Company showcases its partners at manufacturer symposium in Abu Dhabi

Leminar in May conducted a manufacturer symposium in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of showcasing its business partners to key decisionmakers in the capital city. Among those present were Rheem, IQ Air, Casals and Weicco.

Navin Valrani makes a point during his opening speech. To his left are the representatives from Casals, Weicco and Rheem

In an introductory presentation, Navin Valrani of Leminar said the company represented a number of HVAC brands and that they were leaders in their respective fields. Most of the brands, Valrani added, counted Leminar as their largest representative in the globe. For instance, Leminar is Rheem’s largest seller outside the United States. Likewise, the company is the largest Kimmco customer in the world, Valrani further added.

During his presentation, Valrani said he was proud to announce that the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence had just that day given its approval to Casals and Twin City smoke and heat fans and to Weicco’s firefighting pipe hangers.

In his presentation, Valrani also revealed Leminar’s growth plans. He said that Oman was in the cards in 2010 for a Leminar presence and that the company was looking to open into one country every year.

Following Valrani’s speech, representatives from each of the partners made a presentation. Going up first, Samer Tulimat of Rheem spoke on global warming and about how CO2 was the main culprit. “Four-fifth of the carbon dioxide is created by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, through vehicular emissions and from running our industries,” Tulimat said. “In that context, it is important to develop more efficient power plants, focus on alternative energy and, equally important, focus on reducing power consumption.” The last can be achieved through efficient cooling technologies.

Rheem, Tulimat said in his presentation, had started manufacturing high-efficiency units, from 13 SEER to 18 SEER. “And now since R22 is being phased out, we have converted to R407A,” he added.

Rheem, Tulimat further added, was the first manufacturer to introduce 13 SEER with R410A and T3 compressor. This unit, Tulimat said, was highly durable across all temperatures and was able to work at even 52ºC.

Tulimat’s colleague, Harish Kapadia spoke after him. Kapadia, an executive director with Rheem, said that the company had successfully applied Rheem units in highrise buildings in the UAE. To date, Kapadia said, there were over 300,000 units operating in the UAE. Besides dischargecondensing units, the company’s offerings in the UAE included floor-standing AHUs and double-skin AHU, Kapadia said.

Going into specifics, Kapadia said that Rheem had successfully implemented in Sharjah the company’s oil separator technology as a solution for a challenge relating to high-rise structures. Thanks to the technology, Kapadia said, it was possible to separate the oil from the refrigerant that came out of the discharge and to send hot pure refrigerant back. Owing to this, the compressor life is enhanced, Kapadia said. “Following the success in Sharjah, we want to replicate this in Abu Dhabi,” Kapadia said. “We are in touch with contractors, and we want to install it in Abu Dhabi. We are here to serve them in all kinds of difficult installations in high-rise buildings in an economical manner.”

Following his presentation, Rajeev Mehra of Weicco gave a detailed profile of the company.

Saying that Weicco boasted of the largest range of accessories for mechanical systems in the world, Mehra added that the company has installed its products in over a 1,000 projects in the GCC alone.

Mehra said Weicco was robust, because it had completely internalised the production of the complete chain of products in its factory in northern India. Be it product design, die-making or surface finishing, Weicco was able to accomplish them in-house, Mehra said. Owing to this approach, the company had total control over quality, he added.

Further to production, Weicco carried out rigorous testing procedures. “We carry out 100% outgoing testing for many products,” Mehra said. “All products are subjected to hydrostatic pressure testing and X-Ray welding inspection.”

In his presentation, Mehra then listed out various Weicco products, like rubber support inserts, insulation protection saddles, engineered spring supports, vibration isolators and seismic restraints, cased spring mounts, open spring mounts, thrust restraints, spring hangers and inertia base frames. These, he said, incorporated design features, which enhanced the quality of installation.

A key strength of Weicco as a company, Mehra said, was the technical support it provided to its customers, which, he claimed, was beyond industry norms. Typically, Mehra added, technical support included off-site meetings with customers and interaction with product designers to offer customised solutions.

