INVENTIVE CONSTRUCTION NEWS JANUARY FEBRUARY 2021 Digital

Inventive Construction News

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS FOR BUSINESS IN CONSTRUCTION

Inside Story: Title Deeds To Be Issued Afresh.

Architectural Drainage Solutions.

Land Prices Fall In Wake Of Covid19 Pandemic.

Land Valuation In Kenya. All What You Need To Know.

Lee Kinyanjui's New Plan To Make Nakuru Have A New Look.

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ARCHITECTURAL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS Stormtech are the specialists in architectural drainage solutions with a narrow profile grate for outdoor landscaping and pool designs.

Stormtech specialises in architectural drainage solutions with a narrow profile grate for outdoor landscaping and pool designs. Established in 1989, Stormtech is the inventor of the original Slot Drain and the Special Assembly drainage system for which they won a DesignMark at the 2004 Australian Design Awards.

The range of Stormtech drainage systems is suitable for residential, commercial and industrial purposes.

Aesthetically pleasing, they provide extreme efficiency and ease of access in high traffic areas and are pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair safe.

Manufactured in Australia, they are available from class A (pedestrian) to class F (airport grade).

Key Considerations for Your Outdoor Drainage Project Poor drainage design and surface grading can exacerbate surface runoff (an environmental hazard) and cause substantial damage to landscaped areas.

Many drainage solutions offer superior load ratings to ensure they can withstand these load forces and avoid buckling even under constant load pressures.

Moreover, poor drainage flow, resultant from substandard drainage design and placement, remains the chief cause of ponding, which can degrade impervious surfaces and cause serious structural damage to any property. Here are some of the key considerations for your outdoor drainage project to help architects, specifiers, builders and skilled DIY practitioners select and implement the best drainage solutions.

All Stormtech grates are made of quality stainless steel manufactured in Australia.

The system connects directly with all standard plumbing fittings and has a Watermark Standards Australia International certification.

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MELCO Elevator S.A. (Pty) Ltd

Tel: 011 392 3330 Fax: 011 392 3335 P.O. Box 1328, Bramley, Johannesburg, 2018

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Publisher: INVENTIVE PUBLISHERS Tel: +254 702 414508 info@inventiveconstructionnews.com www.inventiveconstructionnews.com

NO. 1, Benny studio's, Railways Jewatho road, Njoro.

P.O BOX 113 - 20107, Njoro, Kenya Contributions The editors welcome news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to the Construction Industry.

These will be considered and, if accepted, published. No responsibility will be accepted should contributions be lost, damaged or incorrectly printed.

1. Drainage Layout & Availability One of the chief considerations for outdoor drainage sites is their access to existing plumbing and drainage systems.

The advantage of new building sites is that most allow for drainage systems to be established in order to meet the ‘lay of the land’, ensuring maximised water flow and adherence to best practice water-sensitive design principles (WSUD).

However, older properties may offer fewer possibilities for alteration, and may be better suited to more traditional drainage arrangements.

Building surfaces (such as earth, stone or concrete) will also impact one’s ability to move or increase the number of available drains.

© All rights reserved 2. Use of Outdoor Area If your drainage area is heavily trafficked or used for vehicular access/parking, it is critical to ensure your

drainage solution can bear the weight of these excessive loads.

3. Environmental Concerns Australia’s unique environmental challenges will greatly impact on the type of drainage materials and grating required for your outdoor area.

Key external variables such as exposure to airborne salinity (i.e. proximity to seashore), tree debris (e.g. leaves and seeds), exposure to urban pollutants (e.g. PAHs and corrosive chemicals) and even weather (dry arid versus wet tropical) conditions will all have a significant impact on the type of drainage you require and the materials best suited to withstand these unique environmental conditions.

Boasting an unrivaled depth of experience with linear drainage solutions, Stormtech welcomes questions about product selection and compliance, and can advise prospective clients on the most suitable drainage product for your building project.

Our skilled specialists work closely with specifiers, architects and builders to offer tailored drainage solutions, including bespoke drawings and plans for customised drainage designs.

We work proactively with plumbing advisory services to ensure drainage is not only fit for purpose, but meets stringent Building Code of Australia (BCA) compliance measures.

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East Africa

Hydro Build Ltd company profile.

Hydro Build Ltd is a Plumbing Mechanical Services delivery firm established in 2012 in Nairobi Kenya with six employees. However, the company has continually grown and currently has a human resource of more than forty both skilled and semiskilled staff. The firms’ strengths lie principally in Plumbing Mechanical and Industrial installations.

The company is a specialist in: • Plumbing • Air compressing systems • Water tanks, treatment plants and plumbing plants • Sanitary fittings • Fire fighting and • General contractor It enjoys a remarkable part in the Private and Public Sector.

The firm is registered by the National Construction Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Nairobi City County (formerly Nairobi City Council) and other professional bodies.

It has enjoyed a lot from these institutions and has a good working relationship with them. Further to the above, the firm endeavors to produce work of high quality and lays a lot of emphasis on good craftsmanship. Our clients can bear us witness on this.

The firm operations director has a vast wealth of 4

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experience. This is by the virtue of having been a senior projects manager with one of the leading Kenya’s plumbing and drainage companies for over 10 years. This position gave him a rare privilege to handle some very major projects in the country. This made him acquire high level experience in all areas of plumbing mechanical systems. This experience in management ensures that hydro build remains competitive in the market as well as competent in undertaking its tasks.

The firm has sufficient equipment and machinery necessary to undertake any projects depending on the magnitude. The company takes pride in a number of successfully completed

West wood office block for Jaygee Ltd at Westlands opposite Appolo center completed in December 2014.

East Africa projects. These includes and not limited to the mentioned below with Purple Haze being one of the recently undertaken.

The company was involved in plumbing, drainage, sanitary fitting and sprinkler installations.

The list of completed mega projects goes on and on with the customers and clients preferring the company the more as time goes by. Just to mention but a few among the list we have: • 15 No. Luxurious bungalows at Mukindri Road – Lang’ata completed in 2012.

• Expansion and renovations at Brookside dairy Ruiru completed in 2013.

• 22 No. apartments for SRK Property ltd _ 2nd Parklands.

• British Army Tainning Unit (Batuk) – Nanyuki – Design and build – Plumbing, Drainage, Sanitary fitting, Fire hydrant – phase II A. • Proposed Ojijo road development – 40 apartments.

• 27 No. Apartments for Casa Development Ltd – General Mathenge road Plumbing, Drainage, Sanitary fitting and Sprinkler installation.

Driven by the mission; “To provide practical solution in Plumbing Mechanical Services with the highest degree of integrity in quality and ethics,” Hydro Build Ltd has delivered timely and standard services that makes it outstanding from its

competitors.

It is therefore the company’s vision; “To be the best and most preferred Plumbing Mechanical Services firm in the region.”

The company has received several awards for its competent work done that is evident in all the projects it undertakes. Apart from the completed projects, the company also takes pride in projects that it has completed which awaits award letter and/or confirmation. In addition, the company also has other ongoing projects that it is undertaking which includes and not limited to: • Proposed Luxury apartments for SA Hotels International Limited, Nairobi Kenya.

• Proposed Warehouse at JKIA FOR Messr Stanfield PropertiesLtd - Plumbing, Drainage, Sanitary fitting and firefighting installations.

• Proposed Commercial Office Development Mpesi Lane, Westlands Plumbing, Drainage, Sanitary Fixing, Mechanical Ventillation and Firefighting Installations • Proposed Feedmill & Warehouse at Nakuru for Messrs. Bidco Land O’ Lakes Ltd – Plumbing, Drainage, Sanitary Fixing & Fire Fighting installations.

• Proposed Development of Capital M Apartments for Fedha Plaza.

Feedmill & Warehouse at Nakuru - Bidco Land O’ Lakes Ltd

Toner holdings limited apartments – (completion date July 2016)

Capital M Apartments

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East Africa

Land prices fall in wake of Covid-19 pandemic Kiambu land prices fell 11.4 Investors have bought huge per cent in 2020. parcels of land for subdivision.

Land prices in Nairobi’s satellite towns fell 1.1 per cent in 2020 compared to a 6.93 per cent growth in 2019 – injecting some common sense back to an overheated market, according to the latest figures by property firm HassConsult.

The Hass Property Index shows Kiambu town had the sharpest correction of 11.4 per cent, followed by Ruiru and Limuru, where prices fell by 6.0, and 3.0 per cent respectively in the last 12 months after years of speculative land buying events.

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Syokimau, a hot property market outside Nairobi, posted a 2.6 per cent drop in land value.

In the past ten years, real estate investors have flocked to Kiambu County – attracted by massive infrastructure projects – acquiring huge parcels of land cheaply for subdivision and further speculation.

“However, land prices in the county are moving towards a maximum of what the development market can bear,” HassConsult’s Head of Development Consulting and Research Sakina Hassanali said on Wednesday.

