< PreviousALAS EMIRATES READY MIX TAKES DELIVERY OF 20 MERCEDES-BENZ AROCS MIXER TRUCKS FROM EMIRATES MOTOR COMPANY 30 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKS31 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSA las Emirates Ready Mix (Alas), a business division of Abu-Dhabi-based conglomerate Bin Fadel Holding which manufactures and supplies ready-mix and dry mix concrete and building materials, has taken delivery of 20 Mercedes-Benz Arocs mixer trucks from Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the distributor of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Abu Dhabi. Alas started its operation in the UAE in 2008 in Mafraq, Abu Dhabi, with two batching plants, 50 mixer trucks including 38 Mercedes-Benz models, 8 concrete pumps, 12 trailers, 5 cement bulker trucks, and 2 wheel loaders. During 2011–2014, the company expanded to the Western region of Abu Dhabi, erecting batching plants in Sila, Barakah, Liwa, and Madinat Zayed. In 2015, Alas acquired two more plants in Yas Island and erected four additional plants in Abu Dhabi, one each in Jebel Dannah and Riyadh City, and two plants in KIZAD. Prominent projects delivered by Alas include the Barakah Nuclear power plant; Qusawera Airbase; Al Ain Airport; residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure developments in the Western Region and Abu Dhabi. Alas is also involved in the developments on Yas Island (Yas South, Yas West, Water’s Edge, Warner Brothers projects, and others). Khalifa Port, KIZAD, Etihad Rail, and Emirates housing developments are also part of the ongoing projects of Alas. The latest acquisition of mixer trucks increases the company’s fl eet to 138 mixer trucks including 112 Mercedes-Benz models with mixer capacities ranging from 9m3 to 12m3, 34 trailers and bulkers, 24 concrete pumps and 11 wheel loaders. Alas has enjoyed a strong partnership with Mercedes-Benz and EMC since the beginning of its operations. Alas employs Mercedes-Benz trucks to perform a full range of deliveries ranging from the supply of raw materials such as aggregates, cement, water, and equipment to delivering fi nal products in the form of ready-mix, dry mix concrete, and blocks. Eng. Petr Celis, general manager of Alas Emirates Ready Mix, says: “Our Mercedes- Benz trucks help us to provide superior services with effi ciency and excellence. They are durable and reliable when it comes to transport, safety, and comfort for our manpower. The overall build quality of the trucks is excellent, which perfectly matches with the brand promise of Mercedes-Benz. Furthermore, the maintenance services are stress-free, and spare parts are readily available." It is equally important to have a dealer that can handle problems and overcome challenges. “EMC is an excellent provider of after- sales service and has never disappointed us. They have always supported us with the best technical services and availability of the full range of spare parts. Even if there is any issue unrelated to the truck chassis, EMC steps in and solves the problem. Qualities such as these make EMC our preferred supplier,” says Celis. Emirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles (EMC CV), a member of Al Fahim Group has been the authorized general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain since 1962. From the beginning, dedicated customer service has played a major role in the company's success. EMC was also the fi rst Mercedes-Benz distributor in the Middle East to be awarded ISO Certifi cation in 1994 and is currently certifi ed to the ISO 9001:2008 standards. EMC markets, distributes and services all Mercedes- Benz vehicles, from luxury saloons to the largest trucks, and provides Mercedes-Benz qualifi ed service with high and consistent availability of genuine parts. Customer- oriented marketing programs, designed to provide comprehensive support to its loyal clientele, remain EMC's primary focus. Radim Lakomy, operations manager, Alas Emirates Ready Mix, says: “All our equipment are in a very good working condition not only because of the guaranteed life of the equipment but also our maintenance processes and operator/driver training. Training is among the core activities required to be done before handing over trucks to our drivers. We emphasize on regular training so that drivers are aware about the trucks’ driver-assist and safety features.” Alas plans to expand its operations to North Africa and enter related businesses such as manufacturing cementitious materials and blocks, logistics and transportation services in the next 2–3 years. “As a company that was established during the 2008 economic crisis, and on the basis of our growth, we remain optimistic about the future with trust in the UAE government and its leaders. We aim to remain a leading ready- mix concrete supplier in Abu Dhabi while also expanding to other markets,” says Celis. Bilal AlRibi, general manager-commercial vehicles, EMC; and Petr Celis, general manager, Alas Emirates Ready Mix. 32 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSAL FARIS GROUP INVESTS IN NEW GENERATION MERCEDES-BENZ AROCS SLT A l Faris Group has taken delivery of two new units of the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 4058 AS 6x6 SLT from Emirates Motor Company, making it the fi rst owner of the latest generation of the Arocs SLT in the MENA region. Hillary Pinto, managing director of Al Faris Group, said: “We have performed numerous heavy transport operations