Construction Business News ME - April 2021

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

APRIL 2021 | CBNME.COM

MAXIMISING MIXED-USE CallisonRTKL

OUTLINES FIVE WAYS TO INTEGRATE 15-MINUTE CITIES INTO THE REGION’S URBAN ENVIRONMENT

IN THIS ISSUE

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MATTHEW TRIBE PRINCIPAL, CALLISIONRTKL

28 MAXIMISING MIXED-USE CALLISONRTKL outlines five ways to integrate 15-minute cities into the region’s urban environment

8 ARCHITECTURE

34 TALKING POINT

DESIGNING THE FUTURE Jamal Salem, DLR Group’s Middle East Regional Director

FUTURE OF WORKING Delivering Acoustic Sanity in MultiFamily and Mixed-Use Buildings in the Post-COVID Era

12 TRENDS KEY AEC TRENDS

36 INTERVIEW

Naji Atallah, Head of AEC and Manufacturing at Autodesk

THE COMPLETE SOLUTION In conversation with Sanjeevv Bhatia CEO of Netix Global BV

14 OP-ED

40 CRANES

IMPLEMENTING BIM THE RIGHT WAY Pedro Rey Antón, BIM Manager at ACCIONA, tells us how Implementing BIM in a project is like learning how to drive in the desert

RAIMONDI MIDDLE EAST continues to see consistent GCC activity with the deployment of five flattop tower cranes across the UAE and Qatar

20 DIGITAL

BUILT FOR DEMAND Since Doka forged its strategic alliance with AT-PAC at the end of last year, Doka’s decision to include scaffolding as one of its core offerings is set to pay dividend as the construction and oil & gas markets turn their focus to more cost-effective, long-term solutions

TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

TRANSFORMING PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Digital technologies, including advancements in software, provide organizations with the solutions they need to overcome this fragmentation

42 FORMWORK & SCAFFOLDING

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EDITOR’S NOTE

CEO

Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net

THE RISE OF PREFABRICATION

M

odular building solutions are gaining popularity among housing giants owing to the various benefits that they offer including reduced waste, speedy building, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and flexibility.

Today, modular construction is one of the prominent industries seeking lean techniques in order to improve overall operational workflows.

Permanent modular construction delivers sustainable construction, utilizing offsite manufacturing

techniques to prefabricat single or multi-story buildings.

One of the key reasons for the rise is due to the increasing infrastructure investments owing to the rise in industrialisation and urbanisation and with countries trying to take the initiative to reduce construction waste and promote green buildings to drive the market.

Although there are some setbacks to going the modular route. Modular construction is strongly associated with offsite manufacturing and requires huge investment and long term returns, with a need for stable market growth.

However, according to the Global Market Insights the prefabrication market is expected to be valued at USD 61.96 billion by 2026. So it's no surprise that construction companies are moving towards more prefab projects.

DIRECTOR

Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Joaquim D'Costa

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Rabih Naderi

rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 DEPUTY EDITOR

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Jochebed Menon EDITORIAL DESIGN

Christian Harb

MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Aaron Joshua Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net PHOTOGRAPHER

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ARCHITECTURE

Designing the future/ Jamal Salem DLR Group's Middle East Regional Director talks to Jochebed Menon about his experience in the region, plans for the firm, challenges, and design trends in the region

8 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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DESIGNING THE FUTURE | JAMAL SALEM, DLR GROUP’S MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Madinah Gate, Madinah, KSA DLR Group was commissioned to design the first Saudi transit oriented mixed-used development to connect with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s highspeed rail station and align with the master plan for the Islamic World District.

Tell us about DLR Group and yourself.

DLR Group is an American firm that originated in the Midwest over half a century ago and has recently set out on a mission to become a global firm. In 2013, we established our Asia office in Shanghai, followed by our Middle East office in 2017 based out of the energetic Dubai Design District.

Our goal in becoming a global firm was to share the great knowledge we have accumulated across various sectors, through positively impacting the design society and significantly contributing to the construction and real estate sector.

We seek to elevate the human experience through design.

As for me, architecture and design fascinated me. When it was time to decide my career path, architecture was the obvious choice. What drew me towards that decision is strongly linked to my dream of designing my own home. I moved to the US and earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Houston.

After my graduation in the eighties, the global recession hit the economy but despite the situation, I was determined and fortunate to kick off my career in architecture by working across several major regions in the US. I eventually settled down in the Northwest. During, my spare time, I worked on a conceptual house exploring minimalism in response to how I would like to live, and to who I am.

I did not settle in the US as I thought I would, and I have not built my own home (yet) as I thought I would, instead

I moved and settled in the Middle East and contributed to a wide range of projects that I am humbled to have been a part of and witness their influence on the built environment responding to the lifestyle of a new generation representing their needs and who they are.

I initially came to Dubai on a two-year assignment and it has been 15 years since. I fell in love with this region and wanted to be a part of creating history.

Very rarely is one involved in creating cities from scratch, and I was not going to let these opportunities pass. >>

"One of the most important elements of our success is that our clients see us as their partners

who understand their business objectives and have the capability to guide them through their investment decisions."

Left: Etisalat Data Centre,DubaI, UAE

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ARCHITECTURE

Above: Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE For its expansion, DLR Group's design team worked with the client to maintain the overall luxurious design aesthetic while blending additional spaces seamlessly into the existing mall.

Left: Islamic World District, KEC, KSA The Islamic World District will provide affordable, high-quality accommodation to pilgrims and visitors in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

What is on the horizon for DLR Group’s Middle East Dubai Studio?

Over the past three years, we have successfully grown our portfolio of work, our client base and our outreach has grown to include new markets like Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Our Middle East team members are active contributors to the AIA Middle East chapter. Our Middle East practice leader, Stephanie Kinnick was elected as the chapter’s vice president for 2021. We also support young talents by being open to internship programmes from a variety of regional design schools, and by assisting the community through our design leaders support of academic researchers.

Our ambition in the coming years is to continue to expand our portfolio of clients, set-up an office in Saudi Arabia, and continue supporting the design community, as well as the real estate and construction industry.

What does ‘elevate the human experience through design’ mean?

‘Elevate the human experience through design’ is our firm’s promise to the world and it has multiple levels, one that is visible with direct contact with the user such as the interior of spaces to the design of buildings, landscape, public realm all the way up to urban design and master planning. The other is nontangible and is related to the environment whether indoor or outdoor climates and individuals' comfort level.

Putting people first starts by designing environments that react and adjust to contemporary needs that elevate the wellbeing of individuals in a manner that contributes to their level of happiness.

10 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

What are some of the popular trends in the design space?

There is an increase demand for outdoor lifestyle destinations. In fact, we are seeing this trend growing in Saudi Arabia where developers are asking for designs that incorporate the outdoors in their shopping and leisure developments. Another trend is creating environments that are future proofed with a high level of flexibility that can absorb future changes.

Millennials and Gen Z form 63.5% of the global population and much of the future hotelier client base. They are the most ethnically diverse generation, involved in environmental and ethical causes. They have a greater awareness of sustainability and are interested in supporting environmentally and economically cautious projects. They are more likely to visit, stay and purchase properties that are sustainable.

What we have also noticed is how the experiential travel trend continues to influence holiday destinations. Wellness as a lifestyle is also being appreciated more widely, as user health and comfort both physically and mentally are becoming more valued.

"DLR Group is a passionate advocate of sustainable design.

We are an early adopter of the Architecture 2030 Challenge, and an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment and the China Accord and which resonates and aligns with the vision and objectives of our forward-thinking partners."

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DESIGNING THE FUTURE | JAMAL SALEM, DLR GROUP’S MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Right: Meadows Mall, Dubai, UAE Within the existing development, the design considered the local vernacular to ensure a synergy of architecture with its neighborhood. Careful study of the street massing, shopfront details and natural lighting were considered to ensure a fresh and appealing environment.

What are the key challenges the design industry is facing in this era?

Obviously, the pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives from the way we live, work, and play. The impact has not only taught us to work differently, but to design differently to accommodate the change which we believe is here to stay.

Another challenge we are facing is earning inadequate fees due to the widespread competition that stretches the limits of ensuring quality deliverables that are market ready. Also, in this hyper competitive market, developers are racing against time leading to rushed design thinking and design decisions How is the Middle Eastern architecture and design industry faring compared to the rest of the world?

We strongly believe the Middle East has successfully carved a unique and distinguished position for itself when it comes to global design and architecture trends. In the past few decades, architects and designers have experimented on a large scale to develop attractive metropolitan cities that can compete as world destinations.

This, I assume, is obvious in the diversity of architectural vocabulary that is dominating our cityscapes; the traditional character that is unique to every region has dissolved against what is now defined as ‘contemporary’ design/architecture trend. There is no doubt that with globalisation, the world has become a small village and contemporary architecture

has become a worldwide trend. However, the successful interpretation of contemporary has varied globally from one region to the other through understanding and rooting ‘contemporary’ to ‘locally’. In the past decade, we have touched upon increased awareness and demand to transition towards regionally influenced contemporary style.

