Construction

Al Laith partners with Pilosio to introduce FlyDeck, revolutionising Middle East construction with innovative suspended access solutions. (Image source: Al Laith)

Al Laith, a prominent provider of project solutions and services in the Middle East, has announced a strategic alliance with Pilosio to introduce the innovative FlyDeck system to the region

This collaboration marks the inaugural deployment of FlyDeck in the area, signifying a significant advancement in the construction industry.

Known for its legacy of innovation and commitment to excellence, Al Laith is partnering with Pilosio to lead the adoption of FlyDeck technology in the Middle East. The alliance aims to enhance construction practices across the region and is poised to play a crucial role in key construction projects.

With a robust 30-year history of success in the Middle East, Al Laith brings extensive expertise in construction and engineering to this groundbreaking initiative. “We are delighted that a global leader like Pilosio which is well known for their cutting-edge innovation for access solutions, has chosen Al Laith to bring its industry-leading suspended access solution, FlyDeck to market. This partnership allows us to bring a new way of access into the market, which saves our clients critical time on projects, ” commented Jason English, CEO at Al Laith Group.

Key highlights of the collaboration:

Innovative construction solutions: Pilosio’s FlyDeck System is a revolutionary suspended access system designed for its adaptability and speed.

Technical excellence: Al Laith's extensive experience and technical prowess in construction and engineering will synergise seamlessly with Pilosio's FlyDeck innovative solution. The collaboration leverages the strengths of both companies to achieve unparalleled technical excellence.

Commitment to sustainability: Both Al Laith and Pilosio share a commitment to sustainability. The collaboration will incorporate environmentally friendly practices in the construction process, aligning with global standards for green building initiatives.

Al Laith is excited about the partnership with Pilosio, representing a significant milestone in the regional construction and industrial access industry. This partnership brings together two industry leaders. Al Laith is proud to be part of this transformative partnership and looks forward to the successful execution of several projects.

Nereo Parisotto, chairman of Pilosio Group, emphasised their commitment to developing a suspended access system that excels in safety, lightweight construction, ease of assembly, and environmental sustainability. "It is with great pride that we see Al Laith, a renowned company in the Middle East, recognising these core values inherent in our FlyDeck system from the outset. The partnership for this project and beyond reflects a shared dedication to excellence, innovation and mutual goals."

The UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Summit, to take place in London on 24 June, will showcase bilaterial partnership opportunities on sustainable city development and green technologies while discussing the growing green infrastructure financing market

The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) in partnership with the City of London Corporation (COLC) is hosting the summit at Plaisterers’ Hall in London on 24 June, which will bring together around 250 Saudi and UK industry and financial sector leaders with leading giga project representatives to discuss urbanisation and sustainable city development and financing, including the scaling up of green technologies and renewable energy solutions.

Attended by a high-level Saudi delegation led by the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the event builds on previous SBJBC and COLC events, and an already strong UK/Saudi public and private dialogue on clean energy development and decarbonisation. It also follows the UK’s recent successful Great Futures event in Riyadh and growing involvement by UK companies in Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives currently transforming economic sectors, and giga project development.

The event, supported by lead sponsors NEOM and SAB (Saudi Awwal Bank), will address the importance of UK-Saudi collaboration in sustainable infrastructure development and advancing the green transition through panels on bridging the investment gap; how smart urban planning can help to build resilient and liveable communities; and the scaling up of green technology and renewable energy initiatives.

The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli said, “I’m delighted to host this crucial summit. Sustainable infrastructure around the world is essential to tackling climate change, boosting economic development, and ensuring access to vital provisions such as transport, energy, and water. This summit offers an excellent platform to adopt and share knowledge gained from Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 sustainable development plans. Saudi Arabia is investing more in infrastructure than any other country in the Middle East region, including in 14 new giga-projects. This investment, combined with the City of London’s expertise and leadership in sustainable finance, can set a global template for sustainable development.”

Further details of the Forum are available here

Volvo CE's latest electric wheel loader. (Image source: Volvo CE)

Volvo Construction Equipment has recently completed successful trials of the L120 Electric wheel loader in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), partnering with dealer FAMCO and key customer ALAS Emirates Ready Mix.

This event marks Volvo CE's first foray into electric construction equipment testing in the UAE, indicating a significant move towards sustainable construction practices.

