PMV Middle East by ITP Business Publishing

March 2009, Volume 3 Issue 3

News (p04) Machine month (p28) Site Visit (p39) Back track (p56)

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001 MARCH 2009, ISSUE 3 VOL 3

21 14 28

16 02 COMMENT

14 NEWS FEATURE Drilling at Dubai Waterfront.

04 NEWS Job losses mount • New tyre launched • Crane deals

08 NEWS FEATURE South African mining.

12 NEWS FEATURE Dubai metro cranes.

16 INTERVIEW A RAK college specialises in construction management.

21 AUCTION YARD We preview some stock in a local sale yard.

24 PRODUCTS Where can you find robots, tree cutters, a Bobcat and more? Here.

39 SITE VISIT We get facinated by tech.

45 Q AND A Topcon answer questions.

28 MACHINE MONTH All the international action in the world of heavy equipment.

31 SAUDI SHOW Preview of our annual event.

48 FORMWORK Important metal structures.

56 BACKTRACK Haul trucks rock.

002 COMMENT Registered at Dubai Media City PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: 00 971 4 210 8000, Fax: 00 971 4 210 8080 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Dubai & London ITP Business Publishing CEO Walid Akawi Managing Director Neil Davies Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell Editorial Director David Ingham Publishing Director Jason Bowman EDITORIAL Group Editor Stuart Matthews Editor Greg Whitaker Tel: +971 4 435 6263 email: greg.whitaker@itp.com Contributors Shikha Mishra, Jamie Stuart, Reema Memon EDITORIAL Group Sales Manager Raz Islam Tel: +971 4 435 6371 email: raz.islam@itp.com Sales Manager Alex Bendiouis Tel: +971 4 435 6324 email: alex.bendiouis@itp.com STUDIO Group Art Editor Daniel Prescott Designer Emmanuel Villareal PHOTOGRAPHY Director of Photography Sevag Davidian Chief Photographer Nemanja Seslija Senior PhotographersValeriano Handumon, Alan Desiderio, Efraim Evidor, Khatuna Khutsishvili Staff Photographers Khaled Termanini,Thanos Lazopoulos, John Pocock, George Dipin, Samin Abarqoi, Leila Cranswick, Rajesh Raghav, Ruel Pableo, Louis Savage PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production Manager Kyle Smith Production Manager Eleanor Zwanepoel Production Co-ordinator Sharon White Distribution Manager Karima Ashwell Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami Managing Picture Editor Patrick Littlejohn Image Retoucher Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Head of Circulation & Database Gaurav Gulati MARKETING Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell Marketing Executive Masood Ahmad ITP DIGITAL Director Peter Conmy Internet Applications Manager Mohammed Affan ITP GROUP

A BELLWETHER OF A PMV SHOW In Febuary, Jim Owens - Caterpillar’s head man, spoke about President Obama’s stimulus package, in which Owens described his firm as a ‘bellwether’ company. I can’t pretend that I, nor anybody else on this desk, knew what that meant, so we dusted off the dictionary and discovered that the term derived from the mediaeval practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram (the ‘wether’) The animal would then lead a flock of sheep wherever it wanted to go and it’s movements could be anticipated by the ringing sound before it could be seen. Most often nowadays, according to our book, the term is used for describing events in the stock market, with the bellwether company being the one that leads the rest of the industry, either up or down. As such, Caterpillar finds itself in an unenviable situation of leading the US manufacturing industry down to where nobody else would want to follow. Perhaps it is unsurprising then, that Cat welcomed the president’s stimulus package, even going as far to say that they hoped to recall laid off workers at some point.

What has this got to do with the Middle East? Well, plenty. As the world’s key market for heavy machinery, the buying patterns here could be a ‘bellwether’ for the wider industry. It might be too early to talk of a recovery, but the pulse of the market will be checked at the forthcoming PMV show, to be held in Dammam, KSA between 8-10th of March. All of the leading companies will be represented, and conference topics will include how to survive the current situation and develop new products for the next decade. Specialist firms will also be well represented, with various companies showing devices that can help their clients work more efficiently. Just about every nation on earth with an industrial base will be represented, including the US, all of Europe, Japan and, of course, China. How will the world’s money makers, analysts and forecasters view such an event? Well, we’ll just have to see how it plays in Peoria.

Greg Whitaker, Editor greg.whitaker@itp.com

Chairman Andrew Neil Managing Director Robert Serafin Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Board of Directors K.M. Jamieson, Mike Bayman,Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 286 8559 Scanning and Printing by Express Printing Services Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions Certain images in this issue are available for purchase. Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details www.itpimages.com The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing.An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

President Obama and Caterpillar CEO Jim Owen during a meeting at Cat HQ, in February. (Getty images) Published by and Copyright © 2009 ITP Business Publishing,a division of ITP Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company Registration number 1402846.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

Do you have any comments about the PMV industry, or the magazine? Please email: greg.whitaker@itp.com or post to: PMV Middle East, ITP, IMPZ, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE.

www.constructionweekonline.com

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A.A. Bin Hindi B.S.C (c) BAHRAIN Tel: +973 17 70 3078/1247 E-mail: ciesales@binhindi.com

Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co UAE Tel: +971 2 502 9100, +971 4 213 5100 E-mail: arif.chishti@alfuttaim.ae

Arabian Agencies Company WLL QATAR Tel: +974 4 500 925 E-mail: araco@qatar.net.qa

General Engineering Services Est (GENSERV) OMAN Tel: +968 244 90 755 E-mail: sales@genserv-oman.com

Parsian Pishro Sanat IRAN Tel: +9821 88 77 44 99 E-mail: info@parsianind.com

Abdelmassih Trading Company - Amtrac LEBANON Tel: +961 1 88 76 60 / 61 E-mail: michel@amtrac-lb.com

Al Rehab Equipment and Machinery Co. Ltd. SAUDI ARABIA Tel: +966 2 680 4444 E-mail: info@alrehab-ksa.com

C&M PlantPlus Ltd. CYPRUS Tel: +357 26 913 050 E-mail: info@plantplus.net

Mithkal Shawkat & Sami Asfour Co. JORDAN Tel: +962 6 465 5635 E-mail: volvo@nets.com.jo

Volvo Otomotiv Türk Ltd. Sti. TURKEY Tel: +90 212 482 4040 E-mail: ugur.basturk@volvo.com

Al-Zabin International Group Co. For Heavy Equipment KUWAIT Tel: +965 483 4721/6017 E-mail: alzabin@alzabinkuwait.com

Elaghil Trading Co. YEMEN Tel: +967 1 207 595 E-mail: elaghil@y.net.ye

Nassib Saad Est. Trading & Import SYRIA Tel: +963 11 222 5432 E-mail: saadmt@scs-net.org

VPL Limited PAKISTAN Tel: +92 42 111 666 000 E-mail: aamir@vpl.com.pk

004 REGIONAL NEWS

Warning issued after mixer truck fatality ACCIDENT Safety body Build Safe UAE (BSU) has posted a safety alert bulletin about correct working practices, following a fatal incident involving a worker who became entangled in a cement mixer truck. The accident happened when the victim, an unnamed tyre-fitter, was asked to clean inside the hopper of the truck-mounted machine, prior to loading the trial batch of concrete to be used later in the day. As he climbed the ladder to gain access to the hopper, the drum was still rotating. Although the worker was wearing a standard overall, the sleeves were quite a loose fit. His cuff became tangled between the rotating drum and the hopper and he was pulled towards moving blade inside the drum, causing terrible injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. After logging the accident,

BSU reported that the root cause of this accident was a ‘failure of management’ with a statement in the list of causes citing ‘the fact that a tyre fitter had been told to work on the moving parts indicates a failure on the part of the management to ensure the work was done by a competent person’. In addition to the root causes, BSU also published a list of remedial measures that have been recommended on all types of machinery used on that site. The list includes recommendations such as a full and suitable risk assessment must be carried out prior to all work on machinery, and that powered machinery must be isolated prior to being cleaned or maintained, while emergency kill switches should be clearly indicated. Commenting on the bulletin,

BSU secretary Elias McGrath stressed that the chain of events were unusual, adding; “It just shows how entanglement can result in fatality. All it took was his loose clothing to be tangled in the machinery. With those overalls, you can’t just rip the clothing off as the material is incredibly strong. He added that the health and safety breaches must serve as a warning

to the industry. “The machine was operating when the incident happened, which is a huge failure in supervision. Machines [that are] running while trying to maintain or clean them is a huge no.” “It just shows the breakdown in training, management and supervision which resulted in death. There was nothing right about this scenario” he said.

A mixer accident must serve as a warning to industry, according to safety experts.

Layoff figures continue to climb in Dubai

Skilled trades are less in demand, as the downturn continues in Dubai.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

JOBS The number of official job losses in Dubai’s construction industry in the past three months has shot past the 3500 mark. The figure covers official announcements only. The actual number of redundancies is believed to be substantially higher. This number does not include job losses in directly related fields including PMV, though the demand for skilled trades, such as crane operators has dropped sharply. Arty Wartanian, general manager of Gallagher Int. crane hire said “There was strong demand [for such operators], but that’s all gone now there are cranes sitting idle.” To date 3533 jobs in Dubai’s construction industry have been lost. The sector has been rocked by plummeting demand for real estate as investors the world over struggle

to raise the finance required for the purchase of property, due to the inability of banks to lend in the current financial climate. Al Shafar General Contracting was among the worst affected, announcing the loss of up to 1000 jobs last December. Nakheel was also heavily hit with 500 official redundancies during the same month. Consultant WS Atkins has trimmed its numbers by 210, while Dubai Labour Supply Company (Dulsco) let go of 800 workers in two batches. ConstructionWeekOnline.com reported last week that up to 20,000 Indian construction workers have been bulk booked onto flights out of Dubai, either to return home on extended leave, or to be relocated to alternative projects in the Gulf.

www.constructionweekonline.com

005

REGIONAL NEWS

New crane deal supports region’s ports

Firm celebrates deals amid slowdown.

