For the last 45 years, Putzmeister and German Gulf Enterprises have been the preferred partners of ready mix companies in the UAE.
Ahmad Swaid, CED divisional manager, German Gulf Enterprises, points out that Putzmeister concrete pumps have been synonymous with the growth of several companies that were established during this period.
Concrete pumps during the 1970s had a roll-fold boom because producing a Z-fold, which is more flexible on a jobsite, was too costly at the time. The BRF 1406 model was a truck mounted, concrete pump with a M 22-3 placing boom; the oil-hydraulic operated boom and concrete pumps was one of the largest of its kind during the 1970s.
In 1971, a breakthrough was made with the development of the first transfer tube-controlled piston pump. With this design, a C-shaped transfer tube slews in front of the respective pressure cylinder of the dual piston pump and produces a deflection-free connection to the subsequent delivery line. A 2.1-m piston stroke and 230-mm delivery cylinder diameter enabled Putzmeister to achieve even smoother pump delivery. Some people thought the C transfer tube looked like the trunk of an elephant. This combined with their reputation as sturdy and tough industrial machines, Putzmeister concrete pumps received the epithet ‘the elephant pump’.
Because of very difficult concrete recipes at the time and the use of crushed sand instead of rounded river sand, the robust C-valve proved to be the best system to pump concrete. For that reason, until the beginning of 2000, a large number of customers preferred the C-valve.
Gulf Concrete and Blocks, one the leading ready mix companies in Ras Al Khaimah founded in 1994, started its operations with one truck mounted pump – a 1980 model of the Putzmeister BRF 1408 – and four transit mixers. The first pump (P-01) delivered approximately 5,000 m3 per month. Four years later, in 1998, the company invested in another BRF pump, a 1982 model, which later became pump no. 13 in the fleet (P-13).
As Gulf Concrete and Blocks expanded its operations, the company’s fleet has grown to 20 truck mounted pumps and 90 transit mixers. Over 80% of the pumps are from Putzmeister. The company’s most recent investment was in 2018, in two Putzmeister BSF 56-5. 16 H LS truck mounted concrete pumps equipped with double layer pipelines and the Putzmeister Middle East kit.
Although new investments are in line with demand for larger boom pumps, Gulf Concrete and Blocks continues to use two of its older models even today – the P-01 and P-13 – for small projects such as villa construction and concrete jobs inside closed halls or hangars. Based on the age, performance record and hour meter, pumps P-01 and P-13 have delivered more than 1 million m3 to date, and Gulf Concrete and Blocks is not thinking about replacing them any time soon.
The P-01 and P-13 pumps, two of the oldest models in Gulf Concrete and Blocks’ fleet, used currently for small projects such as villa construction.
Marwan Abdel Gadri, workshop manager, Gulf Concrete and Blocks, says: “To date, we haven’t faced major repairs or breakdowns of the older Putzmeister concrete pumps, which have the same steel structure today as that when purchased. German Gulf Enterprises has always provided exceptional support whenever needed.”
Balakrishnan Kadiru, CEO, Gulf Concrete and Blocks, says: “We have an emotional bond with these machines as they have contributed to our success from our first day of operations. We conduct routine inspections, weekly, monthly, and yearly, to ensure the performance and uptime of our older pumps as they continue to work under the challenging weather conditions in the UAE.”
Paul Bruns, regional director – Middle East, presenting a congratulatory plaque to Balakrishnan Kadiru, CEO, Gulf Concrete and Blocks.
Saudi Arabia-based Al Aroba Ready Mix Company has been a Putzmeister customer since 1989 when the company invested in its first concrete pump, the Putzmeister BRF 28-3, for a Ministry of Interior project in Jizan.
Ali Al Howaizy, owner and CEO, Al Aroba Ready Mix Company, says: “We were one of the first companies that introduced concrete pumping technology in Jizan with the help of Putzmeister. We were aware about the reputation of Putzmeister as the manufacturers of the world’s best concrete pumps and so we chose to deal with Putzmeister. The Ministry of Interior project was one of the biggest projects in Jizan at the time, and therefore, it was a huge challenge for us because we had only one concrete pump and two mixers. Working closely with Putzmeister enabled us to deliver the project successfully.”
Ali Al Howaizy, owner and CEO of Al Aroba Ready Mix Company (centre) with his two sons Mohamed Ali Al Howaizy and Faris Ali Al Howaizy.
In the last three decades, Al Aroba Ready Mix has expanded its fleet to 12 Putzmeister concrete pumps, the latest being a BSF 42-5.16 HLS. The company’s first concrete pump is still in operation to this day on several small job sites.
“Of course, today’s concrete pumping jobs are larger in scale, and we use models such as the BSF 42-5.16 HLS and BSF 49-5.16 HLS when longer booms are required. However, our first concrete pump is still an integral part of our fleet. A combination of several factors including availability of spare parts and timely servicing from Putzmeister and its dealer MEDCO has kept this pump running for all these years. With such a stellar track record, I don’t think this pump will retire any time soon,” says Ali Al Howaizy.
Mohammad Sabah, sales engineer, Putzmeister Middle East presenting a congratulatory plaque to Ali Al Howaizy, owner and CEO, Al Aroba Ready Mix Company.
“Our first concrete pump has a special place in my heart as it has been a major factor in the success of our ready mix business. As our business expanded, we delivered a large number of government and private projects with Putzmeister machines which have proved to be the most reliable equipment in the market. We have always received the best technical support, service and supply of parts from Putzmeister, which is the reason we continue to trust only in Putzmeister,” says Ali Al Howaizy.
