< PreviousAL SHIRAWI ENTERPRISES (OASIS INVESTMENT GROUP) EMIRATES MOTOR COMPANY (AL FAHIM GROUP) A l Shirawi Enterprises, part of Al Shirawi Group of Companies, supplies equipment to the construction, transportation, warehousing, oil & gas, manufacturing, marine and waste management industries. Al Shirawi Enterprises is the dealer for Scania heavy commercial vehicles and luxury coaches in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and the sole distributor in the UAE of Case Construction Equipment, Case IH agricultural equipment, Still material handling equipment, Carrier transport E mirates Motor Company (EMC) is the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. EMC markets, distributes and services all Mercedes-Benz vehicles, from luxury saloons to trucks, and provides Mercedes-Benz qualifi ed service with availability of genuine parts. EMC was the fi rst Mercedes-Benz distributor in the Middle East to be awarded the ISO Certifi cation. The company’s operations in Abu Dhabi are carried out from purpose-built premises with a well-integrated network of showrooms, offi ces, part depots and workshops. Among EMC’s recent success is the opening of its refurbished Mercedes-Benz Airport Road Showroom and Service Centre in Abu Dhabi, which marked the completion of a signifi cant three-phase investment that it had undertaken for over a year. This is part of a long track record of achievements and recognitions from its principals, which has previously seen the EMC Commercial Vehicles division earn a Special Achievement Award from Daimler Commercial Vehicles at the company’s dealer conference for their “innovative power, exceptional overall performance and business excellence”. refrigeration equipment, Kirloskar power and generator sets and Scania engines. Other top-tier brands that Al Shirawi represents include Dynapac road and asphalt equipment, Boge compressed air systems and Manitou handling, lifting and earthmoving equipment. Al Shirawi Enterprises LLC was established in 1979 and two years later, in 1981, it was appointed sole distributor for Scania trucks and buses for Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The company soon established itself as a market leader in the heavy trucks sector. Amongst Mercedes-Benz general distributors in the region, EMC garnered the accolade owing to high penetration within the Abu Dhabi market and applying unique concepts for enhanced customer experiences and loyalty. EMC’s success is fuelled by its parent group, the Al Fahim Group, which is one of the UAE’s most successful family businesses. The company was founded by the late Abdul Jalil Al Fahim in 1958 and has since then continued to evolve and grow to become one of the region’s In 1994, Al Shirawi Enterprises also started distribution of Scania Industrial and Marine Engines. Based on its experience with Scania trucks and buses, this division soon found its niche in the UAE where those in the market for workboats, pleasure and patrol craft soon took notice of the Scania Marine presence. Many other milestones have since followed, including accolades from its principals for performance excellence – such as being awarded the best parts organisation in the Middle East and Africa by Case, winning the Scania Top Team Asia region title and being adjudged among the top 10 Scania teams in the world by the Swedish company at the Scania Top Team world fi nals in Sweden. Al Shirawi Enterprises owes its success to the traditional strengths of Oasis Investment Company, the holding company of the Al Shirawi Group, whose success lies in the close business association between the families of Abdulla Al Shirawi and Mohan Valrani. Their commitment has allowed the company to grow into one of the largest manufacturing, engineering, trading, marketing, distribution, contracting and service industries conglomerates in the region. leading commercial groups. With its business subsidiaries and outlets located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, the group has grown in line with the development of the UAE. It is now led by Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, as chairman of Al Fahim Family Council and Al Fahim Supervisory Board Member. The Group’s pioneering spirit has a strong thread through its corporate social responsibility programmes, which are an integral part of the organisation. DEALERS POWER LIST 30 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesAL-FUTTAIM AUTO & MACHINERY COMPANY (AL-FUTTAIM GROUP) UNITED MOTORS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT (DARWISH BIN AHMED GROUP) A l-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) delivers products and services to a diverse range of industries including the transportation, construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, warehousing and marine sectors. FAMCO supplies trucks and buses, construction equipment, storage and handling, power and industrial, marine solutions, rental and used equipment, and financial services. The company is the sole UAE distributor for Volvo trucks, buses and construction equipment, and the distributor of SDLG, Yanmar, Doosan, Himoinsa, AGG, IngersollRand, CompAir, Doosan Portable Power, Linde and Eicher. Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO) was established in the UAE in 1978. FAMCO has grown over the years to become highly respected throughout the UAE for the supply and service of heavy vehicles and machinery. It has also branched out to other GCC countries and today FAMCO covers Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, apart from the UAE. This year has been a busy and landmark one for U nited Motors & Heavy Equipment Co. LLC (UMHE) is an integral part of Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Group. A highly diversifi ed business in the region, UHME’s formation predates the formation of the UAE all the way back to 1964. The company is the exclusive dealer for MAN Trucks & Buses in the UAE, along with MAN Marine Engines, SANY construction, concreting and piling equipment, as well as Sany crawler cranes. UHME also runs the MAN ProfDrive, which provides qualifi ed advanced training for drivers, entrepreneurs, and fl eet managers. MAN offers training courses in four different subject areas: basics, economic effi ciency, safety and sector/area of application. Furthermore, other application-specifi c training courses in the area of “on-the-job training” are also available. UHME services a wide array of sectors that include infrastructure, material handling, oil fi eld, quarry and mining, air conditioning, and transportation. UHME has established spare part warehouses across strategic locations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Al Ain as well as service workshops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of environmental signifi cance is UHME’s distribution of equipment from the Wacker Neuson Group, which has FAMCO. It started with the launch of the first-ever truck range from Eicher in the UAE and the region, with the Eicher Pro 2000 Series. The successful launch reinforced the partnership between FAMCO and VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Joint Venture. In June came another path- breaking step: The launch of the first ever Volvo heavy-duty electric truck range in the UAE. FAMCO described the move as a display of its “commitment to future-forward innovation and the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 strategy”, as the company unveiled the Volvo FH Electric, which can haul up to 44 tonnes and run an impressive 300km on a full charge. Two other electric truck models, the Volvo FM Electric and Volvo FMX Electric were also added to the range in the UAE. Success soon followed with the new electric trucks, when global logistics heavyweight DHL partnered with FAMCO to power a green transition for its logistics operations in the several models of battery-powered equipment in its line-up. The range of environmentally conscious products includes 13 light equipment apparatuses to single-direction crown plate products. For larger applications, the company sells a battery- powered excavator. UHME also has a partnership with Shell for its lubricant products and solutions, catering to a diverse portfolio of industries ranging from industrial to manufacturing, oil & gas, UAE, beginning with buying the Volvo FM Electric truck in August. With a firm drive to electromobility, FAMCO is also committed to providing the latest technology solutions to its customers to improve their bottom lines, such as by operating the Volvo Uptime Center for Volvo trucks and construction equipment, to help improve efficiency and reduce downtime. construction and power. Indeed, the list of brands that UHME brings to customers is a veritable who’s who of the global equipment and machinery industry, with prominent names such as Yale & Landoll warehousing equipment, Imer access platforms, Bell articulated dump trucks, Airman generators, Generac tower lights, Sakai vibratory compactors, Astec crushers, Eaton hydraulic parts, Berco undercarriage parts Epiroc mining solutions, MRF tyres and more. DEALERS POWER LIST Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 31CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CENTRE (RTS INVESTMENTS GROUP) GALADARI TRUCKS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT (GALADARI BROTHERS) C onstruction Machinery Center (CMC) is a heavyweight in the UAE’s equipment landscape, which his amply clear when looking at the brands it represents. It is the authorised distributor of Schwing Stetter, Ammann, Sunward, Lissmac, Silla, Mecalac, Rokbak, Merlo, Chicago Pneumatic, Pramac, Pramac Lifter, Euromair, LAE, Conquip, Rockwheel and Doosan Industrial Vehicles in the UAE. Operating through three branches across the UAE, CMC supplies construction machinery, G aladari Trucks & Heavy Equipment (GTHE) supplies heavy earthmoving, construction, power systems, materials handling equipment and trucks, representing the brands Komatsu, Genie, Metso, Terex, Bomag, Dieci, Atlas Copco, Baudouin, Marini, Meka, Topcon, Epiroc, Amerex, Hensley and Sinotruk, among others. The company’s track record of excellence has seen it gather regular recognitions from many of its principals. Last year these included the top prize for Distributor Operation Development by Komatsu Middle East. GTHE also won the bronze award from aerial equipment fi rm Genie for commendable performance in improving the company’s sales. And the company’s performance has continued this year as GTHE has again fi lled its trophy cabinet with several awards, expectedly so for a company that dates back to 1976 and has always managed to maintain its leading position ever since. Sinotruk gave a special recognition award to GTHE for increasing the market share of its SITRAK brand, while the company also received the Komatsu Middle East Award for the top forklift sales in the region. A major event this year for GTHE was the concrete equipment, crushing plants, concrete batching plants, material handling equipment, oil fi eld equipment, industrial air compressors, agricultural equipment, airport equipment, power generators and more. CMC is known in the region to offer exceptional after-sales service, as well as ensure that its clients are fully trained and satisfi ed with their solutions. The company constantly strives to educate its employees and conducts training programs to learn more about the features and benefi ts of all its construction solutions. offi cial launch of the new SITRAK range in the UAE, whih took place in October at a glittering ceremony in Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Beach Hotel. With GTHE’s dedication to customers, the company has already reported an uptick in the sales of SITRAK units in the UAE. GTHE is part of the Galadari Brothers group, one of the prominent and outstanding business groups in the UAE, which was established in One of the commercial arms of the RTS Investments Group, CMC was set up in 1973. Its parent company covers many sectors of business in the Middle East and has become a leading corporation across a multitude of fi elds. Headquartered in Dubai, the Group employs around 1,600 people, and a further 25,000 people at its affi liates in the Middle East. Its diverse portfolio of companies has been integrally involved in modern landmarks and recognisable and iconic projects in the UAE and across the Middle East – and even globally in the UK, US, India and Kazakhstan. An ISO9001:2015 company, CMC was formed by Riad T. Al Sadek, a civil engineer from the American University of Beirut and a distinguished name in the Middle Eastern construction industry. Among its accomplishments has been a stellar partnership with Schwing Stetter in the UAE since 1975. Many other such long partnerships have followed with the best global brands, which have recognised CMC for its contributions to them and their customers. Among the recent such recognitions has been the distributor of the year award for Lissmac and a certifi cate of appreciation from Doosan, both in June this year. 1961 by Abdul Rahim Ebrahim Galadari and Abdul Latif Ebrahim Galadari in Dubai and today employs over 5,500 personnel from more than 30 nationalities and extends its business geography to the wider GCC region as well as Sri Lanka, India, the UK and Australia. The group’s diverse operations include the automotive, engineering, industrial, media, F&B, real estate and hospitality sectors. DEALERS POWER LIST 32 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesGENERAL NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE COMPANY (JUMA AL MAJID GROUP) MIDDLE EAST CRANE EQUIPMENT TRADING A l-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) delivers products and services to a diverse range of industries including the transportation, construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, warehousing and marine sectors. FAMCO supplies trucks and buses, construction equipment, storage and handling, power and industrial, marine solutions, rental and used equipment, and fi nancial services. The company is the sole UAE distributor for Volvo trucks, buses and construction equipment, and the distributor of SDLG, Yanmar, Doosan, Himoinsa, AGG, IngersollRand, CompAir, Doosan Portable Power, Linde and Eicher. Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO) was established in the UAE in 1978. FAMCO has grown over the years to become highly respected throughout the UAE for the supply and service of heavy vehicles and machinery. It has also branched out to other GCC countries and today FAMCO covers Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, apart from the UAE. This year has been a busy and landmark one for FAMCO. It started with the launch of the fi rst- ever truck range from Eicher in the UAE and the M iddle East Crane Equipment Trading (MECET), a member of Belgium- based Luyckx Group, is the offi cial distributor for Hitachi construction machinery and HSC Cranes in the UAE. The company has its head offi ce in Abu Dhabi and operates from Dubai. With the know-how and expertise of its parent company Luyckx, MECET has become a specialist in the distribution and servicing of machinery for civil engineering and material handling. Luyckx has been known as a specialist in the distribution and servicing of machinery for civil engineering, material handling and agricultural applications. The company holds all necessary licenses to work locally for the construction and oil & gas industries and also for companies specialised in the construction of artifi cial islands. MECET not only provides the entire range of Hitachi equipment available in the UAE but also supplies HSC crawler cranes to the entire region. It also offers customers the facility to tailor their equipment to their needs and requirements through the Luyckx Special Applications division. An offshoot of its association with the Luyckx Group, this facility takes advantage of the fact that Luyckx does not only supply new machines, region, with the Eicher Pro 2000 Series. The successful launch reinforced the partnership between FAMCO and VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Joint Venture. In June came another path- breaking step: The launch of the fi rst ever Volvo heavy-duty electric truck range in the UAE. FAMCO described the move as a display of its “commitment to future-forward innovation and the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 strategy”, as the company unveiled the Volvo FH Electric, which can haul up to 44 tonnes and run an impressive 300km on a full charge. Two other electric truck models, the Volvo FM Electric and Volvo FMX Electric were also added to the range in the UAE. Success soon followed with the new electric trucks, when global logistics heavyweight DHL partnered with FAMCO to power a green transition for its logistics operations in the UAE, beginning with buying the Volvo FM Electric it also modifi es them to meet specifi c customer needs. To do so, there is an in-house construction department, supported by an engineering team. Together they stand for substantial modifi cations, with years of know-how and experience going hand in hand with new technologies. The experts at Luyckx design and build super-long fronts for excavators with work distances of up to 36 metres and adapt excavators and dipper dredgers of 200 tonnes and heavier for offshore works. This year, MECET has brought the fi rst unit of the new Hitachi ZW370-5A wheeled loader to truck in August. With a fi rm drive to electromobility, FAMCO is also committed to providing the latest technology solutions to its customers to improve their bottom lines, such as by operating the Volvo Uptime Center for Volvo trucks and construction equipment, to help improve effi ciency and reduce downtime. the UAE, the keys to which were handed over to Wim Aernouts, Managing Director, MECET, at a ceremony in Hitachi’s Dubai premises in late summer. This made it the fi rst time any dealer in the region had received Hitachi’s new loader. MECET treats service and parts as essential to forging true customer relationships. It has an extensive spare parts warehouse, supported by modern software that enables fi nding and delivering specifi c spare parts fast. It also provides customers 24/7 help online on the Middle East Crane Online Webshop, keeping delivery delays to an absolute minimum. DEALERS POWER LIST Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 33SWAIDAN TRADING (AL NABOODAH GROUP) SAEED MOHAMMED AL GHANDI & SONS (AL GHANDI AUTO GROUP) S waidan Trading, a company of the Al Naboodah Group (ANG), oversees the Commercial Vehicles and Heavy Equipment (CVHE) divisions with a business model that offers pluralistic mobility solutions in the passenger and logistics industry. Swaidan Trading’s products encompass a range of logistics solutions from vans to customised buses, and a comprehensive range of commercial vehicles and heavy equipment. The company represents a vast array of major brands from all over the globe, with some of the most notable ones being Peugeot, DAF Trucks, Ashok Leyland, Sennebogen, Terex, Kaiser compressors, VDL, Sacme, Clark forklift, Hubtex, Zhongtong Bus, VDL, Sunwin, Optare, Maxus, Goodyear, BKT and several others. Swaidan Trading is also an expert in vehicle body customisation and fabrication in the UAE, with clients ranging from Dubai’s RTA and Dubai Taxi Corporation to MOHRE (Taw- seel) and leading supermarket chains. The company’s expert team of designers assists customers in converting their concepts to reality by creating designs that incorporate S aeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons is a major distributor comprising 13 companies operating in the region. It is the distributor of IVECO, Kohler Power Systems and Marine, Golden Dragon buses, Osmosea marine and commercial water makers, and Climma marine air conditioners. It is also well-known in the UAE as the dealer of Chevrolet and Fiat vehicles. The company was established in 1972, and it credits its success to the quality of its team. Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi fi rst acquired the IVECO franchise more than 25 years ago. Among the group’s several divisions, Al Ghandi Auto and National Auto deal with Chevrolet and Fiat vehicles respectively, while Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons (SMAG) is the heavy commercial vehicles and machinery arm, with brands such as IVECO and Kohler in its stable. The group’s Tamam arm does vehicle testing while its Parts and Accessories division deals with genuine parts from top brands such as ACDelco for the vehicles it sells. According to Mark Jenkins, CEO, Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons, SMAG and its “unparalleled suite of offerings, products, all requirements that their customers may have. The body customisation is done by well trained and experienced technicians using high quality materials. Strict quality inspection services and support have provided many opportunities for different clientele for over 60 years”. The company had a three-pronged strategy in 2023, he said. The fi rst was to constantly innovate and test new technologies to help streamline operations and enhance effi ciencies, is carried out at each stage of the process by engineers and QC teams to ensure perfection and durability of the customisation. Swaidan Trading’s efforts have not gone unrecognised by its partners. The company is a recipient of the ‘Distributor of the Year’ award from Ashok Leyland, whom they have represented exclusively in the UAE since 1984. On winning, Swaidan Al Naboodah, Al Naboodah Group’s Manging Director, noted that its CVHE division continually focuses on gains in effi ciency and agility that can positively contribute to the institutions that are counted by the organisation as its customers. Swaidan Trading has handed over the keys to a whopping 1,400 Ashok Leyland school buses to various private and government schools in the UAE last year. The company has also recently introduced the Peugeot Landtrek pick-up truck in the UAE, which has succeeded in capturing the imagination of the market in a short span of time. Among other recent developments, Swaidan Trading has also presented the UAE market with the Zhongtong buses range, including luxury, mini and school buses. thus enabling the company to maintain suffi cient stock availability to meet customer expectations. The second was diversifi cation, to be agile and adapt innovative technologies and alternatives to traditional methodologies. And, thirdly, to continuously enhance services to address customer requirements. The company is also a conscientious adopter of the best sustainability practices – which has been among the highlights of 2023. Cognizant of the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategy initiative, and at a time when the COP28 comes to Dubai, Al Ghandi Auto recently installed two innovative hydrogen gensets in order to provide environmentally friendly power to the electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations in the company’s stockyard. Al Ghandi Auto estimates that using the two hydrogen gensets instead of diesel generators will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 30 tons per year, which is equivalent to planting 1,300 trees. The company said this aligns perfectly with its commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts and promoting sustainable practices – and is only the beginning of its green initiatives. DEALERS POWER LIST 34 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesN FT Specialized in Tower Cranes is the sole distributor of Manitowoc Potain, GJJ/ Orbit and Pega in the region, and is a home-grown company with a huge global footprint. NFT is well known for distributing some of the highest tower cranes in the world. In addition, the company specialises in passenger and material hoists, and other construction equipment such as crawler cranes, placing booms, concrete pumps and aerial work platforms. With headquarters in Abu Dhabi, NFT is operational in 32 countries worldwide and provides crane signboard production, technical support, maintenance and training services. In recent years, NFT has seen its business grow beyond the Middle East and is currently also located in Asia, Europe, Africa and most recently North America. From humble beginnings over 35 years ago, today the NFT team comprises more than 1,000 qualifi ed technicians and employees, based all over the world. Its fl eet is permanently growing and counts now more than 2,000 tower cranes, more than 500 hoists and a complete available stock of spare parts. NFT’s