Author: Stian Overdahl

With its huge fleet of reliable machines, Masaha Company for Rental of All Kinds of Equipment has shown its mettle on Kuwait mega-housing project Al Mutlaa, says Equipment Rental Manager Alaa Ghazaleh. Al Mutlaa Residential City in Jahra Governorate is the largest housing project in Kuwait’s history, ultimately planned to provide homes for around 400,000 citizens. Work on infrastructure – roads, utilities, schools, mosques, shops and health centres – has been underway for a number of years on the massive 100km2 site, with major works already completed, though completion of the residential stock is expected to take years more. For…

Wheeled excavators are not widely utilized in the Middle East, but they have some important benefits on jobsites, such as faster transit times and limiting surface wear, compared with tracked excavators. While wheeled excavators are widely used in markets in Europe, they’re little utilized in the Middle East, where the preference is for tracked excavators. Adrian Hall, Product Director – Heavy Products at JCB, notes that wheeled excavators are an ideal tool for truck loading in tight quarters, minimising lane closures, undercutting concrete or asphalt, patching, shoulder work, kerb and gutter repair, landscaping, spreading top soil, fine grading, laying pipe,…

State-of-the-art articulated dump trucks and rigid frame haulers can provide maximum productivity for site operators when used effectively in conjuction with operator training and service contracts, to guarantee uptime. Bell Equipment prides itself on being the producer and distributor of the widest range of articulated dump trucks (ADTs), ranging from the B18E up to the B60E. With its headquarters in South Africa and major representation around the world, including a factory in Europe and logistics centres in Europe and North America, the brand is especially strong in southern Africa, says Nick Kyriacos, ADT Product Marketing Manager at Bell Equipment. Top…

In the quarry and mining sectors, selecting the right provider for product solutions, as well as for mineral processing equipment such as washer plants, is essential for productive and reliable plants. Based in the UAE, Quarry Mining has an exceptionally broad product offering, says Managing Director Moritz Kerler. “We not only design and build crushing and screening plants but also bulk handling equipment, from conveyor systems including down-hill conveyors with power generation and seaport equipment such as ship loaders, barge loaders and port hoppers. Another field where we are active is truck- and train-loading systems for bulk solids, not to…

Tipper trailers and other transportation solutions play an important role in the construction industry for delivery of aggregates and other material. Manufacturers are focused on delivering high-quality, robust products. Having been in the UAE for more than 30 years, GORICA Group is a recognised force in the Gulf and wider Middle East. The company is ready to work with any customer, and there is no typical client, explains Domen Bockor, GM for Sales and Marketing. “We deal equally with massive companies that can buy up to 500 units, and on the other end of the spectrum a sole operator buying…

As supply chain pressures slow down the flow of new equipment, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers sees strong demand for used machinery, says Nicola Nicelli, Vice President of Sales for EMEA. The auctioneer has also entered into an agreement to acquire Euro Auctions, which should improve the available selection for customers in the Gulf and wider MEA region. The used equipment market is often a barometer for the health of the construction sector, or even the global economy. Looking back to the global financial crisis in 2008, the market weakened as contractors and fleet managers looked to dispose of excess units or…

Used machinery is becoming a more popular option for contractors, allowing them to ramp up their fleet or get machines onto the job-site fast. Priced lower than new, it expands your options without increasing the budget. Still, not all used machines on the market are equal – and buying one with a warranty provides peace of mind, explains Anas Ashour, Used Equipment Manager at Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar. As contractors look to mobilise fleets and scale up operations, used machines are a popular option, given that the business outlook remains somewhat uncertain. With lower acquisition costs, less capex is tied up…

Truck-mounted concrete pumps are among the most efficient ways to manage a concrete pour on a site, with manufacturers focused on producing machines that are reliable and easy to maintain. Wajih Eit is responsible for CIFA’s concrete equipment in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. When it comes to the business outlook, markets across the MEA region are currently a mixed bag, but there are still some deals being done, says Eit: recently the firm won a contract in Burkina Faso to supply 48m and 55m boom pumps, the largest in use in West Africa. The deal also included…

Intelligent planning and utilisation of tower cranes on a project can be an important factor in allowing work to be completed on-time or even ahead of schedule. With tower cranes the pulse of any large construction site, Middle East markets have taken a hit due to the pandemic and the resulting economic slowdown, leading to more supply than demand. “This leads to lower rates and aggressive competition. After a unique year with the pandemic, it is rumoured that the GCC will look to inject significant investments to help the economy recover. If that is the case, it will be much…

While big OEMs dominate the machinery market, when it comes to attachments many smaller companies have compelling offerings for breakers, demolition equipment and augers. The attachments market is one of the most competitive sectors in the machinery business, with in-house offerings from big-name original equipment manufacturers, attachment companies focused on niches in mining or demolition, and even small independent players. In the breakers market, South Korean companies have established a name for themselves with attractive tools that straddle the sweet spot between quality, durability and price. One of these is Bullstern, whose range includes vibro attachments such as vibro ripper…