Construction Machinery ME October 2019

ISSUE 96 2019 OCTOBER

PLUS

R A DE G P U N A R O F G N L OOK I M A K ER S

GR ADER ENTIAL T H E E S S H IN E E N U T E C F IN ROAD M A

SSOREN E R P M O K KAESER

Y R U T N E AC E R U S S E R P F O

F O T N E S E R ND P A T S IT A P S E A H T T N T A I A KS RG O O S O S L E E R E P M N M M O O T C S C E N L I A THE GERM LEBRATES A RARE M CE

THE L120Gz

Z-BAR LINKAGE AND LOADS MORE

The Volvo L120Gz wheel loader gives you loads more: more productivity, more fuel efficiency and more uptime. Engineered to give optimum bucket fill, the L120Gz delivers superior productivity, with the Z-bar lifting arm system working in perfect harmony with load sensing hydraulics and the Volvo attachment range.

An optimised powertrain and Eco-pedal function contribute to outstanding fuel efficiency, coupled with easy service access, for lower operating costs. The Volvo L120Gz – maximum productivity and optimum efficiency.

CONTENTS OCTOBER 2019

36

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

16_BOND IN BAHRAIN Kanoo Machinery Bahrain talks about its partnership with Bobcat and its position in the island country’s equipment sector.

20_CHANGE IN PERCEPTION CMME reports about the concerted effort from Chinese brands on product standardisation, quality control and back-up services.

24_TOWERING PRESENCE CMME sits down with the largest dealer of Potain tower cranes, NFT, to talk about tower crane operations, safety and the state of the market.

R E W O RAW P

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2

EDITORIAL OC TOBER 2019

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 EDITORIAL EDITOR ANIRBAN BAGCHI anirban.bagchi@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5715 SUB EDITOR AELRED DOYLE

YOU’RE INVITED!

aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com

This month is a groundbreaking one for your favourite magazine. On the morning of 21 October, CMME will open the doors to its very first industry event – the Access & Handling Summit.

Having been a watcher and chronicler of the region’s construction machinery industry for more than seven years now, we feel the time is ripe to play a more active and direct role in the industry of which we have come to be regarded as the journal of record. The half-day event, which will be held at the Ghaya Grand Hotel in Dubai’s IMPZ area, is our attempt to contribute towards highlighting issues that we feel strongly about.

The Gulf region is a hotbed of the oil & gas industry, a global centre for highrise construction, an entertainment destination for indoor theme parks and a region of continual development of public infrastructure, such as metro railways. This makes the powered access or work-atheight sector vitally important to its project landscape – a consideration that led us to select it as the theme of our summit.

Among the aspects of this theme that a congregation of industry professionals and experts will highlight and discuss at the event is work-at-height safety, often neglected in our region. Manufacturers, rental companies, service providers and end users will also discuss the state of the access sector in the region and shed light on its future direction. Also on hand will be some of the latest access machines, displayed and demonstrated to the sector by their manufacturers.

The sharing of knowledge, ideas and best practices at the event makes a compelling case for all our readers associated with the access sector – and also those in the wider construction industry – to block the

TOM BROMLEY

morning of October 21 on their calendars as a ‘must-attend’.

On behalf of CMME and CPI Trade Media, our organisation, I extend my invitation to all readers to join us for the event.

Attendance is free for all; you only need to pre-register at the event website, www. accessandhandlingsummit.com, which has more information on the content, proceedings and other details of the event.

We look forward to your presence on a landmark occasion for CMME. Speaking of landmarks, we take a look at the 100-year journey of Kaeser Kompressoren in this issue. The global compressor heavyweight is in its centennial year this year, achieving a milestone that few other participants in the industry have. As the Middle East head of the German giant tells CMME, it took constant innovation, learning and customer focus to get this far.

These qualities, so fundamental to success, will smoothen the company’s future path globally and locally, he believes.

When it comes to smoothening paths, the motor grader is the equipment of choice.

This peculiar machine, robustly built to perform a delicate and precise operation, is only made by a few manufacturers. We find out how they are coping with the smooth and the rough of the segment.

See you at the summit!

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE tom.bromley@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5496 DESIGN ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DESIGNER PERCIVAL MANALAYSAY percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com MARKETING MARKETING MANAGER SHEENA SAPSFORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER PHINSON MATHEW GEORGE phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 WEB DEVELOPMENT MOHAMMAD AWAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PUBLISHED BY

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.

Anirban Bagchi Editor, CMME

CPI Trade Media. PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE. +971 4 375 5470 cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.

RELIABILITY. CONVENIENCE. LOWER COSTS. GET IT ALL WITH YELLOWMARK™ PARTS Get the right fit for your machine and budget with Yellowmark, A Caterpillar Brand. See how this line of construction equipment parts for your Cat machines strikes the right balance between convenience and reliability at more affordable price.

Talk to your dealer or visit Yellowmark.com to learn more.

© 2019 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, YELLOWMARK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow”, the “Power Edge” and Cat “Modern Hex” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

4

ONLINE OC TOBER 2019

MOST POPULAR

READERS’ COMMENTS

FEATURED

CONSTRUCTION

THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION

Empower announces construction of Jumeirah Village plant is 80% complete

I read this article with a lot of interest and, while this centres largely on marketing, it occurred to me just how difficult it is to avoid being reactive and relying on gut instinct in

CONSTRUCTION

daily work without a clear

Neom awards Construction Village contracts to Al-Tamimi Group and Satco

communication strategy across the organisation.

This isn’t just a fault of the construction industry but

Feature: ‘Class Of Your Own’ launches ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ in Dubai

of business as a whole. As individuals we often fall back on our experience to make informed

CONSTRUCTION

decisions but how much

Sliding phase on world’s largest cantilever begins at One Za’abeel

better would they be if we kept a clear head when all around were losing theirs? Managing upwards, sideways and downwards through effective communication is absolutely essential in construction and

CONSULTANT

can act as a check and

Abu Dhabi residents to use e-scooters to help keep communities green

balance against the often entrenched views you may find on a project.

So, whatever service or product you bring to the construction team, clear messaging from the start is vital and that stays true

CONSTRUCTION

Tasmim’s Habitat project on track for Q1 2022 completion

Insight: JLL’s Thierry Delvaux on Dubai’s new higher committee for real estate planning

through to the end.

Name withheld by request

S W NE 6

NEW APPOINTMENT

DUNCAN SALT TAKES OVER AS WOLFFKRAN CEO

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 JCB HITS NEW HIGH JCB has announced that its financial

Wolffkran has appointed Duncan

results for 2018

Salt as its new CEO to replace Dr

hit new records,

Peter Schiefer, who will now remain

with substantial

on the company’s board of directors

increases

and operate as delegate of the

in turnover,

board, focusing on the strategic

machine sales

development of the company.

and earnings.

Salt joined Wolffkran following

The British

its acquisition of British rental

Yas projects use AMCS crane safety systems

equipment

company HTC Plant Ltd in 2015.

A group of 20 tower cranes working on construction projects on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island have been equipped with AMCS technologies’ DCS 60 anti-collision and zoning system for safe operation.

According to AMCS, the cranes comprise 16 Potain MCT205 and two Potain MC175 units, as well as two Raimondi MRT294 models.

The DCS 60 system supplied by AMCS operates in real time and in three dimensions to calculate the distances between each crane component, as well as movement speed.

It enables action to be taken on equipped mechanisms to ensure complete immobilisation of a crane at a preset distance from a particular obstacle.

The DCS 60 system applies a security envelope around the jib in proportion to the speed of slewing of the crane.

Another security envelope is applied around the cable proportionate to the speed of movement of the trolley.

These measures enable the cranes to work without risk for higher on-site productivity.

while machine

The system also makes it easy for the crane operator by displaying all the parameters needed to drive the machine.

The projects the DCS 60-equipped cranes are working on include the Yas Arena, a new 18,000-seat venue with shops, restaurants, hotels and entertainment options; and the Water’s Edge residential project, with its own waterfront promenade and pier.

Work started on the Yas Island projects in December 2017, and a part is expected to be delivered at the end of this year.

AMCS added that the DCS 60 – Driving Control System – ensures safety on-site by managing interference between cranes and prohibited overflight zones.

“It provides an unequalled level of comfort of work by displaying all the useful settings to drive the crane. Its ease of use, installation and reliability make it the most widely-used anticollision system in the world. This universal device is suitable for all types and brands of cranes in order to manage easily large construction sites,” said the French crane safety systems provider.

heavyweight

Initially heading the international

revealed that its

sales team, he was promoted

sales turnover

in January 2017 to take overall

in 2018 rose

responsibility for sales and service,

to $4.96bn, an

alongside a position on the

increase of 22%,

executive management board.

He has a degree in Mechanical

sales went up

Engineering and started his career

to 96,246 units

in the construction industry with

from 75,693 in

Laing O’Rourke, moving on to the

2017. Earnings

tower crane business later, first as

on an EBITDA

GM of the Lifting Solutions division

basis rose 31%

of Select Plant Hire Company Ltd,

to $541m. JCB

and then as director and GM of

attributed the

HTC, the UK’s largest supplier of

positive results

tower cranes, operating a fleet of

mainly to

some 250 Wolff tower cranes.

global markets

“My goal is to drive the symbiosis

remaining strong

between lifting services and

for construction

crane technology,” said Salt.

equipment and

“We are uniquely placed at

agricultural

Wolffkran, and through a greater

machinery.

emphasis on our common goals we will position Wolffkran at the forefront of our industry, setting benchmarks in service, quality and innovation.

“I am thankful for the trust and confidence placed in me by Peter and my colleagues, and I look forward to taking on the opportunities and challenges that come with the position.”

HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR

PC500LC - 10R

Customer voice is our guiding light At Komatsu, we leverage our tradition of manufacturing excellence and industry-leading technical insights to develop products and services that deliver tangible benefits to customer operation. Our guiding light in this endeavor is customer voice: illuminating the daily conditions that shape their equipment and technology requirements.

For more information, please contact your local distributor Bahrain Y.K Almoayyed & Sons +973 17 730 698

Egypt Egyptian International Motors Co. LTD. (E.I.M.) +20 2 506 1600

Jordan The Near East Equipment Co. (NEEC) +962 6 581 2816

Kuwait Dar Al Hai General Trading & Investment Co. +965 247 12905

Oman Saud Bahwan Projects & Equipment +968 245 78000

Qatar Jaidah Motors & Trading Co. +974 4463 8804

Saudi Arabia Abdul Latif Jameel Machinery Trading Co. +966 9200 25543

United Arab Emirates Galadari Trucks & Heavy Equipment Co. +971 4 338 8800

https://home.komatsu/en/

8

NEWS ROUND-UP OC TOBER 2019

HEAVY LIFT

MAMMOET BEGINS HUGE JUBAIL CHEMICAL PLANT PROJECT

Bobcat India plant starts operations

Operations have commenced at Doosan Bobcat’s first manufacturing facility in India, located on the outskirts of Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Announcing the inauguration and start of operations, Doosan Bobcat said the facility has been set up at a planned total investment of $26m over the next five years.

The state-of-the-art plant is spread across 21.6 acres and has an annual production capacity of 8,000 units. Besides catering to the local market, it will also be Bobcat’s manufacturing hub for export, including to the Middle East market.

An integrated facility, it comprises

ATLAS COPCO WIDENS QIS RANGE Atlas Copco has expanded its range of QIS generators by adding six new models in the 35-135kVA power range. The models are designed with modular capabilities to perform in demanding conditions for both standby and prime applications.

fabrication, warehousing, assembly and paint shop all under one roof, and will initially manufacture Bobcat backhoe loaders completely designed and developed by Bobcat’s engineering team in Chennai. This is a new addition to the existing product portfolio of Bobcat in India, which currently comprises several skid-steer loader and mini-excavator models.

Scott Park, CEO, Doosan Bobcat Global, said: “This new facility will help to meet the increasing demand for backhoes (in India).

We plan to use the Chennai plant as our global production base for backhoes and boost their sales... in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”

Mammoet has begun

weighing, transporting

the transport and

and installing the

installation of 49

various modules, as

modules needed for

well as overseeing

the construction of

the associated port

the Jubail United

handling and custom

Petrochemical

clearance activities.