East Africa The report further highlighted that land prices in Nairobi suburbs fell 2.56 per cent last year compared to a 1.69 per cent growth in 2019 as the apartment market contracted due to coronavirus-induced economic hardships.

Parklands area posted the highest annual price drop in land prices at 7.35 per cent followed by Riverside at 7.2 per cent. Both areas are dominated by a huge number of apartments.

The analysis suggested that a quick bounce back in the city land prices was unlikely, with a sluggish recovery more realistic in the mid-term future as the economy picks up.

“Until we see a revival of the apartment market which at the end of the day is a function of economic growth, land prices in the inner city will remain stagnant,” Ms Hassanali said.

their pockets.

Buying guide In 2020, the most expensive suburb of Nairobi was Upper Hill, with a price of Sh509,900,000 per acre, followed by Westlands at Sh420,200,000, and Kilimani at Sh413,800,000.

In the same period, Nairobi’s cheapest suburb was Karen with an estimated price of Sh62,300,000 per acre, followed by Lang’ata at Sh63,700,000 and Donholm at Sh70,800,000.

Ruaka remained Nairobi’s most expensive satellite town with an acre going for Sh90,000,000, many miles ahead of Kiambu town at Sh38,600,000 and Mlolongo at Sh28,600,000.

On the other hand, Kiserian was the cheapest satellite town at Sh7,700,000 per acre, followed by Kitengela at Sh12,600,000 and Athi River at Sh13,900,000.

Upper Hill, however, remains Nairobi’s most expensive suburb with an acre going for Sh509,900,000 – a 5.4 per cent drop compared to the asking prices of 2019. It is followed by Westlands where an acre goes for Sh420,200,000, and Kilimani at Sh413,800,000.

Land prices in Westlands and Kilimani fell by 0.5 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.

Some realtors are offering discounts as a means to encourage people to buy land during the pandemic.

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East Africa

Land valuation in Kenya. All what you need to know Private firms have been granted permission to conduct valuation for stamp duty.

Valuation helps to determine the market value of land.

Land valuation is the process of analysing a property to determine its market value for the purposes of calculating taxes due to the government of Kenya or to enable leasing, sale or acquisition of property.

Who does property valuation?

The officials determine the market value of land to ensure revenue due to the State is collected and that public property is sold or acquired in a manner that protects the fiscal interests of the government.

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Land valuation for Stamp Duty, Ground Rent, and Rates in Kenya was the preserve of values from the Valuation Department in the Ministry of Physical Planning.

To meet the rising demand for land valuation services, the government has amended Section 10A of the Stamp Duty Act, Cap 480 to allow private values to undertake valuation process for Stamp Duty.

A list of values who have been accredited to undertake land valuation for Stamp Duty has been published on the website of the Lands ministry for the public's perusal.

East Africa “This reform was necessitated by the need to enhance efficiency and generally reduce the turnaround time for return of valuation figures,” Lands CS Farida Karoney said last week.

Being the 'landlord' or lessor of all leasehold properties, the government charges rent for leasing out its property.

Ground rent is calculated based on the approved user and location of a property.

Commercial plots within CBDs, for example, fetch higher rents compared to residential properties in the estates.

The government does not charge any fees for valuation for Stamp Duty but those who elect private values will incur valuation costs as provided in the Values Act. Land valuation process in Kenya Values are often hired when buying or selling property.

They also come in handy when lenders are advancing loans against title deeds,

compensation in cases of disputes, for court sureties, book value and during the determination of land rates.

Land valuation is also done before the State moves to buy private property through compulsory acquisition.

Valuation reports help to protect the monetary interests of landlords whose property has been acquired by the government for construction of roads, dams, or other public infrastructure.

Some banks employ in-house values, or use internal algorithms or desktop assessments. However, in most cases, valuation is outsourced to independent values who are recognised on the lender's panel.

How is land valuation done?

Values use a few of the recent comparable sales to get a rough figure of the land in question, and then make adjustments to the figure based on the significant variances found amongst the

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East Africa A direct comparison with recent comparable sales is the basis of most residential land valuations. However, values also take into account features such as the size; topography and layout of the block; ease of access to the land; planning restrictions; and the property's location and level of amenity.

Land valuation fees in Kenya The fees charged by private values are provided under the Scale of Fees, Values Act Cap. 532 of the laws of Kenya.

The values (Forms & Fees) (Amendment) Rules, 2011 states the following: – 1.) Urban, Rating and Agriculture Valuation First Kshs. 2,000,000 at 1.0 per cent Residue at 0.25 per cent 2.) Compulsory Acquisition

Valuation First Kshs. 2,000,000 at 2.0 per cent Residue at 0.5 per cent 3.) Rental Valuation First Kshs. 400,000 per annum at 10 per cent Residue at 5 per cent.

4.) Minimum Valuation Fees Kshs.15, 000 for any valuation.

7.) Consultancy A minimum of Kshs. 5,000 per hour where such consultancy does not involve carrying out a valuation and compilation of a valuation report and advising on the value of the property.

8. Travelling Expenses and disbursements: These shall be based on the costs incurred in undertaking the valuation.

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Thakkar brothers

Ojijo Apartments

Trident Estate -2

Adams mosque

Ruaka Apartments

South Park

East Africa

Lee Kinyanjui's new plan to make Nakuru have a new look Sustainable building materials usually cause less pollution.

Nakuru County has laid out plans for the adoption of new regulations to promote construction of green buildings within the town's central business district to boost sustainability in the construction industry.

According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the county will develop policies and regulatory frameworks to compel investors putting up commercial buildings in the town to adopt sustainable construction designs.

In a move that mirrors Singapore's highly successful green building initiative, Nakuru is seeking to make it mandatory for builders to comply with green construction rules as the town gears up for city status.

“The building will be compliant to the needs of persons with disabilities and has factored in the provision of water harvesting, and lighting to reduce costs incurred in electricity and water bills,” he said.

Builders will be forced to adopt sustainable construction designs.

The 7-storey building expected to be completed in 24 months features, among other things, solar panels on roof spaces and automated low-energy illuminating work spaces.

Sustainable building regulations Prospective owners of commercial buildings will also be required to include basement parking in their designs to help ease traffic congestion in the

Mr Kinyanjui, who was speaking during the groundbreaking of a Sh900 million building that will host county government offices, said green buildings are ideal for the county as they save water and electricity resources in daily operations of their occupants.

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East Africa fast-growing central business district.

If the planned push for green construction materialises, property developers will be required to comply with the sustainable building regulations and must install water harvesting systems, green energy systems, light sensors, energy-saving elevators and escalators, and energy efficient airconditioning units.

Since 2005, the island country and city has greened more than 40 per cent of its buildings by floor area as of December 2020, and is on track to achieving its 80 per cent target by 2030.

“We have partnered with UN Habitat in a move to implement planning in our towns to make Nakuru a model city globally… (On Feb. 2), I signed an MOU that will guide infrastructure development, waste management and creation of inclusive cities among other factors,” Mr Kinyanjui said earlier this month.

Singapore, which calls itself the Garden City, is the only country that has made it mandatory for buildings of 5,000 square metres and above to achieve minimum standards for environmental sustainability.

Model of construction The Nakuru County's plan comes a time when property developers in Kenya have willingly begun constructing green buildings that incorporate resource-efficient design features and technology.

The country has emerged as a model of green construction for property developers across the Asia-Pacific region – a commendable feat in an area that is urbanising faster than any other in the world.

In November last year, the Promenade, a Grade-A commercial building located in Westlands, for example, received its final EDGE certification from the Green Business Certification Inc. The building has higher thermal performance glass, LED lighting, occupancy sensors and water-efficient plumbing features that will reduce its water and energy consumption.

This trend is expected to increase in the medium term as more developers incorporate energy efficient features and technologies in the design of their buildings to cut operational costs.

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East Africa

Title deeds to be issued afresh.

Title deeds to be issued Title deeds verify land afresh. ownership Kenya is transitioning to a new lands registration system that will see title deeds issued afresh under a new digital lands register, effectively invalidating all titles dispensed under old land registration statutes.

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Registration Act 2012 – which repealed the Indian Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the Government Lands Act (Cap. 280), the Registration of Titles Act (Cap. 281), the Land Titles Act (Cap. 282) and the Registered Land Act (Cap. 300) which were prone to fraudulent alterations.

Since the passing of the Land Registration Act 2012, processing of title deeds has been ongoing under the transitional provision with the documents bearing the titles of both the repealed and the new statute.

Digitization of land records will see the Lands ministry closing all the existing lands registers and asking registered landowners to apply for replacement of title deeds from the closed registers.

The rollout of the so-called digital land information management system is aimed at operationalising the Land

Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney recently said registration of land under different statutes is a complex

East Africa affair that is open to manipulation by land fraudsters hence the need to centralise the service.