What makes DLR Group stand out?

One of the most important elements of our success is that our clients see us as their partners who understand their business objectives and have the capability to guide them through their investment decisions which is why 90% of our customers are repeat clients or referred by an existing satisfied client.

We are an 100% employee-owned firm, meaning that every DLR Group employee is invested in the firm and its success and this resonates well with our client partners.

DLR Group is a passionate advocate of sustainable design.

We are an early adopter of the Architecture 2030 Challenge, and an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment and the China Accord and which resonates and aligns with the vision and objectives of our forward-thinking partners.

Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

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TRENDS

KEY AEC TRENDS to look out for in 2021

WORDS NAJI ATALLAH, HEAD OF AEC AND MANUFACTURING AT AUTODESK

T

he need for businesses and organisations to be resilient and adaptable was made crystal clear during 2020. As the pandemic progressed it became obvious that industries and sectors that were able to adjust the way they worked and operated would overcome the challenges created by the impact of Covid-19.

In the short to medium term what that meant for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry last year was to conquer the immediate issues raised by the pandemic. Despite progress made with vaccinations in the UAE and around the world challenges remain, however. As such 2021 will see greater implementation of digitisation in business operations across the sector.

Better design through data /2020 witnessed a rapid increase in digitization and that

is set to continue this year. We are more rooted in the digital world than ever before. What’s making the digital transformation possible is better use of data. As the built environment captures more and more data, the design and build process will become increasingly outcomes focused.

The Common Data Environment (or CDE) – with cloud data storage and document management – will extend from the project to the asset to support the movement of data 12 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

through the full project lifecycle to include owners. The CDE is squarely in the middle of the design process empowering innovators to work with one single source of truth.

Cloud cooperation to grow /Successful construction projects are made possible

through a team effort. For deadlines to be met and projects to be completed on schedule teams must work closely together. Design and construction firms will continue the remote collaboration practices they adopted last year. In 2021, WWW.CBNME.COM

KEY AEC TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

"WE ARE MORE ROOTED IN THE DIGITAL WORLD THAN EVER BEFORE. WHAT’S MAKING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE IS BETTER USE OF DATA. AS THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CAPTURES MORE AND MORE DATA, THE DESIGN AND BUILD PROCESS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY OUTCOMES FOCUSED."

Naji Atallah

An industrialized approach to construction /This approach means more than just

they will continue to push projects to the cloud at an accelerated rate, in pursuit of an end-to-end digital workflow. The last 12 months have allowed teams and companies to become accustomed to this method of working with many of the initial teething problems now ironed out. As businesses become increasingly comfortable in this way of working, they will become even more efficient and productive.

using manufacturing techniques in construction, it’s about the convergence of industries, process, workflows and functional data within design, construction, manufacturing, and operation.

The majority of contractors will adopt industrial construction techniques such as design for manufacture and assembly.

In 2021 this will become an even more important element of the industry’s resilience as contractors realize that prefab construction dramatically accelerates project timelines.

Automation will become integral to the industry /As the AEC industry is increasingly

challenged to find the fittest solution in the shortest time, automation will become an integral part of the industry’s toolkit. The AEC industry now wants to get things done, faster. To have the ability to take the big, tedious design tasks

and finish them in the time it takes to make a fresh pot of coffee.

This is where automation will play a central role. It will mean the focus can be on the design tasks that inspired someone to become a designer in the first place by enabling technology to automate the tedious tasks that can potentially limit the designer. Computational and generative design techniques and collaborative robotics will speed up the digital design and physical manufacturing processes. Embracing automation will get the industry a step closer to making their data work for them.

The future is digital for the AEC industry and it is already on the path toward that goal. Companies can no longer ignore this approach and must place adoption of such technologies as a high priority or risk being left behind. As 2020 showed, businesses in the construction sector must be agile and resilient to survive and the trends highlighted here will enable the AEC industry to do just that.

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OP-ED

IMPLEMENTING BIM THE RIGHT WAY PEDRO REY ANTÓN, BIM MANAGER AT ACCIONA, TELLS US HOW IMPLEMENTING BIM IN A PROJECT IS LIKE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE IN THE DESERT

W

hen I first arrived in Dubai, I faced two challenges: Helping to Implement BIM in Route 2020 and learning how to drive in desert. Tooling your car in road is easy. Dealing with few BIM requirements in a project is also not difficult. However, controlling your own car off-road is a different story.

Controlling BIM Implementation in the Design and Built Processes, it is too. You need an expert driver to know how to drive a car though soft sand. You need 14 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

an experienced BIM Team to drive the organization team through BIM in a complex project.

While off-road adventures are fun and exciting, they can also be challenging.

We can say that implementing BIM is as well. There are too many inconveniences in the trip, here are 5 tips to help in the way.

1. GETTING READY Before starting driving in the desert, you need to check your car and ensure it is up to driving through the sand in the

desert. Preparation is the key; all the components must be perfect before the engine starts.

Before starting BIM implementation in a project, you need to make sure of your team and ensure it is ready to develop the project with BIM methodology. If they are not ready yet, preparation is the key as well. Project teams usually consist of members with different BIM level and BIM knowledge. They will have different belief in the usefulness of BIM too.

You want a vehicle that is reliable to avoid breaking down. That´s why you need to ensure proper battery checkups, since there are times your battery life drop during extreme weather conditions.

Also, you need to ensure your car tires are in healthy state. Make sure the radiator and oil are working perfectly.

Run your air conditioning system before you get on the road. Moreover, needless to say, make sure your fuel tank is full.

You want your team to be able to fix in BIM methodology and to carry on with the drastic changes in term of work practices, staff skills, relations with client and participants of project implementation team as well WWW.CBNME.COM

IMPLEMENTING BIM THE RIGHT WAY | IMPLEMENTING BIM IN A PROJECT IS LIKE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE IN THE DESERT

The key drivers for keeping work-from-home practices beyond the pandemic are for health reasons and more time with family.

as contractual arrangements that are required in order to have successful BIM implementation. Different roles need to have the proper BIM knowledge and skills for working in BIM methodology in their own field.

Therefore, BIM implementation process must break some borders and overcome obstacles of different nature.

2. TOOLS For driving in the desert, you need proper equipment. One of the main pieces of equipment you may need is a shovel and tow rope. They can prove to be very useful if your vehicle gets stuck.

Make sure your get a strong tow rope because low quality ropes can break under strain.

For implementing BIM in a project, you need a proper equipment too. On one hand you will need proper hardware that can work with project requirement that are sometimes huge. On the other hand, you need the correct software for each task in the project. You may need Revit, AecoSim, Tekla, Civil 3D etc. as authoring tools, Navisworks or BIM Collab, SYNCHRO for 4D; BIM 360 or ProjectWise as CDE… For desert, always keep a spare tire in your car and having a first aid kit is a great idea too. Be ready, especially, in the desert, we cannot expect everything will happen in favorable for us.

You must understand that for implementing a methodology by user in a specific situation, this process will always include understanding and learning. Even

though we base the adoption of the tools based on general guidelines, it will not produce perfect showings immediately.

We should realize situations and twists.

3. CHECK YOUR TIRES Once you arrive in the desert with your car, the first thing you should do is to reduce the pressure of the wheels to make sure you don´t get stuck in the soft sand.

Of course, the pressure they must have vary from one car to another and the type of wheels are not always the same.

You can get better traction if you deflate

your tires slightly. However, deflating them too much can also be dangerous.

To optimize BIM implementation in a project, specific trainings have to be provided if needed to the entire team.

Not only architects and structural engineers but also clients, contractors, and suppliers have to be trained and involved in BIM methodology in the project. Teams have to be customized in order to have the capabilities to fulfill with project BIM requirements and project BIM workflows where tasks are not always the same. It is essential to set a workable collaboration system that suits the project.

4. TECHNIQUES Although once we get behind the wheel we want to have fun and feel freedom, it is crucial to keep in mind the importance of staying on the tracks already laid out by cars that came before you. That helps a lot. Although it may not seem like it, you will be driving on solid ground and the chances of getting stuck will be much less.

There are several standards and guidelines of different levels which try to define the best of mature state of BIM methodology development as well as successful BIM uses which show successful and efficient archived BIM projects. These are used as examples >>>

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OP-ED

chain management, etc.

Drive slow. If you accelerate too quickly, your tires might dig the sand and increase your chances of getting stuck. Any mishap at high speed can cause you to flip the car or get stuck.

You have to keep up with the project deliveries, go neither faster nor slower and avoid duplicating information. Go straight and don´t forget to pick the correct data.

An option for office working in a post-COVID-19 world is that offices will remain as central hubs where senior managers are based, with employees travelling in once or twice a week to meet with their bosses.

which we can learn from in order to show BIM advantages. Following aspects as IFC, COBie, BIM Protocol… will carry us in solid ground.