After Mehra, Santiago Hernandez of Casals made a presentation on behalf of the Spain-headquartered fan manufacturer. Saying that the company had earned ISO 9001: 2008, Hernandez added that Casals stood for systematic work, planning, documentation and innovation. The company’s manufacturing process, he added, included sheet metal laser cutting, moulding, stamping, spot welding, TIC welding, epoxy powder paintwork, final assembly and verification. Every fan, Hernandez said, was tested for operational performance in an in-site laboratory.

During his presentation, Hernandez said that Casals enjoyed a 16% market share in the UAE, with its products installed in Emirates Cement Plant in Ras Al Khaimah, Rashid hospital and at the Dubai Investments Park, among other sites.

Hernandez’s colleague, Arnau Tinto, also spoke during the symposium, choosing to focus on specific Casals products. Tinto said that Casals had been collaborating with Leminar for four years and that Leminar was responsible for new variations of fans. “Our company has delivered hundreds of special models adapted to its customers’ needs,” Tinto said. “The Direct Drive Twin Box is an example. We designed following a Leminar request in the UAE.”

During his presentation, Tinto revealed that Casals had more than 2,000 models for buildings and industrial ventilation. Among them were the company’s jet fans, Tinto said. “The jet fans are in Dubai but not yet popular in Abu Dhabi,” Tinto said. “Hopefully, we will have it here, as well.” 

IMEC and Pegler Yorkshire recently announced their partnership alliance for the supply of Pegler Valves to the HVAC market. The valves are made in accordance with both UK and international standards. Pegler Yorkshire, with over 100 years of manufacturing experience in the valve industry, has its factory in Doncaster, UK.

UAE to increase water desalination capacity by 76% in six years to offset future water supply issues

Yousuf Kazim

Palm Utilities has announced that it has outlined new strategies to assist in resolving the UAE’s future water challenges. According to the company, the strategies integrate the latest advances in energy utilisation, nano and molecular technologies, as well as innovative water reuse and recycling systems. This, claimed Palm Utilities, will be crucial, as it seeks to pursue various largescale water desalination and wastewater treatment and reuse projects, helping address the region’s longterm water utility issues.

The company noted that the GCC, which already accounts for more than half of the 11,000 desalination facilities worldwide, expects an eight per cent annual growth of desalination plants as water demand continues to increase sharply among Gulf countries.

Palm Utilities revealed that according to a recent study by Japanese investment bank, Nomura Securities, the UAE, which is one of the world’s largest per capita water consumers, is expected to increase desalination capacity by 76% to 14.1 million cubic metres a day by 2016. This comes as the UAE’s natural water resources are expected to shrink by 16% in the next decade.

In the light of this, Palm Utilities stated that it has consolidated its technical and manpower resources to accommodate the increasing number of projects for energy-efficient and costeffective desalination facilities in the UAE and the rest of the GCC.

Yousuf Kazim, CEO of Palm Utilities, said: “Growing population and increasing industrialisation have strained the fresh water supply levels in the Arab World – a trend that is evident in countries such as, the UAE. This has given rise to the importance of desalination as a key component in addressing the region’s long-term water challenges, resulting in several billions of dollars being invested in various desalination projects across the UAE, and in several other GCC countries. With the latest technological advances, desalination has become a truly viable long-term solution, as we are now able to produce purified water in a more energy-efficient and affordable manner.”

Atkins announces reaching milestone in Bahrain ’s first district cooling project

The Tabreed Northshore District Cooling project, for which Atkins is lead consultant and construction supervisor, announced the completion of two 87-metre micro-tunnels underneath the King Faisal Highway.

At a depth of more than 10 metres below ground, the new tunnels, claimed Atkins, were driven below the highway with zero impact on the heavy traffic above, at an average rate of close to six metres per day, using a laser guidance system. The team achieved driving tolerances within ± 20mm in each tunnel.

The parallel 900mm-diameter insulated carbon steel pipes carry district cooling water from the Diplomatic Area chiller plant to Bahrain Financial Harbour, Reef Island and other Northshore developments, the consultant revealed.

The Diplomatic Area chiller plant, which is nearing completion, has been designed to incorporate capacity for future growth, and will supply chilled water to the Bahrain World Trade Center, among other developments on the south side of King Faisal Highway, it added.

According to Atkins, the project is the first of its kind in Bahrain, and will provide a network of chilled water and cooling to Manama’s densely populated urban areas, significantly reducing the cost of providing air conditioning to offices, residential towers and shopping malls.