DEALS As one Chinese crane manufacturer celebrates it’s second recent major deal in the region, some US $100 billion (AED367 billion) worth of new port developments in the Middle East are reported to be under threat as trade volumes plummet because of the worsening economic crisis.

www.constructionweekonline.com

Shanghai-based ZPMC will supply cargo handling equipment to the port of Sohar in Oman, for use by Brazilian steel conglomerate Vale in a deal estimated to be worth around US $80 million. Meanwhile, the far eastern company has already started delivering around 170 items of machinery to Dubai-based DP World in a deal worth US $340 million, in line with port’s expansion plans, which seemed realistic in the early part of last year. However, a swift slump in global cargo trade has left port operators in the Middle East struggling with the dilemma of whether to build the extra capacity needed in the region, or whether to hold off until the downturn eases. Although DP World will open

its second terminal at Jebel Ali by the end of this month, raising the capacity to 14 million 20foot equivalent units (TEUs), but could shelve its plans to build a third offshore terminal. “The growth we can expect is a grey area, but the land has already been reclaimed for terminal three, and within the next month we should make a final decision,” said Anwar Wajdi, senior vice-president for commercial and corporate strategy at DP World. “We do not want to fall behind. Terminal three has not been forgotten. We are developing four depots around Dubai to help clear the port and increase capacity, but if terminal three is really needed, we can expedite that capacity,” he

said. Speaking at MEED’s Middle East Ports Development Conference 2009, Wajdi said the company was keeping a close eye on trends as they develop. “We do not want a huge terminal standing there empty,” he said. Speaking at the same conference, shipping lines said there was a definite need for expansion in the region and urged port operators to begin construction immediately.

3533 Official number of job losses in Dubai’s construction industry to date

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

006 REGIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF ALL go up At least one US-based crane operator continues to expand. ALL Carolina Crane & Equipment family. Part of the ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., ALL Carolina added the all-terrain GMK7550 from Grove, as well as the Liebherr LTM 1300-6.1 to its ever-growing fleet. Seminar success A seminar entitled ‘Heavy Transport & Lifting’ was held by crane safety expert Richard Krabbendam in Singapore on February 20th. Topics included safe transport and ultra heavy lifting. Cooper say Valla good Mobile crane company Valla have supplied some remote-controlled compact models to the UK’s AvonCooper tyres. The Valla 75E models reportedly offer a much increased operating envelope compared with the old-style forklifts previously used. New tyre from Dumlop Dunlop has relaunched its PG75 tyre for recycling applications, after an eight-year absence. The new PG75 RCL has been specifically designed for the requirements of wheel loaders used in the recycling industry. It features a wide, deep, non-directional tread that Dunlop says results in a long service life, as well as extra protection against chunking, penetration and cuts from sharp objects. Going Loko at Metso A new model for preliminary crushing has been introduced to Metso’s Lokotrack range of mobile crushers in the shape of the LT110C, which weighs in at 58 tonnes. In transport mode the new machine measures 15.6 m (51.2 ft) in length, 3 m (9.8 ft) in width.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

Hybrid development at Doosan HYBRID Korean-multinational Doosan Infracore reported that it will start developing a hybrid excavator with enhanced energy efficiency and emissions drastically reduced. The plan for the development of the new excavator model is part of a Korean government plan for investing in future technologies. The consortium of seven institutions both in and out of Korea led by Doosan Infracore is participating in the project, in which a total of 18 billion won will be invested. The new model of hybrid excavator uses a diesel engine and can supplement the insufficient engine output at a time when it’s overloaded with the surplus power saved. The future-oriented excavator can go a long way in reduction of fuel consumption and emission gas (carbon dioxide down by 35%) as well as enhancement of energy efficiency. The 22 ton-class excavator plans will focus on environmentallyfriendliness and economic

New Doosan will run on multi-fuels. Diesel consumption will be cut by a third.

efficiency. Its fuel efficiency will be improved by about 35% with a power conversion device that helps reuse the energy usually wasted when turning and operating various devices. Dr. Kim Nak-in in charge of the project said, “Doosan Infracore will secure its position as the world’s top construction equipment manufacturer in the hybrid excavator market, which is expected to grow to 730 billion won per year by 2020. Our hybrid technology developed here will also be applied to wheel-loaders

and forklifts.” The consortium led by Doosan Infracore will be comprised of Komotec (specializing in motors), ADT (a manufacturer of power and electronic core parts), Doosan Mottrol, LS Mtron, Seoul National University, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM) and the German RWTH Aachen University (specializing in pneumatic systems electronics) Doosan is best known internationally for its subsidiary brands, which include compact equipment maker Bobcat.

New site vehicle tyre in region TYRE A puncture-resistant tyre for site vehicles and 4x4s has been launched, The Wrangler AT/ SA from Goodyear features two layers made with DuPont Kevlar, a material which is five times stronger than steel, and the firm’s patented ‘Durawall’ sidewall reinforcement that enhances cut resistance in the sidewalls. “Tyre safety, quality and performance are elements that are of high significance in driving, especially since tyres are the only parts of a vehicle that come in direct contact with the road. Be it on- or off-road, in traffic or high speed driving, and dry or wet conditions, the new Wrangler AT/SA from

Goodyear proves valuable to the extremely popular 4x4’s and SUV’s in the region,” said Octavian Velcan, General Manager of Goodyear Middle East and Africa. “We are confident that when the Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA is introduced in the region later this year it will become as popular as the vehicles they are mounted on” he added. The Wrangler AT/SA features two high-tensile steel belts to improve the tire’s strength and two layers which improve the tire’s resistance to punctures in the tread. According to the comapny, drivers can enjoy the added benefit of a smooth, quiet ride that comes from

Kevlar, as this material helps to absorb road noise. The Kevlar layers act as a sound barrier, reducing noise for an especially quiet ride. The makers say that the tread block sequence and shifting of the Wrangler AT/SA also provides a quieter and more comfortable ride. The addition of a centre-line rib on larger sizes not only helps to improve on-road handling but is another contributor to tire noise reduction. The Wrangler AT/SA is available in a 4-rib design and in a 5-rib design for larger sizes. The Wrangler AT/ SA 4-rib is available with 15 and 16 inch rim diameters. All sizes are available throughout the region.

www.constructionweekonline.com

008 NEWS FEATURE

Is this the world’s most advanced earthmoving operation? Deep in the heart of South Africa’s bushland, just south of the Zimbabwean border is an enormous hole in the ground. Dug from solid rock, it spans three kilometres across and descends more than 400 metres. This is the Venetia diamond mine, one of the biggest and most productive diamond mines in the world. It currently moves about 60 million tonnes of rock per year, yielding 8.2 million carats of diamonds (approximate value: 650 million). And since its inception in 1992 it has been continually implementing, upgrading and fine-tuning the latest ideas in computerised earthmoving management. The result is a 24/7 operation that boasts one of the most technologically advanced machine-health monitoring systems, one that has pushed up equipment availability to an incredible 98+ percent. A specially built control room overlooks the massive opera-

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

HAUL IT Big cats prowl diamond mines in South Africa.

tion. Here, huge flat screen monitors show pictograms of all the earthmoving machines currently in use. A colour coding system designates the status of each machine: for example, BLUE pictograms show trucks returning for a load, GREEN for fully loaded trucks, and RED for idle machines. An automatic alarm system flashes problems such as a machine that hasn’t moved for five minutes. “We can see at a glance where each machine is, but we also have two-way communications with the operators so we can, for example redirect pickups where necessary,” says Mike Laboscartni, control room supervisor. “In addition to this realtime monitoring the control room generates valuable data such as tonnes per machine, per hour and even per shift. So it’s also an

excellent tool to identify operator training needs.” Not surprisingly, Venetia was the first ever diamond mine to achieve ISO 9002 quality management certification. A total of 47 Caterpillar offhighway trucks are used to transport the excavated rock from the base of the open-cast mine, whilst another 45 Cat dozers, loaders, and excavators support the operation. As with most quarrying operations, where all the plant and expertise remain in one place for several years, the Caterpillar dealer has been able to work extremely closely with the mine owners to constantly improve and perfect machine reliability and drive down the costs per tonne. In addition to a tailor-made MARC (Maintenance And Repair Contract), the local Caterpillar dealer, Barloworld, has placed a perma-

nent 87-strong team of site managers, supervisors and support staff to help maintain the high equipment availability. And every day representatives of that team meets with the mine’s owners, De Beers in this case, to discuss and plan machine and the best use of operators. “There’s actually no formal contract in place,” says Brett Stevens, sales manager for Barloworld Equipment. “By focusing on condition monitoring, components are expected to last much longer and that substantially raises reliability targets. To this aim, we’ve deployed the latest service and maintenance systems such as ProductLink, S•O•S (Scheduled Oil Sampling), the AQUILA Drill System, CAES (the Computer Aided Earthmoving System), and MVRS (MineStar VIMS Remote www.constructionweekonline.com

010 NEWS FEATURE System). All these advanced systems help us to manage, predict and optimize the almost 100 Cat machines on site.” The result is that all this intensive technology has made the Venetia mine one of the largest mining technology sites in South Africa. So let’s take a closer look at those systems:

PRODUCT LINK Product Link is Caterpillar’s proprietary telemetric monitoring system. Computers on-board each machine gather critical engine performance data and transmit it wirelessly via satellite to one of the Caterpillar network operations centres. Here is it processed, prioritised and uploaded to a password-protected web-based portal. Engineers and technicians can then access the vital information to plan preventative maintenance strategies.

