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News in brief

01 November 2020

ODS Global wins Damac towers maintenance contract

Leading developer Damac Properties has signed up Dubai-based automation systems and connected buildings service provider ODS Global to optimise operations and maintenance across 24 of its towers in the UAE emirate.

ODS Global is a company of SB Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate with diversified investments across technology and security systems.

The project marks a major shift in the industry, from siloed and disparate vendor control to a unified OEM-led model of building operations, integrating BMS and services for several legacy brands, said a statement from ODS Global.

The complexities involved in integrating building automation, multi-proprietary vendor protocols and software licences have traditionally restricted property owners from engaging OEMs for the maintenance of building assets and systems.

However, the industry has been undergoing rapid change. And with IoT and AI developments, seamless integration and optimisation of building portfolios have emerged as the default future-ready operational model for the commercial real estate industry.

ODS Global is also in discussions with Damac Properties to upgrade the 24 towers to a connected buildings model, using IoT and AI-based solutions and the Intelligent Integrated Command and Control Centre (iICCC) offered by its group company Netix Global BV.

Penspen secures Abu Dhabi crude facilities deal

UK-based Penspen has secured a detailed engineering contract from Target Engineering Construction Company for crude receiving facilities at Jebel Dhana in Abu Dhabi.

A leading provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, Penspen says the scope of work includes the development of facilities for unloading the Upper Zakhum field and non-system crudes at Jebel Dhana from tankers.

The work will be carried out using the existing single point mooring (SPM-2), subsea pipeline, onshore pipeline and gravity pipeline to the three large tanks already in place, it states. Target Engineering Construction Company offers in-house services for major construction disciplines in onshore and offshore areas, with more than 40 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector. This contract is the second that the company has awarded to Penspen this year.

On the contract win, Executive VP (Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific Regions) Neale Carter, says: “Our MEA team has a stellar reputation of delivering work to the highest standard, and we are pleased that Penspen has been chosen for this detailed engineering contract so that we can continue to build on this.”

Alucor signs leasing agreement with Sharjah free zone

Alucor, an international engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, says it has reached an agreement with Sharjah-based Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) to lease a plot of land within the free zone.

Under the agreement, Alucor has leased 555,418 sq ft of the inner harbour quayside land in the free zone to expand its operations in the region.

Alucor was founded in the UAE and has over 30 years of experience in oil and gas, petrochemicals, ports and marine, power and water, mining and metallurgy, and infrastructure industries and market segments. It is considered one of the most reliable and experienced EPC contractors in the Middle East.

Suresh Bhatia, the chairman of Alucor, says the company was excited to set up a new facility in Hamriyah Free Zone.

“Over the last few years, we have been actively identifying the right investment opportunities to expand our business. While Alucor has several active projects presently being executed, we see the current challenging market conditions as an opportunity to further improve our infrastructure so that we can enhance our market offering and better serve our customers,” he adds.

Farnek unit unveils green FM packages for mosques

UAE-based Farnek says one of its units, Hitches & Glitches (H&G), a smart and green maintenance specialist, has launched a specialised sustainable cleaning, maintenance and repair package, especially for the UAE’s mosques.

The package also includes support to enable mosques to achieve sustainability, health and safety goals according to GBAC Star accreditation and Green Globe certification requirements.

“H&G has assembled highly trained and multi-skilled teams, that are not only fully conversant with the Islamic rules of prayer and the role that the mosque plays within their respective communities, but are also led by sustainability professionals,” says Kelvin Vargheese, the director of Hitches & Glitches. “Given the pandemic, it is essential that mosques are thoroughly sanitised ahead and after each communal prayer, particularly on Fridays.”