EME Outlook - Issue 26

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EME

ISSUE 26

Project sponsor to Toyoda Gosei

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 20

Prague: A city on the rise

BALTIC CONNECTOR OY 94

Transforming the status quo

MEINHARDT FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY 110

FUTURE-TECH 116 Pioneering new-age thinking

The face of EME’s skylines

ALSO FEATURING: A G I S

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E M I R AT E S

G L A S S

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B A H R A I N

P H A R M A C Y

Business Travel Guides

A complete guide to EME’s leading business travel destinations

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P R A G U E

LYING AT the heart of Europe, Prague represents one of Europe’s finest cities. With architectural influences spanning back more than 1,000 years, the Czech capital houses an abundance of physical attractions and landmarks.

Staggeringly, there are 2,000 officially recognised architectural and artistic monuments in the city, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque, Rococo, Classical and Neoclassical. Baroque

Prague’s continental appeal has shot to the front of the grid, virtue of its subtle but extensive offering Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Joe Palliser

buildings are arguably Prague’s most renowned treasure – the Valdštejn and Clam-Gallas palaces, St. Nicholas Church, and the Antonín Dvořák Museum are particular highlights for visitors.

A vital economic and administrative centre, industries such as tourism and business travel continue to provide valuable contributions to Prague’s economy. According to a study by KPMG and Prague Convention Bureau,

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tourism accounted for €1.6 billion in revenue in 2016, around a third of the entire country’s overall performance in the industry. This represents around six or seven percent of the city’s income, with meetings accounting for around 15 percent of the total tourism sector.

This strong performance is reflected by increasing visitor numbers. Last year 7.5 million tourists entered the city, a marked jump of more than seven percent compared to 2016.

With so much to offer the business traveller, both professionally for meetings and events and in downtime with its architecture and many cultural sites, Prague looks set to continue growing what has become a vital industry to its economy.

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FACTS & FIGURES Languages: Area:

Czech 496 square kilometres

Population (2017): 2.1 million Currency:

Czech koruna

Time zone:

UTC+1

Dialling code:

+420

Internet TLD:

.cz

Climate:

Temperate

Highest recorded temperature:

37.8 °C

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20 See page

Our Business Travel section not only gives executives the complete guide to the world’s most popular and populous locations, but also gives said locations the perfect opportunity to showcase their own businesses, events, venues and services to a truly international audience and readership of more than 395,000 each month.

To share in this unrivalled exposure and to put your own offering on our map, then please contact our Sales Managers; Joe Palliser, Ryan Gray or Jordan Levey to find out more.

joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

jordan.levey@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 668

W E L C O M E New beginnings

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EME

The automotive sector has been a staple industry across Europe ever since the first cars came off the production line well over a hundred years ago. Last year, European automakers exported more than €138 billion of vehicles and collectively made almost 300 million models.

This relies on one of the most precise and complex supply chains of any industry, with the global automotive plastics market alone expected to hit $50 billion by 2024, more than double what it was worth just two years ago. Enter Toyoda Gosei Czech Republic, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of plastic, polyurethane and rubber car components. A relatively young company, established in 2001, it has experienced a rapid rise, and Jan Richter, the Company’s Vice President and General Manager of Corporate Services and HR, tells us what lies ahead.

Toyoda is one of several exclusive focusses on Europe & Middle East’s manufacturing industries to be featured in this issue, starting with a look at how AGIS is supplying high-grade steel to a resurgent construction sector in the GCC. Emirates Glass is another key supplier to this industry. I caught up with Executive President Rizwanulla Khan about the firm’s progress since he spoke to EME Outlook last September – a key focus for the Company this time being investment in innovation. Over in Europe, automotive seat supplier Coindu Romania, vehicle lighting specialist HELLA AUTOTECHNIK and aircraft producer Aero Vodochody complete our manufacturing coverage.

Two European gas pipeline projects form another key focus in this edition, starting with an in-depth look at Balticconnector, designed to integrate Finland into the continent’s gas market. CEO and President Herkko Plit outlines how it will open up the industry and enhance energy security in the region. Further south, and the Southern Gas Corridor project is also helping to diversify supply – we evaluate the ins and outs of what is expected to be a development costing more than $40 billion.

Rounding off our coverage are insights from Meinhardt Façade Technology, data centre specialist Future-Tech and two companies making waves in Bahrain’s medical space – non-profit organisation American Mission Hospital and Bahrain Pharmacy.

Finally, a nod towards outgoing Editorial Director Matt Staff, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with on more than one occasion. After years of dedication to EME Outlook, myself and Deputy Editor Jonathan Dyble will be continuing where he left off.

ISSUE 26

Project sponsor to Toyoda Gosei

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 00

Prague: A city on the rise

EME

BALTIC CONNECTOR OY 00

Transforming the status quo

ALSO FEATURING: A G I S

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E M I R AT E S

MEINHARDT FAÇADE

TECHNOLOGY 00 The face of EME’s skylines

G L A S S

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FUTURE-TECH 00 Pioneering new-age thinking

B A H R A I N

P H A R M A C Y

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Tom Wadlow tom.wadlow@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Jonathan Dyble jonathan.dyble@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

BUSINESS

Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com PROJECT DIRECTORS Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com HEAD OF PROJECTS Kane Weller kane.weller@outlookpublishing.com TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com SALES MANAGERS Joe Palliser joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Jordan Levey jordan.levey@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com PROJECT MANAGERS Ashley Parfitt ashley.parfitt@outlookpublishing.com Callam Waller callam.waller@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Lewis Bush lewis.bush@outlookpublishing.com Matt Cole-Wilkin matt.cole-wilkin@outlookpublishing.com Matthew Selby matthew.selby@outlookpublishing.com Richard Thomas richard.thomas@outlookpublishing.com Thomas Arnold thomas.arnold@outlookpublishing.com

ADMINISTRATION

Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office & Finance Manager: Sophia Curran sophia.curran@outlookpublishing.com Digital & IT: Hamit Saka Helpdesk: James Le-May

OUTLOOK PUBLISHING

Managing Director: Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com CONTACT Europe & Middle East Outlook 69-75 Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1UA, United Kingdom.

Sales: +44 (0) 1603 959 652 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1603 959 655 Email: tom.wadlow@outlookpublishing.com www.emeoutlookmag.com Follow us on Twitter - @EME_Outlook Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/emeoutlook

Tom Wadlow

Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing

Enjoy the issue!

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In this issue...

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NEWS

All the latest stories from Europe and the Middle East

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

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FINANCE

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CONSTRUCTION

The Export Opportunity in Saudi Arabia A potential opening for UK commerce Galvanising the GCC Steel Sector How AGIS continues to supply a resurgent construction industry

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F O C U S

OIL & GAS

Solving Europe’s Energy Dilemma Fuelling diversification and energy security with the Southern Gas Corridor

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES

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PRAGUE

A city on the rise

MADRID

The heart of Spain

SERBIA

An emerging tourism market

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H E A L T H C A R E

SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES

BAHRAIN PHARMACY 122 Bahrain’s Medical

Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

Guardian Diversifying to remain an industry leader

MANUFACTURING

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TOYODA GOSEI CZECH REPUBLIC

Powering Industry Part

by Part Ensuring excellence from behind the scenes

HELLA AUTOTECHNIK NOVA S.R.O Lighting up Europe’s Automotive Industry A mainstay of Czech industry

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BALTIC CONNECTOR OY

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Integrating Finland into the European Gas Market Transforming the status quo Pursuing an Upward Trajectory Defining Kuwait’s oil & gas Industry

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CONSTRUCTION

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EMIRATES GLASS

Investing in Innovation Building on a position of strength in the Middle East

AMERICAN MISSION HOSPITAL

A Non-Profit Healthcare Centurion Staying true to long-lasting ideals

MEINHARDT FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY

Shaping Façades Across Two Continents The face of EME’s skylines

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COINDU ROMANIA

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AERO VODOCHODY

Driving Europe Forward Making strides through savvy investment Excellence in Manoeuvrability Soaring for a century

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IP EXPO EUROPE

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AUTUMN FOOD SHOWS

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GULFHOST

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GULFOOD MANUFACTURING

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MIDDLE EAST ELECTRICITY

FUTURE-TECH

Leading the Data Centre Revolution Pioneering new-age thinking

F O C U S

Discovering the potential of IT innovation

The Speciality Food Festival, SEAFEX Middle East and yummex Middle East make up this year’s event assortment The complete hospitality equipment sourcing expo for the Middle East, Africa and Asia

Discussing the future of food and drink production

Accessing hard to reach markets

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Outlook Creative Services Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and Europe & Middle East Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

CONTACT DESIGN: Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

E D I TO R I A L : Matthew Staff +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 959 661 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

Phoebe Calver +44 (0) 1603 959 660 phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

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OIL & GAS

Qatargas Signs 22-Year LNG Purchase Agreement with PetroChina Qatargas, renowned as the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, has signed a 22-year long sale and purchase agreement with PetroChina International Company Ltd, a unit of PetroChina, to supply China with 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per annum.

“This is an important milestone for Qatargas. We are very pleased that LNG from Qatargas continues to contribute towards meeting the huge demand for energy in the world’s second largest economy,” said Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, CEO of Qatargas.

“With China expected to become one of the world’s largest gas markets, this sale and purchase agreement will further strengthen the existing relationship between Qatargas and PetroChina over the long-term.”

Having been established in 1984, Qatargas has grown exponentially.

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the world, particularly in Asia, as well as its unique position as the world’s largest LNG producer, supplying safely and reliably across the globe,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, and Chairman of the Qatargas Board of Directors.

The deal highlights China’s growing use of alternative fuels as the country Operating 14 LNG trains and a fleet has continued to step up its efforts in of major purpose-built vessels with combatting air pollution. As a result, it capacity of up to 152,000 cubic metres, is forecast that China will soon become the Company currently produces a major global gas market. approximately 77 million tonnes of The country’s total gas usage grew by LNG per year.

15 percent in 2017 alone, whilst national Meanwhile, PetroChina is equally LNG imports also rose by 46 percent to a one of the world’s biggest oil & gas record 38.1 million tonnes last year, with players, standing as China’s largest an expectation that these will exceed 65 gas supplier, accounting for roughly million tonnes by 2020.

66 percent of the country’s domestic “As we announce this long-term demand last year. sale and purchase agreement, we Ending in 2040, the agreement will look forward to continuing to supply see Qatargas supplying LNG from its reliable and clean energy to China and Qatargas 2 project, a joint venture to countries all over the world that between Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil seek to use the cleanest fossil fuel and Total, to a number of different available to meet their energy needs,” terminals across China, including those said Saad Sheriba Al-Kaabi. located in Dalian, Jiangsu, Tangshan The First Cargo is expected to and Shenzen. be delivered later this month, with “This agreement underscores Qatargas to leverage its fleet of 70 Qatar’s trusted capability in ensuring conventional, Q-Flex and Q-Max energy security to countries around vessels in doing so.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

EME TECHNOLOGY

Panasonic to Relocate its European Headquarters from UK to Amsterdam Global technology giant Panasonic has revealed that it will be moving its European headquarters from the UK to Amsterdam beginning 1 October this year.

The Japanese firm that recently showed off its latest products, developments and innovations during the annual Panasonic IFA conference held in Berlin last month revealed that the decision was motivated by concerns surrounding the UK’s exit from the European Union.

According to Laurent Abadie, CEO of Panasonic Europe, Panasonic may be subject to a greater tax hit in Japan should the UK decide to begin cutting corporate tax rates to attract businesses amidst the political

FOOD & DRINK

Starbucks Opens First Italian Store Starbucks this month officially opened its first ever location in Italy.

With 25,000 stores worldwide, the Company can now add Milan to its geographical footprint after opening its latest flagship branch in the city on 6 September, named the Milan Roastery.

The store’s sleek design resembles Italy’s famed fashion industry, with coffee roasting facilities also having been implemented within its four walls.

The outlet offers a wider range of products in excess of Starbuck’s usual offerings, with customers able to order pizza and alcoholic beverages alongside the Company’s staple and

uncertainty, a move that could leave Panasonic liable to paying higher rates in its home country.

The news follows similar announcements from other major global corporations including Airbus, with the UK’s exit from the EU, scheduled for March 2019, fast approaching.

Amsterdam itself has been selected as the alternate location due to the greater geographical synergies that it offers, with both the Company’s financing arm and holding company

for subsidiaries outside of Japan currently based here.

According to Panasonic, the move will affect fewer than 10 of its own employees. However, Panasonic’s own concerns may be a sign of what to expect for Japanese companies operating in the UK. With 800 Japanese firms currently employing more than 100,000 people in the UK, more of these companies could follow suit as we continue to move towards the March 2019 deadline.

development of our core store portfolio with our world-class licensee partner, Percassi.”

Spanning 25,000 square feet, the Milan Roastery is the third of its kind under the Starbucks brand, following the opening of the Seattle Roastery in 2014 and the Roastery in Shanghai that opened its doors in 2017.

The firm hired 300 employees in preparation of the Roastery’s opening, with each new staff member having been part of an intensive training course for three months in support premium Reserve brand products. of this.

“We have taken our time to ensure The move makes Italy Starbucks’ our entry into Italy is done thoughtfully 78th global market, coming 20 years and respectfully,” said Kevin Johnson, after it opened its first European store Chief Executive Officer, Starbucks. in London.

“The introduction of our Roastery In total, the Company now has and premium Reserve brand will strategic licenses to more than 3,100 set the stage for the long-term stores in 40 countries across Europe.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

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ENERGY

Oman Oil, Gulf Energy Sign Deal for 326MW Power Project Oman’s national petroleum investment company, Oman Oil Company, and Thailand’s Gulf Energy Development, one of the country’s largest power generation firms, have agreed a deal to develop the Duqm independent power and water project.

Located in the port town on the Arabian Sea, the gas-fired power project with a capacity of 326MW will be crucial to the local economy, costing $483mn to build.

“This prestigious project will be the first captive power plant developed

by Oman Oil’s infrastructure vertical,” Oman Oil said.

“It also highlights the integration approach which Oman Oil is developing through projects that would create added value through the whole energy chain.”

Oman Oil and its subsidiaries will hold a 55 percent stake in the project, whilst Guld Energy will be responsible for the remaining 45 percent interest.

The power plant is forecast to begin its first phase of operations in July 2020, with the facility set to be completely operational by May 2022.

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MANUFACTURING

Elementis to Acquire Mondo Minerals in $500 Million Deal Elementis, one of the UK’s largest speciality chemical companies, has revealed that it has agreed to acquire Mondo Minerals from US private equity firm Advent International in a deal worth $500 million, $100 million lower than the fee it had agreed in June.

Meanwhile, the two companies

have agreed in the revised deal that Elementis will pay up to $53 million depending on whether Mondo achieves certain performance targets by the end of 2020.

“Following engagement with our shareholders, we have agreed terms of a revised deal with Advent that we believe represents compelling value,” said Paul Waterman, CEO of Elementis.

Following completion of the deal, Elementis will leverage Amsterdambased Mondo’s expertise to enhance its development of talc additives – a key component within a multitude of manufacturing processes, including the development of cosmetics and plastics.

“We remain excited by Mondo’s prospects and the significant opportunities we believe this acquisition will unlock for Elementis,” Waterman added.

O I L & G A S

Transocean to Acquire Ocean Rig for $2.7 Billion The world’s largest offshore drilling contractor Transocean Ltd. has announced that it has agreed to acquire Greek oil rig and drillship operator Ocean Rig UDW in a deal worth $2.7 billion.

The merger will enhance Transocean’s position within the deepwater and harsh environment, expanding its fleet to 57 floaters.

Upon completion of the deal, Transocean shareholders will be responsible for approximately 79 percent of the combined Company, with Ocean Rig owning the remaining 21 percent.

“With this unparalleled fleet, the offshore drilling industry’s largest and

most profitable backlog totalling $12.5 billion, and approximately $3.7 billion in liquidity, we are well-equipped for the market recovery,” said Jeremy Thigpen, President and CEO of Transocean.

The transaction, expected to complete in the first quarter of 2019, is subject to customary closing condition and regulatory approvals, including the approval of both Ocean Rig and Transocean shareholders.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

EME TRANSPORT

F I N A N C E

UAE’s Careem Passes One Million Driver Mark

UAE to Invest $354 Billion in Three Key Sectors The United Arab Emirates has pledged to invest AED 1.3 trillion (USD$354 billion) in energy, utilities and transportation infrastructure during the course of the next 20 years, considered to be three key sectors by the government of the UAE. The financial plan is expected to play a major role in helping the national economy to develop and flourish, creating a significant number of new jobs throughout the UAE. The investments are largely

expected to go into the oil & gas, water and transportation sectors, with a significant amount of the oil & gas expenditure expected to come from Abu Dhabi, whilst Dubai will also be a major focal point.

J&P Avax with Italian firm Ghella and France’s Alstom Transport, and Greek contractor Aktor with Spain’s Ansaldo and Hitachi Rail Italy.

The extension comprises the building of another 13 kilomteres of tunnel and track and will be co-financed by European funds and Attiko Metro, Greece’s state-owned loans from the European Investment subway operator, has shortlisted Bank. three companies for a €1.5 billion Construction is expected to begin expansion of Thessaloniki’s next year with a timeframe of around underground rail system. eight years.

The bidding consortiums in the Thessaloniki’s metro has been running include Greek firm GEK Terna a story of delays ever since work with France’s Vinci and Siemens, began on the system back in 2006.

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Three Consortiums in Running for €1.5 Billion Greek Metro Expansion

Ride-hailing service Careem now has more than a million drivers using its platform, the Company has said in a recent blog post.

It is vying for market share against Uber in the Middle East and North Africa regions, and has hit its 2018 target a quarter early.

The blog post stated: “We are now creating between 60,000 and 70,000 jobs per month across more than 100 cities in 14 countries and our presence is having a positive socio-economic impact for the markets in which we operate.

“With more than 24 million consumers we are able to generate steady incomes for Captains on our platform.”

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Investcorp Acquires KO Office Campus in Germany Bahrain-based investment management firm Investcorp has acquired the KO Office Campus in Eschborn, Germany from Cilon AG in a deal valued at approximately €86 million.

“This transaction represents an important milestone in our European real estate focused growth initiative, and is testament to our confidence in the German market’s viability,” said Rishi Kapoor, Co-CEO of Investcorp.

The acquisition marks Investcorp’s second real estate investment in Germany, coming five months after the Company’s purchase of the Bürocampus Wangen based in Stuttgart, Germany in a joint venture with Continuum Capital Investment Management.

Both investments are part of the company’s wider pan-European real estate strategy, following its success in the UK.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

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The Export Opportunity in Saudi Arabia Simon Penney of the UK’s Department for International Trade discusses the emerging opportunities in Saudi Arabia as the country transforms in line with its Vision 2030 Written by: Simon Penny | Edited by: Jonathan Dyble

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ne of my priorities in my role as HM Trade Commissioner is to ensure that British businesses know about the opportunities that exist in the sectors and geographies across my region, and how the Department for International Trade (DIT) can help businesses succeed overseas.

Saudi Arabia has been mentioned more frequently in the past weeks and months, which is not surprising, as it has been a big year for bilateral relations between the Kingdoms.

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Just over a year ago, His Royal Highness Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Saud was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Billed as a reformer, he has been quick to make his mark on his home country and around the world. In November last year, Prime Minister Theresa May visited Saudi Arabia, and the courtesy was returned with a visit by the Crown Prince to the UK in March.

What I want to highlight is how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 – and the resulting closer ties between our two countries – presents a unique opportunity for UK businesses, underpinned by government support in the form of the newly launched Export Strategy, through DIT International Trade Advisers and through UK Export Finance.

Vision 2030

Vision 2030 - the Saudi programme of economic reform and modernisation - aims to diversify the economy away from a reliance on oil, while delivering greater inclusivity for Saudi citizens.

To achieve this, the Crown Prince has committed to a significant programme of economic diversification which will grow the domestic economy, and which provides opportunity for UK business. This includes a greater role for the private sector, changes to business licensing and regulation, and, on 1 January the introduction of five percent VAT.

The opportunity

As Saudi Arabia continues on this path of economic diversification, there are great opportunities for UK businesses to export our world-leading experience and expertise. You will find great interest in UK expertise, products and services, many of whom are already well-established in the Kingdom.

The government of the UK and the

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed a landmark ambition of £65 billion of mutual trade and investment over the next decade.

Often quoted are headline trade opportunities in healthcare, education, retail, energy and construction.

Businesses in those sectors would do well to carefully appraise the opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Entertainment, tourism and hospitality are sectors of significant growth. This is a new opportunity which I know the UK can excel in. From cinemas to luxury resorts, the appetite in these sectors will only increase.

And it’s an opportunity that’s far from exclusive to larger businesses.

Take Trent Furniture, a small business with its base in Leicester, in the Midlands. Simply by maintaining an online showroom, accessible to customers across the world, the company was able to expand its

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exporting portfolio to Saudi Arabia very soon after the announcement of the trading ambition by the two governments in March.

Before agreeing to the request from Siddique Al Imtiyaz to furnish its 200-person restaurant in Saudi Arabia, Trent Furniture approached DIT to secure the support of a local, Midlandsbased International Trade Adviser.

These advisers, located on the ground across the UK, and all with previous business experience setting up and managing exports, are an invaluable and underutilised resource for any business considering starting or growing their exporting capability.

Exporting to any country can pose questions, from navigating cultural issues and building business relationships, to ensuring legal compliance and securing trade finance.

International Trade Advisers can give practical advice to navigate these issues.