S•O•S Scheduled Oil Sampling, or S•O•S for short, is a laboratory service that helps detect problems before they become serious. Similar to a blood test that a medical doctors use, an oil sample is taken from a machine’s hydraulics and sent to a Caterpillar-certified laboratory. Here trained engineers analyse the sample and diagnose any specific problems. Too much silicon, for example, indicates dirt entry into the hydraulics. Too much sodium: water coolant entry.

AQUILA The AQUILA Dragline System takes the guesswork out of drilling by accurately guiding the operator in the execution of drill patterns, reporting on individual machine and operator productivity, and allowing remote, real-time supervision of drilling activity and blast planning from the office.

CAES The Computer Aided Earthmoving System (CAES) is an

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

advanced earthmoving tool that allows machine operators to achieve maximum landfill compaction and desired grade/slope. It also conserves and ensures even distribution of valuable cover soil without the use of traditional survey stakes and crews. It uses GPS technology, machine-mounted components, a radio network, and office management software to deliver real-time elevation, compaction and grade control information to machine operators on an in-cab display. The Venetia diamond mine uses this system to monitor shelf levels within the mine and ensures that all access roads are safe.

NERVE A huge bank of computers drive the operation.

MVRS MineStar is a comprehensive, integrated mining information system. Through a series of subsystems for production reporting, truck assignment, health monitoring and fleet analysis, MineStar links information gathered in the field to the office business enterprise systems.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT It all adds up to a highly advanced and comprehensive machinehealth monitoring system. For example, the MVRS alone reports an average of 23,000 machinehealth events each month, which are prioritized by Barloworld’s data centre. “In addition to the advanced monitoring systems we also constantly implement new programmes, some of which we pilot ourselves,” says Brett. “For example, we recently introduced a ‘Kidney Looping System’ that cleans and filters the hydraulic oil on board a machine. This is primarily to save on oil and extend machine component life by reducing the number of oil changes and contamination entry points. It also filters out any debris that in time would cause permanent component failure. In some cases we found that filtered oil of 4,000 hours was surprisingly cleaner

than brand new oil. We financed and ran the pilot system ourselves before sharing the results with De Beers. They were so impressed that they invested 100,000 in more Kidney Looping Systems. These now also significantly contribute to prolonging component life as well as saving huge quantities of oil – up to 41,000 litres were saved in the first eight months.”

THE SMART PARTNERSHIP It’s that type of ‘smart partnership’ that runs throughout the Venetia operation, as can be seen by the parts depot. Advanced management systems ensure that fast moving items do not stay on the shelf for more than seven days: it’s the perfect balance between ensured availability without holding too much stock. Larger parts, such as engines are stored centrally in Johannesburg, which

makes them also available to other Barloworld customers across the region. Another powerful example of this smart, problem-solving partnership is the increased life-times of the tyres used on the Cat earthmoving machines. “Three years ago we were getting an average of just two and a half thousand hours of service from our tyres,” says Johnny Veloza, operations manager at Venetia. “Barloworld suggested that we install special analytical software in our trucks to monitor the various gradients, torsion stresses and turning radiuses on our access roads. After a comprehensive analysis several stretches of roads were redesigned and the machine operators were given extra training. We now have an average of 6,500 hours of service life from our tyres.” www.constructionweekonline.com

NEW HOLLAND D255:

A LONG HISTORY OF POWER.

012 NEWS FEATURE REGIONAL NEWS

New Liebherr Mobile crane in twin lift for Dubai Metro

Liebherr LTM 1250-6.1 crane is used to pull the pre-fabricated structures in to place. The Dubai Metro is set to open this September.

A newly delivered 250 t capacity Liebherr telescopic crane from Al Faris Equipment rentals is being used by the J.T. Metro J.V on the Dubai Metro’s Jumeirah Lake Towers Station in a 140t twin lift of the gantry footbridge. The LTM1250-6.1 joins the Al Faris Equipment Rentals fleet, one of the largest in the Middle East with more than 250 mobile cranes and including 130 Liebherr models; all fitted with Liccon software ensuring lifts are made safely and economically. Al Faris Equipment Rentals was formed in Dubai in 1992 to provide rental cranes and transport for the oil and gas industry later extending into oil refineries,

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

power plants and the construction sector. To date, Al Faris has taken delivery of 22 Liebherr mobile cranes this year and has a further 14 on order including its largest mobile crane, a Liebherr 1200 t capacity LTM11200-9.1. Illustrated, the LTM1250-6.1 performs a twin lift of the 32m lg x 10m wide x 6m high steel gantry which, once fitted out will become the pedestrian bridge spanning the four lanes of the Sheik Zayed Road at Jumeirah Lakes Station. Weighing 140t, the gantry was lifted and positioned on ‘stools’ alongside the Sheik Zayed Road for fitting out. Once completed,

the bridge will be finally positioned in a hydraulic lift. The Liebherr LTM 1250-6.1 mobile crane features a 15.5m – 72m telescopic boom and has a maximum lifting capacity of 250t at 3m radius. It also features a 108m maximum lifting height. The six-axle mobile crane offers improved operating safety in the travel mode and has a top speed of 80km.

DUBAI METRO On track for operations to begin in 2009, the Dubai Metro is set to be one of the most advanced urban rail systems in the world; and the world’s longest fully automated rail system.

The 52.1 Km (32.5 mile) Red Line will feature 29 stations and run from Jebel Ali to Rashidiya. Groundworks were started in February 2006. In August a second line, the 17.6 Km Green Line was announced, intersecting the red line at two stations and running from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya. When fully operational, the Dubai Metro has been designed to carry approximately 1.2 million passengers on an average day and 355 million passengers annually. Main contractor for the Dubai Metro are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Obayashi Corp, Kajima Corp and Yapi Merkezi JV. www.constructionweekonline.com

014 NEWS FEATURE

Sandvik rigs drilling in the sand on Dubai Waterfront Dewater well drilling techniques using Sandvik Tophammer drill rigs on the Dubai Waterfront project are achieving faster penetration rates in sand than conventional methods – producing up to 90 holes per shift

Drilling rates of up to 540 m/ shift for dewatering wells in the sand are being achieved by contractors on the Dubai Waterfront project in Jebel Ali with Sandvik Ranger 780 Rock Pilot drill rigs and tools. Two contractors are each using a Ranger 780 Rock Pilot and Sandvik rock tools to drill 6 m deep holes in compacted sand at 1 m spacing for a dewatering system; producing up to 90 holes each shift. The Sandvik combination is achieving faster penetration rates than conventional auger drilling techniques. According to Jukka Naapuri, General Manager, Sandvik Mining and Construction Middle East, the concept, although not

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

particularly new, has not been utilised too much in the UAE. “But,” he continues, “with the sharp increase in dewatering requirements on major projects, such as the Waterfront, two contractors recognised the potential and each took delivery of Ranger 780 Tophammer rigs.”

HYDRAULICS “Advances in Sandvik’s hydraulic control system over recent years have also been a factor in using this technique,” he added, continuing, “The system is able to sense strata changes when drilling and is able to react to different layers of sand and mud much faster.” Operator Rodolfo Bumatay, with many years experience of Sandvik rigs and jumbos in Saudi

Arabia, UAE and the Philippines was very surprised and doubting when he first saw the application. “I was really surprised because Sandvik rigs are designed for drilling rock and even though this was compacted sand I had my doubts,” he explained. “Similarly it is important to observe the flushing pressure to avoid jamming so drilling must be done in a controlled way.” It is also important to ensure that no mud enters the dust collector. “I have no time for washing out, only time for drilling. It is therefore important sometimes to work with the suction shutdown.” Despite initial doubts Rodolfo is confident in the Sandvik’s performance and in achieving the high performance rates.

BUTTONS The Ranger 780 Rock Pilot is fitted with 3.66 m long Sandvik T51 rods and 102 mm Retrac button bits. The bits feature a ballistic button design to provide fast penetration and better flushing. Since the rigs’ delivery to site, the button bits have not worn out and are still in service after five months.

WATERFRONT The Waterfront is considered to be the largest and most ambitious urban development project in the world. The coastal development includes the world’s largest mas-

ter-planned city; encompassing an area of 1.4 billion square feet – twice the size of Hong Kong Island. Detailed design and planning for the first five phases have been completed and more than 20,000 workers and 3000 construction vehicles are on-site. To date more than 80% of the mainland earthworks have been completed and more than 40 million cubic metres of land graded in a little over a year. Approximately 30% of the first 4000 ha island has been reclaimed, with reclamation underway on other islands. The amount of land being reclaimed monthly is 3.52 million cubic meters – enough to fill Wembley stadium three times. Major civil works and infrastructure have started on the first phase Madinat Al Arab. This includes construction of the 8 km long Palm Cove canal running parallel with the coastline. The Sandvik rigs are currently being used to prepare dewatering wells to allow construction of 3-4 m sewer pipeline. The self-sustained city has two main components, the mainland covering a 13 km x 7.5 km area and the Waterfront Islands – a six island archipelago stretching 15 km into the Gulf and covering a combined area of 2300 hectares. The city, on completion, will house 1.5 million people. www.constructionweekonline.com

77 Special vehicles. 52 Degrees in the shade. Tons of material. 1 Filter brand.

MANN-FILTER – the one you can rely on.