The modules include

FASSI FOUNDER

Company’s ethylene

PASSES AWAY

oxide-ethylene

eight pipe racks,

Franco Fassi,

glycol (EO/EG) plant

ranging in weight

president and

after being awarded

between 450-650t, and

founder of Italian

the contract for

a 2,000t wash tower.

truck-mounted

the operation by

The pipe rack modules

loader crane maker

Samsung Engineering

were transported

Fassi, has breathed

in Saudi Arabia.

from the client’s

his last. Fassi, who

Following its

yard to the site on 56

founded his crane

completion in 2020,

axle-lines of SPMT

business in 1965,

the plant is expected

and then carefully set

died on August 26,

to produce 700,000

onto foundations. The

aged 89. According

metric tons of ethylene

101m x 10.8m x 11.4m

to reports, he

oxide-ethylene glycol

wash tower was safely

remained at his

per annum, said the

transported 9km from

company until

heavy lift specialist.

the port to the site on

August 1. The firm

Mammoet is

76 axle-lines of SPMT.

was originally started as a family business in 1946 by his father. Fassi developed it into a truck crane maker with expanding exports, eventually growing it into a major group of companies with several brands.

CATERPILLAR LAUNCHE SMALL LOAD S NEW ER SERIES Caterpillar ha s announce

d the launch new skid-ste of 16 er loader (SSL ) an d compact tr loader (CTL) acked models, which advance its sm loader model all s to the D3 Se ries. The new improve on th machines e quality, com fort and perf of their pred ormance ecessors – th e D and D2 Se delivering im ries – by provements in operator ex and track load perience er stability. Th ey also supp of new smar ort a line t attachments , an industry says. This ad fir st, Cat vanced machi ne technology recognises ce rtain attachm ents and tailors the co ntrols and op erator information to match the tool and the task.

9

Magna Tyres to move into new HQ

Dutch off-the road (OTR) tyre specialist Magna Tyres will soon move into its new headquarters in Gemeente Waalwijk in the south of the Netherlands, into new premises being built on an area of approximately 51,000sqm.

Announcing the move, the manufacturer said the new HQ, where construction started at the end of January this year, will also include a

warehouse. Construction is almost complete, with the company getting ready for a grand opening soon.

“This is where it all started in 2006. Now, 13 years later, we have 13 sales offices worldwide and our new head office is almost ready to move into. This is what we call growth. We are the fastest growing OTR tyre company in the world,” said Vijay Nambiar, GM, Magna

Tyres Middle East and Africa.

The new headquarters and warehouse is being built

by Belgium’s Willy Naessens Group and construction started with the building of the new head office structure. The new premises are in the same city where Magna Tyres was born and from where it grew globally, added Nambiar.

The Magna Tyres Group now manufactures premium

OTR, industrial, port handling, agricultural and truck tyres, and has fast evolved from a specialist rubber compound producer to a tyre manufacturer with a global footprint. Magna tyres are already running in more than 130 countries and the global presence of the brand continues to grow every year, Nambiar said.

“Magna Tyres’ premium quality tyres offer optimal performance and purchase price, leading to a low cost price per hour/kilometre and highly efficient operation. We have around four decades of experience in manufacturing and trading premium quality rubber compounds. From this experience, we started developing high-quality tyres, especially designed for challenging applications.”

NEW MIDDLE EAST MD AT SCANIA Swedish heavy vehicles major Scania has appointed Erik Bergvall as the new head of Middle East operations. Scania welcomed Bergvall as the new regional managing director as of September 1. Bergvall has moved from his previous position as regional director at Scania Germany and will be based in the Scania Middle East head office in Dubai.

10

KIT SPOTTING OC APRIL TOBER 20162019

DEMAG AC IN PRECISION MUNICH LIFT I n a job on behalf of Munich City Utilities, where literally every centimetre counted, a Demag AC 500-8 all-terrain crane belonging to German crane rental company AKM Autokranvermietung lifted a 19t chimney liner into the existing chimney of a cogeneration plant with a clearance of only 20cm.

With a required lifting height of 119m, crane operator Klaus Kellner fully exploited the allowable capacity of his Demag AC 500-8, which had been chosen for the job taking into account several considerations.

Sven Bauer, GM of Technology at AKM, explains: “Of all the eight-axle cranes available, the Demag AC 500-8 is the only crane that can safely handle the required loads of up to 19t at this height – otherwise we would have had to use a larger and thus more expensive 700t or even a 750t crane.”

But there was also another argument in favour of the AC 500-8. Due to its compact design – not only compared to a next-larger crane with nine axles, but also to other eight-axle cranes – it could cope much better with the cramped conditions at the construction site.

For the job, the AKM team equipped the Demag crane with a 47m main boom and a 72m luffing jib in the SSL 60° configuration, with 180t of counterweight.

This configuration was calculated from the factors of lifting height and weight.

“It was clear to us that we didn’t have much room for manoeuvre with the lifts.

That’s why we also placed bog mats under the outriggers of the AC 500-8, in order to raise the level of the crane

and thus gain a little more height,” says crane operator Kellner.

And it was also important not to give away a single centimetre when it came to the lifting tackle. For this reason, AKM had a customised spreader made of highly tempered steel built especially for this application, in which the holes to accommodate the load slings were precisely matched to the liner segments.

“This ensured that we could really go to the maximum allowable hook height,” explains Bauer.

In spite of all these measures and the meticulous preparation, lifting the chimney liner segments remained a difficult custom job that demanded the utmost precision from the crane operator and his equipment. Describing the lift, Kellner says: “I was already aware that it would be very tight. We hooked up the spreader, raised the liner to the required height of 119m and then slewed it over the chimney.”

While lowering the liner segments, he was instructed by a colleague standing on the chimney because of lack of visibility.

The challenge: the bulky liner segments had to be lifted over the railing at the top of the chimney without bumping into it – with just 20cm clearance between load and railing.

“However, I was able to rely 100% on my signalman and the precise operability of the AC 500-8,” emphasises Kellner, admitting that this operation was something special. “You don’t see a lift like that every day – especially at this height and with this weight. But with the AC 5008, it was no problem. And yes, I was quite delighted about my crane once again.”

11 “You don’t see a lift like that every day – especially at this height and with this weight. But with the AC 5008, it was no problem. And yes, I was quite delighted about my crane once again”

12

SHOW REPORT OC TOBER 2019

MATERIAL GAINS

THE 10TH EDITION OF MATERIALS HANDLING MIDDLE EAST LAST MONTH SAW A RISE IN VISITOR TURNOUT AMID REPORTS FORECASTING DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH FOR THE REGION’S WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION AND E-TAIL SEGMENTS

M

aterials Handling Middle East, the region’s dedicated warehousing, intralogistics and supply chain solutions show, racked up a 12% visitor uplift on the 10th edition of the biennial event which closed at the Dubai World Trade Centre on September 5.

Some 3,882 visitors from more than 50 countries turned out for the show which has evolved into a futuristic showcase of robotics and automation as the regional industry transforms to meet 4th industrial revolution demands. The show also hosted the 3rd Materials Handling Middle East Forklift Challenge which saw 41 operators compete in a series of timed trails where they were judged on criteria of safety, speed and efficiency. (See box) Close to 100 exhibitors from over 30 nations were demonstrating the latest technological solutions to deliver increased operational and cost efficiency, production capacity growth, speedy customer responsiveness and heightened competitiveness with logistics and materials handling at its core.

They included: Japan’s automation provider, Daifuku; Germany’s Schafer; the regional branch of industrial solutions provider, ACME; Kuwaiti transportation logistics giant, Agility; IQrobotics, the name behind Dubai’s first robotic fulfilment centre, and Swisslog Middle East LLC, a subsidiary of German robot manufacturer KUKA.

13 The 10th edition of the Materials Handling Middle East exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Centre last month saw participation by some of the top names in the logistics industry.

The show also featured a dedicated Chinese pavilion featuring around 20 of the country’s biggest industry names. The Chinese presence came in the wake of recent UAE-China accords for $3.4bn worth of new Belt and Road initiatives which are bringing the UAE’s logistics location and facilities advantages into sharp global focus.

“The show underlined the major transformation which is now underway throughout the Middle East’s entire materials handling eco-system,” explained Jasmeet Bakshi, Group Director of Other Services at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Materials Handling Middle East.

“We foresee the pace of change picking up given the robust forecasts for the region’s warehouse automation and e-tailing segments which were released on the side-lines of the show’s Supply Chain + Logistics Forum, SCALEX.” The Forum delved into the impact and opportunities arising from the increasing digitization of the industry and the advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain and robotics that are disrupting the sector to improve business efficiencies.

Research and advisory firm LogisticsIQ used the platform to release its report on the regional warehouse automation sector. It says the sector will attain compound annual growth of 17.5% to 2025 to reach a value of $1.6bn – almost triple today’s $600m worth. The growth, it says will be driven by rising e-commerce demand.

Meanwhile, a whitepaper by global analysts Aranca, suggests that with ironed-out roadblocks and increasing technology take up, the e-tail segment in the Middle East and North Africa could register a compound annual growth of around 25% to 2023 to reach $34bn in value.

“These growth forecasts will have an expansionary impact on materials handling, logistics and warehousing in the region, which, according to analysts 6WResearch, will attain compound annual growth of 5.4% to 2025 reaching a value of $69.2bn,” added Bakshi. “These bullish forecasts consequently suggest the show will continue on its expansionary path for its next edition which will be held at DWTC in September 2021.”

And although two years ahead of its next showing exhibitors were eager to secure places at an event at the centre of a high potential region. Navin Narayan, Managing Director of ACME, said: “We have had quite a few meaningful conversations with perspective clients. This show has that advantage, more qualified customers are coming to us with inquiries and projects. We have spoken to potential customers who have the potential to turn into working projects within a year or two.

“It’s important for ACME to show its presence and to showcase new technologies that are in the market.

People know what our capabilities are and that is one of the primary reasons why we have become platinum sponsors for the show.”

Andrey Kras, Account Manager at Daifuku, said:

14

SHOW REPORT OC TOBER 2019

“We are here to find valuable leads and we have achieved this. It is important to show the market that our company is here and our participation at the exhibition is an important campaign to raise awareness of our presence in the region.”

Swisslog announced the completion of the design and implementation of a new Dubai-based automated warehouse facility using its AutoStore automated material handling solution for the Middle East telecom distributor, Axiom Telecom (Axiom).

Alain Kaddoum, GM, Swisslog Middle East, said the global warehouse automation specialist is proud to work with Axiom to optimise space storage and speed up the order handling and dispatch for their e-commerce and retail operations. This completion of Axiom’s new facility confirms Swisslog’s leading position in logistics automation and increases Swisslog’s footprint in the region to more than a dozen of major automated projects in just four years, he said.

“Swisslog is uniquely well-placed to deliver the technology convergence and deep integration necessary to facilitate omni-channel, multi-modal movements across the supply chain — of which warehousing is a critical component. The recent installation is a testament to our dedication to innovation and has helped Axiom deliver an efficient and accurate service for its customers,” said Kaddoum.

Among the region’s largest retailers and distributors, Axiom has more than 5,000 points of sale and 2,000 employees across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and represents many of

Alain Kaddoum, GM Swisslog (left) and Guy Dunkerley, group supply chain director, Axiom Telecom, present Swisslog’s new warehousing solution for Axiom.

the world’s leading technology brands in the telecom industry. With a high volume of daily orders delivered across multiple channels, Axiom expects to provide speed, accuracy, and a competitive service to ensure its future in the face of increased competition.

According to Swisslog, the move to a new facility was part of Axiom’s overall vision to continue to meet changing customer demands while driving down cost per unit.

In reviewing its options, Axiom selected Swisslog’s AutoStore solution to deliver a

SHOW OF SKILL

DEFENDING CHAMPION RETAINS FORKLIFT CHALLENGE Returning winner Deepak Kataria, a forklift driver from CWT-SML Logistics, retained his first place among 41 participants in the Forklift Challenge held at the recently concluded Materials Handling Middle East 2019 exhibition.

The competition was held in three rounds, the first of which took place on the opening day of the show last week, with the other two rounds the following day. The participants, who came from 15 companies, were

put through a series of trials in which they were judged on three main criteria: safety, speed and efficiency.

Nine finalists progressed to the final round.

“I’m very excited to be taking home the win again. As the returning champion from the last contest, I found there was some tough competition this year, but I was for up the challenge,” said Kataria, who had won the last edition of the competition.