Using a Herrenknecht microtunnelling machine Al Husam International and Atkins undertook the project on behalf of Tabreed District Cooling.

Atkins’ Site Operations Manager, Ian Cordingley, said: “It’s not easy to drill through 86-metres of earth with such little disturbance to the surroundings. The team did a fantastic job in ensuring we deliver a chilled water network that will make the cooling of developments in Manama more economical and help in reducing Bahrain’s carbon footprint.”

It is anticipated that Tabreed’s Northshore District Cooling project will be completed this summer and will supply 22,800 metric tonnes of chilled water per day.

District cooling provider bags awards for the number of buildings committed to district cooling in 2009 and for the total building area committed to district cooling.

Qatar Cool on June 15 won a Gold Award at the International District Energy Association (IDEA) 2009 District Energy Space awards, in the Beyond North America category. The awards ceremony was part of the 101st Annual IDEA Conference & Trade Show, in Indianapolis, USA.

Qatar Cool won gold for the number of buildings committed to district energy during 2009. The district cooling provider also won a silver for the total building area committed to district energy. Qatar Cool contracted 44 new buildings in 2009, serving 11,060,237 square feet.

Fayad Khatib and Rob Thornton

Qatar Cool General Manager, Fayad Al Khatib received the awards from IDEA President, Rob Thornton.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Khatib said, “Qatar Cool is very proud to have received these awards as it is wonderful recognition of the commitment our board and staff have made to provide a quality, world-class service to our customers and the people of Qatar.”

Speaking generally about the health of the district energy industry, Thornton said that district energy system growth has been good, despite an extremely challenging global economy. “Our members reported that 95 customer buildings in North America, totaling 27,440,426 square feet of building space were committed or recommitted to district energy service during 2009. That compares with 126 buildings and 39,897,947 square feet during 2008.  Beyond North America (including the Middle East) an additional 41,113,744 square feet and 102 buildings reported for 2009, compared to the 2,815 buildings and 281,870,939 square feet during 2008.”

Earlier, on June 14, Al Khatib was part of the session, titled ‘Large Scale District Cooling Systems in Canada, the United States and Qatar’.

Al Khatib described the significant progress Qatar Cool had made in its five-year history, supporting Qatar’s infrastructure development servicing customers in West Bay and The Pearl-Qatar.

Qatar Cool will have the largest district cooling plant in the world, when its newest plant on The Pearl-Qatar is inaugurated in November 2010. That is the month in which Qatar will host the 5th International District Cooling Conference & Trade Show. To be held from November 7 to 9, in Doha, it will be the first time ever that the conference will get an airing outside the UAE. In Indianapolis, Al Khatib and Thornton on June 15 signed an agreement, formalising Qatar Cool as the host of the conference.

Later, speaking exclusively to Climate Control Middle East, Al Khatib said that the conference would be an opportunity for the region to learn – and to benefit – from the collective expertise available in the form of IDEA.

Watch this space for a detailed report on the IDEA conference in Indianapolis, with exclusive interviews with Fayad Al Khatib and Rob Thornton.

B Surendar

Two events have marked June as a special month for us at Climate Control Middle East. The first was DC Dialogue 2010, on June 2, which unexpectedly, drew quite a large number of people. I say unexpectedly, because we never intended to have an audience, considering that DC Dialogue has a roundtable format, and so in the strictest sense, is a series of closed-door sessions, each involving, say, 10 participants and a moderator. As it turned out, we had close to 70 people in attendance, and they participated as much as those at the table. For me, a highlight of the event was a clear evidence of an increase in mindshare for existing buildings. Even a year ago, at conferences in the UAE, the focus was steadfastly new construction – about hunting for projects that had somehow managed to proceed, despite everything, and about how smaller modular units could do the trick.

At Yas, though, substantial airtime went to EB. With more reasonable load profiles emerging, thanks to the chastening effect that the downturn has had, suddenly there was optimism that there was scope to erect smaller plant rooms in existing neighbourhoods. Footprint-related issues, it seemed, could be surmounted. Case-in point, the suggestion by Ken Currie of Mott MacDonald that the space at existing roundabouts could be used for the purpose of erecting smaller plant rooms, with the cooling towers positioned atop the chillers.

