EFG wins UAE’s green award
EMIRATES Float Glass (EFG), one of the UAE’s largest, integrated float glass facilities and a subsidiary of Dubai Investments (DI), has received a prestigious Environmental Performance Card from the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water in recognition of its environmentally safe production practices.

The commendation was presented to Ghassan Mashal, general manager at EFG, by Dr Rashid Ahmed Mohammed bin Fahad, UAE’s minister for environment and water, at an official ceremony. The Environmental Performance Card is an initiative designed to support the ministry’s motto ‘Towards a Green Production 2021’.

The EFG facility, which launched a unique carbon management programme early in 2012, was assessed by technical specialists from the government department. Covering all aspects of the company’s manufacturing unit, the evaluation particularly assessed the use of chemicals, disposal of industrial waste and air pollution levels, against the environmental requirements prescribed under federal law.

Al-Futtaim wins key FM contract
AL-FUTTAIM Engineering has won a multi-million-dirham facilities maintenance contract from the UAE Ministry of Education.

Under the deal, the company’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) maintenance division will undertake the maintenance of electrical, plumbing, fire-fighting, fire alarm and civil works for 72 government schools in Dubai and Sharjah.

The ministry’s new contract is in addition to its earlier agreement with Al-Futtaim Engineering to undertake maintenance of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) facilities covering 250 schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Headquartered in Dubai, Al-Futtaim Engineering has worked on some prestigious maintenance contract projects in the UAE including the Government of Sharjah, Dubai Municipality and Emirates Aluminium, amongst others.

Gulf Precast launches Iraq branch
GULF Precast has launched its first international branch in Iraq as part of its expansion in the Gulf region. This will be followed by the opening of many other branches, according to Elias Seraphim, its chief executive officer.

“Gulf Precast aims at extending its high level of expertise gained in the UAE to the neighbouring Gulf countries wishing to capitalise on the added value of precast use in terms of quality, sustainability, time and cost,” he said.

Gulf Precast have been operating in the UAE for the last 28 years, and some of its iconic projects include the Dubai Mall, the Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and high-rise towers in the Jumeirah Beach Residence complex.

HSSG secures Empower contract
EMPOWER, a leading district cooling company in the Middle East, has awarded Al Habtoor STFA Soil Group (HSSG) a contract for carrying out shoring and enabling works in its new district cooling plant in Business Bay.
The new plant is the first district cooling plant to be constructed in Dubai compliant with the new TSE and TES requirements, as per Dubai Executive Council’s directive for conserving environmental resources, including water, in providing district cooling services. Once ready, the new plant will provide 34,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR), catering to the needs of the Business Bay residents, businesses and offices.

Empower CEO Ahmed Bin Shafar said: “The execution of the contract will take three months. We are getting ready to open the tender to appoint the primary constructor to build the plant, with preference being given to local companies and those that we worked with in the past.

“The new plant will increase the production capacity of Empower by 10 per cent once it is up and running.”

Verteco system wins key approval
VERTECO’S innovative water-saving product, the waterless urinal system, has been awarded a Trustmark certification by Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) for its environmental performance and water efficiency parameters.

Launched in the UAE three years ago, the retrofit waterless urinal system has the ability to save up to 15,200 litres of water per year and has already been installed in numerous locations in Abu Dhabi, including Danat Hotels and Resorts, Le Meridien Hotel and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and other prestigious properties.

Delmatic system lights up tower
A DELMATIC lighting control system has been installed at the Princess Tower in Dubai to manage and monitor lighting throughout the public areas, using occupancy-based control to reduce energy consumption.

According to Guinness World Records, at a height of 414 m and 107 floors, the Princess Tower is the tallest residential skyscraper in the world. The Delmatic system controls the lighting using 12 modules, as well as the Delmatic Multisensor which provides very discreet presence detection. As a result, the system is able to very closely relate lighting and lighting levels to occupation and use of public areas.

Dyson launches new hand dryers
DYSON has launched a series of sleek new hand dryers in the UAE and across the globe.

Developed by a team of 125 engineers, the three new Dyson Airblade hand dryers are described as the fastest, most hygienic and sustainable way to dry hands properly. The devices to be installed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium will be the world’s first installation of such products at a sports facility.