Roha Realty, a Mumbai-based real estate developer, has announced that it is opening sales and marketing offices in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong as part of its plan to attract investment from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from across the world through these three markets.

The firm is a mid-sized developer based in Mumbai and its development portfolio consist of eight delivered and nine under-development projects with a total footprint of three million square feet and a total worth of $200 million. It is the real estate arm of the diversified business conglomerate Roha Group, which has been in operation for more than five decades.

“We do plan to enter Dubai and other international markets for real estate and as a group we have presence in 45 countries,” Harshvardhan Tibrewala, managing director of Roha Realty, said on the side lines of an award ceremony in Dubai. “Obviously, we will utilise the great corporate network we have in all these countries to reach out to a wider global NRI clientele,” he added.

“We are not typical developers in Mumbai, we are industrialists. We have a legacy of 50 years of business excellence as a group. More than just completing the project, what matters to us is the quality of construction and the timely delivery. We have practical and customer centric approach and think of every home as our home,” he stated.

The announcement about the offices comes as the real estate sector in India is expected to reach $1 trillion in market value by 2030, up from $200 billion in 2021 and contribute 13% to the country’s GDP by 2025, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).

Between July 2021 and September 2021, a total of 55,907 new housing units were sold in the eight micro markets in India (59% YoY growth), IBEF added in a report. India’s real estate sector saw over 1,700 acres of land deals in the top 7 cities in a year, he added.

As per ICRA estimates, Indian firms are expected to raise up to $48 billion through infrastructure and real estate investment trusts in 2022, as compared with raised funds worth $29 billion to date, it added.

According to Tibrewala, Roha Realty has already delivered eight residential projects while a further nine projects are currently at various stages of development. These belong to all the market segments to cater to different budgets, he added.

“We are developing properties in all segments depending on all the locations, Mumbai has the need of all the segments, and we are providing solutions for all,” observed Tibrewala. “The Indian real estate market will continue to remain buoyant due to growing middle class, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation,” he noted.

“For the next ten years at least, India will rank 1st in terms of industrialisation. Post Covid-19 lot of countries want to shift their operations in India and if Industries come Real Estate market has to perform well,” he concluded.

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DJI has introduced the Avata drone, offering an unparalleled experience of immersive flight, the company says.

Coupled with the company’s newest flight control technology, DJI Goggles 2 and the DJI Motion Controller, the Dji Avata drone can be steered according to the movement of the user’s hand. It can also be controlled with the existing DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 and the DJI FPV Goggles V2.

DJI Avata strips down the chassis of a traditional drone into a body built for speed and agility, weighing only 410 grams while still integrating aerodynamic propeller guards for added safety.

Its stabilized camera features a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor with 48 million effective pixels and delivers premium imaging features of 4K/60fps and 2.7K/50/60/100/120fps video. It has a total flight time of up to 18 minutes.

Drones are increasingly being used in the construction industry for surveying and inspection purposes. The global construction drone market reached a value of US$ 4,579.40 Million in 2021 with market research specialists IMARC Group predicting the market will reach a value of US$ 10,610.30 Million by 2027

“Paired with the DJI Goggles 2 and the DJI Motion Controller, DJI Avata seems to ride with the wind. Whether you fly for the fun of it, to make great clips for social media, or to dazzle viewers in the production studio, DJI Avata will show you why its engrossing flight experience pulls you into a new world of soaring possibilities,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI.

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Jan Gurander will step down as Volvo Group Deputy CEO as of December 31st, 2022, the company has announced.

His other managerial assignments within the Group will gradually be distributed to other members of the Volvo Group Executive Board while he will stand available to President and CEO Martin Lundstedt´s disposal after the turn of the year.

Jan Gurander has a long and successful career within the Volvo Group, starting as Volvo Group Chief Financial Officer in 2014. He held the role of acting President and CEO for parts of 2015 and was appointed Deputy CEO in 2016. Prior to his career in the Volvo Group, Jan Gurander held the role of Chief Financial Officer in numerous automotive companies and has a background within finance.

“As Deputy CEO, CFO and Chairman of several Business Areas over the last nine years, Jan has been one of the key drivers to the positive growth and profitability development of the Group, as well as the strengthening of our financial position”, said Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO on the announcement.

“Jan has also been one of the main contributors when setting our strategic direction to lead the transformation into sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. I want to express my appreciation for a significant contribution throughout the years, and I look forward to the continuous collaboration,” he added.

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Group AMANA, the regional design-build construction firm, has said that it has delivered its first-ever vertical farm in the region, which is a project that will boost the UAE’s long-term food security and self-sufficiency.

In a statement, the company said that the high-tech hydroponic facility in Dubai South was construction by its subsidiary AMANA Contracting in collaboration with Crop One Holdings and Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC).

The $40m Bustanica hydroponic farm is considered to be the largest in the world. It spans 330,000sqft and is located in Dubai World Central, and will produce more than a million kilos of high-quality leafy greens annually with 95% less water than conventional farming.

The project will boost the UAE’s food security, the statement added. Produce will be available on certain Emirates flights and for consumers to purchase across stores in the UAE under the Bustanica brand.

