< PreviousWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM20 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 SUPPLIER FOCUS European manufacturer and supplier KAN Group – which provides internal water installations, as well as surface cooling, and heating solutions under the brand SYSTEM KAN-therm with manufacturing plants in Germany and Poland, and branches in Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Belarus – is now expanding to the Middle East with distributors such as Mac Al Gurg, a part of UAE-based Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group of Companies. SYSTEM KAN-therm has been installed at Dubai Electricity & Water Authority’s (Dewa) research and development (R&D) centre in Dubai, and is being bid on projects by Emaar and Sharjah Police, the company said in a statement. KAN Group products, including its recently released SYSTEM KAN-therm UltraLine installation system, have been third party certi ed by DVGW, WRAS, QB, KIWA, ISO 9001, on the complete system – not just the pipes – and ensures 50 years of operational life and 10 years of standard warranty on all systems, including product liability for each occurrence up to $8m (AED30m). Recognizing requirements made by investors,designers, and contractors in the Middle East region for modern, comprehensive, energy-saving, durable, and reliable products that are easy to assemble, KAN Group provides designed and manufactured products of certi ed quality that meet these demands while using different materials, pipes with a wide range of diameters and variety of ttings within the same installation. Speci cally, KAN-therm’s multisystem approach offers optimisation abilities in materials selection, pipeline hydraulics, and the assembly method, in a manner that maximises savings on investment, both at the stage of initial design and later during the construction and operation. Construction Week spoke to the market executive manager GCC & Asia at KAN Group, Marcin Rozko, who said Marcin Rozko outlines the Middle East expansion plans in place for European internal water supply and surface cooling and heating SYSTEM KAN-therm SYSTEM KAN-therm PP Green. Marcin Rozko, KAN Group. SYSTEM KAN-therm UltraLine. that the company beside offering its pillar products like SYSTEM KAN- therm PP Green, INOX, and PRESS is also planning to bring SYSTEM KAN- therm UltraLine complete installation system to the UAE following its success in Germany. Rozko added: “This unique, o-ring free installation system helps make the job much faster. It is also more secure than systems being used in the UAE.” The main challenges facing installations, cooling, and heating manufacturers and suppliers are safety and the energy consumption, Rozko said, adding that these challenges start at the installation process, but also play an important part during usage. Commenting on addressing the challenges, Rozko responds: “When we consider green buildings, we need to consider not just solar power or PV panels, but also optimisation of energy consumption, which our systems allow. “We are trying to minimise raw material consumption in our installations. For example, new SYSTEM KAN-therm UltraLine optimises the hydraulic effects of the pipe, and reduces the energy consumed on the construction site by avoiding a number of connections,” Rozko said. The company, which exports its products to more than 60 countries in the world, believes that its focus on energy consumption and sustainability, feeds well into the UAE’s Vision 2021 that calls for sustainable environment and infrastructure, as it looks to establish itself in the region. www.accessabilitiesexpo.com accessabilitiesexpoAAExpoDubaiaccessabilitiesexpo00971 4 256 6707 accessabilitiesexpo1@naddalshiba.com00971 56 961 0407Fahed Mohammed Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre ActivitiesNew TechnologiesWorkshops Tourism for Everyone Dubai Accessible Tourism International Summit WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COMMENT 22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 This has been one of the best issues of Construction Week I have worked on as editor. I’m excited to start revealing the shortlist for the upcoming CW Awards 2019, and am looking back at the happy winners from last year’s event – Kez Taylor’s joy at ALEC being named CW Awards 2018’s Contractor of the Year was truly infectious! (page 42). This is also why leaving the construction industry and Construction Week is a bittersweet proposition for me. Fortunately, I’m able to pen my last editor’s letter for Construction Week knowing fully well that the industry’s future is bright, as is evidenced by the entries received for CW Awards 2019. Nominations in all 14 categories are worthy of the acclaim they will receive in the weeks to come, and I will keenly track Construction Week’s live updates when the winners are crowned on 4 December at the JW Marriott Marquis hotel (page 8). Looking back on the three-and-a- half years I’ve spent with Construction Week as senior reporter, deputy editor, and editor, I am reminded that engineering excellence has continued to make its mark despite the commercial or economic challenges faced by our industry. I’ve had the honour of speaking with the engineers behind some of Dubai’s grandest and largest projects, such as Dubai Frame, ICD Brookfield Place, One Central, and Jewel of the Creek. I’ve also had a chance to hear and learn from industry titans such as Kez Taylor, Yu Tao, Mark