< PreviousEXPO EXCLUSIVE 10 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Commissioner General of Belgium at Expo 2020 Dubai, Patrick Vercauteren Drubbel, talks to Construction Week’s Ranju Warrier on the Expo’s postponement, construction of the pavilion, health and safety of workers, and adopting sustainability EXPERIENCING “MOBILITY OF THE FUTURE” AT BELGIUM PAVILION The Belgium Pavilion will be located within Expo 2020 Dubai’s Mobility District [image: Supplied] Located within the Mobility District, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Belgium Pavilion will be a minimal waste structure driven by ‘eco-design’ and will feature the theme of ‘Smart and Green Belgium 2050’. Speaking to Construction Week in a remote interview, Patrick Vercauteren Drubbel, commissioner general of Belgium at Expo 2020 Dubai, says that the design of the pavilion compliments the theme “very well”. “We are very lucky, because we have secured the best Belgian architects [for the pavilion],” says Vercauteren Drubbel. Shaped as a green arch, the structure will highlight Belgium’s industrial, technological, and scientific expertise, with its exhibition set to use immersive and participative technology, as well as prospective scenography. The structure also features a spiral vault that spirals 180 degrees, and has an agora underneath that spans both sides of the pavilion. It is designed to create an inverted island effect. Six Construct is the main contractor of the pavilion, with a joint venture of Belgian contractor BESIX, ASSAR Architects, and Vincent Callebaut acting as the main consultant. The Belgium Pavilion will have two 15 metre high green façades, which according to Vercauteren Drubbel, will bring “colour, freshness, and serenity” to the pavilion. The plot size of the pavilion is 2,400m2, with the country being allowed to build on 1,500m2 area; and the overall built-up area is 6,000m2. The tendering process for the Belgium Pavilion has been different and Vercauteren Drubbel says: “The tender was issued in two phases [because] in Belgium we have to respect the European law for international tenders, therefore the whole process lasted for one year.” Ground on the pavilion was broken in September 2019. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Talking about the current construction progress, the commissioner general says: “The building is more than 60% completed and we are still working on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) works. Our plan is to finish the core of the pavilion as soon as possible, and we will finalise the fit-out some weeks or months before the opening.” “The construction of the pavilion is progressing at a slower pace, as we are in no rush to finish. Our main priority on-site is towards the welfare of our workers. The one year extension provides certain flexibility concerning the hours of labour for our people on-site.” He continues: “Working towards a project of this dimension generally demands a great commitment from everyone involved, but this way we Patrick Vercauteren Drubbel, Commissioner General of Belgium at Expo 2020 Dubai [image: Supplied] EXPO EXCLUSIVE JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 11WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM have the ability to ease the workload.” Belgium plans to continue the work and secure the building to keep it safe, in order to withstand the weather conditions in Dubai, till the opening on 1 October, 2021. “We will return to the construction site a few months before the opening to install the technological elements, and move ahead with painting and finishing works at the pavilion,” Vercauteren Drubbel tells Construction Week. EXPO POSTPONEMENT Like many of the participating nations, Belgium has supported Expo 2020 Dubai’s decision for a year- long postponement, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on global public, social, and economic health. Vercauteren Drubbel tells Construction Week that the decision to postpone the World Expo was very “progressive”. “We collectively agreed that the situation became infinitely complex and that there remained no alternative but to postpone. “The organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai and Secretary General of the BIE in Paris were very transparent, and above all very courageous to take this very difficult and historical decision.” Talking about encountering difficulties due to the outbreak of the pandemic, Vercauteren Drubbel says: “We realised that we might encounter some difficulties the minute we were informed in the beginning of March 2020 that some suppliers would have delays and problems delivering the building materials in due time. “As soon as it became clear that there would be a postponement, we started the preparations for the belated opening.” BUDGET CHANGES The commissioner general explains: “The postponement in general has a lot of consequences on construction activities that have to be adapted to the new agenda; for the staff; and for our relations with suppliers.” All these adjustments will have a cost, which Belgium had not “foreseen”. Vercauteren Drubbel explains: “We are now attempting to procure new additional costs at a lower price, and obtain extra budget.” HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST However, the commissioner general says that the