Truck&Fleet ME March 2019

VEHICLES/ TECH / TranSporTaTIon/LogISTICS

O62/MARCH 2O19

MIDDLE EAST

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contents

contents FEATURE

14 / ConTinEnTAl SHiFTing Why it is moving from rubber to silicon.

also this issue … nETWoRK

06 / nEWS FRoM THE MonTH

06

12

20

24

30

34

ENOC targets the Egyptian jet fuel market after new deal. lAUnCHES

12 / BEnTlEy’S BooMER Famous UK name reveals the world’s fastest SUV: The Bentayga. inTERViEW

20 / BUilT To lAST Mohamed El Zeftawi on the evolution of Al Masaood’s CV&E Division. inTERViEW

24 / AiR TiME Interview with Henrik Ambak, Senior Vice President of Cargo Operations Worldwide WoRKSHop

28 / RoAd To jEddAH Continental opens a new office in Saudi Arabia as it plans expansion.

VAnS

30 / TRAnS-MiSSion Ford on why the Transit Connect is the autonomous mover – that isn’t.

Body BUilding

34 / AXAlTA And iBiS Axalta talks about the bodyshop industry on the eve of IBIS Middle East 2019.

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 01

WELCOME

GROUP MANAGING DIRECtOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5483 EDItORIAL DIRECtOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 EDItORIAL EDItOR StEpHEN wHItE stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com +44 7541 244 377

lead a horse to water, if it won’t use it’s sat nav I found myself spending a lot of time sitting in taxis last month. While I took the opportunity to ponder how many people are needed to fill the tens of thousands of apartments under construction that we passed on the roads, it slowly occurred to me that I was being a much more of an active navigator than I expected to be.

I’ve got used to seeing where I need to go and not being able to get there in a taxi – with the driver and I looking blankly at each other in the rear-view – over the years but when you are doing it on every journey, it starts to get a little wearing. Especially, as you know that the vehicle actually has a perfectly viable navigation system on-board.

Obviously, when you are in a city that is changing on an hourly basis, there is going to have to be a little lee-way for how smart your smart map is going to be but worrying to me was the almost complete refusal to use any of the technology at the disposal of drivers.

In five days of travel, I only met one driver that was willing to even use his phone and google maps to find out where we are going.

Instead, I found myself involved in a repeating ritual, where I would first state where I needed to go. Then, with that polite initiation out of the way, the real business of trying to get where we were heading would begin. Mostly, this would involve incanting a vaguely-plotted route; aiming for a general location and then heading for it. Once there, we would then try the ancient art of winding down the window and asking for directions. If that failed, or indeed a phone call at our final destination was ignored, we would hope to spot the building visually. In the interest of saving tyre wear and over-using the world’s precious resources – and/or no clear way to reach the place even when it was in plain sight – the ritual would reach its climax with me, disgruntledly, passing over cash and setting out into the wilderness or through a construction site.

As my shoes gathered dust, it struck me that this scenario is probably the norm in the region despite the many dollars being invested by fleets. The onus, then, is on fleet managers to make sure their drivers are making the most of the technology at their fingerprints.

I know! Let’s call that smart mobility.

sUb EDItOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERtIsING sENIOR sALEs MANAGER BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 DEsIGN ARt DIRECtOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DEsIGNER pERCIVAL MANALAYSAY percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com PHOtOGRAPHY MAKSYM pORIECHKIN maksym.poriechkin@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 fINANCE ACCOUNts NAHEED HOOD naheed.hood@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 CREDIt CONtROL ExECUtIVE CAMERON CARDOZO cameron.cardozo@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5499 fOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINtED bY pRINtwELL pRINtING pRESS LLC

Licensed by tECOM to registered company, CpI trade publishing fZ LLC whose registered office is 207 – 209, Building 3, Dubai Studio City, Dubai, UAE. www.cpitrademedia.com

stEPHEN WHItE EdiToR, TRUCK&FLEET ME STEPHEN.WHiTE@CPiTRAdEMEdiA.CoM 02 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

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ReAdeRS’ COMMeNTS

CONSULTANT

ReCONNeCTING dUbAI

Linesight collaborates on luxury project on The Palm

This article (Reconnecting Dubai) is a reminder of the pace of change within the industry and the region.

Many of our cities here, and Dubai, in particular, are barely a few decades old and have

CONSULTANT

grown exponentially;

Spain reveals pavilion design for Expo 2020 Dubai

and because of this we are having to think on our feet when it comes to integrating

feature: Site Visit - The Waterfront, Oman

modern city design.

The infrastructure we thought would be futureproof, even a decade ago,

CONSULTANT

is already in need of a

IMKAN revamping Abu Dhabi park into multi-use space

re-think when it comes to accommodating the needs for high-density developments and the mobility solutions for citizens that live in them. The success of real estate close to the Metro in Dubai proves

CONSTRUCTION

that the most successful

India’s Larsen & Toubro wins UAE-substation contract

developments need to be connected to the city beyond the road network.

A single, sustainable Dubai (and all our cities) that is greater than the sum of developments must be one of our highest priorities.

MACHINeRY

JCB to showcase generators at Middle East Electricity 04 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

Interview: Rahail Aslam, group CeO, Select Group

Name withheld by request

NETWORK

ENOC TARGETS EGYPTIAN AVIATION / GHOST jOINS VIP DXB SERVICE NEW CONSTRUCTION WASTE RULES / EXPO 2020 BRIDGE OPENS / FARNEK

network Hydrant refueller ENOC targets Egypt ENOC GROUP ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXPAND AVIATION OPERATIONS IN EGYPT FLEET ENOC Group says it has expanded its aviation operations in Egypt through the acquisition of a share in the jet fuel hydrant system at Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport. The company says the deal will be followed by the establishment of a physical presence by opening an office for its aviation operations and jet fuel marketing.

It described the office as serving as a catalyst to enable the growth and development of the country’s aviation infrastructure.

ENOC recently reached an agreement with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) to enable the supply of jet fuel at all key airports across the country, a move, it says, which will provide further opportunities to drive foreign direct investments in the Egyptian market.

The hydrant system fuels 18 aircrafts at Terminal 2 and has been operational since 2017. The jet fuel hydrant system has seen investment and development from Egyptian and multinational players from the energy sectors, ENOC

said in a statement.

“With an expected 5.8% GDP growth for 2019 and a commitment to diversify markets and products, Egypt offers strong fundamentals for international investors,” said His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC. “As the country chairs the African Union next year, the Egyptian Government continues its efforts to attract more foreign direct investments to the country, thus becoming an important gateway to the continent. We hope that our recent plans will elevate the country’s critical

infrastructure. By joining a consortium of oil companies in Egypt, ENOC Group is now one of a select-list of globally-renowned partners contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth.

Our strong track-record will enable us to provide the highest standards of jet fuel operations and business performance, which will enable the country’s aviation infrastructure.”

ENOC Group has continuously enhanced its partnerships with airlines, suppliers and airports, and supplies over 3 million US gallons of jet fuel daily.

SAF-HOLLAND CEO: 30% OF ALL TRAILERS HAVE AUTOMATIC TYREINFLATING SYSTEMS IN THE US – AND THE NUMBER IS GROWING

06 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

NETWORK

MENA’S FIRST SOLAR-POWERED HYDROGEN PROjECT BREAKS GROUND AT MBR SOLAR PARK ALTERNATIVE FUELS

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, has broken ground for a solar-driven hydrogen electrolysis facility at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

This will be the first-ever solar-powered hydrogen project in the MENA region and will be powered using energy from the park. The project is being implemented in collaboration between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Expo 2020 Dubai, and Siemens. DEWA said in statement that the move supports a green economy and will be built at its outdoor testing facilities in the R&D Centre at the MBR Solar Park.

Commenting on the project, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said that DEWA, Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens are working together to realise His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to identify new energy resources and provide sustainable power as part of a balanced approach that prioritises the environment.

“Our aim is to make Dubai a model of energy efficiency and safety,” His Highness added. “Breaking ground on this innovative project represents an important milestone in bringing to life Expo’s key subtheme of Sustainability, as well as its mission to create a meaningful legacy for generations to come.”

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA said: “This pioneering project is a role model for strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors. It will contribute to developing the green economy concept in the UAE and explore the potential of green hydrogen technology.”

He also explained that the hydrogen produced at the facility will be stored and deployed for re-electrification, transportation and other uses.

DEWA stated that Expo 2020 Dubai will be showing hydrogen mobility by powering fuelcell vehicles with the hydrogen generated at the facility and provide the Expo visitors a chance to visit the MBR Solar Park with this medium.

GHOST jOINS AL MAjLIS VIP FLEET A 2019 Rolls-Royce Ghost has been added to the aircraft transfer fleet at Dubai International’s (DXB) Al Majlis VIP Service at Terminal 3, says AGMC. The authorised dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates delivered the vehicle last month. It will join other vehicles within the Al Majlis VIP service which offers guests connecting to commercial or private flights at DXB, “the most comfortable travel experience with personalised, top class service and the most luxurious lounge spaces.”

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is an inspiration to fashionable and highly successful individuals in the Middle East and around the world, said AGMC in a statement. The car will be used to transfer royalty, VIPs and celebrities directly from Al Majlis to the aircraft, ensuring they experience the ultimate in luxury.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Dubai Airports,” said Mamdouh Khairallah, General Manager of AGMC – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The partnership means VIP guests can now move around in comfort and luxury.”

CYO COLOUR TO GET KICKS RETAIL “Say goodbye to routine colours for your car and make it an extension of your individuality with the dual tone colours of choice offered for the 2019 Nissan KICKS,” says Arabian Automobiles, the exclusive dealer for Nissan in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. The company has announced the arrival of the 2019 Nissan KICKS in dual colour tones that will” delight trend-savvy customers.”

The company is offering buyers to have the freedom to choose the colours for their favourite Nissan KICKS. There

are three bold colour options to choose from: grey with orange roof; orange with black roof; or white with orange roof – “all assured to stand out and add to the personality and personal preferences of the motorists.”

