense that the much-needed new UAE fire code won’t be enforced when it comes to underconstruction developments (“New UAE fire code ‘won’t apply to ongoing projects’”, January 19). This new code is vitally important, given the string of fires that have hit UAE high-rise towers in recent years. There was the memorable fire at The Address hotel on New Year’s Eve at the end of 2015, the Torch tower fire earlier that year, and numerous other cases. The incidents have called into question the regulations and standards when it comes to the cladding used in many UAE skyscrapers, and rightly so. And so additional building standards and guidelines relating to fire safety should be welcomed by everyone in the industry. However, proper enforcement of the new code will be essential when it comes to compelling companies in the industry to comply with the UAE’s new fire safety code. The enforcement methods should include the use of third-party independent inspections to ensure that all players in the industry are following the rules to the letter. Alex Hamilton, via email

Driving profitability

VOLVOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S I-SHIFT AUTOMATED MANUAL GEARBOX maximises uptime and makes your transports more efficient. Thanks to built-in intelligence, it quickly and automatically chooses the right gear. The result is less wear and tear, optimised fuel consumption and safer, easier and more comfortable driving. Or put differently, I-Shift makes transports with your Volvo trucks more profitable. For MORE INFORMATION ABOUT I-SHIFT please visit volvotrucks.com

Volvo I-shift Gearbox

NETWORK

NETWORK 02 17 YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE MIDDLE EAST’S TRUCK ANd FlEET OPERATOR NETWORK

AFM: GREEN CAR TECHNOLOGY IS UAE NATIONAL IMPERATIVE

The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, one of the first such vehicles to be sold commercially.

Bertrand Thiebaut, senior managing director of the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Motors says that the technology that powers the Toyota Mirai FCV and other hybrid advances can be essential contributors in the country’s drive towards sustainable transportation. Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor of Toyota and Lexus in the UAE, took part at last month’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East, and a significant platform for international dialogue and cooperation, as the Official Transport Partner of the exhibition “Our message for many years has been that hybrid is the immediately available answer to

the country’s sustainable mobility question,” said Thiebaut. “Late last year, we announced our intention to drive the implementation of new sustainable technologies in the UAE’s motoring market and revealed our plans to start testing Toyota’s latest technology, the Fuel Cell Vehicle in the UAE.” Al-Futtaim Motors’ Thiebaut added: “Since then, the pilot consisting of testing the Toyota Mirai FCV has kicked-off successfully, cementing our commitment towards a better and cleaner tomorrow.” Speaking ahead of the the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Thiebaut described the event as an excellent platform for Al Futtaim

Motors to showcase Toyota’s Fuel Cell Vehicle technology as well as its hybrid transport solutions for government, fleet and individuals. “We continue to provide sustainable solutions that we believe are imperative in the government’s efforts in creating a greener environment,” he added. Al-Futtaim Motors showcased the zeroemission hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai at its stand, as well as a model hydrogen filling station. The units are similar to the units being built by French company Air Liquide, its partner in a recent pilot scheme and one of the most established suppliers of hydrogen stations in the world.

THE RTA HAS AgREEd A dEAl THAT SEE THE ONlINE BOOKINg SERVICES FOR 9,841 TAxIS 4 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

NETWORK

RENAUlT PRO+ ElECTRIC RANgE UP TO FOUR lCVS Renault Pro+ now includes four electric LCVs: the Twizy Cargo (a quadricycle with a boot launched in 2014), the New Commercial ZOE (based on New ZOE with a range of 400km NEDC), the New Kangoo ZE and the Master ZE. Renault Pro+ is rolling out a number of other connected services for fleet management and preventative maintenance.

PREMIER MOTORS DEBUTS 6X4 RIgID FORD TRUCK aT ECOWaSTE Premier Motors, the official dealer for Ford Trucks in Abu Dhabi, launched a 6x4 rigid chassis truck equipped with a 25 cubic metre (CBM) RosRoca refuse compactor at the EcoWASTE exhibition as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Powered by the new Ford Ecotorq engine family, the truck, part of Ford Trucks new 6x4 range, now comes with greater power and more efficiency than before “to ensure customers can continue with their daunting tasks”. The 2017 6x4 Series delivers 430PS and 2150Nm of torque with the new Ecotorq engine, a significant improvement over the previous generation.

The award Al Habtoor wins global recognition within Daimler.

Al HABTOOR MOTORS SCOOPS dAIMlER AWARd Al Habtoor Motors, the official dealer of FUSO in the UAE, has been awarded the ‘Best Customer Service’ Award at the recently held Daimler Trucks Asia Distributors Award 2016 ceremony held in Chennai, India. The event was attended by 217 delegates from 101 countries. Karl Hamer, managing director of Al Habtoor Motors received the Certificate and Trophy from Michael Kamper, head of marketing, sales and customer services – Daimler Trucks, Asia. Speaking of the award, Hamer commented: “It is indeed a moment of prestige for all of us as the coveted award recognises our dedicated customer centric efforts to build a loyal

EkAR LAUNcHES 100 cARSHARE ScHEME IN DUbAI

Ekar, the hourly car rental company in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has launched 100 carshare vehicles across the Emirate of Dubai. Offering “absolute” driving accessibility, half of the ekar fleet is designated around the Dubai

Metro stations (Metro Cars) whilst the other half within popular areas of the city (City Cars) including, JLT, Dubai Silicon Oasis, The Green Community and Academic City among others. “We observed a problem and went about figuring out how find to a solution and make the joys of driving car just that - joyful! The freedom of driving a car without the hassle of ownership gives our customers the freedom of driving a car when they want,” said Vilhelm Hedberg, CEO, ekar. ekars are parked at easily accessible areas to connect people to each other and to public transportation modes to help take drivers where they want to go.

customer base and in the process a stronger market for the FUSO brand.” He added that Al Habtoor Motors has historically focused on building customer confidence by: “providing FUSO customers not only the best choice of vehicles but also high quality aftersales support through its parts and service network across the whole of the UAE.” Added to its after sales support, Al Habtoor Motors has also developed extensive customer training programmes to impart better understanding of the products for its customers. Its so-called strategic customer awareness campaigns additionally highlight the benefits of using genuine parts. According to Al Habtoor Motors, the programme has helped FUSO customers make the right choices while getting their vehicles serviced/repaired. Al

US COMPANY UBER PROVIdE ANd 4,700 lIMOUSINES IN UAE

Habtoor Motors says its efforts have helped to explain the overall benefits to customers of maintaining vehicles in peak condition has helped to enhance the vehicle value.

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 5

NETWORK

REVISED LEXUS RX PICKS UP MID-SIZE SUV aWaRD The 2016 Lexus RX luxury crossover vehicle was awarded the ‘Midsize Premium Sports Utility Vehicle’ prize at the second Arab Wheels Awards, which was recently held at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai. The fourth-generation RX offers advanced redesigned gasoline and hybrid powertrains. It also incoporates what the company describes as: “sophisticated safety technologies including the new Lexus Safety System+, driver aids, new convenience and technology features that make it the best Lexus sport-utility vehicle ever offered to date.” The completely redesigned RX implements Lexus’ new design direction, featuring a redesigned and bold body, as

The Lexus team pick-up the Midsize Premum SUV trophy at the Arab Wheel Awards.

well as a new luxurious interior that, it claims “reflects an impeccable balance of functionality and lifestyle usability”. “The new RX has been one of our most successful offerings this year, particularly the RX

450h, which is being offered at the same price as its petrol equivalent, but with the added benefit of reduced emissions and fuel consumption, and more importantly without compromising the performance or the unique driving experience thanks to the advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system,” said Chris Buxton, junior managing director of Lexus at Al-Futtaim Motors. The Lexus RX is available with two engine choices: the RX 350 comes with a 3.5l, V-6 petrol engine mated to a new eightspeed automatic transmission and producing 295 horsepower, while the RX 450h is equipped with a 3.5l, V-6 petrol engine. The Lexus RX’ revised hybrid powertrain components contribute to producing 308hp.

