Twintec ME

On Firm Footing: Taking on the Floor

Twintec’s trademark industrial flooring design technologies offer high levels of performance and environment sustainability

The European-headquartered international, design and build, concrete flooring contractor is well regarded in the region and offers total service and comprehensive flooring solutions to clients across the GCC.

The Twintec Group of industrial flooring companies is the leading producer of jointless steel fibrereinforced concrete flooring in the world, producing more than six million sqm of concrete industrial floor slabs every year.

The Twintec name reflects the twin technologies of concrete and steel fibres. Design expertise and high grade materials are coupled with experience, skilled workers, continuously improved procedures and specially designed equipment.

As ‘jointless’ flooring specialists Twintec’s valueengineered designs, professional workmanship and innovation are well regarded across the globe. With a skilled, experienced work force, sophisticated equipment and environmental-sensitive operations, the company is a leading name for customised, durable industrial floorings. Global Supply Chain spoke exclusively to Ruth Waugh, General

Manager, Twintec Middle East

Industrial Flooring on a range of subjects from its specialist operations, performance, accomplishments and future prospects.

Global Supply Chain (GSC): Walk us through how industrial flooring ideas and concepts have evolved over the recent past? How demanding are customers today?

Ruth Waugh (RW): Internal concrete industrial floor slabs have indeed evolved over time in terms of design approaches, materials used and production methodologies. From the traditional construction of concrete panels with troublesome saw cut joints (straight cracks) with a variety of concrete reinforcements to today’s totally seamless floor slabs that result in warehouse floor slabs with no opening construction joints from end to end.

Our customers and in turn their customers are rightfully more demanding. As consumer demands change and the supply chain industry evolves, the demands on the concrete floor in terms of operational requirements (racking systems, automation, MHEmaterials handling equipment movements) increase.

At the same time customers should demand longevity, added value and consider the environmental sustainability credentials of their concrete floor slab and always consider working with a concrete flooring specialist.

Working closely to support the end user directly is essential to ensuring their specific operational requirements are met within the

concrete floor slab specification.

GSC: How important is the logistics industry for Twintec?

RW: 80% of Twintec’s work is designed & built for the logistics industry worldwide. Whilst our products are equally suitable for other applications; manufacturing, hangars, external yards, exhibition halls, data centres, warehouses and industrial buildings among others, it is our logistics industry clients that we work closest with to provide a high performance product to meet their specific individual needs.

Twintec follows its logistics clients worldwide, delivering the same level of performance wherever in the world they require it.

GSC: Talk to us about Twintec’s proprietary SFRC technology. Please tell us more about SFRC, its USPs how is it distinctive from its competitors and how it is impacting Twintec’s customers worldwide?

RW: Twintec’s designs predominantly include SFRC technology as this enables the construction of large bay ‘jointless’ concrete floor slabs or totally seamless slabs. The use of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) has a number of benefits:

These include significant contribution to overall environmental sustainability credentials of the concrete floor slab and increased business efficiencies and quantifiable reduction in year on year maintenance costs, due to no saw-cut joints (straight cracks) present within the concrete floor slab.

Furthermore, the concrete floor slabs are future-proofed by the removal of saw-cut joints to meet changing business needs.

GSC: Please elaborate on the ‘DesignBuild-Guarantee’ concept as part of your total service guarantee?

RW: The Twintec total offer concept is unique to Twintec and the only company in the GCC offering such a comprehensive offer. There is one point of responsibility for the concrete floor slabs, so no split of responsibility between designers, material suppliers or labour sub-contractors. Twintec has in-house industry recognised experts in design and the build is managed by our own teams of highly skilled, experienced workers. The latest innovative concrete floor laying equipment is used, manufactured by our own Group company and we provide product liability insurance, PI insurance and long term warranties.

All of this provides the customer with peace of mind, eliminates risks and provides life value to the overall logistics facility: Design-BuildGuarantee.

GSC: Tell us more about Twintec’s range of flooring products?

RW: We would better describe them as solutions rather than products as each floor is specifically designed to meet an individual customer’s specific operational and business needs. Each element of the floor slab is tailored to the needs of the customer and the location of the project, with every detail considered and tailored to specific requirements.

Twintec’s early input on a project with the end user can save them time and money in both the short and long term.

GSC: Identify some of your top projects and accomplishments in the recent past.

RW: Twintec has been working in the Middle East region for the past 15 years and has provided solutions for many high profile clients including Caterpillar, Ikea, Carrefour, GE, Spinneys, Cosco Shipping, DHL, Agility, Nissan and recently within the Dubai South EZDubai logistics district for end user clients Noon and Amazon.

We were also proud to be involved in Expo2020 with the design and build of the concrete floor slabs for the Dubai Exhibition Centres (North & South).

GSC: How has Twintec fared globally in Q1-Q3 2021, and expectations for the remainder of 2021 and performance vis-à-vis 2020?

RW: Twintec is a global company working currently in 30 countries. The global pandemic of course had an impact as we all had to adapt to new scenarios, restrictions on movement, logistics and materials supply challenges and an increased focus on keeping all our employees as safe as possible. However, after a period of uncertainty during Q2 and Q3 2020, where projects were delayed and some nervousness among international investors, there has been an increase in projects secured during 2021.

Twintec prides itself on its adaptability and ability to work with all parties involved in construction projects and this has been a critical success factor over the past 18 months.

GSC: Where is the present growth coming from—what sectors are contributing most to the growth?

RW: E-commerce is an obvious growth area worldwide, driven by consumer behaviour, but also manufacturing, food security facilities and data centre projects have all increased significantly during 2021 as the government and private sector alike react to macro economic factors.

The use of sophisticated automated and robotic technology is increasing within logistics facilities, so again the consideration of the concrete floor slab is critical to their successful operation.

GSC: How important is the Middle East for Twintec and how are you faring thus far in the region? What is the extent of flooring space produced in the region?

RW: The Middle East region and our base here is strategic for the Twintec Group. To date we have designed and constructed 3.2mn sqm of concrete floor slabs and believe we have increased standards and shared our knowledge within the industry to the benefit of all stakeholders.

In addition to serving our Middle East customers, the Dubai office is also responsible for facilitating Ruth Waugh is Twintec Group Executive Committee member, International Business Development Director & General Manager of Twintec Middle East Industrial Flooring. Over 20 years experience in industrial concrete flooring, customer focused and a mantra of patience and persistence. Prior to moving to Dubai in 2016, Ruth was based in the UK and instrumental in Twintec’s global expansion.

Ruth Waugh, General Manager, Twintec ME.

projects for international clients wanting the same level of performance anywhere in the world.

GSC: What opportunities do you foresee in the Middle East for Twintec, talk to us about the challenges confronting the region as well?

RW: The logistics sector in the MENA region is going through transformations, introducing robotics and smart technology to increase business productivity, response times and accuracy.

The warehouse automation market size in the Middle East is forecast to triple in size over the next five years as companies increase levels of automation and supply chain integration.

Twintec can help with this, not just for new concrete floors, but looking at adaption and renovation of existing concrete floor slabs to meet new technology requirements.