Truck & Fleet ME June 2016

SHOW DOWN SPECIAL LOOK BACK At AUtOMECHANIKA DUBAI

029 JUNE 2016

BACK ON TRACK VOLVO’s RANge TAKeN ThROugh iTs pACes

MIDDLE EAST

OFF COuRse The CRAzy hisTORy OF The LiByA RALLy

WE WANT TO bE glObAl NOAS AL RAWI ON BION INDUSTRIAL’S BLUepRINT TO BecOmINg A mAjOR TRAILeR pLAyeR

10 CONTENTS

A supplement of Cmme

34

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

37

now, where were we?

For those of you old enough to remember, I started Truck&Fleet Middle East magazine back in 2014 – and it’s great to be back.

I want to thank Jerusha for all her hard work

NETWORK

06 / iVeCo re-lAunCh the partnership between Iveco and FAMco bears fruit as they re-launch the italian range.

to help push the magazine forward and it is an honour to follow on from what she has done. We wish her all the best in her new endeavours.

We started the magazine because we felt there was a real need to provide insight into a sector that is absolutely critical to all that

REVIEW

is being achieved in the Middle East. We also

10 / BACK on trACK

wanted to help raise standards in the way it

t&FMe takes a look at volvo’s heavily revised range of trucks.

is presented by the media. We also wanted to

16 / pulling AheAd Bion Industrial is a spin-off trailer maker that wants to be taken seriously globally.

of our readers, it is clear that many issues, such as health and safety and greater efficiency still remain to be resolved.

Over the next few months we will be looking at these in greater detail and I invite any of you

AUTOMEChANIKA – sChAEFFLER

20 / into irAn

Looking back at Automechanika, Schaeffler’s MD Ioannis vrantzoglou talks Iran’s presence.

with something interesting to say on the subjects to drop me a line. Feel free to also contact myself or the CPI team if there are any other topics that

24 / show round-up the biggest and best stories from the year’s aftermarket event.

34 / A truCK CAlled Quester

AccoUNt MANAGer BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpidubai.com +971 4 433 2856 DESIGN Art DIrector SIMON COBON JUNIor GrAPHIc DeSIGNer pERCIVAL MANALAYSAY MARKETING MArKetING MANAGer LISA JUStICE lisa.justice@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION DIStrIBUtIoN MANAGer SUNIL KUMAR sunil.kumar@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5476 ProDUctIoN MANAGer VIpIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713 DIGITAL WeB DeveLoPer MOHAMMAD AwAIS WeB DeveLoPer SADIQ SIDDIQUI WeB DeveLoPer SHAHAN NASEEM

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very interesting to hear from some exhibitors that they were seeing visitors from a range of new countries and Iran in particular. in the last year and it will be fascinating to see where we are heading next.

title challenger heads a busy month of truck launches in the region.

Registered at IMpZ pO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 www.cpimediagroup.com FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINTED by pRINtwELL pRINtING pRESS LLC

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© Copyright 2016 CpI. All rights reserved

37 / top tips for diesels News and tips to help keep your fleet moving smoothly this month.

coMMercIAL DIrector MICHAEL StANSFIELD michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5497

at the Automechanika event in Dubai. It was

The landscape has changed considerably

LAUNChEs

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you would like to be covered. We’re here to help.

In the meantime, we take a final look back

AUTOMEChANIKA

SUB eDItor AELRED DOYLE

help raised standards within the sector itself.

Speaking over the last month to some

COVER sTORy

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

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.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 3

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READERS’ COMMENTS

CONSTRUCTION

KUwAIT MEgAPROjECT IS ONE TO wATCh

Dubai reveals Expo 2020 masterplan

INFRASTRUCTURE

Dubai set to issue Al Maktoum airport tender

In pictures: 60,000-capacity Mohammed bin Rashid Stadium to be built in Al Aweer area

The scale of Kuwait’s recent infrastructure deal (‘Kuwait to sign $1bn infrastructure deal’) is certainly impressive. In fact, I can’t think of a bigger roads contract awarded in the region recently. But what is surprising is that we haven’t read more about the South Al Mutlaa City development that it will serve. With the master planned project worth $20 billion, according to your report, it’s certainly one to watch.

Name withheld, via email

CONSTRUCTION

1km high Jeddah Tower ‘delayed by a year’

BUILD IT AND ThEy wILL COME

INFRASTRUCTURE

Qatar Rail cancels Doha Metro station contract

CONSTRUCTION

ACC wins contract for Emaar project in Jeddah 4 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

Video: Dubai Properties unveils $272m Marasi Business Bay project, set to be built by the Dubai water Canal

The new leisure attractions coming up in the UAE (‘Riding high: The UAE’s new raft of theme park developments’) from Dubai Parks and Resorts to the Twentieth Century Fox World theme park have provided a muchneeded boost for the building industry. And they go to show that the old saying ‘build it and they will come’ is still alive and kicking when it comes to the country’s tourism ambitions.

Name withheld, via email

NETWORK

NETWORK 06 16

YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE MIDDLE EAST’S trucK And fleet operAtor networK

Iveco and astra range reLaUncH for saUdI arabIa market

Launches of Iveco and Astra truck ranges were held across the Kingdom.

Three events held by FAMCO last month across Saudi Arabia have presented a tempting taster for the latest generation of Iveco and Astras ranges and marked a relaunch for the brands in the Kingdom.

The Italian brands – both owned by CNH Industrial – first sealed a distribution deal in 2013 with the GCC powerhouse distributer after it had acquired their former dealer OMATRA. A complete range of vehicles from light vans to extra heavy trucks were on show at the three regional events in Damman, Riyadh and Jeddah.

More than 650 industry professional professionals from across the Kingdom representing governmental entities, construction businesses, quarries, transport operators and other operations attended. Interested buyers were able to get up close to the brands’ latest

generation of off- and on-highway vehicles.

Iveco’s commercial vehicle unit produces one of the most complete ranges of heavy, medium and light vehicles from 2.8 tons up to 44 tons in the industry. The Astra range was brought under its wing in 1986, and is associated with heavy and extreme on- and off- highway applications as well as fully off-highway quarry and construction work.

The Iveco brand is growing its presence in the Middle East, and working to enhance its market position. According to the company, Saudi Arabia is a priority for the brand since it is the largest market in the Middle East, with a strong economy.

The heavy range represents Iveco’s core business in both the Kingdom as well as Egypt and other key markets in the Middle East.

The brand operates across the region with 16 dealers and through more than 29 sales points.

More then 40 other service facilities provide after-sales assistance to customers all over Africa.

“We are extremely pleased with our partnership with FAMCO and the events that just occurred,” said Pierre Lahutte, Iveco brand president “We are sure that with FAMCO we will substantially improve the level of service to our customers in Saudi Arabia.

FAMCO is present in seven countries and represents more than 30 leading industrial brands in trucks and buses, construction equipment, power generation, industrial equipment, marine engines, and storage and handling solutions. It has focused on driving up aftersales support for customers since acquiring both OMATRA (in 2013) and Volvo Construction Equipment’s dealer Al-Reem (2011).

“We are confident that the addition of Iveco and Astra to our products’ portfolio will provide significant value to our customer-base across the Kingdom,” said Alexander Bell, regional general manager, Truck and Bus division, FAMCO Group. “The future will witness considerable growth for FAMCO in Saudi Arabia and accordingly we will constantly strive to deliver best in class customer service to our clients.”

FAMCO’s widespread network in Saudi Arabia provides Iveco with business opportunities both in terms of sales and after-sales services, added Lahutte.

“FAMCO is a highly reputable organisation with a strong financial capability and an outstanding ability to move forward in terms of projects. FAMCO’s widespread network in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to a establishing a long-term relationship with the firm,” he said.

A recent survey by souqAlmAl.com reveAled t respondents in the uAe weren’t sAtisfied with the 6 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

NETWORK

hino 700 hits bAhrAin mArKet Motorcity, the Bahraini distributor of Hino Motors, has launched the new HINO 700 automatic transmission trucks in both heavy and light duty variants. The 700 series is suitable for various applications such as crane and cargo body configurations, tankers, refuse compactors, dump trucks as well as offering haulage up to 100 tonnes.

2,000 TRaiNEd BY ad PORTs TRUCK saFETY CaMPaigN Abu Dhabi Ports’ week-long ‘Be Aware & Drive with Care’ campaign took place at Khalifa Port and Zayed Port last month. The events gave safe driving tips to 2,000 people who regularly drive inside port premises.

Drivers were able to experience driving simulators provided by Abu Dhabi Ports and Emirates Driving Company (EDC).

Presentations on safe driving were given in English, Urdu, Pashtu and Arabic; while free truck safety inspections were offered at Khalifa Port. The National Security Institute’s (NSI) Community Safety Simulation Training Trailer also offered guidance on safety and emergency preparedness. Borouge and Abu Dhabi Terminals also gave tips on forklift safety.

DEWA says it consulted with its customer base to develop easier and faster access to account services online.

electric cArs for smArt dewA customers Three lucky DEWA customers can now plug-in and drive before hitting the Sheikh Zayed Road after they won an electric car each in a prize draw promoting the Dubai authority’s smart services campaign.

DEWA has installed electric charging stations across Dubai during the campaign under the Green Charge Initiative banner. By fusing the drive to using its online services, which promise easier and efficient access to its services, with the roll-out of the stations, the utilities provider is convinced residents can contribute in preserving the environment while also “enhancing the Emirate’s leading position as a global sustainable city”.

ELEcTRIc cARS AND TRUckS cOULD HURT kSA EcONOMY A leading fund manager claims that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government’s plans to sell-off part of its stake in oil company Aramco reflect on-going uncertainty regarding the long-term impact of electric vehicles.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Jim Chanos, founder of Kynikos Associates, said that lower demand for crude oil will inevitably affect prices and income to the Saudi government.

