Construction Machinery ME December 2021

ISSUE 119 2021 DECEMBER

PLUS

FLOATINGOANBOAATRABIA’S NEW JOHNS FT PROJECT HEAV Y LI

T VITAL KEEP SKIDSMALL YEO DELS NEW M USY B T E K R A STEER M

D N A HIGH Y T H MIG

ANES R C R E W O T

D N A M E D T EE M S R E R U S T E C I A T I F C U A N P A A M FT C I L R E T A S E T H G I E FOR GR H LIFT R E L L A T A ND

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2021

6_NEWS The latest news from across the region and further afield.

18_NEW DPP GENSETS POWER REGION Doosan Portable Power launches a series of small generator sets and light tower for wide-ranging applications in the Middle East region.

20_FLOATING A BOAT Johnson Arabia recently performed a set of challenging heavy lifts, placing three heavy yachts in the water off a dock in the UAE.

22_STRIKING THE LODE The Mining Show in Dubai last month was a live event that saw healthy

32

participation as the Middle East mining sector looks poised to expand.

10 SPOTTED IN CZECHC REPUBLI

R E W O P RAW ery.

E L E A SE S on machin 26_ NEW R s from the world of constructi The latest

o B ob c a t d u ic in dynam job demolition

release

EN 30_TOP T

ction

ty in the ere

Tips for safe

r cranes. on of towe and operati

10

wer cranes.

IGHT Y M ahead for to D ay N w e A th t H ies poin 32_ HIG r lift capacit reate dels with g Higher mo

ctor. in the SSL se T V ITA L E ts compete Y an L tr L en A ew n M s and 36_S lished brand odels, estab m ed p am Rev EN PAV ER ours.

G T R I W R FO hin 24 h D RECORD m stretch of highway in India wit L R O W _ 0 4 56k odel paves 2. form m SP1600 slip

20

16

36

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EDITORIAL DECEMBER 2021

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 MANAGING PARTNER VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & BUSINESS OPERATIONS SHIYAS KAREEM shiyas.kareem@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR ANDY PITOIS andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5473

PROMISING YEAR AHEAD

EDITORIAL EDITOR ANIRBAN BAGCHI anirban.bagchi@cpitrademedia.com

As we write the last issue of this year, at CMME towers, we see reason for hope in the regional and global construction machinery sector. Several companies in the sector, both regional and global, have reported a turnaround in 2021 after dismal performances the year before when the pandemic was at its peak.

The likes of Volvo CE, Yanmar, et al, have announced major spikes in sales for the year so far and when the financial results for the full year 2021 are announced in the first half of next year, it will be a question of “how much” rather than “if” when it comes to market growth and positive sales and profit figures. The global construction machinery industry has recovered a lot of the ground lost in 2020 this year on the back of the construction industry making amends this year for the debacle that was 2020.

The story is somewhat similar in the Middle East as well - and the Mining Show that took place last month was an indicator of this. The event had a turnout that exceeded our expectations and saw exhibitors from all over the globe, including several new ones. The prize they were after is the Middle East mining sector, which looks poised to be the next big thing.

With Saudi Arabia seeking to open up its mining sector in a big way to diversify from petroleum, and ongoing mining activities in the other major mining and quarrying market in the region - Jordan, Oman and the UAE – the pie has just become bigger in the region that the mining equipment suppliers can hope to grab a piece of.

It wasn’t too much of a surprise, therefore, to see the likes of the Terex Group, Weir Essco and Hitachi make their presence felt at the event. In fact, Hitachi made use of the occasion to highlight their new emission-free mining trucks

and other electric mining machinery that they are developing jointly with Swiss giant ABB. The battery-electric haulers that we featured on the cover of our November issue were the highlight of not only the Hitachi stand at the event but of the Mining Show itself. Our report on the event also covers what the mining sector specialists from Northern Ireland are bringing to the region, as well as how Weir Essco is doing in this market.

Other sectors are also on the move as things get better with the pandemic receding. Johnson Arabia tell us about a challenging new lift project, where the company ingeniously lifted three heavy yachts from a dock and placed them on the water, and the makers of skid-steer loaders tell us how the compact little runabout is favour on the market, with the likes of Bobcat renewing their legendary S450.

Meanwhile, the tower cranes have continued lifting in the pandemic, the GCC region completed the most highrise buildings of any region in t he world in 2020 and continues its love affair with skyscrapers with more projects. The NFTPotain team, Wolffkran Arabia, Jaso-Kanoo Cranes combine and Liebherr – all of these are looking to rise further in 2022, as we look forward to promising year ahead.

Happy New Year!

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The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content are published in good faith. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. Publication licensed by Dubai Development Authority to CPI Trade Publishing FZ LLC. Printed by Printwell Printing Press LLC.

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ONLINE DECEMBER 2021

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FEATURED

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CONSULTANT

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INSIGHT: Taking the lead in digital eco-tourism

CONSTRUCTION

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ByrneLooby opens new office in Saudi Arabia

FEATURE: A digital future on the horizon?

BIM (Building Information Modelling) has come a long way in a short time in the market but I think it is telling that experts during the event feel the emphasis remains on upskilling the workforce and stakeholders on projects. However, you can’t ignore some of the advances that are being made from a technological standpoint. On a personal note, I am very optimistic that we will see further integration of technology such as virtual reality once we understand the value they can bring to a project.

Having said that, while the application of blockchain was understandably discussed in great detail, it is still not clear how practical it can be when you switch to the real-life situation which is construction on site. It also seems to me to be a technological approach which may struggle to find traction here when you consider the depth in connectivity and trust in cybersecurity which is required. Given the scale of our projects, it could be useful tool but it will need to prove its worth before it finds widespread adoption in construction.

Name withheld by request

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S W NE 6

SMALL YET POWERFUL

KOHLER INTRODUCES NEW KSD SERIES SMALL DISPLACEMENT ENGINES

JECTS, O R P W E N OFFICES, W E N , S E HIN AROUND K O NEW MAC O L E IVES – W T A MONTH I T S I I N H I T W E NE W WHAT’S N T A N O I G THE RE SALES RISE AT VOLVO CE Volvo CE increased its net

Global engine and power products

sales by 11% in

specialist Kohler Engines has

the third quarter

introduced its latest investment,

of this year,

the KSD Series – also known as

with Europe and

Kohler Small Displacement – a

North America

new engine family that represents

markets leading

the hard work of its global team.

the charge

the American-headquartered

China declined

multinational, the product has

26% after many

been conceived and designed

years of growth.

with a global approach

Net sales in the

suitable for all regions,

third quarter

compliant with all standards

increased by 11%

worldwide and compatible

to SEK 19,638m,

with all kinds of machines.

from SEK

Aertssen UAE orders 11 Tadano RTC cranes Crane services giant Aertssen Machinery has ordered 11 Tadano rough terrain cranes for its Middle East operations, choosing the Japanese manufacturer’s GR1450EX and GR-500EXL models.

A statement from Tadano said: “The people at Aertssen Machinery Services have trusted the reliability and performance of Tadano rough terrain cranes for many years. This is why the Arabia branch of the company in Abu Dhabi recently ordered 11 additional models: Seven GR-1450EX cranes, as well as four GR-500EXL cranes that have already been handed over. The GR-1450EX units will be delivered in the coming year.”

With the purchase, Aertssen is

continuing its strategy of standardizing its fleet with Tadano cranes, which Tadano says is in keeping with the old rule “never change a winning team”.

Tony Nuyts, Aertssen business unit manager, Middle East, said: “Tadano GR rough terrain cranes are extremely powerful and heavy-duty machines, and that makes them an indispensable part of our team.”

The “pitch” for the new Tadano GR models will be the sites where Aertssen is carrying out projects for its local energy sector and construction customers. “They will be fulfilling all of our customer’s lifting needs there,” Nuyts added. Aertssen bought all 11 cranes with all options to be prepared for any eventuality.

According to a statement from

even as sales in

Kohler said that its KSD engines

17,619m in 2020.

can be easily integrated with the

When adjusted

more complex electronic systems of

for currency

ever evolving machines and allow

movements

customised settings for any duty

they were also

cycle and the ability to exchange

up by 11% in the

data with few physical connections.

same period, of

They are also versatile and

which net sales

can be integrated without

of machines

modifing or redeveloping the

increased by

machine, the manufacturer

11% and service

added in its statement.

sales by 13% -

The KSD Series is currently

reflecting Volvo

made up of three engine models,

CE’s increased

with others to come in the

focus on services.

next few years: KSD 1403NA

Adjusted

(naturally aspirated), KSD 1403TC

operating income

(turbocharged), KSD 1403TCA

amounted to SEK

(turbocharged with aftercooler).

2,635m, compared

The performance includes high

to SEK 1,963m in

low-end torque: 95 Nm @ 1000

the same quarter

rpm, peak torque at low speed:

of last year.

20 Nm @ 1400 rpm and peak power: 18.4 W @ 1800 rpm.

With the ongoing travel contraints due to Covid-19, Kohler launched the new KSD engine family in an online global launch.

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8

NEWS ROUND-UP NOVEMBER 2021

NEW PLANT

INDIA’S TRINITY LUBES & GREASE OPENS IN HAMRIYAH FREE ZONE

Lamprell adds second Manitowoc crawler

UAE-based Lamprell has added to its existing fleet of Manitowoc crawler cranes, with a new 999 model the latest unit to arrive. The company, which provides services to the energy sector, has already set the machine to work at its yard in the Hamriyah Free Zone, where it is helping with a variety of tasks in the construction of oil rigs, jackets for offshore wind turbines and more.

The crane would help on client projects within the Middle East and further afield, said Martyn Taylor, group operations manager at Lamprell, adding. “We already have six other Manitowoc crawler crane models at our facility, the quality and operability of which have been excellent.

The cranes most recently helped with the assembly of rigs for a client in the Middle East, and jackets for offshore wind turbines

which are destined for a client in the North Sea.” As well as lifting loads of up to 80t, the crane is also being used with a man-riding attachment, helping Lamprell access difficult-to-reach points on the huge offshore structures it builds. The crane’s computer has a special personnel handling mode to facilitate this, which reduces line speeds and line pull to meet personnel handling code requirements.

The Manitowoc 999 has a 250t capacity and a maximum load moment of 115t/m. It can be equipped with up to 88.4m of heavy lift boom and offers a range of options for jib attachments including up to 100.6m of fixed jib and 128m of luffing jib. Power comes from a Cummins QSM11 six-cylinder diesel engine rated at 298 kW.

YANMAR REPORTS RISE IN H1 SALES Japan’s Yanmar Holdings has announced its interim consolidated financial results for the first half of FY2021, showing

Indian manufacturer and supplier

a 16.3% year-on-

of lubricants, Siddharth Grease and

year rise in net

Lubes Pvt. Ltd. (SGL), has invested

sales, which stood

Dh50m into its first plant in the Middle

at JPY 418.7bn.

East in the inner port of Sharjah’s

Ordinary income

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

was JPY 24.5bn,

(HFZA), calling the new regional

a 103.3% increase

facility Trinity Lubes & Greases FZC.

from the same

The total area of the new investment

period last year.

is about 135,000sqft fitted with the

Both sales and

latest state-of-the-art lubricant and

profits increased

grease-making equipment imported

in the first half of

from around the world, said SGL. This

the fiscal year due

came during a ceremony held recently in

to sales growth

the presence of Saud Salim Al Mazrouei,

mainly outside

director of Hamriyah Free Zone

Japan and the

Authority, Siddharth Sachdeva, MD,

promotion of cost

Trinity Lubes & Greases FZC, and officials

structure reforms

from the Authority and the company.

across the

Al Mazrouei toured the fully automated

entire company.

factory and was briefed on the production stages and mechanisms, and the laboratories specialising in research and development to provide innovative solutions that meet the requirements of todays and tomorrow’s customers.

EPIROC WINS TURKEY ORDER Epiroc has won a large order for supplying mining equipment to Eti Bakir in Turkey for the expansion of three underground copper mines. Eti Bakir, Turkey’s largest mining company, has ordered a variety of drill rigs, mine trucks and loaders for three of its mines for SEK 140m.

BOBCAT’S IS IN NEW 5-6TedMits new R2-

launch Bobcat has i-excavators of 5-6t min n io at g er en Series g els - offerin d E55z mod an z r, 0 sa E5 u H – the new ns. Robert s and optio re rs u to at va fe t Mini-Exca many new r for Bobca e to th ec ir ce d n e to annou product lin e delighted ar e e th , “W : rs id cavato in EMEA, sa 5-6t mini-ex t R2-Series m the close o fr new Bobca benefitted as h h ic age h w s at every st design of ur customer o f o e t es en th yling of involvem e striking st h T . ss ce r ro of the p ive of thei es is indicat new machin ign and es dynamic d robust and .” is n t and fi h excellent fi

9

Duqm port opts for Liebherr cranes Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. Have announced that they have secured a contract to supply ship to shore (STS) and rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes to the Port of Duqm in Oman. The order of four STS and twelve RTGs will be delivered to Oman in late 2022.

The new STS container cranes will be capable of handling the world’s largest container vessels and feature an outreach of 71m, a back reach of 18m and a lift height over rail of 50m. The cranes have a safe working load of 65t under twinlift spreader.

Supplied without a cabin the cranes will be operated utilising a combination of remote control and automation.

Automation will take care of

the majority of the cycle with operator intervention only required when operating below a predefined safe height. Each Liebherr STS will be connected to its own dedicated ROS. The centrally located remote operation facility will also host the ROS for control of the automated RTGs. The cabinless RTGs feature automation over the stack with remote control only required for container pick or place from the truck trailers, or for exception handling. Four ROS operators will operate the 12 RTGs. The diesel powered RTGs can stack eight containers and a truck lane wide and one over six containers high.

DEUTZ POWERS BUSINESS EXPANSION

AD PORTS GRPOUP ACQUIRES TIPPER TRUCKS FOR CONSTRUCTION LOGISTICS

MAEDA ELECTRIC CRANE The first Maeda

LANDMARK FOR DMC-XCMG Saudi equipment dealer Diesel Machinery Company recently celebrated its 16th anniversary with XCMG as the brand’s authorised dealer in KSA. DMC provides marketing, selling and after-market support for XCMG wheeled loaders, motor graders and rollers. XCMG is one of the top equipment brands in Saudi Arabia.

Volvo conducts first test operation over 5G

crane to be MICCO Logistics, a subsidiary

AD Ports Group and enables

equipped with

of AD Ports Group, has

MICCO to support increased

an electric drive

acquired 31 tipper trucks

customer demand. The

from DEUTZ has

as part of their effort to

fleet will be fully equipped

made its debut and

offer broader integrated

with pre-installed Fleet

will help to make

logistics support to the UAE’s

Management Systems

building sites more

construction and metals

(FMSi) incorporating and

environmentally

manufacturing sectors.

integrating the latest real-

friendly. At the

The trucks will join

time vehicle geo-fencing

DEUTZ Days

and telematics technology.

trade event, drive

Robert Sutton, Head of

systems specialist

MICCO’s existing ground fleet of 400 plus vehicles that currently service a number

Logistics Cluster, AD Ports

DEUTZ and

of different industry sectors,

Group, said: “The addition

Japanese crane

including the Pharmaceutical,

of the new tipper trucks to

manufacturer

Healthcare, Fresh and

MICCO’s already impressive

Maeda unveiled the

General Cargo. The new

vehicle fleet broadens AD

CC 1485 crawler,

tipper fleet has a combined

Ports Group’s logistics

fitted with a 360-

transport capacity of over

offering and helps boost our

volt drive powered

2,300 metric tonnes and is

status as one of the regional

by a lithium-ion

capable of moving material

and global leaders in the

battery, producing

and supplies between ports,

logistics supply chain space.