health and safety of workers is “far more important than the financial costs.” Belgium has been concerned about its workers on-site and continued to ensure that the health and safety standards were met. “We did not wait for the coronavirus crisis to put very strong safety measures in place on our site,” Vercauteren Drubbel adds. “In consultation with our contractor, [we] assured that all necessary health and safety measures were taken to protect the workers. Regular checks and audits are also being carried out for the contractor and subcontractors of the Belgium Pavilion to ensure that all regulations are met.” SUSTAINABLE PAVILION According to the commissioner general, Belgium has been trying to have a pavilion “as sustainable as possible”, and has sourced the majority of its construction materials from Dubai. “We did this to avoid transportation and ecological costs as well as CO2 consumption.” However, certain materials are being sourced from Belgian companies, which according to Vercauteren Drubbel, are “manufactured in Dubai”. The stakeholders involved in the Belgium Pavilion include Dubai-based Assent as the steel subcontractor. Cityscape, a Belgian firm, is the landscape subcontractor, and Macline is the fit-out subcontractor. The pavilion has a wooden façade. Vercauteren Drubbel says that the wood was procured from Italian firm BODINO SR. Abu Dhabi-based Centro is the façade subcontractor. “The green façades need water, and that is why it is essential that the pavilion provides an autonomous water supply for these plants,” Vercauteren Drubbel adds. The Belgium Pavilion will also use renewable energy that will be sourced through solar panels. Cement and concrete for the pavilion is supplied by Readymix Beton; glass is by AGC Glass and HALIO International. The curtain wall is supplied by Reynaers Aluminium and partitions by Knauf, with the food and beverage designer and subcontractor being Creneau International. Real CGR is the business continuity, compliance, and governance consultant VISITING IN 2021 In October 2021, when visitors come to the Belgium Pavilion they can discover the mobility of the future on land, waters, as well as in space, while they can also enjoy its renowned Belgian chocolates. “Belgium will be there and will not miss the opportunity to contribute to make the World Expo a success story. “We think Expo 2020 Dubai will be the place to be in 2021.” FUTURE TALENT 12 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020 Construction Week’s editor Ashley Williams speaks to the next-generation engineers from ALEC and Cundall on creating a delivery model that will “transform the industry for the better” WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM “ The beginning of something truly spectacular”“ The beginning of something truly spectacular” Image: ShutterstockJULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 13 FUTURE TALENT W hile society is beginning to normalise from the pressures brought upon us from COVID- 19, top construction leaders from the Middle East are describing the current state of the market as a “mess” and urgent action is needed to ensure a sustainable outlook. As sectors begin to adapt to the new world that we live in, with remote working and adhering to social distancing guidelines set out by the government, the dependence on safeguarding the future of our industry has fallen on the shoulders of next-generation engineers. Through a collaborative event, leading UAE contractor, ALEC, and global consultancy firm, Cundall, came together last month to launch ‘The Project of the Future’ initiative involving younger professionals within both companies to brainstorm and come up with groundbreaking ideas that could be shared and embraced by the wider industry. As part of the initiative, the participants were required to look at challenges facing all stakeholders in project delivery within the industry and explore how reoccurring and past mistakes can be eliminated. Three teams presented their ideas to senior figures of ALEC and Cundall, including the contractor’s CEO Kez Taylor and managing director Hercu Viljoen, the consultancy’s managing director and partner Richard Stratton, as well as Construction Week’s editor Ashley Williams. The BRAINS model The winning group came up with an innovative solution called BRAINS - the Built Environment Ranking Artificial Intelligence Network System, which takes the next generation of technology, ubiquitous computing, which automates our entire external world, and applying it for the built environment and the construction industry. Speaking exclusively to Construction Week, Cundall’s structural engineer Calum Perey, who was part of the winning team, said that by collating data together, BRAINS is creating correlation between things that we, as humans, do not have the “cognitive ability to comprehend”. “BRAINS tells us, as a society, what do we actually need? Then using that data to assist the entire life cycle to most importantly produce zero waste. And that’s not just material waste, its time, optimisation and efficiencies,” Perey tells CW. “The system monitors the actions of stakeholders and records the positive and negative actions people make during a project, which either rewards or punishes users based on their performance, and simultaneously updates all stakeholders on how the actions