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ADB
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ADB Airfield Solutions ensure that airports around the world maintain a high standard in both construction and technology products Writers Emily Jarvis and Matt Bone Project Manager Nick Norris
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DB Airfield Solutions (Pty) Ltd is the South African registered entity of the multinational ADB Airfield Solutions, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The parent company manufactures airfield lighting equipment in Belgium, China, and USA. The South African based part of the company is responsible for projects and sales in sub-Saharan Africa, headquartering in Rivonia, Johannesburg. With a team of 50 direct and contract workers and revenue of R180 million, ADB have been providing vital solutions for airports for over 65 years. Nel Kotze, the Chief Operating Officer for ADB Southern Africa, explains what sets them apart from other airfield construction companies: “ADB serve a niche and specialized market with full turnkey solutions that revolve around all the
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electrical and electronic aspects for a modern runway. Our strength lies in not only providing high quality equipment but also in offering the full project to the client providing end to end, integrated and sustainable solutions for visual guidance; this includes design and advice, project management, installation, commissioning and maintenance.” ADB have formed a strong focus on technology, quality, processes and people, powering a series of innovations ranging from individual light control and monitoring systems to advanced surface movement ground control systems; and from the first LED airfield lights to runway incursion systems. “Every aspect of our business is attuned toward innovation from ideation and execution to delivery. This is reflected in our well-defined Idea Management and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes, our
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strong R&D focus and efficient global supply chain,” Kotze cites. The main scope of activities is for the supply and installation of various ADB products which include Airfield Ground lighting (AGL), Control systems for Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to control the AGL, Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) for use next to runways and Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). More technical still are the surveillance systems such as surface movement radar, multilateration systems for ATC to track aircrafts en-route in conjunction with secondary radar and Terminal building equipment such as baggage handling systems, flight info displays and security equipment. “In addition to these services, we also supply electrical and power backup systems for airports, which is critical for safe and reliable airfield operations,” says Kotze.
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MA J OR P RO J ECTS CA P E TOWN RUNWA Y REFURBIS H MENT ( AGL s y s t e m s ) Project Completed 2013 The ADB Airfield Ground Lighting portion is R30m which is part of the overall runway resurfacing project worth R180m done by Civil company Power Construction The client, Airports Company South Africa, while planning a new runway for Cape Town Intl Airport within the next 5 years, had to maintain its current runway to ICAO standards during this time. Cape Town is the only runway in South Africa with a CAT3 rating on its approach from the South. During the construction period the airport operated on CAT1 meaning more aircraft diversions due to inclement weather occurred. ADB was tasked with returning the status to CAT3 by June 28, 2013 which ADB successfully executed. The installation involved: Permanently installed illuminated runway closure crosses controlled from the tower. 213 new LED runway centre line lights that can be switched according to the landing direction. 180 new LED touch-down zone lights. 100 new ADB high-intensity LED runway edge light (EREL) 120 new LED taxiway centre line lights for use on the runway turnouts. 180km of new secondary cable to the lights. 54km of new primary cable in certain areas of the runway. Refurbishment of transformer manholes.
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MA J OR P RO J ECTS GEORGE RUNWA Y DIS P LACEMENT AND AUTOMATED WEAT H ER OBSER V ATION S Y STEM ( AGL sy st em s and AWOS ) R1 1 m P ro j ec t c u rrent ly o ngo i ng The ADB Airfield Ground Lighting portion is R11m which is part of the overall runway resurfacing and displacement project worth R70m done by a civil company Concor Road and Earth Works. Due to an accident involving an Airlink aircraft overshooting the runway and ending up on a public road, ACSA, decided to move the runway longitudinally by 120m to ensure compliance of the RESA (Runway End Safety Area). The AWOS system is also being replaced with Vaisala’s (Finland) latest Avimet software and sensors to measure cloud height, visibility, runway visual range (RVR), temperature, pressure, wind, solar radiation, etc. This is to ensure aviators are provided with the widest and most accurate data for safe operations. The system also populates data to the world-wide METAR system so all aviators with an interest in the current weather at George Airport has access to this. ADB is also installing red stop bar lights which are interlocked with green lead-on lights which safely controls access to the runway and prevents runway incursions. The apron floodlighting was replaced with new LED lighting panels for uniform and glare free illumination of the apron to the required ICAO lux levels
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In the last five years, ADB has emerged as a preferred AGL partner for Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana with the successful completion of four major AGL modernization projects at key international airports. These include Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), Maun International Airport, Kasane International Airport and Francistown International Airport. ADB has delivered AGL, signs, AGLCS systems, apron floodlighting and LED lighting, power equipment, as well as Automated Weather Observation Systems.