“This deal with a business in Saudi Arabia is a massive step for Trent Furniture, and it will act as a gateway to a potentially massive market. Our website was the key driver of the new business opportunity with the restaurant, but it was the Department for International Trade that helped us to deliver on it.

“Exporting can be a daunting process, especially if you’re going into a new market with new language and legal requirements. While there are initial hurdles to overcome, the rewards can be huge. If we can do it, so can you” – Robert Price, Director of Trent Furniture

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In this case, DIT assisted Trent Furniture with a certificate of conformity, a legal requirement for goods shipped into Saudi Arabia. They also supported in developing the client relationship, particularly around standards of invoicing.

British businesses can rely on support from DIT teams based in their local region, but they should know that our UK-based teams receive expert guidance from DIT colleagues based overseas at British Embassies and High Commissions all over the world. My team in Saudi Arabia have offices in the country’s three main commercial cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, and stand ready to help.

If a small furniture supplier in the Midlands can export to Saudi Arabia, what’s stopping you from doing the same?

Simon Penney is Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Department for International Trade.

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t is well-documented that Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries are seeking to diversify their economies to reduce dependence on oil exports.

Recent forecasts suggest the region’s GDP is set to grow by 2.4 percent through 2018, and 3.5 percent in 2019, a marked increase from the 0.1 percent recorded in 2017. Although a recovering oil price is the major driver of this, it is not the only factor in the equation.

Against this backdrop of an improving economic picture, industries outside of oil and petrochemicals are also picking up. Indeed, a report published by Oxford Economics in February 2018 cited one of the reasons for the GCC’s uptick in growth prospects as a revival in non-oil sector growth.

One such sector is steel. Growing at an annual rate of around eight percent, the GCC’s steel industry is supplying an ever-diversifying construction sector that is looking to prefabricated structures as a means of generating sustainable growth. Further, an

Galvanising the GCC Steel Sector AGIS CEO Abu Bucker Husain explains how the firm has established itself as a regional go-to supplier for the construction and fabrication industries Written by: Tom Wadlow

upsurge in tourism coupled with global events such as the Expo 2020 in Dubai and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has led to a demand for quick, economical construction solutions.

This is highlighted by another report

by IMARC, which found that the region’s prefabricated building and structural steel market reached a value of nearly $3 billion in 2017, a figure it forecasts will rise to $4.4 billion by 2023.

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Carving a niche

A crucial component of building construction and fabrication processes is galvanised steel.

Galvanised steel coils possess ideal properties of corrosion resistance, formation and coating that are required for roofing, doors and windows.

Located in Abu Dhabi, Al Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC (AGIS) is the first and only steel cold rolling and galvanising complex in the United Arab Emirates. Producing 400,000 tonnes per annum, the joint venture firm draws on the expertise of its two heavyweight parents.

“This is our biggest strength,” says AGIS CEO, Abu Bucker Husain. “Al Ghurair Group is one of the leading local business conglomerates in UAE with a well-established name.

“Similarly, Japan’s Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) is one of the biggest steel makers in the world, particularly known for its quality. A merger of these two big names reassures our customers of our quality and our service.”

Sourcing its raw materials like zinc from reputed steel mills and zinc smelters from around the world, AGIS has become a regional go-to for quality.

Abu Bucker Husain, CEO, AGIS

AGIS

A SOLID STRUCTURE AGIS is made up of two formidable parent companies: Al Guhrair Group – Dubai • 60-plus years of experience • Active in petrochemicals, metals, packaging and real estate industries MSSMC – Japan • World’s fourth largest steel producer • $2.7 billion of internal investment 2015-2017 • 800 R&D employees

Strategically placed

Convenience and speed of delivery has also attracted custom from clients in both the UAE and neighbouring countries, a vital element if the likes of Expo 2020 and the Qatar World Cup are to be ready in time.

From its UAE base staffed by more than 550 employees, AGIS manufactures and sells into 20 countries.

“Our competitive advantage is mainly in our local GCC market, because of our logistics and the market’s recognition of our local brand

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name,” Husain says. “Having said that, some of the global markets have also been regular buyers of our products in the last 10 years.”

Being stationed on the doorstep of Abu Dhabi’s industrial Khalifa Port is another logistical advantage. “For any manufacturing industry, as you can imagine, the infrastructure support is crucial,” Husain continues. “We buy all our raw material delivered to the Abu Dhabi port, which is only 45 kilometres away and we ship all our containers out of Jebel Ali.

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“By definition, the Middle East is right in the middle of the global map.

This makes us equidistant to all the major markets – Europe, Africa, the Sub-Continent and Australasia. This gives us an advantage in terms of shipment time and ocean freight.”

Fuelling future growth

If AGIS is to continue supplying the demand generated by the GCC’s expanding construction industry, further efficiencies and innovation will be crucial, and recent investment

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is already allowing the firm to take advantage.

In October 2016, it completed a major expansion to its galvanising line, a project which has doubled its capacity. Now, it is looking to increase the output of its milling facilities. “We are constantly evaluating the potential

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addition of new lines, increasing efficiencies and removing bottlenecks in our processes,” Husain says.

Beyond internal investment plans, the CEO points towards three more priorities – strategic tie-ups with major customers, procuring quality raw materials at the most competitive prices and attracting and retaining the best talent available.

Asked to summarise AGIS’s 2023 Vision, Husain simply concludes: “We want to be the leading galvaniser in the Middle East.”

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S O L V I N G

E U R O P E ’ S

E N E R G Y

D I L E M M A

Energy Dilemma Solving Europe’s

Finding a solution to Europe’s increasing reliance upon imported oil & gas through the Southern Gas Corridor Writter: Jonathan Dyble

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he Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is one of the most substantial oil & gas projects that has ever been seen.

Inaugurated by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan in the country’s Sangachal terminal at the end of May, construction of the SGC is now officially underway.

Set to become one of Europe’s largest pipelines, the Sangachal facility is the first in a line of terminals across the continent that will be extensively supplied with gas from the BP-operated Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea – a major gas resource base that is closely associated with the Southern Gas Corridor.

Comprised of several separate pipeline projects, the SGC will include an expansion to the existing South Caucasus Pipeline (692 kilometres) alongside the construction of the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (1,841 kilometres) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (878 kilometres), spanning a total 3,500 kilometres across seven countries.

The corridor will stretch from the

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Declining Russian dependence CRUDE OIL 2005:

30.5% 2015:

27.7% NATURAL GAS 2005:

34.6% 2015:

29.4% Caspian Sea, through Azerbaijan and Georgia, with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline then splitting in western Turkey where one route will lead to Southern Italy via the Trans Adriatic

Pipeline, whilst the other will travel up through Eastern Europe, connecting to the Nabucco West Pipeline.

With an estimated price tag of more than $40 billion, the entire project is expected to provide 10 billion cubic metres of gas (bcm) to the continent annually, with scope for this to rise to 100 bcm per year in the future.

Diversification and security

The SGC will be key for the EU in achieving two of its major long-term goals within the oil & gas market – providing greater security and increasing the diversity of Europe’s energy supply.

Outlining its energy strategy in June of last year, the European Comission stated that it is “committed to the Energy Union objectives, including energy security. The priority is to create a welldiversified and competitive gas market.

The work to consequently dismantle barriers to trade and supporting critical gas infrastructure is ongoing.”

As has been outlined by the EU within its European Energy Security and Energy Union strategies, the pipeline project

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offers outstanding potential for solving the region’s current predicament of reducing its dependence on imported gas.

According to statistics supplied by the EU, approximately 54 percent of the EU’s gross inland energy consumption comes from imported sources.

With this in mind, the EU has pledged to place any existing and future projects surrounding the SGC on the Projects of Common Interest list that stands to offer unrestricted benefits such as streamlined permitting processes and preferential regulatory treatment.

Solving scepticism

The continent’s dependence on imported oil has long been a source of apprehension for the EU, particularly in regard to its reliance on Russian assets.

According to EU statistics for 2015, Russia supplied 27.7 percent of extra crude and 29.4 percent of extra natural gas imports for the 28 member states – percentages that provide some

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imported crude oil and natural gas down from 30.5 percent and 34.6 percent respectively.

This fall can largely be attributed to the range of alternative investment initiatives that have been pursued by the EU after it laid out a €5.35 billion budget for trans-European energy infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility.

“The Energy Union diversification strategy develops around priorities such as the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, the development of a liquid gas hub in the Mediterranean and through promoting access to liquefied natural gas and gas storage for which the Commission adopted a strategy in February 2016,” the European Commission states.

One such example is where the EU awarded a €101.4 million grant to the development of a new LNG terminal in Krka, Croatia, a project that will operate as an offshore floating storage The Southern and regasification unit with an annual Gas Corridor capacity of two bcm.

Speaking during this announcement LENGTH in December 2017, European Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said: “This investment will not only allow for the supply of natural gas COST to Croatia and Hungary; it will also increase the diversification of energy sources of Central and South Eastern Europe, and give an economic lift to the region.”

CAPACITY Further, between 2005-2015, the Up to EU’s production of renewable energy alternatives increased by 71 percent, bcm per year driven by both increasing emphasis on clean energy and the falling cost of STAKEHOLDERS investments.

Moving forward, the SGC is not governments only expected to continue this trend and companies but also play a major part in providing key alternatives and accelerate the reduction of the EU’s dependence on insight into the political and economic imported fuels, ensuring that one of leverage that this provides the country. the continent’s vital energy sources Despite still being high these figures can be reliably accessed for decades to have fallen since 2005, with Russian come.

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P R A G U E

LYING AT the heart of Europe, Prague represents one of Europe’s finest cities. With architectural influences spanning back more than 1,000 years, the Czech capital houses an abundance of physical attractions and landmarks.

Staggeringly, there are 2,000 officially recognised architectural and artistic monuments in the city, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque, Rococo, Classical and Neoclassical. Baroque

Situated in the heart of Europe, the Czech capital continues to grow and develop its offering for business and leisure travellers alike Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Joe Palliser

buildings are arguably Prague’s most renowned treasure – the Valdštejn and Clam-Gallas palaces, St. Nicholas Church, and the Antonín Dvořák Museum are particular highlights for visitors.

A vital economic and administrative centre, industries such as tourism and business travel continue to provide valuable contributions to Prague’s economy. According to a study by KPMG and Prague Convention Bureau,

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tourism accounted for €1.6 billion in revenue in 2016, around a third of the entire country’s overall performance in the industry. This represents around six or seven percent of the city’s income, with meetings accounting for around 15 percent of the total tourism sector.

This strong performance is reflected by increasing visitor numbers. Last year 7.5 million tourists entered the city, a marked jump of more than seven percent compared to 2016.

With so much to offer the business traveller, both professionally for meetings and events and in downtime with its architecture and many cultural sites, Prague looks set to continue growing what has become a vital industry to its economy.

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FACTS & FIGURES Languages: Area:

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Feel the change SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND NEW-LOOK PREMISES Being the largest congress centre in the Czech Republic, the Prague Congress Centre (PCC) retains its prestige not only for its size, tradition and business success but it stands-out among the competition also for its environmental awareness. At the PCC we realise that the future is about treating the planet responsibly therefore we take concerted steps to be green and to run our business sustainably.

We also believe that happy people do a great job. That is why we focus on the needs of our staff ensuring a pleasant working environment for them to fulfil their goals. Ultimately, we see ourselves as a modern, eco-friendly and attractive venue where organisers are proud to hold their prestigious conferences and congresses; and where employees do their best to provide excellent services.

Fresh air was brought to the Prague Congress Centre two years ago when a large reconstruction of the technical background started and an architectural urban design competition to expand the Prague Congress Centre was announced. To date the technical reconstruction was completed and enables annual savings of 855 thousand EUR and cuts down the annual operating costs by at least 30% due to the installation of energy-saving technologies and precisely controlled effectiveness of using the produced energy. What we managed to save (9 740 945 kWh) equals the average annual consumption of 5013 households. The total

transformation of the building continued last year and included cleaning and renovation of the facade, refurbishment of main halls, corridors, foyers and toilets. The centre also got a new information centre at the main entrance. To keep up with the high-tech age approximately 180 Wi-Fi points and 2,000 data slots were installed throughout the building as well as a new digital information and navigation system. Caring for the safety of our costumers we also strengthened our security. Feel the change.

GLAMOROUS HISTORY The building was opened in 1981 on one of the most attractive plots of Prague. With a breathtaking view of Prague Castle, the symbol of the Czech dignity, tthe location in the centre of the city is still less than 30 minutes from the airport, giving the building exquisite status.

Built with the best available materials and a generous approach, the building is full of artistic glass chandeliers, oil and graphic paintings and tapestries. Most of the art has been preserved and the visitors of the Prague Congress Centre can not only enjoy the variability of the space of 20 conference halls and 50 meeting rooms, but also admire art pieces by world-renowned Czech glass artists and painters.

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The Business End PRAGUE’S ECONOMY has shifted from manufacturing and traditional industry into services over the past few decades, as highlighted by its growing tourism market.

However, new businesses continue to enter the city, including manufacturers of high-tech goods.

In August 2018, Japanese company Advanex, producing a range of metal components suitable for the automotive and medical markets, announced the opening of a new factory in Prague for August 2018. The new factory will focus on manufacturing deep drawn, microsprings and plastic over moulding components.

Prague Convention Bureau outlines further recent investment into the city: “In autumn 2017, the Belarusian company Wargaming, which developed

World renowned automotive manufacturer Ford Motor Company moved its training centre to Prague at the beginning of 2018

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the well-known PC game World of Tanks, opened a branch in Prague. The Prague branch should become one of the biggest offices of the Company in the following years.

“Ford Motor Company, a worldknown automobile manufacturer, moved its training centre to Prague in the beginning of 2018. Previously, the centre was based in the Central Bohemian Region.”

With promising technology and automotive business activity occurring in recent months, Prague clearly offers an attractive environment for organisations across diverse industries to invest. Indeed, a recent report released by the World Bank found that Prague outperforms other Czech cities when it comes to its business regulatory environment. In short, it is the easiest place to do business in the country.

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P R A G U E

Prague Convention Bureau PRAGUE CONVENTION Bureau (PCB) was established in 2008 as a joint initiative and non-profit organisation devoted to the events and meetings industry.

Having reached a decade in existence, a key goal for the Bureau now is to boost awareness of the city’s meetings and events offering.

Last year we spoke to PCB’s Marketing and PR Manager Hana Krejbichová about all things business travel and Prague, and once again we caught up to see what progress has been made in the period since.

EME Outlook (EME): How has the Prague Convention Bureau developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Hana Krejbichová (HK): Over the last 10 years, we have participated in acquiring more than 630 events with the attendance of almost 293,000 delegates. They have generated a total of 620,000 roomnights worth more than 1.2 billion Czech crowns (€47.5 million). That was something we were really happy and proud to share with the meeting community. We have also launched our new website that includes general information about Prague for event organisers, as well as instructions on how to obtain free

marketing and financial support for their events with the assistance of Prague Convention Bureau. The site also includes an extensive tool for searching certified service suppliers operating in the meetings industry.

EME: How would you say Prague in general has developed since then as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

HK: The key success for us was that Prague was ranked in the top 10 meeting destinations in the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) list. We were ranked eighth and moved three positions up since 2016. In 2017, according to the Czech Statistical Office, 4,127 conferences were held in the capital of the Czech Republic, representing a third of all the events that took place in the Czech Republic.

More than half a million delegates participated in the Prague conferences.

There is definitely a mix of reasons behind this success. Meeting spaces and venues in Prague are continuously working on offering the best services possible, many are undergoing reconstructions and refurbishments, and a number of new openings were presented. Prague airport is also planning a huge enlargement for future years, as the numbers of the visitors are still on the rise in Prague.

EME: What is in store for Prague over the course of 2018 and beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future?

HK: There are various events on the list for Prague in 2018 and 2019, many of them returning after previously successful experiences. We can

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mention the 23rd World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions for 2,000 delegates, that was held in July in Prague Congress Centre. Another big event is XXII. International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect for 1,000 delegates, that will be held in September 2018. In 2018, we also hosted the 115th anniversary of Harley Davidson, with a total attendance of 110,000 fans. In June 2018, we had the honour to welcome in Prague the 63rd UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe (CEU) meeting.

We are glad to share the news that Prague will have a new multifunctional and congress centre in the middle of 2019. The new complex called O2 universum which is directly linked to the O2 arena from the south has four floors and a total area of almost 50,000 square metres. O2 universum will have 21 halls of different sizes at its disposal and a total capacity of 10,000 visitors. Together with the O2 arena, the two venues will have a total capacity for up to 28,000 delegates.

In June 2018, Cubex Centre Prague opened its door to public for the first time as well. Cubex Centre Prague is a new multi-purpose centre in one of the Prague business districts.

The uniqueness of the centre is the concept of lightings, which has been given a convenient name: Chameleon.

This allows personalisation of the entire centre selecting colours

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“We hope that, together with the new openings here in Prague and the data available, we will be able to support the Prague meetings industry even more” according to the client’s needs. Total capacity of the venue is up to 1,200 delegates.

Further, at the end of 2017, Prague City Hall launched a new mobile app for tourists called “Prague Visitor Guide”.

The app introduces visitors to the lessknown parts of Prague and there are also various thematic routes prepared for users, that are regularly changed and updated. By the beginning of 2019, a new special visitor card, interconnected with the mobile app, should be launched in the format widely known from other destinations around the world.

EME: If we were to speak again another year down the line, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back?

HK: We hope that, together with the new openings here in Prague and the data available, we will be able to support the Prague meetings industry even more. Currently, one of our targets is to get the message about the new capacities to the event planners and try to attract large congresses and conferences, that we couldn’t host in the previous years.

We would like to highlight the importance of the meetings industry on the national and regional level. We already immensely appreciate that the capital city of Prague is aware of the positive impact of the industry on the city and it has been supporting the tourism and meetings industry on a long-term basis. Since 2014, when grants for the meetings industry were introduced, the City of Prague has provided financial support exceeding a sum of CZK 23 million (€885,000) for a total of 49 congresses and conferences on the territory of the Czech capital.

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P R A G U E

Out & About AN INCREASINGLY active meetings and events scene is bolstered by Prague’s food, drink and entertainment offering, helping it provide the complete business travel package.

On the food and drink front, meetings and event organisers are spoiled for choice as to where to wine and dine their guests. Traditional Czech outlets tend to offer concise menus with a few speciality dishes and drinks.

However, the city’s culinary scene has broadened markedly over the past five years, drawing on inspiration from other parts of Europe. Major brands

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such as Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons have had a major influence in popularising the international restaurant concept.

Czechs are also notorious beer drinkers. According to research by Japanese beverage firm Kirin, the Czech Republic has topped the global per capita beer drinking charts for 24 consecutive years. Prague, therefore, is one of the best places in the world to explore an enormous variety of beer, underlined by the fact one of the raved about bars in the city is named the Prague Beer Museum.

Prague is also renowned for its musical vibrancy, the pinnacle being its spring music festival which draws in music lovers from around the world.

The city’s orchestras, the Prague Symphony and Czech Philharmonic among them, are also a big attraction for visitors.

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Outlook Recommends “One of our targets is to get the message about the new capacities to the event planners and try to attract large congresses and conferences” – Prague Convention Bureau

CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS Kuoni Destination Management With 30 offices around the world filled with destination experts, Kuoni Destination Management offers unrivalled knowledge and passion for the cities it serves.

One of these offices is in Prague, where its team cater to meetings and events, incentives, congresses/ conventions and other destination management service solutions. “We Prague Congress Centre believe in building long lasting client and supplier partnerships through As one of the most renowned and trust, transparency and reliability – elite convention complexes on the with maximum value creation for you,” continent, The Prague Congress Centre its website says. boasts more than 50 halls, rooms and negotiation areas; able to host events Maxin Prague of more than 9,300 participants.

Also able to cater for as many as 2,800 delegates, the Congress Hall is the largest of its type in the country, made up of adaptable spaces capable of hosting exhibitions, social events, and cultural productions.

“The Prague Convention Centre is frequently recognised by participants of international congresses as one of HOTELS the best located venues in the world,” its website states. “And the reason Corinthia Hotel Prague is simple: many are awestruck by the breathtaking panoramic views over Hotel Pod Vezi Prague with the Prague Castle as the centrepiece.”

Appia Hotel Residences

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RETAIL Fashion Arena Prague Outlet The Fashion Arena Prague Outlet is the largest of its type in the Czech Republic; offering a comprehensive array of all well-known and sought-after brands, and always at competitive or event discounted prices. Fashion, sport, footwear, leather goods, luggage and accessories, lingerie, jewellery, watches, cosmetics, toys and much more can be found in the city’s – and indeed country’s – ultimate shopping domain.

RESTAURANTS Wenceslas Square Portfolio Restaurant Coda Restaurant

BARS AND PUBS Iluze Bar Atrium U Slovanské Lípy

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P R A G U E

Václav Havel Airport

PRAGUE IS the most well-connected city in the Czech Republic and perfectly stationed as a springboard into the rest of Europe. It is little wonder that many tourists on multi-city trips around the continent include Prague in their itineraries.

Popular ways into the city for business travellers include air and rail, with the country’s largest airport, Václav Havel, serving 7,463,975 passengers in the first half of 2018.

Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia,

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Hungary, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia and Russia can be reached without fuss by train.

In terms of navigating Prague itself, the city is host to an abundant public transport network which includes 130 bus routes, a tram network and metro system.

By 2025, a new direct rail link to Václav Havel Airport will boost Prague’s connectivity even further, while authorities have also introduced a city card for tourists. For a one-off

cost of €58 for two days and €68 for three days, Prague Card holders can access the most important attractions and make use of unlimited transport.