strength is being able to supply cranes or equipment to any construction project or take up any technical challenge. Its product portfolio includes small self-erecting cranes (700kg capacity/26m) as well as much bigger slewing cranes like the impressive Potain MD 3200 able to carry up to 80 tons. Similarly, hoist models range from 1-4 ton lifting capacity and are offered with variable speeds ranging from 36m/minute to the world’s fastest PEGA hoist with a speed of 120m/minute 3.2 ton lifting capacity. M ineral Circles Bearings (MCB) has established itself as a leading provider of automotive and industrial maintenance, repair and operations, representing aftermarket products from brands such as NTN, SNR, MBS, ILJIN, KBC, Musashi, MCB and SKF in the Middle East and Africa. With 35 years of market intelligence acquired through brand distributorship in the region, MCB’s multinational workforce continuously adapts to the Industry 4.0 era in order to provide seamless customer service to clients worldwide. Among the business expansion steps taken by MCB in recent times is signing a memorandum of understanding with GMB, one of the largest global manufacturers of OE and aftermarket automotive products, appointing them as the offi cial distributer for their products. While this happened at Automechanika Dubai 2022, MCB also had a fruitful Automechanika 2023. The company is increasingly focusing on electric vehicles and is bringing in components and parts for EVs as the automotive landscape changes and EV adoption increases. In the EV segment, MCB represents such leading brands as NTN Europe, which provides bearings, chassis and drivetrain components for EVs as well as advanced sensor technologies. MOHAMMED ABDULRAHMAN AL-BAHAR MINERAL CIRCLES BEARINGS NFT SPECIALIZED IN TOWER CRANES M ohammed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar specialises in equipment and solutions for earthmoving, building and construction, mining, road-making, demolition, waste and scrap handling, electric power generation and marine propulsion solutions. Headquartered in Sharjah, Al-Bahar has an employee strength of 2800 people spread across all its functional branches in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, territories in which it is the representative of Caterpillar’s Cat® and SEM brands of machinery and equipment. As the authorised dealer of Cat® and SEM, its products include wheeled loaders, soil compactors, excavators, motor graders, track-type tractors, landfi ll compactors, and various other models of construction machinery, compact equipment and mining and quarrying equipment. For more than 80 years, Al-Bahar has proved to be one of the most trusted equipment trading companies in the Middle Eastern region. As the authorised Cat products dealer, Al-Bahar offers an extensive range of new, rental and used products. It’s broad product portfolio covers not only construction and mining, but also power generation and materials handling equipment. Al-Bahar provides comprehensive support solutions comprising Cat® Connect technology solutions, parts and services across a myriad of industries. The company backs its customers with comprehensive after-sales service facilities and workshops as well as an extensive stock of available spare parts. Caterpillar’s SEM brand is among the more recent additions to the Al-Bahar portfolio, available across a few of its locations. Al-Bahar also represents Konecranes, Unicarriers, SKF bearings, Oshkosh airport products, Newland telescopic and extendable truck loading and unloading conveyor belts and Bronto Skylift aerial ladder platforms and hydraulic platforms. The telehandler, access and handling equipment brand Magni is the new member of the Al-Bahar stable. Al-Bahar now offers a comprehensive line-up of Magni telehandlers to go along with its extensive equipment portfolio. Al-Bahar also has an extensive rental equipment fl eet comprising various units of Cat and SEM models for a multitude of projects and tasks. Moreover, it sells a wide range of used machinery and generators that is rigorously tested to ensure they are up to the job with all Cat-branded used equipment covered under the Caterpillar warranty for Powertrain and hydraulics From three to 12 months. DEALERS POWER LIST Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 35W ith sustainability the talk of the town at the moment, the Mining Show 2023, which took place at the Festival Arena in Dubai on November 21 and 22, could not have escaped a deep dive into how the world of mining and quarrying could be made cleaner and better. Commencing its proceedings on Tuesday, November 21 morning, other subjects under focus at the event were pivotal themes of innovation and automation within the dynamic mining industry. The inaugural address was delivered by Saif Ghubash, assistant undersecretary for petroleum, gas and minerala sector at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. He underscored the UAE's strategic position for catalysing industry transformation and said the region has potential to pioneer advanced technologies on a global scale. Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Mansouri, the director of weapons and explosives at the UAE's Ministry of Interior, echoed the signifi cance of innovation as a crucial imperative for the industry. Emphasizing the continuous need for evolution, he anticipated further advancements in the UAE in this domain. The event featured compelling panel sessions, including a discussion on Mining 4.0. One of the sessions, titled "Mining 4.0 and the impact of new technologies: exploring global strategies and opportunities to incorporate technology in mining", saw experts delve into the interplay between energy transition, mineral deposits and the infl uence of metal refi ning technology on mining. The session also saw Errol Smart, CEO and managing director of Australian fi rm Orion Minerals, give a presentation. Smart elaborated on the historical context of refi nery locations being tied to abundant coal or gas sources, highlighting the challenges posed by evolving, high-tech processes and their energy requirements. He also underscored the pivotal role of smelters and refi ners in determining industry dynamics and pricing. "Historically, refi neries have been located where there is a lot of coal or a lot of gas. And as they become more and more high tech, to get suffi cient energy to drive those old pyrometallurgical plants is a challenge. Secondly, those plants produce massive amounts of waste. So the whole mining industry is really a price taker. The smelters determine price. So your payability of the mining industry is actually determined by the smelters and refi ners. They set the rules of the game," Smart said. Another panel scrutinised the integration of data and digital technologies in UAE quarrying to enhance safety and effi ciency in drilling and blasting. Mark Roberts, the drill & blast manager at Stevin Rock, underscored their unwavering commitment to safety, detailing the utilisation of drones for daily surveys and photogrammetry software to craft 3D blast designs. He also highlighted the incorporation of GPS surveys for precise design accuracy, emphasizing the potential for technology to drive faster and more sustainable growth for companies. "We always focus on safety as our number one priority. For example, we have permission to fl y drones on a daily basis to produce the survey, where we can have photogrammetry software to design 3D designs for the blast design,” Roberts said. “Secondly, inside the blast design, you can even drill optimisation as well where you can transfer the data from the drill rig back into the software on before into the drill rig, so you can have a drill fan. This way, we can actually drill the layout. Using GPS surveys also improves the accuracy of your design." Some of the big exhibitors at the show included ABB, Siemens’ Innomotics, Dassault Systems, MCI, Dynaset, and India’s Ministry of Mines. The biggest participation, however, came from China. Zhao Jianhua, Marketing Offi cer, Sinorock, a manufacturer of large diameter SDA bolts and other rock bolting systems, said the event was a good one for his company and gave it valuable exposure to the Middle East market. “We have several enquiries about our duplex coating rock bolt and stainless steel self-drilling anchor bolt. Vinnie Hao, Overseas Sales Manager at China’s Sundrill, said: “The Middle East is becoming a hotbed of mining and quarrying, especially places like Saudi. In this scenario, this becomes a very appropriate market for our drilling equipment. We were happy at the response from the region at the show.” THE MINING SHOW: DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS AND NEW TECH SHOW REPORT 36 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesYour biggest source of industry insights SUBSCRIBE HERE EDITORIAL INQUIRIES e: editorial@industrymena.com SALES INQUIRIES e: sales@industrymena.com ENERGY AVIATION CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGYDEFENCEEMBRACING THE DIGITAL QUARRY: VOLVO UNLOCKS EFFICIENCY, SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY DIGITALISATION 38 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles Andrey Komov, Head of Productivity for Region International at Volvo Construction Equipment, explains how digitalisation holds enormous potential to help quarries boost their competitiveness, while a tailored, partnership-led approach is key to unlocking benefits practically and affordably Real-time monitoring of machines and operator behaviour allows for spotting deviations that lead to downtime, and implement safety measures. Andrey Komov, Head of Productivity for Region International at Volvo CE, says a customer reduced costs by 18% per tonne with digitalisation. I n production applications, such as quarries, that involve repetitive