40kW of zero-

factories, and different

“We are already serving

development sites across Abu

multiple sectors, and our entry

Dhabi and the rest of the UAE.

into the construction sector

The latest acquisition

only underlines our ambition

aims to further diversify the

and commitment to diversify

range of services offered by

our competitive portfolio.”

emission power.

Volvo CE has tested the world’s first high-lift wheeled loader operation over 5G with its Remote Timber research project, in collaboration with the telecom operator Telia, timber and paper manufacturer SCA, Mid University Sweden, Skogforsk and Biometria.

The tests at SCA’s timber terminal in Torsboda, Sweden, demonstrated the is possibility to tele-operate a Volvo L180 high-lift wheeled loader, hundreds of kilometres away. And by using a closed 5G network, low latency

has proven to be a major advantage – allowing operators to perform the sensitive process of picking, loading and organising logs remotely.

Christian Spjutare, advanced engineering program manager at Volvo CE, said: “We expect tele-operation to open up far greater opportunities for operators than is currently available. Sometimes it can be difficult to hire people in timber terminals because of their remote locations. But tele-operation allows people to work from any location”

10

KIT SPOTTING DECEMBER APRIL 2016 2021

CZECH DEMOLITION FOR BOBCAT

I

n the Czech Republic, refurbishment of family houses dating from the 1970s is often not worthwhile and a good number of these properties are demolished. This was the case with a house in Rudná near Prague, which the owner had decided to demolish.

However, quotes from companies to do the work were very expensive, so the owner decided to investigate other methods for carrying out the project.

Other factors to consider included the relatively small plot of land on which the house was built, with the neighbour’s fence in close proximity and also the presence of a beautiful walnut tree, which needed to be protected during the work. In the end, the owner chose to carry out the work themselves with the help of a friend, Jiri Vrzacek, who is an industry expert, who regularly reviews machines and methods for this type of work and has carried out other demolition

projects of this sort in the past.

Vrzacek approached the project very analytically and found out which demolition solution would be the most effective, in terms of speed, overall costs and the lowest possible risk of damage to the environment.

He considered three approaches - comparing the use of a large 22t excavator, a classic backhoe loader or a combination of a compact excavator and a compact loader.

Demolition with a large excavator would be very fast, but spatially, this solution proved unrealistic. And working with a backhoe loader would take too long. In the end, they chose to use a pair of machines with precisely divided tasks: the demolition work was undertaken using a new Bobcat E55z mini-excavator and the loading of debris by a new Bobcat T76 compact track loader. This combination, together with the use of specialised attachments, proved to

be very effective: in just six hours, the house was completely demolished to ground level.

Overall, the demolition and complete removal of debris was completed in a record two days and it was only the delays in trucks arriving at the site to take away the spoil that meant a second day was needed.

“We started the demolition very carefully - we tore down the chimneys and gables by hand, due to the proximity of the neighbour. This was followed by lightning-fast demolition, which we actually had done in six hours. Next in line was the loading of 400t of material, where we were mainly limited by the speed of debris removal from the site,” Vrzáček said.

“Here the power of specialised technology was fully demonstrated: the E55z excavator with a hydraulic grab gradually dismantled the house and piled the debris to one side The T76 compact track

loader was then able to load 32t of debris in 15 minutes. Thanks to quality planning and a really careful selection of equipment, including the attachments, we managed to reduce costs by almost half.”

An E55z mini excavator, which features Bobcat’s unique Zero House Swing (ZHS) feature, adding another level of protection to the standard zero tail swing design, providing full peace of mind when operating the machine near walls and other obstacles. The E55z has an operating weight of 5.34t and offers a maximum reach at ground level of 5843mm. The T76 is the largest of the new R-Series compact track loaders that Bobcat began manufacturing at the end of 2020. The T76 has a tipping load of 4t.

It can lift a load to a maximum height of 3.20m. Attachments included a hydraulic sorting grab, hydraulic hammers, grapple buckets, standard buckets and others.

11

“The power of specialised technology was fully demonstrated: the E55z excavator with a hydraulic grab gradually dismantled the house and piled the debris to one side The T76 compact track loader was then able to load 32t of debris in 15 minutes”

12

KIT SPOTTING DECEMBER APRIL 2016 2021

MAMMOET BRIDGES THE DANUBE IN VIENNA

M

ore than 30 years ago, a freeway junction on the Vienna southeast tangent in Austria was built but never put into operation. As part of a recent redevelopment programme, the last bridge section of this “closed exit” would be demolished.

Due to an elevated road below and confined space around the tangent, the 43m long, 550t bridge could not be demolished in a conventional way. In order to develop a safe solution, the client ASFINAG contacted Mammoet at an early stage.

The planning phase of the project started 12 months before its

execution. Working in continuous contact with the customer, its technically complex crane lifting phase was engineered in detail several times until the optimal solution was found. Suggestions were also made for optimising the rigging configuration.

Furthermore, as the Danube is usually at low water in August, transport of equipment to the site was planned by road as a precautionary measure so as not to jeopardise the scheduled execution date. A total of around 100 truck trips including 20 special transports was drawn up.

The developed solution was to lift the bridge section in one piece and place it at the side of the

tangent. Work could only be carried out on one side of the road due to the congested surroundings, so only a DEMAG CC 8800-1 crane could be considered. The crawler crane, which is one of the largest in Europe, was configured for this application with a main boom length of 78m.

The experienced team needed just one week for its erection.

During execution, a section of the southeast tangent - a busy route in Vienna - had to be fully closed in both directions. Two short time windows were planned for the work in order to disrupt traffic as little as possible. In addition, the crane’s location was in the airport’s approach corridor, which made air traffic control measures necessary.

“It was particularly important to exactly calculate the centre of gravity of the bridge in advance and to precisely adapt the rigging equipment to it. In this case, a 31m long special spreader beam for a load of 650t was required. The weight of the rigging equipment alone was 70t. An ‘integrated stinger’ as fitted to the superlift of the 1,600t crawler crane also enabled the fast changes of the load,” says Gernot Öder, manager, crane and transport projects, at Mammoet.

Due to precise planning, very close cooperation and an innovative crawler crane solution, Mammoet was able to carry out the work safely and even finish it ahead of schedule.

“A 31m long special spreader beam for a load of 650t was required.

The weight of the rigging equipment alone was 70t.

An ‘integrated stinger’ as fitted to the superlift of the 1,600t crawler crane also enabled the fast changes of the load”

13

14

HARD HITTERS COMMENT DECEMBER AUGUS T2021 2019

CLEANING UP CONCRETE

KAREN SCRIVENER, A LEADING CEMENT RESEARCHER, SAYS THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO BE INNOVATIVE AND ADOPT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS LC3 IF IT WANTS TO REDUCE ITS IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE

C

oncrete is perhaps one of the most important inventions in human history. In the modern era, this material and the industry behind it, has become an essential part of the economic growth and development of any country. Whether it’s the houses we live in, the roads we drive on or the buildings we work in, cement-based materials such as concrete and mortar play a huge role in our daily lives.

This dependence on concrete comes at a cost.

With more than 30 billion tonnes of concrete and other cement-based materials in use worldwide, it is the second-most used material on earth after water and consequently, one of the biggest contributors to climate change.

Despite this, Karen Scrivener, one of the world’s foremost cement researchers and a full professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)’s Construction Materials Laboratory, asserts that concrete is actually a relatively green, environmentally friendly material when compared to other man-made materials, particularly in terms of cost, energy and emission efficiency.

Scrivener tells CMME that replacing concrete with other materials isn’t the answer the industry needs.

Rather, she states that the concrete industry needs to focus on improving itself and developing the material more efficiently and sustainably.

What is the concrete industry doing to change its impact on climate change, and is it enough?

The process of cement production is very efficient.

Cement plants equipped with the best available technologies have among the most efficient

thermal process available. Still, the industry is actively working to achieve targets of lowering carbon footprint. More and more waste materials, biomass and alternative materials are being used as fuels to reduce the use of non-renewables.

The composition of the earth limits the chemistries possible to make cement and there are no miracle solutions out there. It is important to replace as much clinker as possible with substitutes.

Traditionally these have been by products like fly ash from burning coal and slag from producing iron, but these are disappearing as they come from carbon intensive industries. The use of Calcined clay allows this strategy to be taken much further with a potential to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 400 million tonnes per year.

The industry is also working to adopt carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, this will require billions in capital investment and innovations in

15 technology. Another area where there are certainly more gains possible is improving the efficiency of use from cement into concrete and then into the final buildings.

is just over 10 years old. However, the commercial feasibility, environmental benefits and performance of LC3 have been attracting the industry to adopt it.

EPFL has been advising the industry about the possibilities of producing How can sustainable concrete be LC3 from locally available materials. produced and what is EPFL doing Two ‘Technical Resource Centres’ in this regard? to advise on the implementation C3 L f Sustainable concrete can only of LC3 have been established o n o ti c Produ less % be produced by incorporating in Latin America and India.

0 4 to p emits u to d and focusing on all three Standards and codes play an re a p m o CO 2 c . ts n major pillars of sustainability: important role to induce the uptake e m e c r othe economy, environment, and society. of any material by the industry. LC3 Sustainable concrete must require less is now accepted in the main European energy for production; must produce less and ASTM cement codes. carbon dioxide; must reduce burden on natural resources; must be cost-efficient; and must be What are some of the hurdles to uptake and how safe, serviceable and durable. can they be overcome?

Currently, EPFL is focusing on the adoption and use Outreach to cement producers to manufacture of a newly developed and more sustainable cement LC3 is the first hurdle. EPFL and the team have referred to as ‘limestone calcined clay cement’: ‘LC3’.

LC3 has been recognised as a promising solution to reduce the concrete industry’s carbon footprint by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and International Energy Agency (IEA).

40%

What is LC3? How is it produced and why is it considered an effective solution compared to previous efforts?

LC3 is a new family of blended cements that uses a combination of limestone and calcined clays to substitute a high proportion of energy- and emissionintensive ordinary cement. LC3 can reduce clinker content by more than 50% without compromising the performance of concrete. LC3 can be produced using low-grade limestone and clays that are widely available worldwide as overburden in limestone and clay mines. These cements can have up to 40% lower CO2 emissions than traditional cement.

The production process of LC3 is simple and can be easily adopted in existing cement plants. Raw clay is first calcined at approximately 800°C and then ground and mixed with ground limestone, ordinary Portland cement and gypsum to produce LC3.

LC3 is an effective solution to reduce the contribution of the concrete industry to climate change for several reasons. Production of LC3 emits up to 40% less CO2 compared to other cements.

Production of LC3 also requires less energy compared to other cements. LC3 can be produced in existing cement plants with low additional capital investment.

The raw material required to produce LC3 - low-grade limestone and clays - are abundantly available in most countries that have high cement demand. Also, LC3 has comparable and even higher performance compared to most of available cements.

How can the construction industry be induced to uptake LC3 and other more sustainable/ environmentally friendly options?

The industry is rather conservative and hesitant to adopt new innovations easily, especially like LC3 that

been working to create awareness about LC3 by organising LC3 information days, workshops and conferences, such as an event last month in the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2020. LC3 technical resource centres have been providing technical support to cement producers to facilitate the uptake of LC3.

Customers of the cement industry range from large entities such as government, big builders and small contractors to Individual home builders.

Individual home builders account for a large part of cement consumption in developing countries.

Outreach to such a large customer body is another hurdle to the uptake of LC3 in the industry.

Standardisation of LC3 at the cement level has largely been achieved, but there is still work needed on concrete standards and building codes. This is needed to encourage the use of LC3 in large construction projects. Once LC3 is successfully implemented in large projects, outreach to Individual home builders will be easier.

“Moving to waste and alternative materials as fuel is a potential solution to make the industry environment friendly”

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HARD HITTERS COMMENT DECEMBER AUGUS T2021 2019

THE DIGITAL IMPERATIVE

TOM BOLAND, DIRECTOR AT ZUTEC UK, OUTLINES WHY DIGITISATION IS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR THE REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Why does the construction need industry to digitise faster?

The construction industry is known to be unproductive, and it has been this way for decades.

One solution is digitisation, which can drive productivity and profitability.

Its advantages span from mobility—no more struggling to keep track of each component of the paper trail—to the Internet of Things and advanced analytics. Cloud-based software can help construction professionals manage the entire construction process digitally, from the design phase through to handover. Further, digitisation minimises errors and risks, and helps professionals to maintain compliance by keeping project records secure and scheduling customised inspections.

Such tools also help companies to assess their digital processes when it comes to maintaining safety standards, as well as meeting decarbonisation goals and shifting to green construction.

Digitisation also improves data and transparency, making it easier for architects, developers, contractors, subcontractors and machinery fleets to collaborate and see how every aspect of their project is being managed and how it’s progressing.

There are also new tools, such as the Value Toolkit being launched in the UK, which are designed to assess the real value of projects and how they will benefit society, the economy and the environment in the long run, thus completely transforming the way the sector carries out its work.

What are other technologies that need to be embraced by the industry?

While BIM has been around since the 1970s and has increasingly been put into use over the years, newer forms have come into play recently, which are used across the entire life cycle of a building rather than in the design phase alone.

For example, ‘Field BIM’ manages construction

data in an information model and uses it to inform accurate construction, operations, or maintenance on site. With this, handheld mobile devices become essential tools in accessing shared information and collaborating in real-time with colleagues at the office. The process saves time, minimises the risk of error, builds trust, ensures coordination and boosts visibility. When used in conjunction with CDE modules, companies can get the full picture regarding their projects and can streamline everything from design collaboration to accountability and site safety.

Other technology includes inspections protocols and tools—ranging from non-specialist tools such as Zoom and MS Teams, to specialist platforms like Zutec—AI, which is particularly useful when looking at data, patterns and trends for business, VR and AR, which are commonly used at the design stages, but can also be used on site, and drone inspections, which are becoming increasingly commonplace, especially on the QA/QC side of projects.

17

“Digitisation minimises errors and risks, and helps professionals maintain compliance by keeping project records secure and scheduling customised inspections”

What are some of the biggest barriers to entry when it comes to digitisation in the industry?

For many years, one of the biggest known barriers to entry when it came to digitisation in construction was cost. However, this barrier has been greatly reduced and access to connectivity has dramatically improved. It’s currently cheaper than ever to bring on board, and run, digital tools.

Along with being more affordable, today’s tools are also smarter, and don’t need total connectivity at all times. For example, if you have a Field BIM tool on site, quality and compliance related checklists can be created at the job-site and without an Internet connection.

Another barrier is the large number of people who still have minimal digital skills or are reluctant to adopt them. They worry digitisation will involve a massive change in how they do business and that it will be too complex. This becomes a problem at all levels, such as when major contractors

ask subcontractors to use digital tools in their projects—if they don’t have these capabilities, they’ll miss out on jobs.

This barrier is steadily being removed due to a digitally savvy younger generation moving up the career ladder. To continue breaking it down, however, training programmes and regular courses should be offered.

Why is it important to democratise data and can this truly be achieved in the Middle East?

The end principle of any project should be that the client owns the data involved in the construction of their assets. One of the benefits of more transparent use of data is de-risking: if people are recording their actions and are accountable for them, this can drive up standards. Further, one’s digital fingerprints are all over every aspect of the project he or she is involved in, therefore, by sharing data, it will make one’s day-to-day

life easier, smoother, and better all around. It will also alleviate the historic problem of construction being adversarial and litigious.

