Gulf Construction Online

The Big 5

Surging ahead

01 October 2015

Power management company Eaton is making its debut at The Big 5 show next month (November) where it will set up a unique experience centre to bring its solutions to life in an ‘as-live’ working environment, according to Frank Ackland, general manager of Eaton Middle East.

“This aims to highlight products in their own right, as well as the way in which each fit together to provide resilient, reliable and efficient energy solutions across the complete commercial construction journey,” he says.

Eaton’s presence at The Big 5 is very much focused on its growing presence within the commercial construction market.

Ackland continues: “This is the first time Eaton is participating at The Big 5. Building and construction has become a growing market for us across the region and we anticipate this will continue into 2016. We see the event as an excellent opportunity to tell our story, specifically in the commercial construction industry, where we offer a portfolio covering both low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear, wiring and accessories, lighting, emergency lighting and evacuation as well as home automation and control solutions.

Founded in 1900 in the US, the company has evolved through acquisition and intelligent market decisions to become the power management expert it is today. Eaton has been operating in the Middle East for more than four decades, contributing to the development of the region’s infrastructure with power management solutions that include legacy brands Westinghouse, Bill, MEM, Cutler-Hammer, Powerware and Moeller.

In November 2013, Eaton opened its new regional headquarters at Techno Park in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. The company today employs more than 300 people in 15 offices across the Middle East, with numerous manufacturing and sales offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Muscat (Oman), Cairo (Egypt), Dammam and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), Manama (Bahrain), Kuwait City, Amman (Jordan) and Beirut (Lebanon).

With approximately 102,000 employees and sales in 2014 of $22.6 billion, Eaton is a power management company, primarily functioning in the distribution of electrical and fluid power.

“We help customers to manage power across a range of segments, including providing holistic solutions for the commercial construction industry,” says Ackland.

Eaton’s innovative technologies help customers manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power safely and efficiently. In addition, these power management technologies are designed to support customers manage costs and energy demand competently and reliably.

“The company helps customers do more with less energy. With more than 10,000 patents, we are focused on developing innovative technologies to solve our customers’ toughest power management challenges,” he adds.

With manufacturing facilities in Dubai and Dammam, Eaton also works with its global specialists in order to provide the most technologically advanced solutions to customers across the region, with on-the-ground experts to offer support on additional requirements and post-installation expertise.

Commenting on business, he says: “Eaton has had a good year in the Middle East, specifically in the power distribution segment. We have a strong network of channel partners, distributors and panel builders across the region, which are core to the growth of our business. We are positive about 2016 – although realistic as the decline and instability in oil prices continue to bring a more conservative view to 2016.

“We have continued to grow in the Middle East in 2015, despite challenging global market conditions. We are focused on a number of strong initiatives and as a company that is wholly specialised in power management solutions we are confident in the expertise and experience in the market,” he says.

Eaton has increased its footprint in the Middle East significantly over the past few years with the acquisition of Cooper Industries in 2012 and the opening of the new regional headquarters as well as a manufacturing plant in Dubai. Eaton assembles low- and medium-voltage switchboards and control panels at the Dubai Techno Park facility. This includes key processes such as design, assembly, supply and commissioning of low- and medium-voltage switchboards and control panels.

In addition, it recently opened a new component assembly centre (CAC) in Dubai, aligned with its strategy to reduce lead time and improve customer intimacy. The CAC is expected to reduce product lead time to customer by eight weeks and upgrades and enhances the capacity of Eaton products to market (up to 400 breakers per month) and enables operating systems to include test data management (TDM). The manufacturing facility plans to add fire pump controllers to its production line this month (October).

Future plans

Eaton has a number of plans for expansion and growth for the coming year. These aim to provide a greater local offering to customers as well as further cement the company’s position as a leading player in the power management industry across the region.

“Main markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar we anticipate will soften slightly as economic conditions fluctuate globally. The price of oil will naturally also affect market conditions. However, 2015 has still seen billion-dollar projects being announced. With Expo 2020, the 2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar and the Middle East being one of the largest regions globally in the move towards urbanisation, we are optimistic that opportunities in the construction industry will continue into 2016,” Ackland concludes.

The company will be exhibiting at Stand OS60 at The Big 5.