Low-carbon energy company Engie has inked an agreement with the Higher Institute for Water and Power Technologies (HIWPT) to launch a training program in the field of reverse osmosis desalination, exclusively for Saudi women.

Turki Alshehri, Engie’s CEO in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Tariq Al Shamrani, Executive Managing Director at HIWPT signed the agreement in a ceremony organised in Riyadh, in the presence of SWPC CEO, Khalid Al Qureshi, and Ghanem Alghanem from the Human Resources Development Fund.

The agreement is said to outline the details of the two-year program for 15 Saudi females. Based on the agreement, participants receive theoretical and practical hands-on training in water desalination, power generation, maintenance, and operations. On completing the program, the 15 participants will be hired as full-time ‘Plant Operations Technicians’ at Yanbu 4 or Jubail 3B – Engie’s Saudi-based reverse osmosis desalination plants, Engie said.

In January 2022, EAD and Engie announced the success of Phase II of their mangrove rehabilitation project.

“As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to build a bright, vibrant, and thriving economy, it is essential that our nation’s youth are provided with the right education, training, and opportunities to unlock their talent,” said Al Qureshi.

Thamer Al Sharhan added, “Female empowerment is instrumental to realising our nation’s ambitions, and we are delighted to launch together with Engie a unique program targeted at fresh Saudi women graduates, which will equip them with the skills required for a career in the desalination industry.”

As part of the program, participants will have to complete an introductory one-year foundational technical core training spanning three trimesters at HIWPT in Rabigh. Through this phase, students will learn about scientific concepts and engineering principles. In the second phase, the trainees will benefit from vocational training at Engie’s Yanbu 4 and Jubail 3B reverse osmosis desalination plants, where the 15 participants will be hired.

In May 2022, an Engie-led consortium broke ground on a sustainable desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.

Al Shehri remarked, “We are delighted to be launching the first program which targets females exclusively in the Kingdom with the Higher Institute of Water and Power Technologies. The program further reinforces our commitment to achieving gender equality, supporting women in STEM careers, and ensuring knowledge transfer to the local population.”

The program is said to be part of Engie’s broader commitment to achieving greater gender diversity across its organisation and industrial and technological companies.

In 2019, Engie became a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, designed to promote gender equality in the work environment, while, in 2020, the group announced it intended to employ women in 50% of all its managerial positions by 2030.

In early November 2022, Metito won a contract to build the second phase of the Fujairah Port desalination plant.

The post Engie and HIWPT launch desalination training program exclusively for Saudi women appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Apollo Tyres has launches two new radial tyres for compact construction equipment such as telescopic handlers, compact loaders and backhoe loaders.

The Terra Pro 1044 and Terra Pro 1045 steel belted radial tyres are engineered for tough conditions, offering increased robustness and stability, the company said.

All Terra Pro tyres feature a steel belt and a tie bar, making the tyres stable during loading and lifting, while a sidewall protector and special cut and crack resistant compound improves robustness while working in mud or on debris.

In late August 2022, Mitas expanded its tyre range for wheeled and backhoe loaders and, in early September 2022, BKT launched its new Multimax MP 538 tyre for telehandlers.

The Terra Pro 1045 features a symmetrical tread consisting of alternating hexagons, helping with “stability in all directions even on slopes”. The hexagons are designed for even wear and good wear resistance especially while turning and manoeuvring with heavy loads. The symmetrical design also allows for equal traction driving forward and backward, the company stated.

The typical industrial traction pattern of the Terra Pro 1044 ensures traction on soft underfoot conditions like mud. The wide and V-shape ending of the lug in the centre part of the tread further improves stability whilst supporting a uniform wear pattern, it added.

In late September 2022, Continental launched its LD-Master L5 Traction construction tyre.

The post Apollo Tyres launches new radial tyres for compact construction equipment appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Heavy-lifting specialist, Mammoet, has announced a strategic partnership with Bay Crane Services, expanding its presence throughout the Northeastern United States.

After working together on several projects dating back 25 years, this partnership will focus on servicing renewable offshore wind requirements in the US, Mammoet noted.

According to Mammoet, its global reach, complemented by Bay Crane’s established local presence, is expected to help both companies move towards a Net Zero future. The Dutch company now has nine total locations across North America, including its main location in Rosharon, Texas.

In July 2022, Huisman announced a 700t crane for handling wind turbine components and, later in the month, Mammoet said it would supply cranes for the F1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2022.

