< PreviousMEP MIDDLE EAST AWARDS 30 MEP Middle East | July/August 2020 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP_1507_28-31_MEP AWARDS_11301383.indd 3029/06/2020 12:38:36 PMMEP MIDDLE EAST AWARDS July/August 2020 | MEP Middle East 31 www.mepmiddleeast.com ELECTRICAL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Bushra Anwar Cundall (W) Abideen Grillo Burohappold (HC) ELECTRICAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR The Founder’s Memorial Abu Dhabi Semco (W) Qasr Al Hosn Voltas (HC) GCC PROJECT OF THE YEAR Qasr Al Hosn Voltas (W) ICD Brookfield Place JLW (HC) HEALTH & SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR HSE 2019 Voltas (W) HSE Value-Driven Initiative Alemco (HC) MECHANICAL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Stephen Page Atkins (W) Varun Malhotra Ramboll (HC) MECHANICAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR Hindu Temple Ramboll (W) DIFC District Cooling Plant Expansion Voltas (HC) MEP CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR Cundall (W) Black & White Engineering (HC) MEP CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR JLW (W) Al Shafar United (HC) MEP EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR Subhash J. Pritmani Semco (W) Robert McDonnell Alemco (HC) PLUMBING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Ashveen Jeetun Burohappold (W) Stephen Kelly Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers (HC) PLUMBING PROJECT OF THE YEAR Terra The Sustainability Pavilion Burohappold (W) Qasr Al Hosn Voltas (HC) PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR Eng. Vazeer Husain Adeeb Group (W) Graham Anthony Percy Alemco (HC) RETROFIT PROJECT OF THE YEAR Al Karamah School Black & White Engineering (W) Energy Performance Contract – Elite Residence QTM (HC) SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Leminar Air Conditioning Company LLC (W) Taqeef (HC) SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Al Shafar United (W) Batelco Data Centre Bahrain RED Engineering (HC) YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Mahmoud Hameed Ramboll (W) Mohamed Atyab Atkins (HC) There were plenty of cheers throughout an evening of celebration at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah. 2019 ROLL OF HONOUR (W) denotes category winner. (HC) denotes category highly-commended. LAST YEAR’S BIG WINNERS MEP_1507_28-31_MEP AWARDS_11301383.indd 3129/06/2020 12:38:52 PM32 MEP Middle East | July/August 2020 www.mepmiddleeast.com SUPPLIER NEWS FACTORY OPENING Honeywell will open a new facility for the production of gas detection devices in Saudi Arabia. The new “Made in the Kingdom” Honeywell factory will support IKTVA’s localization objectives by creating production jobs for Saudi nationals that enhance workforce skills and capabilities. Through the complex, Honeywell becomes the first international company producing gas detectors in the Kingdom, enabling local availability of equipment, shorter lead times, and on-the-ground customer support. The devices will provide a reliable and cost-effective way to ensure the safety, compliance and productivity of workers who are operating in hazardous environments in Saudi Arabia. “Our advanced gas detection systems help keep workers safe and enable them to rapidly respond to gas leaks and site incidents,” said John Waldron, president and CEO, Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions. “We’re proud to bring new manufacturing capabilities to Saudi Arabia to help industrial customers maximize safety, improve operational performance and better mitigate emissions.” Located at the extension of Dhahran Techno Valley, the Honeywell facility will produce 10,000 portable gas detectors and 800 fixed gas detectors annually when it reaches full production in 2022. The production line includes the multigas Honeywell BW series, in addition to fixed detectors including Searchpoint Optima Plus Point Infrared Gas Detector and XNX Universal Transmitter. Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell, High Growth Regions, Middle East, Russia, Turkey, Central Asia & Customs Union, added: “Over the course of our six-decade history in the Kingdom, we have continued to further the transformation of the country’s future through the establishment of localization initiatives and deployment of advanced solutions.” Honeywell announces opening of gas detector factory in Saudi Arabia PORTFOLIO Engineering fi rm Emerson has released a new portfolio of RXi industrial display and panel PC products for monitoring, visualizing and enhancing everyday produc- tion processes in life sciences, metals and mining, power and water, and manufacturing and machinery. A modular design is foundational to the industrial display platform, enabling users to select the right confi guration based on ap- plication needs and minimizing life cycle cost through fl exibility, serviceability, and fi eld upgradeability. RXi industrial displays are designed to work with both Emerson’s programmable logic control (PLC), programmable automa- tion control (PAC) solutions and third-party control systems.. The RXi industrial display portfolio features standardized physical designs to minimize the variety of enclosure cutouts required for OEM applications. “With this modular industrial display port- folio, our customers can achieve the same experience, look and feel, regardless of size or application,” said Kori Price, product man- ager of industrial display and computing plat- forms for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “Best of all, this new portfolio is rugged, without sacrifi cing performance or fl exibility.” Displays are available in sizes ranging from seven to 24 