“The confusion occasioned by the different regimes has become a breeding ground for fraud, delays in service delivery, centralisation of land services and threats to the right to property,” Ms Karoney said.

Application requirements Registered landowners will be required to present the original title deed and their identification documents for verification. The old deeds will be surrendered to the registrar when new ones are issued.

The ministry is however silent on the conversion of title deeds of contested properties.

The government has assured landowners that cancellation and replacement of the titles will shift the parcels to the new regime while retaining the ownership, size and other details of the respective title.

Upon the closure of the old registers, the ministry will no longer use the traditional deed plans as registration instruments and will instead rely on the Registry Index Maps (RIMs) – which are generated from survey plans with fixed boundaries.

Titles held as surety by third parties such as lending institutions, courts, and hospitals will be replaced upon the application by the land owner. Land under caveat will be migrated

automatically.

The new title deeds will be issued afresh free of change.

The RIM shows all land parcels within an area as opposed to the traditional deed plan that only indicates details of one specific parcel of land, thus minimising fraud by making it easy to detect alterations.

“Both the RIMs and the survey plans will be accessible to landowners on request for verification of boundary details at the Survey of Kenya Headquarters, Ruaraka,” the CS said.

New parcel numbers With about 11 million title deeds due for conversion, the ministry says the shift will be done in phases starting with Nairobi where 5,000 new titles have been issued.

One of the outstanding changes under the new regime is the alteration of parcel numbers. In Nairobi, for example, the parcel of land identified as L.R. No. 209/7229 is now Parcel Number 1 in Nairobi/Block1 while L.R. No. 4393/12 in Nairobi/Block2 is now Parcel Number 1 in Nairobi/Block2.

The process of migrating 29 out of the 250 blocks that make up the city is currently underway, with the conversion expected to continue until end of next year.

“We are doing it gradually because we do not want the process to be overwhelming.

Migrating all those titles is not easy so you have to phase it out,” Ms Karoney said.

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East Africa

Apartment properties act 2020 guarantees ownership of units in Kenya The Sectional Properties Amendment Bill, 2020, which was signed into law in December, repeals the Sectional Properties Act of 1987 by providing for the division of buildings into units owned by individual owners, among other revolutionary provisions.

bars property developers from putting up additional units on the same plot where already sold blocks of apartments stand. This will prevent incidents where developers dupe buyers about the availability of open spaces only for them to later build homes on the spaces.

The Sectional Properties Act 2020 also provides for the issuance of title deeds for common property, which will be jointly owned by the owners of the individual units.

Home owners will be issued with certificates specifying their share in the common property – meaning such property cannot be auctioned without their consent.

Sectional Properties Act 2020 guarantees ownership of units.

In a major win for apartment owners in Kenya, the long overdue Sectional Properties Act 2020 has been signed into law – meaning that individual buyers will now be allowed to acquire sectional titles for their units.

Under the new law, developers will be required to register each of the apartment plans for all housing units shown on the plans to correlate both the existing structures as well as the approved building plans.

The new law, for example, Inventive

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East Africa According to the mover of the Bill, Kitui South MP Rachael Nyamai, the apartment plans will be the basis for the sectional titles and will ensure that only existing structures are registered.

“It is so easy to see an apartment being described with all the good quality features only for you to find that in real life it is a different structure not befitting an apartment,” Dr Nyamai said.

retained the original title even after selling the units as it was legally impossible to sub-divide common property.

This exposed investors to the risk of fraud and loss of property in instances where developers would build on land whose title was held by money lending entities.

She added that the new regulations will incentivise acquisition of apartments as owners will be assured of absolute ownership of their property through the issuance of sectional titles.

Previously, buyers could not acquire title deeds for their apartments as the developer

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Africa

Atlas Copco's HiLight LED Light Tower range just got even better!

The B5+, V3+, H4, H5+ and battery operated Z3+ complete Atlas Copco's extensive range of HiLight LED light towers.

Atlas Copco is globally renowned for its proven range of superior quality, compact range of HiLight LED light towers that is defined by unrivalled performance, flexibility and efficiency.

Through ongoing investment in R&D, Atlas Copco takes its cutting-edge design and smart technology up yet another notch with the introduction of the new HiLight H6+ unit.

“Featuring a light distribution of up to 6,000 m², fuel and CO² emissions savings of up to 40%, 600 hour service intervals, 5dB(A) lower noise levels and Atlas Copco's innovative HardHat® body, our new HiLight H6+ light tower is where the smart money is,” says David Stanford, Atlas Copco Power Technique Business Line Manager, Portable Products.

The unit's new generation heavy-duty IP67 rated LED floodlights boast increased efficiency, an impressive life expectancy of 50.000 hours and optimal light distribution with up to 6.000 m² of illumination area. The HiLight

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H6+ is also equipped with a dimming function that offers the right luminosity at all times while delivering up to 40% C0² savings and extending the autonomy by over 300 hours.

Thanks to its smart design, the light tower boasts one of the lowest fuel consumptions in the market. The LED's high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) score provides vibrant lighting with zero shadows for safe and efficient night time work.

With a noise reduction of 5 dB(A), the quiet HiLight H6+ operates at 55dBA at 7m, further improving the working environment.

“But Atlas Copco's innovative HardHat® body is where the HiLight H6+ really comes into its own,” notes Stanford.

Manufactured from mediumdensity polyethylene, the environmentally friendly HardHat® is both corrosionand crack-resistant. Thanks to the polyethylene material's UV stability and long-term antioxidants, it can also withstand low and high temperatures. This exclusive HardHat® body effectively protects the working operation underneath the

Africa tower from the elements, making the light tower ideal for seriously tough environments in the construction, road works, mining, events, and rental sectors. Stanford points out that this ingenious design and tough material combination ensures lasting performance and appearance, helping to retain a high resale value and providing customers with outstanding total cost of ownership. The HiLight H6+ is available in customisable colours to meet customers' individual preferences.

“Maintenance and transport efficiency was a priority when designing the HiLight H6+,” states Stanford. Moulded into a single pop-up canopy, the HardHat® body is easy to fit and remove from the light tower and also provides 360°

access to the unit facilitating maintenance. “The light tower only requires a simple service after 600 hours of operation which can be carried out in a remarkably short 40 minutes!” The easily accessible controller and heavy-duty filtration system further contribute to keeping service downtime to an absolute minimum.

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Our passionate people, expertise and service bring sustainable value to industries everywhere.

The light tower's compact footprint, four forklift slots, integrated lifting point and adjustable tow bar (offering three settings) facilitate handling and transportation; the HiLight H6+ can be easily and safely towed behind trucks, vans and pick-ups.

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Africa

Atlas Copco's new high head pump series holds its head high Portable Air is a division within Atlas Copco’s Power Technique business area. The division designs, manufactures and markets a comprehensive range of mobile and energy-efficient compressors, handheld lightdemolition tools and industry focused solutions, such as high-pressure boosters and quality air equipment. The products are used in a wide range of industries including construction, mining, oil and gas, and rental. The divisional headquarters are located in Antwerp, Belgium. Principal product development and manufacturing units are located in Europe, Asia, South America and North America.

Atlas Copco is proud to unveil its innovative new PAC H pump series. Featuring a maximum head size of 150m, a maximum flow of up to 1200 m3/h and a solids handling capability of up to 89mm, these high head centrifugal pumps maximise uptime and extend product lifespan, delivering substantial savings on Operational Expenditure (OPEX) and lowest total cost of ownership to customers and end-users.

The PAC H pumps, which are part of Atlas Copco’s renowned Head series, are particularly suited to industrial applications such as water transfer and will benefit a wide range of industries including oil & gas, quarrying, surface mining and construction as well as the municipal sector.

“As there is a direct correlation between equipment availability and uptime and the speed in which service and maintenance work can be carried out, we have smartly centred the design of our PAC H pump series on simplified service and maintenance,”

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notes David Stanford, Business Line Manager for Atlas Copco Power Technique’s Portable Products.

“In addition to the Atlas Copco brand of quality in materials and manufacture, these pumps are equipped with several features to facilitate the service and maintenance process, allowing for wear components to be serviced or replaced without the need to dismantle the pump. These include Atlas Copco’s hinge kit, semicartridge seal design, bolted wear plate and link belts. Our PAC H pumps even feature ergonomic internal lighting to optimise visibility during maintenance or repair work.”

The semi-cartridge seal allows for change-out without the need to dismantle the pump.

It also makes the lip seal and impeller easily accessible.

Stanford points out that

Africa cartridge seals which are normally an optional extra on other pumps in the market, are standard on the PAC H. Atlas Copco’s innovative hinge kit includes a ‘swing door’ that allows quick and easy access to the pump’s internal workings and a single bolt to remove the impeller.