In a statement announcing the deal, Rick Bohne, Jr, Director of Sales & Marketing for Mammoet in the USA & Mexico said, “Establishing this partnership meets our goal of bringing the best level of service to our client-partners. As a global player, we recognise the importance of leveraging like-minded local leaders in this industry to ensure every possible advantage, local and global, is available to serve our clients’ project needs.”

Kenneth Bernardo, Bay Crane Companies CEO added, “Mammoet and Bay Crane have worked together on a multitude of projects in the Northeast region over the years. This strategic partnership presents clear advantages to both companies, as well as the offshore industry.”

In late October 2022, MYCRANE announced its US launch, led by Scott Wilkes.

The post Mammoet and Bay Cranes announce strategic partnership appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group) and Noon have broken ground on what’s billed as the UAE’s largest fulfilment centre in Abu Dhabi. The move is said to be part of an anchor investment by the ecommerce major into Abu Dhabi’s growing e-commerce space.

The 252,000sqm fulfilment centre facility is being designed and developed by KEZAD Group under a Build-to-Suit agreement, and is scheduled for delivery in 2024. With the introduction of new automation technologies for storage, material movement, and sorting, the facility will enable rapid delivery of products to millions of noon customers throughout the UAE and will bolster the local economy with the creation of several thousand new jobs, KEZAD said.

“More than 5,000 small businesses will use our fulfillment center to store their goods and conduct business. This will allow our youth and small businesses to connect with the growing number of e-commerce customers without having to invest in technology or real estate,” said Mohamed Al Abbar, Founder of Noon.

In February 2022, the AD Ports Group partnered with Ghassan Aboud Group to launch the Regional Food Hub – Abu Dhabi.

The UAE’s e-commerce market has grown exponentially in recent years, with customers increasingly moving toward the variety, convenience, and price benefits of online shopping, KEZAD said.

With managing inventory efficiently and cost-effectively being critical to meeting the spike in online consumer demand, fulfilment centres not only offer scalable warehousing opportunities, but provide speed and quality control across the entire value chain, from order picking and processing to packaging and shipping, it explained.

Al Abbar continued, “I’m especially proud that this facility, built with our partners ADIO and KEZAD Group, will create thousands of jobs in Abu Dhabi and will accelerate the digital penetration of core sectors such as retail and logistics. This is not your typical real estate project—technology infrastructure projects of this scale are change agents for the future, not just for our company, but also for our community and country.”

In July 2022, Abu Dhabi launched a $2.72bn drive to expand its manufacturing sector to over $46bn.

While Noon already has a facility with KEZAD, the ecommerce major decided to expand its operations to a larger area by utilising KEZAD’s Build-to-Suit solution, which will facilitate the design and delivery of Noon’s turnkey facility.

Capt Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of AD Ports Group commented, “Under the guidance of our wise leadership, AD Ports Group is committed to positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for trade through the development of an integrated and future-ready industrial ecosystem within KEZAD. The state-of-the-art noon fulfilment centre perfectly aligns with this mission and represents an important milestone in our collective journey to enable the rapid expansion of e-commerce and same-day delivery models in the region. The facility will bring significant economic benefits with the creation of thousands of jobs and will offer new opportunities for the private sector looking to reach customers across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.”

According to KEZAD, the project will be tailor-made to meet Noon’s operational requirements, helping to reduce costs, boost productivity and offer essential supply chain efficiencies. Additionally, the completed facility will be a sustainable building conforming to Estidama 2 Pearl rating, which incorporates initiatives to enable water, energy and waste minimisation.

In September 2022, KIZAD inked a deal to establish Abu Dhabi’s first EV assembly facility.

By leveraging the development solution, Noon’s fulfilment centre will be delivered by KEZAD Group on a fast-track basis to the end users’ exact specifications. The approach is said to be a strong option for businesses seeking an asset light approach, while still retaining full control of their operations and standards.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is also providing Noon with financial and non-financial incentives as part of the continued expansion of Abu Dhabi’s ICT ecosystem.

Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Acting Director General, ADIO concluded, “Abu Dhabi’s e-commerce sector has taken another step forward with work commencing on the country’s largest fulfilment centre. ADIO congratulates noon and KEZAD Group on reaching this important milestone in rapid time and looks forward to working closely with our partners through the next phase of their growth and expansion.”

In November 2022, AJ Steel said it would grow its operations in Abu Dhabi with a 96,000sqm facility expansion.