inches, providing a single, scal- able platform for a multitude of operations and applications. Key features for all models include vivid projective capacitive, multi-touch screens that can operate in temperatures from -4 to 149 de- grees Fahrenheit (20 to 65 degrees Celsius) and optional sun-light readable screens on select sizes. The portfolio carries multiple certifi ca- tions for high performance in rugged envi- ronments and is IP66-certifi ed for protection against dust and strong jets of water. Emerson launches portfolio of modular industrial displays The portfolio carries multiple certifi cations for high performance in rugged environments and is IP66-certifi ed for protection against dust and strong jets of water. MEP_1507_32-33_SUPPLIERS_11301385.indd 3229/06/2020 12:39:46 PMJuly/August 2020 | MEP Middle East 33 www.mepmiddleeast.com E-SHOP Taqeef has launched the UAE’s first specialist AC e-shop, which provides 100% contactless sales support from technical advice to installation. Designed to fill a gap in the market for bespoke ‘virtual specification’ for residential AC’s, the shop features an automated tonnage calculator to ensure consumers get the same level of desert cooling expertise whether in-store or online. Online shopping in the region has spiked since movement restrictions came into effect, with 57% of UAE shoppers admitting to increasing their online purchases. To meet demand, Taqeef created an online channel designed to replicate their showroom experience. Taqeef CEO Tariq Al Ghussein said: “Movement restrictions and people preferring to shop from the safety of their homes mean many consumers have turned to alternative and digital retail channels. “In the electronics space, customers traditionally rely on technical expertise when making a purchase – especially when selecting residential AC’s. “So, for us, it was important to create an online destination that not only reflected world-class desert cooling, but also world- class customer support. “Our e-shop gives customers a personal touch, with all the ease of an online shop. “There’s an interactive digital tool for specification, plus there’s a hotline to our sales team, who can talk the customer through their options in real time.” Cooling products purchased on the Taqeef e-shop are also eligible for the exclusive free CoolCare protection and warranty plan, providing five years of free parts as well as repair labour. In addition, Taqeef has announced that they will provide free AC delivery, installation and service to all key workers. Al Ghussein added: “We’re all indebted to the key workers of the UAE – it’s these brave people who’ve brought stability and safety to us all and we wanted to recognise their commitment and sacrifice. They’re the superheroes who are shaping the future and inspiring us all.” Taqeef launches new e-shop to address cooling needs in UAE DRONES An increasing number of construction fi rms and real estate developers in the GCC are turning to drone technology as they get their operations back on track while safeguarding the health and safety of their workers. That’s according to Falcon Eye Drones (FEDS) CEO Rabih Bou Rashid, who says as the UAE and the wider region reopen economic activities under the “new normal”, players in the construction industry would like to get their projects up to speed with as much as savings they can. Bou Rashid added: “Cashfl ow is crucial in today’s times, hence, more and more compa- nies are turning to drones as they provide a cost-effective, safer and time-saving alterna- tive to the conventional construction pro- cess.” He noted that drones continue to prove their value in the sector, helping construction companies increase their reporting turna- round by 25% and cut down site time wastage by 18.4% as they conduct activities at a more accurate and stauncher pace than manual la- bour. This, he added, is especially evident in the UAE - which is globally renowned as one of the leaders in construction. “The UAE’s construction sector is now gearing up to continue projects as the coun- try begins restoring its economic operations. Companies are also exploring game-changing solutions to break ground in the ‘new normal’ while being mindful of workers’ health and safety,” he said. “However, this is harder to achieve when you use the traditional construction process. Having said that, we have noted a dramatic increase of enquiries and orders with regard to the drone services that FEDS can offer to get them going again.” He said that using drones in the sector pre- vents costly mistakes as they allow managers to identify challenges in the pre-construction stage, spot mistakes, and measure progress during construction. Drones also improve safety in a sector that poses a high risk for fall, the number one cause of work-related fa- talities for construction workers. Bou Rashid noted that progress monitoring through drones can cut project value costs by up to 11.8% and can decrease the time spent to compile the snag list (or inventory of tasks by contractor) by 32% - eliminating the unnec- essary cost of regular manual supervision. In addition, since drones can conduct re- peat fl ights to consistently monitor the con- struction progress and status, the possibility of doing manual rework decreases by 25%. He also emphasised that the drones’ aerial view maps allow managers to sit down and easily determine potential problems early on before they get costly. Bou Rashid explained that the drones’ high-resolution and accurate data of the con- struction site overview help contractors spot errors on a regular basis - helping them act on it ahead of time and in turn, save the com- pany from unnecessary expenses. “Drones can help quickly