have changed the path of the project, and if alterations are required to get back on track.” Among the other group members was ALEC’s contract quantity surveyor, Shaun Unathi Mahlangu, who believed that the BRAINS delivery model facilitates an honest and genuine level of collaboration between stakeholders and is the first step to achieving “industry utopia”. “This is the beginning of something truly spectacular,” said Mahlangu. “Whilst the BRAINS concept was specifically developed for complex projects in the built environment, we believe that once realised, it will be a giant leap forward in transforming a multitude of industries as we know them today.” What the judges said? Commenting on the purpose of the collaboration, Cundall’s partner and managing director, Richard Stratton told WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Construction Week that there is far too much waste and inefficiency in our industry, but with youthful enthusiasm and the digital revolution, we have the opportunity to combine talent and technology to solve the problem of waste and inefficiencies. “[The] Cundall & ALEC collaboration initiative is not an academic exercise, it is intended to be the catalyst to drive change and inspire us all to make a positive contribution," says Stratton. "As business leaders, it is our responsibility to create opportunities for the next generation to become agents of change.” Moreover, ALEC’s Kez Taylor said the initiative is an opportunity to raise awareness of the current inefficiencies and to revamp the construction industry towards a sustainable future. "Waste is suffocating the construction industry and we need to collectively take urgent action to reverse the current downward spiral of inefficiency taking place in our sector," says Taylor. "This collaborative initiative is giving us the opportunity to raise awareness of the current inefficiencies and pave the way forward to transform the construction ALEC's contract quantity surveyor, Shaun Unathi Mahlangu Image supplied: ALECSPECIAL REPORT 14 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM BRAINS has chosen as the winning model the ALEC & Cundall event Image: RepresentationalJULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 15 FUTURE TALENT WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM industry to an efficient and sustainable future for all to succeed." He adds: "The youth and our next generation of leaders have been tasked to find ways of improving process, driving efficiency, creating collaborative environments and using digital technologies to improve delivery of construction projects. “We are committed to this quest of creating a better future for everyone.” Following the event, the BRAINS concept will be fine-tuned and another event will be held later in the year to share the concept with the wider industry. The final event will also initiate a roadshow with multiple project teams to start implementing the solution. More details will also be revealed about the BRAINS concept through Construction Week Viewpoint's weekly podcast series in the coming months. When asked about the future of the industry and their perspective on "As a young generation of the construction industry who care about the future, we want to make sure we eliminate waste and fi nd the perfect way to deliver our future developments" Calum Perey, Structural Engineer, Cundall how the construction sector can prosper for the Middle East, the ALEC and Cundall engineers agreed that combining "outstanding collaboration" and "thinking outside of the box” will lead to a positive change in implementing new practices. “As a young generation of the construction industry who care about the future, we want to make sure we eliminate waste and find the perfect way to deliver our future developments,” explains Perey. “We want to design and build the built environment that contributes to the environment, not damages it. He adds: “We believe that it can be achieved only by thinking outside the box, using the most advanced technology and combining it with outstanding collaboration.” While, Mahlangu said at the moment the greatest prize would be seeing the “industry heal and be transformed for the better” and, pledged that the next generation of engineers across the sector "intend on making that happen". 16 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EQUIPMENT Dennis Daniels sits down with Kanoo Cranes Dennis Daniels sits down with Kanoo Cranes regional manager, Ahmed Wraikat, to explore regional manager, Ahmed Wraikat, to explore equipment trends shaping the Middle East’s equipment trends shaping the Middle East’s construction industry construction industry In the last six months, Kanoo Cranes, the engineered lifting solutions subsidiary of the UAE-based Kanoo Group, has introduced three brands in the GCC - Maeda, Spierings and Alba - as their exclusive dealer for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The fi rst of these partnerships was announced in December 2019, with Sweden-based Kranlyft Group, the master distributor of Maeda Mini Cranes manufactured by Japan-based Maeda Seisakusho. During April- May 2020, Kanoo Cranes announced two additional partnerships, with Netherlands-based Spierings Mobile Cranes and Spain-based Alba. This expands Kanoo Cranes’ product mix to include fi ve major brands