FEATURE-PAckED F-150 DEbUT, bRONcO IN 2020

The 2018 F-150 features Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go

Ford has revealed a new, tougher, smarter and more capable version of its US market leader, the F-150. The pick-up comes packed with a host of features including Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go. Ford is bringing back the Ranger mid-size pickup truck to its North American vehicle lineup in 2019 and the Bronco midsize SUV to its global vehicle portfolio in 2020. Both vehicles will be manufactured in Michigan. Predicting that autonomous vehicles will be in high demand over the next five years, Ford says it will release its first fully autonomous vehicles in 2021.

ONLY SHaRED FLEETS CaN aVOID CONgESTION DISaSTER

Trials such as TRL’s GATEway in London are proving autonomous fleets are close to being a reality.

6 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

According to a new position paper from UITP (the International Association of Public Transport), autonomous vehicles (AVs) will lead to a “dystopian future” of even more private car traffic on the road unless they are put to use in shared fleets and integrated with traditional public transport services. The paper, ‘Autonomous vehicles: a potential game changer for urban mobility,’ demonstrates that despite the risk of increased congestion due to car travel becoming even more comfortable and attractive, an alternative exists. “If AVs are put to use in shared fleets as ‘robo-taxis,’ mini-buses or in car-sharing fleets,

they could dramatically reduce the number of cars on the road by reaching people and places it was too difficult to before, plugging first/last-mile gaps and feeding into public transport trunk lines,” finds the paper. Shared fleets, integrated with traditional public transport offer the possibility of a better urban future, cutting noise and environmental pollution, improving traffic efficiency and parking, it says. “When 1.2 million people die each year in carrelated deaths, 90% of which are due to human error, the road safety benefits are also significant,” said UITP Secretary General, Alain Flausch.

NETWORK

TOYOTa TO LEaD UaE RESEaRCH INTO HYDROgEN TECHNOLOgY

Toyota will begin driving and refuelling demonstration tests of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in the UAE from May 2017.

Toyota Motor Corporation has agreed to collaborate with Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Air Liquide, and Toyota distributor Al-Futtaim Motors in a joint research programme to explore the potential of hydrogen energy use in the UAE. Sharing the aim of the creation of a sustainable, low-carbon society with its partners, Toyota will begin driving and refuelling demonstration tests of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in the UAE from May 2017.

The agreement was announced on January 16 during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week The programme partners will jointly research on key issues involving the establishment of a hydrogen-based society, including hydrogen production, logistics, scalability, and business feasibility. The research is expected to take place in part at the Masdar Institute, the famous Abu Dhabi-based independent graduate research university, which has been part of

the discussions on the scope of hydrogen research. Utilising a hydrogen station that is to be built in May 2017, Toyota will conduct a complete range of driving and refueling tests under extreme heat, dust, and other conditions unique to the local environment. Toyota will also provide short-term leases to the UAE government institutions and opinion leaders so as to promote better understanding of FCVs and hydrogen-based societies. “The UAE has vast potential for the expansion of hydrogen production,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation Board of Directors. “The country has excess capacity at hydrogen production facilities located at oil refineries, and the ability to produce hydrogen as a byproduct at caustic soda and other factories, not to mention the production potential from mega solar power stations.” Uchiyamada added: “As the government continues to promote new initiatives and pursues the creation of a hydrogen-based society, the UAE is able to emerge as the world leader of next-generation clean energies.”

SAFER DRIVERS. FEWER COLLISIONS. BETTER BUSINESS.

The time is now By focussing specifically on drivers and actively managing their driving hours to prevent fatigue, MiX Hours of Service is guaranteed to deliver real business and safety outcomes for your business. Call us on +971 (0)4 204 5650 to find out more, or visit www.mixtelematics.ae/hours-of-service.

www.mixtelematics.ae HOS Ad_Logistics Mag_224x130mm.indd 1

2016/04/19 10:19

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 7

MAN ProfiDrive ̶ ®

the theoretical and practical solution to optimize a safe and economic driving style. Under MAN ProfiDrive®, you will find a comprehensive range of seminars: From initial vehicle introduction, an in-depth course on technology and safety systems, right up to economy training and driving safety training courses for both on-road and off-road applications. MAN offers practical seminars for commercial vehicle drivers that focus on the needs of the driver at the same time ensuring the needs of business owners are given the correct priority. For course booking, please contact your local dealer or email us at info.man-middleeast@man.eu www.man-middleeast.com

Round-uP RoUNd-UP

Light the way

T&FME kicks off 2017 with its look at an lcV line-up that proVes size doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter Whether it is the flexibility of the HILUX which can be both a pickup or a covered truck, or the power of the Sprinter, or the manoeuvrability of the Tata 613, the Middle East boasts an incredible range of small to light commercial vehicles. T&FME rounds-up the biggest of the smallest vehicles in the region that prove size does not matter.

POPULAR CHOICE

toyota hiLux pickup The Toyota Hilux has been one of the most popular pickups in the Middle East for many years. That popularity has verged on notoriety through many, frankly, ridiculous articles written over the past few years questioning how they seem to be popular with terrorist groups.

In short the Hilux has replaced the camel as the ship of the desert and continues to win praise in the region â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it recently won the midsized truck at the 2016 Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) Awards. The Hilux is now onto its eighth generation and boasts a tougher looking body and a sleeker interior.

Performance has been enhanced too, with Toyota claiming the overhaul transmission improves fuel efficiency by as much as 15%. The Hilux is now longer and wider and the loading deck has also been re-jigged. Under the hood, buyers have a choice of 2l or 2.8l petrol engines or a 2.4l diesel.

HILUX SPECS: Engine: 2l or 2.8l petrol/2.4l diesel Length: 1.86m Width: 1.855m Torque (d): 400Nm @ 1,6002,000rpm Torque (2.8lp): 450Nm @ 1,6002,400rpm

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 9

Round-uP

xxxx xxxxxx

SAFETY FIRST

SmALL & AgILE tata 613 Known as best combination of performance and reliability, Tata LPT 613 truck, offers higher revenues, lowers ownership and operational costs while ensuring better performance. The vehicle boasts of radial tyres and good ground clearance. Available in 3,800-wheel base in Euro-II configuration with a payload capacity up to 4.2T, it has a proven 697 Turbo Charged

Inter-Cooled, 6-cylinder engine and a proven 5 Speed GBS 40 Gear Box with a gradability of 36%. The turning circle diameter of 13.5m is also impressive in its class. TATA 613 Specs Power: 95kW @ 2,400rpm Max torque: 416Nm@ 1,4001,700rpm GVW: Up to 7.5T Wheelbase: 3.4-3.8m overall length: 6.2-6.8m

While it celebrates its 20th year in 2016, it was given its first hard launch in the Middle East just three years ago and has established itself with other vehicles of its type as a viable alternative to the Asian loaders that dominate the market. The advantage of vans is their flexibility from a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements point of view and the Sprinter offers a huge variety of