Participating

companies also included Lulu Centre Logistics, DP World, Agility and Global Shipping and Logistics, among others, said a statement from the organisers of Materials Handling Middle East, which hosted close to 100 exhibitors from over 30 countries, which included Japanese automation providers, Daifuku; Germany’s Schafer; the regional branch of industrial solutions provider, ACME; and Kuwaiti transportation logistics giant, Agility.

higher level of automation compared to its conventional warehousing system. The solution deployed was designed to fulfill Axiom’s requirement of 25,000 deliveries at a low total cost of ownership.

The new warehouse located at Dubai Silicon Oasis includes a range of pioneering distribution solutions that will give Axiom enhanced operational flexibility and efficiency with less manpower, said Swisslog, adding that its solution consists of the AutoStore automated storage and picking system, QuickMove motorised light goods conveyor and SynQ Warehouse Management Software.

AutoStore is an innovative automated material handling solution that uses robots on top of an aluminium grid system to store and locate goods, efficiently delivering them to pick stations for processing, expained Swisslog. For Axiom, the AutoStore system will consist of nine robots and five picking stations, providing storage space for 12,500 bins. Ten gravity shipping lanes ensure efficient order consolidation for both store and home delivery.

“Our first Swisslog AutoStore solution went live in the region in June 2016, with numbers increasing to eight in just three years.

The project for Axiom demonstrates the ongoing success of AutoStore in the region.

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DEALER FOCUS OC TOBER 2019

Kanoo Machinery Bahrain, part of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, has been Bobcat’s dealer in the country since 1998 and received the Best Dealer Award from Bobcat in 2017.

“KMB has seen successful year-on-year growth ever since the business started, and we have been able to sell at an average of 30 machines in a market that has stiff competition”

17

BOND IN BAHRAIN

THE YUSUF BIN AHMED KANOO GROUP COMPANY, KANOO MACHINERY BAHRAIN, DESCRIBES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH BOBCAT AND HOW IT HAS ESTABLISHED THE BRAND AS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE ISLAND’S EQUIPMENT SECTOR

I

t may be the smallest of the GCC countries, but that doesn’t mean Bahrain is any less important from a business point of view, especially in the business of construction and equipment. Over the years, the island country has seen many important construction projects and has its fair share of the iconic buildings that the entire Gulf region is well-known for.

Owing to its small size, Bahrain is the most densely populated country in the region. This means it is the most built-up as well, which in turn means compact and small equipment are of vital necessity, not only to build new structures in constricted spaces but also to maintain the built-up landscape. And there is more than enough construction and maintenance activity on the island to interest the big machinery business houses in the Gulf – as well as the global brands they represent – in having a presence in the country.

Among these is Kanoo Machinery Bahrain (KMB), which represents compact equipment powerhouse Bobcat in Bahrain. KMB is part of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group (YBAK), which has a history spanning close to 130 years and a presence in most GCC countries. KMB has been under the YBAK business umbrella for almost six decades now and is the authorised distributor for various earthmoving and material handling machinery and power equipment.

Osama Al-Mahroos, machinery manager at KMB, tells CMME that the company has

carved out a a 25% market share in the compact machinery business in Bahrain. “KMB has seen successful year-on-year growth ever since the business started, and we have been able to sell at an average of 30 machines in a market that has stiff competition from European, Chinese and Indian products.”

Leading the way for KMB in maintaining its market share is the Bobcat skid-steer loader, Al-Mahroos explains: “The Bobcat skidsteer loader has always been considered a preferred product in the Bahrain market. The reason for this is its sturdiness, innovative features and excellent performance, which have all led to a very convenient total ownership cost for the machine.”

But KMB is not a one-trick pony – and, as is well-known, neither is Bobcat. The skidsteer loader is among the several machines that the Doosan-owned manufacturer offers in the global market, and KMB represents its principal’s entire range in the Bahrain market.

“We offer the full range of Bobcat’s compact business in the country. Apart from Bobcat’s skid-steers and compact tracked loaders, we also have their mini-excavators, telehandlers and backhoe loaders, as well as the wide range of Bobcat attachments,” says Al-Mahroos.

“The introduction of the new generation of Bobcat telehandlers has allowed our business to grow further and gain a bigger market share.

The backhoe loader has seen a renaissance in the market, giving flexibility to manoeuvre and execute multiple tasks in constrained areas.

Bobcat has now become a one-stop shop with the introduction of its backhoe loader,

18

DEALER FOCUS OC TOBER 2019

GROWING TOGETHER

RECOGNITION FOR PERFORMANCE In recognition of its efforts to establish the Bobcat brand in its territory, Kanoo Machinery Bahrain was given the Best Dealer award by Bobcat in 2017.

Lauding KMB’s efforts, Bobcat said the award was especially in recognition of the dealer’s efforts in increasing Bobcat’s market share in the telehandler segment.

According to Bobcat, its relationship with KMB dates back to 1998, when it became the sole distributor for the compact equipment major in Bahrain. “Since then, the market share has grown in the telehandler segment to reach more than 40% right

and our customers now have the ability to get their whole compact fleet from one source instead of multiple ones. Moreover, Bobcat has a very wide range of attachments that allows KMB to provide customers with different types of solutions while using one machine, with multiple attachments doing various activities.”

Offering the right machines is only half the battle, however, and counts for nothing without the proper service and parts back-up, an area that KMB places great importance on. Al-Mahroos says: “KMB has an excellent service centre in Bahrain’s Sitra area, with experienced, certified technicians to handle any case and provide a quick turn-around.

KMB has a state-of-the-art workshop, which we’ve recently renovated and added new advanced equipment to, for handling complete repairs with minimum lead time.

“KMB also has a spare parts division to keep stock of parts and spares, which are available to customers on a 24/7 basis through our fully-equipped mobile workshops. We pride ourselves on achieving and maintaining an 80% fulfilment rate to support demands in our local market. KMB technicians also undergo regular training from Bobcat’s training instructors on all aspects of repair and service.”

KMB also serves the Bahrain market in other ways, such as through its machinery rental division, which can supply various Bobcat machines to customers. The company also has a barter programme under which old machines are exchanged in lieu of new ones from Bobcat at “very competitive prices”.

“At KMB, we believe in being close to our customers in various ways, and buying a

now, forming a major share in a very competitive market.

This success is accredited to the competitive client relations strategy, problem-solving solutions and expertise that KMB offers at its showroom in Sitra.”

Commenting on the recognition, Kanoo Group CEO Dr Patrick Chenel says: “It is a sign of another accomplished stepping stone to achieving our goals. YBA Kanoo has received numerous awards and recognitions across its business units for superior levels of service and excellence, and this adds another milestone in our journey to always meet the client’s needs and expectations.”

Bobcat machine from us is only the start of a relationship. We ensure peace of mind for our Bobcat customers with warranty extensions, and offer different types of maintenance packages with our skilled and certified service engineers that suit customers’ operational requirements. Moreover, we also organise events and promotion days for the launch of new machines, variants and technologies, so that our customers are always kept abreast of the latest developments in their sectors.”

All this has led to KMB becoming an integral

KMB’s spare parts division keeps a ready stock of genuine Bobcat parts that are available to customers on a 24/7 basis through the dealer’s mobile workshops.

According to KMB, its sales and client support has resulted in attracting loyal and long-term customers in Bahrain, such as Alghanah Contracting, Eastern Asphalt, Al Kooheji Contracting and Al Kobaisi Precast, adding value to major projects across the country through offering services that include sales and rentals, as well as consulting clients to find the best solutions to fit their needs.

“We believe the reason for this win comes not only from the increasing sales data, but also from the excellent customer feedback and successful participation in major projects,” adds Osama Al-Mahroos.

part of the Bahrain construction landscape, with a history of having participated in some of the biggest and most important projects on the island, and Al-Mahroos elaborates: “KMB has a history of being associated with great projects through the sales of Bobcat machines in Bahrain. We have a reputation of working with the major developers and EPC contractors in some of the country’s mega projects, such as the Bahrain Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP), Bahrain LNG terminal project, Banagas CGP#3 project and many others.”

In fact, in recognition of its performance over the years, KMB was honoured by Bobcat in 2017 as its best dealer, especially for its performance in telehandler, mini excavator and skid-steer loader sales.

Elaborating on the KMB philosophy, AlMahroos explains: “KMB and Bobcat share a special bond, since both have been working and prospering in the Bahrain market jointly for many years. With Bobcat being a global brand and Kanoo a strong local company, the synergy thus created has increased our joint foothold in the market. With a premium positioning, great reputation and long-term relationship building, we aim to be a long-term partner of Bobcat and take the customers’ needs into consideration above all else.”

Looking into the crystal ball, he concludes on a hopeful note about the future prospects of the KMB-Bobcat combination: “Irrespective of some negative economic trends, Bobcat machines have their preferred market and their own niche in the industry. We foresee demand for Bobcat continuing due to its qualities.”

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CHINESE MANUFACTURERS OC TOBER 2019

CHANGE IN PERCEPTION

WITH A CONCERTED EFFORT ON PRODUCT STANDARDISATION, QUALITY CONTROL AND BACK-UP SERVICES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, CHINESE BRANDS HAVE TAKEN THE FIGHT TO ALL OTHERS AND ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AS EQUALS

A

s a keen watcher and recorder of the construction machinery industry, especially in our region, CMME can attest to a subtle change of perception about Chinese equipment over the years.

Probably even around five years ago, every conversation with a Chinese manufacturer was fraught with the spectre of one looming question: Aren’t Chinese brands perceived as low-price and low-quality options when compared with the big, established Western and Japanese brands?

This one obvious question was like the elephant in the room if you were a representative of a Chinese brand – you couldn’t ignore it, but you wished it wasn’t there. The respondents usually hummed and hawed, pursed their lips, knitted their eyebrows, sometimes even squirmed. It was usually evident that this was a question they’d rather not be asked. The typical answer revolved around the rehearsed themes of ‘we’re improving’ and ‘our customers and the market are increasingly recognising us for quality and innovation’. You got the distinct impression sometimes that the responder felt like a deer caught in the headlights.

Fast forward to the present, and after a sustained effort to achieve parity with global standards – and occasionally even set them – as well as through several acquisitions of top global brands with their deep pockets and technology transfer benefits, the scenario has almost turned on its head.

Ask the same question to a Chinese manufacturer now, and there will be a carefully suppressed roll of the eyes, a change in the body language as if to suggest ‘Let’s just humour him’, and then a confident answer that points to the innovation awards, global sales and industry firsts that the land of the dragon can now claim.

It’s an increasingly obsolete question, but one we still felt compelled to ask some manufacturers.

Wajih Eit, GM, Zoomlion Gulf, says: “There have been really huge changes in the perception of the ‘made in China’ product in the Middle East, especially when we talk about a large group like Zoomlion, which is today among the top ten biggest manufacturers of construction machinery in the world. The Chinese giants have worked a lot on their quality, product standardisation and availability of spare parts and services. This is what we have been working on too, as well as on our dealer network, which is the most important point here.

“Our products have become more specific for the market, and the quality control of our facilities in China is making the difference, along with the availability of spare parts and the service. At the end of the day, people are recognising that with Zoomlion they have a product that they’re using in the region since, say, 2008, with very good performance and now with the right support in terms of spare parts and service.”

There was seldom any doubt about the performance of Chinese brands, Eit explains; the doubts were about quality control. “Just to give you an example, in the past it was not unheard of to find two units of the same model from a Chinese supplier but with different components mounted on each. But now there is a real process of quality control of the components, of unifying the suppliers and even quality control of the supplier itself.

“In this the Chinese brands are following the experience of the European manufacturers and suppliers, but the Chinese are making these big changes in a short time, only four or five years, which the European manufacturers took a long time to do.

“So today you can notice that the Middle East market is big on Chinese products. Just to give you one example, in Egypt, where they have high customs on the Chinese

21 Zoomlion is now among the top ten largest global manufacturers.

It has also found success in the region, being chosen for bigticket projects such as the new Kuwait Airport.

“There have been huge changes in the perception of the ‘made in China’ product in the Middle East, especially when we talk about a large group like Zoomlion, which is today among the top ten biggest manufacturers of construction machinery in the world”

22

CHINESE MANUFACTURERS OC TOBER 2019

machinery, the products are still very popular. This is because they have seen the key projects in the region done by Chinese products – and done well. So customers today are more confident with Chinese brands.”