“What is Saudi Arabia telling us if they want to get out; want to sell 20% to you?” Chanos said.

“Are they worried? One of the concerns, of course, is the long-term price of oil and what if we get

The competition was open to customers who paid their full electricity and water bills for six consecutive months between August 2015 and March 2016 through DEWA’s smart app and website: www.dewa.gov.ae.

Dubai is pushing ahead with its aim to be a smart, integrated and connected city that uses its resources sustainably by 2021. DEWA which controls and provides the supply of electricity and water will be a key player in achieving those goals.

“DEWA continuously strives to develop its smart services, which is part of its commitment to enhance the position

a move to electric cars and trucks, which would have a huge impact on long-term demand.”

An IPO of Aramco may happen as soon as 2017, according to senior Saudi officials.

thAt neArly hAlf of the survey eir current cAr insurAnce policy

of Dubai and the UAE in adopting the latest technologies,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. “DEWA realises the importance of keeping up to date with changes in society. This achieves the directives to provide connected, green, and integrated services, capable of facilitating quality of life for all the residents of Dubai.”

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 7

NETWORK

JaIdaH HeraLds mIddLe east game cHanger QUester

A multinational team of 400 engineers, with extensive knowledge and experience, have been involved in designing the Quester. It is being targeted at fleet buyers in emerging markets such as the Middle East.

UD Truck’s new Quester range will challenge for dominance and be a game changer for the Middle East truck market, claims the manufacturer and its Qatari partner.

Designed and developed for emerging markets, the Quester is now available for the first time in the region through Jaidah Equipment, one of Qatar’s largest importers of vehicles and construction equipment. The Quester range was first launched in South East Asia in 2013 by UD Trucks and developed by the Volvo Group as a modern and competitively priced alternative for fleet buyers in fast-growing markets.

According to Jaidah Equipment’s managing director, Ayman Ahmed, the multi-

role Quester will enable UD to: “challenge the truck market in the Middle East.”

“The all-new Quester is a multi-purpose truck for a wide variety of applications, including off and on-road use, construction, distribution and long-haul transportation. The launch of the new range, marks the largest step to date in UD Trucks’ proud history,” said Ahmed at a launch event held last month.

He added that he expects that the trucks can benefit from on-going development in the Qatari market.

“Jaidah has a history of long-standing relationships with major international manufacturers, making us perfectly suited for

to satisfying the high demand for equipment related to Qatar’s construction boom driven by Qatar National Vision 2030. Our Partnership with UD Trucks will reap rich returns for both parties and enhance our efforts to facilitate further growth in Qatar’s construction industry.”

Ahmed was joined by UD’ Truck’s Jan-Erik Thoren, business director, UD Trucks Middle East and Mikito Maruyama UD Tucks director of Middle East and Africa. Thoren highlighted the extensive quality control tests conducted over several years by UD Trucks and Volvo.

The new trucks feature all-new cab, driveline, electronic architecture and fuel savings technology.

kAIcO: MAzDA SALES Up 20% AS NEW FLEET FAvOURITES HEAD INTO kUWAIT The Kuwaiti dealer for Mazda cars has revealed that the launch of the Japanese car-maker’s new sixth generation range has helped increase sales by 20% in Q1 2016.

Distributor KAICO claimed sales of fleet favourite the CX9 and utility vehicle the BT50 Pro increased by 138% and 214% respectively. Other vehicles performing strongly include the Mazda 2 (up 225%), the Mazda 3 (up 142%) and the CX5 (up 267%).

8 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

MX5 production fell to 14,000 units in 2013 – the new global launch recalls the heady days of the 1990s.

“We are on track to increase our market share and volume in 2016 with the positive momentum at the beginning of the year,” said Ashish Tandon, general manager.

The new Mazda MX5, also known as the Miata Roadster, is also now available.

The MX5 has gone through a major overhaul and won a series of awards in 2016 including the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year Award.

NETWORK

NEW MERCEdEs TRUCKs UNvEiLEd FOR QaTaR Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automobiles, the exclusive dealer of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, used the Project Qatar event to launch MercedesBenz’ multipurpose Accelo and Atego truck as well as the new heavy duty and Actros truck.

“NBK Automobiles reiterates its strong connection with the Qatari community and events that enhance the progress of the national economy,” said NBK Automobiles general manager Khalid Sha’aban. “The Accelo and the Atego will provide ideal solutions for transportation or multi-usage services, while the well-known Actros truck will prove again its leadership in the heavy duty services.

“We are confident that our trucks will be a benchmark in their field.”

762 FREE ARMOURED TRUckS GIvEN TO EGYpT The US embassy in Cairo has revealed that the first clutch of a massive shipment of 762 MRAP (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicles has arrived in Egypt.

Claiming that storing them elsewhere in the Middle East or shipping them back to the US is prohibitively expensive, the US says that the trucks will be donated to the Egyptian armed forces for anti-terrorist operations.

The heavily armoured MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines, and from other types of attacks.

The new vehicles were originally designed for US operations in Afghanistan.

The armoured vehicles were considered too costly to store in the Middle East, say US military officials.

$1.4BN UaE-saUdi aRaBia highWaY PROjECT ON TRaCK Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said work was progressing well on the $1.44 billion Mafraq-Ghuwaifat International Highway project, linking western region cities and facilitating commercial transport on the international road.

The project, being implemented

by Musanada in collaboration with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT), extends from Mafraq to the international borders with Saudi Arabia at Ghuwaifat, passing through the Al Ruwais industrial centre. The scope of work includes the construction of 15 new upper

interchanges, along with basic improvements to the existing interchanges at Mafraq, Hameem, Abu Al Abyad and Madinat Zayed interchanges, as well as major improvements on the existing interchanges, bringing the total improvement works up to 246 km long.

“It complements several other projects that aim to accommodate the expected increase in traffic volume,” said Faisal Al Suwaidi, DMAT’s director of main roads divisions, said. He added that the road will help the area to keep pace with the accelerated growth experienced across all areas, besides improving the traffic safety on roads, eliminating congestion and accidents.”

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 9

VoLVo Truck TRUCK reView REViEw VolVo

V

olvo used to be a brand that struggled to shake off its appeal to the blazer brigade. Then it promoted its 440 car (when it owned the car brand) by throwing one out of a window onto an airbag.

It has never really lost its reputation for producing safe and reliable cars, trucks and construction equipment but the 440 campaign continues to inform its edgier attempts to build up its brand.

While truck range promotion classically falls between the aspirations of car ownership and the perspiration of equipment, Volvo veered into the consumer marketing trends of the former at the turn of the decade. Like a 6x2 Johnny Knoxville, it was soon competing with its last outlandish stunt to get attention.

10 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

In 2012, it was enough to sling a rock track under a slow-mo of the FH16, by 2013 Volvo was running an FMX over an employee, being chased by bulls and stretching an ageing Belgian across two trucks to talk about dynamic steering. Credit to the Gothenburg-based company, its eagerness to see Jean Claude Van Damme’s trousers split to earn hits on youtube, has achieved what it set out to do: namely take on the its German, US and Asian competitors in global markets.

However well its trucks are running, fundamental issues have hampered the performance of its balance sheet. Even as it swung president Claes Nilsson over Gothenburg’s port, the brash and bold campaign belied fundamental changes to the company (quite literally) beneath him. Volvo is the world’s second largest truck-maker but it has had difficulty fusing its disparate group structure,

which includes Renault Trucks, into a cohesive, profitable whole. It was widely reported that shareholder frustration saw CEO Olof Persson replaced by former Scania head Martin Lundstedt in 2015 and the company continues to review its production and operational structure.

Thankfully, its technological development has remained strong. For some trucks wearing the Volvo marque, it could even be argued that it is accelerating.

This has been a generation of technology which has been born in an era defined by the Apple Corp. approach to building branded ecosystems – the i-name, cross-platform technology hidden under smart looks, user-friendliness, etc. Seeing the range up close decked out with their features emblazoned on their trailers, it is easy to see how Volvo has diligently applied the approach to its own truck ranges.

VoLVo Truck TRUCK reView REViEw VolVo

UpwaRds and onwaRds

VolVo has stripped its i-shift system down to fit in crawler gears. T&FME takes the new transmission and the swedish truckmaker’s upgraded ranges for a spin on its gothenburg test track

Exciting changes to modern engines are costly and constricted by the need to meet emission regulations. Wisely, however, the Swedish company has dared to look at every element where it can push development, so it is the transmission, braking and suspension systems where we now feel the real benefit of its design team’s expertise. The name I-Shift may, like, be so 2012 [apologies, bastions of proper English] but the tweaks continue and this year we now get two new crawler gears to push the truck range forwards and backwards.

Much has been written about the Volvo truck offering in the region in recent years (T&FME even reviewed it two years ago), but there are enough truly significant changes to warrant a revisit.

(The new CEO certainly must think so as he was out on the demanding FMX

test track when T&FME arrived at its Gothenburg site in Sweden to try them out.)

The FMX, for instance, is facing its third major re-vamp in six years. In 2010, it launched with a sturdy facelift but little had changed under the hood. As product manager Robert Celec puts it: “Customers said it was a nice truck: it has the functionality for construction but doesn’t have the appearance. That’s why we introduced it.”

Features such as Volvo Dynamic Steering, rear air suspension, I-Shift (which all rolled out for FMX 2.0 in 2013) are now available on more trucks than before. And there are genuine industry trend-setters to be had such as a raised drive axle which can save up to 4% of unladen fuel costs and Automatic Traction Control (ATC) which only engages the front axle when it’s needed (standard on 4×4, 6×6, 8×6 and 10×6 configurations).