Stanford explains that bolted wear rings make for precise and simple replacement compared to pressed alternatives. The fact that link belts are used to enable changeovers without having to dismantle the entire wet end of the unit reduces MTTR (mean time to repair) by up to 30%.

The pumps also feature an exclusive closed impeller which is equipped with deflector vanes that keep the mechanical seal clean and free of detritus. In addition to extending the mechanical seal life by up to three times longer, this unique hydraulic design eliminates the need to use flush water to keep the pump clean with subsequent significant energy and cost savings over the unit’s operational lifespan.

addition to increasing operational efficiencies, the compact size frees up valuable space; 10 units can be simultaneously transported on a 13m truck.

Atlas Copco backs the PAC H, which are available in four models, with full after-sales support and readily available parts and spares. Product training is also available to customers and end-users to PAC H pumps embrace ensure correct operation for digital technology: A QR optimum pump performance, code on the unit can be increased reliability and scanned to conveniently longer life span. With the obtain essential information addition of the PAC H series, on parts and spares; a PW Atlas Copco has boosted its controller series enables end- extensive range of pumps, users to get the most out of positioning the company as the pumps in any application, single source provider of while a transducer and floats world-class pump solutions make automatic operation to meet customers, end-users possible. “The pumps boast and specifiers’ pumping complete engine requirements. management with alarms and fault shutdown capabilities,” says Stanford adding that end-users can also take advantage of the FleetLink connectivity, a remote monitoring feature that puts them in control of pumping operations.

“These lean, clean and green fully EU Stage V compliant pumps feature a 120% fully leak-free structure,” notes Stanford. “The standard diaphragm vacuum pump has no carry-over of pump media and hence there is zero contamination from the pumps to its surroundings.”

The compact dimensions of these pumps means that they are up to 30% smaller than comparative pumps working on similar applications. In Inventive

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S&P

SYLDON & PARTNERS

P.O. Box 664 - 00606 Sarit Centre, Nairobi,Kenya.

Tel: +254 020-44 51 422/44 53 089 Telefax :44 51 423 Mobile: +254 722 861 473 / +254 733 850 848 Wireless: +254-020-528 77 29 Email: info@sandpconsult.co.ke, syldon@sandpconsult.co.ke

S&P Departments: SyldonInfra

SyldonServ

Off Upper Hill Road, Upper Hill, Near Citi Bank Opposite Church of Jesus Christ Of Later Day Saints, Mount Meru Court, Suite No. 4.

SyldonPower

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Africa

Breaking efficiency and productivity barriers wth Atlas Copco pneumatic breakers The powerful, light-weight and ergonomic RTEX and TEX pneumatic breaker ranges from Atlas Copco exemplify a perfect balance between great performance and high comfort.

The advanced technology in breaking efficiency and ergonomics that Atlas Copco has incorporated in the design of the latest RTEX medium breaker sets a worldleading benchmark in pneumatic technological innovation. This breaker owes its record-high breaking efficiency to a number of ground-breaking design features that include: A patented design featuring a Constant Pressure Control principle that encompasses a constant pressure chamber which improves energy transfer, providing up to 40% more energy output than conventional units. The machine also features a longer piston compared to conventional breakers, which increases the interaction time

with each blow. The efficient stroke mechanism also radically lowers energy consumption.

As a result the RTEX, weighing only 25 kg, has a breaking power that matches much heavier top class 30-35 kg breakers. “The RTEX can therefore do the same job equally well as the heavier machines while using only half as much compressed air!,”

Ingenious Solid or Single Body design gives Atlas Copco TEX breakers a low centre of gravity & good balanced for easy handling Inventive

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Africa notes Atlas Copco Power Technique’s Business Line Manager of Portable Products, David Stanford. “A 50% reduction in compressed air consumption for the same breaking capacity also means that a compressor only half the size is needed or two breakers can be used on one compressor which previously powered only one breaker. A smaller compressor requires a smaller investment, uses less fuel, has lower emissions and is easier to transport, delivering a return on investment that is second to none.”

Thanks to the ingenious Solid or Single Body (SB) design, the RTEX and TEX breakers have a low centre of gravity and are well-balanced which make for simple, easy handling. These one-piece machines have fewer parts and thus less moving components that can wear resulting in improved reliability, extended lifecycle and reduced maintenance time and costs.

The breakers’ unique two-step SOFTSTART™ trigger gives operators full control ensuring that the first cut is surgically precise with no chisel slippage or misfiring even under tough conditions. An integrated lubricator minimises tool wear and also holds enough lubricant for an entire normal work shift which boosts productivity.

Prolonged exposure to high vibrations and noise levels can result in operator fatigue Powerful, light-weight & which compromises safety ergonomic RTEX pneumatic breaker with dust control from and productivity. To counter this, Atlas Copco has HAPS™ Atlas Copco 28

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(Hand and Arm Protection Systems) enabled its pneumatic breakers. An efficient stroke mechanism with a Constant Pressure Chamber keep vibration levels below 5 m/s², increasing operator comfort and making it possible to extend working hours up to six-fold. In addition, the tools’ piston switches on air-cushions on both ends of the cylinder, almost fully eliminating metalto-metal contact when working off-load, thereby further shrinking vibration and wear. The pneumatic breakers are also fitted with a wearresistant polyurethane silencer that diminishes noise levels by up to 75% compared to a machine without a silencer.

The TEX light and RTEX medium pneumatic breakers will make light work of service jobs and general demolition tasks. Atlas Copco’s TEX heavy pneumatic breakers are recommended for heavy-duty demolition work on material such as asphalt and reinforced concrete.

Atlas Copco offers customers professional after-sales service to support the RTEX and TEX pneumatic breaker ranges with a high-quality range of Air Line accessories such as air hoses, hose nipples, couplings, water separators and Air Oil lubricants.

Africa

Consider it pumped with the WEDA from Atlas Copco “The popularity of these rugged and compact pumps amongst our customers urged Atlas Copco to extend the WEDA portfolio and to introduce a number of feature enhancements,” says David Stanford, Business Line Manager of Portable Products at Atlas Copco Power Technique. “In addition to the introduction of slurry pumps, the WEDA L series, the engineering group also expanded the WEDA D drainage pump and WEDA S sludge pump ranges. The WEDA series boast flow rates of up to 16,500l/min with power ratings up to 54kW and can manage water with specific gravity up to 1700kg/m3.”

WEDA D drainage pumps are designed to pump water containing abrasive solids of 4 to 12mm dia. Featuring a top-discharge function, these drainage pumps are capable of handling water with specific gravity to 1100kg/m3. For optimum flexibility, discharges can be mounted vertically or sideways as required. WEDA D pumps are ideal for an extensive range of applications such as ground and raw water removal,

excavation and open pit dewatering as well as storm water and flood control.

Highly suited to tough conditions, the WEDA S range is capable of pumping sludge, light slurry and muddy water containing abrasive and larger solids of 25 to 50mm dia. These pumps can handle the dewatering of liquid sludge, thick, soft, wet mud or other similar viscous mixtures of liquids and solids typically resulting from an industrial or refining process. With a bottom side discharging capability for the handling of water with specific gravity to 1400kg/m3 , WEDA S pumps are ideal for tank clean-out, agricultural product washdown pits and trench and pond cleaning.

Featuring unrivalled performance, efficiency, reliability and flexibility, Atlas Copco’s WEDA electric submersible pump series offers perfect dewatering solutions for the construction, industrial, agricultural, emergency and maintenance sectors.

The WEDA L slurry pumps are designed for the dewatering of abrasive media with a high solid content typically found in quarrying, mining or dredging applications. These pumps efficiently manage semi-liquid slurry mixtures usually made of fine particles of manure, cement or coal, and water. The large apertures of the rugged WEDA L series facilitate the Inventive

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Africa handling of slurry containing solids of 20 to 60mm dia. while the high-efficiency highchrome agitator facilitates the lifting of settled solids. Also using a bottom side discharge, WEDA L pumps manage water of specific gravity up to 1700kg/m3.

All pumps in the drainage (WEDA D) and slurry (WEDA S) ranges are available with WEDA+ features which include phase failure protection, rotation control, thermal switches and a 20m cable with phase shifter plug for all 3 phase pumps. The WEDA+ features are also available as an option on the L range.

“Atlas Copco has focused on not only optimising the performance of the WEDA series but also on making the pumps lighter, increasing their electrical safety, improving the seal design and simplifying installation and maintenance,”

notes Stanford. The more compact design, coupled with a 20% lower weight compared to similar products, simplify handling and transportation, making these pumps particularly suited for the rental market.

The pumps’ light weight is due to the use of unique aluminium alloy which also offers strength and corrosion resistance for seamless and reliable operation in harsh environments across all applications. These robust pumps feature rugged components, class F motors and class H electric motor insulation. The starter and motor protection system are built in, and a double silicon carbide mechanical seal prevents the ingress of contaminants. The pumps include adjustable wearresistant rubber diffusors, hardened high-chrome (55HRC) impellers and heavyduty bearings (that can withstand shocks and overloads) which further enhance pump durability.