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MANN+HUMMEL GMBH Regional Office Dubai. (ROAE) · P.O.Box 293882-Dubai.U.A.E. · Tel. + 97 14 - 6 09 17 45 Fax + 97 14 - 6 09 17 48 E-Mail: dubai.info@mann-hummel.com · www.mann-hummel.com

016 INTERVIEW

MAKING THE GRADE Many professionals with engineering qualifications consider studying for a masters degree

olton. Many British expatriates will be familiar with the west Pennine town, and most would agree that it has little in common with the Emirates. Bolton is cold, wet and slightly quaint. The UAE for the greater part, is not. It is true that both places have regions known as Deira, but that for the most part is where similarities between the two conurbations finish. So it might be a surprise to

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

some that the University of Bolton, established as a mechanics’ institute back in 1824, has recently chosen to open a campus in Ras Al Kamiah. Zubair Hanslot, academic director, explained; “We decided about April last year that we needed to diversify our student base so take our provision overseas. Although we were operating in many markets like Vietnam and China and Malaysia we didn’t have a fullyfledged campus. All the operations were small scale based on

one or two courses and one or two staff would fly over and do a delivery in a sort of intense block and then the students got some local support. We thought it was OK, but the market demands are slightly different now as we are going global. More and more people are saying why don’t you set up a campus where the whole provision is at the same place?” “So last year, we decided we wanted a campus. We looked around and we thought there is a lot happening in the UAE, parwww.constructionweekonline.com

017

INTERVIEW

IN CLASS Zubair Hanslot keys up to take on the next enrolment of pupils at the college.

ticularly in Dubai. It is the place where we could create a ‘hub’. We looked at Dubai, and at first we wanted to be in Academic City, but when we investigated, we thought that there were a lot of players there already. We thought the competition is quite fierce and that it is not a sustainable market” he said. With rents fairly high, and many European colleges already based in Dubai, it was time for the University to consider some different options. “We didn’t throw the towel in” www.constructionweekonline.com

Hanslot explained, “Instead we looked at the free trade zone here in RAK, who were very supportive. We did a marketing plan and we did negotiations with the free trade zone and found that there is a market. RAK isn’t that big and the rents are charged we could pass on the savings to make student fees quite reasonable.” This is true. With a year’s tuition costing around the AED 24,000 mark, it is not cheap, but compares favorably to other Western colleges operating in the region.

He explained that the authorities, right to the highest level had been extremely accommodating in helping to untie the red tape associated with setting up in a new country. The university now had to consider what courses it was going to teach. Back in the UK, it is known for degrees in mechanical and construction engineering. Hanslot commented; “We’ve set up a number of courses including the MSc in Construction Management which is a postgraduate course delivered on a part

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

018 INTERVIEW

MANAGE IT Keeping track of people, machines and structures will be easier for those who have studied construction management.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

time basis and we are targeting mainly working professionals. We are only interested in people who are working in the industry who have got some academic (ability) as an undergraduate degree and what we are trying to do is upskill tham into how to be an effective manager in the construction industry. They have got the technical knowledge, which we are building on to give them some business and managerial knowledge to manage the construction industry.” While students might already be qualified engineers, Hanslot argues that there is always the need for more study; “Training is necessary as there is always development in this industry. Engineering, as you know, never

stands still - we are always pushing the envelope” he said, adding that these days computer modeling holds a place in the industry like it hasn’t done before. “There is a lot more done on a simulation basis where if you wanted to prove something you had to build a prototype in the laboratory and use final element analysis where you could model the structure by using mathematical elements in the piece of software.” He explained that although computers were used in complex projects, until quite recently they were complicated; “The advancement is very computer simulation led and because of that there is a lead time between the concept and actually proving the concept has shortened dramatically.”

This is all very well, but who is going to enroll on an expensive course during these difficult times? Hanslot remains upbeat. “A university always does well in a recession. People who are at risk of losing their jobs are always interested in retraining. We’ve seen an increase in people enquiring particularly for engineering type of programs because people see that they need to get themselves a good, stable sort of qualification to see through the recession and beyond we are recession proof in that regard” he said, and initial enrolment figures being around a third higher than predicted, seem to bear this out. Perhaps north-west England and the Emirates are not so different after all. www.constructionweekonline.com

021

AUCTION YARD

IN THE

SALES

LOADERS Lines of wheel load-

A glance around an auction yard reveals some unusual machines entering the country

ers wait for a new owner.

fficiency is the name of the game when it comes to selecting the right track-type tractor – or bulldozer, for

the task. Sometimes a small ‘dozer is perfect for the job, for example when clearing scrub on a new roadbuilding project and the site manager has his eye on the amount of diesel consumed. However, when the dirt hits the shovel, it might be better to think outside the box shovel. We’re not strangers to large bulldozers in the GCC, with colossal machines such as Caterpillar D10 and D11 having been a regular introduction on major projects since their introduction back in the 1970s. Less common are the Komatsu family of bulldozers. There www.constructionweekonline.com

are some – about a dozen examples of the 475a are currently grazing the site of the Arabian Canal for example. However, it is the enormous D575a which really excels in size and power. With an operating weight of 168 tonnes it is by quite some margin the largest bulldozer in production today. These V12-powered machines are most usually to be found in the word’s open cast mines, but today there is one sitting in the Jebel Ali freezone. Though the size of the blade depends on the specification ordered the one we saw measured more than 24 feet wide. This particular example dated from 1998 and came with full service records. As it was the slightly earlier D575a-2 model, it ‘only’ had an operating weight

of 140 tones, where as the later D575a-3 model tips the scales at 168 tons. Another D575a-2, an earlier model from 1993, was also due to arrive. There is no telling which part of the world will buy such a machine of course, although there is a good chance it might go to a local buyer. A high percentage of machines do stay in the region, and even though the construction boom has cooled through much of the GCC, there are still many ongoing civil engineering projects like highways and junction improvements – just the sort of thing where the aptly-named ‘Super Dozer’ would come in handy.

HIGH DRIVE These giants were not the only crawler tractors in the sale. A

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

022 AUCTION YARD

CRANES Mobile cranes are now becoming a common sight at auction once again.

Cat D10 hulked over smaller equipment. This particular model had been specified with a fourshank ripper, rather than the more usual single shank common in this region. When introduced, the original D10 was the first model in the Caterpillar line-up to introduce the trademarked raised final drive. However, these very large machines are still rare. Far more common is the 49 ton (operating weight) Cat D9. These machines are vary popular if in good condition, and frequently fetch a strong auction price. Eight models of varying ages and condition were entered into this sale. Making up the total of 38 ‘dozer were also 10 Cat D6 machines of varying types and ages, a selection of smaller Komatsu models and an open platfom 1993 Furukawa, which boasted a shiny new coat of paint. Elsewhere in the auction yard there were a series of trucks of various types. First among them was a Mercedes 409 from the early 1980s. So far, so hum-

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

drum you might think, but this was a one-time fire engine, complete with German municipality logos and bright red paintwork. Unfortunately, much of the glory had long since left this item, and we think it must have been many years since it last fought a real fire.

KENWORTH Of much more use to the PMV sector might be one of the Kenworth C500 6x4 trucks that have been entered into the sale. These bright orange or red machines became the tool of choice for the oil and gas sector, when the black gold was originally struck in the region. With their go-anywhere ability and huge towing capacity, the trucks are still popular in the region now, and are often seen moving construction equipment around the Gulf. Specifications vary, but most feature a Detroit Diesel 8cylinder engine, buttoned upholstery, power steering as well as enormous ‘nudge bars’ around the radiator grille.

EXCAVATORS The region’s most popular excavator, being the Caterpillar 320, was also well represented with 11 lots consigned. More than half were 320b models from the late 1990s, though there were also the newer 320d models on offer too. To our untrained eyes, most of these excavators looked to be in relatively good condition, and judging by the Japanese writing, as well as the rendition of a bird of paradise on one of them, they originally hailed from the far east. Larger excavators were also in evidence. No less than five Cat 375L hydraulic quarry excavators were entered in to the sale, while two PC1100-6 were offered, bringing the total of larger excavators to 81. There was far more in the yard, including haul trucks, graders and those fascinating guess-what’s-in-the-crate consignments of parts. So, if you need some more machinery on your site, why not get along to it?

Keith Lupton, general manager of WWA said: “Check the condition of items like the idlers and the final drive sprocket. If you can shave with the teeth, it won’t have been doing the tracks any good and a rebuild can be very expensive. He added that large Cat ‘dozers such as the D10 and D11 are rare, though they have been used on a few large infrastructure jobs, so they do come up from time to time. Far more common at auction is the D9L. These machines are popular in quarries, though as Lupton pointed out, this can be a problem. “These machines work hard and though the sand can make the blade look shiny, very often the blade is bent and torn.”