An Innovative Team “Every innovation starts with a winning idea. At ADB, we realize the need to nurture ideas from our employees so we can truly realize their value and help our customers.
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Every aspect of our business is attuned toward innovation from ideation and execution to delivery”
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A simple and practical Ideas Management program encourages our sales teams to present their ideas on new products or suggest improvements to existing products, and highlight its potential benefits to customers. Ideas are evaluated by a cross-functional global panel of experts and those with potential are explored further, and if feasible, integrated into our product vision and roadmaps. A strong Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process forms the foundation of our product vision, design, production and delivery. Every new product we bring to the market satisfies customers’ needs in terms of performance, reliability and affordability, and corresponds to the quality we as a company have set forward.” - Nel Kotze, COO
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Project Oversight
Many clients do not wish to work with a lot of subcontractors, so a single contractor is hired to manage a project and then subsequently appoints additional subcontractors, who then coordinate the entire project. This is commonplace in African industry and ADB have made project management and oversight a key faculty. As with any project undertaken in any industry, there can always be aspects that require specialised knowledge or skills that a company may not have. ADB use such specialist subcontractors in order to get a project finished. “We are a specialist company but there are times that we need an even more specialist service, after all we are not expert in every aspect of the industry. We then sub contract a professional firm with excellent reputation to help us with this service request. But all the time ADB manages the project and all processes from start to finish to ensure our name and reputation are always maintained at the highest level by all our subcontractors,” Kotze explains.
PERFECT AIRPORT SOLUTIONS The PTS Airfield Ground Lighting e-Learning System (In cooperation with Perfect Airport Solutions) Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL/AFL) training has, until now, been limited to bespoke classroom or practical training(s) provided by various companies or organisations. The PTS e-Learning system brings together the various types of AGL/AFL training(s) within a competency management system and is accessible on-line wherever you are in the world. All you need is access to the web, a laptop or tablet and it is available to you following appropriate registration and log-in.
George High-mast Project
Fluctuating Rates With the rate of exchange between the Euro and local currencies fluctuating on a daily basis, ADB have developed a systematic approach to cover the volatile financial climate with its clients. “We negotiate a contract with clients and subcontractors that make provision for adjustment of our local currency invoice to the prevailing exchange rate. Not all customers accept this negotiation, so we organise forward cover and we can additionally attach an extra payment clause should prices vary radically.” Kotze cites, and is keen to point out that normally “our clients are happy to have this security in place with regard to the finances.”
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There are variety of platforms, development tools, frameworks and delivery mechanisms out there and our open architecture, moodle based AGL/ AFL training system has been exclusively developed to allow you a cross-platform delivery and blends available technology to best serve your training needs.
Keith Costall Tel +44 7584 900802
www.perfectairportsolutions.com
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Establishing Long Term Relationships
The key to a good business model is having strong and beneficial working relationships with your suppliers and clients. ADB have such a business model and Kotze is proud of how the relationships that he has overseen has been carefully nurtured: “We are attempting to establish ourselves as the long term partner of airport authorities. We believe that a relationship based on honesty and guaranteed quality is mutually beneficial for all parties involved. We have a number of suppliers who have been working alongside us for a number of years and likewise airports who continually request our services based on outstanding previous work,� he cites.
Demand for Investment in African Airports There is a need for greater investment in African airports
We believe that a relationship based on honesty and guaranteed quality is mutually beneficial for all parties involved�
to improve safety, reliability and availability of airside infrastructure. Projects are, however, taking many years to get off the ground due to several reasons including political change, infrastructure costs and a lack of investment in the country. The main challenges lie in convincing Governments and companies to invest greater amounts in the upkeep, expansion and renovation of the airports in order to cope with this influx. The main challenges lie in a more positive outlook connected with the rapid growth of the African continent and investment necessity has been seen in countries such as Zambia and Botswana; where Governments and foreign investors have injected much needed capital into aviation projects. South Africa will hopefully begin to see further investment based growth in the aviation industries in the coming 12 months.
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E n q uiries Tel (UK): +44 (0) 1603 559 151 Tel (SA): +27 (0) 21 527 0053 ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel (UK): +44 (0) 1603 559 152 matt.bone@outlookpublishing.com
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ADB AIRFIELD SOLUTIONS 2nd Floor 3 Rivonia Village Corner Mutual Road and Rivonia Boulevard, South Rivonia, Johannesburg 2128, South Africa Tel: 27 11 602 8982 Fax: 27 11 602 8988
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