and categories: Jaso Tower Cranes; SMIE anti-collision systems; Maeda Mini Cranes; Spierings mobile tower cranes; and Alba material hoists and mast climbing work platforms. Prior to this, Kanoo Cranes’ lifting solutions were centered on tower crane sales (3-36 tonnes) and rental (6-100 tonnes) with Jaso Tower Cranes, crane safety and jobsite management with SMIE anti-collision systems, and crane planning, erection, disassembly and maintenance services. During the last two years, the company has seen increasing demand for compact and versatile lifting equipment, with the bulk of the demand coming from the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Kanoo Cranes equipment demand “bulked” by Expo 2020 Dubai Ahmad Wraikat, regional manager, Kanoo Cranes, says: “The recent product launches, with the possibility of more in the near future, are a result of our product development strategy to meet all the lifting requirements for building construction and maintenance.” Kanoo Cranes initially saw the potential of mini cranes while working on Expo 2020 Dubai projects where small lifting equipment are feasible and preferred by contractors for decor and fi nishing works at the pavilions. Maeda mini cranes are suitable for a range of construction works such as glazing, curtain wall installation, and steel erection. They also have applications in factories that don’t have overhead cranes. Their small size and manoeuvrability make them versatile for outdoor and indoor applications, particularly narrow and confi ned spaces. The Maeda mini crane range comprises ten models of spider cranes and crawler cranes. The six spider crane models (MC series) have lifting capacities ranging from 0.995t to 8.09t and maximum lifting heights ranging from 5.5m to 19.6m (25.5m with fl y jib). Kanoo Cranes saw the potential of mini cranes while working on Expo 2020 Dubai projects JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 17WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EMPOWERING WOMEN Acciona’s inaugeration of the world’s largest 3D printing center The knuckle boom model (MK), based on the MC series but with a hydraulic luffi ng jib, has a capacity of 0.995t and maximum lifting height of 11.3m. The three crawler crane models (CC series) have lifting capacities ranging from 2.93t to 6t and maximum lifting heights ranging from 9.46m to 16.7m (22m with fl y jib). On construction sites, Maeda spider cranes can be transported to the upper fl oors of high-rise buildings via service elevators and then used for installation works of outer walls such as glass frames, by hoisting the wire rope from above in several stages. They can also be placed on rooftops to lift materials from the ground. The spider cranes can be operated via remote control, enabling operators to control them from a distance. Maeda crawler cranes have a compact working footprint and small tail swing which enables lifting even in confi ned spaces. The pick and carry function (maximum 2t capacity), enables lifting and travelling with loads over distances. “In many cases, mini cranes can help avoid the used of expensive tower cranes and mobile cranes. Because they can lift materials directly into a building, from inside the building, it eliminates the need to demolish walls or ceilings to provide access to a mobile crane. They also help avoid unnecessary obstruction of roads and access points,” says Ahmad. All mini cranes come with the following safety features. The ‘moment limiter system’ helps prevent tipping accidents. When the load reaches 90% of the rated total load, a warning signal is generated with rotary lamps and audible alarm. When the load reaches 100%, the crane will automatically stop to prevent tipping. With a digital display, the operator can continuously check the working status. The moment limiter (safe load indicator) can set a lifting height limit, working radius limit, and angle limit. Maeda spider cranes can be transported to the upper fl oors of high-rise buildings18 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EQUIPMENT 24 hours. Compared to the abovementioned time-consuming process, a single driver-cum-operator can drive a Spierings mobile tower crane to the site, set it up close to the building in around 10 minutes, manoeuvre it via remote control, carry out the lifting job, and leave the site within 3-4 hours.” The Spierings range comprises four models with maximum lifting heights ranging from 55.45m to 64.2m and maximum loads ranging from 7,000kg to 18,000kg. The most compact model - SK487- AT3 or ‘City Boy’ - has a width of 2.5m, length of 13.08m and total ground size of less than 10m. The SK487-AT3 has a 3-in-1 cabin which functions as a truck, lift and crane cabin. In the crane operation, the cabin can be raised to any desired height where the cabin is always in solid connection with the crane. As a result, the operator always retains full control over the crane. The SK487-AT3 has a maximum load of 7,000kg up to a radius of 11.96m. Another model, the SK597-AT4, also has a maximum load of 7,000kg, but at up to a radius of 14.1m. The largest model, the 6-axis SK1265- AT6 or ‘Mighty Tiny’, has a maximum load of 10,000kg up to a radius of 13.2m. The strongest model, the SK2400-R, The working range of the boom can be set, and the boom will automatically stop at the set point. This function