jobs and moving large amounts of materials, failing to adopt a digital transformation strategy can have severe repercussions. Even small effi ciency gains per tonne moved can add up to signifi cant savings over time, improving competitiveness and the bottom line, but these opportunities can be diffi cult to detect with traditional methods. And that’s not the only benefi t. Real-time monitoring of machines and operator behaviour enables quarry managers to spot deviations that could lead to downtime and proactively implement safety measures to prevent accidents. Meanwhile, reduced administration and paperwork empowers workers to focus on more critical tasks, leading to increased productivity, and makes the quarry a more appealing workplace, helping to attract skilled workers in a competitive labour market. Digitalisation is not a cure-all solution, however, rather a tool that must be used in the right way and for the right purposes. Every customer has unique challenges and objectives, and we encourage them not to face them alone. Instead, let’s work together in partnership. We listen to customers carefully and take them through a four-step process – Insight, Analyse, Improve and Sustain – to develop a tailored programme that will help achieve sustainable improvements to their operations. This programme will involve various services according to the specifi c results customers are looking for, and in cases where we do not have a ready-made solution, we see it as an opportunity to brainstorm and develop a custom approach. PLUG AND PLAY’ WITH AFFORDABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS That does not mean it has to be expensive, however. There is a misconception that digitalisation is only affordable for those who can put a six or seven- digit budget behind it, but we are challenging and changing this paradigm. The fact that our solutions are subscription based allows customers to start with any budget without the need for huge upfront investments. Indeed, we would recommend that customers start small and make adjustments on the go, rather than trying to make the perfect plan for digitalisation and never taking action. To make it even easier for quarry operators, we have developed solutions that are brand agnostic. In other words, they allow customers to ‘plug and play’ with any machine, but naturally with wider functionality when integrated into a Volvo machine via our Co-Pilot platform. We are constantly learning with our customers, and our list of solutions will continue to grow over time. Performance Indicator visualises operations on clear dashboards to be forewarned of any production or operational issues and make timely, data-driven decisions. So far, the positive feedback has been a great source of motivation for us. One customer, who adopted our Performance Indicator and Connected Map technologies, reported saving four hours per week on reduced administration time. This translates to 208 hours per year or 26 working days of management time. CUSTOMERS REPORT POSITIVE RESULTS Meanwhile, several customers who have implemented our Connected Map technology have reported increased operator awareness of vehicle traffi c fl ow. Operators can now slow down when they see a line forming to be loaded by an excavator, instead of rushing to the spot and waiting. This, combined with speed zone implementation, has led to a positive effect on fuel consumption. Obviously, the best results can be achieved by suffi cient on-site connectivity. Furthermore, by conducting site optimisation work, we can analyse cycle data from a customer’s operations and help them identify improvement potential. In one instance, we noted a long wait time for truck loading and dumping. Further investigation revealed that the wheel loader operator was not working effi ciently, causing loading to take an excessive amount of time. By creating a digital twin of the site, we were able to analyse the impact of process changes and concluded that the customer could reduce cost per tonne by 18% with minor changes in their cycle time. Operator training from Volvo was recommended as one of the next steps. Your competitors will inevitably join this transformation sooner or later, if they haven’t already. Starting early may present challenges, but being late could be devastating for your business. We are eager to assist you in this journey as it aligns with our purpose of making this world a better place to live in. By collaborating with our customers, we can increase their effi ciency and contribute to society’s sustainable development by reducing the carbon footprint and improving resource utilisation – always with people’s health, safety, and well-being at the forefront of our actions. This is why we drive innovation and work closely with our customers to create a world that is cleaner, safer, and more connected, every day. DIGITALISATION Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 39Next >