Driving in the desert try not to be overwhelmed by the excitement of going fast, although there is no speed limit or prohibition as such in the desert, you must have your car controlled at all times.

We have not to forget that we have a starting point for capturing EIR in a structured form. This should be made possible through a clear BIM Execution Plan (BEP), which will ensure that BIM process delivers a correct and organized information data for O&M uses.

the soft sand could end badly.

You have to understand that BIM implementation is a new environment for most of the people. You have to perform in BIM without overrunning other´s scope.

You have to carry out the different proposed BIM uses linked to the different phases of the project. New uses and functions will emerge at each level: design, visualization, site planning, clash detection, 4D planning, QTO, supply

BONUS: DON´T GO ALONE Even though off-roading can provide a lot of time of entertainment, it is really risky. That is the reason why the rule of driving off-road in remote areas is to never go alone. It is hard to predict everything that might go wrong while driving on the desert but if there is a friend in another vehicle it can help you so much.

Set a capable BIM team, train your organization in BIM tools, and convince all the actors about BIM advantages.

Work in a collaborative environment.

Reach to a common understanding. It is about people. Don’t struggle alone. Not in desert, nor in BIM.

Driving in the desert try not to be overwhelmed by the excitement of going fast, although there is no speed limit or prohibition as such in the desert, you must have your car controlled at all times.

5. GO STRAIGHT AND SLOW Since the terrain and the environment is quite new for everyone, we have to exercise the recommended mode of conduct while driving on the desert.

It is important to remember to only go straight up and down the dunes. You shouldn’t cross a dune if you don’t know what’s on the other side. Always drive at a very slow speed while going over the top of the dune. Turns on a dune due to 16 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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TENDERS

/ Robust figures come despite the debilitating impact of COVID-19 on the global economy / Continued high value of tenders in the construction sector indicative of Government focus on multi-billion dollar infrastructure project pipeline / Rapid pandemic response sees Ministry of Health spending almost tripled compared to previous year

BAHRAIN AWARDED

US $4.1 BILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS IN 2020

B

ahrain awarded 1,688 tenders throughout 2020 worth a total of US $4.1 billion (BHD 1.6 billion) compared to a total of US $4.8 billion (BHD 1.8 billion) in 2019, according to new data released by Bahrain’s Tender Board – the country’s government procurement regulator.

In terms of value of contracts, the oil sector took on 228 tenders worth US $1.6 billion (BHD 598.1 million) followed by the construction and engineering industry, winning 317 ten18 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

ders worth a combined US $875.7 million (BHD 330.1 million) – clearly underscoring the Government’s continued commitment to its extensive pipeline of major infrastructure projects, currently valued at some US $32 billion.

The construction and engineering sector was followed by the aviation sector, the materials and equipment sector, and finally the services sector, which saw a total of US $638.2 million (BHD 240.6 million), US $606.1 million (BHD 228.5 million) and US $424.8 million (BHD 160.1 million) worth of tenders awarded WWW.CBNME.COM

BAHRAIN AWARDED US $4.1 BILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS IN 2020

In terms of value of contracts, the oil sector took on 228 tenders worth US $1.6 billion (BHD 598.1 million) followed by the construction and engineering industry

respectively. While bringing up the rear in terms of value of contracts, the services sector was awarded the highest number of contracts, at 599.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) saw a sizeable increase over last year – in terms of both number of tenders issued and value of tenders. In 2019 the MoH awarded 93 tenders, valued at some US $123.8

million (BHD 46.7 million). In 2020 the MoH awarded 137 tenders valued at US $298.1 million (BHD 112.4 million) – a near threefold increase in value. This surge in spending is attributed to the Kingdom’s robust and rapid COVID-19 response in many fronts, including a track and trace app, extensive testing, vaccinations, hospital robots, car park conversions to hospitals and more.

The positive figures follow closely on from the release of equally encouraging data highlights a record number of tenders awarded to the SME sector during 2020 worth a total of US $145.4 million (BHD 54.96 million), indicative of government support for a sector that it regards as the engine for post-COVID economic recovery.

Commenting on the new figures, the Chairman of the Tender Board, Shaikh Nayef bin Khalid Al Khalifa said: “2020 has proven one of the most challenging and unpredictable years globally for businesses in all sectors across the board.

Despite these less than friendly conditions, throughout the year, Bahrain has awarded an impressive 1,688 contracts valued at well over US $4 billion. This dynamic performance is indicative of Bahrain’s commitment and ability to remain open for business even in times of crisis. The Kingdom’s extensive, multi-billion dollar pipeline of infrastructure projects is a case in point, and has driven the consistently high value of contracts in the our thriv-

ing construction and engineering sector throughout the year.”

As for the purchasing authorities, Tatweer Petroleum topped the list for highest total value of tenders issued, worth a combined US $1.5 billion (BHD 555.5 million). Gulf Air followed close behind, awarding some US $635 million (BHD 239.4 million) of tenders, followed by the Electricity & Water Authority; the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning; and the Ministry of Health, which awarded a combined US $509.2 million (BHD 192 million), US $329.4 million (BHD 124.2 million) and US $298.1 million (BHD 112.4 million) of contracts respectively.

“2020 HAS PROVEN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND UNPREDICTABLE YEARS GLOBALLY FOR BUSINESSES IN ALL SECTORS ACROSS THE BOARD. DESPITE THESE LESS THAN FRIENDLY CONDITIONS, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BAHRAIN HAS AWARDED AN IMPRESSIVE 1,688 CONTRACTS VALUED AT WELL OVER US $4 BILLION.” CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 19

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DIGITAL

TRANSFORMING PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST b y N AT H A N D O U G H T Y, A S I T E C E O

20 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

I

n every project, there are many moving parts and people to coordinate. The global construction industry is notoriously siloed and is often characterized by its fragmented nature. Digital technologies, including advancements in software, provide organizations with the solutions they need to overcome this fragmentation.

In order for us to reach our full potential, the industry must utilize these technologies together. We need to optimize our digital processes and create WWW.CBNME.COM

TRANSFORMING PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Nathan Doughty, Asite CEO

a more integrated and collaborative industry. As our industry continues to recover and rebuild in the wake of COVID-19, now is the time to build a digital ecosystem that works for everyone.

Asite aims to do just this.

AN OPEN PLATFORM FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND COLLABORATION Asite helps property and real estate projects streamline information management through its open platform for collaboration and digital

transformation. Underpinning this are our three product families: Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Asite Digital Twin: -- and our Asite Ecosystem of integrated partners.

The Asite SCM solution allows organizations to create efficient digital supply chains using cloud-based tools to save time and money, while the Asite PPM solution connects dispersed project teams and systems, streamlining communication across project portfolios..

Helping property and real estate owners connect the physical and digital, the Asite Digital Twin solution provides organizations with the tools to maintain a golden thread of information through complete asset lifecycle management, allowing dynamic data from physical assets to be represented in digital form.

Project teams can manage their assets, store as-built information, and raise maintenance forms and work orders from a secure, centralized, cloud-based repository in Asite.

Our most recent developments focus on connecting data across the supply chain.

The Asite Platform enables the flow of information between systems through its open API, which allows users’ internal software applications to interact with the platform.

The Asite API is currently being used to build integrations for the Asite Ecosystem. Launched in October 2020, this allows Asite users to expand their capabilities and offerings through system

THE ASITE SCM SOLUTION ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE EFFICIENT DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAINS USING CLOUDBASED TOOLS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY, WHILE THE ASITE PPM SOLUTION CONNECTS DISPERSED PROJECT TEAMS AND SYSTEMS, STREAMLINING COMMUNICATION ACROSS PROJECT PORTFOLIOS.

partnerships such as Microsoft Power BI and Autodesk Revit.

The Asite Ecosystem embodies our commitment to working together across the industry in an open, transparent way.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES While Asite has achieved incredible growth since its inception, becoming a global leader in information management solutions, we have certainly experienced challenges along the way.

One of the greatest challenges has been the construction industry’s relative lack of investment in R&D. Too many organizations have pursued a path of staying wedded to legacy solutions using traditional methods of project management over digital tools, and this has hindered their ability to unlock true digital transformation.

Improving in recent years and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the uptake of digital ways of working has grown as businesses recognize the benefits of embracing digital solutions.

Overall, the pandemic has been a challenge that Asite has faced head on, and I am immensely proud of how our team has handled it.

Our platform continues to operate on a “business as usual” basis, with every function remaining fully operational. We also introduced new communications integrations, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, as part of a new wave of integrations on the Asite Platform to help users remain connected and collaborate while working remotely. >>> CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 21

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DIGITAL

ASITE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Asite already has a rich history in the region and has been trusted by market leaders on a number of innovative projects; Asite provided the collaboration solution for the phase two expansion of Dubai International Airport, which ultimately saw the creation of a third terminal.