is very useful for narrow places with obstacles or limitations such as power plants and factories. An alarm is generated in the event of the crane operating at over 3-degree inclination, or over 15-degree inclination when travelling. For spider cranes, the outrigger interlock system restricts activation of the outriggers if the boom is not stowed and outriggers are not rotated to set position. It detects boom slew and derrick position, and outrigger rotation position. The crane interlock system enables the crane to work if outriggers are grounded correctly. It detects the outrigger rotatory position and grounding condition. Several Maeda mini cranes are currently in operation at construction sites in the UAE. Kanoo Cranes aims to increase market penetration for mini cranes in indoor installation, refurbishment and maintenance works in malls, hotels and hospitals. As the name suggests, mobile tower cranes combine the benefi ts of mobile cranes and tower cranes, but without the hassles of assembling, operating and dismantling them. Spierings mobile tower cranes require only one operator to set up, operate, and dismantle the crane. The cranes can be set up in as little as 11 minutes, but do not require extra ballast or boom parts, and can be manoeuvred by remote control. Ahmad explains the application of mobile tower cranes in building construction and maintenance. “Consider a building maintenance job that requires the replacement of a chiller on the roof. The building is accessible via one main road, a common challenge faced by contractors to move equipment in and out of the site. Generally, the movement of cranes would be scheduled in the nights or during weekends to avoid disruption of road traffi c. If the site is in a congested area, a mobile crane with luffi ng jib would be required. The time required to assemble the luffi ng jib with a mobile crane would be 8-10 hours. Setting up the mobile crane and rigging crane would need at least two operators, one each for the mobile crane and four riggers. The mobile crane alone would need at least one hour for rigging. The lifting of the chillers may need only 1-2 hours, and after completion of the job, dismantling the crane would need another 8-10 hours. In total, the entire operation would require around JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 19WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EQUIPMENT a maximum load of 7,000kg, but at up to a radius of 14.1m. The largest model, the 6-axis SK1265- AT6 or ‘Mighty Tiny’, has a maximum load of 10,000kg up to a radius of 13.2m. The strongest model, the SK2400-R, has a maximum load of 18,000kg up to a radius of 14.6m; the crane can be transported on two trailers, one for the crane itself and the other for the ballast and track parts. For mobile tower cranes, the radius of the crane is often one of the essential factors. To make the radius even larger, Spierings has developed the sliding boom technology. This technique was first applied to the SK1265- AT6 where a radius of 60m is achieved with an associated 1.7 ton maximum point load. With the sliding boom, an extra boom length of 8m is achieved, whereby the boom makes itself wider after extending. This makes the width of the sliding boom equal to that of the front boom section. This technique has also been applied to the SK2400-R. In a modified form, the SK597-AT4 and the SK487-AT3 also use a sliding boom. An extra boom length of 4m is achieved with this type of crane. The transition of the booms is also seamless here, because two carbon profiles rotate when locking the boom and assume the same dimensions as the rest of the boom. These cranes also achieve a maximum point load of 1.7 tons Ahmad clarifies a common misconception about mobile tower cranes and their niche market among tower cranes and mobile cranes. “The Spierings mobile tower crane is not an alternative to a tower crane, but rather a mobile crane. In terms of rental price, the closest competition to the Spierings mobile tower crane, particularly the SK1256-AT6 model, would be a 250-tonne mobile crane. The ease of erecting and operating mobile tower cranes make short-term and daily rentals possible, especially for time-critical jobs and sites with restrictions on crane movements. Currently, Spierings mobile tower cranes are employed at the Expo 2020 Dubai site where contractors move them from one site to another without delays,” says Ahmad. As the latest brand to join Kanoo Cranes, Alba is a natural progression to the company’s aim to offer a one-stop-shop for lifting and vertical transport solutions. Alba construction hoists are designed to transport people and material on all types of low, medium and tall buildings and structures. Alba material hoists have load capacities up to 2,000kg, maximum height up to 250m with twin cabin on a single mast, maximum cabin size of 3.2x1.4m, and speed of 20m/ min. Ahmad concluded that in the near future all of Kanoo Cranes’ brands could work side by side on a construction site in the UAE. “We’re bidding for a large project that could use all our products; Jaso tower cranes with SMIE anti-collision systems for exterior work, Maeda spider cranes for interior work, Alba hoists and platforms, and Spierings for areas where there are restrictions on installing and operating tower cranes,” says Ahmad. reedsmith.comNext >