Eit adds that this confidence has resulted in Zoomlion finding great success in the region recently with many big projects, with the landmark new Kuwait Airport one of them. “We have eight huge tower cranes there, 130t each unit, in the biggest ever equipment export from China. The value of the contract is $20m. And this is among many other huge projects in the region we’re providing machines to.

“The project saw fierce competition from the likes of Potain, but we were able to win it because we were sure about our product quality and our service support. If you’re not really confident about your product, you can never go in for these kinds of projects.”

Ilkay Fidan, business director, Hub South at SDLG, a Volvo-owned Chinese manufacturer, agrees. “The general perception about Chinese brands used to be that they were not strong enough when it came to reliability, parts distribution and serviceability. We have improved our logistics, parts distribution and serviceability as we’ve progressed on our journey. When we launched our latest F-series of wheel loaders and backhoe loaders, everything was in place, including the product quality which was always there.

And the results are showing.

“We now have an extensive footprint in the GCC and wider Middle East, with long-term partners in every single country who have

SDLG believes it offers a higherend product in the value segment.

The company says its new F-series wheel loaders can challenge any European product.

existing facilities in every important district.

We have machines working on various largescale projects – mainly wheel loaders and motor graders. We have units with 20,000 hours on them and customers are happy with the quality of the machines and the after-sales support by our dealers.”

Fidan adds that since 2010, SDLG has had a great dealer footprint and understanding of customer needs in the region. “I believe SDLG offers a higher-end product in value segments, giving end users peace of mind

with its quality and after-market support.

SDLG’s market share began growing rapidly in 2017 and we see that continuing in the coming years.

“Among our new launches are our F-series wheel loaders, backhoe loaders and motor grader model with VHP (variable horse power). The L956F is our best-seller. It’s a 5t wheel loader adaptable to different jobsites. Our new F-series wheel loaders are challenging any European product.”

LiuGong is another Chinese manufacturer engaged in a flurry of new launches. At the Beijing International Construction Machinery Exhibition and Seminar (BICES) last month, the company launched its latest new-generation excavators, which integrate technology, intelligence and environmental protection and are suitable for emerging markets. LiuGong also pointed the way forward with the unveiling of two new battery electric mini excavators and a remote controlled wheel loader (see box).

Meanwhile, XCMG, a Chinese brand well-known for its mobile cranes, showed off its technical sophistication with a product promotion event in Muscat earlier this summer, where it unveiled several models highly customised for demanding requirements under tough working conditions in hot desert climates. The lineup included mobile, truck-mounted, crawler and tower cranes, and aerial work platforms, unveiled with much fanfare to demonstrate the importance of the Middle East in the scheme of things for this important madein-China brand.

BATTERY ELECTRIC TECH

FUTURE MACHINES FROM LIUGONG LiuGong showed off its new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and a 5G-based remote controlled intelligent wheeled loader at the BICES show in Beijing this year.

Using lithium-ion battery systems for energy storage, the BEVs sport high-efficiency permanent magnet electric motors to drive the machines.

According to LiuGong, a typical BEV’s peak power output is twice that of a conventional diesel-powered machine.

The BEV range comprises the 906E-EV and 922F-EV excavators and the 856H-EV wheeled loader.

The first generation of BEVs have batteries equipped with fast-

charging technology and energy-saving systems, and need one hour to charge to 80%. The company adds that its diesel excavators can also be quickly converted to battery electric vehicles.

Edward Wagner, executive director, LiuGong New Technology, explains: “The total operating cost of a battery powered earthmover is or soon will be, depending on the exact vehicle design and customer application, lower than that of a diesel-powered machine.”

LiuGong also presented its new 5G-based remote-control

intelligent wheeled loader at the BICES show. The model is codeveloped and supported by China Telecom and Huawei technology.

In remote-control driving mode, all operations can be observed from video sent back by the cameras on the machine.

It also uses intelligent protection technology for automatic identification and auto emergency stop, making it good for use in dangerous environments.

Cai Dengsheng, deputy chief engineer of LiuGong’s Intelligent Technology Institution, said the 856H-EV can be remotely controlled from more than 2,000km away, and provides real-time response and accurate control through 5G connectivity.

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24

INTERVIEW OC TOBER 2019

TOWERING PRESENCE

CMME SITS DOWN WITH ABU DHABI-BASED NFT FOR TOWER CRANES, THE LARGEST POTAIN DEALER IN THE WORLD, TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND THE STATE OF THE MARKET

T

he Middle East is a hotbed of tower crane activity.

Skylines are pockmarked with the spindly spires of flat-tops, hammerheads and luffing jib tower cranes, building the next supertall skyscraper. And the byword for tower cranes is NFT. Based in the region but with a footprint that also covers Europe and Asia, NFT is the world’s largest dealer of Manitowoc’s market-leading Potain tower crane brand.

Nagham Al-Zahlawi, deputy GM of the Abu Dhabi-based tower crane powerhouse, discusses NFT’s performance and its commitment to promoting safety and best practices in the sector.

How do you assess the global and regional tower crane market, and how has 2017-19 been for NFT? The market in our region has seen better days. Since last year, Dubai has been busier for us than the other countries combined, but we are now noting a slowdown in activities. Kuwait is also a good market for us, as we have a handful of mega projects that will continue until next year. After a quiet few years, we are seeing a lot of requests for pricing for big projects being tendered in Saudi Arabia. Hopefully this market will return to its old ways and once again be the biggest in the region.

Fortunately, our branches in Europe and the Far East are busy again, and we have been exporting cranes to new markets such as North and South America, Africa and Western Europe. Abroad, Korea and France are good markets for us. In 2019, we also exported to Egypt, which is one of the brightest spots as market reports estimate that construction in the country could expand by an annual average of 11.3% from 2019 to 2023.

We will continue to support the GCC market and export to any country that has demand.

The key is to follow demand wherever it is, and the good thing about a tower crane is that it fits in only a few containers and can be shipped within a week to any destination.

NFT continues to generate a stable profit margin, mainly driven by the UAE and Kuwait in the GCC. Also, a lot of internal changes and process developments have allowed us to cut costs and reduce expenses. In future, we plan to continue developing cooperative strategies that can adapt to any market situation.

For tower cranes, NFT plans to replace most of its luffing cranes in the UK with hydraulic cranes. This will allow NFT’s luffer fleet to service more projects in the GCC, where luffing tower cranes are becoming more and more popular. On a strategic level, the goal is to increase our market share worldwide, while maintaining a strong presence in the GCC. What are the peculiarities and challenges of the GCC tower crane market?

One challenge we face is the competitiveness of the tower crane market. There are almost

NFT for Tower Cranes is the largest dealer in the world of Manitowoc’s Potain brand of tower cranes. Though based in Abu Dhabi, it has a wide regional and even global presence.

25 “NFT always emphasises the importance of safety when procuring tower cranes, whether during negotiations with the procurement team, at conferences or even on-site with our technician – safety is our number one priority”

no restrictions in place for entry of new suppliers, as opposed to other countries where strict vetting exists.

The same can be said for the machine itself. Any age and brand of crane can be imported and/or used on most job-sites. The condition and age of the crane is seldom inspected beforehand. Tower cranes are used around the clock in this region, and the weather conditions negatively impact the crane, whether in use or on the ground being stored. While there is a safety culture on most job-sites, it often neglects the tower crane. We see a lot of installations that are ill-advised.

On a macro-economic level, political tensions and cash flow problems remain the biggest worries for suppliers at the end of the supply chain.

What advantages does Potain offer, and why is the brand popular in the region?

Potain have been manufacturing tower cranes for 90 years, so they are ahead of most manufacturers when it comes to innovation.

New products are released on a regular basis and have customer requirements in mind.

At every exhibition of the construction machinery industry, no matter the continent, you can see a Potain stand with new products.

They are a global manufacturer with factories all over the world. Therefore, they have policies in place for every segment of their business,. The diversity of their facilities means they have different product offerings for specific market needs. The Potain name is historically known to contractors as a guarantee of safety and quality. Most of our customers rate us high on variety, availability of spare parts, endurance, safety, reliability and quality.

Potain has a dealer network that we believe is second to none in this industry, and the manufacturer regularly organises trainings and dealer events to connect and educate those representing the product. As part of this dealer network, we can find used cranes and spare parts almost anywhere.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hammerhead, flat-top and luffing cranes?

How is each type perceived and used in the GCC? Luffing jib tower cranes are ideal for congested job-sites or obstructed areas with limited space. They are also the perfect solution when it is forbidden for part of the crane to over sail outside the project boundary. The disadvantage is commercial, as they’re the most expensive of the three types. Most high-rise buildings feature several luffing cranes to speed up progress.

The ability to limit the radius of the crane

26

INTERVIEW OC TOBER 2019

REASONS FOR RISE

FACTORS BEHIND NFT’S SUCCESS According to Nagham AlZahlawi, certain factors make NFT unique and are the source of the company’s strength.

• Size: NFT can supply any quantity of cranes, in any size and configuration, anywhere in the world.

• Stock: NFT has more than 2,000 new and used tower cranes in stock, with different models in all sizes to match any delivery requirement.

• Experience: Having started 35 years ago, NFT has some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, with know-how for problem-

solving and special customer demands.

• After-sale support: The NFT Call Centre is available 24/7 and the company can provide technical and on-site support to ensure minimum downtime.

• Design team: NFT has an in-house design team to provide tailormade solutions that take space, capacity and cost constraints into account.

• Reputation: NFT and Potain are synonymous in the region, and NFT has worked hard to build its brand. NFT makes sure it is

prevents any possible collision, as most high-rise buildings have a slender layout.

The topless crane has gained a lot of popularity in the last decade. Unlike hammerhead cranes, topless cranes do not require a cathead, which means fewer masts are required. The redundancy of the cathead means it is faster to erect and requires fewer containers during transport.

The only disadvantage compared to a hammerhead is that capacity at the end of the jib is usually lower.

NFT has moved into its new premises in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dafra area, where it keeps enormous stocks of cranes, crane sections and spare parts, all supported by its technicians for quick delivery.

well stocked with spare parts to reduce customer downtime. Its technicians are regularly trained by the manufacturer in the latest developments.

• Potain’s support: NFT has full support from Potain, a brand it has been representing since 1994. Potain’s engineering department is regularly kept busy with special requests from NFT clients, such as abnormal freestanding heights and other site configurations. Their joint speed of response helps NFT solve critical issues.

The hammerhead is the more traditional crane. Its disadvantage is the cathead, which can be a problem when working in a job-site with a restriction on the maximum height, such as near an airport. Aldar’s Water’s Edge project in Abu Dhabi, for example, is on the flight path to Abu Dhabi Airport and therefore cranes were required to be topless.

Another new type of tower crane has emerged: the hydraulic crane, the first in the European range to combine luffing jib and topless capabilities. It uses hydraulic

power for the luffing movement for greater efficiency.

How are the rental sector and used market doing in the GCC? At NFT, 80% of our revenue is from the rental segment. Clients choose to rent instead of purchase for many reasons; capital investments for new cranes are too big to bear for many projects, and most companies have tunnel vision and make decisions on a projectto-project basis, as the future is uncertain.

Another reason for renting is that companies don’t see a long-term need for a model that is unique to a specific job-site. This is usually the case for the larger tower cranes. Also, a job-site may require several cranes, and purchasing too many may be illogical for the long term if jobs aren’t guaranteed. The cost of owning cranes includes operators, technicians, regular training, insurance, spare parts and other related hassles and expenses. Most of these are usually included when renting.

The used market is in a good place right now, as Europe was facing a small shortage because of all the cranes it sold during the crisis years. This is visible through the trading websites that bring together supply and demand for second-hand machinery. In the GCC, used cranes are very popular. However, we recommend procuring a used crane only from a reputable manufacturer or supplier because of the required level of refurbishment, quality of the structure and parts availability.

It is also always important to remember that the manufacturer will offer OEM services, which means you can always go back to them

27 or their partners and ask for spare parts and services as necessary. At NFT, we refurbish all our used tower cranes to the same standard as any European manufacturer. We have facilities in our yard in Al Dafra dedicated for reconditioning used tower cranes. Similarly, Manitowoc has had a dedicated rebuild, repair, remanufacture and exchange programme for all models of Manitowoc, Grove and Potain cranes since 2011.