The tram network has also been updated to include contactless card payments, easing the process of ticket purchasing for visitors. However, due to the city centre’s compactness, travelling around by foot is arguably the best way to explore the many sights and sounds on offer.

PHOTO BY GFORCE800 - OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0

Transport Links

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Landmark Attractions Prague Castle

“Prague Castle [is] an ancient symbol of the Czech State, the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. It is a UNESCO monument with a tradition of more than 1,000 years; a textbook of architecture and art history; and a destination for visitors from all over the world.”

– Prague Castle for visitors

Charles Bridge

The Clementinum and National Library

“The Clementinum (Klementinum), one of the largest collections of historic buildings in Europe, is home to the National Library of the Czech Republic. These beautiful Baroque buildings were originally part of a Jesuit College, and later came to house the Jesuit book collection as well as the collection from the Karolinum.”

– Planetware

“Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Lesser Town (Malá Strana)... Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357.

There is a tower standing on each end of the bridge.

Both the Staroměstská věž on the Old Town end and the Malostranská věž on the Malá Strana end can be climbed for a view of Prague and the bridge from above.” – My Czech Republic

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M A D R I D

A city steeped in history and prestige, Madrid sits in the geographic and cultural heart of Spain, offering an unrivalled arts, culinary and nightlife scene Writer: Tom Wadlow

adrid – Spain’s city of water. A bustling modern-day economic and cultural epicentre, the origins of the Spanish capital can be traced back almost 1,200 years. The first historical record of Madrid dates back to the year 865 and the construction of a fortress by Emir Muhammad I at the village of Mayrit,

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which carries the literal meaning ‘plenty of waterways’. Fast forward to the present day, and the Manzanares River still flows through the heart of the city, providing a vital source of fresh water and a draw for visitors.

Last year, around 6.7 million international tourists explored Madrid, taking in an enormous variety of sights, from the famed Museo Del Prado to

the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas, the most prestigious bullring in the world. While no equivalent to enormous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Colosseum are to be found here, the city is awash with architecture that traces back through the ages, from the medieval to the modern.

Foodies also flock in huge numbers, embracing a wealth of

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culinary experiences that combine the formidable traditions of Spanish cooking with modern gastronomic innovation which has transformed Madrid into one of the most vibrant culinary hubs in Europe. Add in the fact that there are more bars here than any city on earth, and there may be no better place to enjoy an evening on the continent.

FACTS & FIGURES Population (2017): GDP per capita (2017): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD: Highest recorded temp’:

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M A D R I D

The Business End LYING IN almost the exact geographic centre of Spain, Madrid is also the country’s major administrative and transportation centre.

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OVER THE course of the last century, it has also become an important industrial hub, only rivalled by Barcelona in terms of output. Key products produced include aircraft, vehicles, chemicals, processed foods and pharmaceuticals, alongside many other manufacturing industries.

Beyond industry, Madrid is a vital provider of government, banking, publishing and tourism services, and is helping to stabilise Spain’s economy after years of well-documented hardship. According to the OECD, Spanish economic growth is set to remain moderate but robust over the

course of 2018 and 2019. Promisingly, corporate and household debt has been reduced by almost 55 percent of GDP since 2010.

Although tourism only accounts for approximately seven percent of Madrid’s GDP (compared to 11 percent nationwide), it is a sector that is growing strongly. During the first eight months of 2017, international visitors to the city grew by 20 percent.

Average stay is around seven to eight days, around twice as long as Spanish visitors, with Madrid often acting as a base from which to travel out to other cities.

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Out & About

100 Montaditos is a place where you can find cheap beer

IN THE field of hospitality, Madrid covers all bases. TripAdvisor alone houses more than 384,000 reviews for 445 hotels and covers a further 1,800 holiday rentals. From those looking to travel on a budget to visitors wanting to indulge in luxury, there are hotels to match every requirement – the Villa Magna, for instance, will set you back at least €390 a night.

The restaurant and dining scene offers even greater choice. More than a million reviews have been

submitted for 10,000 places to eat on TripAdvisor, more than a third catering to local Spanish cuisine. Those looking to experience a taste of Spain should consider Los Montes de Galicia, the highest-ranked of all the city’s restaurants according to nearly 5,000 visitor reviews.

Museums are also something of a Madrid staple. Art enthusiasts will want to visit the Museo ThyssenBornemisza, home to some of the most striking European artwork in the

world, including works by Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir. Other museum highlights include the National Archaeological Museum and the Naval Museum, detailing the formidable history of Spain’s maritime forces through the centuries.

Madrid’s two footballing giants, Real and Atletico, also draw in thousands of visitors from around the world, with live football featuring some of the world’s finest players on most weekends during the Spanish La Liga season.

MADRID’S METRO provides quick and easy access to most parts of the city, including to other transport hubs such as the airport, bus stations and major rail stations. It runs every day of the week from 6am through to 1.30am and offers a range of choices regarding fares, from single trips to a combined ticket.

The Metrobus card, much like a London Oyster card, is a prepaid system covering both metro and bus services. Alternatively, tourists can purchase special tickets allowing

unlimited use of metro, bus and local rail covering one, two, three, five and seven days with prices varying from around €8 to €70.

For visitors enjoying the Madrid nightlife, night buses known as búhos, or owls, run from 11pm through to 7am at their peak coverage on Saturdays.

Red-striped taxis are another popular option for tourists when travelling at night.

Madrid Airport is also extremely well connected to other Spanish cities and international destinations.

PHOTO BY CCCHAN19 - FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

Transport Links

Serving a total of 221 destinations, recent additions include flights to Los Angeles, Palermo, Pula and New York, routes which will help the airport increase its passenger numbers beyond the 53 million it saw in 2017.

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Outlook Recommends “No city on earth is more alive than Madrid” - Lonely Planet

HOTELS

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Juana Loco Only YOU Boutique Hotel Madrid ICON Casona 1900 The Principal Madrid

MUSEUMS

ACTIVITIES Parque Warner Five Mon-Keys escape rooms Santiago Bernabéu Tour

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RETAIL Mercado de San Miguel Madrid Xanadu El Corte Ingles

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Landmark Attractions Museo Del Prado

“The Prado Museum is the crown jewel of one of the capital’s most visited tourist itineraries: the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk). Its walls are lined with masterpieces from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, including Velázquez’ Las Meninas and Goya’s Third of May, 1808. Its collection comprises 8,600 paintings and over 700 sculptures.”

– esmadrid.com

Palacio Real

“When the alcázar (muslim fortress) burned down on Christmas Day 1734, Felipe V, the first of the Bourbon kings, decided to build a palace that would dwarf all its European counterparts. Felipe died before the palace was finished, which is perhaps why the Italianate baroque colossus has a mere 2,800 rooms, just onequarter of the original plan.”

– Lonely Planet

Gran Vía

“It’s difficult to imagine Madrid without Gran Vía, the grand boulevard lined with towering belle-époque facades that climbs up through the centre of Madrid from Plaza de España then down to Calle de Alcalá. But it has only existed since 1910, when it was bulldozed through a labyrinth of old streets.”

– Lonely Planet

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S E R B I A

SERBIA Borne 20 years ago, the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia has now established itself as the leading destination promotion entity across the entire country Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Ryan Gray THROUGH THE continual pursuit of its goal of making Serbia one of the most preferable regional tourism destinations for foreign travellers, the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia has successfully unveiled the unique experiences that the country has to offer, providing exceptional service and professionalism throughout.

With an emphasis on international and domestic marketing, Igor Kovacevic reveals how the authority is leveraging its internal skillsets, enabling the country’s tourism market to continue to flourish.

Africa Outlook (AfO): Since inception, how has the National

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up with the latest market trends.

It is because of this that we have strong activities in our neighbouring countries, and in the UK, Russia, India and China.

When combining and implementing these mixed market strategies, it has become clear that we need to customise our approaches and objectives on a daily basis. NTOS’s modern destination management approach is experienced based; the same as all successful destinations.

In creating and promoting tourism products, we need to start from the needs, wants and expected satisfaction of the consumer, and then provide unique custom-made experiences to cater to these.

Tourism Organisation of Serbia (NTOS) developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Igor Kovacevic (IK): Our general mission to make Serbia the most preferable destination has developed through key short and midterm objectives that we have tried to communicate to the country’s consumers and business stakeholders.

Our specific aims and targets are set for concrete market segments like Danube cruise tourist, transit travellers, AfO: How have these been spa and wellness consumers, active manifested across each of the holiday seekers, city break adventures country’s key regions? and many others.

IK: According to Tourism At the same time, we are focusing Development Strategy of Serbia, on geo segments, trying to keep there are four key regions: Vojvodina,

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Cycling events are commonplace in Belgrade and offer spectators a fantastic sporting spectacle

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Belgrade, East and West Serbia. This segmentation is not purely geographic, but we have tried to ensure that the key experiences offered in each area are different. Over the years these four regions have emerged and positioned themselves as market leaders and are now considered as the pillars we use in developing new promotions.

AfO: To this end, how would you say Serbia has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

IK: The last 10 years has brought a significant increase in business travel,

National Museum, Belgrade

and Serbia has become known as a regional leader within this market.

On the one hand, NTOS has invested human and financial resources into the operations of the Serbia Convention Bureau – an entity that previously took over the destination management role in business travel and events promotion. Our major aims include a

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focus on the bidding for international associations and corporate events, coordinated with industry stakeholders like hotels, congress agencies, AVs and others.

On the other, the business travel offerings of Serbia have been much improved, best reflected through the transformation of the country’s hotel market. A large number of new, both local and international chain properties, have been opened and provide quality services and infrastructure.

Further, the launch of a new national air company has made Serbia more accessible than ever, particularly in regard to other developing destinations aside from Belgrade such as Zlatibor and Kopaonik.

AfO: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Serbia now compared to its condition when the Tourism Organisation began?

IK: Tourism demand is growing, as has been the trend for the last four years. In the past decade we have seen the market change in favour of foreign visitors, now accounting for around 50 percent of Serbia’s total tourism.

Three years ago, domestic consumers started to travel again due to various actions taken by NTOS and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, influenced by the rapid development of national tourism offerings, mostly in recognised destinations, such as big cities, mountain resorts and spas.

Belgrade is leading this development process, with the most advanced hotels and accommodation units being opened in the capital.

AfO: What are the core industry trends dictating the Tourism Organisation’s investments and initiatives at present?

IK: NTOS is dedicating time and resources to identifying and further

Martha’s Pub, Novi Sad

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valorising local tourist experiences that are based on local culture interpretation concepts. In Serbia we try to go beyond basic tourism services into the experience economy and so we are always looking at the sustainable economic and social development of the local communities – a trend that we are going to keep in the future.

Additionally, through a series of meetings and continual communication with established locations, we try to define new ways of transforming regions to becoming more specific and targeted tourist destinations. This, in turn, will enable a better usage of resources that will achieve an increased economic impact from tourism and decreased devastation of natural and man-made resources.

Merry-down River Ride, Ibar River

The city of Nis Kragujevac offers great shops amidst the backdrop of superb period architecture

AfO: Finally, looking forward, if we were to speak again in three-five years’ time, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back, both in regards to the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia as an entity, and in regards to the business travel industry in Serbia as a whole?

IK: In the next five years, we hope to maintain the transformative

organisational structure at NTOS that allows us to always be prepared for market changes due to our internal flexibility. We make sure that our employees always have the latest knowledge and skills on the markets, so I expect NTOS to be the leader of this positive and necessary transformation.

Like any other destination management authority, we will need to go out in the field to gain direct foresight with tourists and final service providers.

Further, NTOS will continue to develop and promote all tourism products that generate results, and I am convinced that the business travel sector will continue to hold a leading position within this.

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Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world.

EME OUTLOOK is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries in Europe and the Middle East regions.

With content compiled by our experienced editorial team, complemented by an in-house design and production team ensuring delivery to the highest standards, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from the length and breadth of Europe and the Middle East.

Reaching a combined audience of more than 395,000 people, EME Outlook covers a full range of industrial sectors: agriculture, construction, energy & utilities, finance, food & drink, healthcare, manufacturing, mining & resources, oil & gas, retail, shipping & logistics, technology and travel & tourism.

In joining the leading industry heavyweights already enjoying the exposure we can provide, you can benefit from FREE coverage across both digital and print platforms, a FREE marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to grow your business.

To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, Ben Weaver, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for FREE, in one of our upcoming editions. www. emeou tlookm

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TOYODA GOSEI CZECH REPUBLIC

Ensuring excellence from behind the scenes

Project sponsor to Toyoda

POWERING INDUSTRY PART BY PART

Gosei

Driven by its people, plants and products, Toyoda Gosei Czech continues to take the automotive manufacturing market by storm Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

BUSINESS TRAVEL on the rise

GUIDE 00

Prague: A city

ALSO FEATURING:

R OY 00 BALTIC CONNECTO the status quo Transforming

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MEINHARDT FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY 00 The face of EME’s

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FUTURE-TECH 00thinking Pioneering new-age

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+44 (0) 1603 959 650 ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com

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Driven by its people, plants and continues to take the automotive

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WE MAKE PRODUCTS PROUD

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ith production levels up and investment on the rise, the European automotive industry is set to maintain an upward trajectory for the foreseeable future.

A continental climate of increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, combined with a growing emphasis on improving fuel efficiency and developing autonomous technologies, has led analysts to believe that the automotive plastics market will exceed $50 billion by 2024, up from the $22 billion recorded in 2016.

As a result, whilst major automotive brands are set to reap the rewards of this prosperity, so too will major suppliers and component manufacturers such as Toyoda Gosei Czech (TGCZ), a key European subsidiary within the Toyoda Gosei Group.

Plant 1 Safety Systems (SS), Functional Components (FC)

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Consistent expansion

Standing as one of Europe’s leading TGCZ’s clients manufacturers of plastic, polyurethane include, but are and rubber car components, TGCZ has not limited to: worked with a significant number of the world’s most substantial brands.

Having only been established in Toyota Peugeot 2001, TGCZ’s swift rise to the top in BMW Citroën the European market can largely be attributed to its sound recognition Mitsubishi Škoda of the importance of continual VW Porsche investment.

Such an attitude is reflected in the Suzuki Audi firm’s gradual facilities expansion, Nissan Daimler something that has remained consistent in the 17 years since its Honda Buick inception.

Ford Subaru “Our early success as a safety system supplier in the Czech Republic led to our first plant expansion just one year later in 2002. Thereafter, we Richter, the Company’s Vice President began to manufacture a wider range of and General Manager of Corporate functional components,” explains Jan Services and HR.

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anced and stamped core metal inserts are our business. Every single day we help to ensure top results with superior production technology and a strong will to provide solutions for our customers, mainly being major Tier II automotive suppliers.

Who are we?

ACP (Advanced Carrier Products) has been part of the HUEHOCO Group for over 16 years. In its origins, ACP is looking back onto a history in the lancing and stamping business of well over 50 years. Our customers can therefore benefit from many years of experience in our business.

Added to that is the knowhow of the entire HUEHOCO Group – a coil coating company with its own division (SIC GmbH, Wuppertal) for development and production of in-house adhesives, lacquers and bonding agents. This puts our customers in a position, where they can provide a sample of their plastic or rubber material, in order for our Group to develop a custom-made bonding agent.

With more than 165 employees, ACP is located in Germany, France, Canada, USA, Brazil, Mexico, China and also has a licence partner company in Russia. Our machinery and tools are produced centrally and developed decentrally. As a result, our various production sites are perfectly linked to each other and processes are transparent and comparable.

This is a major advantage in the learning and development process in our ACP Group network, which results in very short time spans until market maturity of a new product.

ACP can offer a worldwide annual capacity of approximately 600 million metres and a large portfolio within the entity of all our plants. This makes us a strong and reliable global partner for a range of different system solutions for refined metal products. Our customers appreciate the combination of quality, flexibility, thrift and service in all our sites around the world.

ACP EUROPE ACP Europe, based in Bad Salzungen (Germany) and Rethel (France), is one of the market leaders in the production and supply of core metal inserts being used for sealings and weatherstrips in the automotive sector worldwide.

In Germany we are operating six automated stamping machines as well as four high speed

precision (HSP) lancing lines whereas in Rethel (France) we have three HSP lancing lines in operation and one stamping machine. This offers a capacity of more than 250 million metres per year only in Europe. In addition, since 2015, all the lancing tools for the entire ACP Group are developed, produced and maintained at our in-house tool shop in Rethel.

T +49 202 / 64 77 8 - 0 E info@acp-d.com www.huehoco.com

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LORD

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ounded in 1924, LORD has been a diversified technology leader with unique expertise in chemical material sciences which provides innovative adhesive, coating and motion management solutions. We provide long-term value to our customers’ businesses by collaborating closely with them on product design, process engineering and product performance.

LORD Corporation is a privately-held company with world headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. Our company has regional headquarters in Geneva and Hong Kong, 18 manufacturing facilities, nine research & development centers and more than 100 strategically located sales and support centers worldwide.

Driver Airbag (DAB) Plant 2

“Following this, our aggressive sales strategy and the growth of the automotive sector led us to opening our second and third plants between 2004 and 2006, dedicated to the expanded production of our infamous safety systems and the manufacture of rubber sealing for car bodies.

TGCZ’s extensive production line includes: • Steering

wheels

• Airbags • Engine

covers tank components • Rubber sealing • Fuel

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“Since then we have remained consistent, and our recent successes have led to us working on the launch of our fourth and newest production plant that will also be purposed for the manufacture of rubber sealing.”

Upon completion of the latest facility, Richter expects that TG’s total headcount in the Czech Republic alone will exceed 1,400 employees, whilst its national footprint will be expanded to a total 45,000 square metres of leading work space.

From 2016, LORD has supplied antifriction coatings and flock adhesives solutions to Toyota Gosei Czech Republic.

Determining success

Whilst both new and expanded facilities have been fundamental to TGCZ’s growth strategy, so too has been leveraging the latest industry technologies, techniques and processes.

In order to maintain its competitive position within such a cutthroat industry, the TG Group readily monitors all key trends, from industry 4.0 to labour market changes, allowing the firm to continually position itself as a leading manufacturer not only within Europe, but across the globe.

T +41 22 761 50 60 E info.europe@lord.com

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LORD Anti-Friction Coatings & Flock Adhesives With over half a century of experience in developing and manufacturing high performance products, LORD is a pioneer and world leader in coating and flock adhesive technology for automotive weatherstrip applications.

LORD Sipiol® coatings and Flocksil® adhesives cover a wide range of applications and processes, serving the most demanding specifications.

We understand the critical aspects of our customers’ businesses and accompany them throughout all steps of the product implementation process. Our focus on research and innovation brings cutting-edge technology and long-term value to our customers, and our technical support is widely recognized in the industry.

✓ Protect automotive sealing systems against abrasion, chemical and environmental impact, while improving aesthetics ✓ Obtain excellent noise-reduction properties for optimized passenger comfort ✓ Choose from a global solutions portfolio suited for a variety of applications, substrates and surface requirements

Other LORD Solutions for OEMs and Tier Suppliers

Chemlok® / Chemosil ®

CoolTherm®

Versilok®

Manage challenges of noise, vibration and sealing in the most demanding environments

Protect electronic components and improve thermal transfer

Enable assembly of automotive closure panels, such as doors, tail and liftgates

LORD European Customer Engagement Center +49 2103 2 52 31-0 | info.europe@lord.com www.lord.com/emea

LORD® Structural Adhesives Bond metals, plastics and composites. Replace mechanical fasteners.

Fusor ® Provide high-quality and durable repair solutions.

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ayindir Packaging Ltd is the youngest Company in the Bayindir Ambalaj Group, founded in 2013 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Its founder Mr Bayindir based the first corrugated board converting factory in 1999 in Bursa, Turkey and the Company has since expanded to include three more factories manufacturing PE and LDPE products in its portfolio.

Starting its working partnership with Toyoda Gosei in 2015, the Company has to date increased its workflow in conjunction with them, indicating that the Company is on the right track.

Our Goal: Further development of the European market and grow together with its customers (over 30 in Europe).

Our Advantage: The will to reach where the others cannot.

Opening Trim (OT) Plant 4

“As a Group, we ensure that we track anything from key technological developments to regulatory alterations in each of the countries that we operate in, including the Czech Republic,” Richter explains.

“At TGCZ alone, we are investing three to five million euros annually on new equipment and new technologies, depending on the state of the market, to ensure that we are able to adapt and accommodate new business as it is demanded.”

“We also have laboratories in Japan working on various new technologies. In fact, we were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2014 after inventing a new energy efficient and environmentally friendly light source, the blue light-emitting diode (LED), one of our greatest successes to date.”

Further, another of the Company’s recent invention includes e-rubber – a material that utilises electric

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currents to change the characteristics of products.

“E-rubber has been developed and designed for use in robotics and biomechanics, but we believe there is also potential for its application in the automotive sector,” Richter says.

Alongside this emphasis on product innovation, productive efficiency has become increasingly crucial in the modern era, something that has led to the firm financing automated manufacturing processes.

“Apart from continuous kaizen activities across our production, we are working on the renewal of several production lines,” Richter reveals.

“Any time such investments are discussed, we always consider how to fasten cycle times and improve ergonomics, amongst other things.”

By identifying these fundamentals, TGCZ is able to tweak its strategy in a proactive manor and maintain a competitive footing across the continent.

ETIMEX

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TIMEX makes vehicles lighter, ensure precise air and water transport in domestic appliances and meet the highest requirements of injection molding products from the clean room.