Joe Labaky, General Manager of UAE and Emerging Markets, AMANA Contracting, said: “AMANA continues to push the boundaries of innovation using the latest building techniques. Being a part of a revolutionary project in the UAE’s agriculture industry to ensure long term food security and strengthen national resilience is a great privilege for the AMANA team.”

To construct the vertical farm, AMANA brought in the best and latest innovations in building and construction. The construction leader executed and installed specialised systems to ensure maximum sustainability and environmental conservation.  The project was completed on time, by leveraging advanced to maximise output on site.

AMANA Contracting delivered the project while adhering to the highest quality and safety norms, using off-site construction techniques. AMANA executed and installed specialised systems throughout the project, such as LED lights in the grow room and germination room, grow fans, grow room controls, pack house equipment, grow kit, racking, nutrient dosing systems, and germination room equipment, among other facilities.

Labaky added that BIM technology was leveraged to develop all the workshop drawings and executed MEP using offsite construction. Given that modular techniques are more efficient, leaner and result in less waste production, AMANA ensured that the project was executed in the most sustainable way possible. AMANA also achieved a milestone of 1+ million work hours without any LTI at the project.

Last month, Group AMANA revealed its revitalised brand identity. Now organised into three verticals: Construct, Manufacture and Enhance, the transformation reflects the Group’s offerings for an evolving business landscape and the drive to build cleaner, greener, and smarter. AMANA has built a formidable reputation over three decades of operations in the region, with its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation.

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Saudi Arabia is set to pay billions of dollars to settle a dispute with contractors over the Riyadh Metro, it has been revealed, bringing the long-delayed project one step closer to completion.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, a Bloomberg report said that two out of three consortia, which include Bechtel Group and Alstom, have already reached an agreement for the disputed payments. Furthermore, the report added that the third group, which includes Italy’s Webuild, is expected to sign a deal soon.

Contractors working on the project have been pursuing billions of dollars in payments in total, with Bechtel alone asking for approximately $1 billion. However, the report added that the terms of the settlement are unclear.

An agreement to resolve the dispute would be a significant milestone for the Kingdom as it would allow work to resume on the mobility megaproject, which has been touted as a solution to the capital’s traffic congestion woes.

Furthermore, moving to resolve the dispute would help ease concerns about the Kingdom’s attitude towards contractor payments, the report added.

Tens of billions of dollars owned to construction firms and suppliers were withheld during and after the 2015 oil slump in a bid to rein in a ballooning budget deficit. However, with the price of crude rebounding this year, the country is set to record its first budget surplus in nearly a decade.

Representatives for Bechtel and Alstom have not immediately responded to requests for comment, Bloomberg said. It added that the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, which oversees the project, also didn’t respond.

Riyadh Metro was originally scheduled to begin light operations in 2019, with full operations set for 2021. The project consists of six metro lines, 85 stations and will span a total distance of 176km. Construction work began in Q2, 2014 and the project is expected to serve some 3.6m passengers per day once it is fully operational.

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Tyre manufacturer, Mitas has expanded its GRIP’N’RIDE construction range with a new, larger size tyre for wheeled and backhoe loaders.

The new 21L – 24 IND tyre is designed for improved performance even on softer terrain and features strengthened sidewalls for greater durability when handling increased load capacity. It also includes a special tread pattern that delivers increased grip and self-cleaning properties, the company says.

The new GRIP’N’RIDE construction tyre is larger and delivers almost 1,000kg greater load capacity when stationary, and 400kg greater load capacity at a speed of 40km/hr. When compared to other construction tyres, both GRIP’N’RIDE tyres in this range have a reduced height to width ratio and corresponding profile number.

Marcello Mantovani, Product Manager for Construction tires at Trelleborg Wheel Systems, says: “Initial production of this new tyre will serve the extensive North American market, where it is in high demand. This is due to the high number of backhoe loaders in use, which require wider tires and greater load capacities. Shortly thereafter, we will roll out the new 21L – 24 IND tyre for customers globally.”

Backhoe loaders have a front shovel for earth moving and a hydraulic arm with a backhoe in the rear, making them universal machines on many construction sites, especially road and path construction. The entire GRIP’N’RIDE range is designed specifically for the rear axles of construction machines.

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John Deere has extended its line-up of compact equipment with three new G-tier wheel loader models.

The 184 G-tier, 204 G-tier and 304 G-tier machines have been designed to complete everyday tasks in applications such as landscaping, site development, agriculture, snow removal and rental.

According to the manufacturer, these G-tier models offer “optimal performance with lower maintenance costs” and come with limited slip differential that automatically engages if one wheel loses traction, providing enhanced safety for the operator and the machine.

There is also an optional ride-control that can be set to engage and disengage at certain speeds. This helps reduce spillage from the bucket when travelling over rough terrain and minimises job site clean-up.

In all G-tier models the cab design is offered in both a canopy and enclosed cab configuration. The redesigned enclosed cab features a frameless, fully glass door, floor-to-ceiling front windshield and remounted machine display, providing a clear line of sight to machine surroundings. Additional features include an adjustable steering column, slip-resistant steps, and an optional LED lighting package.