The company's process of crosspollinating ideas and technology across the range is well underway and there’s clearly a continuity in the looks and feel of the entire range. Fancy the ruggedised FMX bumper on your FH? Well now you can.

“It’s easy to think that we only have one truck for construction,” adds Celec. “But this is not true. We have a wide range of trucks. We all know the FH is recognised for long-haul applications but we have introduced features that make it suitable for construction purposes.

“A lot of the new heavy duty bumper for the FH is a carry-over from the FMX. With this bumper, the front of the truck is really well protected. It has an extension of 130mm and is made out of high-tensile steel.”

The new I-Shift F crawler gears, which are added to the automated transmission, provide

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 11

VolVo Truck reView

Product manager Robert Celec described the Volvo range's new found adaptability.

enhanced startability for trucks carrying heavy loads in demanding situations. The system is entirely unique for series-produced heavy trucks and Volvo has modified the transmission housing to accommodate extra gears in its 13 and 16 litre engine FM, FMX, FH and the FH16. Volvo claims trucks can now move off from standstill and transport a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 325 tonnes.

With the new crawler gears engaged, the truck can drive at speeds as low as 0.5-2 km/h. A handy manoeuvre for heavy loads, particularly in construction and maintenance tasks. The transmission is available as either a direct-drive or overdrive gearbox with one or two crawler ratios. It is also possible to specify two reversing crawler ratios.

On the test track, T&FME was particularly interested to experience how the automated transmission not only regulates speed when crawling slowly and reversing but also from a start – on some sites you rarely have the chance to keep moving.

Taking the wheel of a FH16 which was towing a 56t log load of logs (at 750hp it has the biggest engine in serial production in the market) a 12% hill-stop was done easily enough.

The handbrake was engaged automatically after releasing the pedal and we settled a few metres back. The crawler gear will kick in automatically – preventing standstills – but for this test, the ultra-low crawler gear setting was manually selected and the truck was soon back on its way.

On a following decline, the truck was then placed into a reversing crawling gear and eased back up the hill, again the movement was smooth.

12 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

Product features manager Jonas Nordqvuist sajd the revised I-Shift transmission improves traction.

Product features manager Jonas Nordqvist explains how it may work in Middle East soft ground conditions.

“When you’re on soft ground and use power to get started the wheels stick down and then the rolling resistance gets high. The crawler gears allow you to start slowly without losing traction,” he says. “On an uphill start, you won’t get any jerks. It’s a key benefit.”

He recommends that fleets hauling loads more than 70t should have the ultra-low gear but others can operate with one. 90% of trucks sold in the UAE now ship with the I-Shift system to customers and those that are buying for construction applications should consider the upgrade to the crawler gear system, especially if they are on remote locations or wanting to avoid as many stops on site as possible or indeed practical.

Haulage fleet owners can now share the same features as their construction counterparts.

AWD for Trucks Volvo Trucks' new feature Automatic Traction Control (ATC) activates the drive on the front axle automatically when in motion, if the truck risks getting stuck. The driver enjoys improved manoeuvrability, and the owner benefits from lower fuel consumption and less wear and tear on the truck.

Volvo Trucks is the first truck manufacturer in the world to offer automatic engagement of all wheel drive on construction trucks. The Automatic Traction Control function activates the front wheel drive when the rear wheels lose traction on slippery or soft ground.

"Many drivers connect front-wheel drive or differential lock in good time before a difficult section of terrain, in order to avoid getting stuck. Volvo Automatic Traction Control engages the front wheel drive when in motion, and only for the short time that it is really needed," says Jonas odermalm, construction segment manager at Volvo Trucks.

Bringing the latest

construction news from across the GCC

www.meconstructionnews.com

VolVo Truck reView

The neW TAnDem Axle lifT

This is the third time the FMX has been pitched at the Middle East market but the upgrades warrant a new look.

For haulage firms carrying out heavy transport operations on demanding surfaces as well as regular highway driving, crawler gears also offer considerable flexibility and the possibility of improved fuel economy, claims Volvo. The rear axle ratio optimises engine revs at high speeds which results in lower fuel consumption on the highway.

Arguably it is the new tandem axle lift, which makes it possible to disengage and raise the second driven axle, that is most interesting for hauliers and fleet companies who travel extensively on highways. Volvo claims that this gives better road grip and could save up to 4% on fuel consumption when the truck is driven without a load.

It should be a charmer for heavy duty transports with loads being carried one way and empty return trips, for instance when hauling construction or bulk cargo. By replacing the differential (diff-lock) in the first driven axle with a dog clutch, the second driven axle can be disengaged and raised. The driver has access to both the power and capacity of two driven axles (6X4) and also the easier manoeuvrability of a single driven axle (4X2). What is more, driving with the second driven axle raised also cuts the turning circle by a metre and imposes less wear on tyres and suspension systems.

Back on the test track, T&FME, approaches an FH500 with a 6x4 configuration (and a sleeper cab) and is soon swerving in tight corners.

The Tandem Axle Lift is suitable for transports where ground conditions or gross vehicle weights demand a tandem-drive truck, but where the vehicle returns empty or lightly

14 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

loaded in the opposite direction. On slippery or soft surfaces, the driver can increase pressure on the first axle by raising the second driven axle, which results in better grip and reduces the risk of getting stuck. The tandem axle lift also offers the driver better comfort when the truck is hauling an empty trailer (Volvo estimates that could be 50% of the operating time). The in-cab noise level is lower and steering wheel vibration is reduced. The system is available for the FM, FMX, FH and FH16.

In addition to the tandem axle lift, Celec says that Volvo Dynamic Steering is now available on trucks with dual front axles. While in Gothenburg, T&FME did take a FMX-500 across the construction track and was very much impressed by its touch on the undulating track – albeit in dry conditions and hard ground.

Volvo was the first truck manufacturer to offer automatic all-wheel drive (AWD) for trucks with a driven front axle. Celec explains that automatic traction control (ATC) kicks in when the front axle engages. Not having it in use permanently, he suggests, can save up to 2% on fuel costs. ATC is now standard on the 4x4, 6x6, and 8x6 FMX variants.

T&FME had its best drive on the day pushing the system in the 4x4. Nippy and reactive, small wonder it’s nicknamed the go-kart by the test-team. Volvo has also worked on its air suspension systems. Truck-mounted crane owners may be interested in the addition of front air suspension on its dual front axle trucks (8x2, 8x4 and 10x4). The trucks can now carry a front axle load of 16t or 18t and the front air

Volvo Trucks’ new function, Tandem Axle lift, makes it possible to disengage and raise the second driven axle. This gives better road grip and up to 4% lower fuel consumption when the truck is driven without a load. The new function is designed for heavy duty transports with loads being carried one way and empty return trips, for instance when hauling timber or in construction and bulk cargo operations.

By replacing the differential in the first driven axle with a dog clutch, the second driven axle can be disengaged and raised. The driver thus has access to both the power and capacity of two driven axles (6X4) and also the better manoeuvrability of a single driven axle (4X2).

What is more, driving with the second driven axle raised also cuts the turning circle by a metre and imposes less wear on tyres and suspension systems. Tandem Axle lift is available for the Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16.

fAcTs : The second driven axle can be disengaged and raised while driving.

• The tyres can be lifted 140 mm off the road surface.

• When Tandem Axle lift is activated, the truck consumes up to 4% less fuel • Tyre wear is lower and the turning circle is 1m shorter.

suspension allows the height of the truck to be reduced too. As ever, air suspension improves ride comfort as well. Fleet owners operating in construction environments may also want to consider the new option of combining air suspension on the rear axle with a driven font axle. According to Celec, air suspension allows for greater flexibility to adjust the actual weight of the load. This improves handling, means less effort for the drivers and reduces wear and tear (ie costs). The fact that the system has a ground clearance of 300mm is also noteworthy.

TRAILERS

ON A NEW LEVEL

Bion industrial has quickly estaBlished itself as one of the region’s leading truck trailer manufacturers. as it Branches out into africa, T&FME talks to ceo noas al rawi to see where it is heading next

16 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

TRAILERS

Bion Industrial was started to serve sister company TCT but is now working with the entire transport sector.

T

he old saying of necessity being the mother of invention applies beautifully to the story behind Bion Industrial’s rise to becoming one of the GCC’s most prominent truck trailer manufacturers. However there is another one that even better applies: if you want something done, you better do it yourself.

T&FME meets with its CEO Noas Al Rawi at an exciting juncture for his company. Originally started to serve Al Rawi’s transportation company TCT, it is currently producing 400 units per year but that is set to increase ten-fold with the opening of a purpose-built plant. Now serving an ever-expanding client base, the UAE-based manufacturer has broadened its reach across the GCC and has even made the first steps into two African countries. Not bad for a spin-off company.

Al Rawi first moved to the UAE in 2004 following a career trajectory that took him from distributing Sony Ericsson phones in Iraq to the Emirates. He started TCT (Tarwada Cargo Transport ) three years later to serve the UAE construction boom. Much of its progress to date has used technology to treat a healthy obsession with the punctuality and productivity of its almost 200-strong tipper fleet.

Bion Industrial was created to end the frustration of being unable to find the right trailers for TCT’s needs with most suppliers unwilling to change the methods that had served them well for decades.

“No-one wanted to make these trailers. We tried to work with some local manufacturers to convince them to make trailers according to

BioN AT A gLANcE

our specifications and our design,” he explains.

“They said ‘but we’ve been this for 30 years’.

We found ourselves up against a wall.”

That was half a decade ago and since then Al Rawi and his team have set-out to produce trailers that are 'safe, lightweight and more efficient' than what is available to purchase elsewhere in the market. Bion Industrial’s primary focus as a manufacturer is on technology following the group's corporate philosophy.

“We’ve done a lot to make it (the company) different from the competition,” he explains.