Andrews, Saeed Al Abbar, Donna Sultan, Rizwan Sajan, Haroon Niazi, and Sachin Kerur. Delving into their ocean-deep knowledge for long discussions about the past, present, and future of the engineering sector is among the job perks that I’ll miss most. The expertise of these individuals, and so many others that have impacted our business, will continue to drive the regional construction industry forward as new products and processes are sought to improve the quality of our output. The industry has vastly evolved since 2015, when I first joined Construction Week. Technology adoption was generally viewed as more of a compulsion than a genuine business need at the time, and sustainability was only just evolving into something more than a buzzword. We’re doing far better in both arenas today, and in many ways, this is still early days. There’s no denying that the construction sector has ambitious and lofty ideals to achieve, but I am confident about the industry’s ability to innovate and improve in the years to come. But the road ahead is a long one, and the Goodbye Re ections from Construction Week’s editor of the last two years as the regional industry seemingly enters a new stage in its evolution EDITOR’S LETTER NEHA BHATIA Neha Bhatia is editor of Construction Week. future of our industry continues to require engineering ingenuity for long-term security. As I look back on my tenure with Construction Week, I’m immensely grateful for the time you made for our magazine, videos, podcasts, events, and conferences despite your hectic schedules. Together, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of Construction Week magazine in December 2017, and you will now mark the 15th annual CW Awards at the end of this year. Both landmarks are solid reminders of the long journey traversed by the regional construction sector, and the role that Construction Week has played in driving the market forward. As a custodian of the brand, I hope you will continue to be a part of the Construction Week family in the years to come. Personally, it will take me some time to outgrow the highs of being an editorial representative for Construction Week, an institution that – despite having been at the helm of – I’m still somewhat in awe of. It has been an absolute treat to walk through the buildings constructed in the city before the general public has a chance to see them, as well as to meet the people designing, engineering, and building these projects. It is a privilege I am grateful for, and one I will miss. WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COMMENT 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23 Our vision is to be the leading innovative construction group. We strive to be leaders in innovative practice through continuously improving the way we operate and consistently challenging the status quo. The use of new technologies will rapidly alter the landscape we currently operate in, and there will be significant benefit if leveraged correctly. Whilst the new technological landscape is exciting, its benefits cannot be fully realised without a culture of clear communication, transparency and collaboration across the entire supply chain, which is a primary focus of ours at ALEC. Whilst the general perception of innovation is that of mass-disruption or transformation, we view it as a combination of three key areas of focus and a ‘total innovation’ approach. Striking the correct balance between initiatives in these areas – core, adjacent, and transformational – is key in allowing us to consistently review and assess our progress, whilst fine- tuning our course to fulfilling our vision. Focus areas here include information management and digitalisation, modular and offsite construction, robotics and automation, and emerging technologies, such as 3D printing. Viewing construction from a macro- perspective, we are acutely aware of the way the world is changing. Key factors affecting our industry in the future will be linked to the rapid increase in population and urbanisation, spurring a growth in demand for housing and resources. This in combination with many assets reaching the end of their design life mean refurbishment will become a growing sector to re- invigorate and re-purpose living spaces to cater for this demand. This should not only be viewed from a functional standpoint but requires heavy focus on sustainability, capacity of the current infrastructure networks, and long-term effects on the environment – a passion of ours. Globally, innovation cycle times are decreasing through the acceleration of technological capability, ease of communication and ability to transfer information. To remain relevant, we realise we need to remain agile and adapt quickly – we cannot keep constructing the way we always have as this operating model is outdated. Our inefficiency renders us susceptibly to disruption from external industries, and all stakeholders in the construction supply chain need to look inward and identify how we turn the industry from one of the most inefficient and wasteful, into one that is ultra-lean, sustainable and generates value at every stage in the process. We need to find ways to attract the best and brightest talent to our industry to assist us in driving and innovating these changes. It is essential we manage information more effectively and improve the overall quality, timing, accessibility and communication thereof. There are a few challenges and obstacles we face on our journey but