Gulf Construction Online - 100 Potain cranes tower over kafd

Cranes & Hoists

NFT-supplied cranes at work at King Abdullah Financial District.

100 Potain cranes tower over kafd

01 August 2011

A TOTAL of 100 Potain cranes are working on Riyadh’s $10-billion King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), which is one of the largest projects currently being served by Abu Dhabi-headquartered NFT Cranes, the sole agent for Potain tower cranes from Manitowoc in the Middle East.

The project in Saudi Arabia involves the construction of 40 towers over a 1,600 sq km site.

“The cranes are working 20 hours a day, six days a week to ensure the project stays on schedule,” says Nabil Al Zahlawi, managing partner at NFT. “We have a dedicated team of engineers for this project who are supported by Manitowoc Crane Care’s local operations.”

Work on the project began in November 2008 and is expected to be completed at the end of this year. The main contractors on the project include Saudi Oger, Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Construction Establishment and El Seif Engineering Contracting Company.

Princess Nora University in Riyadh.

The cranes were supplied in batches, with the majority purchased by Saudi Binladin Group, says a spokesman for Manitowoc. Cranes were also supplied on a rental basis to the project.

The cranes on site include MD, MDT, MR and MC ranges. There are 28 seven-tonne MR 225As and 21 10-tonne MDT 208As, among others.

“Many of the cranes will eventually reach heights of 200 m and nearly all are working with their maximum jib,” says the spokesman, adding that “most of the loads range between two and three tonnes although the largest weighs up to six tonnes.”

NFT’s another recent major project was Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University, also in Saudi Arabia, to which the company supplied 180 cranes.

“Such high-profile jobs involve a lot of pressure, but our reputation and experience helps our customers meet their deadlines. Potain cranes have precise control and excellent productivity, so they get more done, even when several are positioned together,” says Al Zahlawi.

Originally established in 1980 in Saudi Arabia, NFT decided to move to the UAE in 1995 with the aim of covering more countries, according to Al Zahlawi. The company has been the main dealer for Potain for over 25 years.

The company specialises in turnkey jobs. It offers a choice of rental or sale and buyback as well as reconditioned second-hand cranes.

Its product range includes the world’s smallest to largest Potain tower cranes and the world’s fastest Pega Hoist, with a speed of 120 m per minute and capacity of 3.2 tonnes.

NFT has 650 tower cranes in the GCC, 300 more around the world and 200 hoists from GJJ/Orbit and Pega.

Commenting on business, Al Zahlawi says: “Following the recent crisis we have started expanding operations in overseas markets. We are working in the Far East, in markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also working in Central Asia and Africa.”

The company is also focusing on the oil and gas and energy sectors, where tower cranes are relatively new to the market and being used for erection and mechanical works.

NFT also started a trade-in centre for used tower cranes and offers a Potain in return. The rental market is also picking up as people are more cautious about long-term investments in the wake of the recent economic crisis, he says.

Some of the other major projects NFT has supplied to include Burj Khalifa, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Emirates Mall and Jumeirah Beach Residences in Dubai, the Reem Island Development, Adnoc headquarters and the ADIA Tower in Abu Dhabi.