Michel Ayat, CEO of Arabian Automobiles, said: “The introduction of three new dual colour tone options for the 2019 Nissan KICKS will further add to the desirability of this stylish, urban crossover vehicle among the trendsetters. Since its launch in March 2017, it has gained nearly 305 market share in its segment.”

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 07

NETWORK

ARAMCO, TOTAL TO INVEST $1BN FOR SAUDI

FUEL RETAIL

Saudi Aramco and Total have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to develop a network of fuel and retail services in Saudi Arabia.

The JV is based on a 50:50 partnership between both the companies, for an investment of one billion dollars over the next six years in the Saudi fuel retail market. This will

provide motorists with premium fuels and retail services in Saudi Arabia.

Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Saudi Aramco’s SVP of Downstream said that this agreement is a major milestone which will help establish a quality retail fuel network in the Kingdom. He added: “We look forward to working together with our long-term partner Total and draw on

their extensive experience in the retail fuel market. With this new business, we aim to enhance the quality of services, as well as create jobs and additional investment opportunities in the Kingdom.”

“Total is proud to be the first international oil major to invest in Saudi Arabia’s fuel retail network,” said Momar Nguer, president, marketing and services, and executive committee member at Total.

The two companies have also signed an agreement with the owners of Tas’helat Marketing Company (TMC) and Sahel Transport Company (STC) to acquire both the companies, thereby accessing their existing network of 270 service stations and their fuel tanker fleet.

UAE’S MOCCAE ISSUES RESOLUTION ON CONSTRUCTION WASTE WASTE MANAGEMENT The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has issued a resolution addressing the use of recycled materials from construction sites, as well as demolition waste for infrastructure projects including the construction of roads.

The ministry expects the resolution to increase the efficiency of waste management and reduce pressure on landfills. The

resolution will also improve human health and conserve natural resources through reduced reliance on virgin aggregates, the MoCCAE said.

According to a statement from WAM, the resolution outlines environmental prerequisites for recycling cement, concrete, steel, bricks, gravel, sand, asphalt, timber, and gypsum waste into valuable materials. The document mandates relevant local departments to ensure

that contractors collect and sort waste generated at construction and demolition sites. The resolution stipulates that the aggregate must undergo quality testing in laboratories to verify compliance with UAE standards, as well as LEED and BREEAM certification requirements. As per the resolution, government and private contractors can meet up to 40% of their material requirements from recycled aggregates.

rtA Announces opening of mAin bridge ROAD NETWORK

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a main bridge at the intersection of Expo Road and Al Asayel Street, part of phase five of the roads network leading to the Expo site. More than 50 percent of the work is finished, and construction will be completed by June 2019.

During a recent tour of the work progress, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said: “RTA has partially opened three lanes in each direction of the bridge on Expo Road. This phase includes the construction of bridges extending 2.6 km and roads spanning about 3 km. Expo Road will be widened to six lanes in each direction over a 3-km sector. Two service roads will be added to ease the present traffic condition.”

The Expo Road will be elevated at the intersection with Al Asayel Street with a bridge of six lanes in each direction extending 800m. Two other bridges will be constructed to link Expo Road with the service road extending one km to ensure smooth traffic flow to and from the Expo site, he added.

Al Tayer was briefed about the road-works by Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency who said that the completion had reached 43% including converting the existing roundabout at the intersection on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road with Expo Road to a flyover offering free traffic flow in all directions.

Phase 1 also includes road works extending 27 km on Expo Road and widening it from four to six lanes.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: CONTINENTAL SHIFTS INTO GEAR, EMIRATES SKY CARGO, THE IMPORTANCE OF BRANDS, AND MUCH MORE!

08 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

NETWORK

FARNEK BREAKS GROUND ON STAFF FACILITY SERVICES

rAs Al khor street upgrAde to finish this month ROAD NETWORK

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that 83 percent of the work on Ras Al Khor Street Improvement Project (Ex Al Awir Street) and the Entrances of the International City project has been completed. The project is being developed in coordination with International City main developer Nakheel. The RTA said that the project has been undertaken as a result of the traffic impact study for International City and Dragon Mart, especially after the expansion of Dragon Mart, and the expected growth of traffic density in the area. This is the second phase of the project and is expected to open in March.

The project includes the improvements on Al Manama Street and widening the junctions for the extension of Al Manama-Al Warsan 1 Streets, Al Manama Street- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and the International City- Al Manama Streets.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, DirectorGeneral and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said: “Improvements of junctions also include the construction of bridges and signalised junctions enabling movement in all directions, namely on Al ManamaInternational City Streets, Al ManamaWarsan 1 Streets, and Al Manama StreetSheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.”

Improvements on Al Manama Street- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road include widening the flyover above Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from three to four lanes in each direction to increase its capacity from 4,500 to 6,000 vehicles per hour.

10 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

Farnek has broken ground on a new 800-room facility in Dubai South. The $41m facility is designed to be intelligent and environmentally-friendly and will house 5,000 employees.

According to Farnek, the building will raise the bar for intelligent buildings and will employ the latest smart technology and will be the most energy, water and waste-efficient accommodation centre of its kind in the region.

The firm, which owns a fleet of 200 vehicles, says it worked closely with an architectural team on the building design, to ensure it would operate as efficiently as possible rather than having to do that retroactively, the statement said.

“That is what typically happens when competent FM companies are not consulted about design.

Through smart and sustainable design, we hope to save at least 20% more than a conventional staff accommodation centre, in energy and water savings. That could be worth up to $816K every year,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.

Farnek notes that it paid extra attention to energy, water efficiency and waste management.

Oberlin added, “Designing a

sustainable home for 5,000 people, will come with certain operational challenges, such as waste and sewage management. We have designed a unique solution that will reduce the volume of waste generated that would ordinarily go to landfill.”

The facility will include solar panels on its roof covering 150sqm which the firm says will meet all hot water requirements.

ABU DHABI’S DOT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC PERMIT PROGRAMME TRANSPORTERS Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) has announced that it has started the distribution of roadwork and facilities permits across the emirate.

In a statement, the DoT explained that these permits are being issued by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the department, in coordination with all its stakeholders to help improve the level of road safety on construction sites. In

addition, these permits will also help assure the smoothness of traffic flow, it added.

ITC affirmed that these steps are part of a process to assure the development of services, in line with the centre’s strategy, which is designed to find out means of developing an integrated and sustainable road network that fully serves the public.

It explained that permit requests should be submitted a month prior to the

implementation date, so as to ensure that alternative options can be planned to ensure the smoothness of traffic flow, and to plan ahead in a timely manner.

The requests should be submitted along with other requirements and assure compliance with the traffic permits conditions, the statement added.

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LAUNCHES

BENTLEy MoToRS ANNoUNCES fULL DETAILS of THE WoRLD’S fASTEST PRoDUCTIoN SUV / CADILLAC’S XT4 ARRIVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

lau nches BRUTISH BRAkING

Max bRaKing ToRqUE oF 6,000nM

Meet the Bentayga: the world’s fastest SUV BENTAyGA SPEED ToRCHES 300k/H WITH A ToUCH of CLASS Bentley Motors has revealed the full details of the world’s fastest production SUV. The Bentayga Speed features an enhanced 635 PS (626 bhp) version of the renowned 6.0-litre W12 engine that delivers a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h) and 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain, the Bentayga Speed is the most powerful and performance-oriented Bentayga to date.

“It builds on a long tradition of Speed models that was born with the

12 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

Continental GT in 2007 and pushes the boundaries of Bentayga performance further since claiming the production SUV record at the gruelling Pikes Peak International Hill Climb last year,” said Bentley in its promotional gumph. “With a top speed of 190 mph, the Bentayga Speed is our most powerful and performanceoriented variant to date.”

Perhaps inspired by its own stunning EXP 10 Speed 6, Bentley’s has touched up the looks of the car with sporty dark-tint headlights, body-coloured side skirts and a tailgate spoiler. Throw

in the dark-tint radiator and bumper grilles, a unique 22inch wheel design available in three finishes and Speed signature badging there’s more than a few design cues to suggest that this isn’t your average SUV. As with all Bentaygas, the all-wheel-drive Speed is equipped with Electronic Differential Lock and up to eight Drive Dynamics modes.

Bespoke engineering revisions to the Sport mode provide a more dynamic drive, while a greater exhaust character and firmer suspension tune further increase driver engagement.

Customers can personalise the Bentayga Speed to their own requirements with a range of exclusive options.

Among them are carbon ceramic brakes, 22-way adjustable front seats with massage function, carbon fibre fascia panels, Bentley rear-seat entertainment (RSE) and mood lighting.

The new model boosts maximum power from 608 PS in the existing 6l W12 twin-turbocharged model to 635 PS (626 bhp) in the new Speed. Effortless acceleration is delivered thanks to 900 Nm (664 lb.ft) of torque.

Uniquely in the Speed,

LAUNCHES

XT4 debuTs in The Middle easT

ALL-NEW XT4 PRESENTED ALoNGSIDE ESCALADE, XT5, CT6 AND CTS-V

CRAfT AND GRAfT handcrafted in Crewe, England, the bentayga’s cabin is the epitome of modern british design. bentayga speed introduces a new colour split interior.

PoWER REfINED Tehe new model boosts maximum power from 608 ps in the existing 6l W12 twinturbocharged model to 635 ps (626 bhp).

the Sport mode has been recalibrated to enhance response from the W12 engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as the suspension and Bentley Dynamic Ride. The effect is a more dynamic and engaging drive.

Bentley Dynamic Ride is the world’s first electric active roll control technology that utilises an unrivalled 48V system. This system instantly counteracts

lateral rolling forces when cornering and ensures maximum tyre contact to deliver classleading cabin stability, ride comfort and exceptional handling.

A greater exhaust character during start up and gear downshifts combines with a firmer suspension set-up to further enhance the driver experience. The Bentayga’s revised permanent all-wheeldrive (AWD) offers great handling.

Alghanim, Cadillac Middle East’s national partner of Kuwait, recently showcased the all-new XT4, alongside their latest model line-up, including the Escalade, XT5 and CTS-V at the 2019 Kuwait Motor Show.

First unveiled at Cadillac House in Manhattan in March 2018, the American automotive brand’s first-ever compact SUV XT4, was proudly displayed to motoring enthusiasts who attended the internationally renowned event.