identify potential problems in each phase, allowing managers to plan solutions ahead to prevent unneces- sary back jobs that can dent a project’s sched- ule and budget. “In addition, aside from the built-in data they have taken, drones can also overlay the blueprint of the construction to help contrac- tors identify any deviations. Spotting a po- tential barrier to fi nish a project on time will save construction fi rms extra costs, time and effort.” Growing number of fi rms using drones to get ops back on track SUPPLIER NEWS Drones are becoming more commonplace in the GCC. MEP_1507_32-33_SUPPLIERS_11301385.indd 3329/06/2020 12:39:52 PM34 MEP Middle East | July/August 2020 www.mepmiddleeast.com FINAL WORD Never has resiliency and the way we work been more important than in these unprecedented times. Recent changes to the way we work have spurred an acceleration in fl exible working across industries we never dreamed imaginable. By adapting to this new degree of nor- malcy in the wake of global events, our fl ex- ibility and effi ciency have been fast-tracked in parallel with society’s vast population growth and the densifi cation of our cities. As such, we need to devise ways to en- sure our infrastructure is more resilient to changing weather patterns and global mega events such as Covid-19 by fi nding ways to incorporate smart and sustainable technolo- gies into our everyday lives. These technologies will play a key role in automating processes and reducing hu- man interaction in order to increase societal continuity. They’ll also lend support in reducing environmental impacts, water use, carbon emissions, and waste minimisation, whilst also improving effi ciencies in process and design, and driving a more sustainable way of life for both business and society as a whole. Corporate Sustainability Lead at WSP Daniel Gribbin. Corporate Sustainability Leader at WSP in the Middle East Daniel Gribbin on recent global events and the acceleration of automation Smart sustainability begins with automation We’ve seen automation come a long way in the last decade, mainly revolving around automating services, production lines, and smart service technology, and this has been further accelerated with recent global events. The focus has shifted somewhat towards how we use these large pools of data to en- able self-propelled processes which drive more informed conclusions. Secondly, we need Artifi cial Intelligence (AI) solutions applied to data in order to maximise the value of our data capital so we can adapt and make decisions that benefi t the right outcomes. The next step in the automation journey is incorporating these automations and conclusions into building design and infra- structure, which will bring about improved environmental outcomes while making sure that the buildings, assets, operations, and anything we do with technology has a posi- tive impact – not just an effi ciency gain to tick a box. Further to this, we need the ability to both analyse data, draw conclusions on specifi c indicators from this information, and then to adapt and improve processes with minimal-to-no human intervention to improve resiliency. As such, I believe the question we need to apply to any future-facing decision making is how do we build buildings that can incor- porate this technology, but also think on our behalf and be adaptable to future technolo- gies that may arise in the coming decade? What if we had a building that not only could think for itself, adapt its energy pat- terns, incorporate the most effi cient main- tenance programming and timing based on consumption, but not cost an insurmount- able amount of money to adapt when newer technologies and designs come about lev- eraging the Internet of Things and cutting- edge design? Our industry is implementing these ideas into masterplanning and new construction, but still have a long way to go. Essentially, we want to build in smart at the start so that we have more sustainable outcomes in the future. We are getting to a point now where we are starting to identify what those initial points are. It’s just a matter of building the systems, the buildings, and the technology behind it that can think and make those de- cisions on the fl y and in a split second. Daniel Gribbin says that automation has come a long way in the last decade. MEP_1507_34_FINAL WORD_11303309.indd 3429/06/2020 12:40:35 PMFOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES Anup Nagpurkar Group Sales Manager +971 4 444 3373 + 971 52 895 0931 anup.nagpurkar@itp.com FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES Tom Oxtoby Editor, +971 4 444 3419 tom.oxtoby@itp.com FOR EVENT ENQUIRIES Daniel Fewtrell Director of Awards & Marketing +971 4 444 3684 daniel.fewtrell@itp.com FOR TABLE BOOKING ENQUIRIES Anthony Chandran Table Sales Executive +971 4 444 3865 anthony.chandran@itp.com Visit www.mepmiddleeast.com/awards for more information or contact one of the team today SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY Wednesday 30th September 2020 GOLD SPONSORSPLATINUM SPONSOR The MEP Middle East Awards are an opportunity to highlight the excellence in MEP design and installation underpinning those iconic projects contributing to the evolving construction landscape in the Middle East.With less space required for drainage and more added value throughout the building, Geberit SuperTube is the innovative technology for hydraulically constant column of air in the drainage pipe, meaning a separate ventilation pipe is no longer required. Additional space is also created thanks to the in length, which can be laid without a slope. www.international.geberit.com/SuperTube NEW THE SPACE GAINING SYSTEM GEBERIT SUPERTUBENext >