the most significant of these is people’s resistance to change, which includes overcoming the mindset of ‘this is how we’ve always done it’, which invariably leads to slow and low user adoption. Other challenges include the level of maturity of stakeholders, low margins which lower risk appetite for R&D initiatives, and a large requirement to re- skill and upskill our workforce. From a technological standpoint, many construction technologies are in their infancy and have rapid development cycles which make adoption on live projects ALEC’s journey to innovation The UAE’s leading construction contractor is driving innovation in the construction sector to increase ef ciencies and boost the industry’s long-term growth prospects Hercu Viljoen is managing director at ALEC, and Severin Tenim is strategic project manager of ALEC Innovation. challenging. Mature technologies from other industries are inflexible enough for construction projects – all of which are unique – and adapting them to our changing environment is also challenging. Innovation is a core value at ALEC and a key component in our company vision. We have a dedicated Innovation Department that works closely with all our business units and departments on initiatives with a well-structured innovation strategy. There is continuous support from company leadership and directors, with innovation KPIs set for each department and projects in the pipeline. Externally we are partnering and collaborating extensively with our Supply chain, numerous universities, government agencies, startups, consultancies, clients and even our competitors. The successes generated through these partnerships are testaments to the power of collaboration. Internally we have great buy-in and engagement company-wide. Innovation is core to what we do and a key contributor to its success is regular communication and engagement with our people. We are realising increased user adoption with the number of ideas, implemented initiatives and user awareness all increasing exponentially. Our collaborative network is large and has a growing number of innovations, POCs, and research initiatives both locally and internationally on multiple fronts. Some key highlights include increasing BIM-to-Field and Field-to-BIM projects, robotics adoption and winning the 2018 MRM Business Innovation Award. GUEST COMMENT HERCU VILJOEN AND SEVERIN TENIMLEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Construction Week’s Leaders in Construction Summit Kuwait 2019 charts the future of design and engineering in the rapidly evolving construction market Construction Week’s Leaders in Construction Summit Kuwait 2019 was held on 16 October in the Dasman Ballroom of Kuwait City’s Radisson Blu hotel. This year, like the previous itera-tion, brought together more than 100 industry leaders to discuss the challenges concerning Kuwait’s construction sector, and their experiences and best practices for the market. The day’s keynote speech focused on smart city development in Kuwait, and was delivered by Khatib & Alami’s Marlon van Maastricht. Among the topics discussed on the day were di-versification to drive the development of megaprojects in Kuwait, and how local and interna- tional construction organisations can effectively collaborate for success amid the country’s drive to achieve the goals of its New Kuwait 2035 vision. A panel was also dedicated to understanding the causes of construction disputes in Kuwait’s engineering sector, and the mechanisms that can be deployed to not only efficiently resolve disputes, but also avoid potential conflicts in the future. For more information about sponsorship and branding opportunities related to Construction Week’s Leaders in Construction Summits in the UAE and Kuwait, please contact Riad Raad on +971 4 444 3319, or at riad.raad@itp.com. WHEN AND WHERE 16 October 2019 Dasman Ballroom Kuwait City RESERVE To secure your place at the Leaders Kuwait 2020 summit, contact riad.raad@itp.comLEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMLEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Khatib & Alami’s Marlon van Maastricht outlines how technology can help design liveable smart cities during his keynote speech at Leaders Kuwait 2019 Digital transformation is fortifying the global construction sector as the demand for smart city development increases around the world, and Kuwait is no different. At the core of digitisation and future technology lies user comfort – one of the talking points at Construction Week’s Leaders in Construction Kuwait Summit held on 16 October 2019, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Kuwait City, which brought some of the biggest names in the industry together to discuss key topics shaping the country’s construction industry. Marlon van Maastricht, senior manager of landscape architecture, urban planning, and design at design and engineering giant Khatib & Alami, kicked off the summit with a keynote speech explaining the importance of putting people first while planning, designing, and embracing the cities and public realm of tomorrow. Commenting on the need for people- centric cities, he said: “User comfort should be the ultimate goal of smart technologies. When we look at future cities and the living environment that we intend to create, it’s very important to put the user experience first, and realise that ‘smart’ is not the objective, but the baseline.” Indeed, the industry must seek to strike a balance between its use of