The XT4 is driven by an all-new Cadillac 2.0L Turbo engine, producing an SAEcertified output of 237 hp (177 kW).

Coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission with next-generation Electronic Precision Shift, the new engine features new efficiency-enhancing technologies including Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation).

Developed on an exclusive compact SUV architecture, the XT4 delivers expressive design, confident performance, spacious accommodations and classleading technologies, developed to attract the Middle East’s millennial audience.

Accompanying the Premium Luxury and Sport XT4 models, was PRECISIoN SHIfTING 9-spEEd and 237 hp sET-Up

an additional line-up of Cadillac products – the popular full-size luxury Escalade, mid-size SUV, XT5 and the sedan models - CTS-V and CT6.

Christian Soemmer, Cadillac Middle East Managing Director said, “On display at this year’s Kuwait Motor show is Cadillac’s first-ever compact SUV, the XT4, which marks the brand’s entry into the fastest growing luxury segment. Designed to appeal to the region’s millennial audience, the all-new model features new class-leading technologies, premium levels of refinement as well as the all-new 2.0-Liter Turbo engine.

“As one of the biggest markets in the region for Cadillac, I’m confident the all-new XT4 will be a hit amongst tech savvy consumers and look forward to seeing our customers’ reactions at The Kuwait Motor Show.”

SPECIfICATIoNS Model

xT4

Engine

2.0L Turbo engine

Power

237hp

Transmission

Electronic precision shift

A fIRST foR CADILLAC the The xT4 debuting in the region is company’s first ever compact sUV.

SPECIfICATIoNS Engine

6.0-litre W12 engine

Power

626hp

Torque

900nm

Top Speed

306k/ph

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 13

inteRview

Conti ConneCts

the head of Continental’s tyre Division nikolai Setzer talks to T&FME about an evolution in the tyre industry 14 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

inteRview

n

ikolai Setzer, member of the Executive Board, Tire Division is talking to T&FME after he and Continental Africa & Middle East’s regional manager Ander Garcia, have just given an extended look at how the company is progressing in the region.

Perhaps, appropriately for a tyre company, Continental is moving quickly in the region.

They’ve just announced that the German tyre and technology company (more on the latter, later) is opening its first-ever office in the Saudi Arabian west coast city of Jeddan alongside Almutlak Trade & Industries. It is a partnership Garcia feels confident will help the company extend its presence in the Kingdom’s market as well as bolster its burgeoning regional standing.

The visit also serves as an opportunity to officially inaugurate Continental’s (surprisingly) first warehouse in Jebel Ali which will immediately be plugged into a network of plants in Europe, North America and South America.

Globally, the tyre industry is developing beyond being a business concentrated on rubber into one that is embracing silicon to create products that use sensors and electronics to draw data that fleets can use to get a picture of how their vehicles are driving. For Continental, there is an opportunity to bring together its knowledge in other areas such as chassis development, infrastructure and communications to get the tyres really talking.

The Middle East will get a taste of this future when Continental’s new digital tyre monitoring platform, ContiConnect arrives this year. Designed especially for commercial vehicles, the new platform is designed to improve uptime and will send alerts if a tyre’s pressure deviates from its normal running state. It is the next step in evolution after the debut last year of ContiPressureCheck – the first monitoring system for buses and trucks to continuously monitors tyre pressure and temperature via sensors placed inside the tyre – and Setzer says the company is well on its way to becoming more than just a tyre manufacturer.

“You might know us as simply on focusing on tyres, but we are now just 40% rubber and (about) 60% automotive. The entire tyre business is just one fourth of our company,” he tells T&FME, adding that Continental is riding the wave of a wider digital evolution.

(During the presentation it was revealed that Setzer’s Tyres Division accounted for 26% of sales in 2017, Chassis and Safety 22%, Interior 21%, Powertrain 17% and industrial specialist ContiTech 14%.)

“We are very close to the automotive industry, to the automated driving industry,

to connectivity, all the electronics which is happening right now and the transformation which takes place in the automotive industry which is for us a unique situation, there is no other tyre manufacturer that has such a setup and that gives us the opportunity to be involved very early in new developments and new trends,” he says.

“We are in the middle of this amazing transformation in the automotive industry,” he continues. “You may have seen the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (held in January and where the company’s Intelligent Door System picked an honouree award) and you can clearly see where it is going. The car itself – the hardware – is one thing but the more important part is what comes with it. Nobody is looking at just a vehicle (anymore), everybody is looking at what does it mean in terms of services and software; how do you apply it?; where is the robotics?; where is the artificial intelligence?”

“Adding sensors into tyres can today measure tyre pressures and the temperature of the tyre but in the future, we will get much, much more information such as wear and the conditions inside the tyre. That’s where we are heading.”

Doors that monitor traffic by themselves and cars that drive autonomously are a long way away on the horizon for fleets more concerned with rising costs and an increasingly competitive landscape but ContiPressureCheck and soon ContiConnect are ready for them to use.

“We are striving for lowest overall driving costs which is obviously a pretty clear target of the fleet. Their tyre-related costs are still a relatively high portion if you add, not only the tyre purchase but the replacement, as well the fuel consumption – which is dependent on tyres,” remarks Setzer. “That’s not only the tyre performance, it’s obviously having a stable and level of temperature in the tyre so it helps the fleets to centrally control their fleet; they know where the trucks are; what is the air pressure; the best pressure they can use.”

ContiConnect will enable companies to view the data recorded from the sensor embedded in the inner lining of the tyre online.

It you’re in a remote location you can send the results via a hand-held tool to again see the results. Setzer says that Continental is now looking beyond this process to anticipate failures.

“At a later stage than that, if we anticipate variability (in the tyre) we can tell them (the fleets); we can say ‘listen, you might have a problem soon’ - we look at the condition of the tyre and before you’ve got a flat tyre you are able to stop somewhere and exchange it. Uptime is the name of the game on construction sites, so increasing uptime; reducing fuel consumption MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 15

interview

and thereby reduce overall driving costs is our target and that’s for the benefit of fleets.”

Setzer argues that there is a real appetite, not just globally, but within the Middle East, to adopt this new approach to fleet management.

Predictably, perhaps, the interest is being led by larger fleets with scale and resources but the smaller operations are also ‘connecting’.

“Where is the interest coming faster? It comes faster with a well organised, large fleets.

They have a head office to control and have the opportunity to use all those assets they have; different servicing depots which they can manage. But we’ve got excellent feedback as well from smaller fleets because they’re seeing very fast that the additional investment into sensors and into software is rapidly getting compensated by higher uptime or lower costs,” he says. “And I don’t see any reason why – as it’s a trucking market as well in the Middle East – why this should not take place here. I mean, imagine you are at 40/50 degrees Celsius with a truck outside, you don’t want to change tyres and you don’t want to be obliged to check your air pressure; it is clearly and certainly a service to make sure your fleet is running.”

Returning to focus on Continental’s own operation he explains that technology development is bringing together the various strands of the company. “(ContiCheck) is one of the areas where we are most closely working together on the one hand with the sensor guys and the connectivity guys which are in the interiors division where we make sure that we have a closed loop of information within the car,” he says. “We are extending this on the truck side but also on the power side and in the future tHe pReSSuRe iS On ContiPressure arrived in the market last year, and will be followed by ContiCheck in 2019.

COntinentAL At CeS 2019

A unique COMpAny? Setzer says that Continental’s broa d reach is unique and is helping it move away from being merely a ‘rubber comp any’.

We look at the condition of the tyre and before you’ve got a flat tyre you are able to stop somewhere and exchange it”

the more and more data we generate we’ll add more information as a service for the driver.”

He adds that fleet companies shouldn’t be expected to keep on replacing their hardware with every new development coming out of Continental: “More and more we roll it out and through over-the-air updates we are capable with existing hardware of always adding new features and making our software system better.”

Even for a company of Continental’s wide range of interests, it has recognised that it needs to work with other partners, including those beyond the automotive sector. The most obvious example may be its initiative with telecommunications firm Vodaphone which is seeing them explore to use smart communication technologies such as 5G, cellular V2X and mobile edge

CeS 2019 innovation Honoree Award – intelligent Door System With this enhancement of the intelligent door, Continental is providing drivers with their very own “doorkeeper,” ensuring that drivers can get in and out of their vehicle safely and comfortably. Sensors monitoring traffic from the side prevent damage to doors, while Assist mode makes opening and closing the door easier and holds it securely in the desired position, even on a slope.

The system received a CES Innovation Award for “Vehicle Intelligence and Self-Driving Technology”.

Global 5G-Hybrid-v2X Continental has developed a flexible 5G hybrid platform that allows both: mobile network communication, and rapid and reliable direct exchange of data. These benefits are being realized with a first customer award for this 5G-Hybrid-V2X solution.

Smart cities – City Data as a Service Digitalisation enables mobility-related data from connected vehicles, smartphones and infrastructure to be harnessed to meet dynamic urban mobility requirements. At the core of Continental’s smart city offerings lies the data platform City Data as a Service, which not only stores and processes data, but creates real added value through data analysis and the application of artificial intelligence. At CES 2019, Continental is showcased different solutions based on the City Data as a Service platform such as its fleet management, intelligent streetlamp and intelligent intersection systems. waveguide Head-up Display Continental has provided a solution to the size problem of augmented reality head-up displays and made them compatible with vehicles.

16 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

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interview

computing to make roads safer. The two partners revealed at last year’s CEBIT event that they are already working on application scenarios at Vodafone’s 5G mobility lab.

“We are obviously building up our core competencies which we have thanks to our large portfolio in lots of areas of automotive driving and connectivity. And those two areas we see as the largest megatrends. But we cooperate with associated parties which are around it like telecommunications companies, for instance,” he explains. “We announced the cooporation with Vodaphone because obviously to connect cars and you need telecommunications and we are not a telecommunications company. So, you have to make sure that you team up with the other companies in the interfering infrastructure which is around. Everything we can supply by ourselves we do via our core business and for the rest we have to cooperate with the strong and big guys in the industries which are out there.

“We own our own tyres and the knowledge around it. This what we want to supply as a solution.”