Maintenance on these pumps is quick and hassle-free, keeping uptime to the max.

External oil inspection and grease- filling plugs are easy to access, and all pumps conveniently contain seal types appropriate to their size.

Atlas Copco supports WEDA pump customers across the southern African region through readily available products, parts and spares backed by exceptional service delivery from its team of skilled service technicians and strategic dealer network.

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Africa

Epiroc adds COVID-19 initiatives to its already bustling 2020 corporate social responsibility programme Epiroc has been hard at work supporting numerous deserving Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives (CSR) throughout 2020 and not even the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying restrictions and protocols could thwart the company’s enthusiasm. In fact the lockdown encouraged the Epiroc team to do even more!

“Epiroc is a company that is concerned about societal challenges and we walk the talk by getting involved in worthy programmes and offering sustainable solutions,” affirms Epiroc South Africa’s CSR Manager, Judy Vilakazi.

At the beginning of the year, Epiroc donated and handed over sanitary pads and 100

pairs of school shoes to learners at Bekekayo Farm School in Benoni on Johannesburg’s East Rand.

“We decided to kick off our 2020 programme with a school initiative because it perfectly aligns with our CSR focus areas of education, welfare and diversity,” explains Judy.

Q1 2020 also saw Epiroc employees supporting CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa), by wearing flip-flops and selling CHOC stickers as part of the Foundation’s awareness drive about childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases. In addition to the proceeds raised, Epiroc also made a donation towards CHOC’s home programme.

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Africa On 26th March, undaunted by the fact that the initial Level 5 lockdown was but a few hours away, Judy and her team were still hard at work delivering disinfectants and hand sanitisers. “We supported small business by purchasing the products from a local female entrepreneur and started our journey at Vita Nova, a residential facility that has been caring for over 100 disabled residents for more than 40 years. Driving around with Kwathema’s local ward councilor, we also managed to drop disinfectants and

Epiroc assisted schools in Limpopo through the Water for All initiative that promotes accessibility to potable water in rural areas 32

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sanitisers to the Children’s Home and Old Age Home in the area.”

The team’s last stop was two clinics in Kwathema where they handed out hand sanitisers and disinfectant to health workers as a token of appreciation for these front line workers who put their own lives at risk in helping others.

“We made a concerted effort to look out for and support COVID-19 initiatives and in so doing, play our part, however small, in helping to save the lives of our people,” says Judy.

Part of Epiroc’s COVID drive saw the donation of funds by the social development funding organisation, Tirisano Trust, to the South African Medical & Education Foundation (SAME). This was in response to the Department of Health’s mobilisation of private companies to assist with funding for additional hospital beds to accommodate potential COVID-19 patients.

During the initial lockdown period, Epiroc supported Government by donating money towards the printing of educational pamphlets that shared important information on COVID-19 in the country’s 11 official languages.

In July Epiroc joined hands with NGO, ACFS (Community Education & Feeding Scheme), supporting the Tsakane teenage girls’ programme through the donation of Palesa sanitary pads. “We decided to embrace this initiative because the programme creates awareness of

Africa well-being specific to women and shares health education on for example reproductive organs, the menstrual cycle, etc. with the teenage girls,” adds Judy.

Epiroc assisted schools in Limpopo through Water for All, an employee driven initiative that finances the installation of infrastructure and facilities that promote accessibility to clean, potable water for disadvantaged communities in rural areas.

Staying in Limpopo, other ongoing initiatives that are keeping the Epiroc team busy include the renovation of a rehabilitation centre as well as old age home in Limpopo.

Judy explains that the old age home, based in Makopane, is non-compliant due to overcrowding and is therefore not eligible for the much-needed social development grant. Epiroc donated Wendy houses which are being erected on adjoining land to provide additional accommodation and help separate the elderly residents. “Once construction has been completed the home will re-apply for the grant and we sincerely hope that they will be successful.”

“We are undertaking these initiatives in partnership with some of our mining customers in the Limpopo region,” says Judy. “We believe that sustainable CSR initiatives present a three-way win, benefitting first and foremost the beneficiaries but also the participating companies and employees.

The need out there is just so great and we therefore

Epiroc employees supported CHOC by wearing flip-flops and donating towards CHOC's home programme. encourage our customers to get involved with their communities and embrace deserving causes. By joining forces and putting our collective thoughts and purse-strings together, we can achieve so much more!”

Epiroc handed out disinfectants and hand sanitisers to Vita Nova just before Level 5 to help fight the Coronavirus Inventive

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Africa

Epiroc partner Railcare launches battery-powered railway maintenance vehicle Epiroc’s collaboration partner Railcare Group AB recently launched the world’s biggest battery-electric railway maintenance vehicle, using an Epiroc-developed technology platform.

Railcare's battery-powered railway maintenance vehicle, using Epiroc's battery technology platform Inventive 34 Construction News THE NEWS FOR THE BUSINESS IN CONSTRUCTION

Railcare, a Swedish manufacturer of machines that keep railways safe and clean, launched a battery-powered version of its Multi-Purpose Vehicle for rail maintenance applications. The new machine can be used to vacuum away stones, trash and other obstacles from the tracks, melt snow, as well as function as a towing vehicle for, among other things, ballast wagons during track work.

Epiroc, on the forefront of electric underground mining equipment, has developed a battery-electric technology platform that is modular and scalable, with batteries supplied

by Northvolt. Although the battery system is designed primarily with the mining industry in mind it is also well suited for other types of machines that operate in tough environments and are traditionally powered by diesel engines. As a result, Epiroc is providing its electric driveline technology to Railcare. Epiroc first announced the collaboration in February 2019.

“Railcare’s launch of a batteryelectric railway maintenance vehicle is a vital step forward in the global effort to reduce CO2 emissions,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “We are happy and proud that our battery-electric technology platform can be used for other important purposes beyond mining.”

“We chose to work with Epiroc in this project because they are leading the development of drivelines and battery-powered mining equipment,” says Daniel Öholm, Railcare’s CEO. “Our customers around the world have a huge demand for this type of solutions. Especially in city centers, tunnels, and mines where exhaust fumes and noise levels are a big environmental problem. This machine will be a game-changer for the entire railway industry.”

In another similar collaboration, Swedish equipment manufacturer Jama recently launched the world’s first battery-powered underground scaler, using Epiroc’s technology.

Africa

Extend the life of bearings through accurate lubrication using ultrasound technology from SKF Lubrication is critical to prolonging the life of bearings which in turn is fundamental to increased uptime and production and reduced operational costs.

“The importance of accurate lubrication cannot be overemphasised as both over- and under-lubrication can reduce bearing lifetime,” states Eddie Martens, SKF Product Manager, MaPro. He points out that overlubrication is wasteful; excess grease is costly and can also cause serious complications while under-lubrication can lead to premature bearing failure or allow contaminants into the bearing. “It is therefore surprising that relubrication is often carried out based on experience rather than making use of available modern technology.”

SKF offers a practical, easy-touse solution for accurate relubrication in the form of an Ultrasound Lubrication Checker, the TLGU 10. With a

simple connection to a grease gun and using ultrasonic technology, this intuitive device helps to improve the manual relubrication process by assisting the maintenance technician to dispense the

The SKF TLGU 10 is supplied as a kit_grease gun NOT included.

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Africa correct amount of lubricant into a bearing at the right time, subsequently maximising bearing performance and lifetime.

The TLGU 10 relies on a robust, repeatable ultrasound sensor which has been optimised for harsh conditions to effectively monitor the sound of lubricant filling the bearing. The device allows a technician to listen to this sound via headphones. The sound changes abruptly at the point where the correct amount of lubrication has been applied. In addition, a coloured display indicates noise levels, further simplifying use. “The combination of sound with visual displays helps the technician to re-lubricate the right amount quickly and with maximum accuracy,” notes Martens.

By making it a more practical, condition-based process, the ultrasonic sensor improves maintenance practices when re-lubricating bearings. Rather than using theoretical models or experience, a technician is now given accurate, real-time

Connected to a grease gun the intuitive TLGU 10 uses ultrasonic technology to improve the manual re-lubrication process.

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guidance on the progress of the re-lubrication process.

The TLGU 10 helps to avoid both under- and overlubrication and all the associated problems by ensuring accurate relubrication for optimum bearing performance and extended bearing life by reducing the likelihood of wear and failure, and ultimately improving the reliability of a customer’s assets.

SKF recommends Ultrasound Lubrication Checker for a range of bearing applications including electric motors, pumps, fans, compressors and conveyors.