You can pick up a Hiace for around $24,000 in the GCC and the range as a whole offers a versatile choice of van variants in a selection of shapes and sizes. Whether you need a large vehicle to transport people around in or a multi-purpose van to move work tools and equipment, the Hiace could have a type to suit your requirements. The line-up includes a wide, super long, standard and long body styles. HIACE also incorporates both active

and passive measures to help protect the driver and passengers. Visibility is excellent, and its crumple zone construction helps minimise damage in the event of a collision, claims Toyota. HIACE specs: Wheel config: 4x2 GVW: 11t Engine: 6cyl, 8,266cc Gross power: 195hp Gearbox: 5-speed direct drive

ENERgY RECOVERY

BUYER FLExIBILITY

Mercedes sprinter

toyota hiace

options from one platform. You can go for the small compact version or the Crewbus and there it is even available in an ambulance variant. SPRINTER 515 specs Power: 258hp Torque: 340Nm Payload: 2.7t Height: 1.9m Wheelbase: 3.6m-4.3m Loading space: 15m3

10 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

iVeco daiLy The third generation of the Daily also boasts a considerable reduction in fuel consumption via new features such as an EcoSwitch function, which allows engine mapping with the availability of reduced maximum torque. Another feature, the Smart Alternator, recovers kinetic energy from the vehicle during release and deactivates the absorption of power in battery-charging conditions. Along

with improved aerodynamics, the new features allow total fuel savings of up to 5.5%, depending on vehicle version. dAILY specs: Power: 146hp Torque: 200Nm@1,750-3,000rpm Payload: 545kg-700kg Turning circle â&#x2C6;&#x2026;: 11.2m Wheelbase: 2.697m Loading space: 3.1m3

LAUNCH

LAUNCH: ACTROS 20 YEARS EDITION

Mercedez-Benz and eMc celeBrate the career of one of the region’s hardest working trucks

The L-Cab 6x4 3844 S boasts a racy GT-style stripe and chrome air-horns. We’re calling it practical bling. No, T&FME does not expect it to catch on.

12 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

LAUNCH

he first thing to say about the Actros 20 Years Edition is that the tractor head certainly looks like it is ready to go out and celebrate its birthday. Dressed with a crown of chrome air horns, GT-like silver stripes running down the front of the cab and an LED three-pointed star mounted on the front,= that screams MercedesBenz more than a raging Beastie Boy armed with a baseball bat circa 1987, this is a razor sharp suit for one of the region’s most venerable haulers. The Actros has been such an intrinsic part of the oil & gas, construction and hauling sectors for so long in the region that it is surprising that it has only been here for two decades. The Actros 20 Years Edition is arguably the most refined and definitive model to be presented to the region. It is also one of the first top-spec major Euro 3 launches in a year that marks a regionwide step up to the emission standards. Last month’s unveiling of a special edition celebrating the model’s 20th anniversary of employment in the region is a reminder why it is not ready for its handshake and silver watch just yet. The special edition Actros has been put together via a partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks MENA together with Emirates Motor Company (EMC), its authorised distributor in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is also by our count EMC’s sixth major Mercedes-Benzrelated initiative since it debuted the 3.2t Vito and MCV-2600 R/T bus in the middle of 2016.

Their relationship is clearly a fully functioning partnership and perhaps other dealers and OEMs should take note, but we digress. A media launch event at Endurance City included a live demonstration of the Actros 3844 S 6x4 tractor-head model and it was a good opportunity to show-off what Mercedes Benz describes as “state-of-the-art equipment and innovative safety systems” can do. A team of professional Mercedes-Benz driver trainers from Germany and the Training and Product Management team of Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA were on hand to, ironically, make sure the gathered media didn’t get too many unplanned opportunities to test the safety features. As you would expect, the Actros 20 Years Edition is powered by a highly fuel-efficient 6-cylinder engine (Euro 3) boosting 435 horsepower and 2,100 NM of torque. Essentially its top line specs are identical to the ‘20 Years of Actros’ tractor head that was unveiled late in 2016 but it utilises the more spacious L-Cab to that model’s S-Cab and benefits from the reduced engine tunnel (170mm versus 320mm) and larger headroom (1460mm versus 1310). Underneath the heavy-duty truck you also gain strong performance due to the power transfer to the two driven rear axles via a twin-plate clutch and the reliable and efficient 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated gearbox. “Mercedes PowerShift provides specific driving modes that support the driver in mastering all traffic situations with ease and

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 13

LAUNCH

The Actros has notched up an impressive 20 years of service in the Middle East and North African region.

convenience, thus facilitating the driver’s level of concentration,” says Mercedes-Benz. Feature-wise the 3844 S 6x4 comes packed with a full-suite of driver-friendly additions. Accident prevention is ably assisted by the Bluetooth radio which allows for handsfree use of a mobile phone whilst driving. You are also getting the Mercedes-Benz’ FleetBoard telematics system that provides not only vehicle tracking, trip recording and professional fleet management, but also continuous analysis and rating of driver and vehicle performance, enhancing the operational excellence of the truck. Buyers continue to come back to MercedesBenz for its superlative engineering expertise and this model, like others, includes its powerful engine and transmission cooling system. The air intake system on the upper side of the cab and the tandem air cleaner provide, according to Mercedes-Benz, “outstanding robustness and reliability even under the MENA region’s extreme climate conditions.” The Actros 20 Years Edition also features a performance-optimised hydraulic retarder, an additional braking system that the German truck-maker believes offers the highest levels of braking performance with no wear of brakes and brake linings. European manufacturers often major on the safety features of their trucks and the Actros 20

14 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

Years Edition comes with a variety of stateof-the art active and passive safety systems. It is an area that Mercedes-Benz has been pioneering for more than 50 years and besides its standard electronically controlled Telligent braking system with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and the Acceleration skid control (ASR), the truck is also equipped with the optional Active Brake Assist. The Active Brake Assist system operates with three radar beams, which constantly scan an area of 1m to 200m ahead of the truck. Drivers are given both a visual and audible alert by the system by the radar system when it detects a potential collision with a moving obstacle. “Depending on the severity of the situation, the system will react with a partial braking manoeuvre and, if necessary, even initiates an emergency braking to standstill,” says Mercedes-Benz. “Thus, the Active Brake Assist helps to avoid dangerous rearend collisions, for instance, at the end of a traffic jam, and minimises the impact for occupants in case a collision is inevitable.” The Actros 20 Years Edition features plethora of other safety systems, such as a driver airbag, a Telligent Proximity Control and Telligent Lane Assistant. The truck will automatically adjust its travelling speed according to a given traffic situation and is constantly analysing the distance of the vehicles

driving in front of it. Again, if a sudden obstacle appears, such as a vehicle changing lanes, the driver is warned both visually and audibly. Additionally, the Telligent Lane Assistant incorporates a digital camera behind the screen, detecting the vehicle position in relation to the left-hand and right-hand lane markings. “When activated, the system helps the driver to stay in lane by giving audible warning signals when accidentally leaving the traffic lane. The additional front mirror increases the visible area in front of the truck, helping to recognise pedestrians or obstacles quickly,” says Mercedes-Benz. Ultimately, it will be the striking but somehow comfortable and spacious L-Cab that grabs your attention. It is fully painted in a carbon black metallic colour enhanced with dynamic silver stripes with the laurelled 20 Years Actros emblem. And, of course, the design is complemented by those chromed airhorns on top of the cab and the shining LEDilluminated Mercedes-Benz star on the front. If ever there was a concept of practical bling for trucks, this is it. “The launch of the 20 Years Actros Edition is yet another milestone in the success story of our iconic flagship truck in the MENA region,” says Roland Schneider, president & CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA. “The model’s state-of-the-art safety features and the highly fuel-efficient drivetrain underline the technological leadership of MercedesBenz Trucks. The Actros provides the ideal product solution for customers seeking the highest safety and efficiency standards.” All features of the Actros 20 Years Edition are available from the Mercedes-Benz Trucks factory in Woerth/Germany, and can be ordered through the authorised MercedesBenz Truck distributors across the MENA region. Professional driver training is offered by Mercedes-Benz and its General Distributors to instruct fleet managers and drivers on how to operate the truck and its features focusing on maximum safety and efficiency. MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS 20 YEARS EDITION SPECS: Power: 2,100 Engine: V6 Wheelbase: 3.3m GVW: 38t Axle config: 6x4