For over 60 years, the Company has been a leading partner for customised and technically demanding plastic parts, rubber molded articles, elastomer parts, assemblies and systems.

The Company supplies and supports leading manufacturers in the automotive, home appliance and medical technology sectors, from the ground-breaking idea through development and design, prototyping and testing to the precise production of the mature solution in series.

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TECHNICAL COMPONENTS EVERYDAY & EVERYWHERE

Petia Petrova (Coordinator&Planning&Export) T: +359 899 64 6440 E: office@bayindirpackaging.com Emre Bayındır (CEO) T: +90 224 411 1200 E: e.bayindir@bayindirambalaj.com Galin Kolev (Plant Manager) T: +359 897 626322 E: g.kolev@bayindirpackaging.com

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HOME APPLIANCE COMPONENTS

ETIMEX TECHNICAL COMPONENTS GmbH develops and produces customer-specific blow and injection molded parts 3D and assemblies. For over 50 years, the company has supplied leading BLOW MOLDING automotive and home appliances manufacturers with technically sophisticated, 3D seamlessly blow molded parts, plastic assemblies and rubber parts.

INJECTION MOLDING

APPLIANCES/AUTOMOTIVE CHARLOTTE NC/USA

BLOW MOLDING & INJECTION MOLDING

RUBBER INJECTION MOLDING

APPLIANCES ROTTENACKER GERMANY

MULTI-COMPONENT INJECTION MOLDING

PACKAGING DIETENHEIM GERMANY AUTOMOTIVE HRANICE CZECH REPUBLIC

HOLLOW BODY INJECTION MOLDING

AUTOMOTIVE WALTERSHAUSEN GERMANY

> Founded in 1950 AUTOMOTIVE BAD SALZDETFURTH GERMANY > 6 factories > 850 employees > Sales of €165 million/year > 5 technologies in the ETIMEX

ETIMEX

PETENCE IN PLASTIC AND ELASTOMER

FACTS & FIGURES

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LEADING THE WAY IN BLOW AND INJECTION MOLDED PARTS FOR 65 YEARS

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One team, one TG

For Richter, none of these developments would be available without TGCZ’s team of competent staff that he stresses are crucial in powering the Company’s progressive ambitions.

“Ultimately, it is the combination of our capable workforce alongside our highly competitive products that have written the major success story of TGCZ,” he states. “We fully entrust our staff, and recognise that they have been crucial in contributing to the growth of our firm over the years gone by.”

Encompassing a motto of ‘One team, one TG’, TGCZ prides itself on being part of the wider Group, a global entity that consistently maintains a high level of best practices, problem solving and teamwork throughout all aspects of its operations.

“We understand the importance of employing motivated people in creating the platform to build a strong company, and this is why we consistently ensure our staff are ready for whatever we have to face in this competitive working environment,” Richter adds.

A major part of TGCZ’s evolution

Jan Richter, Vice President and General Manager of Corporate Services & HR

to date has been the development of its human resources, training local staff where possible to be fully capable of operating the Company from head to toe. However, since 2017 the firm has more readily sought to hire foreign workers alongside its traditional approach due to a change in circumstances.

“Central and Eastern Europe is facing major changes in the labour market, where economic booms have

EME significantly influenced employee stability,” Richter explains. “As a result, hiring experienced personnel has become even more difficult, sometimes hindering attempts to increase our workforce as we launch new programmes and products.

“In the face of these changes, we have taken it upon ourselves to begin hiring foreign workers to raise our headcount to the required level.”

To Richter, this ability to adapt in the face of critical situations is crucial in ensuring TGCZ’s continual progression moving forward.

He concludes: “Human management is facing the biggest environmental change since 1989, and those companies that are willing to keep their head up need to find their own way to cope with these adjustments.

“Our own flexibility will help in ensuring that sustainable growth is maintained in the face of this, and in five years we are hoping that TGCZ becomes the number one TG location across the whole of Europe, something we are expecting with our robust production systems continually assuring a high quality and competitive output.”

Fuel Filler Pipe (FFP) Plant 1

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LIGHTING UP EUROPE’S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY How HELLA AUTOTECHNIK NOVA s.r.o continues to supply leading automakers headlamps and rear lights from its plant in the Czech Republic Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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utomotive lighting is big business. A crucial part of the ever-complex vehicle manufacturer supply chain, the global market for these products is expected to hit $33.7 billion by 2020, growing at a rate of almost seven percent a year.

With the likes of LED and Xenon offering alternatives to traditional halogen bulbs, the sector is undergoing a transition which is underpinned by vibrant research and development activity. Factor in a growing population and increase in auto production, and the future certainly looks bright.

In Europe, vehicle headlamp and rear lamp producer HELLA AUTOTECHNIK NOVA s.r.o is more than keeping up with the wider industry. It is part of the wider HELLA organisation, a German company which is growing markedly

stronger than the continent’s automotive market.

In August, HELLA announced sales increases of 9.3 percent for the fiscal year ending May 31 2018 – this equates to €7.1 billion, up from €6.6 billion from the previous period.

In the Czech Republic, HELLA AUTOTECHNIK continues to play its part in this story of rapid growth.

Petr Novotný has been the Company’s Managing Director around two and a half years. An industry veteran, he explains why he decided to make the move back in 2016.

“I have spent all my professional life in the automotive industry, mainly Tier 1,” he says. “My father was part of my inspiration and decisions – he was working in automotive as well, in R&D, including OEMs and motorsport.

“I have been a member of HELLA since April 2016. Lighting is a very dynamic, complex and challenging segment. It fits to my personality.”

Petr Novotný, Managing Director

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A FOURFOLD OPERATION HELLA AUTOTECHNIK’s operations can be divided into four major components. These include: Manufacturing: Production is the largest department of HELLA in Mohelnice, where operators and top experts, aided by the latest technology, produce some of the most modern headlamps and group lamps seen on the market today.

Technical centre: Operating in Mohelnice since 1995, HELLA’s development hub was responsible for the design of the Company’s first lights which were supplied to Škoda for its Felicia model.

IT: This business unit comprises more than 100 IT experts working with CAD systems and global networking, programming, data analysis, virtual technology, production support and end-users.

They are based in Mohelnice and nearby Loštice.

Supporting departments: Other functions of business which help ensure the smooth running of HELLA AUTOTECHNIK. These include divisions such as finance, HR and marketing.

A mainstay since 1992

Now, HELLA AUTOTECHNIK is one of the biggest employers in the Czech automotive industry.

Having been established in 1992, operations at its plant in Mohelnice, based in the Olomouc region in the east of the country, began in 1994, with Škoda being the recipient of the first goods off the production line.

A product development centre opened shortly after, with a new testing centre coming online in 2004 and a design office opening in nearby Ostrava in 2011. The Company’s physical presence also extends to Loštice, where its IT department is based.

This activity since the turn of the millennium has coincided with a ramping up of production and scale at Mohelnice, reflected by growing employee numbers. In 2007, the firm had 1,000 employees on its books, and since 2014 staff numbers have more than doubled to the 3,550-plus working at the three sites today.

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DYNACAST

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s the leading supplier of precision metal components, Dynacast’s products can be found across a multitude of sectors, from consumer electronics to medical devices to power tools.

With over 80 years’ experience in assisting manufacturers with the design and execution of cost-effective solutions, Dynacast is readily positioned to provide its customers across all industries with engineering expertise, efficient operations, and advanced quality planning systems.

Dynacast prides itself on having a diverse range of capabilities, reflected by its work in the automotive industry, supplying OEM and Tier-1 automotive manufacturers across the globe with thousands of bespoke components each year.

This is no better reflected than in the Company’s partnership with HELLA, providing the firm with a selection of different components. These include Dynacast Austria’s delivery of aluminium heat sinks for LED lights; Dynacast Spain’s production of cosmetic key fobs; and Dynacast Germany providing HELLA with crucial connectors.

Throughout its extensive portfolio both within and outside of the automotive industry, Dynacast ensures that it consistently maintains the highest quality standards throughout its design, development, and manufacturing processes leveraging innovative techniques that have continued to redefine the manufacturing industry.

Operating 23 die casting and manufacturing facilities across 16 countries, Dynacast has assembled a global team of adept staff that are able to flexibly cater to any of its customer’s needs, offering end-to-end solutions from concept to prototyping to fullscale manufacturing.

C Sergio Perino T +39 011 9269566 Int. 226

www.dynacast.com/eme

23 16 MANUFACTURING PLANTS GLOBALLY

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People on the ground where it matters most—where you do business.

SOLUTIONS MADE SOLID

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10x more than our nearest competitor

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s one of the top ten electronic manufacturing services (EMS) suppliers in Germany, SERO offers more than 25 years’ experience and leading expertise to its entire client portfolio.

Whenever we sign a confidentiality agreement, our partners can rest assured that we ensure and maintain absolute discretion with the information we acquire, whilst enriching our client offerings by leveraging our leading industry team and process knowhow.

Either a one-stop-shop for true E²MS support or pure contract manufacturing, we rely on the strong relationships that we readily develop with our customers – a value that we hold key at SERO. We offer automotive, industrial, building technology, medical technology and consumer EMS solutions, taking pride in our diverse range of capabilities, with all of our production certified according to IATF 16949, ISO 90001 and ISO 14001.

During its time HELLA AUTOTECHNIK has produced 5.2 million headlamps and 1.9 million rear combination lamps, with more than 460 employees working on product development alone.

“We have the second largest design centre in the global HELLA network,” adds Novotný. “This incorporates a test laboratory and acts as a shared services centre for IT, central functions, systems and corporate engineering solutions.

“We specialise in advanced lighting products, which is reflected by our customer portfolio. R&D is therefore a key element, and we work with, for example, many leading LED suppliers.”

As Novotný eludes to, HELLA AUTOTECHNIK supplies a broad range of automakers which includes also the big German premium brands.

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Flexibility is a culture that is embedded in the Company; reflected in the fact that we can offer end-to-end services, from procurement to production to warehousing.

Our highly skilled and motivated staff are adept in using some of the EMS industry’s most advanced and complex automated machines, something that allows us to consistently supply the highest quality products at competitive market prices.

With our employees capable of designing specific products and assembling equipment for light, sensor and power applications on demand, our services in most cases result in faster time-to-market solutions for our customers.

Come and see us at www.sero.de or send your problem to mail@sero.de.

Together, we can solve it.

www.sero.de

w w w . se r o. d e Faster, highest quality, highest efficiency - Champions League.

We are playing in the top leagues of EMS and E²MS industry with one of the most modern and most innovative train of machines.

We are proud to be one of the top EMS suppliers for HELLA worldwide.

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rofian, a manufacturer of automation technology units, offers tailor-made solutions to all customers who want to automate their production processes.

A purely Czech-based, family-owned company is proud of its nearly 20 years of experience in the development of singlepurpose machines and assembly lines and in manufacturing process automation in the automotive industry and in lighting equipment.

components of headlights for premium car models. We can mention fully automated stations for lens laser welding, resistor welding or ultrasound welding, riveting, automatic application of thermal grease and testing including light positioning and setting.

Since 2012, Krofian has been cooperating in this area with HELLA, a major global manufacturer of lighting components and systems.

One of the technology used in the production of modular components of headlights is a system of automatic application of thermal grease.

During this continued cooperation, usually on multiple parallel projects, Krofian has completed many automation contracts.

These included manual production lines, semi-automated stations including assembly and test tools and sets as well as full-range production lines with multiple technology nodes for various HELLA plants in Europe and overseas.

Among other things, there is a system for connecting plastic components which use resistor- or ultrasound-welding systems.

In the early stage of its cooperation with HELLA, Krofian created a ‘customer unit’ for this purpose. It is a specialized team of experts including a project manager who is dedicated solely to projects implemented together with HELLA. One important feature of this unit is their thorough knowledge and participation in the development of Hella’s technical standards. To give an example, we can mention our participation in the introduction of a new control system standard where Krofian was the first supplier of an extensive production line for HELLA that complied with this newly defined standard.

We have seen a sharp growth in automotive design, which also includes lighting technology for cars. Therefore, the equipment and production lines need to meet every stricter and more specific requirements.

Nevertheless, with its capacities and experience, Krofian is able to react to this development, as evidenced by the recently completed projects for LED modular

Welding systems have the form of fully automated stations equipped with industrial robots and laser technology with process control.

We could extensively describe the use of test and setting equipment and tools for the final quality control of optical outputs and parameters of lighting products. Nearly every line we have supplied was equipped with multiple systems to control the headlight or LED module lighting output. These systems work with a light range and pattern projected on a screen. Depending on the measured values, the light parameters are set online using special algorithms by positioning the headlight lens against the LED source. In the Kočovce plant in Slovakia, Krofian was the first supplier of the well-proven light box system. Today, we mostly use an integrated light box system, which is one of Krofian’s unique products.

The company’s financial stability, with yearly sales at nearly EUR 20mn and exports accounting for nearly 50% of its production, and ongoing innovations have earned it several major awards. It´s e.g. Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) Top Rating based on their analysis of our corporate figures.

T +420 487 882 288 E obchod@krofian.cz

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The sense of technology is our integral sixth sense. It is the sense of the essence of things and the soul of the machine, the effort to achieve a perfectly tuned technology, the desire for absolute perfection. It allows us to listen to the intuition, to discover the untested, and to always offer more than is required from us.

There are no limits with this sixth sense

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Setting HELLA apart

There are numerous factors which Novotný proudly states as reasons why HELLA stands apart from others operating in a competitive automotive supplier industry.

“Our reach, rich and successful history, formidable team and advanced in product development, and recent growth of our global footprint are all differentiators,” he says. “Our market position is a mirror of this background and company strategy.”

Continuous improvement, Novotný adds, will be vital if the Company is to retain its position as a national and regional market leader.

“We are always looking for the upcoming trends,” he continues, “and being close to our customer will ensure we have the ability to serve the right solutions.

“We have to monitor closely what is impacting on the products and on the technology, we must be ready for it. The needed skills and knowhow

CASE STUDY: LEDS AND THE AUDI A8 In May 2018, HELLA and Audi unveiled new LED lighting technology that has been installed in the German automaker’s A8 model.

The new HD Matrix LED headlamp technology produces dynamic low beams with an efficient LED lens module, enabling precise road course illumination and granting drivers better vision of the road.

A special feature of the system is how the modules consist of glass and combine primary and secondary optics in a single body. This avoids most scatter loss.

The Matrix headlamp has also been developed with a rearranged set of LEDs – 32 LEDs are now situated in a joint module along two rows. Control of the lights is determined by a front camera, and as soon as it recognises other vehicles or road users, the control unit turns off or dims individual LEDs in order to avoid glaring.

The system has also been designed to adjust to curves in the road, both on high and low beams. “In the low beam, the optical concept of the lens module ensures that each LED can be attributed to a specific area of the road,” HELLA explains in its announcement.

“When driving in curves, the respective light focus will shift. When driving with high beams, the high beam LEDs of the HD Matrix LED headlamps will shift the light towards the progression of the curve.”

The Audi A8 is the first model in serial production which will be using this technology.

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have to follow the future needs. So, advanced planning is important, as will be the growth of the current team to bring the skills in from outside, and also from other industry segments.”

Collaboration

Such expertise may also come from other organisations, key partners in HELLA’s operations.

Novotný has already pointed to important collaboration with numerous suppliers in the area of LED lighting, and Czech-based Krofian is one such company.

The partnership dates back to 2012 and has involved the completion of several projects and contracts, including work on manual production lines, semi-automated stations such as assembly and test tools and sets, as well as full-range production lines with multiple technology nodes.

In the LED space, Krofian has installed bespoke production lines which

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incorporate leading edge technology, for example a system of automatic application of thermal grease. This procedure is used to ensure a stable transfer of heat generated during lighting by the LED technology. Krofian’s equipment implemented in production lines ensure that thermal grease is applied evenly along a controlled route of application and camera control to assure that quality requirements are met.

Looking ahead

By partnering with fellow pioneers, HELLA will remain at the forefront of innovation and ensure its own operations serve as a flag bearer for the industry at large.

Novotný goes on to explain exactly which trends he believes have been the most influential in recent times, and ones which HELLA is subsequently keeping a close eye on. LED lighting, once again, comes to the fore.

TELKOM

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elkom is a company with a rich tradition in the field of highpressure die-casting of aluminum alloys. Our castings are bulit-in in different products of various kinds throughout the world. We are proud of our employees, of our customers and of our yearly business growth.

One of our main goals is to act socially responsible. Our relation with HELLA started more than a decade ago with just single projects. In all these years we gradually expanded our business and are now working on many different mutual projects and together with Hellawe built a partnership.

T +386 / (0)3 / 56 27 711 E info@ telkom.si

www.telkom.si

“Extension of LED technology for sure will impact across all of our various product segments,” he adds.

“Now we are also faced with new challenges and opportunities, like safety, autonomous driving, electric vehicles and car body lighting, to name a few.”

These trends look set to continue transforming the automotive market for years to come, but what are Novotný’s immediate priorities for the future?

He concludes: “We will continue to work on our 2020 strategy. The level of the fulfilment will be the best indicator or scale to measure our performance. Generally, I want us to carry on being known as lean, fast and ahead of our competitors.”

Hella Autotechnik Nova s.r.o Tel: +420 583 498 112 hella.cz@hella.com www.hella.com

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Aluminum. Long tradition. Years of experience. Lot of knowledge.

Everything in the field of high-pressure die-casting. This is Telkom from the heart of Slovenia.

TELKOM d.o.o.

Cesta Točke Čeč 45 SLO - 1420 Trbovlje T: +386 / (0)3 / 56 27 711 E: info@ telkom.si www.telkom.si

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YOUR IDEA IS OUR CHALLENGE WE REDEFINE COMPOUNDS Automotive

www.bill-plasty.cz Custom production of plastics and corrugated cardboard • Vacuum molding of sheets and foils - production of covers for rotating parts of machines, skeins bowls and hoods • Tailor-made forks for parts and components • Blisters for packing goods • Manufacture of corrugated cardboard packaging • Manufacture of plastic and cardboard products Třebovská 60, 789 85 Mohelnice • tel.: +420 583 430 830 e-mail: bill@bill-plasty.cz

INNOPOL automotive materials are widely used in many application areas of a car, providing further advantages to the end users.

Under-the-hood lamp-housings, battery compartments, air deflector parts, cable channels, engine covers Interior door panels, sun-visors, seat covers, air grids, pillar trims, consoles, glove boxes, HVAC parts, instrument panels Exterior bumper parts, grills, trims, boot casings, hubcaps, mudguard parts

Independent and integrated compounder Trust is value www.inno-comp.hu

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emand for glass continues to rise. As the global population continues to grow at a whistle-stop rate, industry is responding in kind by producing more products and building more buildings.

This is reflected by the constant growth forecast for the world’s glass manufacturers. By 2023, demand for fabricated flat glass is expected to reach $139 billion, more than double that seen in 2008 before the global financial crisis.

Emirates Glass continues to operate as a regional market leader in the Middle East. Celebrating two decades of existence, the Company has become a go-to for architects seeking the highest quality flat glass across both the Gulf and the wider world.

In September 2017, Executive President Rizwanulla Khan spoke to

EME Outlook at length about the firm’s flagship EmiCool range of solar control, multi-functional Low-E and standard Low-E glass designed to minimise solar heat gain into airconditioned buildings in the Gulf environment.

He also outlined ambitions to acquire increasing market share and keep ahead of customer needs and technological advancements.

A year on, Emirates Glass is progressing on both fronts. Almost immediately after our conversation last year, the Company secured projects worth $27 million across the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Such projects entailed high performance, energy-saving, reflective coated glass products for the Ministries Complex in Kuwait, the first ever greenhouse being constructed in Dubai, The Quran Park, the Enterprise

Investing in

INNOVATI The past year has seen Emirates Glass pour considerable resources into its research and development operations. We caught up with Executive President Mr. Rizwanulla Khan to find out more Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Matthew Cole-Wilkin

Kish Twin Tower, Iran

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Command and Control Centre (EC3) for Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, and ITCC Tower and Maad Tower in Saudi Arabia. The firm also won several glass contracts for residential complexes in the UAE. Commenting on the new business, Khan says: “These prestigious projects for Emirates Glass are a testimony to the growth potential of its high-quality, energy-efficient products.

“The Company has an excellent portfolio of projects in the Gulf region and beyond, which has cemented its credibility as a trusted supplier of glass products in the region and overseas.”

Knowledge is power

Contract wins and material growth aside, the past year has been hallmarked by a dedication to differentiation and innovation.

“Emirates Glass is uniquely positioned in that it is the only company in the UAE with float, coat, processing and research

and development (R&D) facilities,” comments Khan. “This affords us flexibility and agility with respect to not only serving our markets, but also developing new products and ideas, which is a massive focus area for us.”

The drive to innovate has been centred around a desire to build a team of young, creative individuals, not necessarily those with experience of operating in the glass, façade or even the wider construction industry.

“The Company hires with a longterm view in mind,” adds Khan. “We are investing in the future.”

These new recruits can draw on expertise in the form of a body of international experts which together amount to more than 150 years of experience. Khan himself, for example, boasts more than 30 years of industry experience, with other highly influential figures including Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mr. Samih Fatayerji, Technical Manager

KURARAY

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uraray’s Trosifol™ business is a leading global specialist in the development, manufacture and supply of PVB and ionoplast interlayers for laminated safety glass applications in the architectural and automotive industries.