While there may need to be changes around contract law and culture in terms of working with other companies, everyone will benefit from digitisation.

In terms of the Middle East, construction is a key driver for growth, and companies in the region need to be leading this adoption to stay relevant. Lean construction processes and off-site manufacturing are forecast to both reduce site effort and increase delivery speed.

Furthermore, off-site manufacturing and DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) will become a globalised commodity and value opportunity. Regionally, as a delivery hub, the Middle East can give forward-thinking local firms the opportunity to provide products and services outside of the region.

18

HARDLAUNCH NEW HITTERS DECEMBER AUGUS T 2019 2021

NEW DPP GENSETS TO POWER REGION

DOOSAN PORTABLE POWER LAUNCHES A RANGE OF SMALL GENERATOR SETS FOR WIDE-RANGING APPLICATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST ALONG WITH A LIGHT TOWER FOR THE REGION

D

oosan Portable Power has introduced a new range of small generator models for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) market, alongside the new LVL portable light tower the company recently launched for the same market.

As well as construction, rental and agriculture, the new generators extend the Doosan Portable Power (DPP) portfolio to a wider audience to cover applications such as home standby, telecommunications and back-up power for small businesses.

Jan Moravec, DPP general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says: “The MEA market for generators in the range 10-75 kVA totals about 80,000 units with 45,000 in the Middle East and 35,000 in Africa. Doosan Portable Power has significantly grown sales in the region since 2017 and in 2021, the business is now able to provide a

full range including rental specification products, which cover the majority of the market’s needs.”

As a result, the four new small generators – the G20, G30, G40 and G60 – are all available as both stationary (XW) and rental (RW) configurations. The G20XW/RW, G30XW/RW, G40XW/RW and G60XW/ RW provide prime power outputs of 18/19, 30/29, 41/43 and 58/59 kVA, respectively, and all are available in a dual 50/60 Hz configuration.

“We developed the new RW line of generators, designed specifically for rental applications, working hand in hand with our customers, The RW line shines in situations where high manoeuvrability and fast installation are required while maintaining a low cost of ownership,” adds Moravec.

Most of the changes in the new small generators have happened under the bonnet, says DPP, with all new models upgraded with proven Yanmar engines which have been used on a number of other DPP products for years. The company adds that this improves uptime with a low requirement of repair. A wide variety of common parts among

the product line also helps with parts availability.

DPP has also reduced noise levels by 2 to 6 dBA compared to the previous models.

As each unit can run as either a 50Hz or 60Hz machine, this provides a very practical solution for environments like ports, where ships from different countries are operating, says the manufacturer.

According to DPP, the new generators are also very efficient, reducing fuel consumption by 7-20% when compared to the previous models or machines from other suppliers on the market. This helps to extend autonomy in the field and reduces downtime. The durability of the units has been demonstrated through extensive and successful testing in Middle East conditions for thousands of hours, with the units being used with different loads, and in temperatures above 40°C. In this latest generation of small generators, DPP has also improved durability while keeping the forklift capability and the lifting points at the base of the frames. Additionally, all the models are supplied with steel door hinges and handles.

19 New LVL Portable Light Tower DPP has also launched the new LVL 50Hz portable light tower for MEA markets. Designed for reliability and durability, the LVL light tower - also available as a 60Hz model - is aimed for the rental market. The light tower has a compact footprint for increased job-site mobility and cost-effective transport.

“The light tower provides simplicity, practicality and innovation to help customers provide temporary lighting for sites for longer. Applications include lighting for special events, road and bridge construction sites and all general construction applications, as well as providing lighting for emergency and disaster relief, oil & gas drilling and for mining and quarrying locations,” says DPP. The new LVL light tower is powered by a Yanmar L48N5 Tier 2 diesel engine. DPP says a high output alternator enables it to provide light and power with “class-leading run-time”. The fuel tank capacity allows an extended runtime for the four LED lights of 220 hours (200 hours for the 60Hz version).

The four efficient and powerful 300W LED lights provide a total output of 1200W, providing the same area of lighting coverage as the previous generation metal-halide lighting tower. The durability of the LED lights is also improved, with a life of up to 50,000 hours, enabling it to keep running for much longer and at a lower overall cost.

There is also no need to consider cool-down or recharge times as with the previous generation metal-halide lights. The LVL can simply be started up/turned off or moved to a new location as wished, saving time and money.

Improved manoeuvrability further increases practicality of the new unit. Options for moving the unit include forklift capability, single-point lifting, or towing eye. Repositioning is simple thanks to the 7m telescopic extension and full 360-degree rotation.

The mast on the light tower is raised by dual, handoperated winches and features an automatic safety brake. The new vertical mast also allows more units to fit into a standard 40-feet shipping container, and the

units do not even require re-assembly once on site. Set up simply requires the draw bar to be dropped down, the fuel tank to be filled and the unit to be started.

As well as the lighting capability, the LVL also has a 5amp 230V or 120V (as a 60Hz option) socket with a multi-region connector for providing power for mobile phones and other electrical devices.

The clamshell-style canopy lifts easily for quick access to service points, ensuring routine maintenance is quick and easy to perform without having to take the machine apart.

NEW DPP RW LINE

FEATURES AND IMPROVEMENTS • A battery isolator switch • Electrical sockets • An oil change pump • External fuel tank access • Top lifting points

“The RW line shines in situations where high manoeuvrability and fast installation are required”

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HARD HITTERS PROJECT REPORT AUGUS DECEMBER T 2019 2021

FLOATING A BOAT

JOHNSON ARABIA RECENTLY PERFORMED A SET OF CHALLENGING HEAVY LIFTS, PLACING THREE YACHTS IN THE WATER OFF A DOCK USING ITS HEAVY CRANES. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE MEASURES TAKEN TO EXECUTE THE PROJECT SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGGING IN HEAVY LIFTS

R

ecently, UAE-based Johnson Arabia was part of a prestigious heavy lift project for a luxury yacht owner, which involved three tandem lifts of 80t, 89t and the heaviest at 250t. The company used three of its cranes – Terex 400t and 350t crawler and a Grove 130t mobile crane - for this job, assembling the cranes carefully on the dockside to lift the marine equipment from the docking area to place it on the water.

The whole project took just under a weeks’ time with careful planning from the Johnson Arabia team lead by Mohammed Fareed Nasser, executive manager, and engineering managed

by Sreethu Thulaseedharan. To begin with, the team tested the jetty that the yacht was to be lifted off only to find that it might not be able to support the weight of the yacht and crane together. To solve this issue, they used wooden pads underneath the cranes to enable them to perform the extremely heavy lift.

Furthermore, as there were various lifts - straight lifts with one crane and tandem lifts with two cranes – involved in this project, the crane capacities were precisely studied, and certain configurations were selected to have extra and sufficient safety margins while lifting the highest load. The cranes were also fully rigged on-site to ensure that any challenges encountered on the site would be solved using the site parameters and restrictions in mind.

“For a project with such heavy lifts, we have to be very vigilant about the safety of our team and

the other equipment on the dock, and ensure our riggers do a thorough job at preparing the crane,” says Nasser.

“We also ensured that at any point, our team would be allowed to stop work if they questioned any safety protocols, to analyse and reset in order to mitigate any risks. I am happy to say that this job was completed with 100% success, thanks to the excellent work of our engineers, riggers, HSE team and crane operators.”

Once all preparations were in place, the yachts were lifted. And in a monumental moment for the team, everyone from the marine team to onlookers joined the Johnson Arabia people on site to see the extraordinary lifts performed.

“Having planned this for weeks and finally completing the lift, all of us were overjoyed at the success of this prestigious project,” Nasser says.

21

LIFTING ESSENTIALS

RIGGING IT RIGHT For any heavy lift, such as the Johnson Arabia boat lifts, to take place safely and successfully, getting the rigging correct is of utmost importance. Rigging is a highly specialised

Johnson Arabia executed a complicated boat lift project, placing three vessels of 80t, 89t and 250t in the water using the company’s 400t and 350t Terex crawler and 130t Grove cranes.

skill set and involves the preparation of crane equipment, hoists and other machinery that is commonly used on construction sites, shipyards, oilfields and other such places, to assist with very heavy lifts.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the US body that monitors on-the-job safety, the construction industry worldwide sees many injuries, fatalities and delays on projects every year due to improper training, faulty equipment and failed rigging and there is a clear way to mitigate this by following some basic rules for rigging.

To begin with, all riggers on site must be well trained and qualified. Well experienced riggers are able to foresee an imminent rigging issue when they are well aware of the ground conditions, weight of the load and the capacities of the crane and rigging gear on the job. Once this is done, they must do full inspections and evaluations of all the safety aspects of the equipment, the site and even the weather conditions. Strong winds or the sandstorms in the Middle East can hamper a lift and lead to serious damages.

Another key aspect of rigging is having a well-qualified and observant spotter. Spotters are the people who act as a second set of eyes for riggers and operators on site as they have a higher vantage point and can immediately alert the riggers and crane operators using walkie talkies or hand signals of any issues.

Having said that, spotters also need to be at a very safe distance from the equipment so as to not harm or injure themselves.

Finally, watch those toes and fingers! A lot of avoidable injuries to the limbs are caused due to split-second carelessness, where fingers, hands and even feet get trapped under equipment or get jammed in places like doors. Riggers, spotters and crane operators must be very careful about their own safety and be very aware of their surroundings because sometimes, in spite of every protocol and safety aspect being followed, smaller, fully avoidable injuries do happen. These may not be life threatening but they often cause delays in projects.

“For a project with such heavy lifts, we have to be very vigilant about the safety of our team and the other equipment on the dock”

22

HARD HITTERS EVENT REPORT AUGUS DECEMBER T 2019 2021

STRIKING THE LODE WITH THE MINING SECTOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST LOOKING POISED FOR EXPANSION, THE MINING SHOW THAT TOOK PLACE LAST MONTH IN DUBAI WAS A LIVE EVENT THAT SAW EXHIBITORS AND ATTENDEES FROM FAR AND WIDE COURTING THE SECTOR

T

he Mining Show for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, which took place last month in Dubai, may have been among the few live shows taking place in the realm of mining and construction as the world tries to limp back to a post-Covid normal, but that did not prevent it from attracting a sizeable gathering of the region’s mining sector.

According to reports by the organisers, the event attracted around 4,000 attendees from a whopping 97 countries who met with 43 exhibitors and listened to 50 speakers deliver knowledge sessions on various aspects of the mining profession.

Among the instant highlights of the event was

the announcement by construction equipment giant Hitachi of a major push into green mining equipment in the form of electric and batteryoperated dump trucks. Hitachi is already trialling electric dump trucks, with the large rigid haulers driven by electric motors that draw power from overhead power lines, and, in collaboration with Swiss major ABB, the Japanese giant is seeking to make the dumpers battery operated.

This was the highlighted at the Hitachi stand in the event, where Piet van Bakergem, general manager, Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East, tells CMME: We’re here at the Mining Show to tell the world about how we are planning for the future. We’re lining up some exciting things with zero-emission machines. We have trials going on for a fully battery-operated dump truck and we already have the big electric shovels for many

years now. So, we are ready for zero-emission mining operations and that’s what we’ve come to tell the mining sector at this event. The future starts here for Hitachi.”

The news of Hitachi’s electric dump truck has been received very positively at the show,he adds, “because countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Oman are seeing a bright future in mining and they are also looking to keep the environmental impact of that future as low as they can”.

“So, Hitachi’s electric mining equipment will be very useful for that purpose and we’ve seen keen interest at the event in knowing how we’re progressing and what we are offering.We have an MoU with ABB for the battery dump trucks and their stand is located just opposite us across the aisle.

So, visitors have been able to get a comprehensive

23 picture of our joint effort at developing these green machines of the future. These are early stages, but we have had encouraging interactions with prospective customers at the show. There is definitely a lot of interest.”

There was also keen interest in the Northern Ireland pavilion at the show, where Invest Northern Ireland acted as an umbrella organisation to bring in a posse of brands from the country’s extensive mining and quarrying equipment sector to meet with prospective Middle East customers.

Amit Jain, engineering sector lead for the Middle East at Invest Northern Ireland, explains: “Invest Northern Ireland is part of the ministry of economy of Northern Ireland – a place that is well-known as a centre of production for quarrying and mining machinery and tools. We have several world leading manufacturers there and our aim in attending this event is to promote their businesses in the Middle East region, where quarrying and mining are sectors that are coming up in a big way.”

Exhibiting under the Invest Northern Ireland umbrella at the event were leading brands such as CDE Global, four Terex Group companies Terex Washing. Terex Powerscreens, Terex Finlay and Prostack, and conveyor equipment specialist Smiley Monroe, among many others.

“As you may know, around 40% of the world’s mobile screening and crushing machinery is manufactured in Northern Ireland, so you can imagine the skills and core competence that the country has in this sector. This is what we have come to the Mining Show to represent and to see how our companies can be partners to mining and quarrying entities in the wider Gulf and Middle East region.

“We expect that in Saudi Arabia, mining will emerge as the top non-oil economic sector in the

“We see even greater scope for growth in the region with our groundengagement tools” next 5-10 years, and we are here to make the most of that opportunity by connecting the companies we represent with the Middle East’s mining sector.

And this event has really helped us to give good exposure to what Northern Ireland companies in the mining sector can offer. We met with some important stakeholders in the sector and we are hopeful of following up and forming beneficial business ties with them.”

Among the companies from Northern Ireland exhibiting with Invest Northern Ireland was Prostack, a new company in the Terex Group.

Introducing the company, Lee Nesbitt, global sales manager, says: “We’re a `new company, founded only in January 2020, which wasn’t the best time to start, but we’ve been able to do well

“This event has really helped us to give good exposure to what Northern Ireland companies in the mining sector can offer”

despite the pandemic. Prostack is part of the Terex organisation, so we have the global support of the group that we can leverage. We manufacture various kinds of feeders, conveyors and hoppers - all of which are essential in the mining and quarrying sector where material needs to be fed into specialised machines and processed.

“We’re trying to develop the market here and set up dealerships in the Middle East region. We recently appointed a dealer in Abu Dhabi, who will cover the UAE and Oman. We’re also looking at the Saudi market as a potential driver of growth in this region.”

Among the established players at the show was Weir Essco, whose regional sales manager for the Middle East Ahmed Lashin, says: “We had some difficult months due to Covid-19, but the mining and infrastructure business has weathered that storm and is almost back to business as usual.

Events of the sector, such as these, also help in the effort to regain the previous normal.

His colleague Giles Hardy, marketing manager EMER, adds: “We had good results in 2020, despite the pandemic and we are forecasting even better results this year. In the Middle East, we are very well positioned at the moment, and we decided to change our business model here from fly-infly-out to having a stable presence in the region with a regional headquarters in Dubai to serve the Middle East, which is the six GCC countries and Jordan.

“We started this well before Covid and today we have a fully-fledged facility with warehouse and workshop in DIP. We see even greater scope for growth in the region with our groundengagement tools, especially with mining coming into prominence in the Middle East, and that’s why we are here at the event - to meet and interact with people in the sector face-to-face.”

Date

Venue

09 Dec

Radisson RED

RADISSON RED / DUBAI / UAE

The best practices of the regional work-at-heights sector and next steps in its evolution 09 December 2021

About the

A&H Summit

2021

The second edition of the Access & Handling Summit returns this year to explore deeper into key issues concerning the sector.

