ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS AUGUST 2021 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 08 TOPLESS AND TOUGH FLAT-TOP TOWER CRANES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR LOAD CAPACITY AND EASE OF TRANSPORT, ERECTION, DISMANTLING AND OPERATION IN TIGHT SPACES300 TOWER CRANES IN GCC WOLFFKRAN ARABIA OFFERS YOU: PLUS 700 IN GLOBAL FLEET SADDLE AND LUFFING JIBS FROM 6 TO 60 TONNES ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE SER VICE WOLFFKRAN Arabia (est. 2006), is a pioneer in cost effective crane rental solutions, providing services to prominent contractors and clients across the GCC. It is a joint venture between two powerhouses – WOLFFKRAN, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium tower cranes, and the Kanoo group. Visit us: Office No. 1101 | Icon Tower, Tecom | Dubai UAE CONT ACT US | SALES@WOLFFKRANARABIA.COM | PHONE +971 4 369 7860 wolffkranarabia.comCONTENTS 03 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 08 Safety Continental survey reveals top stressors aff ecting truck drivers 07 Distributors Emirates for Universal Tyres brings Duckhams to UAE 18 Electromobility Huddig launches hybrid electric backhoe loader 30 Cranes Two Wolff 1250 B luffi ng jib cranes help replace Swiss dam AUGUST 2021 VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 08 22 Cover story Flat-top tower cranes in high demand worldwide 12 Electromobility ABB to charge Qatar’s electric bus infrastructure project 14 Road construction Vogele expands digital road construction solutionsEDITOR’S LETTER 04 BY DENNIS DANIEL PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 I n a quarter when shortages of semiconductors as well as other production materials resulted in substantial production stoppages aff ecting both volumes and costs negatively, the Volvo Group achieved an adjusted operating margin of 10.7%, Martin Lundstedt, the president and CEO reported. Volvo Group reported a 24% increase in net sales in Q2; when adjusted for currency movements and the divestment of UD Trucks, the group’s net sales increased by 43%. Volvo managed to deliver close to 46,000 trucks despite supply chain disruptions and saw increase in demand for electric trucks for city distribution and refuse operations. Volvo Construction Equipment saw net sales increase by 13% in Q2, 2021 owing to higher volumes in Europe, North America and South America. With improved construction activity, high customer confi dence and increased investment in infrastructure, order intake has also increased by 35%. Demand for large and medium sized machines remained strong and higher than for compact machines. The Daimler Group sold 736,400 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide during Q2 2021 (Q2 2020: 541,800). Mercedes-Benz Vans posted second-quarter unit sales of 98,400 vehicles (Q2 2020: 71,900); and sales by Daimler Trucks of112,100 vehicles in the second quarter were 94% above the prior-year level. Daimler Buses’ second- quarter sales of 4,700 units were 52% higher than last year. Although the Daimler group expects revenue in full-year 2021 to be signifi cantly above the level of the previous year, the company’s outlook indicated that the assessment of risks and opportunities for the further development of the year 2021 is subject to a high level of uncertainty due to the supply shortages of semiconductor components. The Traton Group continued its successful business performance in the second MARKET RECOVERY STALLED BY GLOBAL SEMICONDUCTOR SHORTAGE PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve EDITORIAL Editor Dennis Daniel dennis.daniel@itp.com +9714 444 3615 ADVERTISING Group Sales Manager Anup Nagpurkar anup.nagpurkar@itp.com +971 4 444 3573 ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour ahmad.bashour@itp.com +971 4 444 3549 PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra, Fritz John Asuro, Yuliya Petrovich, Jessica Samson. PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Manoj Mahadevan Image Editor Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Distribution and Circulation Manager Evijin Pathrose Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. quarter, with unit sales in the fi rst half of 2021 on a level with the fi rst six months of 2019. Incoming orders and unit sales continue to develop very positively, particularly in the truck business. Based on preliminary fi gures, incoming orders in the fi rst half of the year stood at more than 170,000 (H1 2020: 87,400) vehicles, of which more than 89,000 (H1 2020: 33,300) were received in the second quarter of 2021. Unit sales totaled more than 126,000 (H1 2020: 77,700) vehicles in the fi rst half of the year, and more than 66,000 (Q2 2020: 31,700) vehicles in the second quarter. Deere & Company reported an increase of 30% in worldwide net sales and revenues for the second quarter of 2021 and increase of 25% for the fi rst six months. John C. May, the chairman and CEO, reported that John Deere closed out the fi rst half of the year on a highly encouraging note, refl ecting healthy worldwide markets for farm and construction equipment. May also indicated that Deere expects to see increased supply chain pressures through the