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Al Hamid Group, Dubai Branch: Phone: 971-4-2899060 Fax: 971-4-2899161

024 PRODUCTS

LATEST PRODUCTS

PMV looks at the latest tools and toys to help you with the job in hand

NEW BOBCAT The range of Bobcat excavators has been extended with the launch of the E60, a new 6-tonne crawler excavator model. Like all Bobcat excavators, the maker says that the E60 has been designed to offer value to the customer through high performance with fuel efficiency, durability, operator comfort and easy serviceability. The E60 is powered by a 37.6 kW Yanmar liquid-cooled diesel engine running at a maximum governed speed of 2200 rpm, providing abundant power and reliability for a machine of this size. Electronic injection together with automatic idle ensure optimum fuel efficiency at all times. The low noise and emission levels of the E60 make it suitable for work in noise sensitive areas and at night. Due to a zero tail swing design and the boom swing function, the E60 is able to work well in narrow areas. The dipperstick cylinder is sized to provide enhanced excavating force and a long dipperstick option is also available for this machine. The swing bracket and the size of the boom swing cylinder ensure powerful and stable boom swing performance. Thanks to the high engine power and the highest swing torque in its class, the newcomer can work efficiently on slopes. Contact: www.bobcat.com

CAT KNUCKLEBOOM LOADER Cat Forest Products recently launched the new B Series knuckleboom log loader with the introduction of the CatÂŽ 559B. The loader features an enhanced engine and hydraulic power system that improves fuel economy and gives the operator more control to match the loaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power output to job requirements. Reduced engine and fan speeds, a reengineered hydraulic pump and bigger hydraulic lines allow more efficient use of horsepower to save fuel while maintaining performance. The new pump also decreases heat generation, resulting in cooler hydraulic system temperatures. Loader performance is further improved by a 15% increase in swing. Contact: www.caterpillar.com

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

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025

PRODUCTS

NEW HITACHI EXCAVATOR The new Hitachi ZX120-3 can handle everything from the mundane to the exotic, without missing a beat. Dig basements, load trucks, place pipe — it’s all in a day’s work for this small but powerful utility-class excavator. Easily towed behind a dump truck and available with rubber crawler pads and a backfill blade, the ZX1203 delivers the power, precision, fuel efficiency, and smoothness contractors have come to expect from Hitachi. Just what can the 28,498-pound ZX120-3 with its 93horsepower Isuzu engine and patented HIOS III hydraulic system accomplish? It can generate 24,720 pounds of drawbar pull and 25,077 foot pounds of swing torque, wield an impressive 12,823-pound breakout force, and lift a maximum of 11,443 pounds over the front at a distance of 15 feet (blade on ground). In addition, three power modes, two travel modes, and one work mode provide what it takes to get the job done. Contact: www.hitachiconstruction.com

HYDRODEMOLITION ROBOT A world first – hydrodemolition specialist Aquajet Systems has introduced a new hybrid robot offering dual-power features with simple ‘switchover’ operation. A new diesel/electric-powered hybrid hydrodemolition robot introduced by Swedish specialist company Aquajet Systems, offers a wide range of new features, including pollution-free operation in enclosed areas in electric-mode. Simple ‘switchover’ operation ensures easy change to diesel power eliminating, for example, the need for electric cables. In electric mode, a ‘slow start’ electric motor, ensures initial reduced operation accepting full load in up to 5 seconds, thereby preventing power surge failures. Contact: www.aquajet.se

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March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

026 PRODUCTS

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

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028 IN PICTURES

MACHINE MONTH Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

1. President Obama Visits Caterpillar Factory In Illinois EAST PEORIA, IL FEBRUARY 12: President Barack Obama speaks to workers at a Caterpillar plant about creating jobs and stimulating the economy February 12, 2009 in East Peoria, Illinois. Stung by the global recession, Caterpillar announced in January it would cut more than 20,000 jobs. 2. Machines Clear Australian bush fire land A Bobcat clears Australian brush land in the wake of the devastating fires that swept through the country in February. Hundreds of lives were lost in a fire that police believe to have been started deliberately. Photo:: Getty Images

Photo by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

3. Mexican farmers march with their tractor Mexican farmers march with their tractors during a protest against the administration of the President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City on February 16, 2009. The farmers are demanding that the government lower the prices of diesel fuel and electricity. AFP PHOTO/Luis Acosta

Photo by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

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4. PARIS DIGS DEEP TO HARNESS EARTHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GREEN ENERGY Partial view taken on February 12, 2009 in Paris 19th district of a 36metre (120-foot) mast with machinery used to drill for hot water and raised on a construction site. At a depth of 1.7 kilometres (one mile), lies a geological stratum called the Dogger from which water, heated naturally to 57 degrees Celsius (135 Fahrenheit), will be sucked up to the surface, where it will be used to heat another stock of water. The network will heat around 12,000 apartments and other buildings due to be built by 2011. There were nearly three dozen sites using geothermal energy in the greater Paris region, all dating from the

Photo by CYRIL FOLLIOT/AFP/Getty Images

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029

IN PICTURES

5. Unemployment Figures Reach 1.97 Million In December LONDON, ENGLAND FEBRUARY 11: Industrial cranes on a construction site stand in the background beyond a sign outside a branch of the Job Centre Plus on February 11, 2009 in London, England. Official Government figures released today show that UK unemployment rose to 1.97 million in December 2008, the highest total since 1997.

8. Gritters Prepare After Forecasters Predict More Snow LONDON, UK - FEBRUARY 04: A gritting truck is loaded with salt from the Enterprise Mouchel grit store in their Croydon depot on February 4, 2009 in London, England. Enterprise Mouchel are contracted buy Transport for London to grit the roads and pavements of South London. They operate twelve gritting trucks from three depots, with the Croydon grit store alone having a capacity to hold 1400 tonnes of grit. In the event, the country had the heaviest snow for years.

Photo byby Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

7. The BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media City Begins To Take Shape SALFORD, ENGLAND JANUARY 20: The new BBC Media City UK Studios development takes shape as construction work on the Salford Quays site gains momentum on January 20, 2009 in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The BBC has been criticised for the re-location package of staff who will make the move from London to Manchester. The package includes a guaranteed house purchase and other fringe benefits which was slammed by the TaxPayersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alliance.

Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images

6. South African Culture Minister Pallo Jordan South African Culture Minister Pallo Jordan (R) and Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo (L) climb onto a tractor on February 10, 2009 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the first professional theatre in Soweto, in the township outside Johannesburg. South Africa broke ground on an 11-million-dollar theatre complex in the heart of Soweto, the township once best known as a hotbed of opposition to apartheid. The Soweto Theatre will comprise three stages with combined seating for 690 people, with each auditorium housed in a brightly coloured red, blue and yellow cubes. AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images

1970s and 80s. AFP PHOTO CYRIL FOLLIOT

Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images

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March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

031

PREVIEW

It is the biggest show in our calendar, and it will act as a barometer for the industry. Here is a little about just some of the firms at the Saudi PMV Show.

he time is on us for our most significant event of the year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and one in which all the world will have its eyes on. As construction sites grind to a halt all around the world, Saudi Arabia remains reasonably strong â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ups and downs can be seen as a barometer for the rest of the GCC states, as its fortunes are closely mirrored by the rest of the Gulf. Apart from this, a huge number of commercial and infrastructure projects in the region mean that even in these tough times there is still a demand for machines, and a thirst to know how to operate them safely. Here follows a bit about out host, and a few of the companies that are supporting the event.

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March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

033

PREVIEW

SAUDI ARAMCO Saudi Aramco is the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest oil corporation in the world with the largest proven crude oil reserves and production. Headquartered in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco also operates the world’s largest single hydrocarbon network, the Master Gas System. It was known as just Aramco between the years of 1933-1988, an acronym for Arabian American Oil Company. As of the end of 2006, its yearly production of only crude oil neared 3.4 billion barrels (540,000,000 m3) and it managed over 100 oil and gas fields in Saudi Arabia totaling at least 264 billion barrels of oil reserves and massive gas reserves. Among those fields fully owned by the company is the Ghawar field, the world’s largest oil field; the Safaniya Field, the world’s largest offshore field. Despite the recent slump in crude prices, Saudi Aramco is still thought to be the world’s most profitable company. Saudi Aramco dates back to 1933 when the Government of Saudi Arabia signed a concessionary agreement with Standard Oil, California (Socal) allowing them to explore Saudi Arabia for oil. Socal passed this concession

to a subsidiary called CaliforniaArabian Standard Oil (Casoc). In 1936 with the company having no success at locating oil, the firm that became Texaco purchased a 50% stake of the concession.. After a long search for oil that lasted around four years without success, the first success came with the seventh drill site in Dammam, in a well referred to as Dammam number 7. The discovery of this well, which immediately produced over 1,500 barrels per day (240 m³/d), gave the company the confidence to continue and flourish. The company name was changed in 1944 from California-Arabian Standard Oil Company to Arabian American Oil Company (or Aramco). In 1950, Aramco agreed to share its profits on oil sales 50/50 with Saudi Arabia’s government. In 1973 the Saudi Arabian government acquired a 25% share of Aramco, increased this to 60% by 1974 and finally acquired full control of Aramco by 1980. In November 1988 the company changed its name from Arabian American Oil Company to Saudi Arabian Oil Company (or Saudi Aramco). From its headquarters in Dharan, on the eastern shores of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Aramco manages

virtually all of the kingdom’s enormous hydrocarbon enterprise. Saudi Aramco is engaged in the management of onshore and offshore oil fields, petrochemical research and development and operates its own fleet of oil tankers. The firm is responsible for 99 percent of the Kingdom’s proven crude oil reserves of 259 billion barrels (41.2 1010m³) - about a quarter of the world’s total conventional oil reserves. That is more than double the total of Iraq, the country with the world’s second largest conventional oil reserves, and nearly 12 times the reserves of the United States. Recent output is more than twice the output of the next highest producer and nearly five times greater than the largest U.S. oil company. Russia as a whole produces almost 9 million barrels (1,400,000 m3) of oil per day, however, several different companies pump oil there, while Saudi Aramco is responsible for 99% of Saudi Arabia’s oil. The company is also a leader in both the production and export of natural gas liquids (NGL), and a major producer of refined products. A programme is currently under way to expand gas production to meet demand for gas at home to power the Kingdom’s domestic economic growth. (Photo: BARCO)

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035

PREVIEW

ALE AL-SUWADI Abnormal Load Engineering Limited (ALE) was formed in 1983 to provide an engineering service to manufacturers of electrical plant and utility companies associated with the movement and installation of large items of generating plant. Subsequently the company has developed into one of the world’s major international heavy transport and installation contractors working for all industrial sectors with an extensive fleet of modern heavy cranes, specialist transport and installation equipment. Coupled with Al Suwaidi, it has created the SK.90, a vast 4300Te twin-lift crane, whose recent exploits in the kingdom are detailed elsewhere in the issue.