Trosifol™ offers the world’s broadest portfolio of innovative glass-laminating solutions, including structural and functional interlayers for safety and security applications, sound insulation and UV protection. For decorative applications, Trosifol™ supplies coloured interlayers, digitally printable films and other innovative products for interior design projects. Trosifol® UltraClear films exhibit the lowest Yellowness Index (YID) in the industry.

E trosifol@kuraray.com

www.trosifol.com

EGL Coating Plant

EGL Coating Plant

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If you are planning a new project with glass – we have the right solutions. We are the leading global specialist in structural and functional interlayers for safety and security applications, sound insulation and UV control. For further information, please visit us on www.trosifol.com .

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Perkin- Elmer Spectrophotometer

Accelerated weathering test chamber

EGL Production Control Room

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Koltay facades training

“The Company has an excellent portfolio of projects in the Gulf region and beyond” Rizwanulla Khan, Executive President, Emirates Glass

Mr. John Reeves, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development Mr. Kurt Russell, Operations Manager Mr. Rodel San Jose and of course the Coating Manager, Mr. Marco Kohs.

Innovate to differentiate

Helping to channel this experience and develop even further knowhow is a new research and development department, fit with separate offices, workshops, labs and training facilities.

“The challenge is how to focus all this power,” Khan says. “It is unwise to put smart, creative, dedicated, knowledgeable people in a secure space and ask them to develop something wonderful without guidance from the market.

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“We have created an open and free flowing conduit of information between the marketing team and the product development team. In fact, they work side by and often sit in the same meetings and brainstorming sessions.

“And just as we bring together individuals with a wide range of experience and knowledge both young and, well, not so young, within our own organisation, we also invite others from outside our four walls.”

Since January 2018, Emirates Glass has been running a series of training and idea sharing sessions, inviting leading architects, façade engineers, consultants, framing fabricators and installers to collaborate.

Marina 101, Dubai

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Leading names such as Dubai Central Laboratory from Dubai Municipality, WSP, Al Ghurair, Thomas Bell Wright (TBW) and Koltay Facades have all participated so far. Given the positive response to the sessions to date, Emirates Glass desires to run at least two each month.

“We have found, naturally, that the interests of architects are different from engineers and consultants and that façade companies are entirely different again,” Khan says. “We generally custom design the session to suit the needs of the visitors.”

This is reflected in the diversity of subjects discusses, ranging from principles of energy transfer and the impact on facades to technologies and techniques of various manufacturing processes.

Through continual engagement internally and with the wider industry, Emirates Glass has placed itself in a position to steer the future of the region’s glass manufacturing business.

Once more, as Khan emphasises, it is very much a case of watch this space.

King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia

Hamp Tower, Azerbaijan

Kingdom Trade Center, Saudi Arabia

Emirates Glass Tel: +971-4-7094700 info@emiratesglass.com www.emiratesglass.com

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DRIVING EUROP FORWARD Exemplifying specialised automotive manufacturing Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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n 1 January 2007, EU-25 became EU-27 as Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union. With the establishment of key trade partnerships having been a key motivation in its founding, one of the staple benefits of EU membership is the European single market, renowned as the largest single market in the world.

Offering the removal of trade barriers between countries, Romanian industry has benefitted greatly from greater transparency, efficiency, and ultimately reduced costs in the 13 years that it has been a member – benefits that have been particularly evident within the country’s manufacturing industry, as Andrei Sardi, CEO of global seat cover specialist Coindu Romania explains.

“With Romania becoming a full member of the European Union in 2007, for Coindu and its partners the whole import-export process became dramatically simplified and business started boosting,” he says.

In the wake of this, Coindu Romania was clearly able to capitalise on the European market.

By 2017, the Company’s turnover reached almost €100 million, up from the €5 million recorded in 2006, whilst employee growth also erupted, rising from 100 in 2005, to 500 in 2010, to more than 2,000 in 2016.

Rising to the top

Founded in 2004, borne as a division of the Coindu Group headquartered in Portugal, Coindu Romania has markedly come a long way in the 14 years since its inception.

Starting out as a regional satellite division of the Group, developing fabric seat covers for the Chyrsler Minivan, Coindu Romania has since surged in status, now serving a significant number of the world’s most renowned automotive brands.

“Having begun life as a low-cost

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manufacturing unit of the Coindu Group 14 years ago, we are now a financially autonomous company, managing all our internal processes whilst also benefitting from the synergies offered as being part of an international group,” Bogdan Stoian, CFO Eastern Europe Coindu Romania, reveals.

“No success came overnight, but we’ve gradually become known and appreciated for the proactive relationship we have with our customers and suppliers and our high-speed reaction times, and we are proud to say that we have produced for almost all of Europe’s major car manufacturers.”

Established relations and new horizons

Stoian admits that Coindu Romania’s growth has to date largely been facilitated by the relationships that it has built with its clients; ties that have blossomed as a result of the

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Company’s ability to consistently provide a high-quality service and product.

He explains: “Our constant growth over the last 12 years was only possible thanks to good quality, on-time delivery and competitive price models.

Our customers have placed their trust in our hard work by constantly nominating us for new business.

“Even in times when simultaneous launches of two or three new projects have made our punctual deliveries challenging, our long-established relationships with our customers has provided the opportunity for openness and has helped us find new solutions to keep things running smoothly.”

Having conquered parts of the automotive industry, establishing itself as a key global supplier of seat covers within the light vehicle markets, Coindu Romania is now looking to expand its portfolio, diversifying with a broader range of vehicle products.

Coindu Romania’s customers: • Volkswagen • Audi • Porsche • Renault • Mini • Skoda • Peugeot • Seat • Lamborghini • Volvo • Skoda • Magna • Lear • Adient • Toyota Boshoku

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“We have recently entered in the truck business with a couple of new programmes as a very attractive addition to our traditional light vehicle business,” Sardi reveals.

“Having acquired a majority stake in German leather manufacturer Hewa and the recent expansion of the firm’s production capabilities, Coindu Group is now in the position to deliver complete products for the seat cover industry, from the design to the production of complete leather seat covers.”

Additionally, the Company is also readily exploring the potential of offering its expertise outside of the automotive industry altogether.

Stoian continues: “With the recent acquisition of Reila Romania in 2018, Coindu Romania expanded its business portfolio to non-automotive customers using leather components in various applications, from the optical industry to food processing.

“Further, we are analysing the possibilities of expanding the Coindu Group’s operations in the fashion business in Portugal by adding products in one of the satellites in Romania, and are also analysing alternatives to better utilise the leather rests generated from our cutting process – something that will undoubtedly become a saving for our customers.”

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Solaris, our commitment for excellence.

Cleaning services

Facility management Property services DDD Services

52-54 Revolutiei Blvd., building C, 1st Floor, apartment 4, Arad Mob: 0728 935 279 | F: 0257 231 563 | E: office@solaris-cleaning.ro

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Our information technology has upgraded to keep the pace with the higher volumes of data transferred between us and our customers”

A drive to excel

Coindu’s ability to explore new markets is largely driven by its willingness to adapt, something that is clear in its continual investment in new technologies.

With the world’s first sewing machine having been invented in 1790, courtesy of Thomas Saint, industry technology is progressing more quickly now than ever before – something that Coindu is aware of and looks to utilise to remain as competitive as possible.

“Our equipment has changed over the years, giving us more flexibility in changing the models,” Sardi states.

“We have always followed closely the sewing technology evolution and have quickly and consistently incorporated new sewing machine concepts in our processes.

“The same approach can be seen in the development of cutting technology. Meanwhile, our information technology has upgraded to keep the pace with the higher volumes of data transferred between us and our customers, and our ERP is adapting to the higher flexibility required nowadays.”

Recent examples of these investments include Coindu Romania replacing its former mechanical leather-cutting machines with stateof-the-art equipment. Featuring automated laser cutting technology with self-learning abilities, these machines are better-able to identify imperfections on the surface of the leather such as scratches and holes.

Further, the firm has also bought into new Kanban concepts, helping to optimise its material flow and stocks, whilst also implementing systems

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applications product throughout all its processes, offering improved data accuracy that is used to better inform the firm’s key decision-making procedures.

“We are improving our presence and awareness in the Curtici/Arad communities in Romania to correctly reflect our transformation as an agile, responsive and committed supplier to some of the world’s largest automotive and non-automotive companies,” Stoian adds.

both customers and product diversity) and with expansion plans in Romania and Eastern Europe,” Stoian adds.

A people’s company

From a national perspective, Coindu benefits greatly from its location in the vicinity of Arad – considered to be one of the main industrial poles in Western Romania.

One such advantage is the consistent pool of skilled workers that is available to the Company.

Pursuing of a vision

This continual emphasis on progression is also reflected in the Company’s supply chain management strategy, with Coindu Romania having recently reworked its supplier management requirements to ensure that it retains the highest standards throughout all of its production procedures.

“We have moved from a Group exclusive carrier to a more flexible and cost-effective mix of Group suppliers and local transportation companies,” Sardi explains. “We are very happy with the current results, that have increased our on-time deliveries and have had a positive impact on our finances as well.

“Depending on our short-term needs, we have developed strong relations with Romanian and other Eastern European logistics hubs, optimising thus our warehousing needs.”

For Coindu Romania, standing still is not an option and such initiatives are all in aid of one long term goal for the Company.

Sardi explains: “Our intention is to be the supplier of choice for all our customers.

“We want to be the best supplier, not the cheapest – and we do it with acquisition of state-of-theart technologies in our field, with implementation of the latest standards in lean manufacturing, with diversification of our portfolios (for

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“Together with Coindu, there is a large number of well-known international automotive companies present in our area: Takata (now Joyson), Leoni, Webasto, Continental, Kromberg&Schubert, Yazaki, to name just a few of them – all with more than 10 years of continuous presence in Arad county,” says Sardi.

“Therefore, finding skilled employees is relatively easy – from production, engineering, maintenance, quality to finance and HR.” “Ultimately, we hope to offer young people the opportunity to join Coindu Romania as full-time employees after graduation or in probation periods”

“Finding skilled employees is relatively easy – from production, engineering, maintenance, quality to finance and HR”

‘One such advantage is the consistent pool of skilled workers that is available to the Company’

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Recognising that his Company is privileged to be in such a situation, Sardi ensures that Coindu Romania helps contribute to the maintenance of this talent pool, working with the local community and promoting industry education and its development.

Stoian concludes: “Understanding the difficulties that young generations are facing all over Europe to obtain a good job after school/university ends, we are actively supporting local technical schools and universities with both equipment, allowing the beneficiaries

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to use the latest technologies in their laboratories, and financial aids for eminent students.

“Ultimately, we hope to offer young people the opportunity to join Coindu Romania as full-time employees after graduation or in probation periods such as summer jobs or practical activities.

“Despite all the advanced technologies that we keep implementing, Coindu Romania remains a people’s company and we will keep relying on our talented and dedicated labour force to continue writing our success story.”

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019 will not only see Aero Vodochody enter the third pivotal year of its 2016-incepted decade-long strategic vision, but it will see the Czech manufacturer celebrate its 100th anniversary; a milestone which will be commemorated through a host of product innovations and network expansions.

100 years in any sector is worthy of commemoration of course, but to span numerous challenging historical and regional events, and to come out the other side as a marketleading entity is testament to the light jet trainer aircraft producer’s fortitude and business acumen.

Beginnings

Aero was founded on 25th February 1919 with its administrative seated in Prague’s Old Town and its production plant located in Prague-Bubeneč. From the very beginning, Aero focused on development and production of aircraft and aircraft parts, as well as aircraft repairs. As early as 1919, Aero launched its first in-house produced aircraft, the Aero A-1. Soon, the Ministry of Defence ordered mass production of the aircraft.

Designed for military pilot training, Aero A-1 foresaw what would become a typical product of the company in the distant future.

Expansion

More powerful training aircraft types followed, and after production had been moved to new facilities in the Prague district of Vysočany, the basis for a new family of reconnaissance, bomber and training biplanes was laid down by the Aero A-11 and A-12.

Military pilots soon became famous for breaking records and winning races in Aero aircraft. Aero, at that time a private enterprise owned by Dr. Vladimir Kabeš, became the main contractor for the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Works (civil aviation).

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Soaring for a Century As Aero Vodochody prepares for its 100th anniversary celebrations, the Company is commemorating its heritage and prestige via a host of new products and innovative upgrades Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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The first foreign customers soon followed suit, starting with Finland.

Between the two world wars, Aero achieved a number of Czechoslovak firsts: it built a prototype of the first indigenous fighter airplane, designed the first dedicated cabin transport aircraft, the first twin-engine aircraft, the first seaplane with indigenously designed floats, introduced a braced high-wing monoplane, and also

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pioneered a practical design of a wooden cantilever wing structure.

War production

The enhanced capabilities of the company were fully utilised and later developed during the German occupation, when Aero produced stressed-skin semi-monocoque structures with full jigging for reconnaissance and training missions

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(Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Siebel Si 204).

Immediately after the war ended, the nationalised Aero continued in the production and repairs of aircraft.

Modified German aircraft types were manufactured for the Czechoslovak Air Force as well as civil aviation. Shortly after the war, a new remarkable indigenous type had been introduced - the high-performance, twin-engine, all-metal Aero 45 four-seater.

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ATLAS

Ad van c e d T r ai n i n g Light At t ac k S ys t e m

Iridium

Beyond Line of Sight • Voice • Data • Imagery Line of Sight • Voice • Data • Video

Mesh network

Link 16 network

DCAS (Digital Close Air Support) Live Virtual Constructive Training (LVCT)

Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK)

Radar & Sensor Integration

Stores Management System • A-10 and F-16 weapons solution algorithms Weapons Integration

• Missiles – AGM-176 Griffin – AGM-117 Hellfire – AIM-9 • Gun • 2.75” Rockets – Non-Precision – Precision (APKWS)

• Bombs – GBU-12/58 – MK-81 – MK-82 – BDU-33 – Pyro

• Low Cost AESA Radar • Simulated Radar • EO/IR Integrated Sensor • Laser Designation • Simulated Sensor

State-of-the-Art EFIS/EICAS

Fully Integrated Cockpit with Flight Display • Helmet Mounted Display for High off boresight tactical applications and weapons modes (CCIP/CCRP) • Display provides all weapons modes for Missiles, Bombs.

Rockets and Guns • Up front controller for tandem seat aircraft

TACTICAL DISPLAY Situational Awareness • Moving Map – Datalink Overlays – Threat Overlays – Close Air Support Overlays – Self Protection Overlays • Radar Display • Missile Warning • Radar Warning • Calculated Dynamic Threat Distance

• Radar Display – Air to Air / Air to Ground / SAR / Weather – Real / Simulated • Sensor Display – EO / IR – Air to Air Search • Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) • Stores Management System

Live Virtual Constructive Training Enabled Avionics

ATLAS Hardware • Mission computer • LoS/BLoS datalink radio • Handheld datalink radio • Upfront controller/Universal Management Unit • Helmet-mounted display (HMD) • Stores Management Unit (SMU) • HOTAS

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The Jet Age

In 1953, new facilities designed entirely for jet aircraft production were built in Vodochody and started operation in the same year. The production, in which several Czechoslovak aviation plants were involved, focused on a large-scale series production of MiG-15 aircraft built under a license and its derivatives. The supersonic MiG-19 and MiG-21 aircraft were manufactured

by Aero throughout the 1960s and 1970s, paving the way in production capabilities to indigenous jet trainer programs - the L-29 Delfin and the L-39 Albatros.

Indigenous jet trainers

In the second half of the 1950s, the need for jet trainer aircraft became more and more urgent. Concentrated efforts in developing an optimised airframe and indigenous jet engine within the Czechoslovak aircraft industry resulted in the maiden flight of the L-29 in 1959. The definitive step

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on Aero’s way to mass production of jet trainers took place in the summer of 1961 near Moscow: the L-29 Delfin won comparative testing of three different prototypes and was declared the most suitable trainer in Eastern Bloc countries. Production and deliveries continued smoothly for the ten following years, after which the second generation, a more powerful and more efficient L-39 had been developed. Production of the L-39 occupied Aero’s workshops and assembly halls during 1970s and 1980s.

A number of air forces around the world still utilise the excellent tutoring quality of this affordable airplane.

The L-39 Albatros family expanded considerably in the course of time, forming a perfect basis for further development. The advent of 1990s brought incorporation of western avionics and standards as well as the use of more powerful American engines and global equipment, and with it a start of a new chapter in the life of the Company.

Modern history

In 2000, Aero set off in a new direction and entered into its first cooperation program - the entire S-76 helicopter ready for installation of dynamic parts for the American company Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

As of January 4, 2007, the private equity group Penta Investments became a sole shareholder of Aero and in the same year successfully finished its restructuring process.

Aero has opened its doors to the global market and has begun acquiring additional cooperation programs, including the first risksharing programmes. The company has thus become a top-class partner of leading aerospace manufacturers.

Stabilisation of the company allowed it to return to the tradition of development and production of jet aircraft – in 2014, Aero announced start of development of L-39NG, new generation of legendary jet trainer.

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orsight, Inc., headquartered in Ogden, Utah, USA, is working closely with Aero Vodochody Aerospace (AVA) to provide Advanced Trainer Light Attack System (ATLAS) avionics suites for the L-39NG aircraft. ATLAS brings the latest exportable US technology in agile communications, datalinks, sensors, threat protection, situational awareness capability and advanced weapons integration to the L-39NG.

Borsight’s Software Engineering team leverages the latest in Agile software, Sprint/ Scrum, development practices, to develop high quality, efficient software and mission systems at an accelerated pace. Our software products include:

Established in 2008, Borsight is AS9100D certified for design and development of aircraft systems. Since its founding, Borsight has been in continual growth in both personnel and facility growth. Slated to complete its six-facility campus in 2020, the Borsight campus is directly supporting the latest threat protection and situational awareness capability for USAF Air Mobility Command needs.

• Goliath AR (Augmented Reality) providing moving maps, live-video, imaging, augmented reality, real-time video georectification, line-of-sight and beyond-lineof-sight datalinks and more

Borsight’s products utilised in the ATLAS system includes several unique hardware products to fill customer needs including: • TAURUS Mission Assembly: collection of modular mission components that provides the core capabilities of a tactical airborne mission system • Line of Sight (LOS) Wideband datalink module: High speed data, voice, and video transmission and reception supporting a mesh architecture • Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS): Datalink: Dedicated SATCOM module which ensures global reachback for voice and data • Universal Management Unit (UMU): Display controller and system management unit for cockpit avionics and is the bridge between primary flight components and non-flight avionics utilising its multitude of standard and non-standard electrical interfaces • Portable Mission Display (PMD): Nextgeneration ruggedised portable cockpit display currently utilised for real-time mission control, network and communication interface, and electronic flight bag

• Tactical Airborne Mission Software Suite (TAMSS) on multiple platforms bringing modern datalink and situational awareness capabilities to these aircraft

• ATLAS which integrates mission displays, datalinks, helmet mounted displays, sensors, precision weapons and more into a single situational aware tactical mission suite. This system can be utilising for training and provides the additional Live Virtual Training (LVT) utilizing the ATLAS datalink capability Borsight recognises the importance and the ever-increasing need to protect information systems. Our team of in-house cybersecurity professionals continually analyse, identify and patch system-wide vulnerabilities to protect themselves as well as the systems they develop for their customers.

Combining Borsight’s breadth of experience and its utilisation of exportable tactical mission system technology to Aero Vodochody’s latest incarnation of the L-39NG, will provide a much needed training and light attack aircraft with unparalleled capability at a price that fills the gap between the turboprop class and the high performance jet class of aircraft currently being produced around the world.

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The new leadership

The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe Giordo summarises: “Over the years Aero have manufactured and delivered more than 6,000 aeroplanes and our fleet has accumulated more than 13 million flight hours, to further highlight Aero’s industry significance.

“From this point of strength, we are working with more than 40 different operators around the world, and still have 650 aircraft operational across this footprint.”

With this in mind, Aero embarked on its new strategic vision to reinforce Aero’s role of aircraft original manufacturer positioning on the market as a leading player in the training and light attack segment.

“Before Penta acquired Aero Vodochody in 2007, the company had been fully controlled by the Czechoslovakian Government. The private shareholders arrival kick-started

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GENESYS AEROSYSTEMS

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enesys Aerosystems is a new company that you’ve known a long time.

You may recognise us as the people who pioneered the world’s first FAA-certified 3D Synthetic Vision EFIS and GPS/WAAS navigator. Or you may fly one of the 40,000 autopilot systems we’ve shipped over the past 35 years.

You also may be familiar with our customers, like Aero Vodochody Aerospace, Agusta Westland and Bell Helicopters, to name but a few.

Achieving milestones in both production and training

T +1 817 215 7600 E info@genesys-aerosystems.com

www.genesys-aerosystems.com

the journey on the way to the 2016 milestone where these shareholders decided to produce proprietary aircraft again, and to reinforce its position on the international market.

“In 2016 we started a very detailed strategic plan for the Company which covered the next 10 years of activity. And since compiling this, we have begun implementing it across a range of considerations including business arms, strategic investments, partnership building and human resources.”

Giordo explains: “The main strategic goal we have is to come back as a globally leading aircraft manufacturer in areas of jet trainers and light attack airplanes; without abandoning our aerostructure strand of the business.

“Our portfolio now concentrates on programmes where significant technological advancements are required. On the aerostructure side this includes producing components for the Embraer KC-390; fully-

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assembled and equipped wing fixed leading edges for the Bombardier Cseries; and our involvement on the helicopter side of the business, mainly with the Sikorsky Black Hawks.”