“These machines are not only rugged, but they boast simple and intuitive machine controls that are a great fit for operators of all experience levels, while also offering options that promote operator comfort and productivity,” said Luke Gribble, Solutions Marketing Manager, John Deere Construction.

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Emirates Stallion Group (ESG), the UAE-based investment, engineering and construction services business and a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), has said that it has acquired a substantial amount of shares in two UAE indoor spaces design companies as it looks to expand its business further into the indoor spaces design and product manufacturing.

In a statement, ESG said that it has acquired a 60% stake in Vision Factory, a major furniture and joinery production facility in the UAE, and a 45% stake in Decovision, an interior design and engineering services provider.

Founded in 2003, Vision Furniture and Decoration Factory operates out of a 24,000sqm facility in Abu Dhabi and employs more than 550 skilled workers to produce a wide range of furniture products, decorations, panelling, and doors. It has also recently expanded into upholstery production.

Decovision has been in operation for 19 years and has a strong focus on engineering and project execution in the interior design space, the statement added. It has more than 60 engineers and operates a state-of-the-art facility in Mussafah in Abu Dhabi. Some of its major clients include luxury hotels, developers and contractors, as well as high-profile government enterprises in Abu Dhabi.

Some notable projects include: the Presidential Palace, Emirates Palace, Etihad Towers, and Marriot’s The Edition.

Group Chairman Matar Suhail Ali Al Yabhouni Aldhaheri said: “These acquisitions come as part of our effort to continue expanding ESG revenues beyond engineering and construction.”

“The indoor spaces design and product manufacturing will play a significant step in our growth strategy while revolutionising the design experience in the local market,” he stated.

“Given the global supply challenges, domestic products are in higher demand than ever. We see a strategic market growth move with the acquisition of two leading brands, Decovision and Vision Factory, which will create a comprehensive quality solution for designs and furnishings that is inclusive and accessible to the local market,” remarked Aldhaheri.

The two acquisitions mean that Emirates Stallion Group is now active in 12 markets, providing engineering, construction, development and real estate management services, he added.

Established in 2006 and listed on the ADX Growth Market since late 2020, the group has assets worth more than US$136 million.

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Bloom Holding, the Abu Dhabi-based real estate development company, has announced that it has signed up Edrafor Emirates, the UAE-based piling contractor, as the first contractor for enabling works of its fully integrated residential community, Bloom Living, in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement, Bloom Holding said that the contractor will commence enabling works in September 2022, ahead of the launch of the community’s second phase, marking a major milestone in the development of Bloom Living.

The 2.2 million sqm development will feature more than 4,000 homes, including townhouses, villas and apartments. The community’s architecture has been inspired by the Mediterranean, the developer said, adding that it will feature traditional Spanish design with contemporary finishings.

The gated community is located within Zayed City and is close to Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Bloom said that this contract award comes just five months after the successful launch of Cordoba, $2.5 billion, adding that the project remains on track for completion in Q4 2024.

Bloom Holding CEO Carlos Wakim said: “The appointment of Edra for Emirates reinforces our commitment to working with best-in-class partners, assuring a timely delivery of our iconic community, Bloom Living.

“At Bloom, we are dedicated to providing UAE residents and citizens alike with a diversity of real estate services that directly address their evolving needs, whilst adhering to the high standards of quality that are synonymous with the Bloom brand.”

The developer added that the main works package of Cordoba is now at tender stage, and that the contractor would be appointed before the end of 2022.

Erda General Manager Pierre Fayad said: “We are delighted to be selected as a valued partner of Bloom Holding, and we look forward to working together and provide a real added value to the UAE’s real estate market.”

“We are confident that Bloom Living project will be built with highest construction standards which will further reinforce Bloom’s position as a developer of choice,” he stated.

Wakim also highlighted that Bloom Living had been designated as an investment zone allowing buyers of all nationalities to purchase residential units in the development.

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Source: ME Construction News

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has announced the launch of a new safety awareness solution designed to increase safety on construction sites by collecting and visualising data that enhances awareness, speeds up hazard response and provides better insights.

Through its new safety awareness module in the cloud-based collaboration platform Leica ConX field-generated safety data will be integrated into the platform allowing decision makers to review incidents and assess the entire operation over time and space.

Leica Geosystems previously introduced the safety awareness solution portfolio, including Leica iCON PA10, iCON PA80 and iCON CAS, which addressed the need to immediately warn on- and off-machine field personnel of potential machine-to-people, machine-to-machine and machine-to-object and collisions.

“Our ConX cloud platform leverages machine and site-specific data and has become an integrated site management solution for many contractors,” says Kris Maas, Director Product Management at Leica Geosystems.

“For a comprehensive approach to operations, it is essential to include people and safety functions. With the new safety awareness module in ConX, contractors can improve communication, interaction and safety for all workers operating with and around equipment on a job site.”

For maximum accident prevention, the new safety awareness module allows site managers to send real-time alerts to specific machine operators in case of potential incidents, such as blasting, demolitions or storms. They can also send SOS alerts, such as evacuation orders to all machines on site at the click of a button while system-generated alerts and user responses are saved for traceability and clarity.

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Source: ME Construction News