Gulf Construction Online - Cool comfort for resort

Barr Al Jissah Resort

Genetco provided 4,800 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) for the hotels.

Cool comfort for resort

01 March 2005

General Electric and Trading Company (Genetco), which was originally contracted to supply 4,800 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) for the hotels at the Barr Al Jissah, secured a second deal at the project which entailed trouble-shooting to provide cooling for a site which was not connected to the main power supply.

While Genetco had delivered the water-cooled York chillers to the site well on schedule as per its original contract, these could not be tested and commissioned as the project site has not been connected to the country’s power grid, explains a senior engineer with the Engineering Projects and Services Division.
“To provide cooling for the facility with less-power-intensive equipment, we were called in to trouble shoot and supply, install and commission six 200-tonne air-cooled York screw chillers as a standby arrangement,” he says. “This equipment will now remain permanently on site.”
“There are not many HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) contractors in Oman who can rise to the occasion at such short notice This was a valuable service we rendered to the project and we hope it translates into further work for our various divisions as the development unfolds,” he adds “We are really proud to be associated with the project and worked with a professional team which included Turner as the project managers and a band of reputable contractors.”
Established in 1967, Genetco is one of the largest and most diversified marketing and engineering organisations in the Sultanate of Oman with a portfolio of several internationally-reputed brands.
The company’s scope of activities can be broadly classified into the following four business divisions:
• Engineering projects and services [ EPS]
• Special projects division [SP]
• Electronics and home appliances [EHA] ,and
• Business technologies and telecommunications. [BTT]
The company is now looking at making forays into the field of installation, commissioning and maintenance of lifts and escalators and medical and hospital equipment.
Genetco has extensive experience in the design, engineering, commissioning and maintenance of large turnkey projects, air-conditioning, electrical, cold rooms and commercial kitchens and laundries. It also provides total solutions in office automation and telecommunications and has the capability to manage large distribution networks.
Genetco’s flagship is the EPS division, which combines state-of-the-art technology with skilled technical personnel to offer a host of integrated services, says the spokesman. Fully equipped with in-house CAD/design rooms, computerised projects management systems and training facilities, this division is capable of handling large turnkey projects from the design to the operation and maintenance stages.
Its areas of specialisation include central air-conditioning and ventilation systems for large projects, plumbing and sanitation, electrical services, fire fighting and water and waste water treatment (plant and equipment installation).
The division – backed by a strong engineering base and a large pool of skilled technical staff - is registered as ‘excellent grade’ with the tender board and various government agencies. It represents various international brands such as: York, US (chillers, package, ductable, cassettes, and high wall split air-conditioners, air handling units and fan coil units); Mitsubishi, Japan (package and ductable air-conditioners); Sanyo, Japan (ultrasound ductable air-conditioners); Vortice, UK (fans); Nicotra, Italy (fans); and Safeair, US (explosion-proof air-conditioners).
The SP division provides total engineering solutions tailor-made to suit specific customer requirements in the fields of commercial foodservice and laundry equipment, cold storages facilities, ice cubers and flake ice machines/ice plants, bar equipment and supermarket display refrigeration.
The division also provides technical support from concept to commissioning, as well as post-commission service back-up.
The EHA division is one of the most respected distribution houses for a variety of home entertainment products and appliances from some of the most popular and trusted names in the industry, he says. The division - which handles the retail, trade and institutional business - has achieved a leadership position in the market.
The EHA division has a formidable distribution network of showrooms and dealers across the country selling to retail, trade and institutions catering to the product needs such as air-conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washers, televisions, microwaves, cameras, musical instruments and many other consumer products.
The BTT division handles sales and service of a wide range of office automation products such as copiers, facsimiles, printers, calculators and LCD projectors. It also installs customer premises telecommunications equipment, structured cabling and large infrastructure projects.
The division is also one of the largest providers of hi-end state-of-the-art electronic telecommunications solutions for hotels and large multi-locational establishments. It also carries out design and implementation of projects covering video and audio broadcast equipment, public address, sound reinforcement and conference systems.