L-39NG & F/A-259 Striker

The future of Aero Vodochody is now called the L-39NG. “It is the most cost-effective solution of all private trainer jets in the market, and we are estimating a market potential over the next 10 years of more than 1,000 airplanes which will see us capture at least 10 percent of the market,” says Giordo.

“The L-39NG is a product that is proved to be very attractive to customers, leveraging the success of the wider L-39 fleet of which we have already produced almost 3,000 aircrafts.”

The product’s appeal derives from a merging between the traditional fleet’s already refined characteristics, and a host of new infrastructural, design and

SABCA GROUP

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ith strong shareholders (Dassault Group and GKN Aerospace/Fokker) and soon celebrating its first century in aerospace, SABCA, a Belgian company, has within its Group, 1,100 highly motivated employees mastering all skills from design, manufacturing, qualification and aftersales support. The SABCA group has four plants located in Belgium and Morocco.

The Group focuses its activities on the following Centres of Excellence: • Integrated Assemblies • Actuation Systems • MRO&U of platforms and equipment • UAS These activities place the Group as a strong partner to promote quality services and allows collaboration with such esteemed customers like Aero Vodochody Aerospace.

T +32 2 729 5511 E info@sabca.be

www.sabca.be

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PRECISION PERFORMANCE. PROVEN EXPERIENCE. PERSONALIZE ATTENTION.

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CHEMETALL Lift-off with Chemetall!

Chemetall is a leading supplier of choice for aerospace specialty chemicals – and your one-stop supplier for aircraft OEM and MRO companies.

The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division offers approved and eco-friendly technologies and process for all airframe, aircraft operation and aero-engine OEM and maintenance applications.

Our well-known Ardrox®, Naftoseal®, Tech Cool® and Oakite® brands stand for high quality and innovation. They are globally available, offer product reliability and are used in all important sections of the market.

Expect more from Chemetall – and congratulations to Aero Vodochody on its 100-year anniversary.

Customisable quality

www.chemetall.com

technological tweaks to bring the L-39 into the next era.

The L-39NG aircraft is a modern and effective trainer designed as a unified, comprehensive training system for modern air forces. The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39, but utilises the latest technologies and equipment. Power is provided by the modern Williams International FJ44-4M engine. The aircraft’s avionics are prepared to train future pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft and can be tailored to the customer’s requirements. Integration of the new engine and the latest avionics already been certified on the original L-39 airframe. Configuration with original airframe and the new engine and avionics is named L-39CW. The L-39CW will provide an immediate solution for current operators by upgrading existing platforms with the new engine and new avionics (still 600 aircraft flying around the world). The L-39CW configuration is

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already fully certified. The production of the first pre-serial L-39NG aircraft is scheduled for certification at the end for 2019 andthe first delivery will be in the first quarter of 2020. “We signed contract for the first four aircraft with Senegal in April 2018. At Farnborough Air show we announced additional total agreements for 28 L-39NG and 6 L-39CW training aircraft from US firm RSW and European company SkyTech.

By signing those new agreements, we are achieving a backlog of up to 38 aircraft to be delivered between 2020 and 2022,” Giordo says. “The market is aware of the positive characteristics of the L-39NG – whether they choose the full aircraft or just an integration of the core systems initially – and the product is on track to help us reach our milestones set out in the 2016 strategic plan.”

The second programme driving Aero’s success at present is the F/A259 Striker, a multirole aircraft for close air support, counter-insurgency

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Technological Capabilities: Machining, Deburring and Straightening, Surface treatments certified by Embraer and Airbus, CMM, NDT and Assemblies for Aerostructures.

Inmapa Aeronautica is a specialist company who manufacture metallic parts and assemblies for aircraft structures. Inmapa Aeronautica is able to mill large (up to 10m), medium and small parts using high speed 5-axis machine. With more than 120.000h machining capacity available, Inmapa Aeronautica offers a full service to its clients from raw material acquisition to finished product delivery at customers warehouse.

For rfq: rfqaeronautica@inmapa.com Info: luis.diaz@inmapa.com

www.inmapa.com

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operations and border patrolling with interception capabilities. The F/A259 Striker combines the robustness and effectiveness of its successful predecessor, the L-159 Alca, with the latest advances in avionics and aircraft systems technology from Israeli company IAI, which is Aero’s new international partner.

Complete with the most modern radar, guidance systems, and a host of additional, technologically advanced solutions, it is a spinoff from the L-159 series, which has been used over the past two years by the Iraqi air force in its fight against Isis.

Giordo notes: “They have had excellent results in terms of performance and based on the Iraqi experience we have a lot of requests from other countries to adapt the L-159 for them. Additional great reference is from American private company Draken International using L-159s as a trainer and teaching pilots from US Air Force and other national air forces.

“The F/A-259 is one of very few products to be able to respond to the demands of a fighter attack aircraft and it can perform same as fourth or even fifth generation fighters when it comes to certain missions. It is lighter, with much cheaper operating costs than alternatives, making the market very responsive to the product.”

A more competitive position

Aero has an uncanny knack of realising its own strengths and limitations and subsequently finding the most optimum solutions, products and market approach to maximise businessAero understands that investments and progression can’t be a lone-journey. Strategic partner of the L-39NG project is a strong Czech investment and defence company Omnipol, and strategic partner of the F/A-259 Striker is Israeli IAI, a world leader in both the defense and commercial markets, delivering stateof-the-art technologies and systems

“At Aero, the characteristic and realisation is that no programme can be done alone, and as such it is important to form partnerships also with the right operators, suppliers and even local SMEs,” Giordo says.

“So, one of our strategic goals has been to identify and secure these right strategic partnerships with big operators around the aeronautical world, in order to move our products into a more competitive position.

“Through this strategy we have aligned ourselves with leaders in numerous respective fields of electronics or avionics etc, as we well as through training provisions, to ensure the correct industrial partner is in place for all aspects of our operations, in each location we serve.”

Heritage for the future

Giordo goes on to pinpoint this aspect of human resources as one of Aero’s key differentiators setting the business apart from market

“It is our historical heritage that is different from any Company in Europe”

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Precision • Top Quality • Stability Our company STROJCAR s.r.o. has built up its status as a proven and high-quality supplier in the aerospace and automotive industry. We build on the high level of expertise, skills and experience of a team of top employees as well as on modern technologies, creating the conditions for further growth of competitiveness and quality of production with the aim of constantly increasing the satisfaction of our customers.

+420 553 624 384 | strojcar@strojcar.cz | www.strojcar.cz

competitors at present. “The Czech Republic’s unemployment rate is almost zero so it’s not easy to find and keep the requisite skills in this market.

This is why we continue to invest in HR though, making the leadership structure as refined as possible, while also partnering with technical schools, universities and institutes to try and attract young talent into the Company.

“Once people are in we then spend a lot of time and effort in developing their capabilities; not only from a technical standpoint but in evolving their mentalities to focus not just on the Czech market but on all markets that are pertinent to Aero’s operations.

“It helps to form a nice bridge for potential customers too when they see we have hard-working, innovative, local personnel who are here and ready to influence the international market.”

Further alluding to high levels of operational performance and engineering expertise, he remains as confident as ever in realising the business’s strategic vison on the eve of its centenary.

“It’s of course easier to say than to do, but as we celebrate 100 years in the industry, I’d love to have achieved the aforementioned results across our product offering and strategic structure goals,” he concludes. “If these are achieved then it means we will be showing the world that we are back in the position of the region’s biggest manufacturer of jet trainer aircraft.

“Being a smaller company with private shareholders, we have an infrastructure that facilitates quick decision making and effective relationship building as part of this journey. But most importantly, it will reflect the heritage that is both present and significant within the Company, and indeed the country. For Czech people, they don’t have the sea to look at, so they look to the air. The air is part of this country’s DNA, and so is Aero Vodochody.”

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Integrating Finland into the European gas market Herkko Plit, CEO and President of Baltic Connector OY, reveals how one of the EU’s flagship energy projects is set to change the regional status quo Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

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ILF CONSULTING ENGINEERS POLSKA

ILF Consulting Engineers Polska (ILF Poland) ranks among leading engineering and consulting companies and provides top quality services in four core business areas.

Combining long-standing professional experience with technical and managerial knowledge, ILF Poland successfully provides support during all project execution phases – “one stop shopping”. Our services include, among others: feasibility studies, technical analyses, conceptual, building permit and detailed designs, PMC, integrated plant engineering & design (PDMS, E3D, AutoCAD Plant 3D, CADISON, Revit).

We have been dealing with even the most complex interdisciplinary tasks for more than 20 years. Thanks to our international know-how and highly competent staff who benefit from synthesis of skills and experience of almost 2,000 ILF Consulting Engineers employees all over the world, we meet even the most demanding expectations. ILF Poland has succeeded in implementing around 300 projects in various business areas in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Our clients are public sector institutions as well as private investors.

We are part of ILF Consulting Engineers – an international group of engineering companies that has been gaining experience in the market for more than 50 years.

Oil, Gas & Industrial Upstream Underground Storage Pipeline Systems Tank Farms & Terminals Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Refining Chemicals & Petrochemicals Key achievements: • ILF ranked #7 in the category “Pipelines” (source: ENR 2017Top International Design Firms) • > 2,000 km gas pipeline, 56” – among the largest pipelines in terms of both diameter and CAPEX (TANAP, Turkey) • Design for pipelines in extreme consitions: mountain terrain, rainforests and swamps or arctic and permafrost regions

Energy & Climate Protection

Water & Environment

Transportation & Structures

Solar Power Wind Power Hydropower Bioenergy Thermal Power Waste to Energy Power Transmission & Distribution Energy Storage Distributed Energy Supply

Desalination Water Treatment Wastewater Treatment Industrial Water Water Transmission Urban Water

Multimodal Transportation Railways Urban Transportation Roads Airports Ports & Maritime Tunnels & Caverns Buildings & Structures Ski Resorts

Key achievements: • Europe’s largest hard-coal-fired power unit (Kozienice Power Plant, 1,075 MWel, Poland) • World’s largest waste to energy plant (Dubai Waste to Energy Plant, 1,825,000 Mg/a, UAE) • 1,000 MW solar power (PV/CSP) park, UAE

Key achievements: • One of East-Central Europe’s largest WWTP (Czajka WWTP, 435,300 m3/d, Warsaw, Poland) • World’s largest drinking water transmission system (Rabigh – Jeddah / Makkah / Taif WTS, 1.3 million m3/d max. capacity, Saudi Arabia) • World’s largest reverse osmosis desalination plant (Magtaa IWP, 500,000 m3/d, Algeria)

Key achievements: • The world’s longest railway tunnels (Gotthard Base Tunnel 57 km, Brenner Base Tunnel 55 km) • 6,500+ km of railway lines • Up to 57 million passengers/year – three of the largest airports in Europe (Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin; Germany)

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Herkko Plit • Worked as the Responsible Project Director for the Olkiluoto 3 Nuclear Power Plant construction project • Worked for Fortum corporation for several years, and appointed as President of the Fortum Nuclear Services in May 2008 • Stood as the Deputy Director General for the Ministry of Employment and the Economy within Finland’s Energy Department between 2012-2016

The EU gas market will be transformed, not only in reducing Russia’s position as an essential gas supplier in the EU, but also in expanding market aspirations – which is something that we are really hoping to see in the outcomes of the project,” says Herkko Plit, CEO and President of the EUfunded pipeline project, Balticconnector.

In a volatile geopolitical climate, enhancing regional energy security has become an increasingly pressing issue for the European Union.

In the aim of achieving this, the European Commission (EC) is attempting to merge key regional gas networks across the Europe, a goal that has led to the development of several key infrastructure projects.

One such project is Balticconnector.

With the Finnish government having introduced a new company,

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• Has held leadership positions at the European Commission and is currently the Chairman of the Fusion for Energy Procurement and Contacts Committee • Was appointed as Chair of the Board at Baltic Connector in November 2015 • Became the President and CEO of Baltic Connector in October 2016

Two decades in the making

Herkko Plit

Baltic Connector Oy, to oversee its construction, the pipeline is expected to play a key role in remodelling the status quo in the energy market, both politically and economically.

“The story of Balticconnector started almost 20 years ago, when people began to discuss how we might better connect the Baltic region to other countries,” Plit explains. “In 2011–2012 these discussions really got boosted, largely after the European Commission (EC) announced that it was planning to help funding some of the most crucial infrastructure projects in Europe.

“As a result, the Balticconnector project, together with the creation of a new major energy terminal, began to become more of a reality.”

Andrzej Dercz, ILF Consulting Engineers Polska President & CEO

Interview with Andrzej Dercz, ILF Consulting Engineers Polska President & CEO The company was founded in the late 90s: what did the beginning look like?

AD: ILF entered the Polish market in 1998 when providing technical consultancy services for construction of the compressor station on the Yamal pipeline. In the beginning, ILF Poland carried out projects only in the oil & gas sector, mainly in cooperation with the ILF Group. Despite being a small company, we were able to build a competitive advantage because of our international experience, know-how and motivation.

What was the greatest breakthrough?

AD: Thanks to the booming market in 2001, we were able to enter the environmental sector. The pinnacle of this was the Czajka WWTP project, one of the biggest wastewater treatment plants in East-Central Europe for which ILF Poland provided most of the detailed engineering services.

In 2007 we established our position on the energy market by providing complex engineering services for the construction of the Częstochowa Combined Heat and Power Plant, carried out in EPCM formula, which was little known in Poland at the time. The investment paved the way for a series of new contracts, such as the owner’s engineer services for Kozienice Power Plant, the largest hard-coal-fired power unit in Europe. The next breakthrough came in 2009, when we won a few major contracts, including design and procurement services for the development of the Aqaba Compressor Station in Jordan. That year we also undertook design works for the

II metro line in Warsaw - this was the biggest contract in the company’s history, and it allowed us to join the elite circle of companies providing metro-related services.

Our successes from recent years also include designing more than 8,500 km of gas pipelines across the world, including the Balticconnector gas pipeline (offshore and onshore section together with compressor stations) for which ILF Poland is providing EPCM services, and also several services for LNG Terminals in Poland and Ukraine.

ILF focuses on four business areas: why is that so important?

AD: Being active in so many business areas allows us to be flexible and address the needs of the changing world. We are able to combine technical expertise from various disciplines, implement a holistic approach and provide comprehensive services for even the most complex, interdisciplinary tasks.

We provide services for all project execution phases from feasibility studies through basic design and detailed engineering down to site supervision and commisioning.

Where do you see ILF in the future?

AD: We see ILF Poland as one of the key members of the ILF Group when carrying out projects that require cooperation among several companies. We aspire to be the leading consultant in Poland, by keeping our position in the markets already gained and developing new ones, such as renewables, energy storage or sustainability of industrial processes. We are also planning to increase our presence on the international markets, particularly for renewables and public transportation.

E info.waw@ilf.com T+48 22 430 26 00 www.poland.ilf.com

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KROHNE Baltic Connector Oy selects KROHNE as supplier for CT gas metering system.

One of the key components of the Baltic Connector pipeline is the Custody Transfer metering system that measures the amount of supplied gas, as this links directly to the cash registers of buyer and seller of the gas.

Baltic Connector Oy selected KROHNE Oil & Gas as supplier for the Custody Transfer flow meter runs for the Finnish compressor and measuring station in Inkoo. With local presence in 100 countries and an impressive global track record, KROHNE is a well-known supplier for process instrumentation, custody transfer flowmeters and fully engineered metering systems.

The pipeline, once complete, will transport 7.2 million cubic feet of gas a day

Since then, the Estonian and Finnish governments agreed an LNG terminal would be set up in Finland, with an offshore pipeline connecting the two countries’ gas networks to be implemented directly across the Baltic Sea. Later in 2015 with the change of

The five subprojects • Onshore pipeline between Siuntio and Inkoo (Finland): 21km • Offshore pipeline between Inkoo (Finland) and Paldiski (Estonia): 77km • Onshore pipeline between Paldiski-Kiili (Estonia): 55km • Compression and metering station in Inkoo (Finland) • Compression and metering station in Kersalu (Estonia)

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the project promoter, the LNG terminal was left out and it was prioritized to focus on Balticconnector pipeline.

With a total cost of €250 million, the project has been divided into five segments that in total will see the construction of 153 kilometres of pipeline alongside two compression and metering stations; one in Inkoo, Finland and the other in Kersalu, Estonia.

Upon completion, it is estimated that the transmission capacity of the pipeline will be 7.2 million cubic feet, equating to 72 GWh per day, whilst the pipeline itself will allow gas to be transported bi-directionally according to market demand.

“By the summer of this year we had finished a detailed design of the project, had received the necessary permits and finalised all of our procurement plans,” Plit reveals. “Now we are fully in the construction phase of the project; a period that we expect to continue until the end of 2019, where after the gas can start operating.”

The metering system consists of three meter runs using KROHNE’s ALTOSONIC V12 ultrasonic gas flowmeter. As it enables installation without flow conditioner while maintaining compliance to standards as OIML R137 and AGA9, pressure drop over the meter runs is limited to an absolute minimum. This contributes to running the compressor station as efficient as possible. Custody transfer flow calculations are done by KROHNE’s SUMMIT 8,800 flow computers with full colour touchscreen in redundant setup. SynEnergy Supervisory software is installed on the supervisory computers.

The system is manufactured in KROHNE’s 30,000 square metre production facility in the Netherlands.

Onsite commissioning and training will be carried out by KROHNE and its local Finnish partner Tecalemit Flow Oy. Baltic Connector Oy is a state-owned company set up in 2015 to implement the Finnish part of the Baltic Connector gas pipeline to be built between Finland and Estonia.

krohne.com/altosonic-v12

m3/h

fact

m/s

High accurate flow measurement with immediate detection of contamination ALTOSONIC V12 – technology driven by KROHNE • 12 path ultrasonic gas flowmeter for custody transfer, OIML R137 class 0.5 and AGA 9 • Just 5D straight inlet required due to swirl compensation in each measuring plane • Dedicated diagnostic paths for deposits, dirt or changes in surface roughness • KROHNE Care: web-based, extended CBM diagnostics expert system for continuous meter health check

products

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Roschier - part of Baltic Connector’s success story

Mikko Ruokonen, Construction Manager, Compressor Station at Baltic Connector Oy, Laura Huomo, Energy and Capital Markets Counsel at Roschier, and Toni Siimes, Partner at Roschier visiting the Baltic Connector construction site in Inkoo.

“A greener economy” is on both Baltic Connector’s and Roschier’s agenda. Baltic Connector is a pioneer in opening doors to new opportunities for the Finnish economy and Roschier is now part of Baltic Connector’s success story.

Roschier’s Projects & Energy practice focuses on infrastructure and energy projects and related M&A work, and is well suited for international projects like Balticconnector.

Roschier was selected as the law firm to provide all legal assistance in the Balticconnector-pipeline project. Roschier’s main contacts in the project are Energy and Capital Markets Counsel Laura Huomo and Partner Toni Siimes.

“The Roschier team’s expertise in Gas Market and Contract Law is top-notch. Laura Huomo and the team really consider what’s best for our company, explore every possibility and make sound and intelligible recommendations”, states Arja Koski, Strategy and Procurement Director of Baltic Connector.

Natural gas regulation and projects are at the core of our projects practice and our lawyers have been involved in opening up the new gas market from the very beginning.

“Through this project and other gas-related projects, it has been a privilege to be part of Finnish energy history and actually make a difference”, states Laura Huomo. “The project has also required help from our international network of contacts, as we have benchmarked our approach to agreements not previously seen on the Finnish market”, continues Toni Siimes.

www.roschier.com

European gas market potential

Plit admits that the project is by no means the largest of its kind, however, he stresses that its strategic influence will be worth substantially more to the EU, not only in bolstering the continent’s energy security, but also in enhancing the gas market itself.

“Having set up Baltic Connector Oy in 2015 we quickly applied for funding from the EC’s Connecting Europe Facility initiative that was introduced to help finance major gas infrastructure projects across the EU,” Plit explains.

“It immediately became clear that the project was critical for both the region and Europe, and so the EU agreed to fund 75 percent of the project.

“No other energy project in Europe before had received this level of funding.”

Balticconnector’s importance has been magnified from coinciding with two other pipeline projects that combined will play a key role

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in facilitating the levels of market integration that the EU is hoping to achieve.

The Gas Interconnection PolandLithuania (GIPL) project, partially funded by the Estonian government, will connect Poland’s and Lithuania’s gas networks, whilst the Baltic Pipe project will allow the transport of gas

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from Norway to the Danish and Polish markets.

Alongside existing gas infrastructure, these three key emerging projects will markedly improve the accessibility of natural gas between the Baltics and the rest of Europe, paving the way for a range of new possibilities.

Your business.

Our dedication.

At Roschier, we believe the best advice is built on a deep understanding achievable only through dedication.

It’s an approach we’re committed to. By working closely with our clients and sharing their realities, we ensure advice that reaches beyond the obvious.

Roschier’s Projects & Energy practice offers an end-to-end service that caters to the specific needs of individual clients or a consortium of partners involved in significant projects, like energy or infrastructure projects, industrial production sites and datacenters. We are familiar with Nordic laws and regulations and have extensive experience, garnered from participation in a significant number of transactions, disputes and projects, which gives us the sophisticated business perspective necessary to advise our major global industry players cross-border and cross-practice.

Roschier – your law firm when it matters

“They understood our business requirements and tailored their advice to our needs rather than their firm’s benefit.”

Chambers Europe 2018, Energy & Natural Resources - Finland

www.roschier.com

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RTA

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TA has implemented two contract types for the compressor station of Baltic Connector in Inkoo: an earthwork and appliance foundation contract and a construction contract.