Truck-makers such as Daimler, Scania and MAN have all declared their ambitions to become service providers but while Continental is collaborating with OEMs, Setzer stresses the company that recorded $50 billion in sales in 2017 is carving out its own trajectory based on its own strengths.

“The knowledge about how tyres perform in the field; the knowledge about our tyres themselves, this is our unique mission which we have. Looking on the automotive side of the business, we believe we are the largest sensor company in the industry. On top of that we have connectivity: within

COntinentAL’S MiDDLe eASt StRAteGy • Enlarge local presence with stronger relations with its partners in the region • Develop presence of Tier 2 and Tier 3 Brands in the Middle East • Development of digital solutions related to tires for the market • In line with Gulf countries vision about safety, Vision Zero as part of its core activities

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

MAnAGinG COMpLeXity TFleets now have an unprecedented amount of choice when it comes to technology. Setzer says even Continental has to keep up to speed.

our company; we have more than 15,000 software engineers and we believe that we have something substantial to offer. And whether the OEMs take our products or they use something else, later on, in the aftermarket we always have a good offer to present and it’s up to the fleets to make that choice.”

T&FME asks Setzer whether that there’s a danger the pace of technological advances could go too fast for fleets to be able to keep up.

“I think the name of the game is managing complexity,” he says before expanding on his point. “If you have a certain telematics unit, we, as a supplier, have to make sure that our software, our tyres and our system works as well with what the fleet has already tALkinG tO tHe ReGiOn Regional manager Jon Ander Garcia told a meeting in Dubai last month that the region is a key market for Continental.

We are in the middle of this amazing transformation in the automotive industry”

installed. They will not change their whole hardware the next day and they want to have it integrated into that system as much as possible. And we are willing to do this.

“So, we are cooperating with all the large telematics providers; we’re working with larger fleets; and we don’t says one size fits all, we don’t just say buy only what we have, we are going out there and adapting, cooperating, in order to solve fleets with the complexity they have. Just going out and saying, ‘this is my stringent offering, you have to have it’, that will not lead to success. There are too many fleets out there. As you know, to get a vehicle market to completely renew takes a long time.

Time is short and the interview is drawing to a close. T&FMEwonders what Setzer replies now when people from outside the industry what sort of company he is running?

“We are saying we are a technology company. But with the future and as the car gets more and more a consumer good, with electronics and so on, then it might merge into different areas like Smart Cities.

So, it – Continental - becomes a mobility provider. A technology company as a mobility provider. That’s what is our answer to that.”

With his industry in flux and experiencing almost unprecedented change, is it an exciting time to be doing this job?

“Absolutely. Coming from rubber and now shaping mobility gives us a much broader scope than we have had in the past. This is where I focussed the presentation today. This is unique.

You will not find any rubber company with such a strong automotive business - we are among the top three automotive suppliers - this business model is very difficult to copy.”

inteRview

CHANNEL VISION

GM Mohamed el Zeftawi on the evolution of Al Masaood’s Commercial vehicles & equipment Division

F

or over four decades Al Masaood has been a fixture within the UAE market, and can boast a roster of major players within its line-up including: Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks in Abu Dhabi, and Ducati across the country.

Not content on pumping big brands into the market, the group has a world class network of well-equipped service centres and extensive spare parts dealers. The 20 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

newest addition to this part of the business is the Al Masaood Automobiles Nissan Service Centre, which is Nissan’s largest service centre in the world. Mohamed El Zeftawi, general manager of Al Masaood’s Commercial Vehicles & Equipment Division, explains to T&FME why the company is managing to continue to expand.

Please share an overview of how Al Masaood started in the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors.

We ensure that our partners share the same values as us”

Over the years, Al Masaood, an icon for the UAE’s automotive market, has exponentially grown to become the main distributor of global automotive brands in the UAE. We run three dedicated divisions to cater to the different needs of the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. First is Al Masaood Automobiles, the authorised distributor of Nissan, Infiniti and Renault in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. It brings to its customers a complete range of the most reliable 4x4,

inteRview

Tyres, Batteries & Accessories Division, the distributor of the full Bridgestone Tyres range for cars, trucks, industrial, agricultural, and earth mover vehicles in Abu Dhabi. It is also the local distributor of Lassa tyres, boasting a long-standing partnership with Bridgestone Middle East & Africa since the early 1970s. We also manage Revolutions accessories, sole distributor of Ducati motorcycles in the UAE. How easy was it to find deals with manufacturers at the start? How has that changed over the years?

Al Masaood is meticulous and thorough in collaborating with manufacturers, making sure that it deals only with well reputed and recognised organisations.

Understanding our industry’s distribution channels and knowing where we fit in the supply chain has helped us find the right partners that fit well with our strategies and values as an organisation. Al Masaood and UD, for instance, have always been in a strong collaboration with each other during the past years, which complements its brand promise of fully addressing its customer’s concerns. Al Masaood CV&E’s cooperation with UD Trucks began more than 35 years ago in 1982.

The Division’s dedicated sales, service and parts facilities are fully equipped with the latest technology and are recognised to be the best workshops in the Gulf region. To date, we have a lot of successful worldwide partners, being the dealer of global brands such as Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, UD-Trucks, Renault Trucks and Uni-carrier Forklifts, Oshkosh Fire Trucks, Shangrao Buses, Bridgestone, Lassa, MTU, Volvo Penta, and much more.

conditions in some markets, the Japanese truck manufacturer has achieved significant sales growth across the entire region. is there a corporate philosophy or set of values that you feel your manufacture partners should have?

Absolutely. As previously mentioned, we ensure that our partners share the same values that we espouse in our organisation. Additionally, like us, our partners are fully committed to quality, professionalism, and excellence for the benefit of the market and our clients.

Both UD and Renault have brought out new trucks in the past year.

How do you identify which trucks and which brands are suitable for which customers?

We always make sure that our team has a full understanding of the needs of our clients to offer them the right trucks that meet their required specifications.

How has Al Masaood’s aftersales services such as repair and maintenance and long-term service agreements changed over time? Are customers becoming more interested in them and paying a premium?

Al Masaood’s after-sales services are among the most exceptional in the country.

Our technicians are all professionals and of top calibre who observe the highest standards of service operations. They deliver customised and efficient solutions by using state-of-the-art technologies. we’ve seen some manufacturers extend their warranties in recent

You represent a portfolio of world-

years. Does that present a

class brands for the medium

challenge or opportunity to you?

and heavy-duty trucks and

It represents an opportunity for us because we are able to demonstrate our commitment to provide the best services to our customers.

special vehicles – how do you work with the manufacturers to ensure the best value and

luxury, passenger and commercial vehicles, efficiently catering to a large and diverse number of individuals, fleet and government users. Second is Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E) Division.

It was established to become the sole distributor in Abu Dhabi for UD-Trucks, Renault Trucks and Uni-carrier Forklifts, as well as Oshkosh Fire Trucks and Shangrao Buses across the UAE, together with other well-known brands of heavy equipment and ancillary products. Third is Al Masaood

Our partners are fully committed to quality and excellencc”

products for your customers?

Are any fleets reducing their

We collaborate closely with our partners to know first-hand the quality of the trucks and special vehicles and coordinate with them concerning the unique and specific needs of our customers here in the UAE and in the Middle East. UD has a wide range of products with different specifications to cater to the wide-ranging requirements of our customers as well. UD Trucks is one of the best performing companies in the Middle East and East Africa. Despite challenging

own workshop operations in favour of getting more support from Al Masaood?

Yes. This shows that Al Masaood’s support is more efficient and economical for them in the long run.

Given your presence in the equipment market, do you try to offer customers – in the construction industry or logistics sector, for MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 21

interview

with its companies and partnerships spanning activities and expertise across 18 different market segments. Its primary goal is growth through a deep understanding of its marketplace, the quality of its products and services, and an uncompromising quest for customer satisfaction. Since its inception, it has evolved into a commercial leader across key sectors such as automotive, engineering, power, property and retail.

Other companies within Al Masaood are leveraging and benefiting from its strengths as an established organisation in the UAE and the rest of the region. on A QUesteR Al Masaood CV&E displayed the new-generation and heavy-duty Quester UD truck during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) – Eco-Waste Exhibition 2019.

instance - a complete package of services and products?

We have long been providing a complete package of services and products, including the right product, extended warranty, service contract, insurance and financing, as part of our commitment to providing the highest level of customer experience and satisfaction.

How important are other companies within Al Masaood as customers – is it helpful to be part of such a large and renowned organisation?

We believe that it is beneficial to be a part of such an integrated group of companies.

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Masaood is a privately held and highly diversified group,

netwoRK GRowtH El Zeftawi says the firm is planning to add a mobile workshop and parts delivery services to customers in remote locations.

22 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

Sustainability is at the heart of our operations as a group, driving our growth and inspiring our vision”

How would you describe the current market for your company?

Admittedly, the market is facing a number of challenges, but Al Masaood is able to thrive despite the current situation by partnering with distinguished brands and consistently offering excellent services. what is your view on the implementation of vAt? How has it affected the market?

The UAE’s implementation of value added tax (VAT) system is necessary to further strengthen the national economy in the modern times. The new tax regime has not affected the country’s competitiveness as it applies the lowest VAT rate compared to other nations. Initially, the market adjusted to the system, especially during the first three months of its implementation in 2018, but now the industry is fully complying with its VAT obligations.

A CoMPlete PoRtfolio El Zeftawi says Al Masaod’s roste r of brands has grown exponentially over the years and always works closely with them .

tHe leGACY of BRAnD BUilDinG “Over the years, Al Masaood, an icon for the UAE’s automotive market, has exponentially grown to become the main distributor of global automotive brands in the UAE, including Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks in Abu Dhabi, and Ducati across the country. We run three dedicated divisions to cater to the different needs of the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. First is Al Masaood Automobiles, the authorised distributor of Nissan, Infiniti and Renault in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. It brings to its customers a complete range of the most reliable 4x4, luxury, passenger and commercial vehicles, efficiently catering to a large and diverse number of individuals, fleet and government users. Second is Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E) Division.

