The 2016 edition of The Big 5 is set to be bigger than ever before, with more exhibition space, exhibitors and products on display. In 2015, the show welcomed more than 73,000 visitors and that figure is expected to grow in 2016.
Looking at the UAE construction segment, the mid- to long-term outlook also appears positive, with investors continuing to develop large-scale projects, such as Dubai Holding’s Jumeirah Central urban mixed-use district.
Dubai’s construction industry knows no standstill, and according to the BNC report Dubai Construction Market 2016 commissioned for The Big 5, more than 3,700 projects, worth an estimated $400bn in value, are currently underway across the emirate.
The Dubai construction market is on an upward trajectory, the report shows. Although approximately 21% of projects are on hold, a large number, worth an estimated $100bn (AED367bn) in value, are equally in the advanced stages of construction.
Noteworthy high-value projects under construction include the $2.1bn Sobha Hartland Development, the $1.4bn Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences – Palm Jumeirah and the Innovation Hub PT-163 – Dubai Internet City, worth $1.2bn.
Commercial and residential units, social infrastructure, hospitality, leisure and recreation facilities, retail, religious and mixed-use developments make up approximately 77% of projects, at $320bn.
“A growing population, the tourism sector and strategic government investments like the Dubai Plan 2021 and Dubai Expo 2020 are fuelling the local construction industry,” says Josine Heijmans, event director of The Big 5.
Dubai’s population is approximately 2.46 million people today, and is expected to reach 3.4 million in 2020. The emirate is also becoming a major destination hub for international travellers. Last year, it welcomed 14.2 million overnight visitors and is on track to reach 20 million by 2020.
“This impressive increase is likely to put a strain on the city’s infrastructure, creating a need to expand its capacity,” said Heijmans.
Indeed, state planning is strongly supporting the local construction market’s growth.
The Government of Dubai has outlined an ambitious 2021 Plan, which envisions the transformation of the city into a smart and sustainable urban centre. The emirate is also getting ready to host the first World Expo in the Middle East, together with 25 million visitors — 70% of whom are expected to come from overseas. Spending on infrastructure projects related to Expo 2020 could hit $18bn, with development costs for the Dubai South Area ranging between $8.1bn and $8.7bn.
With this level of activity in the market, The Big 5 2016 is well placed to be a success as it brings together 3,000 exhibitors, their construction products and industry expertise — disseminated over dozens of seminars and workshops by industry experts — to Dubai.
While The Big 5 show is regionally touted for being the construction sector’s busiest event each year, the recent expansion of DWTC and simplification of the layout ensure that visitors will find it easier than ever before to meet the right exhibitors.
The co-hosted PMV Live offers an excellent opportunity for procurement managers to inspect equipment from 400 suppliers to the construction and heavy machinery industry from 40 different countries.
PMV-oriented visitors also have access to over 50 free CPD-certified workshops led by industry experts in their respective fields. The direct value in terms of free training provided to the construction industry over the four days will be more than $250,000.
Ford Trucks
Following the launch of the new-Ecotorq engine generation, Ford Trucks will be introducing its 2017 model-year trucks and tractors at the Big 5 Dubai exhibition.
The new series stands out for its power, efficiency and technology features, and equipped with the new Euro III Ecotorq engine will soon conquer the roads in the Middle East with the new brand slogan “Sharing the Load”.
“The new Ford Trucks series is equipped with the latest generation Ecotorq engines deliver higher performance, with power ratings from 325hp and 424hp, and up to 2,150Nm of torque, while ensuring improved fuel economy versus the previous version,” says Mustafa Caner Sinanoğlu, Middle East manager, Ford Trucks.
“The latest Ecotorq engines deliver better fuel economy than previous versions and are the most competitive in the segment, according to tests conducted by independent bodies — while increasing both the torque and power for performance in all conditions.”
The new Ford Trucks models have improved power but also braking force, with a braking system that is seven times stronger than in the previous generation. The retarder option and engine brake provide 600kW and 400kW of braking force respectively, for a total braking output of 1,000kW. With these new features, the new generation of Ford trucks provide greater reliability and safety.