The new facility will enable entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs to leverage Noon’s platform, advanced technology and expansive delivery networks to reach new customers. Noon will operate in line with Abu Dhabi’s e-commerce policy launched in August 2021 to unlock investment opportunities in the emirate, the firm noted.

The post KEZAD and Noon break ground on ‘UAE’s largest e-commerce fulfilment centre’ appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

The first Construction Intel Summit – KSA to be held live in Riyadh (third overall in the event’s history) concluded yesterday, on 23 November 2022, at the Al Faisaliah Hotel. Focusing on three key themes: Visionary Designs: Design Considerations and Procurement Strategies to achieve Vision 2030; Project Interfaces: Integrating Multiple Contract Packages and Sequencing Workflows on the Kingdom’s Megaprojects; and Enabling Saudisation: Providing Pathways of Growth and Development to Saudi Arabia’s talent pool of young construction professionals, the summit saw a strong turnout on a public holiday, with well over a hundred delegates attending to connect with the panellists and presenters.

Following a welcome address by Gavin Davids, Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project ME, the day-long event was kicked off by Joe Tabet, the Managing Director of JT+Partners. He set the theme for the following sessions by outlining the scope of the Kingdom’s ambitions, highlighting the opportunities and possibilities that Vision 2030 would bring, and what the construction sector needs to do to be better prepared for the technological and societal changes that are around the corner.

Rachel Willacy, Regional Head of Procurement at Compass Project Consulting then led a panel consisting of Daniel Orti, Middle East Director of ACCIONA Cultura; Clive De Villiers, Managing Director of C-Quest International; Sean Doherty, Head of Project and Program Management MEA at JLL; and Min Lee, Architecture Director at Red Sea Global, in a conversation about how people and companies can help bring Vision 2030 to life.

The panel outlined the many challenges facing the Kingdom’s supply chain as it looks to deliver Vision 2030 and the many projects fuelling the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economy and society. Amongst the topics discussed were capability constraints, resolution of legacy issues around capital and cashflow, and coping with increasing price pressures and more.

Hervé Hamelin, General Manager International for Kairnial, and Dhawal Armarkar, Regional Manager – Middle East, for Techture, then followed up with presentations on their respective companies and technology offerings. Hamelin focused on the importance of on-site quality and compliance for 2D and BIM projects, while Armarkar shared insights into how Techture is helping to fuel the digitalisation of the construction space in the Middle East.

The second session of the day kicked off with David Clifton, Regional Director – Middle East and Africa for Faithful + Gould, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, moderating a discussion focused on the integration of multiple contract packages and sequencing workflows. He was joined by Adrian Dobbe-Holman, Regional Director – Middle East and Asia for Capital Consulting International; Fernando Freitas, director at Omnium International; Haitham Altebani, Principal Consultant at Asite Saudi Arabia; and David Watkins, Chief Delivery Officer at Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

Over the course of a wide-ranging discussion, the panellists covered a number of issues and topics concerning the volume of work in the Kingdom, and how to best achieve targeted schedules and deadlines. With more and more construction companies looking to enter Saudi Arabia due to the number of opportunities available, Fernando Freitas pointed out that international contractors would need to be brought in to handle the amount of work available but warned that they would need to be afforded a learning curve, so as to get them up to speed in a challenging market.

In mid-November 2022, Partanna and Red Sea Global signed a MoU to explore carbon-negative concrete developments in the Kingdom and, later in the month, Saudi’s PIF and BlackRock signed a MoU to jointly explore Middle East infrastructure projects.

However, both David Watkins and Haitham Altebani argued that the construction sector needed to embrace technology and evolve with the times, as companies didn’t have the luxury of time, given the accelerated delivery schedules. “We need to look at what we can offsite – not only to help with the labour situation, but to also help with the quality levels,” Watkins said, while Altebani pointed out that there needed to be a shift in mindset from within the construction sector as the new generation of Saudis understand the value of technology and want their projects to be state-of-the-art.

Once the panel discussion was over, Altebani returned to the stage to elaborate on his comments and discussed the importance of effective data leverage in a keynote presentation for Asite. He was then followed by Fady Kobersy, Head of Sales and Customer Success – MENA for RIB CCS, who provided the final presentation of the day, where he laid out how to build and enable a digital strategy roadmap for the construction industry.