“We’ve invested in technology to be as efficient as we can be. We’ve done a lot with integrating our GPS system with our SAP system. We are investing in our R&D department. We try to continue what we are doing because the truck industry is really evolving. They (truck manufacturers) come with new things everyday but with the trailers which are the other 50% partner of the truck it is a very slow market (in terms of innovation). We’re trying to change that to follow truck (technology).”

Al Rawi says that when other truck owners started to come to Bion rather than the more established trailer makers in the market it was clear that a business opportunity was presenting itself: “We started getting calls asking whether we would sell our truck trailers. The market response encouraged us to make the investments which we are now involved in.”

NEW PLANT ANd NEW ProducT LiNEs Having started with tippers, the company later added bulk handlers and flatbeds. Concrete mixers will also soon be available and much

Bion Industrial is a subsidiary of Bion Group, and is earning a reputation for being a leading manufacturer of superior quality heavy transport equipment. The company offers a range of regular and bespoke truck bodybuilding products for a wide range of operating requirements.

The products are designed and manufactured in Dubai by a team of in-house specialists.

CEO Noas Al Rawi, says that the company, which employs 33 different nationalities, places recruiting expertise as one of its main priorities.

"Our recruitment process is very lengthy.

We only choose the best engineers," he says.

"We have the best in the region with local experience and we have the best from all over the world working in this organisation.

Bion offers its range of bespoke truck body building solutions for a variety of operating requirements including the construction and freight forwarding industries in particular.

It is also branching out into serving the municipal services and oil and gas sectors.

The company was started in 2013 with the purpose of making its sister company TCT avoid the low quality standards and high operational costs that hamper the logistics sector in the Middle East.

"Studying the operations of TCT, we realised the need of setting a heavy transport equipment manufacturing unit which delivers high quality and safety standards with lower operational costs. That’s when Bion Industrial was born. We are here to satisfy the demand for more efficient and superior heavy transport equipment with attractive designs and increased levels of safety and longevity," says the company.

of the focus is now on the new 500,000 sq ft plant which is due to come into operation this year. At full capacity, Al Rawi says it will make around 4,000 trailers per year.

“We expect to take two years to reach that capacity: we are producing around 400 trailers now. We plan to have six to seven main products to fill our capacity. The new plant has the best machinery and a lot of automated and robotic lines. We try to automate as much as possible.”

Bion currently employs 500 people but he expects the new plant will see that double to 1,000 in 2017.

The uncertainty in the economic climate plays into his company’s hands, he adds.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 17

TRAILERS

Al Rawi says that Bion Industrial's unique trailers place it at the forefront of the industry.

“We see all these difficulties (in the current economic climate) as opportunities for us because efficiency is a requirement of a tough market not a relaxed market. When it is a good market nobody cares about efficiency,” he remarks.

“Efficiency is key to the sustainability of a business. Some of our trailers offer an increase of gross profit by as much as 25%. While our product is a premium product, it can make a huge saving."

Continuing, Al Rawi jokes: "All the transport companies are our target and our current customers are also our target. Anyone who knows how to use calculators is our targeted customers."

Headlining its products promoting efficiency are its tipper trailers designed for both rock transportation and general transportation. Bion has spent thousands of man-hours in their development.

“The problem with rock transport is that it is a very profitable business but it is projectbased… and you cannot find this work every day. Transport companies cannot use them efficiently as they can’t use them in daily transport and what they do for normal material."

He continues: “As a solution we wanted to produce trailers that you can use both for everyday transport and when you have bulk work you can use the same trailer. We found out the problem with using rock trailers was that they were very heavy, around 4t more than normal trailers. We now use a different, high strength material. We've made it weigh even less than a normal trailer.

He adds that it took six months to develop a door mechanism that could suit both roles: “We came up with a door which works with a

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

switch. You can use it as a manual with a tipping mechanism or as a hydraulic door that you can operate with the switch. No one else has done this combination before. This sets us apart in the sector. We have sold to a few big transport companies and they are very happy with it. They are planning on coming back with more orders.”

With developments in trailers, particularly in the GCC market, a rarity, transport and logistics companies struggle to find inspiration when it comes to upgrading their inventories. Being both an owner of fleet and a manufacturer has its advantages.

“Sometimes we are sitting in a meeting and they say 'this is what we want'. And we answer with: 'we are not going to sell you what you want but what you need',” he remarks. “Sometimes, customers do not realise that these solutions are possible. When you merge the experience

with transport and experience of making trailers then you can make a solution that even the transporter himself could not imagine existing.”

As well as customers, Bion Industrial is building up an impressive portfolio of partners, such as Volvo, that are helping shape the development of its products.

“We have a very good relationship with Volvo: it is the strongest and they are selling our trailers with their trucks. We have another partnership with SSAB and we are an authorised 'Hardox in my body' manufacturer (which is a certificate of high standard). They are the biggest high strength steel manufacturer in the world and the highest in quality.”

The international expansion is well and truly underway as it follows existing customers into Qatar and builds a presence in Kuwait and Oman.

“We have good sales in Qatar, especially with UAE companies that now have a base over there.

We have customers in Oman and that country is doing well. We also have a few customers in Kuwait as well. All the Middle East."

The African adventure, while in the early stages also shows promise, he adds. Bion has arranged a partnership with a service agent to conduct aftersales service and a greater physical presence is likely to follow.

“We went into Africa to expand. We saw the potential in Nigeria and Kenya. The economy is doing well in these countries. Once our market share grows, we will have a service centre there. We want to be global not just regional. We want to be a global player. We are coming with a new concept and we don’t see ourselves competing with other manufacturers.

We are trying to change the market.”

BioN’s NEW BuLk TiPPEr TrAiLErs Bion Industrial recently launched three tipper trailers designed, developed and built in the UAE. The B480, B340 and B250 tippers have been built for transporting bulk abrasive materials across the Middle East.

The tippers are equipped with a Hardox steel body, a bigger chassis for less deflection and safer tipping, heavy duty disc rims, a fivestage tipping cylinder and LED lighting for greater visibility.

The tippers were unveiled at a launch event at the Desert Palm Dubai, attended by over a 100 guests. The B480 has a capacity of 48m3, while the B340 and B250 have capacities of 34m3 and 25m3.

They are set to cater to a wide range of industries, including construction, agriculture, and heavy haulage, says Noas Al Rawi, CEO of Bion Group.

The tippers will be designed and created at the firm’s hub in Dubai Industrial City. The chassis

for platform trailers, box trailers, tipper vehicles and demountable systems are produced on-site by a team of technicians and project managers. The three trailers have a rounded body shape for higher payload, as well as a low centre of gravity for smoother off-loading and driving, and a curved body for safe unloading.

The tippers come with ABS, tilt alert, a twin line air brake system, heavy duty disc rims for tubeless tyres, a plastic wheel choke, tool box, water tank and fire extinguisher as standard.

AutomechAnikA SchAeffler AUToMoTivE Automotive AUToMEChAniKA – SChAEFFLER

GoinG after the market

Schaeffler’S automotive aftermarket’S ioanniS vrantzoglou talkS automechanika Dubai anD the impact of the opening up of the iranian market 20 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

Vrantzoglou is optimistic on the potential of some markets, especially Iran.

AUToMEChAniKA – SChAEFFLER AUToMoTivE

t

&FME has just miscalculated the number of times Schaeffler’s Automotive Aftermarket’s Middle East operation has participated at Automechanika Dubai.

Fortunately, Ioannis Vrantzoglou is a highly approachable interviewee even when you’ve just put your foot in it.

“We’ve been participating at Automechanika for ten years I think. We always have the biggest stand in the exhibition,” says its Middle East managing director Vrantzoglou. “You are talking to the Schaeffler Group – don’t confuse us with anybody else!”

Vrantzoglou believes the event is playing an important role in galvanising the region during a turbulent period where the ripples of war in the north and an uncertain economic climate are felt even on the southern shores of the Gulf.

“The event is the one to be in when you are dealing with the automotive industry,” he enthuses. “So many countries are coming to Dubai from the whole of the Middle East and many parts of Africa; there are many people from Asia.

There are two main reasons for us (to be there): to meet existing customers again and show them new technologies; and to meet new people, new companies from new countries in our territory.”

Schaeffler is one of the biggest suppliers to the major manufacturers in passenger cars and trucks. It is also has a presence in every important market in the Middle East.

Its Austrian-born Greek head Vrantzoglou, has been involved in the region since 1991 and moved to Dubai over a decade ago to take charge of the German supplier (“it was a very good decision to come here; I'm not planning to go back if everything stays as it is I want to work another ten to 11 years and retire here”).

He is well-positioned to assess Automechanika’s role in a changing economic and political landscape.

“Automechanika is a very good place now: a neutral place for the whole area while half of it is in political turmoil. It is very important to have Automechanika as many of these people are coming here; meeting us and conducting some business with us and showing us how exactly that they can guarantee the financial side of their business.”

He stresses that Schaeffler is not dealing with embargoed countries such as Sudan or Syria but for visitors from countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan it is a useful opportunity to top up on their inventories.

Schaeffler is working with the region's workshops to ensure they do not fail to keep up with technology.

One country, Iran, stands out for its importance to the aftermarket industry, he argues.

“There were many Iranians at the show,” he remarks. “Because you can make new contacts and new business with them.”

Prior to the sanctions that curtailed business with the country (Schaeffler's own history in the country dates back 20 years), Iran had established itself as the only vehicle manufacturer in the region. Its return presents an obvious opportunity.

“We have always been active except during the time of the embargo. We'll go back into Iran again and I believe if the situation stays how it is in Iran and we don't get any changes to political agreements then it is the most important market in the Middle East.

“Even during the embargo they produced 800,000 cars. That's big, and in the next three to five years they will produce will produce 2 million cars per year”.