balance of the year and that the company is working closely with key suppliers to secure the parts and components. According to McKinsey & Company, the global semiconductor shortage isn’t likely to resolve in the short term, because of factors such as the complexity of semiconductor manufacturing and the increasingly sophisticated chips needed to power new technologies, such as advanced driver- assistance systems and autonomous driving. The eff ects of the semiconductor shortage have extended beyond the auto sector, with other industrial players struggling to secure chips. That highlights the fragility of those supply chains, which largely rely on Asia as a hub of semiconductor manufacturing. McKinsey indicates that to solve this long- term problem, the auto industry will need to rethink the way it structures contracts for semiconductor-related sourcing. M ineral Circles Bearings (MCB) has launched an NLGI grade 3, multi-purpose lithium grease for a wide range of automotive and industrial applications. Manufactured in the UAE, this blue grease formula contains lithium- thickened soap grease, high viscosity index mineral oil, and extreme pressure additives. The grease has the following formulation which provides pressure and speed resistance, oxidation stability, corrosion and rust resistance when used in automotive, industrial and home appliances including gearboxes, bearings and related parts, vertical shafts, large electric motors and agricultural equipment. MCB LAUNCHES NLGI 3 MULTI-PURPOSE LITHIUM GREASE FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS • Special lithium soap thickener – binds well with mineral oil making the grease possess high-oxidation stability, and strong resistance against high speed, water, rust, and high temperature. • Mineral oil – a multi-purpose lubrication solution that has high solubility with additives and suitable viscosity which makes the grease highly resistant to a temperature of up to 150°C. • NLGI grade 3 consistency – allows the grease to withstand operations exposed to humid environments and high temperatures while at the same time reduces the risk of wearing. • Extreme pressure additives – extreme pressure characteristics serve as protective agents against wear, friction, heavy loads, pressure, and vibrations. Hassanein Alwan, managing director, MCB, said: “The MCB advanced multi- purpose grease was formulated and designed for professionals involved in maintenance, repair, and operations to maximize their uptime and profi tability. Our formulation aimed to simplify grease selection by off ering a lubrication solution that can address a wider range of applications in both automotive and industrial industry. Years of research were put into this work, and now we’re able to introduce a lubricant solution that’s competitive on both quality and price.” 6 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 NEWSB ritish lubricant brand Duckhams has announced its market entry in the UAE with the appointment of Emirates for Universal tyres as its exclusive distributor. Founded in 1899 by British chemist Alexander Duckham, the history of Duckhams oils includes pioneering engineering developments in aviation, breaking land speed records and a motorsport heritage. K.R. Venkataraman, global CEO, Duckhams, said: “Despite being absent from the market for a while, our data shows time and again that Duckhams is still one of the most recognised lubricant brands amongst automotive consumers and trade professionals in many markets. We keep advancing our technology as it is our legacy. Our products are a testament to our respect for sustainability and our mission to keep the world moving. Emirates for Universal Tyres, part of Abdulla Al Masaood & Sons Group, will be our exclusive distributor for UAE. We are impressed DUCKHAMS APPOINTS EMIRATES FOR UNIVERSAL TYRES AS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR UAE by their commitment to Duckhams; together, we hope to achieve a strong position in the Middle East in automotive lubricants." Shaun Smith, general manager, Emirates for Universal Tyres, added: “We are both honoured and excited to have the responsibility for Duckhams. The iconic brand is well respected and loved by the automotive industry. Duckhams is here to drive innovation and that fi ts perfectly with our strategic plans — we are inspired by their values and aspirations and look forward to the journey ahead.” K.R. Venkataraman, global CEO, Duckhams, and Shaun Smith, general manager, Emirates for Universal Tyres. 