The final panel of the day was an all Saudi-affair, with Khalid Saleem Abdallah, Director, Strategy and Development, Saudi Arabia for Faithful + Gould, a member of SNC-Lavalin Group taking charge of a discussion featuring Mouse Mashraqi, Vice President, Human Resources and Shared Services at AECOM Arabia; Fahad AlBalawi, Head of Construction at AMAALA; and Mona Althagafi, KSA Countyr Director for SERCO.

Later in November 2022, Lazzarini unveiled its $8bn floating city concept for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and said it could be launched out of Saudi Arabia.

This fascinating and open chat was a highlight of the Construction Intel Summit – KSA as it featured a slightly different format, with ongoing engagement with the audience throughout the discussion. The panel focused on a number of key topics around enabling Saudisation, with a number of development and graduate training programmes mentioned. However, they also frankly and openly discussed the challenges facing Saudi graduates, mentioning the difficulties of overcoming stereotypes and cultural perceptions, along with the importance of showing that there was a pathway to leadership and growth within organisations – both private and public.

The Construction Intel Summit – KSA was sponsored by: Asite, Construction Computer Software (RIB CCS), AECOM, CCi – A Rimkus Company Company, Hill International, JT+Partners, KEO International Consultants, RSP, ACCIONA, Kairnial, Techture, JLL and National Engineering Bureau.

“I’m very pleased with how our first-ever live version of the Construction Intel Summit – KSA went,” said Gavin Davids, Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project ME. “This was a challenging event to put together as it was our first foray into the Kingdom, and we had to overcome many unexpected obstacles, but I am delighted we took the chance to come here. I have been delighted by the passion, commitment and knowledge present in the Kingdom, and I can assure you that we will be back again soon!”

The post Construction Intel Summit – KSA shines a light on construction progress and issues in the Kingdom appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

A collaboration agreement to scale up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) was signed by H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, and Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF at a high level meeting at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Emirates Nature-WWF (ENWWF) is said to demonstrate the UAE’s commitment to scaling up NbS as a key pillar to tackling climate change and nature loss in the lead-up to COP28, which will take place in Dubai next year.

By enhancing and restoring highly productive and valuable coastal ecosystems – including mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass habitats – partners aim to highlight how working with nature can benefit people, nature and climate and make a significant contribution to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, a statement from the MOCCAE.

In late August 2022, the MOCCAE unveiled a pledge designed to boost the private sector’s contribution to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative and, in early September 2022, the MOCCAE introduced the National Air Quality Agenda 2031.

With each COP that passes, the urgency to close the emissions gap in addressing the climate emergency becomes ever greater. COP27 represented a real opportunity to advance dialogue on the nature-climate nexus and the role that NbS can play in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation actions. More and more countries are indeed recognising that nature can play a key role in global climate action strategies, and this is reflected in an increased number of countries including nature in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

A 2021 WWF report found that countries were increasingly recognising the value of NbS in their efforts to address the climate crisis. Some 92% of the updated NDCs assessed in the study included NbS, the statement elaborated.

“The UAE’s NDC clearly recognises the climate adaptation and mitigation co-benefits of natural ecosystems, particularly blue carbon ecosystems. As part of the overall commitments, it includes the conservation, restoration, and expansion of mangrove habitats. In addition, the emirate of Abu Dhabi is targeting the inclusion of a minimum of 20% marine blue carbon habitats within its protected areas. Our collaboration with EAD and ENWWF emonstrates our dedication to maximising the potential of nature-based solutions. We aim to ensure that our collective efforts are inclusive, transparent, and developed with the needs of local communities in mind, and that their benefits are equally distributed,” explained Almheiri.

In early October 2022, Global Mission launched a $17bn fund to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and, later in the month, four cement factories agreed to use alternative fuels following a deal with MOCCAE and Emirates RDF.

The ‘NbS for Climate, Biodiversity & People’ project, funded by HSBC through the global philanthropic fund and established under the global initiative of the Climate Solutions Partnership, led by ENWWF regionally and implemented together with the MOCCAE, EAD, and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), with the Government of Umm Al Quwain as an implementation partner, is already well underway in the region, the statement pointed out.

“We are very proud to be collaborating with MOCCAE and ENWWF to create a solid NbS proposition that will enhance coastal ecosystem resilience as part of our efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation, while delivering benefits for the UAE at large. The success of this collective action will be determined by the advance collaboration among private and public sector, civil society and scientists to increase interest and participation in scaling-up NbS. At EAD we have stressed greatly on NbS and we have several programmes of which the most important are the Blue Carbon project launched in 2013 and Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative inaugurated in February of this year,” commented Al Dhaheri.