How is safety treated in the region, and what does NFT do to improve safety for its clients?

In the Middle East, safety is often treated as a luxury that cannot be afforded. It is sad to see many sites using cranes from the 1980s or ‘90s. Perhaps market conditions oblige them to cut corners when it comes to the right practices. A tower crane occupies a large footprint, so an accident is highly fatal. There should never be a compromise on safety or quality when it comes to tower cranes.

NFT always emphasises the importance of safety when procuring tower cranes, whether during negotiations with the procurement team, at conferences, or even on-site with our technician – safety is our number one priority. At a regional machinery exhibition last year, NFT and Manitowoc gave a joint presentation on the dangers of compromising on quality for price. We discussed the serious concern over the rise in counterfeit parts, and the do’s and dont’s on job-sites in terms of safety. In 2017, NFT and Manitowoc launched the Safety First Campaign, where we went to our clients’ sites trying to spread awareness around safety for tower cranes.

NFT says 80% of its revenues come from the rental sector, owing to customers unwilling to make a big capital investment in a new crane when the project pipeline is uncertain.

NFT has also assisted the Abu Dhabi Municipality in preparing regulations for the safe operation of heavy equipment, and received an award for our participation and contribution. Any chance we get to raise awareness or support creating regulations to improve safety of people and equipment, we will take it.

“At NFT, we refurbish all our used tower cranes to the same standard as any European manufacturer.

We have facilities in our yard in Al Dafra dedicated for reconditioning used tower cranes”

Discuss the new introduction at Bauma this year, and the prospects of those models in this region.

New introductions in Bauma feature the Potain MCH125, a hydraulic luffing crane with maximum capacity of 8t, a 50m jib length with a tip load of 2t, a very short counter jib at 7m, and a small out-of-service radius of 13.5m. It is designed for easy erection and dismantling, and is erected faster as there is no need for rope reeving to allow the luffing movement. It is done by means of a hydraulic jack.

Another Bauma highlight was the Potain MDT809, the biggest topless crane in Potain’s fleet. Available in three configurations with maximum capacities of 25t, 32t or 40t, it also features Potain’s latest CCS technology, introduced a few years ago.

This new generation features the highest safety standards in the industry, greater lift performance with Potain Plus, fast and easy set-up, and optimised ergonomic control.

The new HUPM crane is also a welcome addition to an already very strong offering of self-erecting cranes, ideal for lowrise construction with quick set-up, high performance and low operating costs.

WINNING POINTS

WHY CHOOSE POTAIN? It’s no secret that Potain is among the most popular tower crane brands in the world, and a favourite in the GCC. While its partnership with NFT is the icing on the cake for customers in the region, Nagham Al-Zahlawi points out why the Manitowocowned French brand has attained great heights.

• Innovation: Potain innovations include the Vision Cab, the Dialog control system and the LLC range of hoists.

• Endurance: Potain cranes are especially adapted to perform strenuous work expeditiously.

They offer frequency control systems for all modern and

advanced operations, quick assembly and dismantling, and full rotation system control, and occupy minimal space for storage and transportation.

• Quality: With two testing centres in Lusigny and Charlieu in France, Potain tower cranes undergo strenuous testing. It takes years for Potain to release new products because of the amount of time it takes to test them.

• High resale value: A Potain crane is an investment because of its guaranteed resale value. The brand name is recognised by customers

worldwide. In addition, Potain guarantees the availability of parts for all cranes, even those that are more than 20 years old. The wellestablished Potain used crane market gives the highest residual value for the brand.

• Adaptability: Potain has products and solutions for building tall with several cranes on-site, with fast and easy installation in dense urban areas for building narrow towers while saving on ties, and for industrial construction – in fact, for any type of work with tower cranes.

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

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34

TOP 10: RADER TIPS FOR G N OPERATIO

30_NEW RELEASES The latest releases from the world of construction machinery.

uent rk and freq Avoid rewo nance with road mainte tips. some easy

36_A CENTURY OF PRESSURE German compressor giant Kaeser Kompressoren completes 100 years of performance under pressure.

42_LOOKING FOR AN UP-GRADE Motor graders, vital in road construction, sport the latest tech and features to improve performance.

48_LIEBHERR AT 70 Seven decades of the mobile tower crane invented by Liebherr.

30

NEW RELEASES OC TOBER 2019

WIRTGEN INTRODUCES WCC MILLING TOOLS WHY GET IT? HIGHLY WEAR-RESISTANT CARBIDE CUTTING EDGES, IMPACT-RESISTANT AND NEARLY UNBREAKABLE German road construction machinery major Wirtgen has introduced the Wirtgen Compact Carbide (WCC) milling tools, a new range of tools for soil stabilisation. The John Deere-owned company said that the new speciallydeveloped WCC tools are in addition to the point-attack cutting tools with conventional carbide tips that have been widely used to date in soil stabilisation.

Wirtgen added that soil stabilisation is the ideal solution for producing compactable soil with good paving properties from a sub-base with insufficient bearing capacity, and is a process widely used throughout the world. Road builders need to be able to process a wide variety of soil types, from ‘highly cohesive’ to ‘interspersed with coarse rock’ to ‘abrasive’.

Due to their shape and materials, Wirtgen’s newly developed WCC milling tools are perfect for mixing of cohesive soils interspersed with large pieces of rock.

They have a highly wear-resistant carbide cutting edge that is nearly unbreakable

and therefore impact-resistant due to the enormous strength of the material, said Wirtgen. Thanks to the enormous strength of the cutting edges, the high break stability of the carbide cutters is particularly advantageous when working with large pieces of rock and can therefore withstand even the highest impact loads.

Depending on their application, WCC milling tools are a useful addition to the existing range of point-attack cutting tools, with Generation Z being the allrounder for cold recycling and soil stabilisation, the company said, adding that even the hardest base courses and soils can be economically processed with these point-attack cutting tools.

The Generation Z point-attack cutting tools have been developed by Wirtgen with the HT22 quick-change toolholder system, especially for the specific requirements of cold recycling and soil stabilisation. Depending on the requirements, cutting tools with a shaft diameter of 22mm or 25mm are available.

SPECIFICATIONS

WIRTGEN COMPACT CARBIDE MILLING TOOL Shaft diameter: 22-25mm Toolholder system: Wirtgen H22 Cutting edges: Carbide Suitable for: Cohesive soils with large rock pieces

VERTON’S NEW CRANE SAFETY SYSTEM WHY GET IT? REDUCES ACCIDENTS AND FATALITY RATES IN CRANE OPERATIONS Australian lifting and rotation management company Verton has developed a new crane safety system that is generating interest from the global crane and lifting sector. The Brisbane-based firm’s R-series safety device is a remote load management system that improves safety and productivity for crane operations by eliminating the need for human-held taglines to control suspended loads.

According to reports, the company has received official support from the Business Development Fund (BDF) of Australia’s Queensland state for the R-series, which was also declared ‘best in class’ for engineering design at Australia’s Good Design Awards. Australian crane hire company Universal Cranes became the first to use it earlier this year.

According to Verton, the R-series has received interest from mining, port and shipping operators, as well as construction companies. It has also established a partnership with international heavy lifting and transport specialist Mammoet and wind turbine supplier Vestas, to further develop a safer new lifting method for installing wind turbine blades.

Trevor Bourne, MD, Verton, said: “The R-series is a world-first, remotecontrolled load management system which Stan Thomson invented, and it is revolutionising the world of lifting operations. With the R-series, workers will thankfully no longer be near or under moving loads, reducing accidents and fatality rates in crane operations.”

31

NEW WASTE EXPERT TELESCOPIC LOADERS FROM BOBCAT WHY GET IT? HIGH LOADING AND LIFT CAPACITIES, ROBUSTLY BUILT FOR WASTE HANDLING, TYRE CHOICES Bobcat has launched a new Waste Expert range of telescopic loaders, introducing a new, dedicated material handling solution for the waste and recycling markets.

The compact equipment specialist said the decision to offer the new range was based on the warm reception that a prototype Waste Expert machine based on Bobcat’s TL43.80HF telehandler received at Bauma in April.

As a result of the interest in the prototype at

the construction industry triennial in Munich, Bobcat has decided to offer four of its current productivity and high-flow telescopic loaders – the TL35.70, TL34.65HF, TL38.70HF and TL43.80HF – as new Waste Expert machines, all powered by Bobcat Stage IV 100 or 130hp engines. These new telescopic loaders offer lifting capacities of 3.4-4.3t and lifting heights of 6.5-8m.

Olivier Traccucci, Bobcat telehandler senior product manager, said: “Waste and recycling businesses need versatile machines that can handle a large variety of tasks, manoeuvre well in tight spaces and provide maximum efficiency in full safety throughout the working day. With the toughest design on the market, impressive bucket breakout forces, efficient cooling systems, a low centre of gravity and a long wheelbase to enhance stability and lift capacity, our new Waste Expert telescopic loaders are ideally suited for the waste and recycling markets.

“Like all our machines, the new Waste Expert telescopic loaders are made for the hardest jobs, while still providing all the agility and versatility any application would require. In the HF models, the very robust machine build is combined with high flow capability for unmatched loading productivity and lift capacity.”

Keeping in mind the tough working environments in the waste and

recycling segment, Bobcat says it has upped the robustness of the new machines with heavy-duty Dana Spicer axles and additional reinforced protection. They also incorporate extra-large boom heads, high tensile steel booms, boom cushioning and protected hydraulic rams under and inside the booms.

Like all Bobcat telescopic loaders, the Waste Expert machines have a box-welded frame to meet heavy-duty cycles and offer high ground clearance, with a bottom plate along the entire length to protect vital parts.

In addition, they are equipped with additional features for working in harsh conditions, including a protective grill for the windshield and roof, protection for the work and road lights, extra protection for the fuel and oil tanks, Inner boom dust protection, tilt cylinder protection, an FNR control on the joystick and steering wheel lever, an auto fan inverter, an extinguisher, and a white noise back-up alarm.

Bobcat also offers several tyre options, including Michelin and Nokian steel-fortified and Camso extreme-duty solid tyres.

SPECIFICATIONS

BOBCAT WASTE EXPERT TELELOADERS Engine power: 100hp or 130hp Lifting capacities: 3.4-4.3t Lifting heights: 6.5-8m Axles: Dana Spicer

32

NEW RELEASES OC TOBER 2019

CONTI LAUNCHES RADIAL TYRES FOR PORT APPLICATIONS WHY GET IT? LOW HEAT GENERATION FOR HIGH ENDURANCE AND MILEAGE Tyre major Continental has launched its new radial port tyre line-up, developed to meet the demands of vehicles used in terminal operations. The German multinational said the new portfolio, introduced at the TOC Europe 2019 port and terminal technology exhibition in the Netherlands, is specifically designed for load and carry applications. The company added that it has become a full solutions provider for port operations, offering a complete port product range that includes V.ply tyres, radial tyres and digital solutions.

“Day in and day out, containers are transported many kilometres from one location to another on the extensive grounds of international ports. For these demanding load-and carry applications, radial tyres are the perfect solution, particularly in the tough Middle Eastern climate,” said a Continental statement.

The tyres offer low heat generation and a flat tread contour for high endurance and mileage over long distances, said the company, listing the three new radial tyres as the ContiRT20, the ContainerMaster Radial and the StraddleMaster Radial. They are suited to various vehicle types used in load-and-carry applications, including heavy forklift trucks, empty container handlers, reach stackers, straddle carriers and terminal tractors.

NEW ZF CLUTCH FOR LIEBHERR MOBILE CRANES WHY GET IT? MULTIDISC MODULE WITH HIGH TORQUE HANDLING CAPACITY Liebherr’s three-, four- and five-axle allterrain cranes will sport a multidisc clutch module from next year, after Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen developed the system for installation on the mobile lifters. Called DynamicPerform, the module developed by the automotive and commercial vehicle component maker will be available for volume production starting in 2020.

The new module is a pairing of the cranes’ wet starting clutch with ZF’s TraXon modular transmission. It can handle engine torque up to 3,000Nm and provides durable starts with very little wear when manoeuvring, ZF said. The cooling of the clutch discs is done by circulating oil and the cooling system uses dedicated temperature model software developed specifically by ZF for heavyduty, specialised vehicle applications. ZF’s DynaDamp damping is also built into the system and configured for the vibration behaviour in newer engines in the highest emission tiers, said ZF.