The TLGU 10 is supplied as a kit. “The grease gun is not included in the scope of delivery of TLGU 10 but SKF offers a range of grease guns which can be purchased separately,” concludes Martens.

SKF’s mission is to be the undisputed leader in the bearing business. SKF offers solutions around the rotating shaft, including bearings, seals, lubrication, condition monitoring and maintenance services. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2019 were SEK 86 013 million and the number of employees was 43,360. www.skf.com ® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.

Africa

It's another resounding YES from Epiroc to youth empowerment!

Echoing a passionate belief in skills development and job creation for South Africa’s youth, Epiroc, a mining equipment and technology specialist, has taken a decision to once again support the merited YES4Youth (Youth Employment Services) Programme. “We are proud to be part of this inspirational initiative that provides interns with an ideal platform to gain hands-on experience in the workplace and further develop their skillsets,” comments Kathryn Coetzer, Regional Communications Manager for Epiroc South Africa.

Many young graduates, eager to start their working careers, are finding it extremely difficult to secure a job in today’s tough economic and high unemployment climate that is being further exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic. “The youth plays a critical role in shaping our country and economy and they must therefore be afforded every opportunity to gain valuable skills which they can take forward into

meaningful careers,” says Coetzer. “We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to engage with talented people and build our employer brand in South Africa. YES4Youth is a great mechanism to help us do that. It gives us an ideal opportunity to play an active role in addressing the socioeconomic challenge of high unemployment in South Africa by providing work experience to some of our country’s youth over a 12month period which we believe will make it easier for them to find permanent Kathryn Coetzer_ YES4Youth employment.” is a great opportunity to play an active role in addressing YES is a not-for-profit high unemployment in business-led collaboration South Africa with Government and labour that provides for and institutes Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) with the objective of creating one million work opportunities for the youth in South Africa.

In 2019 Epiroc engaged with 33 unemployed matriculants, TVET learners as well as university graduates who were placed across a variety Inventive

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Africa of functions within the company’s HR, Communications, Finance, Sales and Supply Chain departments. Coetzer notes that while there is no guarantee of placement at the end of the YES Programme, three of their Supply Chain learners were offered permanent positions with Epiroc’s Regional Distribution Centre. “However, we experienced a high turnover with the university graduates, a handful leaving for permanent positions within the mining industry. We trust that we made a positive impact during their time with us and that they will hold Epiroc top-of-mind as they grow within the industry and even become future Epiroc customers.”

In selecting the most suitable interns for the 12-month Programme, Epiroc followed the strict YES criteria which dictate that the unemployed candidates should be passionate and talented previously disadvantaged South African citizens aged between 18 – 35 years.

Discussing some of the Programme’s challenges,

Epiroc bids farewell to the 2018-2019 Youth Programme interns.

Inventive 38 Construction News THE NEWS FOR THE BUSINESS IN CONSTRUCTION

Coetzer notes that they find the initial interview process to be really difficult. “Youth are expected to sell themselves as the top candidate but they have limited career experience and grades are not necessarily a good predictor of workplace success. To overcome this hurdle we steer our interviews in a different direction, giving the candidates an opportunity to engage in other activities where they can showcase their communication, leadership and problemsolving skills.”

This year Epiroc will provide 60 unemployed youth with opportunities ranging from formal participation in YES4Youth to a structured Learnership or Apprenticeship Programme. “By the end of July we had already signed on 40 interns placed in our HR, Finance, Parts & Service, Sales & Marketing departments with the majority working ‘virtually’ with their teams at head office,” explains Coetzer. “We also actively sought out talent in the Kuruman area and we are very excited to now have a young woman on board for the next 12 months to assist with building relationships with and marketing our products to mining customers in the area.” The smartly structured YES internship gives interns the opportunity to gain both practical and theoretical knowledge, depending on their allocated roles within Epiroc. Coetzer points out that in addition to learning about the business world, the selected YES interns also earn a stipend.

Epiroc will encourage those 2020 interns who excel at their tasks to apply for

Africa vacancies within the company.

Coetzer who actively recruits youth for Apprenticeships, YES Placements, and Learnerships, shares a few tips to assist candidates when applying for a permanent job.

“Some of the more common mistakes we see include not forwarding a motivational letter to accompany a CV application, especially when it has been listed as a minimum requirement, spelling mistakes, and parents forwarding an application on their child’s behalf. We also strongly advise against spamming or copying multiple recruiters on a single email when forwarding their CV and then having to ask when a recruiter calls for which internship it is.”

Avoiding these, Coetzer advises, can make all the difference between an application being successful or unsuccessful.

Candidates must also bear in mind that recruiters often have to build a shortlist from scanning hundreds of CVs to check for minimum requirements. “Personally I try to identify a sense of a candidate’s personality in their CV or application and it is so refreshing to find a CV where some thought and effort has gone into expressing one’s personal brand through a photo (not a selfie please!) of the candidate, a well written introduction or a really well executed elevator pitch,” continues Coetzer. “This year we actively stalked youth on LinkedIn and I cannot stress enough the advantage those candidates with a wellstructured profile on this

platform have.”

In successfully implementing the programme Epiroc has Programmes like YES4Youth advanced a B-BBEE level and and other B-BBEE Skills is now proudly a B-BBEE Development initiatives better Level 2 Contributor. enable Epiroc to actively participate in the communities within which the company operates. “They also provide us with a pool of passionate people who understand our business and our culture, to recruit from,” adds Coetzer.

The Yes4Youth presents a winwin scenario as the programme not only empowers interns through unparalleled work experience but also delivers benefits to companies who embrace and invest in this initiative including qualifying companies for discretionary grants.

“We look forward to working with all our interns and we encourage them to make the most of this opportunity and learn as much as they can about the working world. We are confident that we will provide them with the perfect springboard to launch successful job applications and careers,” concludes Coetzer.

Some of the interns participating in Epiroc's 2020 youth programmes Inventive

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Africa

SKF Internal Bearing Puller Kits for safe, hassle-free bearing dismount The SKF TMIP and TMIC Series of Internal Bearing Puller Kits are designed for dismounting of bearings from housings in applications where the fit is on the outer ring.

Manufactured from high strength materials for optimum robustness and durability, the Internal Bearing Pullers are designed for a

All the items that make up the Internal Bearing Puller kits are packed in a robust carrying case for user speed and convenience 40

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wide range of bearing bore diameters and boast a unique SKF design that reduces dismounting time while keeping safety top of mind.

Ergonomically designed for enhanced user safety, the sliding hammer allows high impact forces to be applied.

Three kits make up the SKF TMIP Series for dismounting of bearings with bore diameters of between 7 to 28 mm, 30 to 60 mm and 7 to 60 mm presented by the recently unveiled TMIP 7-60 Internal Bearing Puller. The SKF TMIP pullers are manufactured from high strength chrome-coated engi¬neering steel for optimum strength, corrosion protection and durability.

The patented SKF TMIP 7-60 Puller kit includes two ergonomic sliding ham¬mers that match the extrac-tor type used as well as a selection of spring operated extractors which have been specially designed according to bearing bore diameter profiles. “Unlike most Internal Bearing Pullers available on the market, the TMIP 7-60

Africa Puller kit’s spring loaded extractors have been designed for fast, easy fitting to the inner ring in just one quick action,” states SKF Product Manager, MaPro, Eddie Martens.

Martens explains that the TMIP 7-60 is extremely straightforward to use: “After selecting and threading the appropriate extractor on to the matching slid¬ing hammer, it is inserted through an opening in the inner ring, fixating itself behind the inner ring with a strong and secure grip, thanks to the special claw design, allowing a high puller force to be applied.

Sliding the hammer towards the handle generates a high impact pulling force enabling the safe dismounting of the bearing in a very short time. ”The TMIP 7-60 is basically a

com¬bination of the TMIP 728 and TMIP 30-60 in one, offering our customers wider bearing coverage,” concludes Martens.

The TMIC Internal Puller series is suited for bearing bore diameters of between 7 to 28 mm. The Puller features an expandable collet design made of high strength materials and is designed for applications where there is only a limited space to grip behind the bearing.

For user speed and convenience, all the items that make up the Puller kits are packed in a robust carrying case complete with clear, easy-to-understand operating instructions.

SKF Internal Bearing Pullers are designed for a wide range of bearing bore diameters Inventive

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Africa

Accelerating the electric vehicle development As the global automotive industry faces its most significant transformation for a century, SKF's capabilities support the industry in overcoming challenges and taking advantage of opportunities within electric vehicles.

Passenger electric vehicle (BEV) sales reached 2.1 million vehicles in 2019, up from less than half a million five years earlier. Despite a short-term fall in sales at the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic, demand for EVs remains strong and sales are rebounding.

Around the world, the electrification of passenger transport is picking up momentum. As part of their commitments to the Paris agreement on climate change, a growing number of countries are set to phase out the production of new combustion-engine vehicles over the next two decades. Public opinion is also enabling major cities to start imposing bans or extra charges on fossil-fuel vehicles to improve local air quality.