Apollo Tyres Middle East FZE T : + 971 488 41603 www.apollotyres.com

INTERVIEW

“i DoN’t hAve the Delivery NuMbers for the fourth quArter but up to the thirD quArter Deliveries of europeAN trucks iNto the MiDDle eAst regioN hAs beeN cut by hAlf” 16 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

Franz von Redwitz says that 2017 will see MAN Truck & Bus Middle East do its best to help its customers in a difficult market.

INTERVIEW

MAN in the DriviNg Seat FRANz VoN REdwiTz on how MAN TRuck & Bus ME is happy to stay where it is in 2017

t will not be news to most people in the Middle East to hear that the truck industry witnessed some incredibly challenging head winds towards the end of 2016. Franz von Redwitz, regional manager, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East is refreshingly frank regarding the ongoing situation in the region and also offers an insight into how his company is steering its own path: clearing the deck of old vehicles, digging in where it has made successful inroads and finding pockets of growth. “First of all, the market situation is crazy,” he tells T&FME . “I don’t have the delivery numbers for the fourth quarter but up to the third quarter deliveries of European trucks into the Middle East region had been cut by half – a bit more in Saudi Arabia which was hit the hardest in the GCC. The good thing is we have not sold 50% less of the vehicles that we sold in the previous year, which tells us that our share is growing. “Looking at the size of the market is a catastrophe mainly due to the fall in the oil prices. The economies here are strongly dependent on selling their oil and they have simply stopped spending money. “Many of customers have not paid

for their trucks to importers for a long time, so it is a really difficult marketplace – for all of us at the moment. He tells T&FME that he and his team could see tremors in the market even as a backlog in orders helped disguise the oncoming drop off in demand. “I have a very nice graph here from one of my predecessors that shows you how the size of the truck market always moves closely to the price of oil,” he says. “The bus business is a bit different, but certainly the truck business is very often one of the first indicators that there is something wrong with the development of a national economy. “The drop was hard and it had been difficult last year to convince everybody that this would happen. After looking with our partners here at all the indicators we could see it coming although our sales went down relatively late as we had a very big order backlog last year.” The recent rise in oil prices with per barrel price rising to $57 remains some way short of the relatively recent high of $115 in 2011. Von Redwitz warns that the industry should be prepared for a tough period in the short- to medium-term. “We see no big changes to the oil price for

the next two or three years and therefore we have to be prepared for difficult times because, unfortunately, it is not enough. The oil price is on a level that will be below production costs for most countries for the coming year.” The onus then is for the truck OEMs to consolidate their position in the market and fortunately for MAN Truck & Bus Middle East it has a diverse presence in a number of countries. It will also be able to fall back on its record of ongoing truck, bus and engine development as well as its services designed to maximise the bang of its customer’s bucks. “We cannot expand the market and must do the most important thing which is not let our customers go through this difficult time alone.” Although the Saudi market is down and the UAE market weakened, most analysts agree that Qatar’s spending on its infrastructure, transportation upgrades and the preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 has hit its stride and could peak in 2017 and 2018. Its 2011 launch of the TGS WW was the start of over a half decade of progress in Qatar and MAN Truck & Bus ME spotted the country’s need for trucks outside of the Oil & Gas sector early. “Our partner QIA (Qatar International

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 17

INTERVIEW

Franz von Redwitz describes Qatar as a ‘little island of happiness’ that remains relatively small compared to other markets.

Automobiles) is one of the better parts of the business and that is going very well. We are clearly the market leaders,” he enthuses. “We have the right people, the right products and the right after sales business. It is a field of happiness at the moment but you have to see the limit.” With the conversation moving onto the subject of what happens to the Qatar market once the boom in sales is over, Von Redwitz explains MAN’s approach to redistributing ageing fleet using its TopUsed service. “This is something we are very much prepared for and something we are facilitating in the region mainly through our MAN TopUsed brand. The MAN TopUsed service can take back used vehicles from our partners and find new homes for them and we are churning hundreds of through Jebel Ali every year. Sometimes the trucks are coming from Europe – many tractor heads find a second life here after their three-year lease period has ended.” TopUsed can sell quickly but it is also designed to assure buyers that the vehicles are fit for purpose wherever they have come from or, indeed, wherever they go to. “We are not ‘selling as seen’ but we sell with a warranty and sell only vehicles we have approved. You can buy a tractor head from me with 650,000km on the clock that has been

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

fully MAN-maintained and with a three-year driveline warranty. Also if there is something wrong with the truck there is always someone to talk to,” he explains. “We are also using TopUsed as a platform to trade vehicles. For instance, if our Qatari partner can sell a couple of new vehicles to a customer and if he wants to trade we can do a short evaluation and get the price on the spot; take the vehicle to Jebel Ali and find a new place for it in the region or in Africa.” While MAN TopUsed is likely to be redistributing vehicles deployed in Qatar for some time, we shouldn’t expect the GCC and wider Middle East region to be flooded by them once the country’s construction frenzy cools. “Qatar is a little island that is good for 2,000 trucks per year. In a booming Saudi Arabia market I am talking about 15,000 vehicles and in a booming Iranian market I am talking about numbers above 20,000.” MAN Truck & Bus ME is not alone in spotting the potential of the pulling back of the sales curtain in Iran. As T&FME discussed in its November 2016 issue, fellow Volkswagenowned commercial vehicle producer Scania is among other OEMs targeting the country. Von Redwitz says that MAN has its own technological solutions for the country’s polluted roads and cities: “We have started to

expand our business in Iran since the agreement. At one time, we had an oversupply of oil in the market as the Iranians pumped hard because of the size of the sanctions – and you can see that in the country, they need to pump to restore it.” It has enjoyed success with its CNG engines in the capital of Tehran which currently has 8,000 public buses with half of them powered by MAN. A fleet of 2,000 Chinese manufactured vehicles boasting engines supplied by MAN’s Nuremberg plant entered operation in 2016. The remaining are a fleet of 12m high floor Mercedes buses which were repowered from diesel to MAN CNG engine a decade ago. “They have a big smog problem in Tehran – they had to close the school last week because they couldn’t let their children out as the air was so bad. The whole country has a replacement programme of 17,000 buses over the next few years and it is all going to be CNG as its cheap, available and clean.” He continues: “You know Abu Dhabi was thinking about switching to CNG a couple of years ago. We see a very good opportunity because of low operational cost and air quality for CNG in the region. Especially because of the high demand on power of air conditioning in electric vehicles.” Looking even further eastwards, MAN is also pioneering a presence in Pakistan. “The business started relatively slowly as we were the first Western company to go there. It has traditionally been dominated by the Chinese and other Asian brands but we have established new dealers and importers and both the trucks and buses have been doing great,” he says. MAN Truck & Bus ME entry into Pakistan was the result of a suggestion by a subsidiary of its sister company MAN Diesel & Turbo which, he says, “does a very good business there in terms of the maintenance of steel power plants. They said ‘hey, why don’t we also do truck and buses’ and since we established there it has grown naturally.” He continues: “As you know, Pakistan is calming down and there have been huge efforts to fight unrest from neighbouring countries. They are building a new harbour as part of a corridor to China. “China decided to put a lot of infrastructure to get out their products out of their North West region. It’s a huge construction project with three main motorways being built from the north to the south of the country.” He adds that his numerous visits to