The TraXon DynamicPerform transmission system can be combined with ZF’s hydrodynamic hydraulic brake intarder to relieve demand on the service brakes by up to 90%, extending the life of the service brakes and reducing maintenance costs and brake dust emissions.

ZF added that the TraXon has a high transmission ratio spread and an energy conservation efficiency rating of 99.7%. It weighs 397-449kg, including the intarder, when fitted with DynamicPerform. Being modular in nature, the TraXon can be combined with other ZF systems to build transmissions to suit specific applications.

Martin Dony from Liebherr’s Mobile Cranes Driveline Development and Construction department said: “We supported ZF during the development process of the DynamicPerform and helped guide its integration into the mobile crane driveline. Prototypes of several crane models have been undergoing testing for months in order to ensure volume production at the beginning of 2020.”

SPECIFICATIONS

ZF DYNAMICPERFORM Torque handling: Up to 3,000Nm Weight: 397-449kg Energy conservation efficiency: 99.7% Cooling system: Circulating oil

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34

TOP TEN OC TOBER 2019

01 MOULDBOARD POSITIONING Begin road maintenance with the mouldboard top approximately two inches ahead of the cutting edge, and then adjust to the material and conditions. Tip the mouldboard forward or back to obtain and maintain the desired cuttingrolling action. Maintaining a rolling action on the material while working reduces the horsepower required and provides maximum productivity.

02

REDUCE BOUNCE Motor graders have a tendency to bounce, which can be reduced by articulating the rear frame towards the toe of the mouldboard by 2-5 degrees.

This places one front tyre slightly ahead of the other, allowing one to be on top of a corrugation and the other at the bottom. As the tyres roll up and down, the front axle pivots up and down, keeping the front mainframe stable.

: N E T P TO E T A R E P O O T S Y WA S R E D A R G R O T O M ROAD T N E U Q E R TIPS RK AND F O RADER G E S E AVOID REW H T CE WITH N A N E T N I MA

03

CUT OUT POTHOLES When faced with making a grade on a stretch with major potholes, cut to the depth of the potholes to eliminate them. Filling holes with loose, dry material is ineffective, as traffic quickly displaces the loose material and the holes reform.

SQUARE D R MOULDBOEA ANGL on the

pass est possible For the wid ouldboard m e keep th , e c le. a rf su l e trav e as possib to the fram re a u e th sq s d a aroun angle arts to flow If material st oard, or the ld u the mo b f o e d n e g leadin se the blad dies, increa n o ti re c a a s g e n rolli egre s of 10-30 d angle. Angle ee-flowing fr t, h d in lig se u lly a rm no et, sticky itching or w D l. a ri te a m s of uires angle material req es.

30-50 degre

04

35

05 06

AVOID MATERIAL BUILD-UP Material build-up in the circle area may increase circle wear. It can also stop material rolling action and cause it to be bulldozed. Bulldozing material requires more horsepower and traction, and reduces motor grader productivity.

STRAIGHT MAIN FRAME To maintain the maximum stability of the machine when doing maintenance work on roadways, the motor grader’s main frame should be as straight as it possible. Along with a straight main frame, stability is also helped by keeping both the drawbar and the circle centred under the main frame.

GO EASY ON THE PRESSURE Apply only enough downward pressure to accomplish the task. Excessive downward pressure on a hard, dry surface causes rapid cutting-edge wear, requires more horsepower and fuel, and reduces productivity.

07

CORRECT LE NG be BLA’sDtiEp aA ngle should

edge The blade the cutting h it w d e n o rface. positi the road su to s e re g e d pressure at 90 downward , n o ti si o p ss stress In this ard places le o b ld u o m ining on the ge and reta d e g in tt u c nd to on the dges also te lps bolts. The e he h ic bjects, wh ride over o e in ch prevent ma . e g a m a d

09 08

CUTTING AND FINISHING To cut hard material or for finishing work, tip the mouldboard further forward than the start position. When finishing, tip its top 4-5 inches ahead of the cutting edge, so that the cutting edge is 90 degrees to the cut surface.

10

CORRECT SPEED The correct machine travel speed is the right compromise between productivity and bounce.

Keep the travel speed as high as possible for maximum productivity, but low enough to prevent the grader from bouncing. Generally, speeds of 5-8km/h work best for most surfaces.

36

COVER STORY OC TOBER 2019

A CENTURY OF PRESSURE WITH KAESER KOMPRESSOREN CELEBRATING ITS HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, CMME TAKES A LOOK AT ITS LONG HISTORY OF PIONEERING PRODUCTS AND HOW THE GERMAN GIANT’S JOURNEY HAS BEEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST

I

t was 1919. The aftermath of World War 1, which had left Europe in shambles, had created a huge scope and demand for rebuilding.

It was in this crucible of opportunity that Carl Kaeser senior started producing spare parts, car engines, gear wheels and special machines for the glass industry in June 1919, with a team of eight employees and two apprentices.

From humble beginnings in a small workshop in Hahnweg - the old buildings are still standing - in Germany’s Coburg area, Carl grew his business rapidly and within a few years, expanded his workforce to 150 people.

But when World War II threw a spanner in the works – with virtually Carl’s entire customer base in Thuringia and Saxony now on the other side of the border – the quick thinking and ingenuity that to this day characterises Kaeser Kompressoren came to the fore.

Taking advantage of his company’s available expertise, Carl Kaeser adapted production quickly to a related product: reciprocating compressors. Thus began Kaeser’s successful focus on compressed air. In 1948, the first reciprocating compressor rolled off the Hahnweg production line.

More challenges crossed the company’s path during the mid-1960s and as screw compressors became popular, Kaeser rose to the occasion with its very own invention: the Sigma Profile. Developed in-house, it is a rotary screw airend with a special energyefficient rotor profile that was groundbreaking at the time – and, in retrospect, probably the first of many technological shifts that have characterised the company. Since then, Sigma

Profile has been continuously refined as the centrepiece of every Kaeser screw compressor.

As Kaeser celebrates its centenary this year – a landmark that not many companies can boast of reaching – the brand is active all over the world. Kaeser compressors are just as likely to be found in power stations in Australia as in Peruvian gold mines, used by aerospace engineers in the US, fish farms in Norway, car manufacturers in Germany, at the CERN particle accelerator in Switzerland, on ski pistes in Austria or on our Middle Eastern oil fields.

Today, Kaeser has a global presence.

Its customers range from craftsman’s establishments to large-scale industry. In terms of legacy, there are few global industrial entities more prestigious in their own fields than Kaseser Kompressoren.

Over the years, Kaeser’s innovative spirit has seen it come up with a steady stream of innovations in compressed air technology, applying equally to hardware, software and services. From the refrigeration dryer to revolutionary controllers (Sigma Air Manager 4.0), from the portable compressor to completely new business models, where the customer basically only purchases the compressed air, through to digitalisation and Industry 4.0, Kaeser is a benchmark for costeffective, reliable and efficient compressed air.

Most of its production facilities are located in Germany, with sales and service available in every corner of the globe. The company’s early international expansion saw it open its first branch in Switzerland in 1978, with Austria and France following shortly. Today, Kaeser has more than 50 subsidiaries globally and is represented by exclusive contract partners in over 100 countries, employing over 6,000 staff

37 From a small workshop in which Carl Kaeser started his business in 1919, the company that bears his name has expanded into this vast premises in Coburg, Germany.

“Kaeser owes its enviable reputation not only to the exceptional efficiency and quality of its products, but also to its reliable field service. Our many years of strong growth and expansion are directly attributable to our passion for innovation and strict quality standards�

38

COVER STORY OC TOBER 2019

worldwide, many of them for decades.

The company says the secret behind its success is passion for innovation, sound engineering expertise, close customer contact and an awareness of their needs, combined with exceptional quality standards, a good dose of common sense and the main ingredients: excellent teams and strong family ties. And family means more than just the owning family, Thomas Kaeser and Tina-Maria VlantoussiKaeser, the third generation to manage the company. The fourth, in the form of their son Alexander Jan Kaeser, has also come on board, .

The company says it considers all staff as family, which is evident in the high apprenticeship rate and the extremely long service record of the employees, usually more than 30 years. Also attesting to this is Kaeser’s business record or having positive operating results without fail each of the 100 years of its existence, even in 2009, at the height of the global financial crisis.

Kaeser says it is a family-owned company offering ‘Made in Germany’ quality from start to finish. Despite strong ties to Germany it views the entire world as its home turf, and if we look at its growth story in the Middle East, it is easy to see why. Recounting the journey, Carl Briden, Kaeser’s regional director for the Middle East, says: “Kaeser’s operations in the GCC began in 1995, when I came to Dubai and started it.

In those days I was working from my villa. But step by step we grew in size here and from one person we now have 18 people, which is an optimum strength for us at the moment.”

He recollects that as the company’s regional presence grew, it first moved into a small

Carl Briden, regional director for the Middle East at Kaeser, started the regional branch over 25 years ago.

Steady growth has seen Kaeser to move into dedicated premises in JAFZA, Dubai.

500sqm rented warehouse in Dubai. Then, finally in 2012, Kaeser moved to its present home in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone.

“In the Middle East, we’ve grown steadily over the years as a company, averaging 5-6% each year. That’s been the global average and we’ve mirrored that in this region as well. There are 52 Kaeser subsidiaries globally and each one has grown at more or less the same level. It has been a steady but sure growth,” says Briden.

“The Middle East is a very important market for Kaeser and we contribute to the company’s

overall turnover. North America and Europe, of course, remain the biggest markets for the company, but in terms of market position, I would say we are among the top-two in the Middle East’s compressors space.

“Our first priority here was to find the right partners for each country for our industrial products. Then we started looking at the construction sector. So, some of our partners only handle the industrial business and we have separate partners for the construction products.”

Partnerships have always been key for Kaeser, Briden says, as he leads CMME on a tour of the company’s JAFZA premises. “This premises is basically our technical training centre. As our business here is conducted through our Middle East dealer network, we focus on supporting our engineers who give them technical and commercial support, and training,” he says.

“We have two types of training. For theoretical training, we can accommodate up to 25 people in our classrooms here and we run two-week courses for basics in compressed air technology for both service and sales personnel. In our philosophy, both should have the same basic knowledge about our products.

“Our service personnel also undergo practical training in our dedicated facility on this premises, where they can get their hands dirty on real machines. This is important for us and is a big reason why we set up this facility. Before we had it, all training had to be done in Germany, which was impractical for several reasons, such as the logistics of travel, obtaining visas and for obvious financial considerations. We also had to contend with 50 other global subsidiaries, all wanting to send their people to Germany

MOBILAIR M235

DESIGNED WITH A MIDDLE EAST FOCUS Kaeser designed the M235 portable compressor with the Middle East region in mind, focusing on the construction landscape and prioritising the requirements of customers and job-sites in the region.

“The original portable compressors were designed in Europe for European standards and uses. The standards there are very high for emissions, noise and such other features. We don’t necessarily have those regulations in the Middle East markets, which means it would be a waste of money to buy and use the European specification machines here,” says Carl Briden.

“We deconstructed our portable

machines and built them up again taking customer feedback into consideration. We went to our customers and asked them what they wanted and what they look for in a compressor that’s going to be used in their industry and in their region. We had a list of around 20-30 points where we needed modifications. So, we went to our design team and they came up with a machine that suits the Middle East market.”

Among those points were things like the redundancy of low noise levels in the Middle East, so Kaeser built the M235 without the same level of sound insulation material

inside owing to the reason that they tend to be used here in more in open construction sites rather than in residential areas.

“Another point is the type of engine that we have inside, which

is married to the compressor.

In this part of the world we sometimes do not have the right kind of technical support for the engines. So we put in engines that not only fit our needs but are also suitable for the local market in terms of obtaining support locally. For example, a lot of these models have engines from Kubota or Cummins, which have the required support structure on the ground in the region,” Briden explains.

The first part of the model’s nomenclature represents the volume of air it puts out - approximately 23 cubic metres per minute.

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40

COVER STORY OC TOBER 2019

for training, so slots were not always available.”