“It was established to become the sole distributor in Abu Dhabi for UD-Trucks, Renault Trucks and Uni-carrier Forklifts, as well as Oshkosh Fire Trucks and Shangrao Buses across the UAE, together with other well-known brands of heavy equipment and ancillary products.

Third is Al Masaood Tyres, Batteries & Accessories Division, the distributor of the full Bridgestone Tyres range for cars, trucks, industrial, agricultural, and earth mover vehicles in Abu Dhabi. It is also the local distributor of Lassa tyres, boasting a longstanding partnership with Bridgestone Middle East & Africa since the early 1970s. We also manage Revolutions accessories, sole distributor of Ducati motorcycles in the UAE.”

interview

what have you got planned for 2019?

We have a number of activities lined up for this year. We kicked them off by participating at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) – Eco-Waste Exhibition 2019 to showcase our sustainable transportation solutions. As the sole distributor of UD Trucks, CV&E displayed the new-generation and heavy-duty Quester UD truck during the exhibition.

The Quester is a multi-purpose truck designed to cater the wide range of applications, including off and on-road use, waste management, construction, distribution and long-haul transportation. We will reveal our plans gradually throughout the year, including the introduction of our new, muchanticipated product to the market.

efforts. Sustainability is at the heart of our operations as a group, driving our growth and inspiring our vision for the future. It helps us to plan our strategies and tackle any challenges that may arise in the future. We also make concerted efforts to ensure that our impact on society and the environment is a positive one.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance for Al Masaood to contribute to sustainability and ensure the best results at all times.

During the event, we showcased the Quester, which is equipped with the latest technology to make a positive environmental impact. Ultimately, our goal is to provide products that are created with forethought for the environment and are focused on the effective use of resources and reduced environmental impact.

Have you felt any benefit from

why did you choose to

the expo 2020 Dubai? Are you

participate at wfes?

supporting the event in any way?

The exhibition is a great opportunity for us to show our commitment to provide the country with environment-friendly trucks in line with the government’s sustainability

Expo 2020 Dubai is going to be the largest international economic and cultural event to be held for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The event will help

Understanding our industry’s distribution channels and knowing where we fit in the supply chain has helped us find the right partners tha fit well with our strategies”

drive exponential growth in the vital sectors such as construction, tourism, technology, transportation, aviation, and logistics. It will also be the key to attracting direct foreign investments that support the country’s economic diversification plan and it will be part of its preparation for a post-oil future.

In addition to the event’s positive economic impact, it will also enable millions of visitors and tourists to enjoy the cultural, heritage and historical richness of the UAE. Additionally, it will help promote our leadership’s approach to establishing values of brotherhood, tolerance, and co-existence. Al Masaood will contribute in any way to ensure the success of Expo 2020 and, subsequently, help in the reinforcement of the UAE economic growth. what are your plans for expansion in the year ahead?

Currently, Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment has 3S complexes covering the whole territory of Abu Dhabi. We plan to add a mobile workshop and parts delivery van by which we are going to provide our services to the customers in remote locations.

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16.05.18 09:38 MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 23

INTERVIEW

THE sky Is noT THE lImIT

Interview with Henrik Ambak, SVP, Cargo Operations Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo

E

mirates SkyCargo is now the second largest air cargo operator in the world, operating a fleet of freighters to over 40 destinations across six continents, next to its 260 passenger aircraft moving passengers and cargo between 158 airports. In total the company carried 2.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2017/18.

Operating its freighter aircraft out of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and its passenger aircraft out of Dubai International Airport (DXB), Emirates SkyCargo has by 1 August 2018 connected 1 million containers in just 4 years between the passenger and freighters fleet, making Dubai the most successful two airport hub.

In order for operations to run smoothly, Emirates SkyCargo is equipped with the 24 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

best facilities available to them, including a fleet of 49 trucks, which make around 375 trips per day between the hubs.

From the handling of agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, to sensitive cargo, odd-sized equipment, textiles and supercars, Emirates SkyCargo maintained high standards of service for our customers by investing in innovation and utilising advanced technologies such as SkyChain which enables customers to request services and trace their shipments in real-time.

In order for operations to run smoothly, Emirates SkyCargo is equipped with the best facilities available to them. In addition to that, there are two key players assisting Emirates SkyCargo in their daily cargo operations, Allied Transport and MAN Trucks.

Emirates SkyCargo operates between

It is essential for us to have the transport provider that offers reliability, on-time performance and flexibility�

Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB).

This is where Allied Transport plays a key role in ensuring that Emirates SkyCargo can connect between the two airports in ease. “What Allied Transport does for us is to connect our 2-airport hub. We have our freighters at DWC airport and our passenger fleet operating out of DXB thus Allied transport helps us to make that connection, along with local deliveries connecting DXB/ DWC with other UAE airports, explained

by Mr. Henrik Ambak, Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo worldwide.

Allied Transport Company (ATC) is one of the leading transport companies with the largest trucking fleet in the UAE market and the region. The company was founded in 1972 and ever since has

INTERVIEW

been providing a caliber of service that is unrivaled within the industry. The company specializes in land freight transportation and haulage of all types of cargo.”

‘It is essential for us to have the transport provider that offers reliability, on-time performance and flexibility. This is especially important when you have unexpected flights and shipments that require flexible logistics and additional trucks to operate.

“The two airports are around 65 kilometers apart, meaning that to date we have covered an estimated 19 million kilometers – the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back twenty-five times.

To cover this distance requires a mode of transport that is both durable and reliable, and we depend on our key partners, Allied Transport and MAN Truck & Bus

LOOkINg TO INNOVATE a priority, With sustainability and innovation any could comp the that ests sugg Henrik Ambak future. consider autonomous trucks in the

Cargo needs to be transported between DWC and DXB on a time because we can’t keep the other planes waiting”

to ensure our cargo keeps moving.

We trust Allied Transport and MAN Truck & Bus to provide dependable, longlasting vehicles and have never had a single breakdown with a MAN truck, enabling us to maintain our tight schedules, especially when cargo needs to go onto passenger planes from DXB. For example, we have about four freighter flights that come in from Hong Kong. That cargo needs to be transported between DWC and DXB on-time because we can’t keep the other planes waiting.

We don’t want the freighter fleet to sit on the ground as it wastes a lot of money.”

While there is a need to transport the cargo from one airport to another quickly and on time, Mr. Ambak also emphasizes the need of safety. “Our logo is painted on these trucks so we need to ensure that these trucks are safe

and operating in a safe manner as our brand is associated with the highest degree of safety.

Looking to the future, Mr. Ambak is keen to see how developments including electric trucks and autonomous driving to further increase efficiency and improve sustainability across the logistics chain.

“As an airline we are always looking for ways to innovate and become more sustainable so it would be interesting to see how trucks become more sustainable from going from digital to electrical. There is also a discussion about autonomous trucks as well.

The technology exists in Europe, especially platooning, which is making logistics more and more efficient, so it will be interesting to see the expected regulations from ESMA to understand how this will work in practice in the UAE,” remarked Mr. Ambak.

ALLIED PARTNERS To ensure operations run smoothly, Emirates SkyCargo’s operations is ably assisted Allied Transport and MAN Trucks. Henrik Ambak says it has yet to have a break-down with an MAN truck.

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 25

Bringing the latest

construction news from across the GCC

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Making Mileage a priority

Highlighting better mileage with Giti’s GAM833 Brought to you by

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ast month, we discussed the durability and retreadability of tires, and how it creates a better value for fleets. In addition to this, there are other ways that better mileage is created, starting from the design of a tire to its construction and after-service. For this example, we will highlight the Mixed Service, All-Position pattern GAM833, which has received very strong feedback from fleets throughout the region for its longevity and lower cost-perkilometer. What goes into this tire to make it go longer?

ARt of DeSiGn The design and features of a tire are critical factors to ensuring better mileage.

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MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 27

WORKSHOP

CONTINENTAL COMES TO JEDDAH / SAF-HOLLAND MAKES TPM PURCHASE / INFINITI SCOOPS ENGINE AWARD / SAP WANTS YOUR DC TO GO HANDS-FREE

workshop

First Continental office opens in Jeddah, KSA TYRE COMPANY FIXES ON SAUDI ARABIAN EXPANSION TYRES 2019 is set to be a promising year says premium German tyre and technology company, Continental, which has just opened its first-ever office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Aimed to expand company’s presence and strengthen its foothold in the region, the new joint venture project is in partnership with Continental’s previous distributer in Saudi Arabia, Almutlak Trade & Industries, and will support the growing

demand for Continental’s products and services in the kingdom, says the company.

The announcement has been made during an official gathering held earlier this month in Dubai, hosted by Nikolai Setzer, Member of the Executive Board, Tire Division, Continental AG, and Jon Ander Garcia, Regional Manager for Continental Africa & Middle East.

Commenting on the opening, Jon Ander Garcia, Regional Manager for Continental

MILESTONE FOR CONTI Jon Ander Garcia labelled the new office as a milestone for Continental during a Dubai presentation.

Africa & Middle East said: “The opening of the new office marks an important milestone for the brand not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the Middle East. We believe this new partnership will allow us both to grow and to strengthen our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the region as a whole.”

Building on the company’s legacy, Continental also celebrated the inauguration of its first warehouse facility in Jebel Ali, Dubai. The new warehouse will act as a hub connecting plants in Europe, North America and South America with the brand’s distribution partners in the Middle East.

Highlighting the significance of the development, Jon Ander Garcia, said: “The region has proven to be a key market for Continental since the establishment of the brand’s regional representation office in 2009. With the inauguration of the first-ever warehouse facility in the UAE, we are confident that our customers will reap the benefit of our premium services and enjoy seamless experiences.”

COMPLETE SOLUTION SAF-HOLLAND’s Borgha rdt said it is moving towards offering customers complete system solution s.

sAF-hoLLAND buys pressureGuArD TYRES

SAF-HOLLAND has purchased a majority share in US-based automatic tyre pressure management specialist PressureGuard.

SAF-HOLLAND also revealed it will offer the PressureGuard system in North America, Europe, China and other sales markets as well.According to the firm, PressureGuard is a “durable, robust solution for tyre pressure management, which meets the growing market demand for reliable automatic tyre-inflating systems.

“This acquisition is the perfect addition to our product portfolio.