technology and the digitalisation it intends to embed in the future cities it designs. Commenting on the impact of technology in the construction sector, van Maastricht reflected on a time when the industry predominantly relied on drawings that were designed prior to work commencement, but did not always provide adequate insights about actual challenges, clashes, and snags that might be faced onsite. “Now, with BIM and GIS, [and similar] technologies, we have an opportunity to look into the future and actually test what we imagine. We’ve reached a stage that a lot of technologies work really well [together]. It has to be noted, though, that technological progress is being made LEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 27WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM in most sectors, but a lot of this tech, and their stakeholders, are still operating in silos. Interfacing and integration is where the future of our cities lies.” However, the Khatib & Alami expert pointed out that the evolution of concepts such as artificial intelligence and internet of things would support the drive towards technological cohesion: “When we talk about digital transformation and integration, we are still in the early stages, and [users are] starting to grasp what technology can do in the fabric of integration between buildings, mobility, infrastructure, the public realm, and the environment.” Van Maastricht also emphasized the company’s effort to develop strong green urban policy frameworks while planning, designing, and developing future cities, adding: “Regionally, Khatib & Alami has focused on how we plan our cities, and what kind of policy steps and instruments are critical. I’m very glad that Kuwait’s Vision 2035 initiative has the living environment at the core of its strategy. This is a step in the right direction. “We want to plan environments that we ourselves would like to live in and use, and that should always be the main driver of digitally driven urban planning, rather than relying on smart technology as a buzzword,” van Maastricht added. Van Maastricht delivered Leaders Kuwait 2019's keynote speech.LEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Panellists explore how Kuwait’s construction sector must evolve to fulfil the ambitious New Kuwait 2035 mandate During the first panel discussion at Construction W eek ’ s Leaders in Construction Summit Kuwait 2019 on 16 October – titled Diversification in Kuwait Megaprojects – panellists explained how projects could be delivered as part of the New Kuwait 2035 vision by working with international contractors to deliver sustainable infrastructure schemes. The panel, which was moderated by senior associate at BCLP, Richard Dupay, featured panellists such as head of Kuwait at Khatib & Alami, Shiraz Basma; construction manager at Kuwait Bruckner, Eng Hani Garada; and senior manager for landscape architecture, urban planning, and Public Works. She added that Kuwait National Rail Road (KNRR) is one of the most important projects in the country, adding that its construction would be extremely beneficial for the national economy. She added that as part of the KNRR project, Kuwait would also create a 111km link to the regional GCC Railway network. Addressing the audience, Basma added that KNRR, the $86bn (KWD26.1bn) Silk City, Kuwait design at Khatib & Alami – and keynote speaker at Leaders Kuwait 2019 (page 26) – Marlon van Masstricht. Intiating proceedings as part of the panel, Dupay said that a key component of the New Kuwait 2035 vision was to achieve the delivery of key infrastructure, and urban megaprojects focused on boosting connectivity in the GCC nation. One of the most significant megaprojects under way in the country is the $4.3bn (KWD1.3bn) Foster + Partners-designed passenger Terminal 2 at Kuwait International Airport, which is being constructed by Turkey’s Limak Insaat alongside local construction firm Kharafi National, overseen by Kuwait’s Ministry of LEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT KUWAIT 2019 26 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2019 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 29WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Panellists discussing diversi cation at Leaders Kuwait 2019. Stormwater Drainage System masterplan, and Kuwait Metro were some of the numerous non-oil and gas projects that will pave the way for Kuwait to meet its 2035 vision. Speaking about the entry of international contractors in the Kuwaiti construction market, Garada said that Kuwait Bruckner works with both local and international entities, adding that the firm, however, preferred to work with home-grown organisations when possible. Explaining the company’s position on partnerships, Garada said during the discussion: “Overseas contractors cannot complete contracts by themselves – they need local experience [in Kuwait]. “We are working with both local and international contractors, which is a win-win situation for both parties, but we prefer working with Kuwait- based firms.” Basma said there was growing interest for international contractors coming into Kuwait, with Chinese consortiums being involved in the Silk City development through a memorandum of understanding signed for the project in Beijing last year. Van Masstricht added it was important to provide training to international organisations and ensure they could “operate on a local level” as Kuwait ramps up construction investments. Next >