The region that Briden and his team cover from the Dubai office is predominantly the GCC and also includes Syria, Jordan and Egypt. “We also look after Iraq, Bangladesh and Yemen. So that’s around 22 dealers in the wide territory that we cover.”

Elaborating on Kaeser’s range, he adds: “We manufacture air compressors of various types.

And the vast majority of our products have the rotary screw at the heart of the machine (See box). We also manufacture compressors for the construction sector and for a wide variety of applications. In short, wherever you need compressed air and in whichever way, Kaeser has a model or a system that fits your needs.

This is the fruit of a century of effort by our company to perfect the air compressor.”

Leading on to a warehouse inside the premises, Briden says: “This is an area where we store larger machines. There is also a parts section. We use the larger area of the warehouse to conduct practical training on our bigger units.

We also keep some of our old machines here, because our machines do last a lifetime and it’s not unusual to see a Kaeser compressor running that’s 20-25 years old. So, it’s important that technicians also familiarise themselves with the maintenance of these older models.”

Pointing to the parts section, he adds: “All our distributors have their own parts stock, so

these parts that we hold in our warehouse are an emergency buffer. Our dealers hold a lot of parts in bulk at any given time and those comes directly from the factory in Germany.

This is just a back-up in case of shortage of some fast-moving items at a dealer so that customers’ operations are not affected.”

While Kaeser has made quality, innovation and dedication to customers a century-old habit, the company has not come the long way that it has without being abreast of technology

With complete customer support as its mantra, Kaeser emphasis on thorough training of all its regional personnel, using special training facilities in its JAFZA premises.

trends and indeed setting quite a few itself.

“Some time ago, we understood where the industry was headed – connectivity and Industry 4.0. In large projects with multiple compressors installed, they then have to be controlled to get the most economical performance out of them, making sure the right machine is running at the right time and a big compressor is not running when you don’t need it as the power consumed will be wasteful.

“So we developed smart, intelligent control

KAESER KAESERKOMPRESSOREN KOMPRESSOREN Start of KAESERStart Dubaiofwith KAESER Dubai with Carl Briden as managing Carl Briden director as managing director

Carl Kaeser Senior Carl established Kaeser Senior KAESER established as a KAESER as a machine workshop machine on the workshop 27th of June, on 1919 the 27th of June, 1919 1919

1919

1919 1919

KAESER acquiresKAESER acquires "Geraer Kompressoren"Geraer Kompressorenwerke" and develops werke" and develops the OMEGA rotary thelobe OMEGA rotary lobe blowers blowers

Opening of the Opening of the first international first international Development of the first KAESER Development of the first KAESER subsidiary in screw compressors withcompressors withsubsidiary in screw Switzerland SIGMA PROFILESIGMA PROFILE Switzerland 1973

1973

1978

1991 1978

SIGMA AIR UTILITY: SIGMA AIR UTILITY: Compressed air as a Compressed air as a service service

1991

1991

KAESER launches KAESER the revolutionary launches the SIGMA revolutionary SIGMA CONTROL compressor CONTROL controller compressor controller

1995

1995

1937

KAESER m

1998

1998 KAESER continuously KAESER continuously extends its stationary extends its stationary screw compressorscrew rangecompressor range

1991

Kolbenkompressor K30-30 Kolbenkompressor K30-30

1948 1937

Carl Kaeser Junior Carl Kaeser Junior joins the companyjoins the company

1948

The first reciprocating compressor developed by KAESER

1982

1962 1962 The first reciprocating Relocation to the Relocation to the compressor developed"green by meadow" "green meadow" in Coburg / KAESER in Coburg / Bertelsdorf Bertelsdorf

1982 1993

1993

The first "all-in-one" Theunits first "all-in-one" units 1994

Launch of the firstLaunch portable of the first portable reciprocating compressor, reciprocating compressor, the "ECONOMY"-series the "ECONOMY"-series1979 Thomas Kaeser joins the company

1994

2002

2002

2002

2002

KAESER develops KAESER the developsWith thethe SIGMA AIR With the SIGMA AIR Following the takeover Following of ‘Compresseurs the takeover ofBernard’, ‘Compresseurs Bernard’,SECOTEC seriesSECOTEC and seriesMANAGER, and KAESER MANAGER, KAESER KAESER develops KAESER and produces develops MOBILAIR and produces MOBILAIR starts its production starts in its production in revolutionises therevolutionises control the control portable screw compressors portable screw in Lyon compressors / France in Lyon / France Germany´s most Germany´s admost adsystem system 1979 vanced manufacturing vanced manufacturing The new The new Thomas facility for refrigeration facility for refrigeration "MOBILAIR plant""MOBILAIR plant" Kaeser dryers in Gera dryers in Gera opens in Coburg opens in Coburg joins the company

2004

KA new dev Solution provider:Solution KAESER provider: offers efficient, KAESER offers efficient, complete compressed complete air stations compressed air stations

41 devices, which can then select what machine should be running at a given time and feeding information back continuously, not just from an operations point of view, but also from a maintenance one. The machines are constantly monitored and if there is any indication, such as an increase in oil temperature, it could be a signal there is something wrong. The monitoring system alerts operators and sends them the information so that they can check, thus performing preventative maintenance.

“The software for this entire system is done in-house by Kaeser. It is our Industy 4.0, the next stage of control. It’s not really monitoring compressors, its more machines talking to each other. And all the information is available not only on the machine but also on the customers’ and on our computer screens.

“We’ve invested heavily on a central data warehousing facility in our Coburg home where all the machine data logged on our units worldwide is collected and monitored. The information is stored and shared from there.

And they can communicate with the dealer and customer for preventive maintenance. We were the first company to introduce this in the compressed air business.”

Coming up with industry firsts even as it stays true to perhaps the longest legacy in its sector, Kaeser Kompressoren looks set for another century of leadership.

TURNING ON THE SCREW

KAESER’S SIGMA PROFILE INCREASES RELIABILITY The screw type compressor tech, although in industrial use for around the last 40 years, was first invented in 1878 by German engineer Heinrich Krieger.

Being a complex and expensive device at the time it was not used for compressing air.

“It’s only in the recent history of compressed air that companies adopted the screw technology and it’s now commonly used for industrial application as well as in construction. You can run it continuously 24/7 on full load without any worries. And it’s very energy efficient,” says Carl Briden.

“Kaeser’s rotary screw, when directly coupled to our electric motor, runs at the same speed as the motor, which is around 1450-2880 rpm, depending on the motor size.

KAESER screw compressors, even more efficient with the new SIGMA PROFILE rotors 2016

2017

2015

2013

System management

SMART ENGINEERING

Costs

OP Leipzig

Wroclaw

Frankfurt Prague

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Industrie 4.0 Cloud

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Berlin Hannover Dortmund

Mainz

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Rostock Hamburg

Münster

Brussels

OPE

Predictive maintenance

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IMPLE

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Gera starts with building a new production hall for innovative refrigeration dryers

SIGMA AIR MANAGER 4.0 SIGMA AIR MANAGER 4.0

Karlsruhe Strasbourg Munich

Vienna Salzburg

2018

SIGMA SMART AIR

2007 KAESER´s first oil-free screw compressor

2014 2013

2015

Gera starts building a new research and development centre

2019

Re-incorporation as a "Societas Europea" (SE)

2004 KAESER Coburg opens new centres for product development

2012 Kaeser Dubai moves into its new Regional Head Office, including a warehouse and Training Facility

The Executive Board of the family company comprises Dipl. Wirtsch.-Ing Thomas Kaeser and Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Tina-Maria Vlantoussi-Kaeser

KAESER i.Comp – the revolution on the market for reciprocation compressors

2019

First screw blower with SIGMA PROFILE

KAESER is ready for the future of Industrie 4.0 with SIGMA SMART AIR service package for predictive maintenance 2018

2004

2016

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KAESER modernises its logistic processes throughout the company with a new, fully automated high rack warehouse and a new distribution centre

rotary screw airend, which is known as the Sigma profile.

“The Sigma profile enables us to have around twice as many airned sizes as our next competitor.

So, we can exactly match the airend with the motor output to achieve a certain pressure and volume of air and still maintain the speed of a one-to-one drive.

“We could compromise on the number of airned sizes and run the screw at four or five times the engine speed but the lower the speed the greater the reliability and less wear and tear, so Kaeser’s policy is to have a vast array of airend sizes for a one-to-one drive ratio.

“Another key features of this particular airend that Kaeser produces is that it is the most energy efficient on the market. It produces more compressed air for less energy – which is like our motto.”

KAESER trainees 1926

KAESER relies on the training of own specialists.

An investment for the future

For the first time "Industrie 4.0" is the focus topic of the "Hannover Messe" and KAESER participates as a key pioneer of the revolutionary concept

Some of our competitors use V-Belts and gear boxes as drive mechanisms between the electric motor and the airend to increase the speed and try and get more air out, because they have a limiting factor in the number of airned sizes they can make. But we have an unlimited size range, because of the unique profile of the Kaeser

2014 The new KAESER Filters 2014 KAESER further establishes its forward-thinking Smart Factory initiative by breaking ground for two new production halls

Laying of the foundation stone for the new research and innovation centre

2017 2017 KAESER opens its new stateof-the-art production plants

The new research and innovation centre is opened

KAESER KOMPRESSOREN celebrates its 100th jubilee, together with more than 6000 employees worldwide – 16 of them with KAESER Dubai – as well as with subsidiaries and partners in over 100 countries

42

MOTOR GRADERS OC TOBER 2019

LOOKING FOR AN UP-GRADE MANUFACTURERS OF THE VITAL MACHINE FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION HAVE BROUGHT IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS FOR THE MOTOR GRADER TO IMPROVE ITS PERFORMANCE AND FINE-TUNING ABILITIES ON THE JOB-SITE

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he motor grader is a vital link in the road construction chain. Without it, level, smooth, wrinkle-free tarmac might not even exist. The grader’s calling card is precision.

Of all the various categories, segments and models of construction machinery, there are few besides the grader that are made for one purpose only. And that purpose is to prepare a perfectly level surface, down to the last degree – the foundation of every well-made road.

To make this possible, the grader is a unique combination of the brute force of its bigger earthmoving cousins and the delicate control, relatively speaking, of its smaller kin. Completing the package is advanced technology, with telematics and electronic machine control technology that assist operators to hit the grade stipulated by the engineers with uncanny accuracy.

After all, the safety of all people using a road in its entire lifetime depends on its gradients and cambers.

With the graders being specialist machines, not many manufacturers have them in their line-ups. But of those that do in the Middle East, Komatsu is a name that readily comes to mind. One of the most popular equipment brands in the market, Komatsu’s machines are a common sight in our region. The Japanese giant’s motor graders also benefit from its enormous brand recognition and reputation for quality, and are ubiquitous on road projects that dot the region.

“You will invariably find our motor graders at all big road projects in the GCC. Komatsu graders are also a common sight at the major quarries in this region, where they are used for making and maintaining haul roads,” says Jehad Jayyousi, assistant manager, Marketing, at Komatsu Middle East.

“Among the uses that graders are put to are the cutting and finishing of the ground, the roadbed and slope in

road construction. They are also indispensable in the maintenance and repair of roads, in cutting and levelling of gravelled roads, for the cutting and upkeep of haul roads in mines, and for other jobs such as levelling, trench digging, bank cutting, ripping and mixing.”

Jayyousi explains that there are certain features and aspects that customers need to look out for when choosing a grader. “Travel performance is a key area to consider. Is the grader able to travel at the proper speed required? Is it able to maintain a straight line while travelling, even during blade load? These are some of the factors that need to be considered.

Another vital area is the blade itself. The blade needs to have limited vertical movement and remain in place regardless of chassis movement. It should also be easy and quick to adjust blade position finely.

“Visibility for the operator is another big consideration when choosing a grader. Among all earthmoving applications, grading is complicated and fine work, and the operator needs to be in full control of the process.

A cabin with optimum visibility is a must in order for an operator to achieve the best results.”

Komatsu’s graders offer all these features and more, Jayyousi adds, going on to describe the brand’s model range available in the Middle East.

“We have a seven-model range in the regional market, starting from the 13.8t, 145hp GD535-5, which has a blade length of 3.71m and a torque converter drive system. At the top of our range is the GD825A-2, a 280hp, 26.3t behemoth with a 4.88m blade and Hydroshift transmission.