This addresses many challenges faced by fleet managers and simplifies the ordering, production and customer service processes. The PressureGuard concept allows us to significantly increase the number of our axle systems equipped with tyre pressure management technology,” explained SAFHOLLAND’s CEO Detlef Borghardt.

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S WORKSHOP: WABCO’S E-TRAILER, SCANIA TAKING HVO TO BAUMA, FORD LOOKING AT AUTONOMOUS TRANSITS, AND MORE 28 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

WORKSHOP

TOP AWARD FOR VC-TURBO OPERATIONAL EFF ICIENCY Guided work solutions can improve warehouse wor ker efficiency by more tha n 20%.

sAp to eNAbLe hANDs-Free DCs TECHNOLOGY

SAP Business One users in the Middle East will soon be able to deploy Honeywell’s hands-free, eyes-free solutions for Android to improve productivity, accuracy and safety Honeywell has signed an OEM agreement with SAP to integrate and offer its Guided Work Solutions as an add-on for SAP Business One. The bundled solutions could provide distribution centre customers with improved productivity, accuracy and safety.

Honeywell’s Guided Work Solutions is a software application that runs on the Android operating system and is based on the company’s industry-leading Vocollect voice technology. The worker-focused software is integrated with SAP Business One, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform designed for small and medium enterprise distribution centers.

“Distribution centres regionally have achieved significant productivity and accuracy gains by empowering their workers with Honeywell Vocollect voice solutions,” said Miroslav Kafedzhiev, vice president and general manager, Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META), Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions. “With our new Guided Work Solutions, we can help small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Middle East smoothly and quickly deploy the same voice-directed technology used by some of the world’s largest and most complex fulfilment operations,” he added.

Nearly 1 million mobile workers use Honeywell Vocollect voice solutions in distribution centers around the world, while a majority of North American supermarket chains use it to enhance their operational efficiency. The technology has been shown to increase warehouse worker productivity up to 35%, while reducing errors by up to 25%.

ENGINES INFINITI’S VC-Turbo engine has been recognised in WardsAuto’s 10 Best Engines of 2019, owing to its industryleading variable compression technology. Editors of the automotive business intelligence service spent two months testing and evaluating 34 engines, and the VC-Turbo in the all-new INFINITI QX50 proved to be among the finest.

Impressing judges with the fuel economy of a “2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder, and a convincing performance of a V6 the VCTurbo is evidently one of the most powerful engines on the market.

“When we debuted the VCTurbo in the all-new QX50 earlier this year, we gave drivers an engine that is able to transform on demand, providing performance and efficiency in one package,” said Markus Leithe, Managing Director, INFINITI Middle East.

“Even though the VC Engine is a first of its kind and has just been introduced to the region, it’s an honor to be recognized

by WardsAuto in its 25th year of the Best Engine ranking. It isan organization that prides itself on covering the auto industry nearly since its inception, and we look forward to bringing more industryleading technologies to the market”

Considered by many industry observers as the holy grail of internal combustion engines, the company’s engineers have succeeded in bringing a world’s first to the market for INFINITI: variable compression technology.

The VC-Turbo engine takes the power and strength of a sprinter and couples it with the efficiency and endurance of a marathon runner.

Delivering a strong and performance of a V6 and the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder engine – it transforms on demand and based on the input of the drivers. Instantly adapting to their needs, the VC-Turbo lets them harness the exhilarating performance of 268 hp and 380 nm at 4,400 rpm of torque.

The VC-Turbo can be found in the new QX50, available across the Middle East starting at AED 171,000 for the QX50 LUXE version.

BENTLEY SYSTEMS ACqUIRES TRAFFIC SIGN DESIGNER INFRASTRUCTURE

Bentley Systems has acquired SignCAD systems, a provider of software for traffic sign design and manufacturing. The firm is said to provide sign design solutions to 43 state departments of transportation in the US, as well as several cities, counties, engineering firms, and manufacturers.

According to a statement from Bentley, SignCAD’s signdesign capabilities are expected to complement Bentley’s

OpenRoads civil design software for roadway projects.

“For the past five years, we have been working diligently on increasing the level of detail that can be modeled and simulated within the OpenRoads environment. With the addition of SignCAD, 3D modeling of signs within the context of our roadway designs allows us to provide a higher fidelity representation of roadway assets, yielding benefits beyond design and construction workflows,” said Dustin Parkman,

VP, civil infrastructure design engineering for Bentley Systems.

The acquisition is said to add to Bentley’s ability to provide solutions for the design and construction of transportation assets. It will also allow Bentley to better serve roadway asset owners for the purposes of maintaining safer construction work zones, while sustaining roadway performance criteria for the public, the statement said.

“In this new era of autonomous vehicles, the digital representation of roadway networks is quickly becoming just as vital as the physical roadway. Faded or obscured signs and unusual intersections are commonplace throughout most of world’s roadway networks, presenting new and interesting challenges for roadway owners—challenges that often cannot be met by physical upgrades alone. To bridge that gap, we need a digital representation of roadway assets often referred to as a ‘digital twin’,” added Parkman.

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 29

inteRview

STRONG CONNECTIONS wABCO’s CtO Dr Christian Brenneke talks about its first electric trailer prototype – the etrailer

W

ABCO, leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies, presented the prototype of its first, industry-leading electric trailer developed to maximise operating efficiency and lower fuel consumption at last year’s IAA Commercial Vehicle 2018 in Hanover, Germany, . The new electric trailer – named eTrailer – is equipped with an electric 30 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

motor and its associated control system to connect truck and trailer vehicle controls.

While talking with T&FME magazine, Dr Christian Brenneke, chief technology officer at WABCO, sxplains that the eTrailer prototype shown at the IAA event uses an intelligent electric motor control to recuperate electric energy during braking, which can then be reutilised to power the vehicle’s traction or to operate onboard electric auxiliaries.

The main advantage of this solution compared to existing concepts, he remarks,

This aspect has a huge influence on possible fuel savings”

is the integration of the company’s eDrive capabilities into the trailer and truck brake and stability control system.

“To achieve a maximum of energy recuperation with regenerative braking, it is mandatory to minimise the use of friction brakes of the overall vehicle (truck and trailer) and the endurance brakes of the truck,” says Dr Brenneke. “This contributes to the demanded brake forced by the driver (or a driver assistance system) in cases the electric machine in the trailer is sufficient

inteRview

to fulfill the brake request by itself.

He continues: “Furthermore, the control of the electric machine is integrated into the brake and stability control algorithms of the overall vehicle braking system.

This enables optimal braking power in cases the regenerative braking from the trailer eDrive is not sufficient.

“To ensure the exchangeability of any truck with an electrified trailer, no additional communication wires or special truck/trailer harmonisation is acceptable.

WABCO implemented a control and communication strategy that is performed by the existing truck and trailer EBS ECUs. To overcome this disadvantage of existing concepts we use only the available ISO 11992-2 CAN communication line.”

According to Dr Brenneke, WABCO is targeting a payback time of less than two years for customers operating in regional delivery traffic with an annual mileage of 100tkm. (“For long haul applications payback time will be longer and depends strongly on the topology of the driven routes.”)

To do this, WABCO is mobilising the increasing intelligence on board and between trailers and trucks to empower fleets to gain further efficiency and improve fuel economy while reducing CO2 and noise emissions.

“The main difference to common EBS/ TEBS vehicle deceleration control is the integration of the capabilities of the electric machine placing the trailer into the existing brake management function of the truck EBS,” he says. “This function minimises the use of the friction brakes if the brake request can be fulfilled by the existing endurance brakes of the truck.

“It is now extended to work for all available endurance brakes in the vehicle, including the trailer eDrive, with prior use of the regenerative braking from the trailer. Therefore, it allows recuperation of the largest possible share of electric energy that can be used for traction purposes as well as for powering trailer auxiliaries.”

When asked in what combination with other efficiency technologies would the eTrailer have its greatest impact, he replies that commercial fleet operators that connect the eTrailer to a truck equipped with WABCO’s intelligent braking and stability control systems will be able to enjoy an “enhanced operating efficiency” from their truck-trailer combination.

“WABCO estimates the eTrailer to deliver fuel savings up to 20% on short haul routes and up to 10% for long hauls in a

eFFiCienCY COntROLLeR WABCO is a leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles.

truck-trailer combination,” he remarks. “The eTrailer is equipped with a 300 kW (peak) induction machine connected without a clutch dire ctly via cardan shaft to the last trailer axle.”

The recuperated electric energy created is then stored in a 28 kWh battery. The storage combines a huge charge power with a relatively small energy store capacity, and is a typical design approach for hybrid vehicles and electric traction purposes.

Furthermore, the constant torque/constant power region of the eDrive is influenced by the design of the electric machine and the differential gearbox ratio.

“This aspect has a huge influence on possible fuel savings and has to be chosen depending on the target application of

WABCO is targeting a payback time of less than two years for customers operating in regional delivery traffic”

either long haul or near urban delivery.

Moreover, the WABCO OptiTurn function allows significant reduction of tyre wear by lifting a trailer axle in tight turns.”

In addition to fuel savings, the electrical power generated by regenerative braking can be harvested to be either used to assist in maintaining the movement of the vehicle or driving a system such as a refrigeration unit.

“The main difference to common EBS/ TEBS vehicle deceleration control is the integration of the capabilities of the electric machine placing the trailer into the existing brake management function of the truck EBS,” he explains. “This function today minimises, locally for the truck, the use of the friction brakes if the brake request can be fulfilled by the existing endurance brakes of the truck.”

Dr Brenneke adds that this function has been extended to work globally for all available endurance brakes in the vehicle, including the trailer eDrive, with prior use of the regenerative braking from the trailer.

“As a consequence, the WABCO solution allows recuperation of the largest possible share of kinetic and potential vehicle energy,” he says. “The collected electric energy can be used for traction purposes as well as for powering trailer auxiliaries. Together with local energy management and vehicle safety algorithms – to, for instance, avoid jack-knifing – running on TEBS, the trailer supports the truck in acceleration or going uphill conditions leading to fuel savings of approximately 20% in near urban delivery conditions and 10% for long haul applications.”