He argues, persuasively, that the opening of the Iranian market, will not see its domestic manufacturers forced out by incoming competition.

“It is a good thing that they put a 200% tariff on cars. You have to be very rich to buy a foreign car. They are very open to all the big manufacturers especially to the German manufacturers.

"There are many now thinking about going there – as we are supplying all the big

manufacturers in the world, it is of course of very good opportunity for us.

He continues: “The target is unlimited..

Iran is a huge market for commercial vehicles trucks. That's why Mercedes is now talking to them about starting production again. It is like a gold rush situation but we (Schaeffler) are not going have a ‘gold rush’ because we have been in there. We know with whom to talk to and how to do business.”

He estimates that the market could be worth $22-33 million for Schaeffler. The upper figure

expecting more “Expect more” was once again the motto of Schaeffler Middle East’s stand at this year’s Automechanika. For the second time in a row, the company presented the LuK, INA, FAG and Ruville brands together on its large 204sqm stand.

The shared trade fair presentation of the four LuK, INA, FAG and Ruville brands was the result of a bundling of the sales activities at Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket in 2014.

This was undertaken in order to strengthen the company’s presence on the global spare parts market and to work towards comprehensive market penetration. Visitors were able to experience options for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles. They were also able to get a host of helpful mounting and repair tips, even for the trickiest of installation jobs.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 21

AutomechAnikA – SchAeffler Automotive

trying out new gear Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket presented the INA GearBOX at Automechanika Dubai, which is a completely new kind of repair solution for passengercar manual transmissions that lets garages fix gearbox damage in-house. The INA GearBOX is developed for a specified transmission type and comes with all necessary components for professional transmission repair in OE quality. Besides wear parts – like gaskets, o-rings, shaft seals and main bearings inside the transmission – the repair solution also contains those components needed to fix the most common causes of transmission failure. Schaeffler believes the INA GearBOX repair solutions possesses “enormous market potential, for both garages and distribution partners”.

Schaeffler supplies to many of the biggest OEM manufacturers placing it at the forefront of technology.

would make it almost double the size of the Saudi market: “It will be the rest of the Middle East and then there will be Iran alone.”

In his opinion, Iran is the most stable market in the Middle East with the exception of the UAE. “In other countries, you never know which revolution could take place or about the price of oil. The region is unstable – you have to live with it; make provisions and make your money. Your business is a kind of adventure.”

Saudi Arabia is the second biggest market after Iran, says Vrantzoglou but he is cautious on its potential.

“It is very dependent on the oil business. I believe at the moment the economy fell around 20% and projects were impacted so we have less movement of parts,” he reflects. “There are many projects that part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan but let's be honest and realistic. If oil is not giving the revenues they need, we have an issue.”

Schaeffler also supplies to the industrial market and he says that as oil production recovers, the German company will continue to supply to industries such as cement manufacturing and petrochemicals.

“We believe that we have covered the market in a good way but we feel that we can double turnover in the next two to three years. It is $16 million at the moment across industrial and automotive.

Overall he feels the fundamentals are strong for a company supplying to the automotive industry in the region. He estimates that the number of vehicles over six tonnes currently

22 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

stands at a million trucks in the region: “They (the trucks) create a huge volume of parts. We should not forget that half of these trucks are more than ten years old or even 15 years old.” preventing failure Conditions in the Middle East are notoriously harsh on automotive parts, cutting their lifespan far below levels enjoyed in other regions. For a supplier which places great store in efficiency and safety, it could be argued that Schaeffler benefits from the high turnover of parts. However, Vrantzoglou says that the company is still working hard to improve the durability of its products.

“The sand and the heat really affects the life of the parts in a negative way. For example you will need a steering pump for a truck (in which we are the market leader) every two years. In Europe you need it every ten years. We provide continuous training for cars and commercial vehicles on preventive maintenance and maintenance but unfortunately 30% to 40% of our customers’ customers say they like the training and are happy with it but afterwards they forget it.”

He continues: “We have a mission because we're a business and we need to make money out of the sales we do but our mission is always to be safe and environmentally friendly. This comes down from the owners of the company.”

Vrantzoglou says is an advocate of stricter vehicle inspections and stronger legislation to encourage fleet owners in the region to use their vehicles more responsibly.

“We don’t want trucks to run with 10 tons overweight, or with worn brakes, or be driven by drivers that are too tired and causing accidents.

We don't want trucks to drive without catalytic converters and without filters; damaging the environment. We try with every activity to improve the situation.” threats to workshops Training and education is essential if fleet owners and maintenance outfits are going to be still active as technology progresses, he argues.

He worries that some operations could see themselves too far behind the massive steps being made by the OEMs. “We are the company that has been involved in automotive manufacturing for so many years we have seen every possible car and truck. The double clutch that is being used in the BMW i8 is from us; as are the new clutches on Mercedes’ trucks.

Whatever you see in Europe you will see here in five to ten years. Some people in the region don't understand that the mini workshops will and street garages will not be able to work with a Mercedes or a Scania or a Volvo truck because they don't have the equipment or the knowledge.

“This is where we come and train the people how to do it. You cannot stay the way you are. You have to improve yourself and develop yourself with the new technology. We have the technology and the training but a garage that does not invest now or a fleet operator that doesn't invest will be out of the business in five years.”

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AutomechAnikA Round-up AUToMEChAniKA RoUnd-Up

PARTS OF ThE ShoW

This year’s auTomechanika feaTured more commercial vehicles and fleeT-relaTed producTs Than ever before. T&FME gives you a round-up of The biggesT and besT aT The evenT

S

ince the Commercial Vehicles Middle East event shuffled off its ignition coil, fleet owners and buyers have had to maintain a busy diary to visit the events that have stepped into its wake. Automechanika Dubai is arguably the best placed to serve the GCC although it is still short of being the event the sector needs.

Let’s get this straight from the off, Automechanika Dubai has never been an event to visit to stock up on your fleet but it is getting close to being the aftermarket and parts show it has always promised. The by-words for this event were truck competency and under that banner it was able to promote the products and information on offer as a route to improving the running of your vehicles.

Almost 900 exhibitors out of the total of 2,017 [will it be 2018 next year?] were designated

24 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

as being 'truck competent' and covered the entire value chain in the truck sector from truck parts and accessories, via workshop equipment to body repairs and care. The show is also increasingly attracting global attention.

Maintenance-free batteries One of the world's largest automotive aftermarket players ACDelco, turned up at the event to signal its intention to extend its already large footprint in the Middle East.

The GM-owned company makes more than 80,000 part numbers across 37 product categories, including the number one fastest selling battery in the Middle East, oils, window film, spark plugs, filters, wiper blades, chemicals and brakes, as well as repair parts such as alternators, radiators and chassis, along with heating and cooling components.

During the show it launched its new

battery which uses stamped grid technology to improve battery strength and power.

It claims that it also requires zero maintenance.

The battery will be available in ranges suitable for American, European and Asian vehicles and has been designed for extreme Middle East conditions.

"As a global leader in automotive replacement parts and related services, our focus has always been on building a reputation as the number-one source for quality auto parts," said Mohammed Al-Fayyad, aftersales director for General Motors Middle East. "Now more than ever, the customer is the centre of everything we do and they are looking more towards a high quality, technology driven, reliable products, which is what ACDelco is all about.

“At the end of the day it comes down to having quality products you can rely on. Over 100 million vehicles use our ACDelco oil products that carry international, independent certification which

AUToMEChAniKA RoUnd-Up

confirm their quality and fuel saving properties."

"As an example of the strength of the ACDelco brand in the Middle East, we know that in 2015 we held a 40% share of the regional car battery market, and we plan to continue to grow our sales of our maintenancefree batteries as well as our other high quality products in 2016," added Al-Fayyad.

According to Messe Frankfurt, the largest two sections, Parts & Components and Electronics & Systems, featured 1,408 exhibitors a 6% increase on previous years.

Meritor, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of axles for the heavy duty industry, was one of the headline exhibitors.

Exhibiting for the second time, the Fortune 500 company says it is targeting the Middle East as a priority.

Janusz Zielinski, sales director for Europe, MEA, said the Middle East and Africa region is one of the company’s core “strategic topics” for the next three years.

“This is really a very important market,” said Zielinski. “We’re showing that we’re coming from the OE (Original Equipment) side; we’re not just a spare parts manufacturer. It’s important to communicate that our products are of OEM quality, because what we sell to the OEM is the same as what we sell to the aftermarket."

Exhibiting for the first time, Caltex showcased its Havoline lubricant range for passenger vehicles, Delo (Diesel Lubricating Oil) for commercial vehicles, and its Techron fuel system cleaner.

Adriaan de Kok, the area business manager for the Gulf and Middle East at Caltex’s parent company, Chevron Lubricants, said:

"The standards and vehicle requirements are rapidly advancing, and the demands on today’s engine are not what they were ten years ago."

“We are seeing an adoption of really high standards by regional governments, and an aspiration to be responsible when it comes to environmental criteria, engine protection, and fuel economy,” he stated.

Meanwhile, stealing the spotlight from the 191 exhibitors in the accessories & tuning section was Japanese company Kuhl Racing, which launched its fully customised gold-coloured Nissan R35 GT-R. The unique golden sheen was hand-painted and engraved with intricate patterns by master engraver Takahiko Izawa. Under the hood of its golden veneer is a 3.8 litre V6 twin turbo 545 hp engine. It could be yours at Automechanika Dubai for a special price of $750,000.

Kazuyo Furusho, Kuhl Racing’s representative "The reaction from visitors has been amazing, and everyone thinks its real gold, or wrapped with golden paper,” remarked Kazuyo Furusho, Kuhl Racing’s representative.