INTERVIEW

Pakistan are beginning to bear fruit. He is hopeful that his talks with customer should secure “a couple of nice orders” this year. “Customers are now realising it may be a much higher investment to buy a MAN instead of any Chinese or Hino, or whatever, vehicle but it pays better after a short while,” he says. Being a premium product in a traditionally price-conscious market always presents a challenge to Western manufacturers. MAN Truck & Bus has consequently focused on customers for whom reliability and total cost of ownership is an absolute must. “We started with special vehicles for firefighting in Pakistan because if the equipment is worth more than the truck then you are willing to pay a little for a reliable base for it. A fire truck should work if there is a fire.” “Now we have a couple of construction contracts, mainly tippers and concrete mixers,” he explains. “We are so happy with the performance of the tippers, they are famous, here, there and everywhere! The performance is so much higher and the downtime so much lower compared to the Asian products, and

Franz von Redwitz is an advocate for better education for drivers within fleets.

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 19

INTERVIEW

they are prepared to pay the premium.” “On paper, if you look at an MAN truck compared to any Asian truck, of course, it is much more expensive but once they are in operation most professionals realise you pay for what you get or vice versa. We are currently negotiating with one of the major logistics companies for long-haul trucks. We gave them a test vehicle for a year so they could really see and calculate what’s cheaper. Fortunately for us they are very professional people and considered the total cost of ownership – if you do that, then the European truck normally wins.” Much of the OEM’s attention will turn to the introduction of Euro 3 in the GCC after the region agreed to hold back its long-proposed move to Euro 4. “The GCC was planning to introduce Euro 4 in September this year but on the recommendation of Saudi Arabia has reduced that to Euro 3,” he explains. “They would need to upgrade their refineries too quickly.” “The only country where you buy ultralow sulphur diesel in the UAE. We could operate at Euro 6 in the UAE if we wanted to.but we expect the GCC countries to run on Euro 3 for the next five years or so.” He comments that it is becoming increasingly difficult for European manufacturers to meet such different emission standards. Returning

to Iran for a moment, he notes it is making progress with its own programme of changes. “Iran is going to Euro 5 EEV or Euro 6. Scania is pushing for its own Euro 4 + DPF technology which would be a unique emissions standard. However we think DPF is very sensitive to high sulphur content and we have recommended the Euro 5 EEV solution. Our own solution can eat a lot of sulphur and has been used everywhere where we need to meet very clean emission standard but have to live with varying fuel quality.” MAN Truck & Bus Middle East has been a valuable member of the region’s push for better road safety through its own training programmes, such as ProfiDrive which has trained thousands of drivers and fleet managers and the technology on its trucks. It has also played a leading role in seminars and training events, such an event held in association with the Abu Dhabi Police and RoadsafetyUAE last November where he urged fleet owners and managers to better educate their drivers. While he says that enforcing features such as its own driver assist braking and its roll prevention systems as a legal requirement would help sales, he is clearly much more concerned with avoiding accidents and saving lives. He suggests change must come from the governments of the region and the private sector.

“ProfiDrive saves money because of lower fuel consumption but it is also saves accidents,” he comments. “When a truck gets involved in an accident it is always ugly because there is a lot of weight colliding. Every fleet manager is in dilemma because to put one driver in a truck to drive from Riyadh to Dubai is very cheap, but it creates a danger. It has taken decades in Europe to convince people in Europe to wear a seat belts. So we know it takes time and we have only just started but we will keep talking to customers about safety – as it is the responsible thing to do.” As well as continuing its safety initiatives, MAN Truck & Bus will accelerate its network expansion even if the truck market stumbles. A new AAA workshop in Kuwait is almost finished, a regional headquarters in Dammam will also soon open in Saudi Arabia. Many other enhancements to its regional presence are also planned: “We have many new products to come, but this year we are focusing on being even closer to the customer.” Of course, many of the other OEMs will be snapping at its heels and also looking to sharpen their act but Franz von Redwitz is gleefully looking forward to it. “I love competition. It keeps you young, sharp and awake. Sometimes you will hate them for doing crazy things – but that’s normal!”

reliAbility Does Not result froM MAkiNg copies why MAN always recommend MAN

However, these lower prices

try via reverse-engineering and

with MAN genuine parts. with

Genuine Parts to its customers...

can usually only be achieved

use of lower-quality materials

genuine parts it is not trial and

by cutting corners in terms of

to approach customers.

error, oEMs’ know every part that

“whoever decides on a truck

“Testing first – then adoption

every vehicle was constructed

or bus/coach from the MAN brand

quality and safety standards.

associates maximum expectations

This is because grey market

in the product range. MAN as

with. MAN provides the correct

of quality, performance, safety

manufacturers tend to get

oEM vehicle producer works

part first time with a quality

and longevity with the decision.

MAN genuine parts duplicated

exclusively with globally-

customers can doubtless trust. All

The aim of MAN is to provide the

by unnamed producers in

recognised suppliers, who

MAN genuine parts are backed

absolute best in quality when

low-wage countries.

manufacture their parts

with an international spare parts

subject to MAN’s demanding

warranty, due to the rigorous

all other parts of our business,

producers will not have an

specifications. spare parts

quality controls MAN genuine

so that customers’ vehicles are

in-depth understanding of the

only get an MAN item number

parts are monitored under.

not only safe and efficient to

specifications and requirements in

once they have undergone and

drive, but will retain their value.

relation to the genuine parts. it is

successfully completed MAN

specifically and manufactured

Always offer your customers

therefore highly unlikely that parts

endurance and laboratory tests.

precisely for specified vehicles,

MAN genuine parts to ensure

will have been subjected to quality

only an MAN genuine part can

this ensures that the installation

we fulfil our promise of quality

and endurance tests, constituting

guarantee the perfect fit, the

of these parts is simplified and

and to maximise the service life

a safety risk for the vehicle and

best quality as well as maximum

provides confidence of a long

of customer vehicles. There’s

driver. All these mentioned checks

efficiency and service life.

service life. customers’ total cost

no doubt non-oEM parts cost

and approvals are not done by

less compared to original parts.

aftermarket companies which

“in most cases, these

it comes to genuine parts, as in

20 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

“For this reason MAN service and parts-outlets work exclusively

“Genuine parts are designed

of ownership can be controlled easier by utilising genuine parts.”