RTA functions as the main contractor, responsible for workforce scheduling and resourcing and the compatibility of appliance installations and construction works is equally important.

RTA has solid experience in similar tasks and can provide professional excellence. “We are quick and flexible in changing situations. We can also provide the contractors with a professional project management organisation and resources. Co-operation with Baltic Connector has been very successful,” states technical manager Harri Virtanen.

The pipeline will connect Finland to Estonia

www.rta-yhtiot.fi

“The importance of the Balticconnector project is much, much larger than its value would suggest, evident in the fact that the Commission President, Finnish and Estonian Prime Ministers were all present during the signing of the grand agreement with the EC,” Plit points.

“It’s really a flagship project for the EU.”

Considering the future

The trend in the global energy market has increasingly shifted towards renewables therefore guaranteeing longevity was paramount to Plit throughout the project’s planning phase.

“Some might consider natural gas to be a short-term solution, but we have ensured that this project will embody the future of regional energy transfers for the long term,” he says.

“Whilst these gas pipelines have been constructed to carry phosphide gas, we have made certain that they can

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The pipeline will connect Finland to Estonia

be repurposed to transport alternative fuels, such as biogas or hydrogen.

“Strategic infrastructure such as Balticconnector is going to be fundamental to our future. If we want to continue to have a competitive energy market, it is important that

such infrastructure is prepared for long term changes in the market.”

This was just one of several considerations made by the Baltic Connector Company during its extensive design phase – something that Plit feels has been essential to the success of the project to date, forecasted to be finished both on time and on budget.

“Because of the project’s significance, not only to us but to the whole of Europe, it has been crucial that it has remained on schedule,” he says.

“Our implementation is really going well thus far, as we had promised the EC. “We did our homework, we took the time to ensure our design plans were as adept and detailed as possible, and as a result I hope that by the end of our timeline we can say that there is an integrated Finnish and Baltic gas market that is connected to the EU,” Plit concludes.

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YOUR PARTNER IN PROCUREMENT

Helsinki office Postal address: Erottajankatu 19 A 11, 00130 Helsinki Visiting address: Eteläesplanadi 24 A 11 T: + 358 40 038 3842 F: +358 42 11 5566 333 E: info@fplaw.fi

London office Finnish Procurement Lawyers Attorneys Ltd. 25 Canada Square, Level 33 Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom T: + 358 44 5566 333

www.fplaw.fi

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S P E T C O

PURSUING AN

UPWARD TRAJECTORY A year on from our last conversation, we discuss the Kuwaiti oil & gas giant’s plans to broaden its horizons in 2018 and beyond Writer: Jonathan Dyble Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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When asked about SPETCO, I always like to emphasise the qualities that we hold as a Company,” says CEO Tareq Qaddumi. “We try, wherever possible, to ensure that we maintain the highest of standards, and I stress to my project managers out in the field to be perceptive of our clients, of our staff and of local communities.”

Having spoken to Europe & Middle East Outlook a year ago almost to the day, SPETCO has achieved success that the Company itself had not even anticipated in the 12 months since.

Having remained true to its core values and expanded upon its reputation as a high-quality vendor, the Kuwait-based oil & gas specialist’s ambitious nature has paid dividends, reflected by its latest core growth statistics.

“We have seen our overall revenues grow by 64 percent in the last year, whilst the number of employees at the Company is also up by 12 percent. In terms of our geographical footprints, we have now established branches in Abu Dhabi and Erbil, with the vision that these will contribute substantially to SPETCO’s overall growth plan.”

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Much of this success has been manifested in SPETCO’s major projects, namely through the engineering, procurement and field installation of sucker rod pumping systems on 270 wells for the Company’s leading client, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

“We were able to install all of them before the deadline,” Qaddumi highlights. “The sucker rod artificial lift system was the first of its kind to be tendered by KOC, and our major increase in revenue has been directly linked to this project.”

Meanwhile, the firm’s work

EME throughout the previous year has now placed it on sound footing to complete the KOC’s new Jurassic Production Facility (JPF) which produces up to 40,000 barrels per day, SPETCO is playing a major role in one of the JPF’s development.

Enabling betterment

Whilst the completion of this facility will remain firmly on SPETCO’s agenda over the coming months, with the five-year operations & maintenance contract set to begin following this, the Company and Qaddumi himself have major plans in the aim of enabling “We have seen our overall revenues grow by 64 percent in the last year, whilst the number of employees at the Company is also up by 12 percent”

SPETCO has installed sucker rod pumping systems on 270 wells for Kuwait Oil Company

“In terms of our geographical footprints, we have now established branches in Abu Dhabi and Erbil”

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AUTOMAK AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY

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utomak Automotive Company is a leading provider of the most advanced and cost-effective transport solutions in Kuwait and the MENA region. It owns and operates a diversified fleet totaling approximately 10,000 vehicles.

Automak provides vehicle lease and rental services for all type of vehicles to the corporate sector as well as the government sector (national oil companies and ministries).

Automak is also a distributor of renowned brands for passenger and commercial vehicles, spare parts, oil & lubricants, and provides third party maintenance services as well as the sale of pre-owned vehicles.

T +965 184 5555, +20 1005 873 411

www.automak.com

There’s three major projects that we plan to bid for; the upcoming KOC tenders for the new gas sweetening facility, and two JPFs, all of which we’re really keen on” the firm’s progression moving forward, particularly regarding its continual relationship with KOC. “There’s three major projects that we plan to bid for; the upcoming KOC tenders for the new gas sweetening facility, and two JPFs, all of which we’re really keen on,” Qaddumi states.

Moreover, in the aim of tapping into the increasing demand for gas within the Kuwait market, SPETCO is also currently expanding its own existing gas sweetening facility.

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Qaddumi explains: “This is not a client’s facility, we own the whole project, and because of the rising demand we have been asked to upgrade it – something that we’re in the process of doing and are very excited about. Effectively, we’re raising the plant’s capacity from 60 million cubic feet to 100 million cubic feet.”

These latest targets largely reflect the Company’s long term aims of becoming more broadly established across the regional oil & gas industry.

Whilst SPETCO is renowned as the most significant player in Kuwait’s production well testing services industry, currently holding the highest market share of any company, Qaddumi hopes to diversify the brand moving forward.

“We want to focus more on our production facilities division and establish ourselves as a company that isn’t only referred to as an oil field services provider, but one that is considered an expert throughout the midstream segment.”

A formula to succeed

SPETCO can rightfully have full confidence in achieving this with an adaptive culture and willingness to identify key industries trends in the aim of staying ahead of the curve.

“With KOC as our main client, we readily look at their strategy and retain the flexibility to align ourselves to this where possible. For example, they’re looking to produce a lot of

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“We are confident that we will be successful in obtaining more contracts and projects to reiterate our steady growth”

“We want to focus more on our production facilities division and establish ourselves as a company that isn’t only referred to as an oil field services provider”

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heavy oil and are exploring the use of technology within this – something that we’re very interested in.”

Technology and innovation are part and parcel of the oil & gas industry in the modern day, evidently recognised

by SPETCO in its work with several technology providers they have signed agency agreements with.

Further, SPETCO is continually updating its internal ERP system, something that Qaddumi feels is fundamental to bolstering the firm’s administrative operations.

Through a sound outlook on industry trends, key relationships and leading expertise, SPETCO looks set to continue to excel in the coming months.

“We are confident that we will be successful in obtaining more contracts and projects to reiterate our steady growth and enhance our reputation as one of the best and top local oil & gas services companies in the region,” Qaddumi concludes.

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FA Ç A D E

T E C H N O LO G Y

SHAPING FAÇADES

ACROSS TWO CONTINENTS

Paul Grove of Meinhardt Façade Technology explains how the Company is leveraging innovative techniques and an adaptive culture to produce unrivalled results Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Tom Cullum

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he construction industry comprises a range of sectors, with façade services considered to be one of the most specialist and technical niches within this.

Often depicting the character and spirit of a building, the design, fabrication and installation of building façades are pivotal to the representation of a brand or company.

Naturally, façade engineers are often dubbed as the artists of construction, with engineers required to analyse a range of factors from aesthetic appearance and structural behaviour to safety and serviceability.

Such services are expected to see rising demand in the years ahead, with research suggesting that the global façades industry will rise from the $179.7 billion recorded in 2016 to more than $337 billion by 2025, and one company readily positioned to capitalise on this rising demand is Meinhardt Façade Technology (MFT).

Having discussed the firm’s ambitions across the Asian continent in the latest issue of Asia Outlook, Paul Grove, Managing Director of Middle East, Southeast Asia, UK and Australia at Meinhardt Façade Technology, provides insight into the Company’s equally expansive portfolio across the EME region.

Recognising the opportunity

With Meinhardt Façade Technology having been established in 1988, the firm’s Hong Kong office initially dealt with business in the EME region. However, having gradually established the brand in the years since its inception, Meinhardt began to recognise the opportunity of working more locally with EME by the turn of the millennium, particularly through Meinhardt Façade Technology.

“In 2000 we recognised that there was an opportunity for our façade consultancy services in this region that we had previously been serving

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remotely,” Grove reveals.

“Due to growing demand, a local MFT office was established in Dubai, where we worked on a number of our first major projects in the city. As of today, we cover the whole of the Middle East and surrounding countries from this office that is nearing its 11th birthday in the UAE.” A similar pattern followed in MFT’s approach to the European continent, namely with the UK, as the Company once again recognised the advantages of working directly within the local market.

“A number of the major architects had left the Middle East during the global financial crisis and established themselves back in the UK. As a result, in 2012 we recognised that they were starting to work remotely and saw the opportunity to set up an office in London to work closely with them in the early design stages and provide an advantage to the Dubai office for these projects,” Grove explains.

“The office was set up under the already established Meinhardt UK office, and it soon became apparent the demand for UK projects was high.

In the six years since, our European workload has largely been based within the UK. However, we have projects scattered across the region, from Manchester to Cyprus.”

Further, off the back of its regional success, MFT is now looking to expand across Europe to better capitalise on the emerging opportunities in other markets and continue to expand in line with the market’s overall growth.

“We will also be opening another office in Europe by the end of this year,” Grove says. “We are very excited as this is a strategic move in this region, and it will be interesting to see how this develops over time.”

Shaping the mould

EME aspect that the firm truly takes pride in. Leveraging the latest techniques and technologies, each and every one of its projects are unique and exemplary.

“We have undertaken a range of high-profile projects in the Middle East, all with very different challenges,” Grove states.

Meinhardt Façade Technology in the Middle East Some of the key projects that MFT has worked on in the Middle East include: • Opera Grand, Dubai • The Scenic, Dubai • Emaar Plot C1/C2 Towers, Dubai • Durar Residential Development, Dubai • DAMAC Akyon – Plot 2, Dubai • Plot 5JJ, Dubai Marina, Dubai • Rafal Centre Development, Riyadh • Harbour Views Towers, Dubai • ADNOC Headquarters, Abu Dhabi • Rosewood Hotel, Abu Dhabi • CMA Headquarters, Riyadh • Damac by Paramount, Dubai • Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi • Shams Gateway Towers, Abu Dhabi • Sama Tower, Dubai • Vision Tower at Business Bay, Dubai

With such expansion a reflection of MFT’s success to date, fundamental to this have been its projects – a crucial

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“Some of the projects we are particularly proud of include, but are not limited to, the New Doha International Airport and Rosewood Hotel developments in Abu Dhabi, as well as our work on the Burj Rafal and CMA Tower situated in Riyadh, and of course the monumental projects, Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.”

Meanwhile, in the UK, MFT is continuing to play a major role in the innovative development of London’s expansive skyline, namely through its 145 City Road project, IQL S9 development and TIQ S5 and S6 project.

Meinhardt in London 145 City Road Client: Rocket Investments Project: A 39-storey residential tower and 10-storey office Role: To design the façades for installation on a tight city site Completion: 2019

IQL S9, Stratford Client: Lendlease Project: 279,000 square foot building with 11 storeys of office space Role: Provide façade and ESD engineering solutions Completion: 2019

TIQ S5 and S6, Stratford Client: Lendlease Project: 515,000 square foot building with 20 floors of open plan office space Role: Provide façade and ESD engineering solutions Completion: 2017

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The variation of these projects across a range of different countries, industries and environments speaks volumes, and truly reflect the extensive capabilities of Meinhardt Façade Technology.

Commitment to the brand

Key to Meinhardt’s ability to secure such substantial contracts has been its commitment to consistently providing leading services to the best of its ability, a culture that has been crucial in bolstering the firm’s regional reputation.

“In the Middle East, it is vital to further our name and cement our brand in the industry,” Grove explains.

“Reputation is everything in such a competitive market, particularly considering the high amount of construction. We value our clients and we value repeat business, so high quality service is something we have to maintain.”

In pursuit of this, Meinhardt Façade Technology actively ensures it is readily positioned to progress, evident in its openness when it comes to collaborating with complementary firms.

“We need to ensure that we are able to access and implement the latest materials and techniques, and we always look to find economic constructions methods,” says Grove.

“For example, a lightweight external wall solution build-up is quite common in the UK and has some key industry benefits. To this end we have recently been working with Voestalpine Metsec on some specific façade solutions.

ZAK WORLD OF FAÇADES

Z

ak World of Façades is an International conference series on façade design & engineering, having attracted more than 12,000 delegates across its 39 completed editions.

The conference is currently being organised in 20 countries in the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait & Saudi Arabia), South Asia (India & Sri Lanka), South East Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines & Indonesia), Africa (Kenya, Morocco & South Africa), Greater China (Hong Kong), Europe (United Kingdom & France) & Australasia (Australia & New Zealand) and the United States of America. The event attracts senior architects, developers, façade consultants, PMCs, façade contractors along with key consultants & decision makers.

The event comprises keynote presentations and Pecha-Kucha sessions from premier speakers from the façade industry, engaging panel discussions and power networking, which offers opportunities to the delegates attending this conference to share and learn the latest trends and advancements in the façade industry, as we extensively believe in enhancing the power of knowledge for every attending delegate and organisation at our conference.

The forum also pushes the creativity and challenges the solution providers to innovate and bring out the best services and products in line with the expectation of the designers.

Our experience in organising events for the façade and fenestration industry for more than two decades makes us strongly believe that customer satisfaction is key to our success of our conferences, as we strive to deliver high quality, engaging and well attended events for the future.

T +91 44 42959595 E info@zakgroup.com www.zakworldoffacades.com

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F A Ç A D E

T E C H N O L O G Y

MERINT

IQL S9, Stratford

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erint, whose mission statement is ‘Bringing Smiles’, has been in business for over four decades and has maintained its position as a partner of choice.

It has developed a unique consultative process providing the most advanced products developed by the manufacturers’ it represents.

Over the years Merint has diversified into several verticals: furniture, interior fit outs and property development.

Merint glass has partnered with Saint Gobain since its inception, bridging the ambitious aspirations of the architects/ façade consultants like Meinhardt Façade Technology and the client’s/ fabricator’s requirements through innovative and value engineered solutions.

T +971 4 883 3131

www.merint.com “Similarly, the other key material we use in façade is performance-coated glass, a key barrier to preventing the entry of solar energy to interior of buildings. We collaborate very closely with Merint Saint Gobain, Guardian and China Southern Glass to this end, as well as many others, working on various double and triple silver performance coated glass.”

Further, in the aim of not only maintaining such high standards but surpassing them, MFT readily sets targets with the expectation that growth will be achieved across all areas of the business, driven by a focus on flexibility and diversification.

“If we see a change in the market we need to be ready to react quickly, so we ensure that we remain diverse, recognise opportunities and are ready to establish new offices and services to suit the demand,” Grove continues.

A prime example of this is the Group’s establishment of BMU Consultancy – a division that has

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TIQ S5, Stratford

flourished in the EME region, particularly in the UAE. Upon completion and handover of its sophisticated designs, Meinhardt recognises that it is imperative to its clients to ensure that the buildings remain in optimal condition, something that BMU Consultancy can guarantee, providing customers with leading façade access consultancy services.

“This has become an integral component of our Company,” Groves states.

“The emphasis on external facade maintenance is quite high in the UAE, more so than any other region, so it is key we have this service in house, training other staff and promoting our values internationally.”

Epitomised by its ambitious culture and backed up by a willingness to adapt, diversify and remain ahead of the industry curve, Meinhardt Façade Technology will undoubtedly continue to prosper across the EME region and beyond moving forward.

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F U T U R E -T E C H

Leading the Data Centre

Revolution James Wilman, CEO of Future-Tech, reveals how the Company’s innovative ethos is fuelling technological progression Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Johan Brorsson

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n 1997, the ASCI Red supercomputer had 1.3 teraflops of power, standing as the world’s fastest supercomputer.

Today, the Xbox One X games console, available to consumers all over the world has six teraflops, whilst the world’s most powerful supercomputer utilises 122.3 petaflops – more than 94,000 times the power of the ASCI Red. Benjamin Franklin, world renowned as the Founding Father of the United States, once said “without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning”.

Although Franklin’s death in 1790 was almost exactly 100 years before the invention of electricity, such timeless words still resonate today with those at the heart of the exponential evolution of computer technology, including UK-based data centre specialist Future-Tech.

“I think the key thing that sets us apart is our belief that we can always do better. Our drive to always improve.

Our knowledge that we are never at our peak and that we can always find some area to evolve and grow,” reveals James Wilman, Chief Executive Officer at the Company. “This belief and drive is hardwired in to the DNA of the company. It is what keeps us moving and developing.”

Such an outlook, retained throughout Future-Tech’s 36-year history, has been pivotal in moulding the Company as it stands today; at the forefront of the data centre revolution.

Wilman continues: “We avoid the temptation to say we strive for perfection, we instead strive to always do better than we have done before, to always improve on what went before.

This gives us an evolution that can be tracked from project to project.”

Progression in practice

Future-Tech’s drive to stay ahead of the curve has been evident throughout its existence.

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At the turn of the millennium, the Company identified the growing demand for energy efficient and high-density power and cooling, two solutions that are prevalent in much of its work since then.

Between 2009-2015, a period of significant advancement for the data centre industry, Future-Tech won eight independent awards for its adoption, development and refinement of energy efficient design technologies and principles.

Further, the Company identified cloud computing, IOT and edge services as trends that would drive the industry forward. These combined with geo-redundancy, infrastructure flexibility, cost, speed of deployment and new commercial structures will

Future-Tech’s awards 2009-2015 • Certified Energy Efficient Data Centre Award (CEEDA) gold award • Winner of the DataCentreDynamics Innovation in Micro Data Centre Design 2009 and 2010 • Winner of the DataCentreDynamics Innovation in IT Optimisation Award 2012 • Finalist in the DataCentreDynamics Leadership in the Public Sector 2012 • Winner of the Uptime Institute Green IT Award 2011 and honourable mention 2013 • Winner of the Green Gown ICT Award 2011 • Winner of the Tech Excellence Award 2014

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completely change the industry over the course of the next five or so years.

Wilman explains: “From the early2010’s it became obvious that cloudbased services were going to be very disruptive to the owner operator data centre sector and although specialist facilities were, and still are, required, the number would begin to decline.”

A world of experience

Future-Tech’s ability to identify key trends has been cultivated from years of industry experience, from working across a broad spectrum, and from the expertise it has gained from collaborations with organisations and individuals.

“We engage with authorities such as the Uptime Institute, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the British Standards Institute and others to further refine and improve our knowledge and service delivery,” Wilman reveals.

“We believe there are lessons to be learnt on every project and that by working together, sharing our knowledge and engaging with likeminded companies and individuals, we will continue to make a significant contribution to the industry.”

Working with major institutions and global companies, such as key partner ABB, Future-Tech has developed an accomplished portfolio within the industry.

Currently, the firm is undertaking the design of six data centres, providing monitoring and evaluation services at 96 other facilities, managing the procurement of two data centres and providing consultancy expertise at a further four facilities.

Further, since 2015, the Company has been engaged on more than 500MW of data centre capacity across the EMEA and APAC regions.

“Our vast experience of different technologies, design solutions and deployment strategies coupled with the broad variety of locations we have worked equips us well,” Wilman adds.

ABB

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BB is one of the world’s leading technology companies, supplying cutting edge robotics and autonomous capabilities to some of the most prominent brands across the globe.

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB offers a variety of innovative products and services to its utilities, industry and transport infrastructure customers globally.

The Company recently consolidated its position as the second biggest global player in electrification solutions through the successful purchase of General Electric Industrial Solutions (GEIS) in June – a deal valued at $2.6 billion.

The transaction is set to accelerate ABB’s growth and substantially enhance its core competitiveness, whilst GE has also become a key strategic supply partner of ABB as an extension of the arrangements.

“We are committed to servicing the GEIS installed base and will now be able to provide a more technologically advanced and digitally connected offering to our customers around the world,” said Tarak Mehta, ABB’s Electrification Products division President.

Further, the acquisition will also allow ABB to more readily expand within the North American market, with the firm forecasting that the deal will create an additional $200 million annually in cost synergies in the fifth year.

“The combination reinforces ABB’s position as a worldwide leader in electrification and accelerates our growth and competitiveness in key markets, particularly North America,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.

“As one of Thomas Edison’s original businesses, GEIS is the cradle of electrification – a legacy that we will preserve and build on, now that GEIS is part of ABB.” Operating in over 100 countries, ABB employs more than 147,000 people worldwide.

—

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F U T U R E - T E C H

Accountability is key

Whilst knowhow and progression are key to Future-Tech’s success, so too is the company’s service – an area where the organisation truly stands apart.