According to Furusho, the customisation job on the Nissan GT-R took six months to complete. He added that beyond its striking looks Kuhl Racing had improved the aerodynamic, reinforced the body and enhanced its handling.

“We’ve had interest from buyers in Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It’s not a car for everyday use. It’s exclusive and unique, and buyers here like this type of thing,” he said.

With 232 exhibitors, Tyres & Batteries was the fastest growing section at this year's show

21%

increase in tyres and batteries

26 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

and grew by 21% over the previous year.

UAE-based Al Dobowi, the section’s veteran exhibitor, returned in 2016 to announce that it will be the opening the Middle East’s largest battery manufacturing plant Dubai.

“Our new battery plant in Techno Park will open in September this year, and will have the capacity to produce 1.2 million car batteries every year,” said Surender Kandhari, the chairman of Al Dobowi.

“We’ve partnered with Exide, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of batteries. Now Exide batteries will be proudly made in the UAE, and distributed throughout the MEA,” he added.

A total of 23 Brazilian companies showcased their various products and services within a 216-sqm stand. The participation of the attending companies was organised through a sector project called Brasil Auto Parts by the National Auto Parts Industry Union (Sindipeças) and by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), which aims to promote auto parts manufactured in Brazil abroad. This is Sindipeças' 10th participation in Automechanika Dubai.

In 2015, The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce announced that Brazilian exports to Arab countries registered significant growth, with the UAE recorded as the second biggest market for Brazilian exports in Arab countries last year at $2.5 billion.

Among the notable companies that participated in the event were Autolinea, a manufacturer of brake parts and cylinder heads; Autotravi (rubber seals and finishes); Baterias Moura (batteries); Biagio (turbochargers); Chiptronic (electronic fuel injection modules; Freios Controil,

2017

exhibitors at the 2016 event

AUToMEChAniKA RoUnd-Up

POweRing up T&FME meeTs a-map on The show floor To learn more abouT iTs Qc services for imporTers.

H

andling batteries in an environment like the Middle East is a major logistical challenge for distributors.

A-MAP was offering advice to them at Automechanika and expediting manager Yasir Khan and Summaya Amad, marketing manager, explain how to T&FME. Tell us about your long-standing relationship with Automechanika Dubai?

Yasir Khan: We have participated for the past seven years and, as always for us, it has not been just about sales, opportunities and getting leads but it has also been about consulting with existing customers; offering them assurance and troubleshooting supply chain and quality control (QC) situations.

Can you elaborate on your QC team’s role?

YK: You need to be prequalified as an importer. You have to be thorough with shipping standards, importing requisites, feasibilities and have sound logistics knowledge to be in the game. The reason we stand out is because we offer consultancy in all these areas and therefore, our importers have grown in volumes and in numbers. Our

global reach has spread over the years as well. Our QC team has played a huge role in this with being super proficient. They are always on the go; offering services wherever importers are located (42 countries – Middle East, Africa & CIS) and they are educating them about the life of batteries, recharging methods, orders planning, etc.

You must work closely with the importers on managing lead times and inventories.

YK: Trading in automotive batteries is not easy – it is a very tricky business. From the time the parts are produced, until they are installed into the end-users' vehicles, the processes need to be tracked extremely diligently. Lead times need to be followed and deliveries need to be timely in order to ensure that goods are shelved within three months’ time and then sold within two months after. All countries have differing importing laws, custom regulations and inspecting standards; my team ensures that we abide by these laws, provide the requirements and qualify for all the varying standards.

So there’s more to you than just trying to sell your product?

Summaya Amad: Yes, we are not your

typical wholesalers. We can confidently say that. There is no other battery providing company which has its own dedicated QC department. They travel to countries like Korea where the batteries are manufactured to find out from the engineers how we can make improvements to performance better each year. Battery specifications are difficult especially in hot countries. There is a shelflife to it so we are taking this process very seriously. We are very hot on it.

What are your heavy trucks offerings?

YK: We’ve got the whole range of batteries and auto-parts for heavy duty off-road trucks.

How is your sales side performing in the difficult economic climate?

YK: Our overall sales have been stable but of course if we compare to 2012 or 2013 it has been on the low. We have made sure that we have various provisions in place and we also feel that times like these increase focus and also provide windows of opportunities to assess and improve.

What also works in our favour is the fact that people tend to retain their current vehicles which, in turn, means a surge in after-market parts demand.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 27

AutomechAnikA Round-up

the world’s first auto show

(brakes); as well as several other companies.

"It is exciting to see such notable Brazilian companies playing an active role in this event,” said Dr. Michel Alaby, Secretary General and CEO, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce said. “Automechanika Dubai is a vital networking platform that allows companies in the sector to showcase the latest developments and innovations and exchange knowledge and expertise with key influencers and decision makers across the Middle East, Asia and North Africa."

Zc does it Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) displayed its Westlake and Goodride brand tyres with its local partner Al-Rahala International Trading, a tyre trading company with authorised distributors in the Middle East, Europe, parts of Latin America, and Asia. ZC Rubber vice president Ge Guorong discussed cooperation with local dealers attending the exhibition.

“We work closely with partners and dealers to expand the local market and are committed to build a win-win cooperation relationship with all the dealers. We will not only do the marketing activities by ourselves, but also support our dealers to offer targeted marketing in the local market,” he said.

He also said that as a global top ten tyre manufacturer, ZC Rubber wants to offer valuable and safe tyres to customers and is pushing to ensure that more people experience its products.

“More marketing activities, including exhibition, advertising and sponsorship, will be carried out by ZC Rubber and

28 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

Al-Rahala together to introduce our premium tyres for more customers.”

ZC Rubber has ten factories in mainland China and Thailand and operates across six continents. Ge Guorong told dealers that tyre performance is the focus of everyone's attention at ZC Rubber. The company will invest more resources in research and development and improve its capability on lean production, rubber compound, construction design, product evaluation and equipment to keep product quality high, according to Ge Guorong.

At present, ZC Rubber has already established a “perfect test system” covering roll resistance, noise, wear vibration, handling, profile, ride and safety, said Ge Guorong.

VfM ranGe froM Zafco Zafco returned to present its own brand Zeetex, as well as the Otani, Double Coin, and Accelera and Forceum brands at Automechanika Dubai; showcasing a wide range of products for the Middle East and African markets.

The show presented an opportunity to launch the latest Zeetex product line, a new value for money (VFM) range of four patterns for the PCR, UHP, 4×4, and light truck segments. Zafco stated that the VFM range is intended for “customers who look for value in terms of quality, price, and durability.”

RJ Pallavi from SUNO 1024FM was invited to host the launch ceremony, followed by a draw to give away prizes to the winners.

The Zafco booth contained a mini-golf activity, which the distributor said engaged visitors.

There was a total of 20 cars in the whole of France in 1894 but just four years later, the Paris Motor Show was held in the Tuilleries Gardens in the centre of Paris.

The show was the first motor vehicle event in the world and the brainchild of Albert de Dion, a pioneer in steam-powered vehicles.

De Dion’s company went on to be one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, producing, 400 cars and 3,200 engines in 1900, while the event grew in popularity and found a new home at the Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees in 1910.

Future shows were to be interrupted by war and more bizarrely, an Exhibition of Decorative Arts in 1926. The 1946 Paris Motor Show post-war event attracted 810,000 attended in 10 days and featured electric cars. Today the event is held biennially and attracts over 1 million visitors.

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“We are glad to see the interest being shown by our regular and potential customers towards the new product assortment that we come up with. Our R&D efforts pay off every time and based on our new offerings we are even more optimistic than before,” commented Raghavendra Sanga head of product communication & marketing.

Ahmed Pauwels, the chief executive of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser, said: "Automechanika Dubai 2016 has raised the bar again, delivering real business opportunities, while shedding light on the latest advancements in automotive aftermarket services and technologies."

“While it’s positive to see the show grow in-line with industry expectations, what’s more important is that our customers the exhibitors and visitors leave every year having come away with both tangible and intangible benefits that are measured in more ways than dollars and signs. This is how we know Automechanika Dubai will continue to be a force for many years ahead,” he added.

Truck TRUCK rALLYING RALLYING

BACK FROM THE BRINK

The Libya RaLLy is one of The uLTimaTe TesTs foR TRuck TechnoLogy and Takes pLace in moRocco.

T&FME Looks aT iTs TumuLTuous hisToRy

30 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

Feature TRUCK RALLYING

M

artin van den Brink, the driver of Mammoet Rallysport’s Renault Kerax 520 truck recalls the moment on the fifth stage of the 2016 Libya Rally (held at the end of April) where he earned his pilot’s licence.

“It wasn't easy to spot the differences in the dunes, because the sun was high. We conducted three jumps so high that another truck could go under us – it could have easily been 5m.”

Beautiful but challenging, the M’Hamid to Merzouga 336km 'special stage' passed through mountains, open desert and rocky terrain proving a punishing test for the 300 competitors taking part. For van den Brink, the stretch would turn out to be a major turning point in the push to get his 520hp racing truck at the front of the race. It may have been a day he passed his major competitors, including Igor Bouwens and his Iveco, but it could have ended horribly badly.

“We crossed one of the broken dunes at the end of the stage,” he explained. “Because we were the first we had to 'break' the top. We did; but on the other side was a steep downhill of some 4m. We landed on the nose of the truck, held our breath and luckily the truck decided to fall on its wheels instead of its roof."

The rally is the brainchild of Belgian organiser Gert Duson; and he and the

race have endured their own turbulent course since the first event in 2008.

Duson first fell in love with Libya while preparing another trans-Saharan event in 2006. Returning home, he dreamt of an event that made the most of its: “endless dune seas with peaks of 200m high, spectacular canyons, volcanos, bizarre rock formations and hidden lakes”. Within two years, he was followed into the country by 60 motorbike riders and quad drivers, including eventual winner Hubert Deltrieu.