In addition to the engine specifications, the new trucks are more aerodynamic in line with Ford’s ‘kinetic design’ philosophy, with a 22% improved steering angle and a one-tonne increase in payload in the transport series due to the rear hydraulic suspension system.
The new Ford models also yield savings after purchase. Maintenance costs have been reduced, while service periods have been extended to reduce the scheduled downtime and provide a further competitive advantage for Ford customers in the logistics and construction sectors.
The new Ford Trucks construction series has been upgraded from a 345hp engine to the latest 424hp Ecotorq engine — providing 55% more torque and better traction in tough conditions, such as steep or rough sites.
While climbing steep slopes, especially in earthmoving and cutting sites, the 400KW engine brake keeps the power under control, while the optional 600KW retarder option ensures that the heaviest loads can be safely carried on even the steepest slopes and hills.
The Ford Trucks automatic transmission has off-road, rocking and economy modes to enable drivers to proceed in any conditions. At the same time, the improved steering angle significantly reduces the number of manoeuvres required on confined sites.
The tractors provide 20% more torque, but also lower operation costs thanks to improved fuel consumption. Independent tests have confirmed that the fuel consumption of the 424hp engine in the 2017 series is 8.5% lower.
Elematic
Elematic, a leading manufacturer of precast concrete plants and production lines, is attending The Big 5 to show-case FloorMES E9, its new manufacturing execution system for the optimisation of hollow core slab production.
FloorMES E9 is an automated system that enhances hollow-core slab production significantly by optimising and balancing the production plan and schedules. In addition to this, the system actively monitors the work process and compares it to the original plan.
The main objectives of the system are smooth and continuous production and, as a result, low operational costs.
Jarkko Salmensivu, Elematic’s product director, notes: “An uninterrupted casting process is crucial to our customers. Accurate production and machinery data enables corrections to deviations before bottlenecks occur, while automated production, planning and monitoring routines improve productivity. This, in turn, improves business.”
Elematic developed FloorMES E9 after noticing its customers trying to carry out production planning by using stopwatches and notebooks to improve production efficiency.
FloorMES E9 remains a hands-on tool for supervising and planning precast floor production, but automates planning and analysis to eliminate needless piles of paper.
Based in Akaa, Finland, Elematic has been involved in the manufacture of precast concrete plants and production lines for more than 50 years, and has supplied its technology to 100 countries and to every continent.
The company employs roughly 230 people and generates a turnover of approximately $109m — 95% of it coming from exports.
MB Crusher
MB Crusher is a leading attachment specialist that provides materials processing equipment to the recycling, demolition, construction, landscaping and waste management industries.
It produces a complete range of crushing and screening buckets, drum-cutters and grapples for all kind of excavators and loaders.
At The Big 5 Dubai, MB will be showcasing some popular crushing and screening buckets.
Products only just unveiled at Bauma 2016 will also be displayed for the first time in the Middle East, including MB’s new hydraulic drum cutter, the MB-R800, as well as the MB-LS220 — the first screening bucket designed specifically for owners of 12t- to 35t-class loaders and backhoe loaders.
This new piece of equipment fills a gap in the market for the selection of waste material on sites where there wasn’t a solution before.
Crushing in quarries around the world has also become a key aspect of mines operation, as the sharpest operators make the most of all the available material. Today, ‘waste material’ that was once simply piled up in the quarry is fast becoming a valuable resource.
However, the need remains to obtain the desired sizes in the shortest possible time to maximise profitability per cubic metre.
As quarries often cover tricky terrain, there is utility in having equipment able to reach areas previously only accessible to excavators.
MB Crusher has developed a range of bucket crushers and screeners designed specifically for mining sites: the BF 135.8 crusher bucket suitable for 40t-class excavators; the BF 150.10, built for excavators with an operating weight of more than 70t; and the MB-S23, a super-size screening bucket that already had considerable success in quarries around the world.
The MB-S23 is, in fact, the largest screening bucket in the world and provides unparalleled screening performance, with a load capacity of 4.3m3 and a 1.490mm-deep loading basket.
MB Crusher will be present at The Big 5 located at stand OS260 in the outdoor area.