The eDrive of the current prototype

wHO is DR CHRistiAn BRenneke?

DOUBLe DiGit sAvinGs deliver Dr Brenneke says the eTrailer could fuel savings up to 20% on short haul . routes and up to 10% for long hauls

As CTO Dr Brenneke leads WABCO’s global innovation and advanced product development strategy. Having served for a decade with WABCO, Dr. Brenneke became Vice President of Engineering in October 2015. Prior to this he was Vp, Braking and Driver Assistance Systems, and held a number of management roles including Global Project Management Leader.

Prior to joining WABCO in 2008, Dr Brenneke

spent several years in various research, development and program management roles within the automotive industry.

He holds a graduate degree in electrical engineering, having specialized in mechatronics, as well as a doctorate in engineering, both from Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany. He also earned an M.B.A. degree in general management from the University for Applied Sciences in Hamburg, Germany.

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 31

interview

adds about 1.4 tons to the weight of the trailer but WABCO expects that series development will lead to a significant decrease targeting an additional weight below 1 ton.

“WABCO hopes that the EU will allow the same 1 ton overweight exception for electrified trailers, which already exists for electric driven trucks which will then lead to no penalty in payload,” he adds.

Despite the extra weight, he claims that tyre-wear using the eTrailer will not be adversely affected – although it could require a change in the tyres mounted on the trailer.

“WABCO doesn’t expect that tyre wear will

be a big issue. It is obvious that the tires on the trailer drive axle will be used in a different way.

Therefore, it is beneficial to use adapted types of tyres to equalise wear and performance among all tyres of the trailer. WABCO will monitor this factor in the ongoing (series) development and testing. The WABCO OptiTurn function today already allows significant reduction of tyre wear by lifting a trailer axle in tight turns.”

Beyond the tractor-trailer combination, WABCO is also looking to see how the technology can be adapted across many commercial vehicles platforms.

At IAA, it announced that it has agreed

We estimate the eTrailer to deliver fuel savings up to 20 percent on short haul routes”

an MoU with motor and inverter specialist Nidec to first develop these technologies for city buses as well as for electric trailer solutions as demonstrated in WABCO’s eTrailer prototype. The companies are now setting out to see how the technology can be further scaled to other commercial vehicle platforms as applicable in global markets. The fully integrated electric drivetrain solution will operate on vehicle control information received from driver inputs (use of accelerator and brake pedals) to automate decision flow on how to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle in the most prudent and economic way.

HOw DOes it COMpARe witH OtHeR e-tRAiLeRs? WABCO’s eTrailer differentiates by targeting best-in-class energy recuperation in every mode of operation. WABCO is mobilising the increasing intelligence onboard and between trailers and trucks to empower fleets to gain further efficiency and improve fuel economy while reducing CO2 and noise emissions, says Dr Brenneke.

“The main advantage of the WABCO solution towards existing concepts is the integration of the eDrive capabilities into trailer

32 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

and truck brake and stability control system. To achieve a maximum of energy recuperation with regenerative braking it is mandatory to minimize use of friction brakes of the overall vehicle (truck and trailer) and the endurance brakes of the truck to contribute to the demanded brake force by the driver (or a driver assistance system) in cases the electric machine in the trailer is sufficient to fulfill the brake request by itself.

“Furthermore, in cases the regenerative braking from the trailer eDrive is not sufficient; a brake blending together with truck endurance brake(s) and vehicle friction brakes with always ensured vehicle stability by continuous slip supervision on electric axle is needed. This can only be achieved if the control of the electric machine is integrated into the brake and stability control algorithms of the overall vehicle braking system.

“In addition, to ensure the exchangeability of any truck with an electrified trailer no additional communication wires or special truck/trailer harmonization is acceptable. To overcome this disadvantage of the existing concepts WABCO implemented a control and communication strategy that is performed by the existing truck and trailer EBS ECUs and uses only the available ISO 119922 CAN communication line.”

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FEATURE

THe Human ToucH

Ford explains why the Transit Connect van is the autonomous mover – that isn’t

H

and gestures, head nods and thumbs-up signals all help to ensure drivers, pedestrians and cyclists know what each other is doing. But how will self-driving vehicles, with no human driver, communicate with those around them?

Ford has been testing one approach that uses lights to indicate what the vehicle is doing and what it will do next. It’s part of the company’s research into developing a communication interface that will help autonomous vehicles seamlessly integrate with other road users.

To ensure testing was as realistic and natural as possible, the company created the “Human Car Seat” that it installed inside a Transit Connect van. Designed to look like an autonomous vehicle, with the driver hidden in the seat, observers could more effectively gauge responses to a roof-mounted light

34 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

bar that flashed white, purple and turquoise to indicate when the van was driving, about to pull forwards and giving way.

“Fundamentally, people need to trust autonomous vehicles and developing one universal visual means of communication is a key to that. Turning someone into a ‘Human Car Seat’ was one of those ideas when there was a bit of a pause and then a realisation that this was absolutely the best and most effective way of finding out what we needed to know,” said Thorsten Warwel, manager, Core Lighting, Ford of Europe.

The latest testing, which complements research already carried out in the U.S., was conducted together with Chemnitz University of Technology, in Germany. Researchers expanded the tests to check the effectiveness of two other colours, in addition to white; a rooftop location, when the U.S tests had the lights placed on the top part of the windshield; and situations with further distance,

Fundamentally, people need to trust autonomous vehicles and developing one universal visual means of communication is a key to that”

showing the lights up to 500 metres away.

It showed that 60% of the 173 people surveyed after encountering the Transit Connect thought it was an autonomous vehicle. Together with the observed reactions of a further 1,600 people, turquoise – more noticeable than white and less easily confused with red than purple – emerged as the colour that was preferred. There was also a high level of acceptance and trust in the signals, providing a basis from which researchers can further develop and hone the visual language.

“Making eye contact is important – but our study showed that first and foremost road users look to see what a vehicle is doing. The next step is to look at how we might ensure the light signals can be made clearer and more intuitive to everyone,” said Dr. Matthias Beggiato, Department of Psychology, at the university, with which Ford worked on the “InMotion” project, funded with the help of €1 million from the German Ministry of

FEATURE

Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of the Research Programme on Automation and Connectivity in Road Transport.

“Human Car Seat” drivers, who underwent training to ensure they drove safely at all times, kept their eyes on the road through a false head rest and operated a special lever to indicate. An assistant, hidden in the back, also monitored the road ahead and ensured that the driver had a ready supply of water.

In separate tests conducted by Ford together with the automotive lighting and electronics specialist HELLA, researchers tested further locations for the lights, such as on the grille and headlamps, though no clear preference emerged.

With the goal of developing a purposebuilt self-driving vehicle for deployment first in North America in 2021, Ford is working towards ensuring that people trust autonomous vehicles. Essential to this is the creation of an industry standard for communicating driving intent. The company is collaborating with several industry organisations, including the International Organisation for Standardisation and the Society of Automotive Engineers, and is calling on other automotive and technology companies to help create that standard.

Ford, in partnership with Argo AI, recently became the first company to test autonomous vehicles in Washington D.C., building on testing already underway in Detroit, Pittsburgh and Miami. In China, the company is part of the Apollo program offered by Baidu, China’s top search engine operator, and is working with them to begin testing self-driving cars on designated roads in Beijing and other

THE nEEd FoR TRUsT Ford says people need to trust autonomous vehicles and developing one universal visual means of communication is a key to that.

First and foremost road users look to see what a vehicle is doing”

A nEw ATTiTUdE 60% of the 173 people surveyed by Ford said that after looking at the Transit Connect thought it was an autonomous vehicle.

Chinese cities later this year.But how will selfdriving vehicles, with no human driver, communicate with those around them?

Ford has been testing one approach that uses lights to indicate what the vehicle is doing and what it will do next as part of research into a communication interface that will help autonomous vehicles seamlessly integrate with other road users.

To ensure testing was as realistic and natural as possible, the company created the ‘Human Car Seat’ installed inside a Transit Connect van.

Designed to look like an autonomous vehicle, with the driver hidden in the seat, observers

could more effectively gauge responses to a roofmounted light bar that flashed white, purple and turquoise to indicate when the van was driving, about to pull forwards and giving way.

‘Fundamentally, people need to trust autonomous vehicles and developing one universal visual means of communication is a key to that. Turning someone into a ‘Human Car Seat’ was one of those ideas when there was a bit of a pause and then the realisation that this was absolutely the best and most effective way of finding out what we needed to know,’ said Thorsten Warwel, Ford of Europe core lighting manager.

The latest testing was conducted together with Chemnitz University of Technology, in Germany. Researchers expanded the tests to check the effectiveness of two other colours, in addition to white; a rooftop location, when the U.S tests had the lights placed on the top part of the windshield; and situations with further distance, showing the lights up to 500m away.

The tests concluded that 60% of 173 people surveyed after encountering the Transit Connect thought it was an autonomous vehicle. Together with the observed reactions of a further 1,600 people, turquoise – more noticeable than white and less easily confused with red than purple – was the preferred colour. There was also a high level of acceptance and trust in the signals, providing a basis from which researchers can further develop the visual language.

Trained ‘Human Car Seat’ drivers kept their eyes on the road through a false head rest and operated a special lever to indicate. An assistant, hidden in the back, also monitored the road as back-up.

MARCH 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 35

FEATURE

ConStruCtion getS greener Scania previews its alternative fuel range featuring at next month’s Bauma show

S

cania offers the widest range of connected services and powertrains for renewable or alternative fuels. Currently there are no less than nine different internal combustion engines available, ranging from 280 to 580 hp, intended for gas, biodiesel or bioethanol. And all of Scania’s Euro 6 diesel truck engines can run on HVO. “Today we definitely see that a shift towards sustainability is also on its way in the construction segment,” says Jenny Engvall, acting product director, construction, Scania Trucks. “It is obvious that sustainability is a prerequisite for long-term profitability. All stakeholders have to contribute to curbing CO2 to combat global warming, and regulations such as environmental zones and diesel bans in cities have proved to be efficient wake-up calls to all kinds of hauliers.”

