Author: Stephen White

The Dangote Group planned a world-class new refinery in Nigeria that would reduce the country’s reliance on imported energy and bring with it over 30,000 jobs. It was a project requiring some truly massive moves – among the continent’s largest, in many cases. But before work could even begin, the team had to tame this patch of reclaimed swampland, turning it into a stable heavy lift surface. To support the drive for growth, Africa is looking to reduce reliance on imports; producing more of its own energy and raw materials. In Nigeria, this drive is led by businesses such as…

ACCIONA has used a new, much more efficient energy storage system in the construction of the Alentejo Hospital in the Évora region of Portugal. This Atlas Copco ZBP45-45 energy storage system – connected to a 100 kVA generator – has been installed to power a crane tower being used in the construction of the hospital. This system – in addition to diesel generators- makes it possible to reduce the environmental footprint associated with the crane’s energy consumption, in this case, achieving a significant reduction in fossil fuel (diesel) consumption and associated polluting gas emissions. The system installed by ACCIONA consists…

Ritchie Bros. Middle East, a renowned global marketplace for commercial assets and vehicles, has marked 2023 as a year of extraordinary success and global reach. Hosting four online auctions, the company sold an impressive total of over 5,200 lots, attracting more than 4,400 bidders from over 70 countries and generating a staggering 1.6 million visits to its online auction and buying platform, Marketplace-E. The substantial growth in 2023 is attributed to Ritchie Bros.’ strategic investments in manpower, infrastructure, and advertising, significantly expanding its reach in the Middle East. This expansion attracted a diverse array of bidders, leading to the purchase…

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.  is set to launch its new ZAXIS-7G series hydraulic excavators in Southeast Asia. The company has announced that it will start accepting orders for four models in this series – the ZX350-7G, ZX490-7G, ZX690-7G, and ZX890-7G – beginning late February 2024, initially in Thailand, followed by other Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The ZAXIS-7G series, which has already gained popularity in the European, Japanese, and North American markets, is now being introduced to meet the increasing demand for high-quality construction equipment in Southeast Asia. These new models…

Al Shirawi Machinery, a leading provider of construction equipment in the UAE, and HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, a global construction equipment manufacturer, have announced a landmark partnership in the UAE.  At an official signing held this week in Dubai, both companies told an audience of contractors and local construction players that the alliance had been five years in the making and is set to revolutionise the construction industry in the UAE with cutting-edge technology and a shared commitment to innovation and customer support. The partnership signing ceremony was a significant event, attended by prominent figures from both organizations and the…

Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA (DCV MENA) has delivered the first Mercedes-Benz eEconic collection truck to BEEAH Group, a leading entity in sustainability and waste management in the Middle East. This landmark event follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah. The eEconic, a zero-emission vehicle tailored for urban waste management, was officially handed over by Emirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles (EMC CV), DCV MENA’s authorised General Distributor in Abu Dhabi. This addition to BEEAH’s extensive fleet of over 2,000 waste collection vehicles showcases a leap in efficiency, safety, and environmental performance. BEEAH has previously…

3…2…1…0! At the end of the countdown to bring in 2024, a promotional video for the Develon construction machinery brand appeared on the New York Times Square electronic display. The same video is being posted all this week until 7th January 2024 (Sunday) on an electronic display on the Two Times Square building. In the video, parent company, HD Hyundai, emphasizes that Develon is a leading construction machinery brand through text animation using brand logos and colours and the headline phrase ‘Korea’s No.1 Construction Equipment Brand’. https://youtu.be/T23TVxibLJ0?si=2IBesGakZjB2f-j1 The Times Square video confirms HD Hyundai’s commitment to target the construction equipment…

Mammoet has successfully completed the scope of its installation for the Sheybarah Island resort, in collaboration with Red Sea Global. The project, a crucial element of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism endeavour – The Red Sea destination – has achieved a significant milestone with the installation of the last villa on Sheybarah Island. This marks the conclusion of a transformative journey that commenced with the signing of the contract in May 2022. Mammoet’s scope involved the transportation and installation of 73 prefabricated villa orbs from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Sheybarah Island in the Saudi Red Sea. The resort,…

With more than 14 years of extensive experience while working with leading brands across vital industrial sectors such as infrastructure, road construction, and diesel-powered equipment, Gargash Motors & General Trading’s Anas Al Shaikh has seen the construction equipment market in the UAE evolve drastically during the past years. But then, so has the company he leads. Driven by what he describes as the country’s strategic mega projects such as the Etihad Railway project, the vast Dubai EXPO site, and many others, Gargash’s accumulation of brands such as Power Sonic, Powerplus, Aebi Schmidt are now marking it out as one of…

CASE’s journey in backhoe loader production began in the post-World War II era, a time when there was a massive demand for new construction and agricultural equipment. The company, already established as a maker of steam engines and other construction equipment, saw an opportunity to innovate. In 1957, it introduced the world to the first factory-integrated backhoe loader. At the time, the machine was groundbreaking, combining a front loader and a rear backhoe onto a single unit. This integration dramatically improved efficiency on job sites, as operators could now perform a variety of tasks with a single machine, without the…