ZAHID TRACTOR CATERPILLAR As mentioned in this month’s editorial comment, Caterpillar are a ‘bellwether’ company, in that it leads the industry, with its fate and fortunes acting as a barometer for the rest of the industry. Cat and its regional dealers do not attend every trade show, so we are honored to welcome them to our event this year. Caterpillar offer machinery for every equipment sector and multiple Cat machines can be seen on every site throughout the Kingdom.

MANN+HUMMEL Any machine that uses oil is going to need to filter it. This is good business for one company, who since the 1940s have developed and manufactured a wide range of filters, air intakes and other components. The MANN+HUMMEL Group was established in Ludwigsburg, in southwest Germany in 1941. The motor spares trade is supplied with filter elements under the MANN-FILTER brand name in the same quality as that supplied to OEMs. For the general industry MANN+HUMMEL develops and produces industrial filters and filtration systems for the engineering industry and units and systems for materials handling in the plastics processing industry. According to the company, the most important product in the MANN+HUMMEL product range for the reduction of emissions is the SMF-AR diesel particulate filter. It is

designed for use in applications with low exhaust temperatures as is usual with mobile machines. In comparison to other solutions on the market the SMF -AR offers the advantages of active regeneration without any machine downtime, low maintenance and operating costs, and a wide range of use for many applications. The SMF-AR is equipped with a high performance filter element. In contrast to conventional ceramic elements, this enables a higher ash holding capacity and therefore longer service intervals. In addition, the MANN+HUMMEL filter element is durable for the life of the product and is easy to clean. Conventional ceramic elements on the other hand have to be replaced after a number of cleaning intervals. A further advantage of the diesel particulate filter SMF-AR from MANN+HUMMEL is that the

regeneration process takes place without any machine downtime. The regeneration also requires no external energy. The soot burn-off is introduced automatically when the ideal amount of soot for electrical regeneration has collected in the filter element. Ignition of the soot is made through radiant heat from heating elements. The heating elements ensure consistent heating of the radiated soot area. An additive is automatically dosed which reduces the ignition temperature of the soot particles and enables a quick and consistent soot burn-off. The heating elements are designed to ensure that a fully automatic ignition of the soot layer is made in the shortest time possible. Regeneration is made without any additional increase of emissions. A costly fine-tuning of the engine is not required. The SMF -AR can be fitted to a wide range of applications.

GOLD SPONSORS

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March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

036 PREVIEW AL-QAHTANI Al-Qahtani Group of Companies was established in 1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and has been expanded to cover various activities and with around thirty separate divisions stretching from agriculture to oil and gas, is considered to be one of the largest and most reputable privately owned companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with good relationships in both government and commercial sectors. The group headquarters are in Dammam, the biggest city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In the PMV sector, the company is perhaps best known as being the dealer for the Chinese firm LiuGong in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. It is also the dealer for various crane lines for Terex in KSA and Bahrain. It also represents a Genie Arial platforms Sales activities include direct sales, credit, lease to own, & direct rental. It supplys the cranes with operators and the earth moving equipment without operators. The company says that its main goal is to provide a reliable product, coupled with spare part availability and unmatched service.

GTE GTE is a construction equipment and civil technology distributor throughout Saudi Arabia and Lebanon with headquarters in Al Khobar and branches in Riyadh & Jeddah. Since being formed in 1976, GTE has pioneered the use of modern building and construction technologies through professional product introduction and innovative applications. The firm provides technologies & solutions to the most prestigious and major construction and infrastructure projects. The company has fully equipped sales, rental, parts and service facilities at all branches.

BAKHEET Bakheet Co. was established in 1975. Bakheet Company staff is comprised of Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers and Technical Staff. The company has a network of eight branches Every Branch consists of Administrative office, Sales Department, Spare Parts Department and Workshop for After Sales Service. Each department is managed by qualified Executives and Engineers.

MERCEDES-BENZ By far the most common truck brand in the region today, Mercedes-Benz are distributed by JIPCO in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In association with the world famous Daimler Benz company, JIPCO provides its customers with unparalleled, quality MB products, followed up by reliable service and support. The dealership markets a complete range of MercedesBenz commercial vehicles from heavy-duty trucks and Buses to the smaller Vans and Coaches for Commercial, Construction and Municipal applications. The MB HeavyDuty trucks have been assembled in the Kingdom for over 20 years to the highest quality, by National Automobile Industry (NAI). The products are sold and serviced throughout the Kingdom by the branches in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Abha and through various sub-dealerships.

AL SHUWAYER The company began construction work in 1954 and had made substantial advances in the contracting market and has extensive experiences in Oil & Gas Industries, responsible for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and instrumentation works for a number of projects. Saudi Aramco, Royal Commission, Al Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) and SABIC industries are main clients in Saudi Arabia and other clients in the neighboring gulf countries. Other related activities involved in the company are crane rentals, heavy metal industries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as fabrication of heavy structures, pressure vessels., Additionally, the firm are very much involved in the MEP sector.

SILVER SPONSORS

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Jeddah: Tel: 6822000 / 6398834, Fax: 6398831 - Riyadh: Tel: 2302717, Fax: 2376117 Dammam: Tel: 8340423, Fax: 8341649

039

SITE VISIT

ON THE LEVEL Modern equipment is bringing efficiency to the art of building surveying.

SURVEYING

THE SITE T hink of new housing in the UAE and what are your first thoughts? Chances are you are thinking of giant tower blocks, thirty-stories plus. However, not everybody wants to live in a high rise. There is still a demand for more traditional style villas, with walkable streets and shady willow trees overhanging. There is also the important point that in such communities, independent traders can be allowed to thrive, children can walk to school and life is generally comfortable and settled – a community in other words. The downside of such living

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When building villas by the thousand, the most efficient method of doing things is always the most cost efficient

is that many old-style villas are wearing out, and have few of the efficiencies and conveniences expected for today’s lifestyles. Happily, several developers have cottoned on to this and are building traditional villas, with a modern twist. One such project is the Al Reef development, near to the Al Raha beach in Abu Dhabi. When complete, the complex will comprise of a couple of thousand villas, some medium-rise apartment blocks and a panoply of schools and shops, each built in the style of a different architectural style or ‘theme’, be it traditional Arabic, desert or contemporary for example. Each

has modern cooling, an abundance of plumbing and some will have a pool. Building one or two low rise villas presents few problems for any contractor. However, when they number in the thousands, becoming effectively a small town any efficiency gained in construction can be extremely valuable in terms of time and money.

PRECAST As all the villas are made of precast concrete, effectively a kit of parts, it makes sense to batch concrete onsite. The lead contractor Fibrex does just this, with a pair of batching plant onsite.

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

040 SITE VISIT

We didn’t get a chance to inspect this installation during our visit, but it appears to have two medium to high capacity plants. What sets this development apart, though is a precast factory owned and operated by the contractor adjacent to the concrete plant.

STEEL

GPS Eng. Ibrahim says switching to e-surveying was a wise move.

Efficiency is further increased by the foundation of a small steelworks onsite. This will be used for rolling and forming joists and so on for use in the project. Using this will help avoid the various peaks and troughs in demand and supply that were seen last summer, meaning the budget for the project will be easier to keep to schedule.

SURVEYING The most clever part of this project, though is the way the surveying equipment works. Regular villa construction is most closely associated with the traditional method of the surveyor using a theodolite to measure distance and angles. This took time, and the data needed to be recorded manually. The last few years, particularly as projects have got bigger, have seen a shift away from this type

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

of technology and on to what are known as ‘total stations’. These devices can read the horizontal and vertical circles electronically. Understanding how these new machines work exactly is something only an engineer would be able to explain, but suffice it to say they don’t rely on bands of light seen through prisms, rather digital imaging technology takes over. The newest technology to be embraced by the region is satellite positioning. This technology can incorporate distance, direction and difference in height between survey points. A satellite-based surveying system is simply using an electronic distance measurer that does not need direct line of sight between survey points. Instead, a GPS receiver needs to have a direct line of sight to a sufficient number of satellites. Although the term ‘GPS’ is used as a sort of generic trademark to describe satellites in orbit, it actually refers to a ring of devices put in space by the Americans, and allowed to be free for civilian use. In fact, any brand of surveying equipment could equally be using the Russian GLONASS system, or the soon to be launched European Galileo network, which counts Saudi

Arabia among its backers. Fibrex have chosen to buy its surveying equipment from Japanese company Topcon. Eng. Ibrahim pointed out that the company had been impressed with the technology after a demonstration. “About two and a half years ago, Topcon showed us a machine – a 752 – and we thought it had very good speed and efficiency” he explained. Since then, the firm have invested heavily in the equipment, having bought a hyper GA base station, two rovers and eight 760series total stations along with five laser levels. As the site is in Abu Dhabi, Fibrex opted to have its own base station. Other sites in Dubai though can take advantage of centrally located base stations. Topcon’s Talal Hanna explained; ‘In Dubai we have what we call reference stations, which means that the municipality is handling these ones. What you have to do is to subscribe and you get the correction through your phone card.’ He explained that depending on location and what the customer has ordered, there were a number of ways of linking to the base and obtaining corrections automatically, with Bluetooth and GRPS links as possibilities. www.constructionweekonline.com

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042 SITE VISIT

Electronic Distance Measurers (EDMs) accurately measure distance by measuring the time it takes a laser to travel from the EDM to a prism and back. Before the introduction of EDMs, taping or chaining was used to make accurate distance measurements. A Total Station is the most accurate surveying device because it incorporates an electronic or digital theodolite, an electronic distance measuring (EDM) device and a microprocessor in the same unit. Total stations can automatically measure horizontal and vertical angles as well as slope distances from a single setup. From this data they can instantaneously compute horizontal and vertical distance components, elevations and coordinates, and display the results on an LCD. They can also store the data either on board or in external date collectors. From the total station, data can be downloaded easily to a personal computer.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

MEASURE Modern total stations can be used up to 2km away.