A key aspect that was not discussed in detail, though, was service corridors. Dubai’s services corridors in existing neighbourhoods are highly congested. Where, then, is the scope to entrench supply and return pipelines? True, a certain portion of Sheikh Zayed Road was able to accommodate a district cooling infrastructure, but Dubai’s arterial road is multilaned and nowhere as congested as Deira or Bur Dubai. It is this facility of space that has suddenly made district cooling a viable proposition for Burj Al Arab. Have I raised an issue that is worth detailed discussion? I would love to hear your thoughts.

The other event that has created quite a buzz in the newsroom is the launch of a dedicated web site for Climate Control Middle East magazine. We were so keen on a June 2 launch, to coincide with DC Dialogue, that we hurried things a bit and put it on board for you to view  – ccme.news. Having said that, any web site is a work in progress, and in the coming days and months, you will see quite a ramp up, in terms of content and in the manner in which we present the words and pictures. Happy visiting!

B Surendar

November conference will be a historic step for the region in modernising district cooling services, says Fayad Khatib, GM of Qatar Cool

Fayad Khatib, GM of Qatar Cool

Qatar Cool, the pioneers of district cooling in Qatar, have cemented their partnership with the International District Energy Association (IDEA) to hold the 5th IDEA International District Cooling Conference in Doha, in November. 

The IDEA conference, a major international event, will bring together regional and international district energy professionals and industry leaders to Doha.

The theme of the 2010 conference is ‘District Cooling: Greener Buildings, Smarter Grid’, emphasising the advantages of district cooling systems in improving end-use energy efficiency in customer buildings and reducing the economic and environmental strain on the regional power grid. This is consistent with the leadership and corporate commitment of Qatar Cool, a private sector joint venture company, and other district cooling suppliers to energy efficiency and environmental performance. This is also in line with Qatar’s 2030 National Vision and its Environmental Development programme, aimed at finding harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection.

In this context, Fayad Khatib, GM of Qatar Cool, said: “We are honoured to partner with IDEA for their first conference in Doha and their 5th in the Middle East. This partnership marks an historic step for Qatar Cool and the region, in modernising district cooling services and proving to our stakeholders that district cooling is the way forward for all future cooling needs.”

Fayad Khatib and Rob Thornton during the centennial IDEA conference in Washington DC

Added Rob Thornton, President of IDEA: “We are thrilled that Qatar Cool has chosen to partner with IDEA for this important and prestigious conference – a first in Qatar, and hopefully setting a precedent for future IDEA conferences. We owe it to each other to continue our efforts to garner meaningful consideration for district energy in new climate regulations. We see Qatar Cool as playing an important role in the Middle East with regards to this. Global investment in cleaner energy solutions continues to accelerate. As an industry, it is important that we understand and contribute to adoption of energy and climate policies that recognise the importance of and potential for district energy solutions as a near-term climate strategy.” 

Continuing on the same theme, Thornton elaborated: “With over 100 years of continuous operation, IDEA is considered a global authority in the field of district cooling. Each year, at their Annual Conference and Trade Show, IDEA recognises industry growth and leadership. Last year, at the 100th Annual IDEA Conference held in Washington DC, Qatar Cool beat fierce international competition to walk away with two prestigious awards – The Bronze Award for District Energy Space 2008 Beyond North America for Total Square Footage Committed (Worldwide) and the Silver Award for District Energy Space 2008 Beyond North America for Most Total Buildings Committed” (Worldwide).

All videos available on our YouTube channel : http://www.youtube.com/user/climatecontrolme

Session 1 : Contracting challenges: exploring new avenues for profitability

Moderator: Masood Raza, Pal Technology

Session 2 – Legal and arbitration issues in district cooling. 

Moderator: Dr Imad Al Jamal, UAE Contractors’ Association

Session 3 – Metering and billing challenges. 

Below please find updated tenders for May 2010

Below is a list of industry events happenning around the world.