Due to the high level of stratification within the data centre industry, Future-Tech has looked to simplify complexities by categorising the sector

Future-Tech’s data centre industry subsets Wholesale co-location: Data centres that sell space to clients in 3MW, 10,000 square feet sections.

Hyperscale operators: Organisations that build and operate facilities specifically for their own deployment, circa 20MW and up.

into seven key use-case sub-sets, each with its own drivers, technologies and direction, in order provide a betterdefined service to its clients.

“Being a specialist within an already specialist field of engineering, consultancy and services delivery means we can really tailor our approach to each sub-set,” says Wilman. “This knowledge and experience gives us an advantage over more generalised companies and service delivery teams, and gives our clients an advantage in terms of solution, time and cost.

“We believe that every project, assignment and facility we work on is our own and we owe it to ourselves and our colleagues to do the very best we can. This creates a culture of accountability. It is this culture that our

clients become a part of and I think sets us apart. We become one team in the truest sense.”

A platform to succeed

Pivotal to the success of its unrivalled services are the Future-Tech staff – a team that has been gradually and carefully cultivated to embody the Company’s philosophies.

The firm views its recruitment policy in a similar way to its service offering; favouring an open-minded outlook and a culture of diversity.

Wilman explains: “We always try to create a balance between the two.

It is important to have experience, but experience doesn’t come exclusively with age. Equally, youth is also important, not youth in years necessarily, but youth in mind.

Retail co-location: Organisations that sell data centre space by the rack(s).

Edge: Data centres that largely serve a local usecase/population.

Research & development: Organisations that build very high-density data centres for their own use and that are smaller, usually significantly smaller, than 20MW. Crypto & blockchain: Data centres designed specifically for the use of crypto and blockchain technologies.

Crown Jewell services: On-premises data centres, often used in developing markets or in other cases where risk outweighs reward in outsourcing.

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“Our vast experience of different technologies, design solutions and deployment strategies coupled with the broad variety of locations we have worked equips us well”

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Outlook Creative Services

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“In my experience innovation is an overused word in the data centre industry. Often, we are taking ideas and concepts and just tweaking them slightly, just improving them a little each time. Over 12 months a solution can evolve huge amounts, and some might call the result innovative, however, it is not an innovation, it is a progression.

“We approach our employment practices in the same way, by looking at each project and asking how we could have done it better if we could do it again. Sometimes this analysis shows an area where we would like a different type of knowledge or experience. This then drives our recruitment.”

The Company further abides by this ethos by ensuring it provides new opportunities, acting as a platform for personal progression; something it hopes to continue to provide moving forward.

years of experience and a long history of successful installations.

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“Internal promotion is very important to us,” Wilman adds. “Skills can be taught but intelligence, drive and the desire to take ownership cannot. We try to create an environment where people can step up, whether it is with ideas, with actions or both. We have been fortunate in that our core team are a great group of people who have

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their positions because they have earnt them.”

“With such aspirational staff, I hope that we continue to be recognised for the good work we do, that we continue to work on exciting projects all over the world and that we continue to grow at a sustainable and steady rate,” Wilman concludes.

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Bahrain’s

Medical

Guardian Bahrain Pharmacy has diversified into a key national healthcare provider and supplier, working with some of the world’s most renowned brands to deliver services for local communities Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Callam Waller

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he human and material sacrifice sustained during the Second World War resulted in enormous shortfalls in countries all around the world. The impact of sustaining huge supply lines spanning thousands of kilometres, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean to the Pacific and beyond, took its toll.

In the Middle East, Bahrain pledged its support to the Allied war effort.

Considered strategically important to Britain by the Italian air force, it felt the impact of bombing raids in 1940 and, like many nations, suffered shortages in supplies in the conflict’s aftermath.

This inspired Ali Ahmed Alawadhi to establish the Bahrain Pharmacy & General Store in 1945. Providing the population with vital medical goods, within 18 months he was able to expand the business into a specialist pharmaceutical supplier.

Fast-forward to the present day and Alawadhi’s sons, Dr. Abdulhay Ali Ahmed Alawadhi (MD) and Dr.

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Abdulmajeed Ali Ahmed Alawadhi (CEO) leading the business, now Bahrain Pharmacy, from strength to strength.

“My father, along with his uncle, became one of the pioneers of the pharmaceutical industry in Bahrain,” the CEO says. “He remained chairman of the Company until just two and a half years ago when he passed away.”

Built on values

For almost 75 years Bahrain Pharmacy has operated with dedication to preserve its longstanding ideal of its owners – the grace of prevention and treatment.

This has been achieved by stringent adherence to core company values, which revolve around trust, ethics and quality, especially when it comes to selection of suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to work with.

“Health and wellness are also a big part of our philosophy,” Alawadhi says. “We believe in the saying that ‘an

ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’.

“To this end we have identified the top wellness companies in the world and we represent their products here in Bahrain. These include medicines, medical devices, capital equipment, vitamins and health foods, supplements, personal care and aids.”

These values underpin the

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Diversified

A key differentiator for Bahrain Pharmacy lies in its expansive portfolio of offerings. Beyond the 12 pharmacy

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Such brands include Sanofi, Pfizer, Abbott, Novartis, Kuwait Saudi Pharmaceuticals (Kuwait), National

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POCARI SWEAT

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OCARI SWEAT is a health drink that contains a balance of ions (electrolytes) that resembles the natural fluid balance in the human body, and quickly and easily replenishes the water and ions that your body needs and quenches every part of you.

Easily replenishes water and ions This health drink lets you easily replenish the fluids and ions lost while sweating.

Perfect when playing sports or any other occasion POCARI SWEAT is quickly absorbed by the body as it is a solution that approximates the electrolyte concentration in the human body.

T 00973 17264088 E bahpharm@batelco.com.bh

www.bahrainpharmacy.com www.otsuka.co.jp/en/nutraceutical/ products/pocarisweat/

We adopt an active approach to increasing our range with new brands and new products from brands we already have”

Pharmaceutical (Oman), Nestlé Health Science, and MEDA (Mylan). In the consumer division, Bahrain Pharmacy distributes leading products from the likes of OKF, Actavis, Otsuka, Wyeth Nutrition (Nestlé), Dental Pro and Aloe Dent, among many others.

“We are maintaining top positions across all three sectors of distribution, consumer and equipment supply,” Alawadhi adds. “We are the largest retail chain and one of the largest distributors of medical products in Bahrain.

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“We adopt an active approach to increasing our range with new brands and new products from brands we already have. We are very picky in choosing partners and have our own policies and standards that must be met.”

Perhaps an even greater differentiator is Bahrain Pharmacy’s medical equipment distribution arm, a part of the business which has taken off since 2014, backed up with highly professional and motivated staff built on establishing fruitful relationships with

renowned medical equipment agencies.

So far the medical devices division has installed equipment and supplied consumables to more than 30 centres and hospitals across Bahrain, from X-ray machines and hospital furniture to ultra sound and lab simulators.

“Expanding this division has complemented our core business,” Alawadhi says. “Some of the medical devices division suppliers now include Smith & Nephew, Carestream, Mindray, Medtronic, Bard and others.”

In with the new

Continual investment in new facilities has also allowed Bahrain Pharmacy to retain its position as an industry leader.

This is no better demonstrated than by the Company’s investment in a majority share of the state-of-the-art Al Salam Hospital, Bahrain’s largest private hospital which opened its doors in December 2017.

“This is an important part of chairman’s vision to diversify,” says

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THE STORY OF POCARI SWEAT The doctor told him that besides water, his body also needed the right balance of IONs. While on a work trip to Mexico, our researcher from Otsuka Pharmaceutical (a leading company in IV solutions in Japan) was hospitalized due to severe diarrhea.

A few years later, he saw a doctor drinking a pouch of IV solution containing IONs to rehydrate himself after a long surgery.

This inspired him to develop a beverage that replenishes water and IONs lost.

After over 1,000 test products, the unprecidented rehydration drink POCARI SWEAT was launched in 1980 with the ability to quickly replenish lost water and IONs.

VS WATER

POCARI SWEAT

The Company’s Al Salam Hospital is Bahrain’s largest private hospital

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Alawadhi. “He wanted to invest in a hospital so we can better serve the community, and this is why we began entering discussions with Al Salam in 2015.”

Al Salam is a 100-bed hospital, making it 50 percent larger than the previous largest establishment in the country.

It is also still in development, with new equipment and services being invested in to continually improve its offering.

Further, two of the Company’s 12 pharmacies are newly opened, establishing it in new areas and helping develop a deeper connection with local communities. These are ultramodern

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Our employment policy is all about investing in and recruiting highly skilled staff...”

sites fitted out with everything a customer requires – all Bahrain Pharmacy outlets are of a minimum standard size to ensure a one-stopshop service.

Beyond the bricks and mortar, the firm is also continually looking into new products, ensuring it remains one step ahead of its competition.

Market research forms a crucial part of this, with factors such as quality and the needs of the local community at the forefront of decision making.

Investment behind the scenes

Consumer and client access to such

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Bahrain Pharmacy’s success has been built on the experience and dedication of its employees

products relies on a robust and efficient supply chain operation.

Bahrain Pharmacy’s backstage activities are powered by a centralised warehouse which handles its inventory, a facility which has been recently upgraded to meet European standards in areas such as temperature control with the help of French pharma giant Sanofi.

Installed with Dickson’s monitoring systems, data is automatically collected, allowing real-time inventory storage management across Bahrain Pharmacy branches and 24/7 monitoring of temperature-controlled

spaces. From here, the Company’s own transport fleet distributes to its network of pharmacies and client medical centres and hospitals.

Driving this operation, and all areas of the business, is a team of extremely well-qualified employees, something which Alawadhi believes is crucial to the lasting success of Bahrain Pharmacy.

“Our employment policy is all about investing in and recruiting highly skilled staff,” he explains. “We do not compromise on this – the merit, skill and training experience are hugely important to us when considering who

we hire.

“This is a major reason why the Company is recording tremendous growth and is helping us to stand apart in the industry.”

And it is this team of people, from pharmacists and researchers to warehouse operators and management, that will ensure Bahrain Pharmacy fulfils its bold vision and mission statements. Over the next five years, the Company is aiming to double in size.

Alawadhi concludes: “Every day is a challenge and every challenge is an opportunity – we are up for it.”

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A Non-Profit Healthcare Centurion American Mission Hospital has been providing medical services for Bahrainis since the turn of the 20th century, all the while operating as a non-profit organisation Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Callam Waller

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ot many businesses can survive more than a century without turning a profit.

The unrelenting speed of medical advancement witnessed over the course of the 20th century and into the modern day makes it all the more remarkable that Bahrain’s American Mission Hospital (AMH) continues to provision healthcare to international standards.

Indeed, it was the first hospital in Bahrain to receive accreditation from

Australia’s official awarding body in 2006, a status reaffirmed in 2010.

The foundations for American Mission Hospital’s lasting legacy can be traced back to the late 1880s, when missionaries from New Jersey, USA, embarked on a programme of delivering medical care in the Middle East, or Arabia as it was commonly called.

This led to the establishment of the Mason Memorial Hospital in January 1903, which was almost immediately

called into action to deal with a smallpox epidemic caused by a late rain season.

Services and satellites

Fast forward 115 years, and what is now known as AMH continues to provide vital services to Bahrain’s population.

These are divided into 23 different categories, from cardiology, dental and orthopaedic through to radiology, pharmacy and general practice.

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This is supplemented by a number of important admin services, which include financial, IT, HR, medical record handling, nursing administration and a chaplaincy.

Beyond the main hospital site in Manama, in the north of the country, several satellite clinics have been established to spread provision to other areas.

The Saar Medical and Dental Center, situated in the northwest, provides internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology psychiatry and physiotherapy alongside general dentistry and specialist dental services.

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In the Amwaj Islands, off the northeastern tip of Bahrain, lies a facility dedicated to diagnosing and treating conditions for patients of all ages while emphasising the power of preventive medicine. Finally, in the centre of the country, is the Riffa Clinic, which provides general medical and dental services.

The organisation looks after roughly 300,000 patients a year, a number that is set to rise as it seeks to bring in more expertise. Newer specialities added include plastic surgery, urology, neurology and specialised orthopaedics, among others.

WAEL PHARMACY

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ael Pharmacy Co W.L.L. was formed in 1966, by Mr. Abdulrahman Almahmeed, a leading figure in the country’s pharmaceutical and medical industry.

In association with our world-renowned partners, we bring the modern world of pharmaceutical and medical innovations closer to the healthcare industry of Bahrain, thereby improving quality of life of Bahrain’s community.

We maintain our lead and reputation and continue to excel in performance by adhering to our core values; customer satisfaction, satisfaction of our existing partners, ethical business policies and building new partnerships.

AMH’s core ideals The ideals underpinning American Mission Hospital are grounded in the following tenants: • The provision of affordable high-quality care in a non-profit setting • The delivery of care to be patient centred with the sole focus of doing what is right for the patient at all times • Care that is delivered as a team that allows us to harness the expertise of all of the team members and help nurture the development of every employee to fulfil their role in the organisation • To pursue excellence in everything we do with absolute integrity • A willingness to adapt to the changing needs of the people we serve

T +973 17 377 000 E sales@waelpharmacy.com

www.waelpharmacy.com

YATEEM AIR CONDITIONING

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ateem Air Conditioning, along with Carrier, the world leader in air conditioning, are proud to supply Bahrain with the latest line of energy efficient air conditioners which exceed all current energy labelling & efficiency criteria.

Installing UV lights into air conditioning systems prevents biological contaminants such as mold and bacteria thus ensuring efficiency at maintaining indoor air quality and saving the customer money in these times of rising energy prices, hence providing complete peace of mind.

The Company has been working with the American Mission Hospital for over a decade and it looks forward to having many more years of prosperous partnership.

T +973 172 71122, +973 172 53177 E showroom@yateemac.net

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Importation, Warehousing, Distribution, Sales and Marketing of: • Pharmaceutical products • Laboratory products • Healthcare consumer products • Nutritional products • Dental products • Surgical and Medical disposable products • Medical & Lab equipment

T: +973 17 377 000 E: sales@waelpharmacy.com www.waelpharmacy.com

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American Mission Hospital’s wideranging expertise AMH can cater to a huge variety of medical needs, as demonstrated by its portfolio of services provisioned under 23 categories.

The full list includes: • Anesthesiology • Audiology • Cardiology • Dental • Dermatology • Dietician • ENT (ears, nose, throat) • Family health • Gastero • General practice • Internal medicine • laboratory • Mental Health • Obstetrics • Opthalmology • Orthopedics • Osteopathy • Paediatrics • Pharmacy • Physio • Pulmonology • Radiology • Surgery This is also supported by a number of admin services.

Community presence

Over the course of AMH’s 115-year presence in Bahrain, it has become a vital pillar of the community.

Knowledge sharing has been the cornerstone of this, with experienced

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doctors and nurses spreading awareness of health issues and helping those less fortunate. This has been backed up by sponsors in the form of BMI Bank, Standard Chartered and the Rashid Group, all of which

identify health awareness as crucial to their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

AMH also cooperates closely with Bahrain’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development, respectively

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AMH has several satellite clinics spread across Bahrain

working together on permissions and community programmes.

Further raising awareness in the community is Family Health magazine, published three times a year, while regular health checks, talks and

demonstrations also take place free of charge with the help of corporate sponsorship.

This highlights the importance of sponsors in ensuring American Mission Hospital can continue to operate as it does as a non-profit organisation.

One of the major fundraising activities held every year is the AMH Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament, an event which has been running since 1997 and is now hosted at the Bahraini King’s private course. Most of the funds are used to purchase critical medical equipment.

Long-lasting values

Despite the financial constraints, AMH continues to operate under the same principles which guided its founding partners.

Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer George Cheriyan outlines in his statement on the organisation’s website the importance of adhering to these values, values which have been key in achieving the international acclaim it does today.

Drawing on clinical career spanning three decades, Cheriyan says that modernisation and improved customer care lies at the heart of his future priorities for AMH. He writes in his online statement: “We do not take our legacy of over 100 years of healthcare service for granted, but are working hard to take this to the next level as a model of healthcare for the future. Our goal is not just to meet, but to try to exceed your expectations as you experience care within AMH.”

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AUTUMN

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SHOWS

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The Speciality Food Festival, SEAFEX Middle East and yummex Middle East make up this year’s event assortment

THE SPECIALITY FOOD Festival, SEAFEX Middle East & yummex Middle East are where food professionals seeking the latest fine food, seafood

Event Details WHEN: 30 October – 1 November WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.speciality.ae www.seafexme.com/welcome www.yummexme.com/welcome

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and confectionery & snacks can find ways to satisfy today’s increasingly discerning consumers under one roof.

Powered by Gulfood, the event trio is also hosted alongside GulfHost, MENA’s dedicated foodservice equipment event for hospitality professionals. These co-located events are set to attract more than 25,000 visitors to Dubai when they run from 30 October to 1 November, 2018.

The Speciality Food Festival is back for its ninth edition in 2018, trading across six primary sectors covering Artisan & Gourmet, Organic & Fresh, Fair Trade & Ethnic, Bakery & Cereals, Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruits and Specialty Beverages. This one-stop platform for artisan food is a mustattend for chefs, hoteliers, traders and retailers seeking premium quality products to integrate within their menus, distribution lists and grocery aisles.

Now in its seventh edition, SEAFEX

Middle East is the professional seafood event serving the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Categorised in three main sectors covering Seafood, ValueAdded Products and Condiments & Tools, the event draws international retailers, seafood manufacturers, traders and chefs in search of the latest wild and aquaculture products, cooking techniques and serving tools.

As consumer trends towards health, sustainability and pricing continue to impact supply and demand within the seafood industry, SEAFEX is a vital chance to network with industry experts and realign buying plans for the year ahead.

Coming back for its 12thedition, yummex Middle East is the leading sweets & snacks event for the MENA region. Powered by undisputed event market leaders, ISM Cologne and Gulfood, yummex Middle East is where household name retailers, traders and manufacturers converge to source the latest consumer indulgence and convenience products that are entering the scene. Showcased across six key categories including Sugar Confectionery, Biscuits & Bakery, Snacks & Ready-to-Eat, Chocolate & Cocoa Products, Frozen Confectionery and Breakfast items, yummex Middle East has evolved to reflect the full spectrum of healthy, wholesome and natural treat varieties that are slowly gaining market share within this steadfast consumer segment.

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Event Details WHEN: 30 October – 1 November WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.gulfhost.ae

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FOLLOWING A TRIUMPHANT launch in 2017, GulfHost is back for business on 30 October - 1 November, 2018. Reflecting regional demand, the second edition of the Gulfood Hospitality and Foodservice Expo is doubling its sector coverage, expanding through dedicated zones for Gelato & Bakery, Cafe & Bar and HORECA. More than 2,500 brands are revving up to showcase 8,000 products across six core sectors, drawing 25,000 buyers to the global centre for international hospitality trade.

GulfHost is the new home of hospitality for the Middle East, Africa and Asia. This is where suppliers of a wide range of kitchen solutions and

dining apparel can connect with the biggest name hospitality buyers in one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Building on the success of its headline sectors covering Front of House, Back of House and Tableware, this year GulfHost will additionally unlock major new business zones to meet demand from regional buyers.

One major attraction for visitors is the GulfHost Restaurant Development Conference. Powered by the International Center for Culinary Arts in Dubai (ICCA) and the Middle East Food Forum (MEFF) the conference is an open-door, transformative learning platform hosted by the brightest lights in regional F&B. Over three days, more than 60 high profile speakers take to the floor to share their proven methods for navigating the latest shifts in local and regional foodservice.

As the region’s premier opportunity for the hospitality industry to meet, do business and build relationships, GulfHost is also once again running alongside a trio of finished food product trade shows known as the Speciality Food Festival, yummex Middle East and SEAFEX Middle East.

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GULFOOD

MANUFACTURING

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Discussing the future of food and drink production

Event Details WHEN: 6-8 November WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com

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SEE. TOUCH. FEEL. The future of F&B production.

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At Gulfood Manufacturing, 1,600 global solution providers are waiting to welcome you and solve your toughest production challenges.

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Event Details WHEN: 5-7 March, 2019 WHERE: Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.middleeastelectricity.com

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Leveraging Dubai’s position as the regional re-export hub, the exhibition facilitates access to challenging and hard-to-reach markets through partnerships with distributors and agents.

As an annual gathering place for over 1,500 participating companies, MEE provides exhibitors the chance to judge market demand, gain valuable industry knowledge and develop new areas of business.

The event is split into five key product sectors – power generation, transmission and distribution,

lighting, solar and energy storage and management solutions.

Power Generation at MEE is the region’s leading, largest and longest running trade exhibition for both conventional and stand-by power related product manufacturers and distributors – and the ideal place to meet buyers looking to source products from either sector.

MEE’s longest running and most successful sector, Transmission & Distribution, spans more than eight halls, from the industry’s bellwether international companies to the 23 individual country pavilions, the entire value chain of products is represented here.

One of the exhibition’s fastest growing sectors, The Lighting Hall, provides a dedicated space for international manufacturers and distributors to display their products to the MEA market.

Alongside Energy Storage & Management Solutions, Solar offers three entire halls of renewables, energy management and innovative storage solutions from brands across the world.

In its second year, Energy Storage & Management at MEE is MEA’s most comprehensive event for the sector, with international manufacturers showcasing the latest technologies to the region’s leading buyers.

Outlook Creative Services

Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and Europe & Middle East Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

DESIGN:

E D I TO R I A L :

Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

Matthew Staff +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 959 661 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

Phoebe Calver +44 (0) 1603 959 660 phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com