7 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 NEWSCONTINENTAL SURVEY REVEALS TOP STRESSORS AFFECTING UAE TRUCK DRIVERS F ifty seven percent of UAE truck drivers claim to always or sometimes experience stress during their work, and the majority fi nd that the stress of the job carries over into their personal lives, according to a survey conducted by Continental Middle East in collaboration with RoadSafetyUAE and fl eet operators Al Ahli General Transport, Masafi Land Transport and Ocean City Transport. The study, which involved 54 truck drivers from around the UAE, was conducted as part of Continental's global Vison Zero safety initiative to totally eradicate road accidents, injuries and fatalities by enhancing drivers’ knowledge, attitude and awareness. The stresses of the job aff ected the majority of those surveyed, with 29 per cent fi nding it impacted negatively on their personal life; 24 per cent claimed to fi nd it diffi cult to switch off after completing their work, with 13 per cent suff ering sleep deprivation and 10 per cent fi nding it made them more impatient. The study also highlighted truck drivers’ concerns in relation to other drivers. When asked how other road users could adapt their driving style to facilitate truck drivers’ own driving experiences, 50 per cent of drivers raised the issue of others maintaining a safe distance from trucks; 37 per cent said they could better observe traffi c regulations; and 33 per cent suggested that they could be more considerate of truck drivers. Emphasising the stressful nature of the job, and importance of supporting truck drivers, the study revealed that half of those questioned had been involved in accidents. When asked what one thing would most improve their ability to perform their job, 39 per cent of respondents mentioned additional training, with 26 per cent proposing more breaks and 17 per cent decreasing the distances travelled. Reassuringly, 74 per cent of drivers said that tyres are the most important aspect of truck safety. Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, said: “In previous workshops with the Abu Dhabi police traffi c department, police offi cers stated that their main concerns with regards to truck accidents are truck driver fatigue and the poor conditions of the truck tyres. Driver fatigue as well as the causes of stress for truck drivers are often overlooked, and hence, I am exhilarated that Continental initiated this campaign to shed light on the importance of truck safety and introduce the human element to this subject. I encourage all truck operating companies to follow Continental's lead and focus on the importance of this topic." Karel Kucera, general manager, Continental Middle East, commented: "The safety of all road users is a major concern for Continental. We were therefore pleased to discover that there was a strong understanding among the drivers of the critical role tyres play in truck safety. However, our primary objective for this study was to initiate a conversation among fl eet operators and the wider public on the challenges truck drivers face.” He added: “We wanted to help educate people about the personal experiences and stresses experienced by the UAE’s truck drivers, people who fulfi l a vital role for the country’s economy. Based on the fi ndings, it is clear that drivers would benefi t from a greater focus on training and support with content on how to deal with the stresses they face. At the same time, there answers send a clear message to other road users about the eff ect their own driving styles can have on truck drivers’ abilities to conduct their work safely.” 8 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 NEWSOur Capabilities include: • Quality as per VDA, ISO 22241- 1 to 4 and ISO 9001 - 2015 • National distribution network • 10 L & 20 L Can, 1000 L IBC and Bulk Trychem FZCO PO Box 263945, Dubai, UAE Email: info@trychem.com For more information, please CALL +971 4 880 7059 CERTIFICATION: • ISO 9001 - 2015 As a premier supplier of Quality AdBlue®, Trychem provides a safe and environmentally friendly solution for SCR technology www.trychem.com YOUR ADBLUE ® TOTAL PACKAGE PROVIDER D oosan Bobcat has acquired 100% stake in the Doosan Industrial Vehicles Business Group of Doosan Corporation for $660 million, incorporating it as a subsidiary named Doosan Industrial Vehicles (DIV). DIV’s board of directors has appointed executive vice president, Taeil Kim, the head of DIV BG since 2020, as the CEO of DIV. Founded in 1968, DIV was the fi rst company to produce forklifts in Korea and has been growing at an average annual rate of 7% since 2015. DIV off ers a wide range of material handling equipment including forklift and warehouse equipment. Its product lines include 1.5–30 t engine forklifts, 1–5 t electric forklifts and logistics equipment for warehouses. In line with the growing trend towards digital transformation and the sharing economy, DIV has been running a ‘downstream’ business that provides total services comprising forklift rental, used equipment sales and vehicle maintenance services since 2018. DIV is expanding its business portfolio based on new technologies such as a real-time data collection, utilization and automation system equipped with Lin-Q, a telematics system developed internally. The company projects its annual sales in 2021 to surpass $878 million for the fi rst time since the business was founded, as sales volumes surge due to increased demand for DIV products in North America and elsewhere. Following DIV’s incorporation as one of its subsidiaries, Doosan Bobcat anticipates the creation of synergistic eff ects driven by R&D collaboration, expansion of its product range, cost reduction and stronger distribution networks. DOOSAN BOBCAT ACQUIRES 100% STAKE IN DOOSAN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES 9 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comAUGUST 2021 NEWSNext >