The L120 Electric wheel loader, a 20-tonne machine, is built on the same platform as its conventional counterpart, delivering equivalent performance but with the added benefits of zero emissions, near-silent operation, and enhanced operator comfort. The loader is equipped with 282 kWh batteries, allowing eight hours of operation in light to medium duty applications, including work in indoor and noise-sensitive environments. This electric model embodies a shift towards reducing the carbon footprint and noise pollution typically associated with diesel-powered construction equipment.

During the trials, conducted at an ALAS Emirates Ready Mix facility in Abu Dhabi, the L120 Electric demonstrated high performance and reliability, loading materials efficiently with minimal noise and vibration. This contributed to a more comfortable and productive work environment for operators, as noted by ALAS production manager Elie Touma. Touma emphasised the loader’s quick response times and the role of reduced emissions in aligning with corporate and environmental responsibilities.

^{The wheel loader is optimised for the region's climate.} 

Volvo CE evaluated the electric loader's performance under the UAE's unique climatic and operational conditions, confirming its suitability and meeting high customer expectations in the region.

Volvo CE's transition to electric equipment aligns with the broader goals of the Volvo Group, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2040—a decade ahead of targets set by the Science Based Targets initiative. This commitment reflects Volvo’s dedication to environmental care and its leadership in driving industry transformation towards sustainable practices.

Ilkay Fidan, Volvo CE's commercial manager for the Middle East, remarked on the strategic importance of testing in the UAE, a mature market with significant potential for electromobility. The positive outcomes from the trials strengthen Volvo’s confidence in rolling out electric models more broadly in the Middle East.

https://www.volvoce.com/middle-east/en-sa/ 

Schneider Electric honors Al Mulla Engineering with the Sustainability Impact Award for outstanding efforts in enhancing HVAC efficiency and achieving decarbonisation. (Image source: Al Mulla Engineering)

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has announced that Bader Al Mulla & Bros. Co. (Al Mulla Engineering), a member of Al Mulla Group and the largest contractor in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) construction services, has won the Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Award 

Al Mulla Engineering was honored with this award for its outstanding efforts in helping customers achieve their decarbonisation goals. The company implemented energy-efficient designs to enhance HVAC system efficiency while maintaining optimal building operations. During this award cycle, Al Mulla Engineering's team aligned with customer sustainability goals and delivered customised solutions to optimise building operations. These solutions led to a 7% reduction in cooling water consumption and a 9% reduction in energy consumption in 2022 compared to the 2019 baseline.

This recognition is part of Schneider Electric’s initiative to support partners, customers, and suppliers dedicated to achieving sustainability goals. It also highlights Al Mulla Engineering’s strong commitment to ensuring that its strategic growth initiatives adhere to the highest global standards, maintaining sustainability practices across its diverse engineering operations.

Amel Chadli, Gulf countries president, commented, “I congratulate Al Mulla Engineering for its outstanding efforts to empower its customers to reach their sustainability goals. Businesses need to look beyond their own operations and consider who they are indirectly responsible for across their value chain and, crucially, who they can assist along the way. Reaching net zero is a collective goal, and we need to work together to share the best sustainable practices and support customers to decarbonise.”

Anfal N. Al Mulla, managing director of Al Mulla Engineering, added, “We are delighted to have been recognised for the work we have done to minimise the environmental impact on the planet and supporting to improve the performance of the building by providing the technologies to address the environmental social goals of our customers. We are acutely aware that expectations on businesses like ours to demonstrate how we are decarbonising our own operations and those of our customers, are only going to intensify as we draw closer to 2050. We wanted to get ahead and play our part in the journey to net zero and are proud to be recognized for this by receiving this award.”

Schneider Electric facilitates sustainable practices with solutions that are simplified, open and utilise digital transformation as a key driver for positive change. One way the company achieves this is by enabling partners to assess their own carbon footprint and build a trackable and traceable plan of action, as well as certifying partners’ ability to assess the sustainability of their supplier and customer ecosystems.

Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Awards were launched in 2022 to celebrate and recognize the pivotal role that Schneider’s extensive network of partners play in delivering a more resilient and sustainable electric world. Participants continue to be carefully assessed on how they are leveraging energy and digital and automation solutions in operations, reducing energy usage, increasing operational efficiency, and embracing circularity across the value chain.