In several important markets, including China and Germany, governments have increased or extended purchase incentives for new energy vehicles as part of their post-pandemic crisis economic stimulus programmes.

Industry analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance expects sales to reach 8.5 million vehicles by 2025, and to pass the 50 million mark before 2040.

SKF-edrive-ball-bearings Inventive 42 Construction News THE NEWS FOR THE BUSINESS IN CONSTRUCTION

Extreme rotation speeds place increased demand on bearings Electric vehicle powertrains may be mechanically simpler than their combustion-engine counterparts. But building an

efficient, reliable and enjoyable electric drivetrain is extremely challenging.

“Motors used in automotive applications are designed to operate at very high speeds. For example, traction motors used in EVs rotate today at up to 20,000 RPM, and are expected to reach up to 25-30,000 RPM in future designs, as engineers strive to improve performance, whilst at the same time minimising the size and weight of powertrain components” explains Hugh Zhu, Manager Product Development DGBB at SKF. This race for higher rotational speed ratio prompts challenging and demanding conditions on the bearings used in EV transmissions. Although the number of bearings is about the same in an E-axle compared to a traditional one, the technical challenge is higher than before.

To withstand high centrifugal forces, and minimize self-heating generated by rapid rotation, these bearings require specialized cage designs, internal geometry and lubricant characteristics. Manufacturers also need them to operate reliably for the design-life of the vehicle, around ten years or 300,000 km today, and up to 500,000 km or even more in a near future.

Speed isn’t the only challenge, though. High and fast switching voltages of the electric motor inverter bring a greatly

Africa increased risk of stray currents in powertrain components. If they pass through conventional steel bearings, such currents can damage their surfaces, leading to higher friction, increased vibration and early failure. That’s where ceramic bearings come in.

Hybrid bearings with highclass performance SKF has been helping the automotive industry meet these challenges since the beginning of the EV revolution. That’s why many OEMs in Asia, Europe and North America alike have selected SKF bearings as part of their electric drivetrain set-up.

SKF hybrid Deep Groove Ball Bearings (DGBB), for example, use ceramic rolling elements and steel rings. Bearings of this type offer improved high-speed performance and best-in-class electrical insulation characteristics, making them the premium choice for high performance EV powertrains. In addition, SKF is also developing tailored solutions to mitigate current leakage at system level and to protect the entire EV transmission.

Investing in the leading EV market EV manufacturers don’t just need high-performing products.

They also require supply chains and engineering capabilities that fit well with their manufacturing and product development footprint. China has become the world’s most important electric vehicle market, both in terms of demand and supply. It is also a key source for components for carmakers around the world. In short: to be a significant player on the EV market, component suppliers need to be successful in China.

SKF has adopted a full value chain approach here, investing in product development,

manufacturing and testing targeting the local EV market.

For example, the Group has invested SEK 770 million over the past two years in expanding its DGBB manufacturing capabilities in Xinchang. The site has also become the company’s global R&D centre for these bearings, enabling greater flexibility and speed when developing bearings for the fastpaced EV market.

Application-specific engineering In addition to its product development work, the SKF technical centre also supports car makers in applicationspecific engineering. One area of particular interest for this market is noise and vibration.

“An EV is much quieter than a conventional car, so even small amounts of noise from the powertrain become noticeable,” explains Hugh Zhu, Manager Product Development DGBB at SKF. “Our expert teams work with leading international automakers to identify sources of undesirable noise and develop ways to address them at both bearing and system level to ultimately improve the experience of the end-user.”

Application-specific engineering and close cooperation with customers at early phase of the electric powertrain development also allows to design high efficiency bearing solutions and arrangement in order to decrease overall system power losses and therefore maximize vehicle electric mileage.

Carmakers are set to launch around 450 new battery and plug-in-hybrid vehicle models over the next two years. SKF has the technical, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities needed to support the sector’s Hugh Zhu_ accelerating growth.

Manager Product Development DGBB (Deep Groove Ball Bearings) at SKF. Inventive

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Africa

AI, agility and accessibility: customer-driven R&D at SKF Renewed focus on usability and customer needs changes the way SKF conducts its research and development activities

“Our business in the midst of a massive change: from a product-selling company to a function provider,” says Victoria van Camp, CTO and President, Innovation and Business Development at SKF. “We want to provide our customers with what they actually need. That isn’t lots of bearings, it’s machines that run and run.”

This shift in strategic direction reflects wider changes in society, she explains, with industries from music retail to mobility all moving to models where customers pay only for the services they consume.

The new strategy is encouraging every part of the company to rethink the way it works, says van Camp, and that includes SKF’s core research and development functions. Becoming a service provider rather than a product manufacturer requires “a completely different mind-set in R&D,” she says. “If you are responsible for the performance of a customer’s machine over its lifetime, you need a much deeper

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understanding of how your products are being used in that machine. Are they continually exposed to hot, corrosive chemicals? Are they being hit with a hammer during installation?”

Usability first One result of the change is a new focus on making products more accessible and easier to use. That can involve combining commonly used products together, so they are simpler to buy, manage and install. Here, van Camp cites the example of bearing housings supplied with integrated seals. It also includes SKF Bearing Assist, a mobile app that provides guidance for mounting a new bearing. The app walks users step-by-step through the best process for their specific bearing and generates an installation report that can be stored with company maintenance records or held in the SKF cloud, making future maintenance and replacement easier.

The company is also working on new products designed

Africa with usability in mind, such as bearing housings that can tell the operator when they are properly aligned.

“Even a small misalignment can significantly reduce the life of a bearing, but these products are often installed in inaccessible places or difficult conditions like underground mines,” says van Camp. “We want to make it easier for our customers to get those tasks right.”

Learning from data SKF is also making better use of the huge quantities of data generated by modern industrial products. Bearings can be equipped with sensors that measure temperature and vibration.

Connected machines and digital management tools can generate detailed records of the way equipment is used and maintained. But turning that data into “machines that run and run” is a different kind of challenge.

“Our engineers are experts at analysing performance data, but SKF produces billions of bearings every year,” says van Camp. “When we started to think about applying those approaches to everything we make, it quickly became obvious that the task was too big for even an army of human analysts. The only way you can do it is with artificial intelligence.

That realisation quickly led to another. “We had people inside the organization working on AI systems, but we recognised that building the capabilities we needed, at the speed we needed to do

it, would require outside expertise,” she says.

” SKF’s mission is to be the undisputed leader in the bearing business. SKF offers Adopting a more solutions around the rotating collaborative approach to shaft, including bearings, R&D was a big change for a seals, lubrication, condition 113-year-old company with a monitoring and maintenance strong track-record of services. SKF is represented independent research but in more than 130 countries engaging with the wider and has around 17,000 world began to pay dividends distributor locations very quickly. The SKF AI worldwide. Annual sales in group made contact with 2019 were SEK 86 013 Presenso, a start-up based in million and the number of Israel, which was working on employees was 43,360. the application of automated www.skf.com machine learning in industrial reliability.

“It was immediately clear that there was a good fit between what Presenso was doing, and what we wanted,” says van Camp. “They had a great product and, as importantly, they had a deep understanding of our markets. One of the company’s founders is a mathematician and statistician, the other is a mechanical engineer who specialises in reliability.” The match turned out so well that SKF acquired the Israeli company in October 2019.

SKF industrial customers are already benefitting directly from Presenso technology, which can automatically sift through the data generated by a factory, spotting issues and improvement opportunities. But for van Camp, the real power of the AI-driven approach will come from its application to the aggregated data SKF collects from thousands of customer sites.

“Our engineers spend a lot of time investigating products Inventive

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Africa ® SKF is a registered that fail in the field,” she says. trademark of the SKF Group. “But the overwhelming majority of our products don’t fail, they outlast the machines in which they are installed.” By analysing big populations of bearings in the field, AI technology can identify the specific issues associated with higher rates of failure, helping SKF to fine tune its research, and making customers’ machines perform better.

“In a paper mill, for example, you may have hundreds of bearings in rollers and conveyors, all working in a hot, wet environment and in the presence of aggressive chemicals,” says van Camp.

“Corrosion is a potential problem for those bearings, and we have invested a lot of time developing special coatings and barriers to prolong the life of our products. Now, using machine learning and AI, we can look much more deeply at what is going on in those plants, and differentiate the places where a standard product will work well from the few cases where you need a more specialised solution.”

Assist app, to provide better support for those customers.

“With Bearing Assist, even a relatively inexperienced member of staff can work like an expert,” she says.

The success of Bearing Assist and other projects during Covid-19 has also accelerated SKF’s transition to a more agile approach to research and product development.