Bringing the latest

construction news from across the GCC

www.meconstructionnews.com

Trailers TRaiLERs

The Tipping POINT T&FME talks to tomás ColaCo at Hyva mEa about a CHanging tippEr trailEr markEt

Hyva MEA works closely with companies like Bion in the region.

he economic downturn has led to a split in the tipper body builder market, says one of the leading suppliers of tipper cylinders. Tomás Colaco marketing manager at tipper cylinder manufacturer Hyva MEA, tells TFME that there is now a clear division between companies that are choosing to purchase on price and those planning for the long-term. Hyva MEA started its operations in 2012 with its head office for the MEA Region located in Dubai. Within the region, there are also Hyva offices in the strategic countries Morocco, South Africa and Turkey to develop

22 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

and support the neighbour and related countries together with its official agents/partners in more than 17 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria. Hyva markets and distributes components that are developed and produced by their manufacturing facilities across the world. According to Colaco, the GCC is one of the fastest growing markets for Hyva. Infrastructure development in the Middle East and North-East Africa (MENEA) region is undergoing “tremendous change” with governments allocating significant budgets towards upgrading their facilities, he explains. Hyva launched its latest Alpha

Tipping Solutions series in 2014. The cylinder range is a completely re-designed and reengineered system and can operate up to 250 bar. The company claims it is lighter, faster and more efficient than its predecessors. The past 12 months has been a challenging period for the truck industry he says. Hyva he adds has taken the opportunity during the slowdown to push ahead with bolstering its on-going partnerships and ensure its refreshed line-up gets in the market. It has consequently seen market share improve. “2016 has been a challenging year for the truck industry on the whole in the Middle East, with the markets down, it has been

Trailers

A grOwINg PreseNce IN The regION Dubai is the regional centre for sales and logistics in the MENA countries together with a fully dedicated regional technical, sales and after-sales support team for its OEMs, bodybuilder and end-user customers. Total staff number is growing and flexible Hyva’s volume has grown by 50% and its market share has risen a further 25% across the GCC in the past five years. Using the feedback it gets from its partners in the region, Hyva has grown in terms of volume, market share, customer satisfaction and brand powe, claims Colaco. “The introduction of our New Alpha Tipping Solutions, has been received very positively where we today offer an unmatched heavy duty solution for mining The end-user is yet to move away from being price conscious.

and off road tipper markets,” says Colaco.

an opportunity to diversify and focus more on our customer segments,” he says. “We embarked on a major program of developing a strong working relationship with our regional partners and body builders, providing leads, training, support and providing aftermarket support to our end customers,” According to Colaco, many companies are holding back on investing in trailers made from modern materials and new technology that could make their operations more efficient. He argues that new materials like Hardox are lighter and help operations to carry more weight. Despite this, he says, many are preferring to focus on the initial purchase cost over the benefits of lower total costs of ownership in the long-term. Colaco believes some contractors could be forced to catch-up or be left behind in a slowly improving market. “The UAE has been stuck in an innovation timezone in the tipper body market,” he explains. “It has been a very price-oriented market but a few, like Bion, are pioneering new designs and taking

the lead in trying to change the market. I can see two different segments that I haven’t seen before. “Most of the contractors here have not looked at the long-term operations costs. Bodybuilders (like Bion) understood it, our OEM truck manufacturers understood it but the end-user didn’t understand it.” Colaco has frequently participated at conferences to speak on the topic of the evolution of the tipper body weight for the construction market worldwide. He tells T&FME that the Netherlands-based company was keen to look at how the designs of tippers are changing and its role in adapting to that evolution. “When we launched our new products (the Alpha Tipping Solutions series) two years ago, we tried to pitch them as lighter. But people in the Middle East don’t always see the benefits,” he says. “Weight was never been the biggest criteria: one reason is that they never had road regulations here. Our bodybuilders (like Bion) understood it, our OEM truck manufacturers understood it but the end-user didn’t understand it.”

With this in mind, Colaco concentrates on the total cost of ownership during his presentations: “Besides that, it also translates into more payload that you can carry.” The Alpha Tipping Solutions series from Hyva is a completely re-designed and reengineered system and can operate up to 250 bar. The company claims it is lighter, faster and more efficient than its predecessors. He adds that Hyva opted to develop much stronger cylinders too before explaining the benefits to Middle East customers. “(In Europe) because we can work at a higher working pressures, the diameter is much smaller and translates to less weight. The end-users here still insist on keeping the same diameter of cylinder – which is more than we require.” Despite this, he says that market pressure will see other bodybuilders adopt newer systems like its own and new materials. “In the long-term you will see bodybuilders slowly switching to newer designs if they see the benefits. Which they will eventually.”

WATCH YOUR ASSETS & OPERATIONS 24/7 BEST CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS; • FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. • FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. • TANKS GAUGES. • GPS TRACKING SYSTEM.

• VIDEO SURVEILLANCE. • PARKING & ALARM SENSOR. • FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. • TYRE PRESSURE SENSOR.

T. 009716 7430176 F. 009716 7430107 E-mail: creattrd@emirates.net.ae Web: www.creationfms.net

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 23

FEATURE

To The ends of the earth T&FME looks at a very different Uae toUr operator

he casual tourist has a huge range of operators to choose from when it comes to organised trips. Travel towards the desert in the UAE after rush hour and inevitably you will run by a caravan of land cruisers heading off to the wilderness and some dune bashing. One company has taken this further. A lot further. Typically, Artic Trucks takes its travellers in its heavily modified four wheel drive vehicles out into what you expect, such as mountains and desert. But it also takes them out on glaciers in Iceland. Hence the name. The operator, which also offers conversions (more of that later), was originally solely based in the Artic-bound country but started its operations in the UAE via a close cooperation with Al Futtaim Motors in 2010. Arctic Trucks has been taking tourists into extreme and often challenging tours since 1990

when it first started working with Toyota to modify 4WD utility and sport utility vehicles in Iceland. Since then the business has grown significantly, building up great experience and knowledge giving them world-renowned expertise in the field of SUV modifications. Arctic Trucks vehicles have proved their qualities under the most severe conditions, travelling over terrain where no cars have ever been driven before. From the start, Arctic Trucks focused mainly on two customer groups for special converted vehicles. The first group consists of people interested in travelling in unknown terrain, outdoor people looking for more all-round use and more comfortable and safe way to travel. The other group consists of utility companies and organisations, such as telephone companies, power and electricity companies and rescue squads that are in the need of powerful vehicles that can be depended on. Its first ever trip was an expedition to

the Antarctica, organised by the Swedish Polar Institute in cooperation between Sweden, Norway and Finland in 1997/1998. In the spring of 1999, Arctic Trucks took part in an expedition across the icecap of Greenland, where the participants drove in the footsteps of Fridtjov Nansen, the first man ever to cross the Greenland icecap (More recently, Arctic Trucks has worked with BBC Televisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s Top Gear show in the UK, Toyota GB and Polar Challenge to the Magnetic North Pole.) Expeditions are of great importance to Arctic Trucks, they provide the ultimate test of the design and a unique opportunity to try out the vehicles under extreme conditions. In 2010, Arctic Trucks also set a Guiness World record for the fastest overland journey to the South Pole, crossing 2308km of the Antarctica High Plateau from Novo to the South Pole in 4.5 days. The purpose-built AT Expedition vehicles, based around a Toyota Hilux platform,

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 25

FEATURE

“the technicaL perSonneL at arctic trUcKS have over the yearS deveLoped each individUaL detaiL in the modification proceSS and We pride oUrSeLveS on adhering to gLoBaL ‘iSo’ StandardS” traveled at an average speed of 21.4 km/h to South Pole and average fuel efficiency of 2.2 km/l, with only a single refueling stop on the way. In the UAE, Arctic Trucks have been successfully converting vehicles for off-roading purposes in the vast area of desert and have catered to the Middle Eastern Royal family on a number of occasions. Military units, police forces and rescue teams use Arctic Trucks cars, as well as ordinary people who need cars that suits their lifestyle and sporting activities. Arctic Trucks has made driving to unexplored terrains easier and a lot more adventurous.

