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Project Qatar
Build up and preparations for World Cup demonstrated at Project Qatar in Doha PROJECT QATAR RETURNED for its 11th edition in May and highlighted the continued growth within the Qatari construction sector as the country gears up to meet the logistical demands of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The international construction trade show attracted more than 2,100 exhibitors from across the world to Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), filling out the facility's entire 41,500 sq Doha welcomed representatives from across the global construction sector to Project Qatar 2014
m of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Rawad Sleem, project manager of Project Qatar, said, "All manner of local, regional and international participants, gathered to see the specialised products, services and solutions featured at Project Qatar 2014. They are the true representatives of the sector who were at the event to conduct high-level business deals. "Due to the size and scope of infrastructure projects in Qatar, entrepreneurs and companies of the highest calibre featured here at Project Qatar 2014 and the demand for this year’s attendance surpassed our expectations," he added. A number of deals were signed during the event, including an agreement between Qatar interior design firm Decorator and Hussain Ali Shehab, an entrepreneur and footballer, for the former to design and fit a new beauty and treatment clinic in Doha's Al Markhiya area. Laurent Lenoir, export manager at French exhibitor Simonin, remarked, "We are here, delighted to already be taking part in the booming Qatar construction market ahead of Qatar’s vision to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and it has been a pleasure taking part in Project Qatar 2014 as we look to increase our scope of opportunities." The event will return to QNCC from 4-7 May 2015.
Gulf Perlite calls for greater effort to enforce eco-building materials
ATMOC launches new insulation coating in Qatar
DUBAI AND QATAR should have more rules in place to ensure the use of sustainable building materials, according to Gulf Perlite business development manager Maryam Mahini. Speaking to Technical Review ME at the recently-held Project Qatar where it was an exhibitor, Gulf Perlite highlighted that contactors often overlook sustainable, more eco-friendly materials opting instead for cheaper, short-term options. “There’s not much enforcement from the government to bring sustainability to action,” Mahini said. “I would really love to ask the government to push it in any possible way - in their specifications, in their green building applications, that’s all I’m asking.” She added, “We have decided to bypass the contractors and go directly to the clients.” Perlite consists of 100 per cent natural volcanic ash, the majority of which is sourced from Greece. Gulf Perlite manufacturers and supplies the light weight aggregate to the construction, landscaping, hydroponics, and cryogenic industries. As a light weight concrete Perlite is applicable for floor fills, roof fills, and plasters, and its composition means it provides the client with thermal and sound insulation as well as fireproofing. According to Gulf Perlite, its concrete reduces the dead load of the buildings by 50 per cent. Gulf Perlite claims that when its product is used in the landscaping industry it can provide a customer with 50 per cent water saving and more than 80 per cent aeration to the root zone. Mahini added, “Also by adding only 30 per cent of this to the soil mix one time only, you will reduce the wet soil mix by up to 60 per cent.” Perlite has been utilised in various industries for more than 70 years and according to Gulf Perlite, which has an office and factory in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone, both the manufacturing process as well as the product itself are totally natural.
HEAVY INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT provider ATMOC highlighted its insulation coating Gaina, which is based on aerospace technology, at Project Qatar. Originally from Japan, where it is still primarily manufactured, Gaina launched in the Middle East in February 2014 and ATMOC intends to target the region’s infrastructure sector. The company’s materials manager Mohamed A Shariff said, “This paint will reduce your [building's total] energy by almost 50 per cent. “This paint is applied on hotels, or high-rise buildings, or any stadiums,” he explained. “We can reduce the heat as well as the decibel level and sound level.” The insulating coating consists of an advanced ceramic material developed by Japan’s Nissin Sangyo Co Ltd, with technology provided from the National Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) which, according to Shariff, was initially utilised to control the heat of rockets. ATMOC, a subsidiary of business enterprise Almana Group, plans to initially target the business opportunities in Qatar before expanding into surrounding countries. “We are for the time being in Qatar, but we plan to enter into other GCC areas, such as Dubai,” Shariff explained. “Dubai will be the next target, but let us put a heavy footprint in Qatar first then we will go into Dubai, Saudi and other GCC countries.” Gaina has been available to the Japanese market for about 10 years and while this should fill ATMOC with confidence the company still has its concerns. “This is a new product in a new product in a new market and conditions in Japan are totally different to here,” he said. “And the market is not easy to penetrate.”
Technical Review Middle East - Annual Construction & Mining Review 2014
www.technicalreview.me