BUILDING THE MIDDLE EAST

Operating

innovative efforts across the region

Writer: Marcus Kääpä

Project Manager: Ryan Gray

Human fascination with mega structures stretches back thousands of years. Mexico’s Tlachihualtepetl, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, and the monumental Pyramids of Giza are three historical examples of design ingenuity that demonstrate the power of human innovation, imagination, and our desire to forever reach new heights of achievement.

The Middle East is home to an impressive array of modern megastructures, landmark buildings, and expansive infrastructure that prove its position as a region of structural speciality. It is within this construction and engineering space that companies, both domestic and international, play key roles in the building, upgrading and maintenance of structures.

Part of VSL International, VSL Middle East (VSL) specialises in post-tensioned and cable-stayed structures, foundations and ground engineering, operating out of its headquarters in Dubai, UAE. The

EME OUTLOOK: COULD YOU EXPAND ON YOUR INITIAL INTEREST AND ENTRANCE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION SPHERE?

STEPHEN BURKE, GENERAL MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: “My passion for civil engineering stems from my father, who was also an engineer. I decided to follow in his footsteps by studying civil engineering at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and started my career with a large UK-based civil contractor called Taylor Woodrow on a nuclear power station construction project. “In the mid-1980s, following a stint at a local authority highway and bridges technical services design office, I went overseas to my first posting on a major bridge project in Kuwait City, Kuwait. By 1999, I was fortunate enough to join VSL and have been with the company ever since based out of our regional headquarters in Dubai, UAE.” company contributes to the design and construction of transport infrastructure (bridges, tunnels, roads), buildings, and industrial and energy-producing structures, and it maintains, repairs and upgrades all structural systems that guarantee performance, safety and durability.

“Regionally speaking, you will find that each country’s construction sector has its own five or 10-year plans, which impacts the industry as a whole. For example, Qatar has had a very busy few years on the back of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and has invested heavily into infrastructure that we have been a part of,” begins Stephen Burke, the General Manager of Business Development for VSL.

“Our strength comes from our 360-degree approach, which combines engineering and construction methods, structural systems and technologies, and project execution. Our objective is to understand the structure as a whole, including its environment and use, in order to propose and deliver the best technical solutions to turn even the most complex schemes into reality.”

Established in the 1950s, VSL International today boasts approximately 4,000 employees across 25 countries, with headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, and defines the overall company mission that echoes through its various branches.

An International Partner

VSL International itself is part of the French construction company Bouygues S.A. (Bouygues), specialising in the construction and preservation of structures (specialist contractor working alongside main contractors) when it comes to bridges, tunnels, buildings, and industrial structures such as wind farms and nuclear plants. Depending on the contracts, VSL works either for or with the main contractor, and when it comes to the preservation or maintenance of structures, VSL is

GECO Industrial Co

Established in 1992, GECO Industrial CO., LTD is a company specialised in civil engineering construction materials. FASTEN® and Land Drain® are our centrepiece products. FASTEN® is a polymeric strip which is used in MSE wall. Land Drain® known as PVD, Wick drain is the water draining materials for supporting soil.

FASTEN® is a geotextile strip to substitute steel strip. FASTEN’s components are cost efficient polymer. These are high tenacity polyester fibre tendons encased in a polyethylene (LDPE) sheath coating which increases the durability of fibre tendons from physical and chemical damages. Due to its lighter weight, FASTEN has superior workability, handling, and transportation. Its performance and reliability are verified by partners worldwide.

Land Drain® is a combination of plastic core and nonwoven filters that helps land reclamation. There are four core types; corrugated, two types of fish bone and honeycomb. Honeycomb, LD60 is our patented product. It has higher discharge capacity with lower cost. Land Drain can be customised depending on the client’s request and the conditions of the construction site.

GECO is fulfilling various and continuously investing in both technological innovation and green energy. We at GECO, are always open to all for success. Currently, 40 percent of GECO’s electricity is supplied by solar power.

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