The rally (then called the Libya Desert Challenge aka LDC) was soon being discussed on blogs and forums as a new but challenging addition to the rally calendar. By the time it arrived back in 2009, it had become a fullyfledged multi-vehicle-type race with twice the number of competitors than before. It also returned with a major sponsor – the government of Muammar al-Gaddafi. Facilitated by the local partner Hadi Bkai of Fessano Tours, the Libyan authorities supplied petrol, military support and an Agusta helicopter.

The first riders and drivers set off at midday onto a relatively short course of 186km split into three parts. Many later complained that the searingly hot temperatures between the second and third sections had made the sand on the large dunes dangerously soft. The helicopter on loan from the Gaddafi government was

ted ial bumpers and some other adap MAN says that apar t from spec t. same as a production equi valen the 90% are s truck rally its , parts

THE KERAX 520: BuilT To RAcE Mammoet Rallysport and Martin van den Brink’s Kerax stormed back from a 22-minute deficit in the final stage of 2016’s rally, once again passing Igor Boewen's Iveco-powered team in a nailbiting finish. It is the second consecutive year that van den Brink has emerged as a deserved winner, demonstrating supreme skill to overcome the challenges of the punishing tracks of the Atlas Mountains and the dunes of the Merzouga desert.

Renault launched the 450.26 version of the Kerax 6x6 racing truck in the Middle East in 2012. The highly modified 520 is developed by the Czech-based German sports truck specialist MKR Technology (managed by rally heavyweight Mario Kress) in cooperation with the French manufacturer.

According to Bruno Blin, the Renault Trucks president, MKR Technology and Renault have learned a lot from their experiences at other rallies, particularly the Dakar Rally where a Kerax-based truck recently finished sixth.

“We have talented clients! MKR Technology proudly waves the Renault Trucks flag in Rally Raid events and we are very proud to be behind them,” states Bruno Blin, the Renault Trucks President.

“This victory highlights our trucks’ sturdiness and the expertise of Mario Kress when it comes to preparing competition vehicles.”

Kress says his team worked hard to turnaround a series of changes between the Dakar held in January and Libya in April.

“We have improved turbo management, and worked on the axles and brakes. We tested them on Moroccan roads and are very pleased with the result: we had an extremely reliable truck in this Rally and that’s what everything depends on.”

The team’s next challenge will be the Silkway Rally from Moscow to Beijing held from 8-24 July but with one eye on the 2017 Dakar Rally (the route has just been announced and will, for the first time, be starting in Paraguay). There will be three MKR K-520’s in the race says Kress.

“Our plans are not modest, I admit. We want to win the Dakar Rally one day, and you need a huge portion of good luck for that, so I’ll refrain from making bold statements.

“Anyway, our trucks have what it takes to challenge the very best.”

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 31

Truck rALLYING

Mammoet Rallysport's 520 is developed by MKR Technology in cooperation with Renault.

quickly called into action, shuttling drivers back to the crisis room at the end of the course.

“It was a very varied track that combined speed with technicality. Due to the heat, the sand was very soft which made it difficult for many,” said the returning Deltrieu.

While several people were being shuttled to safety, Ahmad Hassanain, an inexperienced Libyan driver, was lost out on the course after his GPS was broken and he was injured falling off his quad bike. He was found hours later and shortly before dark; struggling to breathe.

Two days later another driver and member of the LDC team, Alex Debot, was killed after he too fell from his bike. According to Duson, the 53 year-old had only recently sold his Opel dealership in order to follow “his passion for adventure and travel”.

“Alex crossed the dune driving too fast and lost control of his vehicle. He was ejected from his quad and fell. The quad landed on top of him and broke his neck. Minutes later he was found by the French quad biker Nicolas Pujol; and one minute later our helicopter also arrived on the scene. Fifteen minutes later the Belgian emergency doctor Luc Beaucourt confirmed his death and that he had died instantly.”

Dedicating that year’s rally to him he added: “Alex was also part of the LDC organisation team and drove the Ginaf truck to the south of Libya but during the day he couldn't resist driving the

32 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

dunes of the desert in his new Can-Am quad.”

Rallying is a sport where accidents and tragedy are a risk considered part of the territory for many drivers and the event grew again to 160 pilots and mechanics in 2010. Dakar Rally road-book veteran Alain Lopez was drafted in to design stages and the now-more experienced team led by Duson felt they were better prepared than ever before. However in February 2010 – and three weeks from the start of the race – Libya suspended entry visas for EU citizens (except those from the UK) in retaliation to an alleged attempt by Switzerland to block entry for 188 senior Libyan officials.

With the once-helpful host government effectively blocking the rally (“the dictator decided to give the Europeans a cookie of their own dough”), Duson took the advice of much-admired African ‘adventuress’ Brigitte Tedesco to “move the rally quickly” to Tunisia.

Two days later, the pair travelled to Libya’s

neighbour and secured local backing from the authorities. An aeroplane was then chartered from Tripoli Airport to Djerba, so those that had bought their ticket to the Libyan capital could be redirected to the new rally. With roadbooks bought from Jörg Schumann, the German organiser of the El Chott Rally, the Libya Rally was ready to go – albeit in another country.

Tedesco sadly passed away in 2010 but her idea of a Libya Rally in exile helped Duson and the remaining organisers ride out a year as they waited for the Arab Spring to subside. Once again they brought it back to Tunisia in 2012.

It has subsequently moved to Morocco (largely because of driver pressure), following the Sahara southwards and taking in the odd stretch of old Dakar Rally courses. Trucks remain a major force in the rally with MAN, Iveco and Renault all providing winners in the race. Participant numbers now swell past 300 and an international following is devoted to this most topsy-turvy of rallies.

“WE lAndEd on THE nosE of THE TRucK, HEld ouR BREATH And lucKily THE TRucK dEcidEd To fAll on iTs WHEEls insTEAd of iTs Roof”

new LAUnCHeS

NEw ACCELo 915C ARRivEs iN QATAR

spECiFiCATioNs: ● GCw: 11t ● Engine: 150 hp ● Transmission: Manual ● Maximum Torque: 580Nm

Mercedes trucks have been a dominant force in Qatar for many years and the Euro 3 variant of the new Accelo will help strengthen NBK Automobiles’ leading position in the market.

The German truck-maker describes ‘productivity’ as the keyword for the Accelo

915 C, a multi-functional 9t GVW truck, which enables the mounting of up to 6.5m-long bodies. The Accelo offers a compelling platform for those seeking practicality, efficiency and agility in interurban or short-distance transportation.

Designed for urban traffic, the Accelo is a compact vehicle that promises manoeuvrability and comfort for most transport requirements.

The Accelo 915 C is equipped with a robust and potent Mercedes-Benz 4.2 l, 4-cylinder engine that provides 150hp while complying with Euro 3 emission standards.

It also allows for the mounting of various superstructures, offering a wide range of transport solutions, such as: tipper, cargo, refrigerated or recovery vehicle bodies.

The Accelo is equipped with a pneumatic, dual-circuit disc brake system, that Mercedes claims provides high braking efficiency and safe driving in busy traffic. The springloaded parking brake is activated by a lever in the panel, and acts on the rear wheels.

The passenger car-like dashboard supports the driver by providing clear overview of all information, from routine day-check to fuel consumption.

Air conditioning and power windows are standard on the Accelo; improving the level of cab comfort.

AdApTAbLE HiNo 700 ARRivEs iN bAHRAiN

spECiFiCATioNs ● weight: 19.5t-39.5t ● GCw: Up to 100t ● power: 380-480hp ● Engines: Euro 3

Toyota’s Hino 700 series is intended to win over heavy truck buyers with its combination

34 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

of reliability, comfort and affordability. There are over ten heavy duty models in its line-up,

allowing the heavy duty range to operate in a variety of applications. The truck is now available in Bahrain, and, according to Toyota: "It has the ultimate combination of Japanese engineering and build quality and European levels of comfort, safety equipment and lifesaving technologies."

The Euro 6 versions of the 700 Series have a purpose design driveline employing the ever reliable and efficient Hino 13litre 440Hp, 450Hp and 480Hp engines. The Middle East Euro 3 variants are still robust vehicles despite starting at 380hp (the largest engine matches 480hp). Both tractor and rigid chassis are available and GVW ranges from 19.5t to 39.5t.

Hino 700 Series buyers have the choice of 4x2, 6x4 and 8x4 driveline configurations, suited to both prime mover and rigid truck applications. It also features a taper-leaf suspension which is designed with the aim of producing less interleaf friction and delivering a flat riding feel. The suspension also delivers high durability, claims Hino.

new LAUnCHeS

A CLAss pERFoRMER FoR sAUdi MARKET The re-launch of Iveco via the kickstarting of its relationship with FAMCO in Saudi Arabia, gives us the opportunity to re-visit the classy Performer truck.

The Italian manufacturer says its range for Africa and Middle East has been engineered and properly fitted to perform at best in the market, adapting to the local context where working conditions are very demanding and climate can become extreme. All models are distributed in Euro 3 tropical version and equipped with special devices to be stronger, over performing and suitable for any climate and use condition The newest version of the Iveco Performer is designed to cope with a range of challenging road missions. Iveco claims that it combines strength, reliability and maximum comfort.

According to the Italian manufacturer: “It’s strong and reliable and when the going gets tough, a performer always deliver".

The truck tractor range has been developed to cover long distance requirements and provide comfort in a variety of road surfacs.

The Performer's Cursor 13 engine is built

RoLEs: ● General cargo with 2- or 3-axle semitrailer ● Container transport – Water and fuel tankers up to 50.000l ● Flatbed for machinery transport ● Cement transport semitrailer

as 480hp and 540hp variants with waste gate technology that Iveco says offers

an "impressive reliability and permits to cope with a large range of missions".