The Asite Platform was also appointed to assist in the development of the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium in Qatar. Designed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Asite Common Data Environment (CDE) is providing a central repository for all project information.

More recently, Asite has moved to strengthen its position in the Middle East. Our most recent partnership with Aldar Properties, the leading real estate developer in Abu Dhabi, will use the Asite Platform to streamline project information and enhance collaboration across a multitude of innovative and exciting projects. This encompasses a range of sectors, including Residential, Retail, Commercial, and Hospitality & Leisure.

LOOKING AHEAD Asite has been at the forefront of digital transformation globally, becoming a leader in the industry, helping connect the physical, digital, and human.

Throughout 2021 we will continue to build on this.

We are excited to help more companies globally on their digital transformation journey, working with forward-thinking organizations across traditional industries to realize their goals.

Building our presence in the Middle East is a major focus for Asite, particularly in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We’re looking forward to building relationships and bringing the Asite Platform to new markets.

Asite has been at the forefront of digital transformation globally, becoming a leader in the industry, helping connect the physical, digital, and human.

22 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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Transform your property and real estate project with an open platform for collaboration and digital transformation.

Streamline information management on your project with the market-leading cloud platform, trusted by leading property and construction companies around the world.

TM

asite.com | sales@asite.com | +971 457 41587

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CASE STUDY

1915 ÇANAKKALE BRIDGE ÇANAKKALE, TURKEY

by OANA CRISAN, SENIOR PRODUCT MARKETER, CIVIL DESIGN WITH BENTLEY SYSTEMS

24 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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1915 ÇANAKKALE BRIDGE ÇANAKKALE, TURKEY

PROJECT Arup and Aas-Jakobsen conducted an independent design check on what will become the world’s longest suspension bridge, combining international knowledge of long-span bridge design, structural engineering, and geotechnical engineering. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge will have a main span of 2,023 meters, side spans of 770 meters, a tower height of 318 meters, and a total length (including approach bridges) of 4,608 meters. The bridge is situated near the historic site of Gallipoli, about 250 kilometers southwest of Istanbul.

It will connect the Asian and European continents and is part of the new highway between Kınalı and Savaştepe.

The main challenges for the design are the record span and the geotechnical conditions at the site, as a result of the bridge being located in a seismic region, and the aerodynamic stability. To address the latter issue, the designer chose a split deck design, and the behavior has been confirmed by extensive wind tunnel testing.

model the behavior of this long and flexible bridge. This capability helped reduce errors during bridge design verification and improved collaboration, saving time during the process and streamlining decision making. 1915 Çanakkale Bridge is on schedule to be completed in 2023, in time for the centennial of the Turkish Republic.

SOFTWARE RM Bridge provided the necessary integrated modeling, analysis, and output functions for the team to manage the complex engineering demands.

The application’s advanced dynamic capabilities allowed engineers to verify both aerodynamic and seismic behavior.

OUTCOME/FACTS > Arup and Aas-Jakobsen performed an independent design verification of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge for the Contractor Daelim – Limak – SK EC – Yapı Merkezi Joint Venture (DLSY JV) where the Employer is Turkish General Directorate of Highways (KGM). > The team used RM Bridge to develop a global model of the bridge, allowing full geometry and cable force control, advanced wind analysis, and nonlinear seismic time history analysis. > The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, set to become the longest suspension bridge span in the world, is on schedule to be completed in 2023, in time for the centennial of the Turkish Republic.

Oana Crisan, Senior Product Marketer, Civil Design, Bentley Systems

SOLUTION To address aerodynamic stability, a split deck design was chosen and its behavior confirmed by wind tunnel testing.

Aas-Jakobsen and Arup developed an advanced model of the bridge by utilizing a combination of integrated modeling functions and the versatile input script capability in RM Bridge (now consolidated into OpenBridge Designer, an integrated bridge solution to meet the modeling, design, and construction needs of bridge software users). The program allowed full geometry and cable force control, even for highly flexible structures like long suspension bridges, which would have been difficult to design without these capabilities. The team used the wind module to verify the split deck and performed time history analyses with non-linear bearings and dampers to verify the seismic behavior. The team also used spreadsheets to deliver extensive data for detailed local analyses and design checks throughout the process.

OUTCOME By using Bentley’s RM Bridge analysis software, the team was able to accurately CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 25

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AUTOMATION

“IN TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD, CONSUMERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THEIR LIFESTYLE CHANGE. THEY WANT THEIR HOMES TO REFLECT THEIR DIGITAL LIVES.”

Home Automation Sharaf DG

AI and 5G connectivity main factors impacting home automation in the UAE

I

ncreased evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and widespread adoption of 5G connectivity, and environmental consciousness are main factors impacting UAE customers’ decision to modernise and automate their homes, according to Sharaf DG, a leading technology retailer and IT & AV solution provider in the region.

“At Sharaf DG, we see a natural evolution in customer behaviour, where they are looking to modernise and automate their daily lives, not to mention the importance of being environmentally friendly and carbon neutral. Factors 26 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

such as affordability, increased computing power and 5G have a real effect on how one views content and convenience in their homes. It’s all about high-speed connectivity, on-demand content and entertainment, and eco-friendliness all rolled into one lifestyle,” commented AS Pillai, Senior General Manager, Sharaf DG Business.

Home systematisation continues to grow across the UAE, especially villa owners increasingly opting for automated homes, with a combination of home entertainment, including turnkey inhome cinema experience, smart home

solutions including automation, IoT, while powering their houses by infinite electricity from Solar Energy.

Even as the global market from home automation continues to grow 9% annually, here in the UAE, Sharaf DG has witnessed a high volume of inquiries for these solutions, with around 80% of customers adopting for in-home entertainment and automation through IoT and connected devices. Industry reports mention global home automation system market is expected to grow from USD 40.8 billion in 2020 to USD 63.2 billion by 2025. Sharaf DG has also solarised more than 550 villas, installing over 7,000 PV solar panels along the way, helping customers to reduce energy bills and adopt an eco-friendlier sustainable lifestyle.

“In today’s digital world, consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable, and this is reflected in their lifestyle change. They want their homes to reflect their digital lives. Centrally controlled gadgets and automated amenities are a big factor for UAE villa owners who pride themselves in living in bespoke residences that are truly connected and energyefficient,” added AS. Sharaf DG is among the few that provide a complete turnkey solution, and has a unique offering wherein homeowners can completely digitise their homes according to their choice. Having bespoke solutions in entertainment, connectivity, and solar-energy, the company has products and solutions to entirely modernise a home, and at the same time, reduce electricity costs.

With real estate projects continuing to advance across the UAE and increasing demand for modernisation, Sharaf DG remains optimistic that the call for smart homes will only continue to grow.

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URBAN CITIES

MAXIMISING MIXED-USE CALLISONRTKL OUTLINES FIVE WAYS TO INTEGRATE 15-MINUTE CITIES INTO THE REGION’S URBAN ENVIRONMENT 28 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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MAXIMISING MIXED-USE | INTEGRATING 15-MINUTE CITIES INTO THE REGION’S URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Matthew Tribe, Principal at CallisionRTKL

G

lobal architecture, planning and design firm CallisonRTKL (CRTKL) has shared five ways to integrate the idea of the ‘15-minute city’ into the built environment of the Middle East and North Africa region.

The 15-minute city is a bold new vision of imagining urban space. It rethinks the a city as containing different neighbourhoods, each of which contains all residential, business, social, and cultural requirements for each resi-

dent within a 15 minute walk or cycle ride. In the 15-minute city, the need for car transportation is eliminated, with residents able to easily connect through public transportation with different parts of the city. The concept aims to reduce the need for city residents to travel long distances through a city, instead using the time they might use for commuting to enjoy enriching activities, be that in sport, culture, or spending time with family.

Matthew Tribe, Principal at CallisionRTKL, commented: “The Middle East consistently seeks to offer its residents an optimal way of living and working in a blended and multi-layered urban programmes. The 15-minute city offers to augment current urban experiences, helping create more vibrant, more environmentally friendly, and more resilient communities.

“As governments in the region pursue wide-ranging developmental plans for the creation of liveable urban communities, the 15-minute city philosophy challenges the more conservative approaches to urban planning, driving diversity, inclusivity while celebrating distinctive cultural and community attributes. In looking to create flexible space that reduces the region’s dependence on cars and emphasises the need for social and community living, the Middle East can continue to be at the forefront of modern city design.”

The five methods of integrating 15-minute cities into the region are:

1. MAXIMISING MIXED-USE At the heart of the 15-minute city lies the neighbourhoods of mixed-uses. With every square metre in the city’s built environment needing to be maximised, buildings need to be able to be agile, flexible, and cater to a variety of different needs for the community which surrounds them.