June 2010

13 – 16 June 2010 — Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

IDEA 101st Annual Conference & Trade Show

To be held at the Westin Indianapolis and The Indiana Convention Center, the 101st conference has the theme, “Creating an Efficient Energy Future”. According to the organisers, The International District Energy Association, the event is expected to bring together experienced technical, operational, and business partner professionals for direct peer-to-peer exchange in a collegial atmosphere. The programme will offer a wide range of technical solutions, business strategies and important regulatory and policy updates. Attendees will hear how the industry is adapting for greater fuel flexibility, enabling a smarter electricity grid and influencing energy and climate policies favourable for district energy and combined heat and power. The conference host is Citizens Thermal Energy, which is the owner/operator of one of the largest district heating and cooling systems in North America.

Contact: Tanya Kozel
International District Energy Association
T: +1 410 518 6676
E: tanya.idea@districtenergy.org
W: www.districtenergy.org

15 – 18 June 2010 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

REVAC 2010

To be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, REVAC 2010 is supported by the Malaysian Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (MACRA). According to a statement by the organizers, over 10,000 visitors, including manufacturers, distributors, M&E engineers, consultants, contractors, architects, specifiers, developers, maintenance managers and facilities managers form the South East Asia and Middle East regions are expected to attend this year. REVAC 2010 will be held concurrently with the Regional Refrigeration, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Conference and the REVAC Technology Symposium.

Contact: Michelle Ha
AMB Exhibitions Sdn Bhd
Suite 1701, 17th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza)
6, Jalan Kampar (off Jalan Tun Razak)
50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
T: +603 4045 4993
F: +603 4045 4989
E-mail: mha@ambexpo.com
W: www.revac.com

September 2010

1 – 3 September 2010 — Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

HVAC Asia 2010

HVAC Asia 2010, in its 8th staging, is an important international exhibition in South East Asia on Air-Conditioning, Heating & Ventilation, Air-Filtration & Purification Systems. The event will provide a marketplace for international manufacturers and suppliers of the HVAC industry to launch new products, reach out to buyers, appoint agents & distributors, build brand awareness and establish business networks in South East Asia’s economy.

Contact: Jennifer Chiah
Exhibitions Sales Manager
T: +65 6517 3038
M: +65 9780 7791
E: jennifer.chiah@iirx.com.sg
IIR Exhibitions (Singapore)
205 Henderson Road, #03-01
Henderson Industrial Park,
Singapore 159549
T: +65 6319 2668
F: +65 6319 2669
E-mail: hvacasia@iirx.com.sg

October 2010

13 – 15 October 2010 — Nuremberg, Germany

Chillventa 2010

Contact: NürnbergMesse GmbH
Messezentrum
D-90471 Nürnberg
T: +49 9 11 86 06 81 10
F: +49 9 11 86 06 82 47

November 2010

 11 – 14 November 2010 — SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines

HVAC/R Philippines 2010

The 13th HVAC/R Philippines 2010 will focus on all the sectors related to heating, ventilating, airconditioning, refrigerating, pumps, valves & pipes, filtration and purification technology. The show will bring together major suppliers of HVAC, refrigeration and pumps & valves industries from all over the world. The expo will serve as the best forum for all the visitors and exhibitors to network face to face, and to build up fresh business partners as well as renovate existing associations. HVAC/R Philippines 2010 will be a magnificent platform for all the attendees, as it will enable them to discover and attain the information of most up to date technologies and trends of the associated market.

The targeted visitors in the event include manufacturers, fabricators, importers, exporters, service providers, director of projects, department heads, buyers and related professionals. The profile for exhibits includes air-conditioning, air compressors, air filtration & purification equipment, blowers, chillers, cleaning equipment, compressors, cooling towers, automation components, chemical processing equipment, circuit breakers, engines & motors, environment protection equipment, filtration systems, hydraulic & pneumatic equipment, production facilities, check valves and cold storage facilities.

The event is being organised by the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers.

22 – 25 November 2010 — Dubai International Exhibition Centre, UAE

The Big 5 International – Building & Construction Show

The Big 5 is widely regarded as an influential building and construction show in the Middle East. It has a dedicated HVCAR section that draws the HVACR fraternity from the region.

Contact Sarah Palmer
Marketing Executive
DMG World Media Dubai Ltd
PO Box 33817, Dubai, UAE
T: +971 4 438 0355
F: +971 4 438 0356
E: SarahPalmer@dmgworldmedia.com

Please contact event organisers directly to re-confirm dates and agenda

To feature your event in these pages:
call +971 4 3756830 or
email: surendar@cpi-industry.com