THIS year, more than 16 leading Austrian companies from all sectors of the construction industry will be participating in The Big 5 show, with each company looking to expand its business in this dynamic market.

According to the UAE-based Austrian Trade Commission (ATC), The Big 5 show has always been a major event for Austrian businesses looking to showcase their products and services in the construction sector.

The ATC sees the last quarter of 2010 as a turning point for the construction sector across all the countries in the GCC region, following a challenging period in 2009 and mid-2010.

In keeping with the rise in business opportunities in the construction and building industry, Austria has also managed to maintain a firm grip on the region where an estimated $915 billion worth of construction projects are expected to be undertaken over the next two years, according to Dr Wolfgang Penzias, the Austrian Trade Commissioner for the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Pakistan.

Renowned for their innovation, top-notch quality, highly-developed research and development departments, high safety norms, compliance with the best industry standards and practices, Austrian companies have a long history in being part of landmark projects in the UAE and other GCC states, he adds.

Reviewing the development of the construction industry in the GCC and Austria’s role in it, Dr Penzias says: “Several noteworthy Austrian companies are part of infrastructure-related projects planned in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, the Northern Emirates, Oman, etc. Moreover, one of the main reasons behind the sustenance of Austrian companies during the downturn was our strategy to be cost-conscious, while maintaining the high quality and standard that we have always believed in.”

Austrian companies have several noteworthy projects to their credit, including Burj Khalifa, Capital Gate and Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre in the UAE, to name a few. “These are some outstanding projects that we are proud to be associated with,” he says.

As for the export volume from Austria to the Middle East, he says: During 2009-2010, the export volume of Austria to the Middle East increased by 14.5 per cent in the construction and its allied sectors.”

One of the top companies participating in The Big 5 show is Unger Steel Group. This internationally successful Austrian group considers the event the perfect platform to showcase its wide range of projects: from small ones to total solutions for complex construction undertakings. Unger Steel Group has established a reputation for quality, customer-orientation, flexibility and adherence to time schedules.

Another Austrian company Nemetschek Engineering, a subsidiary company of Nemetschek, which develops and markets software for the construction industry, will use The Big 5 show 2011 to promote software for the precast concrete industry. One such product that it is promoting is ‘Allplan Precas’, a forward-focused software for the planning and production of prefabricated elements for construction or for floor and wall systems.

The Allplan system helps achieve consistency of data and information, which is the key to success and an important element in the reduction of costs, improvement of quality and speed of operation. “The system supports the operational processes in construction planning as no other CAD system. This represents the best basis for planning, work preparation and production for prefabricated element manufacturers,” says a spokesman for Nemetschek Engineering.
Another exhibitor Schlusselbauer will put the spotlight on its various Perfect systems. “The Perfect production system for concrete manhole bases enables the user to produce individual monolithic manhole bases significantly quicker and more economically than by traditional methods,” says a spokesman for the company, which operates worldwide, supplying plant and services for the production of concrete pipes and manhole components (manhole rings, cones and manhole bases) as well as special concrete building elements.

Another product is the Perfect Pipe, which is a new durable sewerage pipe system for trench construction and pipe driving that boasts high load-bearing capacity and long-lasting resistance to corrosion compared with conventional pipes.
Meanwhile, Heradesign, a business unit of Knauf Insulation in Austria since 2007, returns to the event with its high-class acoustic systems for ceilings and walls that are sustainable. The company has supplied its products for a number or educational, sports, offices, infrastructure, entertainment and recreational facilities.

Other Austrian companies making their presence at this year’s Big 5 event include SBM Mineral Processing, Klausner Trading International, Riccius + Schüssler, Janser, i-Tec Styria, Getzner Werkstoffe, EVG Entwicklungs- u Verwertungs, EPS soltec Solartechnik, Andritz, Sun Master Energiesysteme, AME, Fisher Maschinen-u Apparetebau, MCE Stahl and Maschinenbau, and JuA Frischeis.

Commenting on the Austrian companies participating at this year’s Big 5, the ATC’s key account marketing manager Shankar Menon says: “The Big 5 has always been heralded as the most influential event for the building and construction industry in the region and responsible for significant economic growth across the construction industry. This year Austria has over 16 companies participating in Big 5 2011.”

He continues: “Austria has always been associated with this event because of its strength in construction and building sector, and The Big 5 is the perfect platform for reinforcing its presence. Another noteworthy factor is Austria’s expertise in research and development and its status as an innovation centre coupled with its uncompromising attitude towards quality, which has also helped consolidate its position in the Middle East.”