Due to its great number of giga-projects, the Middle East has led the global trend of integrating mixed-use communities into its expanding urban fabric, with urban centres filled with apartments, offices, retail centres, gyms, nurseries, restaurants, and more. Regional urban planners need to accommodate that, for regional cities to offer a 15-minute, liveable urban community, a vibrant mixed of uses provide a central plank to make that vision a reality. The ubiquity of mixeduse communities across the region’s cities provides a strong foundation for further development of the 15-minute city ideals into the region’s urban life.

2. ENHANCING REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROVISION The 15-minute city requires a sophisticated and adept public transportation system that can quickly and easily transport residents from one part of the city to another, reducing the needs to dedicate city space for car use and instead swiftly and conveniently providing residents access to different neighbourhoods and communities. >>> CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 29

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URBAN CITIES

No other global planning design has laid out a vision for a strong, integrated public transport system than The Line, unveiled by the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman in January of this year. Spanning over 170 kilometres, at the heart of The Line is a sophisticated and high-speed public transportation system that can link together city areas, without needing to have cars, roads, or parking

30 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

spaces taking up valuable urban space.

It is a bold vision, which other regional cities can look to emulate.

Investments in public transportation networks such as the Dubai Metro or the Riyadh Metro again provide residents new ways to quickly and effectively get around their cities, reducing the need for cars and roads in the urban environment.

“As governments in the region pursue wide-ranging developmental plans for the creation of liveable urban communities, the 15-minute city philosophy challenges the more conservative approaches to urban planning, driving diversity, inclusivity while celebrating distinctive cultural and community attributes.”

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MAXIMISING MIXED-USE | INTEGRATING 15-MINUTE CITIES INTO THE REGION’S URBAN ENVIRONMENT

3. FOSTER DATA-BASED DESIGN DECISIONS Within a 15-minute city, it is important to not only design space to be used effectively, but also understanding how that space is being used on an ongoing basis.

Urban planners need to know which routes are popular for residents to walk to, which restaurants and cafes they like going to, and how the built environment can be adapted to enable residents’

lifestyle choices. The 15-minute city needs to be a smart city.

To enable that, regional urban planners must use large, aggregate data to inform planning decisions. Using real-time sensors to actively monitor how residents are using their neighbourhood, and what they value from that same neighbourhood, is critical in further designing fully for residents’ needs. Further, using technology to be able to create an urban environment that adapts to its residents’ uses in real time can further enrich an experience of a city – be that in catering toward transportation needs in real time or managing pedestrian flow.

4. REIMAGINE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SPACE The 15-minute city requires vibrant neighbourhoods which cater to residents’ various needs. That goes beyond providing office space and coffee shops, apartments and gyms. It requires urban planners to provide space for social and cultural activities: be that sport, music, theatre, or art gallery space.

The Middle East is surrounded by space for social and cultural events: space that can be easily adapted from one use to another. Ensuring flexibility is integrated into regional planning and design is critical for building the 15-minute city, allowing a green space to be a theatre, or for a building’s roof to be a yoga studio.

That challenge is compounded by the seasonal weather variations that can be found in the region. Indeed, in the heat of

the Middle East’s summer, it is possible to see this concept of flexibility being lived out, as malls in the GCC are used as long-distance walking tracks by residents.

Through reimagining how urban space can be used, urban planners can help ensure that residents do not need to travel far to reach an air-conditioned exercise area, but can rather do it in their own locality.

5. CREATE, MEASURE, AND REFINE ESG SUCCESS METRICS The 15-minute city prioritises community and environmental wellbeing as one of its key standards. To enable that focus, regional urban planners must design uniform metrics that can measure both the happiness and sustainability of an individual neighbourhood, ensuring that environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) metrics are employed to facilitate wider community growth and wellbeing.

Not only do ESG metrics help create a greener and happier community: they also improve how outside investors perceive the potential value of an area, increasing property values and boosting business attractiveness to a particular neighbourhood. Measuring ESG metrics along with global standards can offer a clear picture of how a street, an area, and a city is performing in comparison with other international urban centres, alongside providing a clear path for improving social and environmental performance.

Through reimagining how urban space can be used, urban planners can help ensure that residents do not need to travel far to reach an air-conditioned exercise area, but can rather do it in their own locality.

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EXPERT INSIGHT

BUILDING MATERIALS PRICE SPIKE

IS A TEMPORARY PHENOMENON, CAUSED

BY SUPPLY-CHAIN ISSUE b y R I Z WA N S A J WA N

P

rices of building material have increased suddenly in recent months that has created a temporary hiccup in the market.

It might surprise many industry observers as the change in the demandside situation doesn’t justify the increase in price. However, there is a reason behind the spike. Let us examine the situation.

Prices of almost all building materials products have gone up by 25 to 30 percent in the UAE and GCC. Steel prices, for example, have gone up from Dh1,800 to Dh2,600 per tonne while the price of white wood jumped from Dh600 to Dh1,000. Price of oil and gas have also gone up.

To add salt to injury, the freight rates have also increased manifolds, in some cases from US1,000 to US4,000 a container.

One of the reasons is that the demand for raw materials in China and India went up after the factories opened post the COVID lockdown. However, the real reason is that due to complete shutdown of the factories following the complete lockdown in China, India and other countries – from March to June 2020, the workers had either left the area or relocated to other places.

The lockdown saw a large number 32 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

of materials stockpiles stuck at the warehouses, that had exhausted over the last 7-8 months. So, when demand started to pick up from NovemberDecember, 2020, the factories weren’t ready to supply due to worker shortage or shortage of resources, including raw materials, capital, etc.

So, the supply-side issues including the shortage of resources constrained the production and shipment that pushed up the prices. Normally containers are on the move. But due to COVID, the loaded containers were stuck and started piling in ports of US and other countries as rail and road networks were not functioning.

The empty containers were not coming back to China. This whole thing had a cascading effect.

As a result, end-users are paying more for the same quantity – at a time when, money is hard to come by. The timing of the price increase has added extra pressure on the traders and end-users, making end-products more expensive at a very crucial time.

Once market opened, the demand for

containers in China went up as other ports didn’t have empty containers to return to China. The lower volume of cargo added to the jump in the freight rates, as the containers lied empty following a shipment and could not be utilised due to lack of movement. So, we ended up paying higher price.

The increase in materials prices is not due to an increase in demand, but due to supply-side constraints caused by the COVID-19 related shutdown.

Now, what is the impact on traders?

They are not able to give quotes with long term validity as stocks are not available. But the price surge is temporary and you can still serve the customers if you are having the basic stocks.

The question is, what happens next?

Importers in the United States have started buying from Europe at higher cost as their production demand has gone up. Freight prices have slowly started to show a downward trend.

I believe, this is a temporary situation that will even out in the coming months.

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WAIVER

DLD

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TALKING POINT

such as reduced performance, elevated irritability, and changes in social behavior. Coping with exposure to excessive or incessant noise has been found to increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

FUTURE OF

WORKING

Delivering Acoustic Sanity in Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Buildings in the Post-COVID Era

U

rbanization is increasing.

According to United Nations forecasting, seven out of ten people will live in cities by 2050. Faced with a huge shortage of space, mixed-use concepts bring high-density tower blocks and space-saving neighborhood developments to life. However, maintaining quality of life and longevity in close proximity of living, working and leisure activities relies critically on specifying the right acoustic solutions.

The World Health Organization

34 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

reports noise pollution as only second to air pollution in detrimental environmental health factors. In the post-COVID era of working from here, people are seeking live-work environments more than ever.

But that means acoustics and building sound isolation are not only critical to the success and long-term viability of a development, it is the only sustainable way to build in cities where people will be living and working in the same building.

According to the WHO, excessive noise disturbs sleep, causes cardiovascular disease and has psychophysiological effects,

A SILENT KILLER “Poor acoustics is that silent killer.

Think about distractions in your office— or home office,” says Sara Hickman, Sustainability Director at RDC-S111 in Long Beach, Calif. Hickman is a LEED AP, WELL AP and EcoDistricts AP. “Poor acoustics can be so abrupt, and when distracted by something abrupt, it really throws you.” She suggests focusing on typology, codes and zoning when specifying effective acoustic solutions. “In the end, they do bring a lot of value because of the rationale behind them.”

Her firm designs a lot of multi-family and affordable housing, which tends to be located right next to public transit and major freeways. “We’re constantly thinking about acoustics as early as conceptual design, and asking: ‘what are we doing besides specifying high performance glass that may or may not be value engineered out?’” When it comes to multi-family building acoustics, Hickman advises having an acoustical engineer on board to model and recommend an appropriate roof composition, and that architects specify robust wall assemblies.

REGUPOL, manufacturer of a comprehensive range of noise abatement products, offers wall and ceiling isolation systems to provide a reliable solution to effectively reduce airborne noise between rooms. The Sonus product system, including underlayment, clips and adhesives, stops structure-borne noise by bridging the dry wall and the false wall. Excellent acoustic building values can be achieved with easy-to-install SonusClip rubber and metal fasteners—even where little wall mass is available. This offers acoustic technicians and architects alike a clear advantage when it comes to structural flexibility.