The UAE’s hosting of COP28 indicates an opportunity to demonstrate at-scale action on the ground, and the NbS collaboration is a concrete hands-on solution in conserving blue carbon ecosystems that will support the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, the statement explained.

In early November 2022, Abu Dhabi environment and energy agencies unveiled a 60% clean electricity plan for the emirate by 2035.

Abdullatif remarked, “Our team has been working meticulously on the ground in the UAE to implement NbS that will conserve, restore, and promote resilient coastal ecosystems which deliver multiple socio-economic benefits; such as climate mitigation and adaptation, food security and sustainable social and economic development. The work has already begun in two highly valuable coastal seascape sites that were selected following a robust evaluation and evidence-based process, informed by scientific data and local ecological knowledge. By bringing more partners on board to drive forward quality NbS projects in the region, we look forward to showcasing positive nature and climate outcomes, while enabling conditions and creating new opportunities that can attract blended financing and public-private participation towards effective design and implementation of NbS in the lead up to COP28.”

COP28 is expected to be significant as it will provide a platform to present the results of the first global stocktake of national commitments, which in 2023 will assess the collective progress on mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation of the Paris Agreement.

As the host of COP28, the UAE will continue building on its climate ambition towards 2023 and beyond and will reflect the voices of all relevant stakeholders to achieve global consensus for practical climate progress, the statement concluded.

The post MOCCAE, EAD and ENWWF ink deal to scale up Nature-based Solutions in a bid to address climate change appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

The German Technology University of Oman (GUtech) says it 3D printed three structures in record time in Duqm, the special economic zone of Oman. The university says it 3D printed a coffee shop (said to be the first in the world), a public toilet and a fisherman’s house in 22-, 13- and 19-hours respectively.

The university pointed out that the total duration of the project – including movement of the 3D printer – was just eight days and added that the performance is unmatched.

“GUtech introduced 3D concrete printing in the sultanate of Oman and showed how we can adopt the newest construction technology and employ it so we can get the most out of it. With the record fast printing in Duqm, we have proven the potential of 3D construction printing. We have huge faith in our Omani expert team, and we are aiming to achieve beyond expectations,” said GUtech’s Dr. Yousuf Al Bulushi.

In December 2021, GUtech unveiled what was then the largest 3D printed building in the world.

All the 3D printed buildings were made in cooperation with Teejan serving as the general contractor. The buildings were 3D printed with locally available raw materials and the D.fab solution developed by COBOD and CEMEX, which makes it possible to 3D print concrete with 99% locally sourced materials at a very low cost. In total, just US $3,600 was used for the concrete for the three structures. All of the structures are said to have load bearing walls with no columns, roof slabs and 3D printed parapets.

The 3D printed commercial coffee shop is said to have a floor area of 81m2, and the total printing time was 22 hours – the GU Tech team is said to have managed to finish the construction within three days, allocating eight hours of work per day. The structure has a height of 3.7m and the materials consumed totaled 19.6m3 of concrete.

The second building was a public toilet with a total area of 20m2. The total printing time amounted to 13 hours, divided across two days. The structure’s height is 3.5m and the construction consumed 10.6m3 of concrete.

In June 2022, Dubai Municipality launches several technical activities around 3D printing technologies.

The last 3D printed building was a fisherman’s house, with an area of 72m2. To complete the building, GUtech specialists needed only 19 hours of printing, divided across two days. The one-story house is 3m in height and required 17.3m3 of concrete.

Duqm is a new development area, based on several economic, tourism and development zones, which contains a multipurpose port, a dry dock for ship repairs, a fishing port, a regional airport and tourist, industrial and logistical areas.

The authorities of Duqm approved the 3D printed construction method and provided the permits for the 3D printed buildings, GUtech stated.

In October 2022, SCIB announced the completion of the first 3D printed house in Borneo.

Zaid Marmash, Head Architect and the person responsible for the Middle East at COBOD concluded, “I’m proud to have co-designed the buildings 3D printed by GUtech and approved in Duqm. With the use of curves and unconventional shapes, the buildings match the futuristic and aspirational nature of Duqm. 3D concrete printing, as well as Duqm, are both very promising and GUtech is providing the proof that the promises are being realised.”

In earl November 2022, Dar Al Arkan completed Saudi Arabia’s first 3DCP villa.

