Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

Update

01 October 2012

Kingspan to acquire two companies

KINGSPAN, a global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope systems, has agreed to acquire Rigidal Industries, a leading Dubai-based manufacturer of composite panels and roofing systems which had sales of $39 million in the year to June 30, 2012. The consideration, on a debt free cash free basis, is $38.6 million of which $30 million is payable in cash on completion of the acquisition, which is subject to local approval.

Separately, the UK-based firm has also entered into an agreement with ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe to acquire ThyssenKrupp Construction Group, a European insulated panels business, for €65 million ($83 million).

Kingspan CEO Gene Murtagh commented: “These acquisitions are an exciting development for Kingspan. The ThyssenKrupp business will transform our mainland Europe insulated panels market presence in a region where market penetration is growing, rooted in the need for more energy-efficient buildings. The Rigidal Industries business is an excellent platform to develop our existing business and market presence in the Gulf region where demand is growing. These acquisitions represent another step in furthering the group’s global presence and route to market.”

SAS supplies ceilings to Adnec tower

SAS International has supplied acoustic suspended metal ceilings to the new 24-storey International Tower, the first office building completed at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) in Abu Dhabi.

This will enable the developer to rent the floors that have been fitted out as ready-to-lease space with ceilings, raised floors and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services and allows tenants to move into the office immediately without incurring any fit-out costs. This commercial site has been developed in line with the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) rating system.

Era Technology opens new office

ERA Technology, a provider of specialist technical consultancy services, has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, in order to further support the needs of its fast growing customer base in the GCC countries and the wider Middle Eastern region.

ERA also expects the new office to add value to its operations, ensuring functional safety, resilience and efficiency of their capital assets and systems.

Albert Richardson, who has been appointed as general manager of the Abu Dhabi office, said: “After more than 25 years of project experience in the region, working with numerous high-profile organisations across the energy, infrastructure and aerospace sectors, ERA understands the value of providing ‘on the ground’ expertise to support the needs of the local market.”

Aquascapes wins new projects

AQUASCAPES, the swimming pools design and construction division of UAE-based Belhasa Projects, has won new projects in Iraq and Maldives.

In Erbil, Iraq, the company has won contracts for landscape design of a luxury villa and a hotel.

Aquascapes general manager Malay Shah said: “We are excited to enter the landscape design market in Iraq which has strong growth potential for us.”

The company won a swimming pool refurbishment project for a prestigious hotel in Maldives.

Bin Shafar ... a sign of economy rebound.

District cooling ‘gaining ground’

EMIRATES Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, said that consumption of district cooling provided by the company rose by 23.2 per cent in July 2012, compared to the same period last year.

The company also reported that its total square footage committed to district cooling has achieved a remarkable increase.

Empower CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar said that the increase reflects the economy rebound in the UAE and this increase in district cooling consumption came as a result of Empower’s higher occupancy rate that reached 16.1 per cent in Jumeirah Beach Residence, Al Khail Gate, Dubai International Financial Centre and Tecom C.

Moreover, the company is serving new buildings in Business Bay and Ghoroub Mirdif. Empower is also operating new plants in Business Bay and Dubai Academic City.

Trained construction experts ‘a must’

ADVANCED Construction Technology Services (Acts), a consulting organisation in the field of construction materials and geotechnical engineering, has stressed on the importance of having highly trained construction professionals, especially at a time when the UAE’s construction sector is seeing steady recovery after the slowdown in recent years.

Acts recently provided three American Concrete Institute (ACI) certification programmes for the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) in Abu Dhabi, complementing the similar training it has offered to major regional organisations such as Transgulf Readymix Concrete, Al Falah Ready Mix Concrete, Ready Mix Beton, and Etisalat in Dubai; Qatar Building Company (QBC), Al Jaber Trading and Contracting, Green Point Ready Mix Concrete, Qatar Alpha Beton, and Geotechnical Group company in Qatar; and Fosroc, Saudi Binladin, Sodamco, BASF, and Saudi Ready Mix in Saudi Arabia.

Acts is the local sponsoring group of ACI for its certification programmes in the Middle East.