WORK FROM HERE IRL In its latest newsletter, Dialogue Now, Gensler predicts the work from home trend in a post-COVID-era is here to WWW.CBNME.COM

FUTURE OF WORKING | DELIVERING ACOUSTIC SANITY IN MULTI-FAMILY AND MIXED-USE BUILDINGS

stay. This may have residual effects on residential design, such as the need for an effective home office. In a WFH situation the Four Work Modes—focus, collaborate, learn and socialize—still apply, and need to be addressed by the space, say Gensler’s Tom Steidl and Brooks Howell. “Multifamily residential buildings will need to be rethought, both in terms of dwelling units and communal amenity areas.”

They explore how to do this by listing real-life WFH situations, including: How to focus when kids are home? How to collaborate effectively on video calls when you’re trying to block view of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink behind you? Do you really have an ergonomic workstation when you’re sitting in a dining room chair and your laptop is propped up on a pile of books on your dining table? Nonchildren, pet and spouse noise falls into the category of “other”.

Gensler’s workplace study points to research from the University of Illinois that found a high level of noise (85 dB and above) reduces information process-

ing and hurts creativity. Moderate ambient noise (70 dB) introduces enough stimulus to promote abstract processing and imaginative thinking. Three of Gensler’s ten workplace acoustics strategies also apply to the planning, design and construction of mixeduse environments in the post-Corona era of WFH: Zoning, Sound Absorbing and Walls.

These three strategies also correspond to the General Service Administration’s top three acoustic parameters used in acoustical design specifications: Background Noise, Noise Isolation and Sound Absorption.

BUILDING SOUND SOLUTIONS REGUPOL has developed products that solve the problem of interference from noise in new and existing environments.

The company offers a complete line of

building acoustics materials that provide architects and engineers with a comprehensive toolbox of healthy acoustic specifications for longevity and a higher quality of life in densely populated urban centers.

REGUPOL underlayment products in the Sonus and Comfort ranges address these areas. The Sonus range includes smooth and profiled versions that make designing specific under-floor solutions easy, include bonding technology, and a wide range of under-screed impact sound insulations. REGUPOL products are tested to ISO and ASTM standards and can also be tailored to the needs of a specific project. The Comfort range is especially attractive to customers in Europe. With CE certification, it can be installed with confidence throughout the European Economic Area.

Future proofing mixed-use developments for noise pollution is only half the battle. Hickman reminds for multi-family projects to weather the VE process, specifiers must be strategic in finding solutions that offer a triple bottom line: a product that offers acoustic buffering, thermal conservation benefits and is economical. “Acoustic comfort is huge,” says Hickman. “And I feel like it’s been the unsung hero for a very long time.

[Good] acoustics is a quiet but efficient design strategy.”

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INTERVIEW

THE COMPLETE SOLUTION/ IN CONVERSATION WITH SANJEEVV BHATIA CEO OF NETIX GLOBAL BV 36 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

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THE COMPLETE SOLUTION | IN CONVERSATION WITH SANJEEVV BHATIA

Tell us what are Netix’s goals and objectives are, heading into 2021?

This year, Netix will be focusing on making building stock owners and facility operators aware of the merits of correctly installing, commissioning, running and maintaining building automation systems.

While we find most modern construction (built in the new millennium) inclusive of BAS/ BMS, few owners and facility managers actually give thought to making the best use of systems and devices that their buildings already incorporate. This is something that we come across, very commonly, while ironically owners and operators are focused on mitigating the significant drop in their rental revenues.

We will also continue to raise awareness within the real estate industry, on the importance of replacing traditional siloed FM operations and automation with data-driven, unified and integrated solutions. Open protocol solutions, that can integrate vertically and horizontally with existing technology, is a key USP of Netix solutions, and we want to champion this trend in 2021 and become the Androids of the Building Automation space.

Apart from this, while strengthening our market position in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific, we will expand operations within the European and North America markets, which we believe are ready for tech-led disruption. We are taking into account the unique opportunities and challenges of each market, and tailoring our subscription-based services to local factors. Within the Middle East, our growth focus and expansion will be into Saudi, Qatar and Egypt, which are markets uniquely and favourably positioned for digital transformation and tech-led growth. Our expansion and growth story in India is also something to watch for, and we will be soon be announcing a stellar list of project wins, even before we have launched our service operations there. Something that speaks of the strength of our solutions offering and something that we are incredibly proud of.

Tell us about the latest projects that Netix has delivered and are there any other upcoming projects in the pipeline?

Netix has secured some important projects in the regions that we operate in a difficult year that was 2020. The smart building integration of multiple BMS brands in 11 branches of a leading bank of the UAE, integration of chillers in 77 buildings of a top developer in the UAE, the tallest Saudi stock market building and HQ, Tadawul Towers (smart BTU and water meters, up to 300mm dia.) and Standard Chartered bank in Riyadh, the architecturally stunning Katara Towers (water meters) in Doha, Qatar; the International IT Park, Pune being developed

by Ascendas (50,000 I/O points), HP office at Bangalore (50,000 I/O points) and Amazon office, Mumbai, India have been some of the important recent wins, to name a few. We are very close to finalising one of the largest iIBMS and ELV systems integration contracts (150,000 I/O points) in India, watch the space for that announcement!

“WITHIN THE MIDDLE EAST, OUR GROWTH FOCUS AND EXPANSION WILL BE INTO SAUDI, QATAR AND EGYPT, WHICH ARE MARKETS UNIQUELY AND FAVOURABLY POSITIONED FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND TECH-LED GROWTH.” Can you tell us how your services provide a unique value to your buyers?

The FM technology industry is crowded with many service providers. But most offer band-aid solutions that come with their own limitations. Many service providers are unable to help clients become more future-ready, or transition to more effective operational models. At Netix we endeavour to offer clients exactly that and make the most of their investments in building automation. >>>

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 37

CBNME

INTERVIEW

How has Netix differentiated itself from other companies and FM solution providers?

The industry is aware that legacy BMS/BAS systems have outlived their purpose. With solutions like our “One Building, One Controller, Complete Solution” and products like Konnect (intelligent integrated command and control centre) clients can implement targeted resolutions, for a sea change in their FM operations, business bottom lines, and occupant experiences. Unlike many who start strong but stall later, we continue to deliver value and improvisation of FM outcomes for our clients, using a predictive model of operations.

Our truly open system protocol and seamless integration capability of multi-vendor, multi-functional automation systems simplify and bring most FM functions under one

roof, on a ‘single glass panel’.

The Netix approach maximizes efficiency, minimizes running cost, enhances equipment life and end-user experiences in buildings, at the same time.

38 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

Can you give us a market overview of the FM industry in Dubai and what are the positive signs you see heading into 2021?

Dubai’s affinity for technology and being at the forefront

of change management is its strength. It is one of the leading future-ready economies in the world, and this is evident in the FM industry as well.

Dubai leads in ICT investments within the region and has constantly pushed for innovation, through initiatives like Smart Dubai. The Dubai market is very receptive to our solutions, and this sentiment has only increased, since the pandemic.

During peak lockdown, the Dubai FM industry’s tech-driven approach was instrumental in ensuring the health and wellness of occupants in multifamily, close-knit facilities.

So, in 2021, we expect many legacy FMs in Dubai to adopt data-driven IoT based solutions and bridge operational gaps. This will bring added dynamism to the local FM industry, and lead to increased collaboration between the Dubai real estate sector and technology partners.

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THE COMPLETE SOLUTION | IN CONVERSATION WITH SANJEEVV BHATIA

2020 had been an unprecedented year for the world due to COVID-19. Can you tell us how Netix has come out stronger from the pandemic?

As COVID-19 brought virtually all activity to a standstill, we were busy ensuring that our solutions help in crisis response and community-level strategies. Our clients, especially those operating multi-family buildings, were able to remotely access automation controls, ensure optimal IAQ, digitally monitor and record sanitization efforts, and update stakeholders in realtime, with relative ease.

Despite reduced onsite FM staff, and increased occupancy, these facilities were able to navigate the challenges easily, and also implement remote management effectively. This was a validation of our drive for innovative and practical solutions.

What are the key trends (technologywise) you see going forward into 2021 that would be innovative in the FM industry?

We anticipate an even more central role for FM operations, in addressing sustainability, value added services, and occupant experiences, through the use of technol-

ogy. Owners and operators are increasingly understanding the value in unlocking the possibilities of integrating and centralizing systems control. Just a few years ago, the industry would have deemed these priorities contradictory. But today, these

outcomes can be achieved at the same time, thanks to the open-protocol, seamless connectivity and data-driven solutions that Netix is proud to champion, in the Middle East and beyond.

Smart Cities is another trend that is driving the business and you will see us play a strong and significant role in this space across the Middle East and South Asian markets. Similarly, we feel there is a vacuum in the market within the small and medium sized real estate and FM players taking the leap to innovative techled disruption. We expect to see increased partnership between players in the smart city space in order to unlock technological barriers and serve the industry better, through 2021.