for abnormally sized objects for more than 25 years and it has always been our priority to provide safe, innovative, and reliable solutions for heavy lifting, heavy transport and energy projects. When it comes to heavy transportation, the Arocs SLT meets the demands and our high standards. The addition of these 2 new trucks will add value to the company and we look forward to our long-term partnership with Emirates Motor Company.” Bilal AlRibi, general manager - commercial vehicles, Emirates Motor Company, said: “Heavy duty transportation requires very high-tech equipment and uncompromising reliability, and this is precisely what the Arocs SLT delivers. We thank Al Faris Group for their confi dence in us. We are committed to providing long-term support to Al Faris Group and to contributing to their business growth. Heavy-duty tractor units like the Mercedes- Benz Arocs SLT are used in transportation of oversized, heavy-duty components or machinery. The Arocs 4058 AS 6x6 SLT is driven by Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ most powerful engine: the six-cylinder in-line OM 473 engine with 15.6 l displacement with an output of 578 hp (425 kW), off ering torque of 2,800 Nm in Euro 5 emission norm. To take to the road with transport loads of up to 250 tonnes, the truck is equipped with the automated Mercedes PowerShift 3 gearshift system and G 280 transmission with 16 gears and a fl uid coupling. The Arocs 4058 AS 6x6 SLT is equipped with the turbo retarder clutch, which increases the dynamic performance and enhanced stability of the vehicle. This feature combines a hydraulic start-up clutch and a retarder in a single component. It is compact in design, light in weight and serves as a highly eff ective permanent brake. The turbo retarder clutch allows sensitive and wear-free moving off as well as maneuvering at the very lowest speeds. A signifi cant reduction in the time required to discharge the fl uid in the turbo retarder clutch delivers faster subsequent shifting and faster acceleration. The fast build-up of torque prevents the vehicle from unintentionally rolling back when pulling away on uphill slopes. During braking, the turbo retarder clutch acts as a primary retarder with a maximum output of 350 kW (476 hp). To ease the strain on the transmission, the sum total power of the high-performance brakes on the heavy- haulage vehicle is limited to a system brake power of 720 kW (979 hp). The turbo retarder clutch is available exclusively on Mercedes- Benz trucks. The Arocs SLT is equipped with a 9 t front axle. The rear axles of the Arocs SLT take the form of extremely robust planetary axles produced in-house at Mercedes-Benz. The technology has been tried and tested in the very toughest conditions and has proven capable of mastering the heaviest transport tasks. The rear axles are designed for a technically permissible axle load of up to 16 t. The Arocs SLT comes with parabolic springs on all axles with 9 t front springs and 18 t rear springs. One of the special features of the SLT 6x6 is the power-assisted steering. This provides speed-sensitive steering power assistance and active steering return. Olaf Petersen, general manager - trucks sales, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA; Bilal AlRibi, general manager-commercial vehicles, Emirates Motor Company; Keonne Pinto, fi nance director, Al Faris Group; and Kieve Pinto, executive director, Al Faris Group. 33 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSA l Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment, part of Al Masaood Group, has sealed a contract with Gulf Ready Mix (GRM) to provide the UAE-based ready- mix company with eight units of UD Trucks’ Quester CGE 420 – 8X4 equipped with 12m3 transit mixers. The agreement is a signifi cant milestone for Al Masaood and UD Trucks, as it formally marks their strong entry into the booming local construction segment. It is also the fi rst deal by UD Trucks through its Abu Dhabi dealer - Al Masaood Group - that involves one of the toughest superstructures in construction fi eld. The Quester is the fi rst in a new generation of UD Trucks specifi cally developed for the world of heavy-duty transportation. It is designed based on the Japanese quality heritage with insights from the local markets. As a part of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s holistic solution, the division’s sales team conducted detailed studies into GRM’s technical & commercial aspects in order to provide them with the Quester units that will fully support their needs and requirements. Additionally, the division’s after-sales team has extended support to the company through training and scheduling of consistent maintenance checks for the delivered Quester units. GULF READY MIX PROCURES EIGHT UD TRUCKS QUESTER 8X4 UNITS FROM AL MASAOOD GROUP The training covered the proper care of the units to maintain their optimal condition and performance and the use of telematics system, which allows users to keep an eye on the fl eet through easy monitoring and tracking of the vehicles. Furthermore, Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s spare parts department was on hand to guarantee and secure the availability of parts, whenever and wherever they are required. Al Masaood’ s after-sales and services are renowned in the industry and are delivered in line with its commitment to enhanced customer experience and satisfaction. Mohamed El Zeftawi, general manager