The one-day event will include panel discussions, presentations and case studies on the latest technical and engineering solutions, the best and most up-to-date safety practices and the future direction of the work-at height industry. The exhibition and demonstration of the latest equipment in the sector – a highlight of the inaugural event – will be further bolstered by the presence of the prominent manufacturers and machines.

Agenda

The Access & Handling Summit 2021 will take a comprehensive look at the region’s access and handling sector, an integral part of its construction landscape, spearheading the charge into safer and more efficient work-at-height principles and solutions.

With the aim to be an endorser of safety and best practices for the industry, the second edition of the event will seek to bring the experts on one platform to share their ideas and vision, and to present the latest advancements in safety, automation technology and new machinery to a targeted audience of key end-users and important industry stakeholders.

Complimentary

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Get in touch

An ideal platform to network and interact with industry professionals and decision makers from across the region. The Access & Handling Summit will allow stakeholders in the industry to get face time with panellists and presenters, following on from interactive presentations and Q&A sessions.

Content

Sponsorship

Paul Godfrey | +971 55 472 9717 paul.godfrey@cpitrademedia.com

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R E W O P RAW E E D TO N U O Y G N I EVERY TH

KNOW

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26_NEW RELEASES The latest releases from the world of construction machinery.

TOP 10: ANE TOWER CR PS SAFETY TI

ly and cranes safe Erect tower me following so securely by ps. essential ste

32_HIGH AND MIGHTY Tower crane manufacturers up the lifting capacities and liting heights of their models to meet market demand.

36_SMALL YET VITAL The Middle East’s penchant for the skid-steer loader is keeping the market for this busy little machine buoyant.

40_WIRTGEN RECORD Slipform paver enters record books with India concrete paving project.

26

NEW RELEASES DECEMBER 2021

GROVE FIVE-AXLE CRANES RAISE CAPACITY WHY GET IT? CLASS LEADING LOAD CHARTS AND BOOM LENGTHS IN COMPACT DIMENSIONS TO IMPROVE JOB-SITE ACCESS Manitowoc recently launched two five-axle Grove all-terrain cranes, the 120t capacity Grove GMK5120L and the 150t GMK5150XL. The GMK5120L offers long reach with its extraordinary 66m main boom. With this versatile all-terrain crane, Grove has expanded its all-terrain range with another taxi crane. Customers benefit from greater flexibility and low transportation costs. The all-terrain crane can easily carry a classleading amount of counterweight – no matter if counterweight configurations for 10t, 12t or 16.5t per axle are required.

With compact dimensions of just 14.195m overall length and 2.75m width, the GMK5120L offers easy access to job-sites, complemented with great manoeuvrability resulting from Grove’s MEGATRAK independent suspension.

The Grove GMK5150XL all-terrain crane provides increased capacity and a boom length that surpasses most 220t machines in the market, says Manitowoc. This manufacturer adds that this new model is redefining the five-axle, 150t class by offering almost 69m of main boom.

At 68.7m, it can handle 8.1t, at 66m it lifts 9.4t and at almost 60m it lifts an incredible

12.7t. These load charts are unmatched in the market, says the company. The GMK5150XL crane’s taxi charts are also best in class, ensuring easy roadability and transport savings. In addition, interchangeable counterweight slabs with the GMK5120L, and all Grove 150t cranes, simplify logistics and handling.

Furthermore, its flexible range of counterweight configurations enable setups tailored to different customer needs. Taxi configurations start from just 1t of counterweight. For configurations maintaining 12t per axle, the GMK5150XL can carry up to 10.2t of counterweight. Also, the heavy roadable counterweight configuration (16.5t/axle) makes it possible to drive with an outstanding 30.9t of counterweight on board.

The new Grove model boasts compact dimensions over other five-axle cranes. At just 2.75m wide, it can access narrow jobsites, and with MAXbase, optimising crane setup and lifting position is efficient and easy.

Both the GMK5120L and the GMK5150XL come with the new generation of Grove carrier cabs, providing increased operator comfort and convenience. The new carrier cab design seats the operator an extra 235mm away from the centreline, enhancing visibility and manoeuvrability.

SPECIFICATIONS

GROVE GMK5120L & GMK5150XL Capacity: 120t & 150t Boom length: 66m & 69m Unit widths: 2.75m Capacity at max boom: 8.1t (GMK5150XL)

NEW ROBOT FOR INTERIOR PAINTING JOBS WHY GET IT? MOBILE APP CONTROLLED SMART INTERIOR WALL PAINTING ROBOT INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY WHILE REDUCING TIMELINES A new mobile, intelligent paint robot for the construction industry, billed as a world’s first, has been launched in the region. Named MYRO, the robot has been developed by the eponymous company MYRO International, which is a robotics organisation. The company offers distribution licences to regional partners to supply products and services to contractors, EPC companies and real estate developers.

“Transforming workmanship globally using technology, MYRO is a one-of-a-kind mobile intelligent paint robot designed to bridge the gap between automation and the construction industry,” said MYRO. The robot aims to increase productivity, reduce construction timelines and provide consistent quality. MYRO can be controlled through any IOS and Android device and the manufacturer says it is highly costeffective and safe and 10 times faster than manual labour with 98% precision, and is built for 24 hours of operation.

Srikar Reddy, chief product officer at MYRO ‘s parent company said: “Understanding that productivity is an important aspect in the construction industry, we developed MYRO in close collaboration with industry leaders to solve this issue.”

A smart device, MYRO works in three easy steps including creating floor plans, adding details and rules, and automated painting.

It configures non-paintable areas on walls and auto paints for autonomous operations.

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NEW CAT GRADER REDUCES COST PER HOUR WHY GET IT? RELIABLE, EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE, USEFUL IN A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS Caterpillar has introduced the new 120 GC motor grader, which offers a balance of high-performance features with reduced fuel consumption, low maintenance costs and easy-to-operate controls. Designed for low- to medium-duty applications, Cat says the new 120 GC delivers reliable, low-cost operation in a range of applications that include government and municipal work, county road maintenance, and finish grading.

Its powershift transmission and balanced machine design ensure appropriate drawbar power to the ground with the fuel-efficient Cat C4.4 engine. Adapting engine power and torque to application demands, the 120 GC features electronic throttle control to improve grading productivity. With precisely matched engine power ranges for the standard rearwheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, standard Eco mode operation increases fuel economy up to five percent, lowering owning costs. The hydraulic cooling fan, with optional reversing fan for high debris applications, only runs when necessary to further reduce fuel consumption.

With its familiar steering wheel and lever layout consistent with the 120, 140 and 160K models, the efficient hydraulic system provides more precise and predictable control for a consistent grade.

Its transmission with torque converter eliminates the need for an inching pedal, so only throttle and brake pedals are required to simplify operation. The drive system’s no-spin differential automatically unlocks in the turn to eliminate required input from the operator. The parking brake automatically engages when the machine is in neutral and the service brake is disengaged.

Built with long-life machine structures for reliable operation, the 120 GC’s standard drawbar circle moldboard increases durability with hardened circle teeth and replaceable wear inserts protecting main component structures. This design stays factory tight to provide long-term precision grading, while the circle drive slip clutch option protects the drawbar, circle and moldboard from potential damage if the machine strikes an immovable object.

Easy to maintain, the available Circle Saver option reduces daily greasing requirements and repairs to the circle and pinion. The grader’s new front axle design maximizes bearing life to minimize maintenance.

A narrow machine width of 2.4 m (7.9 ft) plus cab choice of standard or lowprofile to reduce overall transport height to 3.12 m (10.25 ft) improves machine transportability. For operating comfort, the cab offers an option between mechanical or air suspension seat, while the control console and steering wheel easily adjusts to the operator’s preference. Pressurized

to prevent debris entry, the cab’s optional HVAC system circulates fresh air to keep the windows from fogging.

A range of options are available to increase machine flexibility and meet specific customer requirements. The optional Digital Blade Slope Meter shows the operator the grade without relying on manual grade checkers. Available all-wheel drive increases traction and efficiency, while the increased engine power that comes with the option improves performance on slopes and with poor underfoot conditions. The 120 GC offers 3.0 m, 3.7 m, and 4.3-m (10 ft, 12 ft, and 14-ft) moldboard options to meet a range of road coverage requirements, and a newly redesigned mid-mount scarifier improves visibility to the attachment while decreasing overall machine length.

Improving machine performance, the 120 GC features a common front bolster for a choice of front lift group, counterweight, or front blade option, which aids in spreading more material faster. The rear of the machine accommodates a ripper or tow hitch option.

SPECIFICATIONS

CAT 120 GC Engine: Cat C4.4 Power: 171hp Weight tier: 14.25t Moldboard width: 3.7m

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NEW RELEASES DECEMBER 2021

KOMATSU’S NEW BREAKER SERIES WHY GET IT? HIGH IMPACT ENERGY FOR A VARIETY OF ROCK AND CONCRETE DEMOLITION APPLICATIONS Komatsu has introduced a new line of breakers – the JMHB-V series – which helps customers achieve excellent impact energy and performance in a variety of demolition applications. The new breaker series can be used in a variety of rock and concrete demolition applications, from scaling a tunnel to running a pedestal-boom on a quarry or tearing out reinforced concrete abutments.

The JMHB-V breakers are designed and tested for compatibility with Komatsu excavators from the PC210 up to the PC490.

With minimal wasted energy and subsequent higher operating efficiency, Komatsu’s 100% hydraulic-fired V-series breakers modulate their impact force and frequency with up to 16 working positions to match most application’s requirements. Designed to help maximise productivity while helping lower cost per ton, the breakers are also fitted with an innovative energy-saving recovery valve that recuperates energy to drive efficiency.

Depending on the application’s hardness, V-series breakers automatically select the best piston stroke length and speed.

By adjusting to either hard material, with long and powerful strokes, or to softer material, with shorter, faster strokes, the breakers can achieve high production output, with little wasted impact energy.

Komatsu’s V-series breakers also have several standard features, including automatic greasing, advanced blank firing protection, swivel hose couplings and heavy-duty housing. A shock-dampening system reduce risk of cracking excavator booms.

LIEBHERR LAUNCHES COMPACT CRAWLER WHY GET IT? LIGHT TRANSPORT WEIGHT MAKES MODEL HIGHLY MOBILE AND SUITABLE FOR SOFT GROUND AND BARGES Liebherr has introduced its new LR 1400 SX crawler crane which offers lifting capacities of up to 400t along with high mobility and easy set-up. A compact transport weight of only 46t enabled the complete crane to be easily moved between job-sites.

Platform and railings remain attached to the upper carriage during transportation and only need to be folded down.

The self-assembly system enables quick assembly, and the entire crane system can be operated with a remote control, allowing for better overview and increased safety on site. Despite its size, the LR 1400 SX has a wide range of applications, such as lifting on barges.

Just how flexible and mobile the crane is, can be seen when space is restricted,

says Liebherr. The four crawler drives make it easier to manoeuvre the LR 1400 SX on job-sites where space is tight. Thanks to the track width adjustment, access on narrow roads is enormously simplified.

The crane designers paid particular attention to the safety concept. The assistance system “Gradient Travel Aid” helps to negotiate slopes and inclines. It displays the crane’s centre of gravity and warns the operator before the crane leaves the safe area.

The Ground Pressure Visualization of the LR 1400 SX calculates the current ground pressure of the crane in real time and compares it with the specified safety limits of the relevant position. The ground pressure is displayed in the operator’s cab and the operator is permanently aware of whether the machine is situated in, or is approaching, a critical area. The ground pressure of the crane can also be reduced using the ground pressure reduction plates.

SPECIFICATIONS

LIEBHERR LR 1400 SX Lift Capacity: 400t Transport weight: 46t Crawler drives: 4 Operation: In-cab & remote controlled

Blumaq dealer in GCC countries Tel: 04-4592500 info@dahbashi.com www.dahbashi.com

WE HAVE T HE PART YOU NEED

ALTERNATIVE SPARE PARTS FOR CATERPILLAR®, KOMATSU®, CUMMINS®, VOLVO® AND CASE® At Blumaq, we are committed to a job well done. We invest in state-of-the-art product development, manufacturing,and warehousing to guarantee perfect performance on your machine.

Caterpillar®, Komatsu®, Cummins®, Volvo® and Case® are trade brands registered by their owners and are only used for reference purpose of the application of our spare parts.

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TOP TEN DECEMBER 2021

02

ESTABLISH DOWNTIME It is essential that adequate downtime is built into the construction programme to allow effective maintenance and thorough examinations to be carried out even if site managers may be reluctant to release the crane from the job. A positive line of communication needs to be set up from the beginning to make sure cranes get the downtime they need to keep complete adequate and timely maintenance.

01

PRE-INSPECTION Before an erected tower crane is altered or dismantled it should be inspected to ensure that there are no defects which could affect the safety of the alteration or dismantling operation. Any defects found should be recorded in a file on the history of the machine. The details of these defects and the necessary action to be taken should be presented to the person taking the next thorough examination.

: N E T P TO S E N A R TOWER C S P I T E C N A N E T N I A M CTION U R T S N O THE C

HAVE E A SUITABALR G ldEbeA CLEAbNleIN area shou

L TO PROPER D E E N S ESSENTIA E R CRAN E W ICIENCY O F T F , E S S D E N C A O PR R SAFETY O F E C N A MAINTEN

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03

MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY Instead of relying on industry average statistics to determine maintenance intervals or tell you when a crane is expected to fail, use telematics to monitor it directly.

This may include mechanical and electrical condition, environmental factors and other indicators such as frequency of use and load spectrum, and give you a more realistic account of the machine’s lifespan.

04

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06

05 TIME MAINTENANCE INTERVALS CORRECTLY Once a tower crane has been erected on site it should be maintained at regular intervals to avoid breakdown, failure or collapse. Use the recommendations in the manufacturer’s manual to base the frequency at which maintenance is carried out.

This should only be taken as the maximum interval, however, and then reduced based on environmental factors or the general age and condition of the crane.

ISOLATE SYSTEMS To avoid the risk of trapping, crushing and shearing during the maintenance of mechanisms on tower cranes, all systems should be isolated before work starts. If there needs to be power to a system for fault diagnosis, a safe system of work should be put in place to mitigate the risks of trapping. Such a safe system could focus on adequate communication between the crane operator and other members of the maintenance team.

INSPECT E WIRE ROPR FOR WEA

service continuous ormal Wire rope in ily during n a d d ke c e h Rope should be c cted weekly. e sp in d n a operation for a month t been used Look that has no thoroughly. d te c e sp in should be g signs such wing warnin llo fo e th r fo n, corrosion of lubricatio as rust, lack the rope lops inside which deve you rope which and frozen use. should not

09 08

STORE FASTENERS SEPARATELY Fasteners such as bolts and pins are fundamental to the structural integrity of a tower crane. It is essential that all fasteners are stored and maintained correctly, and the maintenance facility should be provided with suitable areas for this. It is particularly important that un-inspected fasteners, received from site, are stored separately from serviced and ready-for-re-issue ones.

HAVE A TRAINING PLAN An individual training plan should be drawn up for each person carrying out maintenance on tower cranes, taking into account previous experience, qualifications and prior knowledge.

Achievement of this plan and continuing professional development should be monitored at frequent intervals as part of the review process.

07 10

HAVE UNIQUE REFERENCE MARKINGS A tower crane’s slew motor brakes and their release mechanisms should all be inspected at the same time and maintained to ensure they are all in the same working order. When a crane design has duplicated components, identifying which component has deteriorated can sometimes be difficult to record. Having unique, permanent reference markings will ensure this can easily be done throughout the maintenance regime.