“Developed as a high-end model in the 14ft (4.32m) blade graders with outstanding features, the GD755-5R is our best-selling model. It has a powerful, low-noise engine developing 286hp, a stretched wheelbase, lock-up torque converter, automatic transmission, CLSS (closed load sensing system) and a roomy, newly-designed cab with excellent visibility.”

With the GD755-5R and other dash five models added

43 Komatsu is one of the most popular grader brands in the region. Its topspec GD825A-2 is a 280hp, 26.3t behemoth with a 4.88m blade and Hydroshift transmission.

“We achieve the longest wheelbase with the smallest turning radius that enables our graders to turn tight. This is essential in moving around the job-site from one pass to another. So we have some added features that set Komatsu apart in the market�

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MOTOR GRADERS OC TOBER 2019

to its line-up, Komatsu is now a market-leader in graders, claims Jayyousi, adding that the company’s “quality and reliability in general” are reasons for the success it enjoys. But there are many added features up its sleeve that enable Komatsu to enjoy the market position it does today, such as the torque converter – a Komatsu invention and unique feature, long wheelbase and small turning radius.

“The torque converter with lock-up clutch is a feature that six models in the Komatsu range have, enjoying the benefits of both automatic and manual drive,” Jayyousi explains.

“The torque converter has many benefits: it protects the powertrain from vibration and shocks; power transmission is smooth, even in extreme conditions; the engine can start unloaded; it protects from overload; it multiplies torque and prevents the engine from stalling.

“A longer wheelbase increases the accuracy of blade levelling, increases the stability and allows the operator to move the blade freely without fear of hitting the tires. However, a longer wheelbase will badly affect the turning radius, but in Komatsu’s case, we have aggressive turning and steering angles.

We achieve the longest wheelbase with the smallest turning radius that enables our graders to turn tight. This is essential in moving around the job-site from one pass to another. So we have some added features that set Komatsu apart in the market.”

Speaking of added features brings us to another manufacturer – Case, the construction equipment brand of Italy’s CNH Industrial. Zane Barnard, product specialist, Case Construction Equipment Middle East, says features such as

variable horse power (VHP), mouldboards with three contoured radii and design of the swing circle pinion are just some of the elements that make Case motor graders stand out.

“All our graders have been finely tuned both in operation and in running costs to ensure our customers achieve the highest project finishes and the lowest machine running costs. All our graders have the VHP feature, which allows us to either increase or decrease the engine horsepower according to the workload and speed,” Barnard says.

The mouldboards in Case graders have been specially designed with three contoured radii – a patented Case feature – to allow the blade to pick up and roll the material for grading.

“Working hand in hand with the VHP control is our transmission and torque converter combination. When dropping the horsepower, the torque converter multiplies the Newton meters (Nm) output and ensures we carry the load smoothly without hesitation or engine stall.

“The mouldboards in our graders have been specially designed with three contoured radii – a patented Case feature – to allow the blade and mouldboard to pick up and roll material.

This in turn mixes the sub-materials better, for better compaction. Also, rolling the material instead of pushing it, we reduce the horsepower required, lower fuel burn and other stresses on the machine. Our circle swing ring drive pinion is mounted on the outside of our swing ring. This ensures no impact load is transferred to the drive pinion and eliminates breakage and failure. Our external swing ring gear teeth allow material to fall away easily, reducing maintenance and increasing reliability.”

Case offers three graders in the market – the 845B, 865B and 885B. Barnard says: “The 845B is the smallest grader in our range in the Middle East. It is perfect for working in confined spaces with a small turning circle and where finishing accuracy is required. The machine typically weighs 15t, has a 12-foot mouldboard and an engine that develops 173hp of gross power.”

The 865B is the mid-range Case grader with an operating weight of 15.8t and an engine that ups the power to 220hp. It comes equipped with a 14-foot mouldboard.

The flagship Case grader, however, is the 885B, a new model which is a relatively recent introduction into the Middle East. “The 885B is our largest grader and is the perfect all-

LEICA ICON IGG4 – 3D GRADER SYSTEM

CASE FOR CONTROL Case and Leica Geosystems have teamed up to provide telematics packages for Case equipment that make it possible to exploit the greater possibilities of Case’s motor grader and finish jobs faster, with reduced downtime.

According to Leica, the iCON iGG4 empowers motor grader operators to do more without spending years in on-the-job training.

The solution is easy to understand and makes most operators productive within a

short period of time.

The system’s components comprise an in-cab LCD colour control panel, which is the central unit connected to a blade mounted mass tilt sensor, a machine receiver and a junction box atop the grader arm; and a dual antenna mounted on the roof of the cab.

Using the system, the machine can be run in automatic mode while moving with precision in any direction, which increases the productivity and efficiency of the grader.

Leica and Case claim that difficult tasks are now easily done, and the motor grader can be crab-walked to properly handle material windrows and precisely grade side slopes or create ditches.

The Leica iGG4 for graders lets operators boost their productivity by using the latest GNSS technology to incorporate dual antenna, which calculates blade positions accurately regardless of the way the machine itself is positioned, allowing them to grade precisely and efficiently.

45 round grader offering customers a highly accurate finish, perfect power control for spreading, mixing and final cuts. Its 18.95t operating weight is supported by an engine developing 234hp of power to drive its 14foot mouldboard,” says Barnard.

He elaborates on the attention Case has given to the operator environment and ease of use: “All our Case graders are fitted with linkage type levers known as the piano lever system, which is highly accurate, easy to use and popular throughout the world. Finding skilled operators is a challenge at the best of times, and finding a skilled final cut grader operator is like finding a needle in a haystack.

So we have kept it simple, reliable and practical.”

Simplicity, practicality and user focus are also the cornerstones behind Case partnering with technology company Leica Geosystems to develop a 3D grading assist system. “Our UAE demo grader is fully kitted out by Leica to show customers what can be achieved,” Barnard says.

When asked why he would recommend Case graders to customers, he says: “Our graders are rock-solid and have proven themselves over time. Seeing all the small improvements, from the mouldboard radii, swing circle gear teeth and blade slides to the transmission controls working together, has produced a

SDLG CIRCLE TURN SYSTEM

THE TURN OF POWER Aiding performance on all SDLG motor graders is the manufacturer’s unique circle turn system, which incorporates two large pinions that turn and hold the load – a design that results in increased durability, according to the company.

Turning power is enhanced by a large-diameter circle with external teeth for more leverage, and productivity is further improved by the use of two direct acting

cylinders that also contribute to making turning easier.

Together with a robust and durable front axle and a state-of-the-art frame, SDLG can offer all major attachments needed, such as rear ripper (both radial and parallel) including front push block, front dozer blade, and front, middle and rear scarifier.

All machines come with frames pre-prepared to host all attachments, including hydraulics.

highly efficient machine more than capable of performing under any conditions. We have been constantly working on improving the quality and the performance of every single component; after so many years of experience and customer feedback, we have put together a hard-to-imitate package.”

When it comes to experience and performance, another name that springs to mind is Caterpillar, the largest equipment company in the world. Cat’s graders available in the Middle East are divided into the K, M and L series, with the K series offering conventional systems with levers for each implement while the M and L are joystick-operated machines.

“Cat’s grader range available in the Middle East comprises several models, from the 120K all the way to the 24M. The L series is a special grader designed for the Gulf region with an allwheel-drive feature which puts the machine ahead of the competition, especially in tough applications and underground conditions at lower fuel consumption. The 24M is the biggest grader to be used in mining application,” says Samer Ismail, product manager – Earthmoving and Excavation at Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar, Caterpillar’s regional dealer.

“The grader has many uses in various applications, such as grading, ripping, site

»ADDRIVE« THE 3 IN 1 SOLUTION THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE » Towed Modul - up to 36 t axle load - max. 80 km/h in freewheel mode - combinable with various THP modules » Pusher vehicle - for maximum traction and - maximum speed in the drive mode - mechanical system with 100% disconnect » Self-propelled mode - powerful traction for outstanding hill-climbing ability - ADDronic for synchronizing additional self-propelled modules - remote control R

Giornate Italiane del Sollevamento e dei Trasporti Eccezionali The Lifting, Industrial & Port Handling and Heavy Transport Show Piacenza, Italy 3-5 October 2019

ADDRIVE

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MOTOR GRADERS OC TOBER 2019

preparation and fine grading – and the main users have to look at reliability, productivity, durability and comfort in order to run the job smoothly and in the most efficient way. And this is what Cat machines offer, backed by Al-Bahar’s comprehensive support, which has set the benchmark for decades.”

He adds that Cat graders have participated in some of the biggest road projects in the region, both historically and now. “Our machines are working on important projects in the region, such as on the Muscat Express Highway in Oman, the Al Mutlaa South Project in Kuwait and at the Dubai Expo 2020 site in the UAE.” Representing the Chinese presence in the GCC market’s grader space is SDLG, which has seen its machines used in the region’s road building and maintenance projects, specifically in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Henrik Sjöstrand, product manager, EMEA, at the Volvo-owned Chinese company, says: “SDLG machines have been utilised in Saudi and Oman mainly, but we have seen increasing interest in other regional markets as well, such as Lebanon and the UAE.

“We currently have three models available in the regional market: the G9138, G9190 and G9220. In addition, we have two versions of the G9190 and G9220 – the standard version and the VHP version. In the Middle East, it is primarily the G9220 model that has been sold in both Saudi Arabia and Oman. It is used in general construction, road building and maintenance.”

The VHP version is higher spec, where operators have a higher level of controllability of the mouldboard, Sjöstrand explains. While the horsepower delivery and the transmission in the standard version are both manually controlled, in the VHP version they are automatic. The VHP version also has a hydraulic system where one pump equipped with a load sensing valve handles the fluid distribution, while in the standard version there are two pumps, albeit with fixed displacements.

Also, on the standard a single brake circuit takes care of stopping duties, whereas the VHP version comes with a double brake circuit.

“SDLG graders have high blade down force

GRADING DOWN

BOBCAT’S SMALLER ALTERNATIVE Bobcat offers a wide range of grading solutions based around the company’s compact loaders and grader attachments, designed for use by asphalt and concrete contractors for excavating and grading work for new roads, pavements, concrete flatwork, tennis courts, utilities and landscaping projects.

Loader-mounted Bobcat grader attachments can now be combined not only with a choice of Bobcat laser grading equipment, but also with the Bobcat sonic tracer kit to provide

automatic grade control in applications where lasers may not be suitable.

Laser grading requires the job-site to be on a plane, whereas the sonic tracer can follow nearly every terrain.

It provides an advantage when grading inside buildings with obstacles where the laser beam could be interrupted, and also offers the advantage that if the user already has a laser system mounted on the grader, they can also mount the sonic tracer on the blade, allowing them to switch between using the grader

with the sonic tracer or the laser system.

The sonic tracer kit is designed for use with the 244mm and 274mm wide heavy-duty grader attachments from Bobcat.

The graders feature a six-way blade plus hydraulic side-shift of up to 33cm left or right, both of which are fingertip-controlled, enabling operators to grade without taking their hands off the control levers.

Caterpillar has nine motor grader models in the region and its machines have participated in some of the GCC’s biggest road projects in Oman, Kuwait and the UAE.

and blade pull figures for increased efficiency.

All SDLG graders come equipped with a ROPS/ FOPS cab with both air conditioning and radio.

With the cab face lift being introduced at the moment, the operator environment has taken another step forward with improved visibility as well as improved comfort,” says Sjöstrand.

He adds that performance, operator comfort, and smooth and non-jerky response of working tools are key points when choosing a grader – and SDLG meets all these requirements, along with wide dealer support. “For machine control and electronics, SDLG graders can be equipped with all third-party equipment on the market.

We can also factory fit a MOBA levelling system.”

Finding good traction in the Middle East market, SDLG has plans for expanding its range soon. “Apart from a face lift we are doing right now, we plan to introduce a larger grader – the G9290 – at the beginning of next year. The new model will have all the normal SDLG features, such as circle turn and front axle, but will also have an automatic transmission supplied by Volvo CE,” Sjöstrand signs off.

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THE LAST WORD OC TOBER 2019

ED BY T N E T A P ED AND R E E N TION O I C P U T R P T E S C N N O CO NISED C O I T U L EADER O L V E L R A B R O R L E G BH ISHED A L B HANS LIE A T S E A ND

0 7 S N R U T E N A R C R E W O T E L I B O THE M

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