All but one of the Scania trucks on display at Bauma can run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a biodiesel than can offer CO2 reductions by up to 90%. However, the other truck, a Scania G 410 with mixer body, is 36 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

HVO GO At BAuMA Scania trucks at Bauma can run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a biodiesel than can offer CO2 reductions by up to 90%.

it is obvious that sustainability is a prerequisite for longterm profitability.

All stakeholders have to contribute to curbing Co2”

SCAniA explOReS AlteRnAtiVe fuelS • Scania offers 9 different ICEs for alternative fuels, here and now • Increasing demand for sustainable solutions that include Scania’s services in the construction segment, now and beyond • Construction trucks operate in urban areas – and must comply with legislation enacted to reach a fossil-free transport system • HVO, biodiesel, biogas or bioethanol – CO2 reductions of up to 90% • Scania’s PHEV is designed as a city tipper for sensitive areas

powered by Scania’s 13l inline six gas engine with performance that is on a par with diesel engines. This particular truck has a compressed natural gas (CNG) tank installation, which means it can run on natural gas as well as on biogas. The 8 m3 hybrid mixer from Italian CIFA is rotated by an electric motor.

“The hybrid Scania mixer on display with its biogas engine powertrain is a fine example of what we together with our partners can offer for today’s demanding settings,” says Engvall. “This concrete truck can operate with less noise and less emissions, for instance when the task is to build new infrastructure in dense and crowded urban environments.”

But what about electrification and hybrids, when will those kinds of solutions make their way into the “rough” construction segment?

“They are already here,” says Engvall.

“Last autumn Scania introduced our latest hybrid trucks, a solution that combines the best of both worlds: they have combustion engines that can run on HVO and an electric motor that can power a three-axle, 26t tipper truck for up to 10km with zero tailpipe emissions and virtually no noise. That would be an excellent city tipper in major cities with environmental zones and noise regulations.”

Scania’s hybrids can be ordered with cabs from either the L or the P-series. Due to the hybridisation technology, these trucks can comply with some of the most stringent environmental demands, while still being able to travel long distances without fuelling range anxiety. And a three-axle configuration tipper truck would still have a usable payload of up to 14 tonnes, or less if a crane or a hook lift (or both) are included. The vehicle can also be ordered in Scania XT form, unless a truck with a less dynamic exterior approach is favoured.

“The need for a shift and decarbonisation is global and we must all contribute,” says Engvall. “The upside is that this does not mean Scania’s construction customers need to sacrifice traits like driveability and robustness, or their total operating economy.

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EVENT PREVIEW

A TEAM EffoRT The IBIS agreement will leverage Axalta’s global refinish expertise and experience to enhance Plenham’s worldwide media platforms and networks.

GOt It cOvered

Jim Muse, VP, global refinish sales, Axalta talks about the bodyshop industry on the eve of IBIS Middle East 2019

I

n a sales and marketing career that spans over three decades, Jim Muse has enjoyed 28 years in the collision repair industry, more specifically, the automotive refinish business. In that time, he has held senior positions for both manufacturing and distribution companies. For the past six years, he has served as Axalta’s director of the Refinish Sales Organization for North America.

Now, as vice president of global refinish sales, he manages the alignment between Axalta’s resources and the refinish needs of the collision industry.

He says it is critical in this role to monitor trends and communicate the implications both internally and externally.

38 TRUCK&FLEET ME MARCH 2019

Speaking ahead of this month’s International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) 2019, he tells the organisers that he is positive that the collision industry is evolving to meet the challenges of rapidly changing automotive industry.

“I think the changes that are happening, and will happen, in our business are fairly predictable. As an industry, we have the tools to manage through realities such as consolidation, the aging workforce, OEM’s expanding role in the collision space, accident avoidance technology and electronic traffic control,” says Muse.

“The real question is, will we be brave enough to make the decisions necessary to thrive under these evolving conditions?

“At Axalta, we are optimistic about

Our industry has historically addressed the realities mentioned above in a very fragmented way”

the longevity and health of our industry.

We continue to invest in new technologies and facilities to support our customers.

Our technology is designed to improve performance and efficiency. There is no greater example of this than our new waterborne technology. These improvements will help our partners become more productive and profitable. Our industry has historically addressed the realities mentioned above in a very fragmented way.”

Connecting all the stakeholders and gaining alignment is complex, but critical to the future health of our industry, he argues.

“IBIS and Axalta are working hard to create a place for leaders to easily connect and problem solve. This is a great industry with exceptional people. I believe

EVENT PREVIEW

INduSTRy VETERAN Jim Muse has enjoyed 28 years in the collision repair industry.He has serve d as a director of the refinish sales orga nisation for North America for over half a decade.

AxAlTA IN SHAPE foR IBIS MIddlE EAST

that our best days are still in front of us.

We simply need to be thoughtful in our decision making and have the courage to execute during times of change.”

Asked to look five years into the future, he notes that the collision repair industry has continuously evolved despite its humble beginnings – and will need to ride out the current wave of consolidation that is driving much of its development.

“The industry is now recognised as a very professional, technically advanced and state-of-the-art business. This evolution has taken place at a global level,” he comments.

On a regional level, we see this evolution happening in MENA. Take Axalta as an example, we are the first international coatings company to set up a Regional auto

From humble beginnings, the industry is now recognised as a stateof-the-art business”

Themed with ‘Strategic Sustainability’, IBIS Middle East 2019 will be held in Dubai on 13 March, 2019. It will gather representatives from more than 30 countries around the world and will bring together the latest trends and a world class agenda where delegates can learn from some of the industry’s most engaging thought leaders.

“With sustainability at the core of its business, Axalta will leverage the conference to highlight its range of sustainable coating solutions and technologies that meet the environmental and social requests, which has been fundamental to Axalta’s growth and success over 150 years.” Fadi Medlej, managing director of Axalta MENA region, said, “Partnering with IBIS also represents a great opportunity for networking and strengthening relations with our customers, partners and industry stakeholders.”

IBIS head of commercial delivery, Poppy Allard, commented, “We are really pleased to have the support of our global partner, Axalta, for our upcoming IBIS Middle East event. The conference has become a must-attend on the calendar for key players within the industry.”

In early January, Axalta announced a three – year partnership with Plenham to help the worldwide collision repair industry share ideas for business improvement, drive best practices in innovation, and establish know-how through dynamic media and social interactions.

refinish training center in the Middle East.

“This strategic investment enables us to be closer to our regional customers and deliver industry-leading refinish products and training.”

Recent headlines have been somewhat dominated by the consolidation movement, notes Muse, adding that this movement has touched all parts of the automotive aftermarket value chain.

“OEMs, insurance companies, distributors and body shops have all been affected. It’s important to remember that this phenomenon is not unique to our industry. In five years’ time, look for other business segments of profitable opportunity,” he remarks. “The emergence and expansion of the economy segment is interesting. New and emerging markets (regionally or globally) will be a must.

Businesses must look at their companies through a different lens and widen their view.

“We will see continued consolidation, technology advances in new vehicles, and much greater visibility of the OEMs in the collision space. OEMs will engage at multiple points in the value chain. Those injection points will include certification, claims management, procurement, shop network management, body shop ownership and possibly underwriting liability. Strategic partnerships will become a reality and necessity in the coming years.”

Axalta was recently named as a headline partner for this month’s IBIS Middle East, which takes place on 13 March at the Le Meridien Hotel in Dubai.

IBIS is a leading networking platform for vehicle manufacturers, insurers, suppliers and bodyshops and Axalta has formed a multi-year global partnership with Plenham Ltd, the parent company of bodyshop Magazine and IBIS Worldwide brands.

Muse says Axalta has committed to its partnership with IBIS in part because of the ability to bring together critical stakeholders that are truly focused on improving the sustainability of our industry.

“For years IBIS has created regional and global venues that allow collision industry executives and thought leaders to connect and discuss trends that will likely drive individual business strategy. IBIS also draws on the experience of successful businesses outside of the collision repair space to help our industry make better more informed decisions,” he remark.

“Building and driving strategy without this kind of information sharing can be very risky. IBIS helps minimise that risk.”

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PARTING SHOT

The high roaD

RTA signs MoU with Skyway for Sky Pod ‘suspended mass transport’ network

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ubai could soon have a network of elevated vehicles criss-crossing the city after its Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inked a MoU with Skyway Greentech Company for the development of a Sky Pod network in Dubai.

The deal is part of the RTA’s effort to deliver futuristic solutions to beat traffic congestion.

In a statement, the RTA said the technology is characterised by speed and security as well as saving of resources. The deal is said to contribute to the RTA’s vision and strategy of ensuring safe and smooth transport for all.

The MoU is also part of the RTA’s efforts to enhance the integration of public

transit means, according to Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Rail Agency after signing the deal with Pavel Skoypeda, GM of Skyway Greentech Company.

“We have signed this deal in the context of RTA’s efforts to envision the future and deliver top-notch technology and services at world-class standards. It will pave the way for innovative mass transport and accordingly raise the ridership of public transit means; which in turn will ease the traffic congestion and enrich the lifestyle in the emirate,” remarked Younes.

He pointed out that the RTA move comes from its commitment to realise the National Agenda and increase the use of clean technology in the field of transport to ensure sustainability.

“It encourages citizens and residents of Dubai to use shared and mass transport through the development of sophisticated futuristic transit means, besides improving the sustainable transport network and systems in Dubai,” Younes explained.

The Sky Pods initiative is part of RTA’s efforts to provide autonomous transport, one of the key aims of the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy aimed at converting 25% of total journeys in Dubai into autonomous journeys on various transit means by 2030,” said Head of RTA Mattar Al Tayer. “It is also part of RTA’s efforts to enhance the integration of public transit means, and offer solutions for short journeys (first and last mile) enabling public transport users to reach their final destinations.”

NEXT ISSUE: INTERvIEw wITH ONE Of THE REGION’S bIGGEST LOGISTICS PLAyERS, SMARTER HIHGwAyS, AUTOMECHANIkA ANd MUCH MORE!

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ALL NEW EURO 4 HAS ARRIVED Most Extensive and Environmentally Friendly Line-up of Vehicles

• Environment Friendly • Fuel Economy • Advance Technology • Best in Class • Minimum Cost of Operation