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COVER STORY DECEMBER 2021

HIGH AND MIGHTY

THE TOWER CRANE SECTOR IS DEVELOPING HIGHER MODELS WITH GREATER LIFT CAPACITIES, AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS FOR SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY, AS THE REGION KEEPS UP ITS DEMAND FOR THE MACHINES

T

he tower crane is as indispensable and ubiquitous a category of equipment to the GCC region as, say, the backhoe loader is to India.

Some regions are known in the equipment world by the sheer magnitude of a particular sort of machine that they attract – and in the case of our region, it is possibly the tower crane.

This is because no matter the state of its economy, the region’s love affair with high-rise buildings is an abiding one.

Even in a difficult year like 2020, Dubai still managed to complete 12 buildings over 200m - the most compared to any city in the world. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi supertalls like the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and Fairmont Marina Abu Dhabi are new features in the UAE capital’s skyline, even as Saudi Arabia continues reaching up towards the sky with buildings in projects such as King Abdullah Financial District.

Given these circumstances, it’s no surprise that tower cranes are in high demand in the region. If rumours are to be believed, over 25% of the world’s tower cranes were concentrated only in Dubai at one time during the height of the pre-2008 boom times. While the numbers have most certainly declined since then, a look around the city still tells us that they continue to remain high – and the rest of the region does not lag too far behind.

Just as the GCC region is associated with tower cranes, the tower cranes themselves have come to be associated with one name in the region – NFT, the biggest dealer of Potain tower cranes in the world. From its base in Abu Dhabi, NFT today not just dominates the regional tower crane market, but is also now a global supplier, supplying Potain tower cranes all around the globe.

The company came through testing times last year at the height of the Covid-19 crisis and lockdowns but put in strict safety measures for business continuity and safety of employees and customers. And now, better market and work conditions are gradually returning to its business.

Describing the situation, NFT deputy general manager Nagham Al Zahlawi says: “Safety has always been among the top concerns at NFT and is now more than ever in the wake of the pandemic. Our operations continued as normal as much as possible during the pandemic and we’ve been using all available techniques, such as our recent virtual trainings, to keep operations normal.

Manitowoc’s operations also remained as normal as possible during the pandemic and continues to do so, so we have great support from Potain.”

The ability to serve markets around the world stands NFT in good stead in times such as these, when those that serve only one region can suffer if that region is not doing well. Echoing this, Al Zahlawi adds: “In the regions we serve in Europe and the Far East, we feel the markets have recovered and demand is back to pre-Covid levels of

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“In Dubai, we supplied the largest tower cranes in use in the GCC today with a maximum capacity of 100t and a maximum radius of 90m, with a lifting capacity of 20t at the end of the jib. The challenge here was in the size of the crane, but we are proud to have completed the job safely”

normalcy. In the GCC, we are not quite there yet. There are, however, indications of renewed activity in 2022. For example, in Saudi Arabia, it looks like the projects we were in discussions with pre-pandemic are now being put forward again.”

Several challenges still remain in the GCC tower crane market, and Al Zahlawi describes: “An oversupply and over population of tower cranes relative to ongoing projects is one of the challenges in the GCC. We need policies that regulate the import of cranes and limit the use of certain types of cranes based on criteria such as a crane’s condition and age.

“A big majority of crane users demand low-cost models and operations, whether they rent or purchase. There are fewer companies investing in a tower crane fleet of their own. It is definitely a majority rental market. In Abu Dhabi, for example, there is a surging demand for luffing cranes due to new policies implement by Abu Dhabi Municipality limiting tower crane jibs slewing outside site boundaries.”.

This has not stopped NFT from marching on the region. Giving details on some of the major projects NFT is involved with, Al Zahlawi says: “We’re involved with several high-profile projects in the GCC in several countries that range from major infrastructure to local residential.

For example, in Qatar, we supplied tower cranes to an airport expansion project, where large cranes were needed at a very short notice. We also supplied tower cranes to the Lusail high-rise project in Doha and here our cranes needed reinforced masts and accessories to be able to meet the quick construction cycle demanded by the customer.

“In Dubai, we supplied the largest tower cranes in use in the GCC today with a maximum capacity of 100t and a maximum radius of 90m, with a lifting capacity of 20t at the end of the jib. The challenge here was in the size of the crane, but we are proud to have completed the job safely.”

NFT has also spread out its business globally and supplied tower cranes to several countries around the world. Highlighting some of these, Al Zahlawi adds: “In France, we are renting out 16 tower cranes, which includes the biggest luffer available in the Potain range today - the MR608 - which has a 32t maximum capacity. These cranes are working in a very windy area and have a special freestanding height on a travelling 10x10 base. The cranes are building concrete bases to be used at sea as anchor for wind turbines. There were logistical challenges in the project, as we had to meet a strict

34

COVER STORY DECEMBER 2021

schedule with components coming from different locations. These components were specially required for the project, therefore sourcing and investing in them was not easy as only a few companies can make them.

“In other international projects, we are supplying five tower cranes to an airport project in Bangladesh. The challenges, besides entering this market for the first time, is using two Comansa models, a brand with which we did not have any experience before. However, our technical team is qualified enough to adjust to any challenge, and we were helped by virtual training from the manufacturer.”

Focusing back on the Middle East, and on the sort of tower crane models that are in demand in the region, Al Zahlawi explains: “Big models traditionally have had a home in the Middle East for a long time. We were happy to have new models such as the elegant Potain MCT565 enter our fleet. It is a large tower crane with a topless design and maximum capacities in three options - 20t, 25t and 32t - with a maximum radius of 80m.”

Meanwhile, Wolffkran, too, has introduced new models not very long ago.

These include the WOLFF 133B and 235B, explains Martin Kirby, managing director, Wolffkran Arabia. The 133B is fitted with a 25m basic jib that can be extended in 5m increments up to a maximum length of 45m. The 133B can be built up to a freestanding tower height of 85m “Wolffkran has designed two versions of the 133B: the 133.6B has a maximum lifting capacity of 6t and a tip load capacity of 2.3t, with a maximum jib radius of 45m; and the 133.8B, an 8t version with a tip load capacity

Wolffkran is a popular choice in the region’s tower crane sector and its new WOLFF 133B and 235B models are ideal for inner city construction projects where job-sites have space constraints.

of 2.1t for customers who want a higher maximum lifting capacity.

“The WOLFF 133.6B is fitted with an efficient 28kW hoisting winch, offering above average hook speeds of up 160m/min, while the WOLFF 133.8B comes with the bigger 45kW winch, allowing for a greater maximum lifting capacity. Both winches are also used in our other crane models of the clear and cross-range, facilitating parts availability within the crane fleet and reducing staff training resources.”

Another new Wolffkran launch, the WOLFF 235B has the performance required for high volume reinforced concrete projects.

Describing the features of this model, Kirby says: “Fitted with an active absorber, the WOLFF 235B achieves a smaller minimum jib radius of 10% of the jib length. The steeper jib position means that the load can be picked up closer to the tower, which is a particular advantage at cramped city construction sites, as trucks can be unloaded closer to the crane and loads do not have to be lifted over adjacent roads.

“The WOLFF 235B has both an internal and an external WOLFF Climbing System available. Using standard components from the modular WOLFF tower system, it can reach a high freestanding tower height of 82m. Overall low component weights make it possible for the 235B to assemble another of its kind at a jib radius of 40m – a very popular process on multi-crane city sites with limited space, as well as saving on time and money spent for a mobile crane.

“These cranes are ideal for inner city construction projects and the response to them has been excellent from our European market, where they were first introduced.

Moreover, we are proud to say that as a technology leader, Wolffkran continues to live up to its pioneering reputation by becoming one of the first manufacturers in the industry to be certified as a climateneutral company in Germany,” Kirby adds.

“Looking to the future, in 2022, Wolffkran is readying the launch if the WOLFF 80XX, a new model which is under testing. We will reveal more details of the model upon its launch, which is expected early next year.”

Another popular tower crane brand

POTAIN CAB-IN MAST ELEVATOR

RISING INSIDE THE MAST Following the announcement in France of the R.495 recommendation, calling for all cranes above 30 m high to incorporate a mast elevator, many tower crane owners have sought to include this equipment in their investment plans. Although it is only a recommendation, the safety and comfort of crane operators are vital, as are the smooth running and productivity of the site.

With this in mind, Manitowoc developed the Potain Cab-IN internal mast elevator, which can be mounted on the 1.6 m, 2 m and 2.45 m K-mast and is compatible

with all current K-mast bases, such as fixing angle, chassis and cross shaped base.

Among the advantages of the Potain Cab-IN internal mast elevator are simple storage and transport with the elevator equipment already integrated into the tower crane mast; Easy assembly, as the elevator is assembled at the same time as the crane; and cost efficiency when compared to an external solution as the investment soon pays for itself, thanks to the savings in transport, assembly/disassembly

time and storage, Feedback from users in France, where it has been introduced confirms the advantages of this

solution, says Potain. The MD of French crane rental company Duponchel, says: “The Potain Cab-IN internal crane elevator has proven to be a reliable and robust solution that is appreciated both by technicians during installation and by users on a daily basis.”

Longstanding Potain customer Poteau’s manager, adds: “The main advantages of the Cab-IN internal crane elevator are linked to the speed of its installation and dismantling, as well as its easy transportation because it is already integrated into the masts.”

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TOWER CRANE MONITOR

LIEBHERR LIFTS INTELLIGENTLY Liebherr’s fourth-generation Electronic Monitoring System (EMS-4) with the new Tower Cranes Operating System (TC-OS) user interface is the successor to its EMS-3. With a streamlined menu structure and easily recognisable icons and symbols, navigation on the system is simple, intuitive and satisfying, says Liebherr.

This easy usability also means that training and familiarisation times are reduced.

Crane operators and assembly engineers have specific menus, a wide range of languages and

relevant units of measurement (metric and Anglo-American systems) at their disposal.

Even in difficult lighting conditions, the anti-reflective and dirtresistant 12-inch touchscreen provides optimal readability.

Display masks can be combined in various ways for this. An external screen for the hook camera is no longer necessary as the image can be integrated into the EMS-4. This

in the region is JASO, represented by Kanoo Cranes in the UAE. Among Kanoo Cranes’ recent projects has been a large development project in the UAE, which included a community with homes and schools. The company was brought in to help build the school in this district.

Kanoo came in with the JASO J560 tower crane to lift all the precast units that were going to be used to build the school. The company said the J560 was a reliable crane that could do the job fast and with great safety. The crane was erected at the most suitable location to handle the offloading of material and to install the precast panel.

This allowed for a “lift and place” operation which helped reduce construction time.

“The J560 has an efficient power system with reduced power consumption when compared to other models. This helped keep operational costs low over the long run because this project went on for about 12 months,” says Ahmad Wraikat, regional manager, Kanoo Cranes.

“The J560 series has a short tower top, which allows a site to use several cranes simultaneously. In addition, these cranes were used to accommodate height restrictions because a part of the community was already developed, and the developers didn’t want cranes to be in the line of sight always. When needed, this crane can reach up to 85m in jib length with tip loads of 2.5t for efficient lifting.”

Over at Liebherr, a spokesperson for the brand says its tower cranes are widely utilized across the Middle East’s construction projects, explaining: “The reliability and service availability make Liebherr tower cranes of all age groups a popular asset

Jaso is represented in the UAE by Kanoo Cranes.

The global tower crane brand’s J560 recently featured in a large UAE development where the model was involved in a school build.

means that all available data is visible to the crane operator on one device, enabling them to carry out lifts with even greater precision and safety. The EC-B and EC-H series cranes of Liebherr will be equipped with the long-life display.

for both the rental companies and the end users. We are continuously analysing the market for tower cranes in the Middle East and identifying prospects for development.

We see good prospects especially for the NC-B 6-62 and the lately introduced NC-B 12-70 series from Liebherr.”

Among the major projects in the GCC where Liebherr units are working are the Lusail Plaza Towers in Qatar and the Al Safiyyah Museum & Park in Saudi Arabia.

The former features a mix of models while

the latter has the brand’s newly introduced NC-B 12-70 installed. In the wider Middle East, Liebherr tower cranes are engaged in other prestigious and challenging projects, such as the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge in Turkey.

Liebherr’s new NC-B series has been specially developed for operations in the densely populated cities of the Middle East market, says the spokesperson. “For the development of this series, the usability in the context of the daily challenges was crucial. The models are manufactured at Liebherr’s factory in Pune, India, ensuring short lead times, whilst still using timetested German technology.

“The NC-B 6-62 has a maximum lifting capacity of 6t and maximum radius of 62.50m, with a jib head load capacity of 1.2t, perfect for erecting tower blocks in inner-city areas which require low load weights but enormous hook heights.

The NC-B 12-70 can lift up to 12t and has a maximum radius of 70m with a jib head load capacity of 2t. This makes it ideal for hoisting heavy prefabricated components – for example in building shopping centres and production plants.

The ever-increasing load capacities and lifting heights that tower cranes are being made to deliver make them the engine behind the vertical rise of the Middle East’s cities – a trend that has been here for a while and looks definite to stay.

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SKID-STEERS DECEMBER 2021

“The introduction of the new S450 was a big success...our dealers are delivering shiny new S450 units, which look especially good with the new Bobcat livery”

Bobcat’s mid-size S450 is the most popular skid-steer loader in its stable as well as in the region, and the manufacturer updates it periodically to keep it ahead of the competition.

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I

f there is any type of equipment whose size belies its importance, it has to be the humble little skidsteer loader. This ubiquitous runabout at any job-site is a particular favourite of the GCC construction sector and is used here not only by contractors, rental companies and fleet owners, but also the owner-operator and mom-and-pop single-machine rental outfit.

In terms of versatility, the skidsteer has few equals, and, equipped with the right attachments – of which there are plenty from all the major manufacturers – it is capable of landscaping, digging, trenching, cable-laying, road-laying, grading, drilling, loading – and a lot more. In fact, one of the biggest pluses of the skid-steer is its ability to shine as a tool-carrier. And the major manufacturers have all pushed this aspect of the machine with their line-up of attachments that make up their respective skid-steer ecosystems.

Of course, the biggest of these in the skidsteer space is Bobcat, the runaway market leader in the Middle East’s skid-steer segment.

And the most popular machine in the segment is the Bobcat S450, which the compact machinery market leader has now revamped in 2021 – making it the biggest news in the GCC’s compact equipment segment in general and the skid-steer space in particular.

Speaking to CMME about the launch, Gaby Rhayem, regional director for the Middle East and Africa at Bobcat, says: “The introduction of the new S450 was a big success. Everyone

found it to be a great machine and as a result of the demand, we experienced a bit of a shortage in delivery at certain points in this year, which was exacerbated by the global supply chain problems. But now we are on our way – our dealers are delivering shiny new S450 units, which look especially good with the new Bobcat livery.”

For a machine as popular as the S450, Bobcat could have been forgiven if it had simply kept improvements in the new model down to only a more attractive livery in the spirit of the adage “leave well enough alone”. But the company is not resting on its laurels. Improvements to the machine are in the works in several key areas.

“There are a few new things we are introducing on the machine. The first is LED working lights, and the most important one is an option to have joystick controls on the machine as opposed to the manual controls we’ve had so far,” Rhayem says.

“We had an option before for a seatmounted Selectable Joystick Control (SJC) on some of our skid-steer models.

Admittedly, It was an expensive option, but now we’re bringing in a new option for a joystick for a very attractive price, which is something new that is going to happen on all of our machines. On top of this, in the S450 you will have a standard 2 speed machine if you go for this option. So whereas normally the loader travels at 9/10kph, on this you can get speeds of up to 14kph. So this is the biggest innovation on the S450, and the units with the innovations will start being sent to the Middle East next year.”

