The XA 136 air compressor ... on site.
Atlas Copco fleet tackles beach project
01 October 2009
THE recently-formed Aldar Laing O’Rourke Plant, a division of Aldar-Laing O’Rourke joint venture, has taken delivery of 60 Atlas Copco XA 136 portable air compressors to meet huge demands of contractors working on Aldar Properties’ Al Raha Beach project in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The compressors were ordered through local distributor Inma Gulf Development and Construction.
The mixed-use waterfront development stretching 11 km and covering an area of 500 hectares is being developed along the beach side of the main Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway and will provide 120,000 residential units along with eight hotels and commercial, retail and leisure developments, to house a daytime population of residents and workers of 250,000.
Aldar Laing O’Rourke Plant was formed to meet the plant rental needs of all Aldar joint venture main contractors’ partners and sub-contractors across the development – including Aldar Properties’ new headquarters.
Recognised as the first spherical building in the Middle East, the 110-m-high headquarters is predominantly located in the Al Dana Precinct, the financial and commercial ‘hub’ of Al Raha Beach. Set for completion later this year, the 23-storey building will boast a floor area of almost 82,000 sq m. By completion, the building will incorporate 57,000 tonnes of steel, 25,000 cu m of concrete and have an area of glass façade covering more than 25,000 sq m.
Throughout its construction, main contractor Aldar-Laing O’Rourke has relied on numerous Atlas Copco XA 136 compressors from Aldar Laing O’Rourke Plant rental fleet, particularly for jackhammer and breaker duties.
The XA 136 is, according to Aldar Laing O’Rourke plant manager, John McCoppin, “proving to be the ideally-sized compressor to meet daily requirements” on the project.
“Its free air delivery (fad) of 290 cu ft per min at 7 bar is the optimum rating for this type of rental use,” he says. “We have great experience with Atlas Copco compressors both in the UAE and the UK and they continue to provide reliable service.”
“Even persistent dust storms in the area and harsh temperatures at 40 deg C and above for most part of the year are not proving a deterrent. Regular blowing across the radiator and air filters to keep them clean, the compressors will run forever,” he comments.
Other developments at Al Raha Beach that are using a large number of Atlas Copco rental compressors, include Aldar-J&P joint venture’s main interchange and bridges contract.
At any one time up to a dozen Atlas Copco compressors are in use on the massive interchange crossing the new 10-lane link highway to Abu Dhabi.
Inma provides after-sales support for all the compressors with its engineers frequently visiting the site for routine checks.
