Construction Material Chemical Industries (CMCI) is looking to double its exports in the coming years and, towards this end, the Dammam-based construction chemicals specialist intends to launch a production facility in Bahrain shortly.

While the long-anticipated publication of the revised UAE Life and Fire Safety Code last year focused attention on cladding and other building materials, there is also a need to consider interior details that can have a dramatic impact on the safety of building occupants.

Advancements in technology and innovative building materials have opened a new era in building construction where architects are challenged to offer out-of-the-box creative designs and engineers defy gravity by constructing sky-reaching towers.

In the middle of the desert in Sharjah, UAE, German formwork specialist Peri is lending its support for the construction of a futuristic building designed by the late Zaha Hadid, who used sand dunes as an inspiration for the landmark.

Star Cement, a Dubai-based premium quality cement and clinker manufacturer, has made a significant turnaround in its machinery downtime and increased output since it switched from mild steel to Hardox Wear Plate steel grades manufactured by Swedish steel giant SSAB. The decision has helped decrease downtime by nearly 45 per cent.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has won an award for the revolutionary design of its fully-electric compact excavator prototype, which delivers zero emissions, 10 times higher efficiency, 10 times lower noise levels and reduced total cost of ownership.