SMALL YET VITAL

WHETHER ITS NEW ITERATIONS OF ESTABLISHED MODELS, BRANDS WITH A TRADITIONAL PRESENCE IN THE REGION OR COMPANIES SEEKING TO GRAB A PIECE OF THE PIE, THE MIDDLE EAST’S PENCHANT FOR THE SKID-STEER LOADER KEEPS THE MARKET FOR THIS BUSY LITTLE MACHINE BUOYANT

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SKID-STEERS DECEMBER 2021

Describing the Bobcat skid-steer range, he adds: “Today we have the S70 and the S100, which are very compact machines. Then there’s the most popular S450, which is in the medium range in our line-up. Then we have the S510, which is a little bigger and we move on to the S550 which is another big seller.

“After the S450 today the S550 is our biggest seller in the region. It’s a big machine, used for heavy-duty applications. We’ve found great success with it in Egypt, especially, where we sold several units to the municipal bodies in the country. Even here in the GCC, when a big and powerful machine is needed, they will go for the S550. The S450 is a 48hp machine while the S550 produces around 60hp, so when an application needs a machine with higher power users select the S550.”

The “attachment master” in the Bobcat range, however, is the S630, reveals Rhayem, which supports all the heavy-duty tools such as the wheel saws and trenchers. This makes the S630 the third best-selling Bobcat skids-steer in the region.

But the company’s range goes further, and Rhayem adds: “If you need a big attachment with high-flow hydraulics, the S630 is the best for you. The combination of the S630 high flow with attachments such as wheel saws is really perfect. And then we go to the S850, a really big machine with 92hp output. It’s very big and powerful.”

Bobcat is also the undisputed market leader in the compact tracked loader (CTL) category – the skid-steer’s tracked cousin.

The brand’s T590 track loader is its most popular one and has cornered 83% of the regional market for track loaders the last time we checked the statistics this year.

Ditch Witch offers a different take on the skid-steer concept, with its SK800 having all the performance of it scompetitors and more in a compact unit with standing-only for the operator.

“It’s the right machine for applications such as landscaping and beach cleaning. In Europe they have the T450 but we don’t offer that here because it’s a Tier-5 engine. Our biggest CTL is the T770, which is again 92hp, while the T590 has a 66hp engine horsepower.

But it is possible to use almost all of our attachments with the T590 - you can use the wheel saws, blades and everything else that requires high-flow hydraulics.”

Over at Case Construction Equipment, the manufacturer is reporting a good year

for 2021. Zane Barnard, product specialist at Case, says the brand has “performed exceptionally well in 2021”, grown in all its key markets and is expecting to close the year on a strong footing.

“The pandemic is still affecting all sectors, with an impact on manufacturing and supply chain, and we see this continuing to affect our retail into early next year. Throughout the pandemic, we have addressed these challenges with transparency with our customers, keeping them informed at all times, and we continue to do so,” says Barnard.

Case’s range of skid-steers and CTLs are now part of what the company calls its new B Series. These are “machines built tough that deliver great power and torque to get the job done fast”, says Barnard.

“We have updated the cab to further enhance the operator’s comfort and safety.

The new cab offers more space with increased headroom. We also improved the ergonomics and controls with a new operator console featuring new switches and instruments cluster. We also improved the joystick controls and the joystick function buttons for more comfortable and easy operation.”

The SR130B and SR150B are Case’s bestselling skid-steers in the region and, according to Barnard, they are the “Swiss army knives of construction equipment”. “With the right attachments they can do almost anything.

The SR130B and SR150B offer customers a wide range of possible options with their standard configurations.”

This goes for the entire range of Case’s skid-steers – and perhaps for skid-steers in general, he adds. “Skid-steer loaders are

JCB TELESKID

IT’S ALL IN THE REACH JCB’s innovative variation on the compact tracked loader is the 3TS-8T Teleskid, which is equipped with a single-sided telescopic loader arm that can extend outwards to increase reach – a fusion of a telehandler with a compact tracked loader.

Ahmed Shouman, general manager, JCB Middle East, explains: “The JCB Teleskid is the world’s first and only skid-steer loader and compact tracked loader with a telescoping boom, allowing it to lift higher, reach further and dig deeper than any skid-steer on the market. These machines provide access to job-

sites and perform tasks that are simply not possible with a conventional skid-steer, like loading a high-sided truck without a ramp or both sides of a flatbed trailer from one side, dump material or stack pallets higher to free up valuable ground space and place loads over fences or obstacles.

The possibilities are endless.

“Though the Middle East is not yet a potential target market, the Teleskid is available in three models - 3TS-8T, a compact tracked loader with a rated operating capacity of 1.6t; 3TS-8W, a wheeled skid-steer

with a rated operating capacity of 1.4t; and the 2TS-7T, which has a rated operating capacity of 951kg.”

In terms of features, the Teleskids are equipped with JCB’s

telescopic Powerboom, along with all the attributes of JCB’s proven skid-steer design. A climate-controlled cab is standard and a canopy is an option, which offer up to 47% more room and 60% better visibility than comparable, large-platform skid-steers. The extending boom raises maximum loadover height to 3.8m with the boom extended, almost 1m more than the standard retracted boom. In addition, the Teleskid’s telescopic boom provides the option of digging or powering attachments at depths of up to 1m below ground level.

39 so universal that their customer profiles vary enormously, ranging from massive construction and rental companies to small owner-operators. The one thing they all have in common is that they all want the best – the best quality, the best comfort, the best performance. Our skid-steer loaders are built in the USA and deliver hands down on everything they want,” Barnard says.

“We also have a massive range of skidsteer attachments. As I said, our skid-steer loader is like a Swiss army knife, and with the right attachment it can do almost anything.

Sweeper brushes, augers and hydraulic breakers are some of the most popular attachments. Some of the bigger, more advanced attachments are the grader laser attachment, rock wheels and trenchers.”

A relatively late entrant in the Middle East market, albeit one that has quickly made inroads into the market and come into prominence, is Sunward. The Chinese manufacturer can boast of the support of local powerhouse dealerships, such as CMC in the UAE, which has no doubt helped its cause.

Bob Xie, managing director, Sunward Middle East, says that the brand’s skidsteer model range has machines that go all the way up to 3.6t in capacity, although the most popular one in the region is the SWL2820, which is in the 750kg class and boasts 20% more power than its direct competitors in in the region.

“The SWL2820 is our best adapted model for the Middle East, equipped with a pilot joystick and lifted bucket position maintaining function, and high-capacity hydraulics. It has 25% more loading capacity than competing popular models, and it offers all its advantages at a more competitive price,” says Xie. Apart from the SWL2820, Sunward’s models in the Middle East include the SWL3220 and SWTL4538 with respective loading capacities of 1t and 1.5t. The brand has paid special attention to making its machines suitable for the rigorous natural environment of the Middle East with inclusions such as extralarge coolant tanks and fans in the engines and hydraulic systems, high-quality filters and resistive paints.

“These allow our equipment to be used in the 50°-plus desert heat in the Middle East. Efficient after-sales back-up results in Sunward skid-steers being used in this region for over a decade now,” says Xie, Sunward also pays special attention to the operator environment and its skid-steers have wide and comfortable cabs with good vision, easy ingress and egress, and ergonomic placement of all controls and switches. They have FOPS/ROPS standard cab structures and three-level electric starting protection system.

Daily maintenance points are easy to reach and a standard quick coupler makes it fast and easy to switch attachments.

An oddball inclusion in the skid-steer and CTL space for the Middle East is Ditch Witch, the American brand known globally for its tracked machines without cabs, which offer a stand-on position for operators.

Jamey E. Shaheen, president, Ditch Witch Middle East, says: “We have a wide range of machines at Ditch Witch Middle East. They are more than just machines or tools. We

Case Constructin Equipment has enjoyed a good 2021 with its new B Series skid-steer loaders, with the machines built tough and torquey to get the job done faster, along with updated cabs.

provide customers with one of the top-100 products made in the USA. Our line-up includes the SK1050, SK850, SK800, SK650, SK600, SK500 and SK350 mini.

“Our Middle East head office is in Lebanon and we have an experienced, specialised team that’s travelled the GCC to provide on-the-ground support for more than 30 years. Ditch Witch is now widely seen in countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan. All our products are made in the USA and our technology is makes for efficiency, productivity, durability and heavy-duty applications.”

The brand’s advantage is in providing highly compact and powerful stand-on models for specialist jobs, which differentiates it from the competition, Shaheen adds. Ditch Witch also customises its models for the region to suit the harsh, sandy, hot and often saline environment, using components such as a low-maintenance Kubota diesel engine in its SK800 for power and performance in all conditions.

The Ditch Witch SK800 is a construction grade machine, built for heavy-duty operation on a range of utility, landscaping and similar tasks, giving high power and durability while increasing ROI, says Shaheen.

Whether it is entrenched traditional brands or new entrants, the penchant for the Middle East equipment sector for the skid-steer means that there continues to be a market in the region for versatile and tough machines.

“Our skid-steer loader is like a Swiss army knife, and with the right attachment it can do almost anything”

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THE LAST WORD DECEMBER 2021

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The published material, adverts, editorials

AIMING FOR NEW HIGHS The Middle East’s powered access sector has weathered the storm of Covid-19 and emerged stronger – this is the overarching message we received when compiling this report.

In our discussion with the major brands of the access equipment sector, what emerged was that while order books dried up at the height of the pandemic in 2020, in 2021 the scenario has turned full circle and they are full to the brim. While this is indeed good news, it brings with it its own problems of plenty. Most of the companies are struggling with global supply chain and logistics issues in supplying such large order backlogs, but are hopeful that 2022 will both see bottlenecks ease and demand continue to grow.

Meanwhile, innovation continues apace in the sector, and in the following pages OEMs dwell upon the rise of electrification with lithium-ion batteries and digitalisation, as well as how the region’s access sector is maturing into a user of scissors, lowlevels and all other varieties of access kit – not just the straight booms as before. In all this, safety too has improved, courtesy the untiring efforts of IPAF – another positive for the future as the sector aims high!

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Anirban Bagchi Editor, CMME

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DINGLI P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

DINGLI DANGLES THE BAIT

WITH IMPROVED PRODUCT QUALITY AND THE OPENING OF DINGLI MIDDLE EAST, THE CHINESE BRAND IS POISED TO LURE CUSTOMERS TO ITS FOLD WITH A MIX OF MARKET-FOCUSSED PRODUCTS BACKED

BY AFTER-SALES SERVICES AND PARTS AVAILABILITY, SAYS PETER ELLIS, GM, DINGLI MIDDLE EAST

Dingli is not yet among the highly visible brands in the Middle East’s access equipment market. What are you doing to change this?

Historically Chinese products have had a reputation for low buying price but with low quality – and Dingli was perceived in a similar fashion in this region. I joined the company in December 2020 as a consultant and in the 12 months since we’ve managed to change the market’s response to Dingli.

During 2021, we have had a great response to the brand from the market. We have exceeded our first-year expectations, which has prompted us to now go ahead with our plan of setting up Dingli Middle East in the UAE.

After many years of experience in the regional access equipment sector, I have to say I’ve found the quality of the products Dingli are now producing to be excellent.

More importantly, my customers are saying it. The product is very competitively priced, but the quality of the design and build is excellent. Dingli now have one of the most modern production facilities in the industry. They have developed automated processes throughout their production lines on all product categories.

Please describe the Dingli range available in the Middle East market, covering scissors, booms and articulated lifts, as well as

3 Chinese powered access brand Dingli is all set to open its Middle East office in Dubai and target the region with its improved quality.

their various power sources.

Dingli have a full range of AC drive and hydraulic drive scissor lifts available, from the 6m Micro Scissor to the 16m. The 10m, 12m, 14m and 16m electric models also have lithium-ion batteries available as an option.

The RT scissor range offers diesel or battery power with 12m, 15m, 18m and 22m units available. We have just added 28m and 32m options in the last three months.

We are also able to offer diesel and electric telescopic booms ranging from 24m to 30m, and articulated diesel and electric booms from 16m to 28m. Another product line Dingli offers is the mast lift, which we supply in oneand two-person upright lifts and stock picking platforms.

Please describe the Dingli aftersales service and parts network in the Middle East. What state are they in now and how they are being ramped up?

As part of the developments to set up Dingli Middle East, we will be carrying stocks of various models of booms, scissors and mast lifts.

We are also going to be carrying stocks of all fast-moving parts in the country and employing a technician to support our after sales activities in the region.

Which are the most popular models in the Dingli scissor lift and boom lift ranges? What makes them desirable for customers?

When there is a very competitive market, as in the Middle East, smart investment looks for niche products that can demand a better return on capital employed (ROCE).

The Dingli 2212DC electric narrow 22m scissor is growing in demand and, with only two or three options from other manufacturers on the market, Dingli are doing very well with this product.

Also, I believe the Dingli 0607DCS micro scissor is going

4

DINGLI P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

to be a big success in the region.

This is because most mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contractors are using scissor lifts in the 7.8m height range whereas when you look at 90% of their work, it is actually just under 6m. The Dingli 0607DCS unit has a working height of just under 6m, is cheaper to purchase and is more compact, and so can move around congested sites more easily.

These above models apart, another Dingli model that has already gained good popularity in the region is our 16m electric scissor lift, which has features that place it in a segment that is very practical for the region and finds great use in various types of jobs.

Please describe Dingli’s efforts in the area of Innovations - such as models and features being worked on that bring in new technologies and power sources, and cleaner and greener machines.

One of the biggest developments that Dingli is working on is in the field of Lithium-ion batteries. Not only is the idea to make these batteries increasingly available on our electric boom lifts at lit-tle or no extra cost, but also to have them available on most of our electric

“We have exceeded our first-year expectations, which has prompted us to now go ahead with our plan of setting up Dingli Middle East in the UAE”

A typical wet battery will have a life span of around 15 months in the Middle East market, so at Dingli we are doubling the minimum life of the battery until replacement.

scissor lifts as an option.

We are also working on refining the batteries themselves from a usage point of view, with features such as shorter charge times and longer usage times, so that there are fewer charging cycles in the battery’s lifetime. Also, we have a three-year warranty on the battery.

Dingli is seeing a rise in demand in the region for its scissor lifts, especially for models such as the 2212DC - a narrow, 22m electric model.

Coming to the Middle East market, what is state of its access equipment sector and what does the future hold?

After the disruptions and lockdowns caused by Covid-19 in 2020, this year has only been marginally better for the region, given that various impacts and restrictions of Covid continue to be in place.

On the business side of things, the UAE market is a very competitive one for rental companies currently.

This is putting pressure on utilisation levels, which leads to more aggressive pricing following on from the pressure. There are niche product segments in the market, and this, in my opinion, is where the rental companies should be spending their capital.

In the wider GCC, it is the Saudi Arabian market where I see the major growth happening in the next five years, with all the large projects announced recently that have either just started or are planned for next year and beyond in 2023.

Now that Dingli Middle East is being set up, what are the brand’s future plans in the region and why should customers opt for Dingli access equipment?

We are starting with a three-year plan in the region, which is to continue growing the business in the Middle East through market expansion in the rental segment and also by increasing end-user opportunities through dealers.

I think Middle East customers should seriously consider Dingli and opt for us because not only do we continue to offer competitive prices, but also high-quality products, with an aftersales operation that aims to soon be the best in the region.