The post GUtech 3D prints three structures in eight days in Oman appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Italian manufacturer Tesmec has developed a green trencher prototype that fits into the path of full electric machines for underground stringing, expanding the range of zero-emission solutions for urban cable-laying sites.

The e-Sidecut is the prototype version with full electric power supply of a sidecut sc4p, a small trencher for optical fibre excavations in urban areas.

According to the company, E-Sidecut mounts a 358Vdc electric power pack that recharges in twelve hours or four hours, while the electric motor works with an operating speed of 3,000 rpm, the company explained.

In June 2021, Cat said its new mini excavators lower cost and increase efficiency and, in July 2021, Bobcat launched a new range of sweeper attachments.

In addition, the new electric modular architecture doubles the tank to wheel efficiency compared to traditional machine based on combustion engine, reducing the acoustic impact. It also costs less to operate compared to when using fossil fuels.

“In the trencher industry this is the first step towards the concept of an extensive range of trenchers for urban application,” said Marco Paredi, Trencher Business Unit Director in a statement.

“These are objectives outlined in the Tesmec sustainability path and in line with the group’s ESG strategy, which sees the prioritisation of a green approach across all product lines,” he concluded.

In August 2021, Wacker Neuson introduced new electric compactors.

The post Tesmec launches its first electric trencher concept appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Haulotte has appointed AVI Cranes as its exclusive distributor for the Israeli market, the company has announced.

The agreement gives Haulotte access to the Israeli market through the third largest rental company and the largest lift operator in Israel.

AVI Cranes is said to have a fleet of 1,300 aerial work platforms (AWP’s) and recently placed an order for a mix of several types of Haulotte AWPs including COMPACT scissor lifts, vertical masts, articulating and telescopic booms.

In June 2021, Haulotte deployed a battery care system on its STAR vertical masts and, in June 2022, it upgraded its COMPACT range of electric scissor lifts.

The deal was signed by AVI Cranes’ CEO Hila Yochanan and Patrick Murris, Managing Director of the Europe and Africa Zone during the recent “Open Up – Welcome Home” event, which was held at Haulotte’s headquarters in France.

Haulotte says as proof of the investment, it will now provide all technical documentation in Hebrew, while the distributor’s employees will also receive detailed training on Haulotte products and the latest technological innovations.

“We are very pleased to count AVI Cranes, the lifting specialist in Israel, as one of our distributors. Their high level of technical expertise will make them a strong partner in promoting our products and strengthening our brand image in Israel,” said Didier Mertens, General Manager at Haulotte Africa.

Later in June 2022, Dingli launched its range extender series.

The post Haulotte appoints AVI Cranes as distributor for Israeli market appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News

Emirates District Cooling Company (EMICOOL) has inked a power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar specialist Emirates Electrical Engineering (EEE). The agreement will see Emicool increase its solar capacity by 238% within its District Cooling Plant 1 (DCP1), along with its head office boundaries, located in Dubai Investments Park 1.

The firm, which is a joint venture between Dubai Investments and Actis, said the agreement aligns with its strategic objectives of maximising the penetration of clean and renewable energy into their processes, while supporting the transition into low carbon emissions, and increasing the overall solar penetration within its portfolio.

Through the deal, Emicool aims to reach 350KWP (Solar Productive Capacity) for the DCP1 plant, it said.

In July 2021, Emicool and Siemens inked a deal to boost sustainability and environmental benefits.

“As an important economic player within the UAE, Emicool is pursuing efforts to support and enhance the nation’s national strategies like the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 as well as the UAE’s 2050 Strategy, contributing to the Company’s wider sustainability agenda. We are always focussed on integrating the latest technology to reach net-zero and this partnership will greatly impact our business by maximizing and reshaping already existing objectives to improve green energy penetration and contribute to enhancing the quality of life,” said Dr Adib Moubadder, Chief Executive Officer at Emicool.

The firm says it currently boasts 18 operational district cooling plants and has a total cooling capacity of more than 330,000TR. It currently provides district cooling services to DIP, Dubai Motor City, Dubai Sports City, Uptown Mirdif, Palazzo Versace, Damac Hills and Mirdiff Hills, Night Souk by Nakheel, RTA Metro Stations (Expo line), and DWTC at the EXPO 2020 site.

In July 2022, Emicool rolled out Distributed Temperature Sensing technology.

The post Emicool to increase solar capacity by 238% appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: ME Construction News