Contracts and initiatives abound in region on the rebound.

More Than 500 Elevators for Azerbaijan Capital

The Lift Repair Production Association in Azerbaijan, a Middle Eastern country that borders Armenia, signed a contract with German company Wittur Holding GmbH to fulfill an order to strengthen the material and technical bases of elevators in multi- apartment buildings in the capital city of Baku, Trend News Agency reported. More than 500 elevators will be supplied to Baku based on the contract. There were 63 supplied in July and the total number is currently at 145 elevators installed. The new elevators have been equipped with electronic and power backup systems. A unified dispatch system will also be created to manage all 542 elevators from one center.

Schmersal Middle East-FZE Opens in Dubai

Eyeing the economic potential of the Middle East, K.A. Schmersal Holding GmbH & Co. KG has opened Schmersal Middle East-FZE in Dubai Silicon Oasis. The move strengthens Schmersal’s global machine-safety network, which consists of standalone companies and distributors in more than 60 countries. In addition to safety-related products, Schmersal also offers its safety-services program tec.nicum, which has a global network of TÜV Rheinland-certified engineers, in the U.A.E. Schmersal observes the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia and Qatar are lucrative markets in the Middle East, with upcoming major events such as Expo 2020 in Dubai and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar fueling significant infrastructure and hotel development. This, in turn, fuels demand for machinery and equipment. Schmersal Middle East-FZE may be contacted at FG-07-01, F Wing, DSOA HQ Building, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, U.A.E.; phone: 971 4 371-2814/371-2815; or email: info-ae@schmersal.com.

Strategic Partnership to Boost Mideast Construction Entities

Officials with the Al-Futtaim Engineering and Technologies Facilities Management division say the U.A.E.-based company has signed on as a strategic corporate partner with the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), ME Construction News reported in August. Al-Futtaim describes itself as a total solutions provider for the building industry. It specializes in elevators and escalators, as well as a range of other building systems that includes air conditioning, building products, control and life safety, facility management, mechanical-electrical- plumbing and other solutions.

“This association will give us greater access to the MEFMA’s network, conferences and provide our team access to more in-depth training to further their expertise,” said Yousef Ali Bin Zayed, general manager of the facilities management section of Al-Futtaim. “We look forward to working with them and are confident this will be a mutually beneficial relationship.” MEFMA Director Alaa AlBoali echoed that sentiment, saying, “We welcome Al-Futtaim Engineering and Technologies to the MEFMA family. It has always been our goal to grow the organization where we can all contribute to help shape a sustainable built environment that would further socioeconomic development now and for future generations.” The agreement was signed by Al-Futtaim CEO Darko Macura and AlBoali.

VT Contract for Malaysian Rail Project Slashed

A vertical-transportation (VT) contract won by elevator and escalator supplier Eita Resources Bhd of Subang Jaya, Malaysia, has been slashed by nearly two-thirds, The Edge Markets reported on August 7. The company, in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, said it had received termination of the original terms and a letter of appointment reflecting a contract worth about MYR67.5 million (US$16 million), down from the original MYR195 million (US$46.4 million), to supply elevators and escalators for the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3). EITA Elevator, a unit of the parent company, has been retained to supply, deliver, install, test and commission VT for the project, which calls for 130 escalators and 66 elevators. The contract was revised after the government decided to cut the total project by nearly half. In earlier reports, Eita Resources apparently anticipated changes to the contract, with leaders saying they felt the company was diversified enough to weather what it then noted was a government plan to postpone work and cut costs (ELEVATOR WORLD, December 2018). LRT3 runs from Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang.

Elevator Malfunction Injures Eight in Kuala Lumpur

An incident caused by an elevator malfunction at the Kerinchi People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Kuala Lumpur has brought to light issues with maintenance for local authorities. According to New Straits Times, eight people were injured when the elevator malfunctioned and “plummeted” from the fifth floor to ground level. Residents of the PPR had reportedly lodged many complaints about faulty elevators before the incident. Residents are calling for all PPR elevators to be replaced, citing their age, which exceeds 10 years.

India

Johnson Lifts Lands US$29.4 Million Order in Bengaluru

Escalator and elevator manufacturer Johnson Lifts has received a INR2.1 billion (US$29.4 million) order from the Bengaluru Metro to install 225 escalators in the upcoming Phase 2 stations, the Times of India reported. The new stations will connect the current metro network to tech hubs in the area. The project calls for 113 escalators for the 13 stations on the Byappanahalli- Whitefield line; 46 across seven stations on the Mysuru Road- Kengeri line; 26 in three stations on the Nagasandra-BIEC line; and 40 throughout the five stations on the Yelachenahalli- Anjanapura Township line.

MMRDA Marks Milestone in Metro Escalator Project

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) marked a milestone when it installed the first of 82 escalators across 13 stations along Metro Line 7 at the Bandongri station, The Hindu reported in August. The station is the first along the Dahisar-Andheri corridor to be completed and was scheduled to be inaugurated by September. Most stations along the corridor will have six escalators. MMRDA is also installing 105 escalators on Metro Line 2A. Slated for completion by mid-2020, the corridors are expected to ease traffic along the Western Railway between Dahisar and Andheri. An MMRDA spokesman said all the new units conform to European norms and “present world-class safety features.”

Kalpataru Launches Luxury Tower in Thane

Kalpataru, leading developer of premium and luxury real estate, announced it will be launching a new luxury tower called Camellia. It will be located on the 5.4-acre Kalpataru Paramount project, near Kapurbawdi, Thane, magicbricks reports. Camellia is the third tower to be launched in the project and will offer three configurations for two-bedroom luxury apartments across 33 floors. The towers will feature the “chamfered triangle” design, which is a triangle with flattened corners. This ensures each apartment has an independent view and does not look into another. Designed by Kiran Kapadia, the project will feature amenities including two clubhouses, an infinity pool, a toddler pool, a poolside cabana, a gym, a spa, a fitness center, multiple activity and game rooms, a children’s play area, a multipurpose court and a party hall.