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6

IPAF P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

HEIGHTS OF SAFETY

WITH THE INTERNATIONAL POWERED ACCESS FEDERATION (IPAF) ALWAYS RAISING THE BAR FOR SAFETY IN THE ACCESS SECTOR, THE RESULTS ARE SHOWING, SAYS REGIONAL MANAGER JASON WOODS

T

he International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has a difficult and unenviable task in the Middle East’s powered access sector – that of putting safety at the top of the agenda in a place where the traditionally mindset has been one of being lackadaisical where safety is concerned.

Jason Woods, regional manager for the Middle East and South Asia at IPAF, has been waging a long battle in the region to put safety where it belongs – at the top of the agenda – and says that the results are finally showing.

“Training is certainly on the increase.

We’re expecting to have trained more than 10,500 students this year,” he tells CMME. And most of those students are operators

of access equipment, especially booms, at rental companies.

“We’re still seeing more of a trend towards boom lifts. Then the next step down is scissor lifts, and our next category then would be static booms. If you think of the layout of the rental business, you find that booms are always the stronger category than the other two. But scissors are catching up. When I first arrived in the UAE, I think the market was some 85% booms. We had 3-4% scissors and then mixed equipment. But scissor lifts are way more common now.

“We have very active accredited training centres. As IPAF, we continue to do professional development with the instructors. Currently, as we were in the pandemic, we switched our PDS –

professional development seminar – to online, remote sessions. Before that we would meet in person at the training centres, with all the instructors coming together.

This now happens a lot online and the discussion points are generally around the training module - so we talk about health and safety, risk management, typical causes of incidents that a construction site would have. And we try and bridge the gap through the PDS for instructor to client.”

This year the IPAF has run over 12 such PDS sessions, Woods reveals, where the instructors have been brought together back online for at least an hour a month to discuss various aspects of safety and training – anything from the course material, health and safety audited procedures to how to plan the training room.

7 This is part of the IPAF’s constant growth in the region, Woods says, adding: “Over the last few years, we’ve always been growing, and we’ve seen something like a 30% increase in trainees coming through every 12 months. Even though we had a tough time with the pandemic it wasn’t actually that bad. We still had around 8,000 students trained in 2020. Much of it was instructor led, so it wasn’t just online. Even though we saw closures in some countries due to Covid-19, you must remember that the rental business didn’t stop. They still had machines going out to the clients because projects were still running and someone still needed to operate the machines. What we found encouraging was a change with managements here, who insisted that the courses be delivered through e-learning. We’re seeing a good trend through e-learning now.”

Revealing the content of these new courses, he says that they are dedicated for people who manage equipment on their projects. So the content of the courses cover a broad spectrum, from dealing with potential risks at job-sites and how to manage those risks to selecting equipment and identifying what types of hazards can affect performance in the project.

“It’s a bigger overview of managing the equipment. It’s more in-depth as a manager, as opposed to an operator,” says Woods.

For operators there in of course the IPAF’s ePAL card certification. But to make things even more stringent and safe, the validity span of the card has been reduced from a five-year license to a two-year one.

“This is because we found that less training is not good for our industry. We’re still seeing incidents, not always fatalities, but still incidents. And when you talk to companies, their operator error callouts were still quite high – around 30% at some stages - and you also find that damage to equipment is still quite high. This has got to reflect on the training.

“I was visiting a project recently in Abu Dhabi and the biggest complaint was that operators keep hitting the wall. It takes a lot of skill and training to operate MEWPs safely and efficiently - and when you look at the workforce we deal with in the GCC, you have to work harder with your training to get that message across.”

“Training is certainly on the increase.

We’re expecting to have trained more than 10,500 students this year” The IPAF training course is designed for experienced operators, Woods explains, so the two-year license now gives the operator an opportunity to prove he’s been operating machines frequently every two years to qualify for a card renewal. “It doesn’t always mean he has to go through the full module, but if I’m an operator in this region I must have at least 24 entries into my logbook to qualify for the card renewal. There are still tests involved and a theory and practical exam, so you have

to be good to continue that license.”

The official attitude towards safety in the region has also become serious, Woods points out, with the GCC countries now issuing guidance that operators must be trained and competent. “So, as an employer you’ve got to define what is competent. If you think 10-15 minutes of familiarisation is going to be enough, then you’re mistaken. In 2017, we worked with Oshad - Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework - and we focused on specific competency. Prior to that Oshad’s code of practice would only mention that the operator ‘must be competent’, but since 2017, it mentions you must have an IPAF qualification. Back in 2019, we did something similar with Dubai municipality and in Dubai it now mentions clearly that you must have a PAL card as an operator and you must have a qualification such as our ‘MEWPs for Managers’ as a manager.”

Woods explains that these are all positive developments that have got the IPAF very busy with training in the region, averaging about 6-8 courses delivered a day to as many as 8-10 students in each course, which is well over 60 students a day.

“Our training centres need to be given a lot of credit for this. We always look at how we can continue to drive safety. The next step is to support third-party inspection bodies to gain more competence - and our plan is to make this one of our next steps which will help the industry.”

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COVER STORY P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

As the brand that started the access industry, JLG has been a market leader in the Middle East, with its wide range of boom lifts being used in various sectors.

“Coupled with the huge innovative progression we are now bringing to market, it is refreshing to see how the company that started this industry continues to bring solutions to truly ‘redefine the job-site’”

9

RISING ABOVE THE ODDS

CONSTANTLY MEETING MARKET CHALLENGED WITH TECHNICAL AND PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, SUCH AS BIM LIBRARIES, TELEMATICS, ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF LITHIUM POWER AND LOW-LEVEL ACCESS, JLG REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE POWERED ACCESS MARKET

E

ver since John L Grove’s pioneering introduction of the powered access machine, JLG – the brand he created – has been among the leading companies in the sector in almost every region of the world it operates in. The Middle East is no exception.

Continuous product refinement and introduction of ever new technologies, innovations and new models, as well as an adherence to quality, have all played major roles in JLG being a leader in the access equipment market today in the region.

Among these new introductions in recent times are rough terrain scissor lifts, especially electric powered ones that have proved especially popular.

Ian Hume, sales director at JLG for the Middle East, Africa, India and Russia

(MEAIR), says that among JLG’s most popular launches in the last 18 months is its new rough terrain scissor range with the electric powered ERT4769 model proving the most popular.

This model offers the user a 14.3m platform height, large platform basket with deck extension and rough terrain ability to get around job-sites.

“We have added more High Capacity (HC3) booms to our offering with HC3 booms now available from 14m to 28m. In Europe and the USA, we have also launched the Davinci all electric scissor and Electric Construction booms, with both models set to be introduced to the Middle East region in 2022,” says Hume.

“JLG has also launched a range of stock picking models targeting the growing logistics and retail sectors. These machines are called Driveable Stock Pickers (DSP) and

10

COVER STORY P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

with two models now available, we are seeing very encouraging uptake on this solution that brings greater efficiency and safety.”

JLG is “renowned in the market for supplying strong, robust and safe equipment”, Hume adds, and points out that the brand is proud to have “the highest retained value in the sector”.

“Coupled with the huge innovative progression we are now bringing to market, it is refreshing to see how the company that started this industry continues to bring solutions to truly ‘redefine the jobsite’. Working at height is still one of the most dangerous aspects of a construction site or with-in a maintenance application; therefore, being a trustworthy supplier with safety at its core has continued to fuel JLG’s popularity. Safety features and advancements in our products has rein-forced this with anti-entrapment technology such as SkyLine and space awareness technology such as Sky Sense – which focus on keeping the

operator safe to get the job done.”

JLG is also abreast of usage trends in the market, having been responsible for ushering in some of these as a leading brand. Right now, Hume points out, “the industry is making big strides towards electrification of the product being offered to the market”.

“Next year will see the JLG Electric

Digitalisation and electrification are the new trends for the future in the industry and JLG is at the forefront with its new technologies.

Construction (EC) Booms arrive in the Middle East. Our EC boom range offers a rough terrain performance boom powered 100% by lithium batteries. In mature markets like Europe, there is already a very strong demand for such a solution, and we are very excited to see the Middle East market start to really create that pull in demand needed for greater investment in such electric solutions,” says Hume.

Projects like Neom in Saudi Arabia, Masdar City in the UAE and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar all have venues looking at alternative, more sustainable solutions, he explains. Hume projects that this will continue to snowball in the coming 18 months and “we can’t wait to drive this with our extensive range of electric equipment”.

“We will also be bringing our allelectric scissor (Davinci AE1932) to the Middle East in 2022 to show the market how JLG is really innovating in this space. The Davinci scissor has zero hydraulic oil and is completely electrically powered,” he reveals.

JLG DAVINCI

THE ART OF SCISSOR LIFT JLG’s DaVinci lift is powered

protecting sensitive flooring

capacity indoors and out

by a single lithium-ion battery

in data centres, hospitals,

at the full 19ft height. Plus,

expected to last 10 years — in

museums and more. Zero

advanced features such as

other words, the machine’s

leaks. Zero diapers. Zero

Variable Tilt technology –

full lifespan, explains Ian

hassle. That’s uptime you

allowing limited elevation on

Hume. This advanced battery

can count on,” says JLG.

side slopes – increases the

can fully charge in just 3.5

The company says that the

scissor’s work envelope and

hours and also enables

DaVinci lift is the first unit

opportunity charging,

in the industry to recover

delivering hours of uptime

energy while the platform is

DaVinciGO app eliminates

with as little as 20 minutes

descending. This capability

the need for a separate

of charge and up to 100ft of

contributes to a 70% decrease

analyser or any spe-cialised

driving and gradeability to

in power consumption.

tools by allowing users to

load on five minutes of charge.

Addi-tionally, the DaVinci

tap into intuitive, smart

produces zero emissions. “In

phone-enabled diagnostics.

true all-electric scissor lift

short, it’s the eco-friendliest

Real-time information can be

features zero hydraulics,

scissor on the plan-et.”

viewed, the lift calibrated and

“The industry’s first

eliminating hydraulic leaks

The DaVinci scissor lift’s

maximizes users’ productivity.

As added tech features, the

configured, and performance

entirely, reducing customer

fully electric actuator lifts

parameters dialed in or even

maintenance and clean-

more weight than a standard

remotely engaged with the

up costs and lowering

hydraulic cylinder, allowing

JLG service centre for support,

total cost of ownership.

the platform to carry up

such as for installing over-

It’s the ideal machine for

to a class-leading 275kg

the-air software updates.

11 Staying with tech innovations, he adds: “The digital age is upon us and it feels like we are in the midst of another technical revolution as we become more connected every day. JLG now has a plethora of digital solutions, such as the JLG BIM library, which offers architects and contractors the ability to input the full range of JLG machines within a BIM model. Then there is our AR App, developed to allow users to select a JLG product and place the machine within a jobsite. This has proved very popular in remote regions where the challenge of bringing a physical machine is very challenging. The JLG AR App is also able to support and guide the user to perform a machine in-spection and provide operation guidance and decal viewer. We will continue to develop and add on to this great tool.”

JLG also offers its customers a complete telematics system called Clearsky, which allows for remote monitoring of equipment and can even support technical teams with remote diagnostics, Hume adds and says he expects to “see Middle East rental fleets leverage the advantages of telematics in the coming 24 months with most owners having some kind of telemetry to their machines”.

Another area where JLG has stolen a march over the competition is in lowlevel access, where its Power Towers division remains a market leader in the segment. Giving more details, Hume says: “The Middle East now has a very good base of Power Towers products available in the region’s rental fleets.

We forecast a surge in demand in Saudi Arabia in 2022. The two models that continue to see high demand are the two-man Power Towers Duo and the completely non-powered machine, EcoLift, which has no engine or battery and has incredible ROI for rental companies.”

So how does the future look for JLG in the region? Answering this, Hume says that JLG is very ex-cited for 2022 and is expecting rental fleet expansions to come back to 2018 levels based on the project pipeline

across the region. While believing the market will show very strong recovery, he sounds a note of caution by saying that 2022 will have its challenges.

“Of course, Covid had a big impact on all markets, however we are now seeing a very strong recovery that is leading to an increase in the physical utilisation returning to a healthy

Articulated lifts are also prominent among JLG’s extensive line-up of models of all varieties, and are a popular choice in the region.

level for the rental companies and rental rates seeing solid percentage increases across the region.

Throughout the pandemic, the ability for the suppliers to assure efficient supply of parts and deliver a high level of communication through digital means was crucial. There has been a renewed drive towards technical training for service and sales teams to optimise their equipment, with the industry seeing a shortage of skilled manpower in the sector.”

The constraints now are the prevailing global supply chain issues and Hume says that JLG is being affected like all other manufacturers.

However, JLG does have a favourable position, as it can “leverage our global manufacturing footprint making the supply chain less constricted”.

“Certain key material costs continue to rise, with steel prices particularly impacting the equipment industry.

Another key cost that impacts the Middle East is that of freight from China, USA or Europe, in which we have seen containers and RORO freight rates double and, in some situations, triple their pre-Covid levels.”

All in all, Hume says that despite the positives, 2020 “will not be without challenges, but JLG will strive to lead the industry and support our customers”.

12

GENIE P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

AIMING HIGH

AS THE MIDDLE EAST’S ACCESS SECTOR MOVES TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION, GENIE IS DEVELOPING NEW MACHINES AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND WORKING TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, SAYS SHARBEL KORDAHI, MD OF TEREX EQUIPMENT MIDDLE EAST AND SALES DIRECTOR FOR GENIE AERIAL WORK PLATFORMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH OF AFRICA AND RUSSIA What is the state of the Middle East access sector and how has Covid-19 impacted it?

In 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak, a lot of manufacturers saw their order books drying up. The equipment sector, especially access equipment, is a cyclical business, so the minute any crisis hits there is an adverse impact on the sector.

Also, we depend a lot on the CAPEX of rental companies, but the rental sector completely stopped their spending in 2020, so it was a very difficult year. That being said, we saw an increase in uptake on the end-user sale. I think there was an appetite for people to go after some good deals in the market because end users knew they could find good deals. We continued to work on the end-user market, which was very successful for us in 2020, and most of the turnover that we had was because of our dealer network and end-user sales. Among the most active segments within the end-users

were a lot of facilities management and maintenance companies.

How has the regional market performed in 2021?

This year is a completely different story. There has been a reintroduction of CAPEX in the sector as the year has progressed, even though 2021 had a slow start in the Middle East - unlike the rest of the world, where rental companies were very aggressive from the beginning in catching up on what they missed in 2020. In the Middle East, the market started a little slower but caught up quickly - and we’re going to have a really good year. Expenditure from rental companies and a still strong end-user market is the driving force.

The big issue we have at the moment - which is again on the back of the pandemic - is the supply chain, which is massively disrupted. Like all other companies in the market, we are experiencing shortages in many areas, including engines and

13 The use of scissor lifts has increased in the Middle East, especially the electric models, according to Genie, which expects the trend to grow.

some electronic parts. The facility that we have in Jebel Ali was really our saviour in 2021, where we could sell a lot of the products that we were stocking there. But going forward, we still see a lot of restriction on the supply chain in 2022. Although we are going in with a very healthy background of orders - one of the healthiest I have seen in my 12 years with Terex - I think there will continue to be a lot of disruption and supply chain issues next year.

Did the supply chain issues affect your parts delivery? How helpful was Genie’s Jebel Ali facility in this regard?

We have the spare parts that are required for pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and any quick repair that is needed on the machines we stock.

In case something wrong is detected during a PDI, we can quickly repair it.

But this is something in the works for our future: we will have something more extensive on the spare parts front in Jebel Ali.

“I think the trends are clear that the market is going towards electrification.