of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment division said: “The deal refl ects the local market’s robust trust in Al Masaood’s ability to deliver high- performing products and holistic solutions according to global standards. It confi rms our commitment at Al Masaood, together with our partners at UD Trucks, to support customers in ‘Going the Extra Mile’ as we always promise. We thank GRM for its confi dence in us and for the opportunity to provide the company with eight Quester units to support its strategic growth plans in the UAE and the region.” Mourad Hedna, president of UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa said: “Since the introduction of the New Quester reaching to 46 Ton GVW on 8X4 chassis back in 2016, we have been able to penetrate new segments that were previously only dominated by European manufacturers. The Middle East conditions are tough and very demanding with various rugged terrains and high temperatures and payloads. Consequently, before the launch of these models, we tested them in real conditions for over a year in Qatar to ensure the new trucks meet the needs of our customers. We are honored in supporting Al Masaood in delivering the eight Quester CGE 420 – 8X4 trucks to GRM.” Ahmed El Hadidy, general manager, GRM, said: “Closing the deal with Al Masaood CV&E and UD Trucks has been a positive experience for us. We have total confi dence in the capabilities of the new trucks and Al Masaood’ s continuing support. Since its establishment in 1998, GRM has been deploying the latest production technology in line with the highest quality standards. This collaboration is vital to our goal to expand our presence in the region as one of the fastest-growing providers of ready-mix concrete.” 34 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKST wo drivers from the UAE and Qatar are among the ten winners of the global UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge 2020. The winners were selected among 500 drivers, who competed in qualifying rounds held across nine countries - Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, UAE, and the Philippines. Each winner was awarded an 'Ultimate Driver' prize box and two virtual airline tickets to Japan, which will be converted to actual tickets once the pandemic subsides and standard international travel resumes. The UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge is a global driver competition that simulates a day in a truck driver's life. The challenge tests pre-inspection and driving techniques such as fuel effi ciency, safe driving and parking skills. Qualifi cation rounds are usualy held in UD Trucks' local markets, and the winners travel to take part in the global fi nal held at the UD Experience Center in the company's headquarters in Japan. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all local market winners were chosen as Ultimate Drivers, considering these drivers kept trucks moving despite the pandemic. In Abu Dhabi, Al Masaood Group organised the challenge with 40 drivers from diff erent industries. The winner was Khalid Aboud from Western Bainoona Group. In Qatar, Jaidah Heavy Equipment organised the challenge with 35 drivers from various sectors. The winner was Sameer Shah from Power Waste Management. The challenge consisted of a serious of tests, with the fi rst being a pre-inspection exam, followed by a series of parking and manoeuvrability skills tests. A theory test was conducted to examine the drivers' safety, fuel effi ciency and technical knowledge. The logistics industry remains highly competitive, making effi cient drivers an essential asset for trucking companies. The ability of the driver to maximise fuel effi ciency not only contributes to the bottom line but helps reduce emissions and environmental impacts. The UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge is a way to promote and recognise the safest and most fuel-effi cient drivers on roads today. DRIVERS FROM UAE AND QATAR AMONG TEN WINNERS OF THE UD TRUCKS EXTRA MILE CHALLENGE Khalid Aboud from Western Bainoona Group. Sameer Shah from Power Waste Management. 35 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSL ast year, during the peak of the COVID pandemic when trucks were the lifeline for every business, Al-Futtaim Hino recorded its best sales month for Hino trucks with orders exceeding 350 units. Over 60% of Hino trucks sold by Al-Futtaim in 2020 went to the F&B sector, followed by waste management and contracting. Large orders delivered during 2020–21 include 200 units to the National Food Products Company, 40 units to Cafu, and 100 units to Almarai Company. As one of the biggest benefi ciaries of the pandemic has been e-commerce, retail and logistics companies have been expanding their truck fl eets for both intercity and intracity deliveries. Similarly, more trucks have been put on the roads for transportation of medical supplies and medical waste. Ramez Hamdan, managing director – industrial equipment (FAMCO, HINO, Toyota Material Handling), Al-Futtaim Automotive, HOW AL-FUTTAIM HINO CAPTURED 40% MARKET SHARE IN THE UAE WITHIN FIVE YEARS says: “There has been a huge increase in demand for transportation of food, medical supplies and medical waste since the start of the pandemic. We focused on these niche sectors that needed trucks more than the others and mobilised our resources to deliver the number of vehicles and confi gurations they needed for such emergency situations.” Between 2015 and 