Everyone knows the lyrics to the hit song ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but few outside the construction business are aware of the crucial function diamonds play in the industry, where diamond tools must perform to extremely high standards.
Rock, concrete, steel and brick are some of the most challenging materials known to man, and cutting through them with immense precision requires something even harder – a diamond tool.
Construction sites are fitted out with equipment designed to use optimized diamond tools to treat construction material quickly and exactly.
Worldwide demand for diamond tools is projected to increase owing to spur in investments in the construction sector as well as the growing adoption of Industry 4.0. According to Persistence Market Research, the global diamond tools market totaled $12.31 billion in 2021, and sales of diamond tools are expected to reach $26.78 billion by 2032, increasing at a CAGR of 7.4% over the next 10 years.
Strong spur in regional demand
Closer to home, the demand for diamond tools, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region will only increase, as project activity accelerates with significant spending in the construction sector on the back of still-high oil and gas revenues.
Last month, Saudi Arabia was described as the biggest construction site the world has ever known as projects valued at over $1.1 trillion are underway in the Kingdom according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. The UAE currently has more than $650 billion of projects planned or underway, making it the second largest projects market in the region after Saudi Arabia.
The UAE has also launched Operation 300 billion, a national program to develop the country’s industrial sector and enhance its role in stimulating the national economy. Operation 300 billion aims to raise the UAE industrial sector’s contribution to the GDP from Dh133 billion to Dh300 billion by 2031.
Investment in Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector has tripled over the past year with the total value of factories that switched to the in-production stage rising to Dh3.1 billion during the first six months of 2022 compared to Dh1.03 billion in the same period last year.
As commodity prices remain considerably higher and crude producers continue to accrue an oil windfall, we anticipate massive rise in construction activity and new government developments that support future economic growth in the region, which in turn will boost demand for diamond tools.
On the cutting edge with diamond tools
Diamond tools have been growing in popularity due to the need for high cutting speed, high precision, premium performance, high wear resistance and durable tools in all applications across many industries including construction, mining, engineering, and stone processing. And the construction industry is no exception, where diamond tools can also be used to finish and smooth out surfaces like walls, floors, and other objects, which is expected to increase demand for such tools.
As new materials and sophisticated designs continue to emerge, contractors expect a superior and seamless experience from equipment used, which ultimately comes down to a feeling of confidence, control and safety when conducting their tasks in often challenging and sometimes dangerous working conditions.
The quality of the diamonds including grit size, their concentration in the segments, and the machine’s and diamond tools’ optimal performance all affect how well the equipment performs.
Contrary to the popular cliche, a diamond does not last forever. The diamonds in the surface of the segments wear down eventually. At the same time as the bond is worn away to expose new diamonds, making it important that the hardness of the bond is suitable for the material to be cut.
A collaborative approach
This makes designing the perfect diamond tool is an art in itself.
The design of high-performance diamond tools requires extensive knowledge of diamonds, metal powders, production technologies and machines, along with deep knowledge and understanding of the way that diamond tools are used and work in practice.
This is why building truly effective tools can only be achieved through close collaboration with users on site.
Husqvarna Construction is committed to a collaborative approach, providing more than nine million diamond tools every year, including saw blades, drill bits, wires, and grinding tools, to professional contractors, artisans, and machinery hire companies all over the world. Husqvarna Construction is one of the world’s top producers of diamond tools and the only company integrating all these fields of expertise.
Because adapting a diamond tool to the machine’s power, the application or type of job, and the materials that it needs to cut, is critical.
For example, users can either opt for a universal tool that works well on several different materials or an optimized tool designed for cutting a specific material. They can also pick based on which of the tool’s properties is most important to their project – cutting speed or wear resistance.
High cutting speed helps get the job done quickly, with less effort. High wear resistance means longer service life in more extensive jobs. And for both high cutting speed and high wear resistance, there are premium performance tools.
Husqvarna Construction’s highest-performing diamond tools are developed especially for professional users who require maximum cutting speed and service life in all applications.
Meanwhile, Husqvarna’s heavy demolition unit has the highest knowledge in the development of custom-built diamond tools and machines for very special applications such as its very powerful Cobra® wire tool. Husqvarna is able to accommodate both small and large applications, as well as in-demand ones like cutting substantial steel structures in offshore and nuclear applications.
A preferred diamond wire in the heavy demolition industry, the Husqvarna’s Vacuum Brazed wire has been developed especially for demanding applications such as cutting large steel structures in off-shore and nuclear applications (both wet and dry), giving customers peace of mind.
Higher productivity and efficiency
Ultimately, diamond tools deliver versatility that other tools cannot match.
As global experts, with a continuous presence in the nuclear, offshore, chemical and construction industries, Husqvarna Construction offers innovative solutions to make even the most complex and challenging project a success.
With diamond tools currently accounting for 15% to 20% share of the global tools market and anticipated to expand 2X between 2022 and 2032, according to Persistence Market Research, we foresee significant growth in demand for new cutting-edge diamond tools in the Gulf and wider Middle East region.
For professional contractors in the construction business, using cutting-edge technology and choosing the suitable optimised diamond tools will be vital to higher productivity and efficiency, making diamonds their ongoing genuine companion.