“We used to have a rigid roadmap outlining our plans up to five years in the future,” says van Camp. “Now our R&D teams are much more focused on addressing our customers’ most pressing challenges, with the aim of releasing new solutions in weeks or months.

Innovating through the crisis While SKF’s new strategy was under way before the coronavirus pandemic, the crisis has proved to be a catalyst for further change.

“Lockdowns were extremely challenging for many of our customers,” says van Camp.

“They needed to keep their operations running despite personal shortages and access restrictions.”

SKF brought forward the launch of new products and services, such as its Bearing 46

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Victoria van Camp, CTO and President, Innovation and Business Development at SKF

International

JCB launched its first electric dumper, tele handler Machines are marketed as clean air alternatives to diesel versions.

The JCB electric tele handler.

JCB has unveiled its first-ever electric versions of site dumper and tele handler – expanding its portfolio from the one-tonne excavator launched in 2018 and its small tracked dumpster in the E-Tech category.

The company's six metre/2.5 tonne compact tele handler is capable of recharging the battery in 8 hours using a standard 240V, 16A electrical supply. It can be topped up using the fast charger in 35 minutes.

JCB is launching a new universal stand-alone charger unit that can recharge the 19C-1E electric mini excavator from zero charge to full in just 2.5 hours. The gadget can be used to top-

up machines during lunch breaks or when they are not in use.

According to JCB Chief Innovation Officer Tim Burnhope, the company has taken a ground-breaking lead in the change to electric propulsion in construction machinery with its 19C-1E mini excavator.

“As world market leader for telescopic handlers, the launch of the JCB 525-60E Load all takes equipment electrification further, offering a zero emissions load handling solution with no compromise in performance or productivity,” he said.

“We have seen demand continue to grow as many of our customers have already taken fleets of lithium-ion Inventive

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International powered forklift trucks,” Mr McNally said.

The machines are marketed as clean air and low noise alternatives to the dieselpowered apparatus. They are said to deliver optimum uptime and availability due to their reduced maintenance requirements.

The JCB electric dumper.

Jason McNally, Managing Director at Bennie Equipment – which bought one of the electric tele handlers within minutes of the launch, said many companies view lithiumion powered equipment as the future.

“I think the uptake for lithiumion started very slowly due to the cost vs alternative power options on the market, but the industry now seems to be looking at things differently and realising the lifetime costs of equipment rather than just headline pricing”.

Bennie said its new JCB 52560E will be available to hire throughout the U.K. from the end of January 2021 to “help our customers operate and deliver projects in a much greener way”.

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JCB machine that seals potholes in under 8 minutes operating costs by half.

New machine is four times faster than traditional methods.

The JCB Pothole Pro. British equipment maker JCB has designed a new highspeed pothole filler that can repair holes in less than eight minutes – four times faster than traditional methods.

Dubbed JCB Pothole Pro, the machine that has been tested in the UK is equipped with a sweeper/bucket and a hydraulic cropping tool that allow it to cut defects, crop pothole edges and clean holes.

By mechanising these tasks, which are ordinarily handled manually by pothole-filling crews, JCB says its Pothole Pro can save time while cutting The hydraulic cropper tool and the sweeper and bucket are mounted on an X12 Steel wrist tilt rotator, which is fitted to the two-piece boom of the JCB pothole filler.

The JCB Pothole repair machine is based on the company's Hydradig wheeled excavator and has three main attachments: a planer fitted with an integrated dust suppression unit; a 600mm hydraulic cropper tool; and a 1.2m-wide sweeper and bucket.

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According to JCB's chief innovation & growth officer Tim Burnhope, the JCB Pothole Pro can seal a pothole in less than eight minutes at an average cost of €33 per pothole – half of the standard €66.

He said the filler brings energy reductions, better recycling opportunities and greater safety while reducing the need for pothole-filling teams on site.

The JCB Pothole Pro, which has a top speed of 40kph, is designed to cut down to a maximum depth of 170mm (a pothole's average depth is 40mm) before the cropper tool squares off the edges of the damaged surface. After the cleaning and clearing of the hole, the machine moves forward with the second crew tarring and compacting the area.

Burnhope added that although a date is yet to be set for the JCB Pothole Pro to go into full production, the company was ready to fulfil orders from councils and contractors following the UK chancellor's pledge of €.177 billion to fix potholes on British highways.

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International

Zoomlion launch 'world's first' electric truck crane Founded in 1992, Zoomlion joined the list of the world's 10 largest equipment makers after selling $6.27 billion worth of equipment in 2019 – commanding a 3.1 per cent market share.

Zoomlion electric crane.

Zoomlion electric crane, which has a 25 tonne capacity model, was rolled off the production line at the company's Quantang Industrial Park in Changsha, Hunan, on May 7.

Chinese equipment manufacturer Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. has unveiled what it claims to be the world's first fully electric truck crane: the ZTC250N-EV. The ZTC250N-EV has a maximum speed of 90km/h and a claimed range of more than 260km, which meets the requirement of most construction tasks.

The sound level of the ZTC250N-EV during driving and operating does not exceed 65 decibel (dB). The intelligent control system equipped allows high-precise control for the machine.

The electric truck has a maximum grade ability of 50 per cent. The battery can fit standard charging units and industrial sockets to accommodate the diverse needs of customers. Zoomlion says the energy running costs of the electric truck crane can

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be reduced to only 35 per cent of diesel models in the same class with zero emissions at the point of use.

Zoomlion electric crane is powered using a lithium iron phosphate or lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) battery – which has a longer life and a more constant discharge voltage.

According to Wang Qitao, the technical director of engineering at Zoomlion, the ZTC250N-EV is the outcome of a partnership with prominent suppliers of green energy technology.

“We have partnered with the world's leading suppliers for green energy parts and tailored to the usage scenarios and working conditions of truck cranes. We equipped the truck crane with high energy storage density LFP battery, which is the safest in the world,” he said. ”The bodywork and chassis applied a ZIC intelligent collaborative control strategy, which combines the TCEMS high-efficiency energy management system and a BMS battery management system.”

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Toyota Breaks Ground for "Woven City" Construction of the prototype city of the future where all ecosystems are connected begins at the Higashi-Fuji site (Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Toyota City, Japan, February 23, 2021 -- Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Woven Planet Holdings, Inc. (Woven Planet), the Toyota Group company responsible for a wide range of mobility development projects, anchored in software, held a groundbreaking ceremony (Jichinsai) for the construction of Woven City at 11:00 a.m. on February 23 at the old vehicle yard adjacent to the former Higashi-Fuji Plant site of Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc. (TMEJ).

Along with Governor Heita Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture, Mayor Kenji Takamura of Susono City, and other guests representing the local community, the

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ceremony was attended by Toyota President Akio Toyoda, Woven Planet CEO James Kuffner, TMEJ President Kazuhiro Miyauchi, as well as others involved in the project.

Together, the leaders expressed their hopes for the safe start to construction.

"The Woven City project officially starts today,” said President Toyoda. “ Taking action as one has decided is never an easy task. I must express my deepest gratitude to all who have provided their whole-hearted support and cooperation to the project through today. The unwavering themes of the Woven City are 'humancentered,' 'a living laboratory' and 'ever-evolving.' Together

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International On Woven City's Facebook account, periodic status updates on the progress of the project will be posted.

with the support of our project partners, we will take on the challenge of creating a future where people of diverse backgrounds are able to live Woven City official Facebook happily." page (English) : www.facebook.com/WovenC TMEJ President Miyauchi ity.GL added, "I am deeply grateful for having had our HigashiWoven City official Facebook Fuji Plant operate here for 53 page (Japanese) : years with the support of the www.facebook.com/WovenC local community. The ity.JP knowledge and expertise we acquired from all of the Woven City official website : people who worked at the www.woven-city.global plant must be carried on into the next chapter. With the conviction that Woven City will stand not on mere empty land but where the history of the Higashi-Fuji Plant lies, I will offer the greatest possible collaboration in the future."

To prepare for an era in which all ecosystems that support everyday life are connected with data, Toyota announced the construction of the Woven City at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, United States in January.

Woven City aims to continuously create advancements that will help better society by accelerating the cycle of technology and development of services.

Woven City is a project that will demonstrate a human-

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centered approach to community development. In Toyota's shift from an automobile manufacturer to a mobility company, the project will bring new technology to life in a real-world environment across a wide range of areas, such as automated driving, personal mobility, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). It is expected to provide a number of opportunities for businesses and researchers around the world.

Woven City will have three types of streets interwoven with each other on the ground level, one dedicated to automated driving, one to pedestrians, and one to pedestrians with personal mobility vehicles. There will also be one underground road used to transport goods.

The community will start with roughly 360 residents, mainly senior citizens, families with young children, and inventors and will eventually have a population of more than 2,000 individuals including Toyota employees. The infrastructure of Woven City aims to create an environment where inventions with the potential to solve social issues are created on a timely basis.

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