“SMART CITIES IS ANOTHER TREND THAT IS DRIVING THE BUSINESS AND YOU WILL SEE US PLAY A STRONG AND SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS SPACE ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS.” CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 39

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CRANES

RAIMONDI MIDDLE EAST

continues to see consistent GCC activity with the deployment of five flattop tower cranes across the UAE and Qatar

R

aimondi Middle East, currently involved in a series of different jobsites around the MENA region, is seeing a strong boost of commercial activity in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, specifically the UAE and Qatar. Alongside its work on various large-scale projects in the region that require multiple cranes, Raimondi Middle East has also deployed five topless tower models across several smaller jobsites.

“We are currently working on several projects between UAE and Qatar. Across the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi we have three Raimondi MRT111s at work on various residential developments. In Qatar, we have just installed two MRT294s that are participating in the build of two new Marriott hotels,” said Wael Hasan, Middle East Commercial Director, Raimondi Cranes.

The jobsites vary in scope and scale; one of the MRT111 tower cranes - with a jib length of 50m and HUH of 35m - is at work in Warsan area for the development of a residential building. “Chosen because of its maximum lifting capacity of 8tn and tip load of 2.3t, this crane model was well suited to the jobsites requirements,” Hasan explained.

Two of the Raimondi MRT111s are onsite at the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) with jib lengths of 54m and a HUH of 29m. The MRT111, one of Raimondi’s bestselling models, is sought-after for its versatility in tower height while maintaining high performance measures in terms of maximum load and hoist speeds.

“In Qatar, where we erected two MRT294 14t cranes, we satisfied the client’s request by offering the heaviest lifters currently available in our product portfolio for the tower section,” he continued,

40 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

emphasizing that the MRT294 remains extremely popular in the region for its high performance metrics and durability.

For all of the projects, Raimondi Middle East executed a study to best plan the crane installations and optimal machine positioning, with the offload and assembly time of each crane took place over a period of approximately two days including crane erections.

Jobsite timelines will see one the of the MRT111s operating on the KIZAD jobsite dismantled soon, while all of the other cranes will remain at work until completion of the projects scheduled for the end of this year.

Wael Hasan, Middle East Commercial Director, Raimondi Cranes.

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RAIMONDI MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES TO SEE CONSISTENT GCC ACTIVITY

“IN QATAR, WHERE WE ERECTED TWO MRT294 14T CRANES, WE SATISFIED THE CLIENT’S REQUEST

BY OFFERING THE HEAVIEST LIFTERS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN OUR PRODUCT PORTFOLIO FOR THE TOWER SECTION.”

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 41

CBNME

FORMWORK & SCAFFOLDING

BUILT FOR DEMAND Since Doka forged its strategic alliance with AT-PAC at the end of last year, Doka’s decision to include scaffolding as one of its core offerings is set to pay dividend as the construction and oil & gas markets turn their focus to more cost-effective, long-term solutions

W

hile previously known primarily as a formwork company, Doka’s alliance with AT-PAC at the end of 2020 pivoted its model to share focus in order to maximise its existing supply chains while rising to meet the adjacent demand for high quality, easy-to-use scaffolding. Since its launch on projects around the world, we spoke to several members of Doka’s team who’ve have had the opportunity to see Ringlock in action and to understand how it’s been able to help clients in a practical environment, but before going into the details of the system itself, it is perhaps better to start by understanding how the markets have changed in the past year, and how it has affected industrial demand.

From a high level, it is safe to say that almost no business was left unscathed

42 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

by the events surrounding the pandemic, with construction and oil & gas being no exception. Due to a variety of reasons such as greater difficulty in sourcing manpower due to travel restrictions or a significant increase in freight costs and pricing, Ringlock provided the perfect solution to meet market conditions, while Doka’s international network of more than 160 locations worldwide meant fast access with the option to rent, allowing companies to manage the economic uncertainty with greater control.

As Director of Strategic Accounts for AT-PAC, U.S.A, Geoff Mules has seen yet another side of the industry that has encouraged contractors to reconsider their choice of scaffolding. Commenting on a recent project, Geoff said, “In working on the Cameron LNG project in Hackberry, Louisiana, McDermott International Inc and its joint venture partner, Chiyoda

Geoff Mules, Director of Strategic Accounts, AT-PAC, U.S.

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BUILT FOR DEMAND | LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

Rhys Dixon, Regional Manager, AT-PAC Australia

Corporation started their project using tube and fitting before quickly realising two things. Firstly, that not all scaffolders in the U.S are sufficiently trained to use

tube and fitting and that secondly the result can cause notable delays to the construction timeline. At this stage, we stepped in to provide specialised frontend planning and field coordination for a large freestanding scaffold for a Cryogenic Unit. In supplying over seven thousand metric tonnes of Ringlock, in place of tube & fitting, the project achieved a 30% reduction in scaffolding material and a 35% reduction in scaffold labour.”

When asked about the product’s versatility and what makes it appealing for contractors who need to remain agile, Regional Manager, Rhys Dixon, AT-PAC Australia said, “Thanks to Ringlock’s 8-node rosette connection, clients benefit from a significant reduction in components as well as limitless applications, meaning greater flexibility when it comes to application on site. In addition, Ringlock’s O-type hook planks and ledgers offer a superior solution when compared to the U-type system or omega

transoms, allowing for faster and easier modifications.”

As a system which is both 50% faster to assemble, as well as 30% lighter per square metre, it’s not just contractors who benefit, but the labourers themselves. As such, Ringlock has become a universally applicable system, which isn’t tied to any one industry, but any business that requires the use of scaffolding on a longterm or temporary basis.

Unfortunately, a willingness to change isn’t the only reason contractors are sometimes reluctant to make the shift to Ringlock, but because many businesses invested in tube & fitting a long time ago and struggle to justify the cost in replacing it. Speaking with Mohammed Omran, Regional Business Development Manager, Scaffolding, he said, “Traditionally many clients would look at things on a project-to-project basis, so due to the cost pressures on many projects, the first consideration >>>

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 43

CBNME

FORMWORK & SCAFFOLDING

Diogo Ezequiel, Scaffolding Manager Middle East Africa & Asia Pacific, Doka

“AT-PAC IS A VERY EXPERIENCED SCAFFOLDING COMPANY, WHICH NOT ONLY PROVIDES A VERY WELLTHOUGHT-OUT SOLUTION IN TERMS OF THE SYSTEM BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE ASSOCIATED SERVICES.” many project managers would face is finding the lowest cost option and therefore compare Ringlock directly with the cheaper alternative, such as cuplock and traditional tube and fitting, resulting in an unfair comparison. I would say moving forward, clients need to have a full lifecycle understanding of the cost, and they need to understand the implications of using a system that is more time consuming to erect and dismantle. In addition, clients need to also consider the overall loss of man hours in installing the

systems as well as additional maintenance.”

When looking at the relationship so far, both Doka and AT-PAC have filled a much-needed niche that ticks the boxes for all stakeholders seeking a more efficient and cost-effective scaffolding solution. When asking Diogo Ezequiel, Regional Scaffolding Manager, Doka MEAAP about the partnership to date, he commented, “AT-PAC is a very experienced scaffolding company, which not only provides a very well-thoughtout solution in terms of the system but also in terms of the associated services, such as the Scaffold Management Software Hi-Vis®. From Doka’s position, we not only provide a wealth of technical expertise, but also the global presence that can ensure the combined value is accessible for projects as far reaching as Australia to South America.

I believe these synergies result in a very good fit for both companies and most

44 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

importantly for the clients.”

As a final incentive, the global industrial sector’s transition towards higher standards has also supported the spread of Ringlock, as highlighted by Mohamed Omran.

“I believe the oil and gas industry in particular has always had a high level of health and safety, however it is apparent that standards are rising everywhere, particularly through the regular communication provided on site through Toolbox Talks. Companies are no longer taking the risk of using materials that have the potential to deteriorate and cause an accident, for example by replacing wooden boards for steel. In addition, Ringlock’s easy-to-use design means there’s a smaller chance of human error, which again reduces the chance of injury and subsequent delays.”

While the pandemic may have incentivized the industry towards Ringlock in order to meet market demand, the wider picture would suggest that as long as cost-efficiency and safety remain paramount, Ringlock will likely become a staple for the industrial sector for years to come.

“TRADITIONALLY MANY CLIENTS WOULD LOOK AT THINGS ON A PROJECT-TOPROJECT BASIS, SO DUE TO THE COST PRESSURES ON MANY PROJECTS, THE FIRST CONSIDERATION MANY PROJECT MANAGERS WOULD FACE IS FINDING THE LOWEST COST OPTION AND THEREFORE COMPARE RINGLOCK DIRECTLY WITH THE CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE.”

Mohammed Omran, Regional Business Development Manager Scaffolding, Doka

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Ringlock One Scaffold System.