The readout is done by a rotary encoder which can be absolute or incremental using light and dark radial bands In the latter case the circles spin rapidly, reducing angle measurement to electronic measurement of time differences. Additionally, lately CCD sensors have been added to the focal plane of the telescope, allowing both autotargeting and the automated measurement of residual target offset. All this is implemented in embedded software. The base station is always in the same place, so you, as an ngineer can send corrections whenever you go to the site so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to take the base. All you have to do is carry the Rover and then you will get corrections all over the site. The base station can run on large (car type) batteries so it can send all of the corrections continuously. In fact the surveyor normally would go and put the base on a known point and wait until it sends the signals for the corrections, so he can go on his site at any time and find the corrections have already been done. So heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll

find the corrections every time he works. Not every site has its own base station, though. Fibrex fdecided to have its own base station, so they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to do the work twice so every surveyor can come and hook up his base and then go onto site with his portable rover. Total Stations are improving all the time as well - the recently launched Topcon It offers 2000 meters Non Prism Long mode measurement, whilst being almost 10 percent smaller in size. So poles, or almost any surface can be measured at practical distances up to 350 to 400 meters.

FUTURE The satellite technology that drives the surveying equipment is finding its way into yellow iron as firms modernise their fleets. Construction machines such as graders, excavators or bulldozers can be navigated directly via satellite with the highest precision, and one such system is offered by Topcon. Making an own reference station obsolete. Topcon and

service provider Ascos from Germany together developed a new modem-based solution for 3D-Machine Control on the building site. An integrated solution illustrates all processes from start to finish. Basis of this complete solution is an industry-specific mix of the successful correction data and services, which ascos offers for satellitebased processes. With the precise real-time service (Ascos PED) for example the machine can be steered with a deviation of maximum 2 cm (position) and/or 3 cm (height). Measuring or documentation however requires a higher accuracy within the millimeter range, which can be obtained by recalculation through the virtual postprocessing procedure. Measurements using satellite positioning is fast and precise with a minimum of personnel. Thus preparation and shifting times are reduced substantially. We hope to visit a jobsite where machine automation is working very soon. Meanwhile, when it comes to GPS surveying, as Fibrex have found out - the sky is the limit. www.constructionweekonline.com

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045

Q&A

SURVEYING’S

FUTURE IS THREE-

DIMENSIONAL

Philippe Akl, GM of equipment maker Topcon speaks about his firm’s role in the region. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY? Topcon Corporation is a Japanbased company mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of positioning equipment, eye care equipment and ‘Finetech’ (which refers to components made for the IT industry). Topcon owns and operates five R&D centers, seven manuwww.constructionweekonline.com

facturing facilities in five countries, and 46 Sales & Marketing offices in 17 countries including Dubai. Topcon Dubai is a sales and marketing office in charge of the Middle East and African markets. The Positioning unit offers global positioning systems (GPS), machine automation systems, survey instruments and

lasers for construction, engineering, and surveying applications. During the last decades, Topcon has brought many innovative solutions to the industry that offers the contractor significant productivity increase and greater ease of use. That’s the key to leadership, and the reason Topcon is a world leading supplier of positioning instruments.

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

046 Q&A Go anywhere in the world and you’ll find surveyors, engineers, contractors, geodesists, governments relying on Topcon instruments and systems to make sure the work they do is precise and under their control.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SURVEYING EQUIPMENT ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE? Surveying continues to play an extremely important role in construction. It is required to plan, construct, and maintain almost any construction project whether it is a highway, railroad, building, bridge, tunnel, canal, sewerage system, pipeline, oil platform or others. The positioning equipments are the first to arrive to a construction site and the last to leave. The engineering surveying can affect seriously the overall project workflow, speed, efficiency and profitability. I am happy to see that local construction companies, in particular in the GCC, started to recognize this reality. As a result, they are ready to pay a premium for seamless solutions that guarantee a genuine productivity boost. This market maturity encouraged us to extend our activities and offer, for the first time in the Middle East, advanced solutions like Machine Automation and 3D imaging and scanning systems.

WHAT SETS YOUR SURVEYING EQUIPMENT APART FROM THE REST? What sets Topcon equipment apart from the rest will always be Topcon TM-1 policy. TM-1 means ‘Time to Market Number One’ which drives the company to continually bring needed, world-leading products to market first. Topcon is different because of its high focus on technology and true innovations. As mentioned earlier, during the few past years

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

Topcon introduced “World’s first” to the market more than anyone else. We saw recently GPT-7000i, mmGPS, and GR-3 as good examples of Topcon unique solutions.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF SURVEYING EQUIPMENT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE? Mixing and matching different kinds of technologies to create new solutions will be the main criterion that will drive the future advances of our industry. Good examples on this blending of technologies that we saw recently from Topcon are GPT-7000i, Imaging Station IS and mmGPS. Topcon Imaging Station is a robotic total station that offers the added productivity and versatility of integrated digital imaging, a world’s first technology Topcon introduced in 2005 with its GPT-7000i total station. The IS advanced 3D modeling capabilities allow for 3D model creations with image integration. We started seeing companies in UAE using it for volume measurements and the feedback so far is very positive. Another example of technology mix is our mmGPS that combine Topcon’s existing GPS Plus system with Laser. Topcon’s mmGPS delivers level accuracies to within a few millimeters. I believe this trend will continue in the future and we will see more solutions emerging from such smart blending of technologies.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR INDUSTRY? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE? Over the past several years, acquisitions have played a fundamental role in the strategy of major suppliers of positioning equipment, aiming to penetrate

VISION One manager knows the future... and it’s going to be in three dimensions. Demand is

new market places, expend their product lines, benefit from economy of scope and scale or assure a stronger presence in the market. In Topcon’s case, this has led to partnering with or acquiring many companies recently. This joining of companies will definitely give us, particularly in the Middle East, excellent distribution networks and will provide our dealers with additional opportunities for growth. How to create the synergy arising from this integration will be our challenge to truly materialize the huge benefits that it will proffer for us in the Middle East market.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE SURVEYING EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY? Our industry is constantly changing. It is being transformed

still strong for GPS systems.

and developed by new technologies and a strong desire from the market for more computerization. This emphasis on the efficiency is driving a profound change in the nature of surveying where the surveyor is becoming more a data manager. I foresee an escalating trend of 3D scanning and imaging solutions to become a standard for data capturing. It may seem strange to say “the standard” today but the future is something else. We are at the dome of a new era, a future that really absolutelyis truly 3-dimensional and this will change the positioning industry and the way surveyors work forever. www.constructionweekonline.com

048 SITE VISIT VISIT SITE

THE COMPLEXITY OF FORMWORK Formwork companies in the region continue to grow with the launch of new products to suit the market and expansion plans of their facilities, reports Shikha Mishra

ver the past few decades, concrete has played an important part in shaping buildings all over the world – and in turn so has formwork, as it acts as the mould which casts and shapes concrete. In reinforced concrete construction, up to 70% of the cost and a bulk of labour time is associated with formwork. Every construction site has individual requirements and the type of formwork chosen.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

“It depends on the structure, the quantity and educational level of available labourers, the budget, the aimed floor cycle period, the thickness of the wall, slab, column or whatever is going to be concreted. Therefore the contractor and the formwork supplier should work together as a team to help the contractor achieve his expectations by using the most cost effective formwork solution,” says Hans Joachim Rau, managing director, Peri.

Peri introduced the Skydeck, a panelised slab formwork, to the UAE market during the Big 5 in 2008. Skydeck is a lightweight aluminium slab formwork system for slab thicknesses up to 950 mm. “No individual component exceeds 15 kgs. The system is easy to clean and needs fewer props: for a 3.45 m² field, only one prop is used with a 400 mm slab thickness. Through the use of the drop head, removal www.constructionweekonline.com

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051

SITE VISIT

BEAM Peri’s Skydeck: a lightweight column formwork.