There is not only a lot of interest in electrification but also a lot of push towards it.

Many rental companies are asking us about our electric products on booms and scissors”

In terms of usage trends, which are your most popular units? How is the sector catching on for scissor lifts?

I think the trends are clear that the market is going towards electrification. There is not only a lot of interest in electrification but also a lot of push towards it. Many rental companies are asking us about our electric products on booms and scissors. At the same time, I think we also see a small change in the market where booms are concerned. Seven or eight years ago, the Middle East was a straight boom and telescopic boom market. In the past two to three years, it changed into articulated booms - and now we see again the trend coming back into straight booms. I think what’s happened over the last few years is that the market has taken a lot of articulated booms and because of the lower rental rates on the straight booms, which were predominantly the biggest sector,

14

GENIE P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

we now see that the straight booms in the market have aged. Rental companies are probably trying to replace these old units and that is driving a new demand for the straight booms again.

models, but is there a customer to pay them a good rental rate? The models can already be supplied if there is demand in the market. However, in the long term, the technology will get cheaper and the demand will rise, making these the twin factors for a market shift.

When it comes to the general trend towards electric equipment, what else does that include? Is it possible that Genie will electrify its larger outdoor models and entire range in the foreseeable future?

That is not only possible but is definitely what will happen in the long run. Now, how long will that take, we cannot say today. We do have a road map and we’re working on more and more electric booms. We have now introduced the Z45 electric NFE. We have the Z60 NFE. We are also introducing a straight boom in the range of 60-feet and I think the future will be to go to 80, probably more. It all depends on how fast the technology will be able to catch up.

What will be the main power source for the electric models?

Lithium batteries will be the key for the future of the electric models.

Lithium battery technology has already become very advanced and capable. But it is also a question of cost and how soon the technology

Which are Genie’s new models right now?

We have introduced the Z45 FE and DC recently and it won’t be long before we launch the S60 FE and DC. And there will be more products in the near future. We also have the J-series, which is now catching on very quickly in the market, with rental companies starting to see the return on investment with a lower purchase price. They still get 300kg of platform weight capacity but at a little lower purchase cost than the XC along with reduced maintenance expenditure as well. can become even more affordable and thus more commercially viable.

Today everything is possible, but the only question is: is there a market that will pay for it? If we bring a 125ft fully electric boom lift, is there a customer that will pay for it? It may even well be that some rental companies will purchase such

Long a staple of the regional access sector, booms are expected to make a comeback, with rental companies replacing stocks.

What about low-level access? Does Genie have any specific models for this fast-growing segment?

We have our range of push-around AWPs and AC driven units. We are not looking at investing heavily in the low-level access market because it’s a niche one that’s not yet at the level where we think mass production would become viable for us, especially in the Middle East. We don’t see a massive market for it yet.

Also, the rules and regulations in this part of the world do not actively promote low-level access machines. In the UK, for instance, there is a maximum height ceiling above which you cannot work with a ladder, making low-level access machines a necessity.

I know that the IPAF is working very closely with a lot of municipalities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, for more regulations, and Dubai has recently issued regulations on working at heights – so the mandate is gradually coming in. But it’s also down to the awareness of the enduser to say ‘I have to implement

15 Genie projects increasing uptake of scissor lifts in the Middle East, as well as a trend of electric models with lithium batteries gaining ground.

these mandates’. You can have a mandate but you cannot monitor everyone all the time, so you have to have that push from the end-user to implement that mandate. Awareness needs to be increased in that area.

What is Genie working on in digitalisation and new technologies?

At Genie we’ve won awards for our telematics system, and I know we have one of the best systems on the market. It’s not only a telematics tool but also a diagnostic tool that prevents maintenance issues from coming and disrupting work up by preempting them.

We are also working on some other areas, such as e-commerce, on which there will be a big push from the parts side. There are other new initiatives as well that we’re working on when it comes to digitalisation and innovation on the machines, but whatever we’re doing it’s not for the sake of it. We always like to say there needs to be a purpose for innovation.

You can digitalise everything, but unless it is purposeful and adds value, it’s not really worth it.

“Lithium batteries will be the key for the future of the electric models. Lithium battery technology has already become very advanced and capable.

But it is also a question of cost and how soon the technology can become even more affordable and thus more commercially viable”

What are some new projects and customers in the region that Genie is involved with?

I think it’s not a secret that everyone is looking to Saudi and all the projects that they are announcing. But let’s not discount the other GCC countries. In the UAE, there is a big push now on the environmental side and they will host the 2023 Environment Summit.

The ongoing Expo is also a success and going forward, I think there may be more of a push in the region on sporting events. The FIFA World Cup is next year and other such events will follow. I think the GCC region will always be a very active for new projects. The rise in oil prices will also continue to drive public spending and infrastructure. So, as these things happen, the project pipeline will increase - and so will the demand for Genie’s products.

16

QER P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

QUALITY AT THE CORE

THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH PLATFORM BASKET, QUALITY EQUIPMENT RENTAL (QER) IS BRINGING A NEW TYPE OF ACCESS EQUIPMENT FROM A NEW BRAND TO THE REGION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PROMISE OF QUALITY IN ITS FLEET, ASHFAQ HUSSAIN, THE RENTAL MAJOR’S GENERAL MANAGER, TELLS CMME How has Covid-19 impacted QER? Please describe some of the important measures QER took during the pandemic and how the business is recovering now?

Like most businesses, Covid has also impacted our business significantly. QER took urgent steps to reduce the impact as much as possible through timely vaccinations, placement of resources closer to our customers and enhancing our supply chain to reduce the impact on our business. Most of our customers are based in Western region and during Covid

we had to increase our onsite teams and spares with our customers to provide them on time support. We’re happy with how we dealt with the challenges at this time and looking forward to a performance as we start grow our portfolio into next year.

When and why did you team up with Platform Basket? Can you describe some of their most popular models that you have for hire?

QER partnered with Platform Basket, a wellknown Italian manufacturer in 2018. Our

most popular model is platform basket 27.14 which is a 27-meter spider lift. It has a total weight of only 5000kg and offers an outreach of 14.4 metres with an operator in the basket and 12.7 metres with 230kg capacity. It is the most compact 27m tracked-lift with only 890mm of width, with an hydraulic operated undercarriage, that enables the machine to pass through a single door 3,5” wide. All features meet the continuous demand of the market that wants to access platforms as compact and light as possible, but with very high

17 Offering Platform Basket in the UAE market is a step that Ashfaq Hussain, general manager, QER is confident will pay rich dividends.

performances. Our spider lifts and other machines are currently deployed on projects like SeaWorld, The Royal Atlantis and Media Zone to name a few.

Has QER introduced any other new models in the access equipment segment in 2021? Can you describe the most popular ones?

Yes, Platform Basket recently introduced Spider 39T at GIS 2021 exhibition in Italy and this will soon be available in our fleet.

As well as featuring a telescopic boom the Spider 39T is equipped with extendable crawler tracks and is powered by a 37kw diesel engine. It is based on the design of

the company’s larger Spider 43T machine, which we also stock, and is fitted with rubber tracks and stabilizers. We are very much looking forward to rolling out this model here in the Middle East early next year.

Which other segments have performed well in 2021 and why?

QER is a very diverse rental business covering different products in our portfolio. Our fleet covers a wide range of equipment from diesel generators, light towers, telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, air compressors, rollers, access machines, excavators, motor graders, dozers and forklifts. Our earthmoving and

spider lifts segments have been doing particularly well in 2021 due to many ongoing earthworks projects in the UAE as well as our partnership with Platform Basket.

What other trends are you currently seeing in equipment hire and in the industry in general?

Equipment rental industry in the UAE is very dynamic and has even more growth potential given that there are many development projects are in the pipeline. QER also provides equipment services to the Oil and Gas industry and has successfully managed HVAC projects for reputed clients. As the oil and gas sector is going be very busy in the coming years due to high oil prices we think there will be a strong demand for rental equipment across the board particularly, power generation, air systems and lifting equipment.

Do you plan on adding any other products to your portfolio in 2022? Or any other news to look forward to?

We are actively working with our partners Platform Basket to have most sizes of Spider lifts available in the UAE market for both rental and sales requirements of our valued clients. We currently have 10 models of varying height and outreach in our portfolio, with the addition of the Spider 39T being our main focus right now and growing this segment will be a priority for us in 2022 and beyond.

NEW PARTNERSHIP

QER TEAMS UP WITH PLATFORM BASKET QER has teamed up with

confined areas. They

Italian company, Platform

are used in multiple

giving the operator

Basket, to supply an unrivaled

industries including

further flexibility to

range of self-propelled

tree care professionals,

set up in tight spots.

tracked cherry pickers or

painting contractors,

spider lifts, available in

restoration contractors,

various sizes ranging from

building maintenance,

13 meters to 43 meters.

construction sites and

These machines are

positioning options

According to QER, “if you’re eyeing for compactness, ultralightness, excellent Tyre grip,

utility work. The lightweight,

stability beyond any obstacle,

universally recognised for

compact design of the

their versatility, reliability

Spider Lifts means they can

traditional boom lifts. The

minimal emissions, rapidity & safety, and versatility,

and exceptionally smooth

access tight, narrow spaces

larger models have an even

this machine is definitely

manoeuvrability even in

not normally accessible by

greater variety of stabiliser

the answer to your need.”

18

SNORKEL P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

SNORKEL ON THE MOVE

ACCESS EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST UNVEILS ITS FIRST LITHIUM POWERED ROUGH-TERRAIN BOOM LIFT AND UPGRADES ITS MID-SIZE DIESEL BOOM LINE WITH HIGHER LIFT CAPACITIES

A

ccess equipment heavyweight Snorkel has gone on a new launch spree recently, unveiling the ninth model in its lithium-ion battery powered family of rough terrain mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers, as well as upgrading its mid-size telescopic boom lift line with higher lift capacities.

The new Snorkel A46JRTE, which made its global debut at the Vertikal Days exhibition in the UK earlier this year, became the company’s first lithium powered boom lift. It joined eight other lithiumpowered Snorkel models which have been introduced since late 2019, including the SL26RTE and SL30RTE electric Speed Levels, the S2255RTE, S2755RTE, S2770RTE,

S3370RTE and S3970RTE electric rough terrain scissor lifts, and the electric SR5719E/ SR626E compact rough terrain telehandler.

Snorkel says the A46JRTE uses the same lithium-ion battery pack solution as the other models in the family and offers a “true zero emission rough terrain solution”, without compromising on the reliability and four-wheel drive capabilities of the diesel equivalent. It comes as standard with three 111Ah (5.75kWh) lithium-ion battery packs, which satisfies many applications, including heavy-use, according to the manufacturer.

The automotive-quality lithium-ion battery packs are produced in the northeast of England and are individually equipped with the latest battery management systems (BMS), says Snorkel. Requiring zero maintenance, the battery packs have been

tested in climate chambers between -25°C and +60°C, making them suitable for use in most environments.

According to Snorkel, the lithiumpowered models are delivering extended duty cycles per charge, when compared to similar models. “Based on typical use in rough terrain under test conditions, a single charge can last for more than one week, and in light use on elevation jobs with minimal driving, this increases to more than two weeks on a single charge,” states an official communique from the Ahern Group manufacturer.

The A46JRTE has a powerful AC electric motor, increasing efficiency of the hydraulic drive system and providing high torque, which results in increased traction and improved rough terrain performance.

19 Snorkel adds that the electric motor also delivers 62% less job-site noise and with no engine fan, dust generation is reduced for safer and cleaner operation in low emission zones and green areas. With minimal battery and electrical system maintenance required, servicing costs are reduced by up to 93% when compared to an engine, while also eliminating the costs and risks of waste oil and filter disposal. Less servicing also reduces the load on service engineers.

Snorkel’s original diesel-powered A46JRT is capable of reaching a maximum working height of 16.3m and has a working outreach of 7.35m and benefits from a zero tailswing and 1.5m jib boom for manoeuvrability in confined spaces. The new lithium-powered four-wheel drive A46JRTE expands the A46 family to three models. Snorkel continues to offer the diesel-powered four-wheel drive A46JRT model, as well as its two-wheel drive electric powered A46JE, which is suited to indoor and outdoor work on concrete slab and is popular in industrial applications.

Matthew Elvin, CEO, Xtreme Manufacturing & Snorkel, said: “The launch of our first lithium-powered boom lift is an

“The compact and mid-size aerial lift and telehandler segment is a sweet spot for electrification, and our lithiumbattery technology is proving to be a zero-compromise solution in this product category”

Snorkel’s new A46JRTE uses three 5.75kWh lithium-ion battery packs with a single charge lasting over a week under testing.

exciting next step in our development of zero emission alternatives to diesel. The compact and mid-size aerial lift and telehandler segment is a sweet spot for electrification, and our lithium-battery technology is proving to be a zero-compromise solution in this product category, delivering zero emissions, reduced noise and equivalent or better performance than the diesel.”

Meanwhile, as it breaks new ground with the electric lithium-powered models, Snorkel has also not neglected the traditional diesel ones. The company also upgraded its line of mid-sized telescopic boom lifts in the early autumn of this year, with all six models in the line-up now featuring a new dual envelope design as standard, delivering higher lifting capacities on all of them.

The Snorkel 400S, 460SJ, 600S, 660SJ and 600S and 660SJ All-Terrain have been fitted with a newly designed, globallycompliant jib boom. Measuring 1.67m, the new jib boom reduces the stowed length of the unit for ease of transportation, while enabling higher lifting capacities.

All six upgraded models will now deliver a maximum platform capacity of 454kg with a restricted working envelope and 272kg unrestricted. Developed in response to customer demand, the higher lifting capacities enable workers to carry additional tools and materials to the work area, increasing job-site productivity. The latest models also feature upgraded controls with a visual indicator showing the operator which capacity zone they are in, and clearer graphical display for ease of operation.

CEO Elvin explains: “We are very pleased to be able to give our customers more capacity and features on already popular models. We know that the increased capacity will be welcomed by our valued customers and will play a part in delivering enhanced productivity on jobsites around the world.”

20

LAST WORD P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

TRACKS M E T S Y S LEMATICS EIR RECOVERY E T E T A V E TH ’S EL HELPS IN D COMPANY N A S E ACHIN STOLEN M

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T

100+

RAISING PRODUCTIVITY TO THE POWER OF THREE Get more work done with the new JLG Hi-Capacity HC3 boom lifts.

Featuring an expanded work envelope with three capacity zones, these machines can carry up to three occupants and tools to height in every zone.

600AJ HC3

600S HC3

660SJ HC3

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EXPLORE OUR HI-CAPACITY HC3 BOOM LIFTS When you need to carry more weight to height, you have options with the telescopic boom lifts from JLG. Our lineup currently includes the 400, 600 and 800 series Hi-Capacity booms. Get the specs for each available machine, and don’t forget to check back for information about new models.

Learn more at www.jlg.com JLG Industries | JAFZA View | PO Box 262728 | LB 19, 20th Floor, Office 05 | Jebel Ali | Dubai | measales@jlg.com

ABOVE IT ALL

The Snorkel family of articulated boom lifts offers three powerful options to suit a range of work at height applications. The Snorkel A46JRT diesel boom lift combines a superb working envelope with power and precision for full versatility. The industry-leading Snorkel A46JE electric boom lift excels in maneuverability with clean and quiet operation. The NEW Snorkel A46JRTE lithium-ion powered boom lift delivers impressive 4-wheel drive performance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL Snorkel™ on +44 (0)845 1550 057 or visit www.snorkellifts.com