QUEsTER poisEd To CHALLENGE FoR Top spoT Volvo Trucks’ purchase of UD Trucks has enabled it to target the value end of the buyer budgets and emerging markets such as the Middle East, in particular. UD believes it will challenge for supremacy with buyers in the region.

The range was launched in 2014 and is now available in Qatar; the first time it has been fully available in the region. With Quester, UD Trucks says it entered a "new and exciting" development phase where it could offer customers in the largest and fastest growing truck segments in the world a truck designed specifically to meet their demands.

The first target markets for Quester were Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. These were followed by China, India and several other markets across Asia-Pacific, and now the Middle East. UD spent several years trawling through customer feedback to design the truck. It is particularly suitable for transportion companies.

It is a modern yet affordable vehicle; allows customisation for most transport requirements; it is based on a complete and up-to-date heavy duty

spECiFiCATioNs: ● Axle configuration: 6x4 ● Gvw: 34t ● power: 280-420hp ● Torque: 1,050Nm-2,000Nm

truck platform and is designed to serve a wide range of applications and it enables excellent fuel consumption and high average speeds.

Quester was developed with a Japanese hands-on, field-oriented approach that starts

from a customer and factory floor perspective.

Quester was also developed by the Volvo Group’s trucks technology division. The truck itself has an all-new cab, driveline, electronic architecture and fuel savings features.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 35

4 CONSULTANTS & ARCHITECTS CUP 2016 TH

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Maintenance, tyres and Parts

mAInTenAnce, TYRes & PARTs

SPONSORED BY

www.csn-me.com

parts and accessories is 3.3% of dubai’s non-oil trade

The trade of truck and bus tyres was valued at $650 million in 2015, but was out-sripped by sedan tyres, which topped $900 million.

The trade of truck and bus tyres hit $650 million in 2015, according to Dubai Customs.

Speaking at the Automechanika event held last month (fittingly at the World Trade Centre), Nassim Al Mehairi, manager of statistics section at Dubai Customs, rattled through Dubai’s top trading partners for auto parts.

Leading the pack are Japan, South Korea,

15%

Advances to truck aerodynamics will lead to 20% less drag and improvements to fuel efficiency according to the UK’s EPA

USA, Germany and China which accounted for $1.5 billion, $925 million, AED3 billion, $816 million and $790 million, respectively.

In addition to the trade of $650 million-worth of truck and bus tyres, the major components forming a buoyant automotive aftermarket trade in 2015 were sedan tyres at $900 million, auto batteries at $710 million, fuel filters at $300 million and clutches at $270 million.

“We at Dubai Customs make sure to be present at such exhibitions and trade fairs to reach an audience of auto parts manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators, and others, and introduce them to the top notch services and facilitations we offer,” said the director of strategy and corporate excellence, Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim.

Dubai Customs told the delegates at the event that it, “takes great care in safeguarding the community against the perils of counterfeit auto parts, so that consumers can rest assured that they buy only genuine parts and auto dealers can be kept safe from the losses resulting from the fake parts entering the markets”.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organising company of the show, said Dubai Customs’ a reliable source for data in an industry crying out for it continued support provided guidance to the industry.

“Figures announced by Dubai Customs play a great informative role in helping dealers envisage their business outlook and future growth of their investments,” he said.

SPONSOR PIRELLI TO PROvIdE 1,500 TyRES TO AdMM Pirelli has agreed to be the official tyre supplier to Yas Racing School at Yas Marina Circuit. The deal will see all vehicles fitted with a range of Pirelli tyres. The agreement also sees Pirelli rubber fitted to Abu Dhabi Motorsport

Management’s fleet consisting of: 12 multipurpose Renaults, Nissan Pathfinders and X Terra, shuttle buses used for Venue Tours, water tankers and pick-up trucks. Pirelli will supply 1,500 tyres per year across more than 75 vehicles.

JUNE 2016 TRUCK&FLEET ME 37

MAINTENANCE, TyRES ANd PARTS

sAuDI DIeseL RewARDs sPARe PARTs DeALeRs In souTh AnD eAsT of counTRY The company says it wants to help raise the standards expected inside Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Diesel has donated a light Chevrolet truck to Al Amer Company, a distributor in the Southern Region, and Ajyad Est, a dealer in the Eastern Region, in recognition of their efforts in the distribution of spare parts in their respective regions.

“Such a gesture makes local companies compete in order to provide the best service to the market,” says the Saudi company.

“This in turn helps raise the level of quality of the provided services, eventually leading to raising the competition bar and make the local Saudi companies provide their best products and services. This is in the interest of national industries.”

QuIck TIPs Time to top up on your diesel engine care: 1. Regular inspection of glow plugs is very critical for the proper maintenance of a diesel engine. The ignition of this engine depends upon compressed heat but it often fails to produce enough heat for the fuel to burn.

2. The gaskets on the diesel engine call for regular monitoring as they work under very severe and harsh conditions.

All the mounting bolts should be checked regularly to avoid leaks which can lead to other complications.

3. The oil filter should be selected carefully

COLLISION PARTS “SOUghT AFTER” IN gCC

as sulfur residue and carbon are created in the absence of completely burning

Frost & Sullivan has said the market for CV parts and accessories will rise to $5.49bn in 2020, up from $3.38bn in 2014. Bulbs, filters, spark plugs, belts, brakes, pumps, alternators and thermostats, as well as the maintenance service itself, make up 71% of demand, while collision parts including bumpers are also “highly sought after” in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

the fuel. A good filter will exclude corrosive particles from the oil.

4. To maintain proper engine performance and prevent accidents, make sure to give fluids sufficient time to cool before draining or checking them.

EmiRAti iNtERNS givEN hANDS-ON tEchNicAl wORKShOP ExPERiENcE

The RTA’s one month course covered a variety of technical disciplines.

15 young Emirati students have been given hands-on technical training on buses by the RTA. The RTA the programme was initiated as part of its commitment to enhance the

skills of young nationals and cover the relative shortage of Emirati specialists in various technical capacities in the emirate.

Abdullah Rashid Al Mazmi, director of maintenance and services at the public transport agency, commented that the 15 students had joined a one-month programme and experienced a variety of technical, electrical, and mechanical disciplines.

“Under the supervision of the agency’s engineers and professionals, novice students received hands-on training at technical workshops in areas relating to

troubleshooting technical problems of buses, safety, security and environment of workshops, maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems of buses, forging and body works, and tyre repairs,” he said.

“All sectors and agencies of the RTA are keen on empowering Emiratis, and furnishing them with diverse experiences and adequate guidance to consolidate their theoretical knowledge through practical training in technical fields at the RTA. Our overall objective is to groom job seekers amongst promising Emiratis to take up careers and contribute effectively.”

“ouR oveRALL objecTIve Is To gRoom PRomIsIng emIRATIs To TAke uP cAReeRs AnD conTRIbuTe effecTIveLY To boLsTeR The DeveLoPmenT DRIve” 38 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

PARTING SHOT PARTING SHOT

sparking a Truck revoluTion the nikola Semi-truck ShareS more than juSt a name with teSla’S pioneering work

T

he Nikola Motor Company (NMC), named after the famous electrical engineer Nikola Tesla, was founded by CEO Trevor Milton to design and manufacture electric vehicles, energy storage systems and electric vehicle drivetrain components.

The company is currently preparing to present its range to an expectant public.

Reservations have just opened for both the Nikola Zero UTV a 4x4 electric UTV (utility vehicle) and the Nikola One, an electric semi-articulated truck in North America.

MNC says that both vehicles will be available later this year.

While the majority of the semi-trucks components are being developed by NMC, the company also co-designed the industry’s first ever independent suspension with Meritor.

“By working together with some of the top engineering firms in America, we were able to design vehicles that have previously been thought impossible to design,” commented Milton as the reservation lines opened.

“We want to even the playing field and income inequalities seen between owner operators and fleets for the first time in recent

40 TRUCK&FLEET ME JUNE 2016

trucking history. This is just the beginning of what’s ahead for America, our company and the electric vehicle market,” added Milton.

Prior to establishing Nikola, Milton was CEO of dHybrid Systems, a natural gas storage technology company that was acquired in October 2014 by one of America’s largest steel providers, Worthington Industries. (Find out more on the Nikola Zero and One at www.nikolamotor.com.)

Last month’s reveal coincided with news that the car-maker Tesla no relation, bar the name is defying expectations and heading towards producing half a million cars annually.

Demand is so great for its new, more affordable Model 3 it has convinced the company to shave two years off its production timeline. It hopes to eventually build a combined total of 500,000 vehicles; comprising the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 per year by its new target date of 2018.

“Increasing production five-fold over the next two years will be challenging and will likely require some additional capital, but this is our goal and we will be working hard to achieve it,” Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk said during the latest quarterly earnings report.

Interest in electric vehicles has grown so much in the past two years as has the infrastructure that is required to go with it that there are widespread rumours that the rapid progress has moved the Saudi government to push ahead with its IPO of Aramco (one expert cheekily suggested KSA might spend its $2 trillion cash injection on Tesla).

It certainly is exciting to see progress in CV applications. In their 2016-2026 forecast report, Dr Peter Harrop and Raghu Das state that the industrial and commercial sector is now bigger and much more profitable than e-cars, and is set to remain so for at least eight more years.

“All components are changing with supercapacitors sometimes replacing or partly replacing batteries and also new types of battery, energy harvesting, power electronics and structure powering growth in this already huge and prosperous business,” they write.

“The fruits of all this are truly spectacular.

The race is on to make extremely short take-off and landing (ESTL) personal planes and air taxis, some that take-off and land vertically in your garden or from the ‘pocket airport’ on top of a regular airport building”.

We’re not sure that statement is a joke.

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