Toyota and Artic Trucks demonstrated their new AT 35 at IAA in 2016.

Artic Trucks operates a fleet of modified Hilux vehicles.

“Today Arctic Trucks employees are absolutely the best in the business, with many years of experience in conversions of various 4WD vehicles,” says Hjalti Hjaltisen, general manager of Arctic Trucks ME. “The technical personnel have developed each individual detail in the modification process and we pride ourselves on adhering to the global ‘ISO’ quality control standard. We are one of the few companies who achieve a European stamp of approval on our modifications.” The spring of 2016 saw the company offer its first ever tours in its homeland and so popular

an at35 modification for Lc 200 from

Wheels

17” X 8” 17” X 8”

17” X 10” Alloy wheels

tyres

32” original tyres

315/70R17 BF Goodrich All Terrain

Suspension

Stock Suspension

2” Lift arb ome nitro shocks suspension – remove stock Suspension and add a off road performance oldmanmo suspension, along with 2” higher upgraded coil/curl springs.

additional arctic trUcKS eXtraS for the at35 conversion - at35 Body Kit includes: • A 3” wheel arch, new wing defender • Side step protection bars • Mud flaps • Inner fender front and rear for extended suspension travel • Arctic Trucks front mud flaps

26 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

have its expeditions quickly become in the Middle East that this year’s January and March trips sold out months in advance. This month sees a newly added expedition take place, which it says it has needed to offer to meet demand. The 2017 tours are covering most of the breathtaking areas of Iceland, starting from Haukadalur, home of the great Geysir hot spring, visiting the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall and taking the highland road Kjölurall all the way up to Kerlingarfjöll mountain hut. The volcanic origin of the Kerlingarfjoll Mountain, will see the group explore some hot springs around Kerlingafjöll area and from there they will head to Hveravellir where people can bathe in the natural hot springs. The highlight of the trip will commence from Minniborgir where Arctic Trucks promises the ultimate 4x4 experience, tackling a variety of tracks through breathtaking mountain ranges. These tracks are usually deserted and an ideal area/playground for off-roading enthusiasts. Driving from one place to the other ensures the team will explore tracks that will prove to be not only adventurous but also extremely scenic.

FEATURE

aBoUt arctic trUcKS me Arctic Trucks specialises in modifying 4WD vehicles for use in rough environments, for example in the mountains, in the desert and on glaciers. Originally based in Iceland, the company started its operations in the UAE in 2010 in close cooperation with Al Futtaim Motors. The origin of Arctic Trucks can be traced back to 1990 when they started working with Toyota to modify 4WD utility and sport

The company offers special modifications for many customers.

utility vehicles in Iceland. Since then the business has grown significantly, building up great experience and knowledge giving them world-renowned expertise in the field of SUV modifications. Arctic Trucks has participated in three major expedition projects outside of Iceland. The first one was an expedition to the Antarctica, organized by the Swedish Polar Institute in cooperation between Sweden, Norway and Finland in 1997/1998. In the spring of 1999 Arctic Trucks took part in an expedition Artic Truck’s vehicles have traversed some of the world’s harshest environments.

across the icecap of Greenland, where the participants drove in the footsteps of Fridtjov Nansen, the first man ever to cross the Greenland icecap. The latest project of Arctic Trucks was an expedition with

“Our very first UAE to Iceland off-road adventure trip proved to be very successful, the entire trip was completed without any glitches and we had fabulous feedback from all those who came,” said Hjalti Hjaltason, Arctic Trucks General Manager. “Iceland has many beautiful landscapes and we have extended the tour so we can cover more areas that will leave our customers refreshed from this adventure. We will visit some the most famous volcanic areas, glaciers and waterfall Iceland has to offer always ensuring safety of our customers first.” Together, Toyota and Arctic Trucks have broken world records and established world firsts, both in the Arctic and Antarctic, resulting in the Toyota Hilux Arctic Trucks being the first choice transportation for scientists and explorers alike. At IAA last year the two companies unveiled their new Toyota Hilux Arctic Trucks AT35. The modified Hilux that can accommodate 35” tyres, has a re-engineered suspension to improve ride, handling and a ground clearance increase of 25%. To this point Arctic Trucks has focused mainly on two customer groups for special converted vehicles. The first group

consists of people interested in travelling in unknown terrain, outdoor people looking for more all-round use and more comfortable and safe way to travel. The other group consists of utility companies and organisations, such as telephone, power and electricity companies and rescue squads that are in the need of powerful vehicles that can be depended on. Hjalti Hjaltisen, explains, “Our effort is to make driving comfortable and allow our customers a convertible that is suitable for all sort of roads. With the Toyota HILUX, we will continue to build modified vehicles that will give have Arctic Trucks its reputation of being world class. We encourage people to connect with us and know more about how Arctic Trucks can better their ride for them.” According to Hjaltisen, its distinctive looks and road presence will set it apart from the crowd, and he describes the Arctic Trucks AT35 as: “the truest multi-purpose vehicle available”. The vehicle is currently sold in Russia and is available in Norway and Iceland. EU homologation is underway for the European marked and is scheduled to be completed by the end of last year.

BBC Television‘s Top Gear show, Toyota GB and Polar Challenge to the Magnetic North Pole. In 2010, Arctic Trucks also set a Guiness World record for the fastest overland journey to South Pole, crossing 2308km of the Antarctica High Plateau from Novo to the South Pole in 4.5 days.

While there is no word yet as to whether Middle East buyers will soon be able to get their hands on the vehicle, Hjaltisen says that the company is beginning to see demand for its services as a converted of domestic 4x4s into something a little more adventurous. Hjaltason says one customer arrived at the company unannounced recently from KSA set on a 4x4 conversion by the Iceland based specialist. “And not a thing including an 11 hour journey through the night would get in his way.” “It’s not every day a customer takes an 11-hour drive to pitch up at the workshop without an appointment, we feel honoured he chose Arctic Trucks and we love his determination to get the best result for his Land Cruiser. He was a pleasure to deal with...”