2020, Al-Futtaim’s annual sales of Hino trucks in the UAE increased over 300% , increasing the Japanese brand's UAE market share from 8% to 40%. Ramez explains how this milestone was achieved through internal restructuring and talent acquisition. “Five years ago, we began shifting our focus from operating individual branches to centralising our sales and aftersales operations. We divided our sales operations into zones, increased our sales staff and assigned a dedicated sales consultant and engineer for each zone. This helped our sales staff focus on only the customers in their zones due to which they have been able to dedicate more time and support for each customer. In addition, we have provided them with all the tools necessary to track data such as ROI calculations and present them eff ectively to boost customer engagement. All these eff orts have helped our sales staff tackle the market in a scientifi c manner,” says Ramez. Hino’s product range in the Middle East includes the light-duty 300 series, medium- duty 500 series and heavy-duty 700 series. Leading customers for light- and medium- duty trucks, especially refrigerated models, include FMCG, F&B, and retail companies. Heavy-duty models are more in demand in the waste management and contracting sectors. In response to demand for automatic transmission, Hino recently introduced automatic transmission to the Hino 500 36 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSSeries, Euro 3 medium-duty trucks in the Middle East. However, this medium-duty variant is not yet available in the UAE and will be introduced in 2022. “Hino has had automatic transmission for a long time in international markets, but now they are developing them specifi cally for the Middle East. However, not every customer wants or need automatic transmission. What matters more is that they have the choice of manual and automatic transmission for their specifi c applications,” says Ramez. Al-Futtaim has no plans to launch any Euro 5 model. Instead, the company is gearing up for Euro 6 trucks, which will be mandatory in the UAE by 2025, according to the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) regulations. “We will take the leap directly from Euro 4 to Euro 6 vehicles. Considering the tough fi nancial circumstances of our customers, we don’t want to add the pressure of increased costs. We could launch a Euro 5 model, but we don’t think customers are willing to bear the additional costs of diesel exhaust fl uid (AdBlue),” says Ramez. As truck fl eet owners become more price-sensitive, Al-Futtaim sees a big shift in demand from ownership to leasing. “To understand how price-conscious customers are nowadays and how much liquidity matters to them, we only need to compare the demand for leasing and purchase of trucks. Leasing companies always opt for the best, economical vehicles. To cater to this growing segment, we off er leasing options ranging from 3–7 years,” says Ramez. Another fast-growing market is used vehicles, which Al-Futtaim is preparing to enter by the end of 2021 with an e-commerce platform for ordering used vehicles and industrial equipment. “We estimate the used equipment market to grow signifi cantly, and therefore, we will be launching an e-commerce platform for used equipment this year. The platform will list 13 brands of used commercial vehicles and industrial equipment represented by Al- Futtaim as well as inspected and certifi ed by Al-Futtaim. The platform will enable buyers from anywhere in the world to view the history reports of the vehicles and equipment and place their orders or trade-in their equipment,” says Ramez. With Hino truck sales in the UAE forecasted to increase 10% in 2021, Al-Futtaim is refurbishing its 3S facility (sales, service and spare parts) for Hino trucks in Sharjah with an increased focus on its aftersales off ering. “We plan to inaugurate Hino’s 3S facility in Sharjah in June 2021. This year, we will also increase our focus on big accounts, with more attractive off ers on long-term service contracts, mobile services for truck maintenance and repair at the customer’ premises, and other aftersales off erings to help customers reduce their total cost of ownership,” says Ramez. Ramez Hamdan, managing director – industrial equipment (FAMCO, HINO, Toyota Material Handling), Al-Futtaim Automotive. 37 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 TRUCKSS ince its establishment in 2016, Torsus, the Czech-Republic-based manufacturer of heavy-duty, off -road 4x4 buses, has launched two models – the Praetorian and Terrastorm – in Euro III–VI variants. Marketing these vehicles as the 'world’s toughest off -road buses' is a bold claim, one that has caught the attention of fl eet managers and enthusiasts worldwide. Prior to entering the manufacturing business, Torsus' parent company Pulsar Expo made its mark in the vehicle conversion industry, supplying special purpose to clients such as the United Nations, Red Cross, and United States embassies. Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, CEO of Pulsar Expo and Torsus, explains the evolution of the group's business from vehicle conversion to serial production. “Having been in the bodybuilding business for several years, we were exposed to the capabilities and fl aws of converting leading OEM brands. For instance, vehicle quality and performance vary from one converter to another or even within the same converter. Also, there are severe limitations on how the design, engineering and marketing departments can collaborate. All these issues can be solved with serial production where the same stringent standards apply across the entire supply chain, from prototype to production. We also studied in detail the applications of buses and vans to understand the features that were most useful to the end-users for daily use and what signifi cant improvements we could introduce to existing vehicles. Our study revealed a gap in the market for off -road people transportation in various industries.” Initially, Torsus planned to enter the market as a reseller and went looking for a vehicle brand that would meet its internal safety and performance standards. “We couldn’t fi nd a vehicle that we could endorse as the safest or toughest off -road bus. So, we decided to build the vehicle ourselves, which led to the Torsus project and the production of our fi rst bus, the Praetorian. We were able to take such a decision because of our extensive engineering and vehicle conversion experience,” says Vakhtang. The Praetorian was initially developed for the mining and oil and gas industries to transport workers. Since then, the applications of the bus have been extended to emergency services, law enforcement, expedition, and tourism. As customers began to adopt the Praetorian, they also demanded new variants. “So far, we have delivered the Praetorian to customers in all the continents. During one of our customer feedback interactions with a mining company, we were told that the Pretorian was ideal for their off -road transportation but the passenger capacity was more that their requirement. Following similar requests from other customers, we realised there’s a need for a smaller and more accessible vehicle but with the same off -road capabilities of the Praetorian. Some customers also wanted a smaller vehicle that could be operated without a heavy vehicle license or additional training. This led to the development of the Terrastorm,” says Vakhtang. Torsus opted to partner with MAN and its parent company Volkswagen for chassis and powertrain technology as well as vehicle servicing for customers. “On the basis of our experience, MAN off ers the best combination of quality, price, service and support for the products, international distribution and service. Our agreement allows Praetorian and Terrastorm owners worldwide to service their vehicles at the nearest MAN or Volkswagen service centre,” says Vakhtang. Torsus’ global footprint includes a purpose- built factory in Slovakia and offi ces in Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey. Sales channels for Torsus’ vehicles include direct to consumer and international distributors. “We accept online orders and ship our FROM VEHICLE CONVERSION TO SERIAL PRODUCTION: TORSUS EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT 38 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 BUSES Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, CEO, Torsus. vehicles to customers anywhere in the world. The lead time for online orders ranges from three to nine months for production and delivery, depending on the specifi cations. As we expand globally, our business model will require contract manufacturing plants in diff erent parts of the world,” says Vakhtang. Having appointed distributors in Australia and Chile, Torsus is preparing for market entry in the Middle East and Africa and is in advanced talks with several prospective distributors in the region. “Our strategy is to set up a global distribution and dealer network like any other automotive company. We are in talks with several distributors worldwide, and we will be announcing a partner in the Middle East soon,” says Vakhtang. Bus 4x4 Group, the distributor of Torsus in Australia, is a specialist bus bodybuilder and 4x4 conversion company that off ers AWD conversion kits for the Toyota Hiace and Toyota Coaster and also builds bus bodies on the Iveco Daily 4×4 cab chassis. Adding Torsus to Bus 4x4 Group’s off ering is more complementary than competitive, according to Vakhtang. “We have to look at this partnership from the perspective of whether Torsus has competitors. We don’t think the Preatorian or Terrastorm has any competitor in their categories. Our vehicles have a unique proposition when considering the combination of their off -road features, production quality, service and price. As an OEM, we do not compete with vehicle conversion companies; instead, we can learn from each other,” says Vakhtang. Torsus intends to retain the manufacturing of 4x4 heavy-duty, off -road vehicles as its core business. The next step in its product development is the introduction of electric variants for the Praetorian and Terrastorm. “We are not limited to manufacturing buses, but we would like to maintain the same form factor while broadening the applications of our vehicles, which now include mobile services, extreme sports, adventure tourism, and recreation. We get requests for 6x6 and 8x8 confi gurations from time to time, but the demand is not enough for us to mass produce such vehicles and their benefi ts are marginal compared to 4x4 confi gurations for our target markets. We have been receiving requests for electric buses from ecotourism companies, and therefore, we’ve started the development process to launch electric drivetrains for the Praetorian and Terrastorm buses,” says Vakhtang. The Torsus Praetorian. The Torsus Terrastorm. 39 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2021 BUSESNext >