Limitless Applications.

…to learn more about Ringlock!

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CBNME

TRUCKS

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

RENAULT TRUCKS CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Since the new Renault Trucks Greater Middle East organization was established in Dubai 5 years ago, the challenges have been numerous but steady progress in key countries are rewarding.

46 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

In a year marked by an unprecedented health crisis, Renault Trucks have reached its highest market share thanks to breakthrough and turnaround in 2 major countries.

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BUILDING THE FOUNDATION | RENAULT TRUCKS CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Renault Trucks have a long successful history in the Middle East mainly in Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Egypt and Qatar with high brand image and market shares.

In 2016, the Volvo Group organization changed with the setting-up of a dedicated Renault Trucks HQ in Dubai with the ambition to be among the significant players of the industry in each country.

New importers have been appointed such as in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and Lebanon and renewed focus and support has been initiated with the other longterm partners.

On top of Qatar which remains the regional benchmark for customer satisfaction and market performance with a consistent over 20% market share, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the two markets where Renault Trucks performed the best in 2020.

New importer in Egypt have crossed the 10% market share threshold after 2 years

in operation while our long-term partner in Saudi Arabia reached its highest market share ever in the biggest Middle East market.

Edge to Enterprise A new approach to Industrial and Infrastructure Monitoring & Control

aveva.com @avevagroup linkedin.com/company/aveva

Moreover, the focus is not only on new trucks but also on Used Trucks and 2020 was also a positive year for Used Trucks

by Renault Trucks label in the region.

CBNME

MACHINERY

Terex appoints Galadari as authorised

distributor for Genie boom and scissor lifts

T

erex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) has assigned Galadari Trucks & Heavy Equipment (GTHE) — a subsidiary of Galadari Brothers — as its new distributor for Genie telescopic and articulating boom lifts as well as scissor lifts in the UAE. Due to a large, planned stock of Genie machines, this new agreement offers customers easier and faster access to Genie equipment, backed by the support of a strong sales and service partner with an excellent reputation in the UAE market.

Mohamed Yahya Kazi Meeran, Director and Group CEO, Galadari Brothers, says: “GTHE and Genie share more than their

48 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

strength of presence and reputation in the marketplace. They also have the same values that are the engines that drive their respective successes. This partnership will enable both companies to create a synergy that will be felt by customers in a market like the UAE, which deserves no less than the best product offerings and services.”

For GTHE, infrastructure, construction and maintenance are growth sectors where aerials are under increasing demand.

Supporting this need, one of the company’s first orders featured a variety of the new Genie E-Drive slab scissor lifts, namely the Genie GS™-1330m, GS1932, GS-3246, GS-2632, GS-4046 and GS-4655 models intended for electricians, cleaning and a wide range application in

facilities management and maintenance.

Sharbel Kordahi, Managing Director of Terex Aerial Work Platforms for the Middle East, Southern Africa, India, Russia and CIS, says: “Galadari Brothers is a flagship name in the UAE. “With more than 40 years of experience in the region, they have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the market, backed by strong sales and aftermarket support teams. It is our privilege to be associated with this group.

In addition to Genie boom lifts and scissor lifts, this deal also includes the distribution of all Terex product lines.”

“GTHE AND GENIE SHARE MORE THAN THEIR STRENGTH OF PRESENCE AND REPUTATION IN THE MARKETPLACE. THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME VALUES THAT ARE THE ENGINES THAT DRIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSES.” WWW.CBNME.COM

MACHINERY

Dry stone walling New tools to facilitate business and boost artisans work

A

t the end of 2017, UNESCO intervened and confirmed how valuable the art of dry stone walling is. They’ve added this building technique to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, to protect and safeguard it.

Among the reasons for recognising and protecting this art, the main one is due to its distant roots: the knowledge is handed down by rural communities to today’s professionals. These constructions play a vital role in preventing landslides and floods, fight soil erosion and desertification while respecting the environment. By adding the process to the list, eight European countries can share their techniques for constructing

dry stone walls. While the methods might differ, the way they are built is by placing one stone on top of the others without using any other material except dry earth.

However, over time, even the most ancient techniques have incorporated more modern methods to how “artisans” work – a skilled type of labour that is unfortunately disappearing – by adding equipment, which lets them finish the job faster and guarantees maximum precision: the MB-G sorting grapples have claws that grab, move and arrange rocks or stones of various types and sizes, whit extreme precision and accuracy.

On three different construction sites: one in France, in Germany and another in Slovenia, the companies chose the MB-G grapple to build dry stone walls, because

the grapple’s inclined plate allowed them to have a broader range of action and place the stones precisely. This would have been impossible with tools, like a digging bucket. It’s also possible to install a multipurpose blade kit, which helps facilitate how well the unit grips and controls materials with a variety of weights and shapes.

The same reasoning applied for operators that chose to build walls with wooden poles, by using MB Crusher’s attachments, specifically the crusher and screening buckets. It’s simple: by crushing and screening on-site, companies can recover the waste material and use it immediately as drainage material or as aggregate. A company in Italy used MB’s attachments when they needed to reconstruct a containment wall that collapsed. By using two MB units: they eliminated hauling expenses, used local material, sped up the job and didn’t run into any difficulties with the steep boulder.

Reinforced soil technique can be considered an evolution of the dry stone wall process. A naturalistic engineering solution that allows you to replace concrete walls with structures that have a reduced environmental impact. As for dry stone walling, you can use local materials as fill, which has a natural appearance and better adapts to the ground’s movements and is easy to install and maintain. In Venice, a company was commissioned to build a reinforced soil retaining wall to replace an existing wall made of concrete masonry. Sonia, the company’s geo-technician, explains how they solved their waste material handling and the manoeuvring space limitation problems.

“To do the job, we relied on MB Crusher’s equipment during the crushing and screening stages. We saved on the costs of purchasing material by crushing the stones we recovered when we screened the soil, which we would have had to dispose of otherwise and pay substantial costs to obtain the stone that we used as drainage material. On the other hand, we reused the screened soil immediately to fill the formworks. I thank MB Crusher for the advice that allowed us to make money by saving time and reducing our expenses, all while respecting the environment.”

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021 | 49

CBNME

MACHINERY

“WE ARE DELIGHTED ABOUT OUR FRUITFUL AND TRUSTFUL COOPERATION WITH VOLVO. CHILDREN ARE FASCINATED

BY HUGE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, SUCH AS FROM VOLVO WITH ITS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. DICKIE TOYS ACCOMPANIES CHILDREN THROUGH ALL STAGES OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, THEREFORE VOLVO IS PREDESTINED FOR OUR TOYS RANGE.”

Volvo CE

sells a million machines in one year

V

olvo CE released to the market its biggest ever range of toy excavators, loaders, haulers and trucks – and even a fictional wrecking ball – in collaboration with German toymaker Dickie Toys last year.

The partnership, which ensured Volvo’s presence in almost every major toy store, has had a flying start, despite the obvious challenges for the retail industry posed

by Covid-19, with well over a million products sold in the last 12 months.

The collaboration represents a unique point in Volvo CE’s licensing journey, following on the heels of successful partnerships with toymakers LEGO® Technic and Bruder, among others, and marking the company’s first venture into fully-immersive play sets for all the ages. It is also the most comprehensive collaboration across the Group, with machines from not only Volvo CE, but also Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks.

Tim Birks, Merchandise and Licensing

50 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | APRIL 2021

Manager, at Volvo CE, says: “Dickie Toys was a natural choice. We share the same core values, we are aligned in our desire for good quality products and we have always been impressed with the ‘feel-good factor’ of their toys. And it’s been comforting to know that these toys have played an important role in keeping

children around the world entertained and engaged during some of the hardest months of the pandemic.”

Family-owned Dickie Toys is a Germanbased manufacturer and part of the larger Simba Dickie Group, which is one of the top five toy manufacturers in Europe.

A close relationship between teams across the two brands has ensured a deep consideration for the Volvo identity. By creating ‘real-life’ play sets, as well as individual toys, the partnership aims to inspire imaginative play.

“We are delighted about our fruitful and trustful cooperation with Volvo.

Children are fascinated by huge construction vehicles, such as from Volvo with its technical expertise. Dickie Toys accompanies children through all stages of their development, therefore Volvo is predestined for our toys range,” says Oliver Naumann, Managing Director of Dickie Toys. “The products are very well received by the consumers and are very successful at the point of sale, as well as on and offline.”

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RENAULT TRUCKS T X-PORT 4X2 WITH 24 MONTHS INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY

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24 MONTHS SERVICE CONTRACT

RENAULT TRUCKS T X-PORT Benefit from a truck transformed in our factory with the manufacturer high quality standards.

For a long-term performance get more than a Used Trucks, contact your local Renault Trucks dealer to get your Renault Trucks T X-Port with 24 months warranty and 24 months service contract to guarantee total peace of mind.

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