PERI Hans Joachim Rau, managing director, Peri.

www.constructionweekonline.com

of formwork can take place the following day which frees up material for the next concreting cycle,” says Rau. The company also introduced the LICO lightweight column formwork which allows the forming of columns without a crane. LICO can be used for square and rectangular cross-sections with widths ranging from 20 cms to 60 cms. With additional ties, shear wall sections up to 1.30 m long are possible. LICO column elements are available in heights of 0.50 m, 1 m and 3 m. All elements can be moved by hand and the connecting parts are permanently attached to the panels, which mean they cannot be lost. “This has a special advantage on the local market as the construction sites are very big and material (especially if it is small) can get lost easily,” says Rau. Falls from elevated locations are among the most common

types of accident in the construction industry. These accidents are mainly caused by insufficient safety measures at the working platforms and vertical access facilities, and also due to the constantly changing working conditions. With health and safety issues becoming vitally important on construction sites, the contractors in the UAE have begun relying on formwork systems that deliver both quality and safety. “Doka manufactures its products in Europe, where safety requirements are very high. We also offer a wide array of safety solutions that minimise accident risk and make for a fast and cost-efficient workflow,” says Peter Vogel, general manager, Doka Gulf Doka working platforms with comprehensive safety features, and permanently mounted vertical access facilities contribute

towards enhancing workplace safety during forming operations. The pre-assembled working platforms are ready for immediate use on the site, and ensure a maximum of safety from the first moment the crew step onto them. The platforms, with their hotdip galvanised components and compatibility with the framed formwork Framax Xlife and large-area formwork Top 50 systems, ensure high cost-efficiency and the great flexibility in the forming operations. Doka beam H20 top, is a formwork beam with a built-in shock absorber, which prevents the timber beam from cracking or splitting when it falls down from a height, which results in an exceptionally extended life span. The framed formwork Framax Xlife, with its plastic-coated panel has been developed for extremely long life. In this system there is long lasting plywood embedded in a very strong frame. “The main advantage of this formwork on the jobsite is that it can be used from the ground floor till the completion of the project especially for high-rises as it has a long life span,” says Christian Pongratz, regional product manager, Doka. Doka Gulf is currently in the process of constructing of a new warehouse and office building in Jebel Ali Free Zone. “Apart from the new facility of 50,000 m², we permanently invest in material stock between US $54.4-64.4 million (AED 200-300 million) in order to match requirements of our clients. Some major projects we are involved in have been delayed, but we believe that the market will not deteriorate further,” says Vogel. Ulma was founded in 1961, entered the UAE market four years ago and is currently based out of a 13,000 m² office and stockyard in Dubai Investment Park. “We are opening a smaller

March 2009 \\ PMV Middle East

052 SITE VISIT

ON FORM Andreas Gathmann, general manager, Ulma.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

stockyard in Abu Dhabi because of the shift in the project base with the cancellation of many projects in Dubai,“ says Andreas Gathmann, general manager, Ulma. But Gathmann remains optimistic about the UAE market. “Construction has not stopped completly, it will just become more realistic and feasible projects will go ahead at a normal pace. We will see less of the futuristic or outlandish developments which were being announced earlier,“ he says. Ulma has introduced a versatile lightweight climbing system that can be modified – according to the customer’s wishes – to a rail guided or self climbing system. Both options offer standard perimetral protection. This climbing system has a mobile hydraulic unit (if the self climbing option is selected) with a capacity of up to 50 kN (kilonewton) and can also be used to provide lifting for

materials. The system also incorporates access scaffolding option between levels. The company has also developed and introduced its slab aluminium drop head panel system. It is easy to assemble since one team erects the supporting grid and at the same time another team or person can start putting the lightweight aluminium panels in place. The heaviest piece of the system weighs 16 kgs. For the shuttering surface there are 2 options: a high grade Finnish plywood with phenolic cover or plastic sheet cover. Both are embedded in each panel and ensure that more than 100 uses can be achieved, if they are cared for properly. On striking, all material can be easily transported by hand to the next level and the only parts remaining in contact with the slab are the unique dropheads. This system can be used to accommodate Ulma’s galvanised steel props

PRIME TOWER PROJECT Prime Tower, is a 60storey residential tower located on Sheikh Zayed road, near Shangri La hotel. Al Ashram Contracting and Doka’s engineering department, Dubai, have worked out a formwork solution where all vertical formwork elements for walls, columns and spandrel beams are raised by self-climbing platforms. The two main elements, interior center core walls and exterior columns and spandrel beams have been divided into two independent climbing systems, whereas for the outer formwork face of the center core walls can be raised independently

www.constructionweekonline.com

054 SITE VISIT from the interior core shaft platforms. The system for the exterior columns is being raised as a single unit (equal to all four sides of the building) in one climbing operation. Doka self-climbing system SKE 50 is used in both applications, raising 780 m2 of formwork for core walls and the formwork for 28 exterior columns including spandrel beams of 1.2m height. The formwork process on the building’s typical floors is on a 5-day cycle – every floor of reinforced concrete gets done in five days and currently we are on level 21. According to the contractor, even a typical cycle of 4 days per floor could be achieved, but due to the site’s location adjacent to residential buildings, night shift work is restricted to activities such as pouring of concrete. As the building rises, the size of the columns reduces by 100 mm every 15 floors. The formwork has been designed in such way that the hinged column forms can be shifted into the new position delivering a new column size without modification works or any delays in the pace of work. To form the slabs, Doka floor formwork Dokaflex is being used. - Martin Hörlesberger, project manager, Doka Gulf.

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

xx xx

CLIMBING Tiara United Towers in

Dubai uses large area formwork and SKE 50 self climbing system.

or aluminium props (which can be braced to offer a higher load support). “The advantages of this system are: it does not require a crane, saves manpower, clients can deshutter very early (within 36 hours) and the resulting surface is impeccable,“ says Gathmann. The current financial crisis will help the construction sector and its associated industries such as formwork to come to a realistic level. “People will start looking at

quality and not material made in some obsure factory in China. The crisis will weed out the bad companies and and only companies that that can guarantee a level of stock, are healthy and can maintain service towards their clients will survive,“ he says Despite the optimism for the future, in the mid-term, all formwork companies will suffer varying degrees of losses and setbacks. “Formwork cannot earn money sitting in the yard. And we

MANAGER Christian Pongratz, regional products, Doka.

are all competing on prices as margins in this business can be very low. But in the long term, this current situation will be better for the market as a whole and will improve the formwork industry,“ says Gathmann. www.constructionweekonline.com

GulfTrak Asset Management is the Middle East’s premier company in business process and data management, dedicated to delivering substantial benefits to its customers through leveraged experience with the following services: Fleet management consultancy Development and implemention of end-to-end vehicle/equipment asset tracking & diagnostics Fleet management solutions With it’s head office in Qatar and GulfTrak covers the entire Middle East and beyond. Make your vehicle & equipment Fleet Smart: With GulfTraks’ G-Trak, you can reduce costs by simplifying maintenance, tracking and management. G-Trak is the only product on the market that gives you the tools to follow and act on your preventive maintenance requirements while continually reducing your costs by recommending Condition-based Maintenance (CBM). Based on the utilization of real-time data to prioritize and optimize maintenance resources, G-Trak enables customers to benefit from true Condition-based Maintenance (CBM). By analyzing the state of the asset, known as condition monitoring, G-Trak can determine your assets’ health, and provide notifications of what maintenance to perform and when. GulfTrak’s G-Trak leads the Fleet Intelligence market by providing increasing Condition-based maintenance functions through its patent pending algorithms and the telematic terminals (GPS etc) from its hardware partners. A proven leader in on-demand Fleet Intelligence platforms, GulfTrak is changing the face of fleet management with an innovative and intuitive solution that couples the best available telematic hardware with data analytics and process automation. G-Trak combines a reliable core with intuitive design, robust functionality, intuitive automation, excellent security, and the features users want. Customers depend on it to streamline their operations, reduce their costs, and automate the administrative process. Work orders, inventory, fuel management, tracking, maintenance notification, labor management -whatever you need, G-Trak offers an intuitive way to manage your on-the-road/offthe-road vehicle & equipment fleet using impressive features you know how to use right away. GulfTrak works in partnership with its customers to develop solutions that deliver measurable business and operational benefits by providing total visibility and control of mobile assets and mobile work forces.

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056 BACK TRACK

JUMBO There’s a Mack AP somewhere behind that jumbo, used on the Hoover Dam.

HAUL TRUCKS LOOKING HANDY The beginning of the original rock-body dump trucks

oving rocks between the quarry face and the crusher has always been an arduous job, with enormous trucks hauling the rocks about the place. However, it was all too common for rocks to be moved in small pick-up trucks, or by cart which was obviously a very low-production way of doing things. Early in the history of moving rocks, the market was cornered by US-based firm Mack. The company developed a new model – the AC - back in 1915, which could carry a payload of up to ten tonnes. While this sort of payload is far removed from the 300 tonnes and more seen today, it was a vast improvement on the few hundredweight that other

PMV Middle East \\ March 2009

early trucks could manage. As the First World War was raging, Mack secured a large order from the British army, where the coalscuttle-shaped bonnet prompted the nickname ‘bulldog’ as it gave the truck a sort of droopymouthed appearance. The name stuck and later the firm adopted the tough canine as its hood mascot ornament. Of course, construction projects got ever bigger, and while most companies were trying to survive the great depression, Mack tasked itself with building a truck suitable for the most enormous project in America at the time – the Hoover dam. Known as the model AP, the newcomer retained the chain drive and rather vintage appearance of the original, the engine, chassis

and rockbody had been enlarged and extended to give the truck a 25 tonne payload – more than two and a half times more than the original. As the truck was given solid wheels and special suspension for the loads, it became unsuitable for highway use, and so creating the first true off-highway truck. Many people outside the PMV fraternity think that ‘off-highway’ means that these trucks have superior off-road capabilities. Of course, the opposite is true. Quarry roads should be smoothly graded so as to keep the truck chassis from twisting when the truck is carrying a load. Also, tyres for these things are mind-bogglingly expensive, and anything to prevent excess wear should be considered. The

current largest off road haul trucks are the Liebherr T282B and the Caterpillar 797B which both have payloads of 400 short tons. Even though these trucks are similar in capacity the Caterpillar is referred to as a mechanical truck since it uses a big diesel engine(or sometimes two) and big transmissions to power the rear wheels. The Liebherr is referred to as a diesel electric truck since it uses a diesel engine linked to an alternator that generates electricity which is converted to AC used to power two giant electric motors found on the rear wheel assemblies, similar to a locomotive. Besides Liebherr and Caterpillar, Hitachi, Terex, Komatsu and others also fabricate such off road haul trucks in different capacities. Rock on. www.constructionweekonline.com

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