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 27

Feature FEaTURE

A risky business

Digital vulnerability is a major concern for miDDle east operators, T&FME looks at the risks anD the opportunities

28 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

Feature

“if i tAke the provocAtive view, i would sAy thAt tAking risk is A nAturAl pArt of doing business. it’s whAt we mAke A living from”

ast month’s look at the WTW’s Land Transportation Survey highlighted the region’s concerns of an increasingly digitised landscape. In a final look at the report, T&FME looks at what it has to say on the risks the industry faces. Interestingly sometimes the safest options is not always the best when it comes to risk. Risk is a path to growth. Industries tend to fixate on the downsides of risk – its potential to disrupt operations, destroy profits and damage reputations. But risk can also present opportunities for those able to see the potential. Smart companies seek out measured risks to gain competitive advantage. They don’t always play safe. Managing modern business risks is a far more complex proposition than it was when the responsibility fell exclusively to structural engineers, finance managers and the champions of the IT room. Today, the assessment of the risk landscape is almost more important than the mitigation strategy, although ideally the two should mutually support and deliver corporate strategy. In fact, in an era where risk is becoming more elusive and intangible, the emphasis has shifted toward preparedness for and response to events, rather than development of static strategies that mitigate individual risks. The new complex, interconnected risk landscape requires a comprehensive, knowledge-based response that is coordinated from the boardroom, where corporate strategies are formulated. “If I take the provocative view, I would say that taking risk is a natural part of doing business. It’s what we make a living from,” says Lars Henneberg, head of risk management at Maersk. “The greatest opportunity of technology is the ability to be first to market with a performance enhancing application of relevant technologies. We have applied new vessel-design technologies that really created a paradigm shift rather than an incremental improvement at Maersk. “Our risk capacity is a competitive advantage because we can afford to take risks in emerging markets, for instance, where our competitors can’t because they do not have the same balance sheet, they do not have the same access to capital and they do not have the riskbearing capacity because of our scale and size.”

NEw oppoRTUNiTiEs Examples of opportunity in risk abound. As a category of risk – or megatrend – geopolitical

FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 29

Feature

Smaller fleet operators at more at risk than global operators who can afford expertise.

trying to find tAlent Globally, land-based operators – rail, road and third-party logistics providers such as freight forwarders – rate a lack of skilled labour as their seventh highest risk. The trucking subsector in particular has struggled in recent times to attract and retain drivers, given the relatively low pay and demanding lifestyle. This has not only idled trucks and the goods they carry, it has prevented operators from adapting to any new customer requirements in the digital era and limited their potential to capitalise on opportunities presented by broader economic rebounds. When it comes to managing a competitive global workforce, the air transport sector’s perception of people risks is not aligned with other modes of transport. Airline executives believe that the attractiveness of their employee proposition helps them manage staffing challenges. Conversely, land-based transport companies struggle to fill strategic positions and often rely on workers who see the sector as a stopping place on the road to a better job. Whether a sector is attractive to jobseekers or not, the rapid advance of technology is changing the skillsets required across the transportation spectrum. For example, the promise of big data, the threat of cyber vulnerability and the demand for better forecasting are all driving demand for digital skills. However, few technical evolutions will pose greater challenges for CHROs than the rise of robotics. By most estimates, the transportation and distribution industries will be on the front lines of potential redundancies. The tens of millions of jobs that serve those supply chains could be at risk, posing a retraining challenge on a scale never seen before. The potential for labor unrest will also loom large for those who cannot manage that transition. Amidst all this change, workers’ ability to not only manage but also develop new technologies in response to the changing demands of the consumer will remain central to corporate reputations.

30 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2017

instability and regulatory uncertainty is the biggest concern for the 350 C-suite executives whose opinions inform the WTW Risk Index. Trends such as the globalisation of the economy and urbanisation are escalating and now seem to constantly shift centers of buying power, trading patterns and consumer demand. Responsive, flexible and informed corporate strategies will be key to mitigating risk, but they will also be central to seizing opportunity. Take urbanisation, for example. The UN believes there will be 41 cities with ten million inhabitants or more by 2030 (up from 34 today) as the rural populations of Africa and Asia flock to urban areas in search of their own opportunities. The migration will put stress on existing road infrastructure, making the logistics of trade distribution more difficult. But it is also a huge opportunity for rail operators, who rely on population density to function efficiently and profit. Advances in big data mining will give the rail industry the market intelligence to compete with the emergence of ride-sharing networks by simplifying the user experience and adapting new low-cost pricing models. For example, tracking customer movements through digital-payment systems will allow operators to offer personalised travel options, which could optimise capacity and drive revenue growth. In general, finding ways to use big data to customise the travel or trade transport experience and drive monetary return is a substantial opportunity for companies —Peter Curtis, COO, Seaspan in those sectors.

ThE sTRaTEgiC oppoRTUNiTy oF RisK Equipping containers with remote monitoring devices could become widespread in the transportation industry, but right now the use of this technology is not common. On the one side, you take cyber-risk to every single container, on the other side there are good opportunities, especially for cargo that requires temperature control, to react to risks such as the container shutting down, or high-value cargo being compromised. It gives us the opportunity to react quicker Executives who can identify the specific data streams that predict market trends or monitor increasingly educated consumer behaviour will gain an advantage for their companies and, ultimately, remuneration for themselves.

TEChNoLogiCaL powER The transportation industry rates the risks associated with digital vulnerability almost as highly as they do those in the geopolitical sphere. Globally, cyber-crime is the highestprofile threat that businesses presently face. But there, too, lies opportunity. Beyond the first-mover reputational advantages of being among the few who have their cyber-risks under control, there are opportunities with a more direct influence on the bottom line. According to Glyn Thoms, Willis Towers Watson’s executive director for cyber & TMT, companies who fully understand and quantify their exposure to cyber-risks within an enterprise framework will be

Feature

Cyber security is a critical issue in an increasingly smart and urban environment.

first in line for the cheaper capital they need to fund other growth opportunities. “It will empower those who are able to fend off the increase in the cost of investment capital that the markets will demand from those organisations that cannot prove the effectiveness of their cyber-defense,” Thoms says. “Inevitably, this will mean that good cyber is good business. It will be a differentiator in the cost of capital.” According to the Index, companies in the air transport sector are the most sensitive to the risks associated with the accelerating pace of technological change, and they rank the inability to keep up with technological change as their fourth-highest risk. No other mode of transport ranked it in the top ten. The challenges of staying abreast of technological change are considerable in transport’s most technologically advanced sector. As will be the opportunities for the technological pioneers, or those

based in jurisdictions governed by forward-thinking regulators. Airlines benefit greatly from every incremental advance in the efficiency of air traffic control. The route data and analysis tools are already there to improve routings, lower fuel costs and lessen the industry’s environmental impact. But governments bear the lion’s share of the cost for upgrades and receive fewer direct benefits, so change has been slow, or at least too slow for the airlines. Every mode of transport would benefit from the development of more efficient fuels and propulsion technology. At present, ship owners in particular face significant regulatory and technical uncertainty, which is raising investment risks. Some are using advances in computational fluid dynamics and model laboratories to streamline hull and bow structures and design more efficient propellers to achieve roughly the same end. Advances in technology are

transforming even the humble container; while automated lock sensors have proven vulnerable to cyber-hacking, the latest containers can literally “smell” danger (in the case of fires, for example), sense light, detect movement and changes in temperature, and tell the carrier whenever cargo is vulnerable. But amidst all the automation, the digitalisation of business processes, the cascade of emerging technologies and the endlessly shifting markets and consumer trends, perhaps the transportation industry’s biggest opportunity lies in the competition for talent. People are the binding agent between corporate strategy and goal delivery. As technology changes, the importance of retaining and retraining the associated skillsets to manage the systems, tools and assets will not diminish. Even robots will need programmers. Those who have the market intelligence to align the skills of their workforce with emerging technology will have grasped a significant opportunity.

“risk cAn Also present opportunities for those Able to see the potentiAl. smArt compAnies seek out meAsured risks to gAin competitive AdvAntAge. they don’t AlwAys plAy sAfe” FEBRUARY 2017 TRUCK&FLEET ME 31

Maintenance, tyres and Parts

mAInTenAnce, TYRes & PARTs