Atlas Copco is providing portable air power for a major high-rise project in the UAE.

An Atlas Copco XA 125 portable compressor is supplying air power during construction of what is expected to be Dubai's second tallest tower.

The 21st Century Tower (Al Rastamani Building) is located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai's burgeoning financial district and on completion is expected to be the city's second tallest tower.

Currently under construction by an Arabtec/Al Rastamani Pegel joint venture, the edifice will eventually rise to a height of 275 m and comprise 54 levels.

With a footprint of 1,350 sq m, the building will primarily be given over to luxury apartments with two intermediate plant floors on the ninth and 30th levels and further plant rooms in the basement and on the roof. The roof level will also have an outdoor swimming pool and a gymnasium.

The main contractor is currently utilising an Atlas Copco XA 125 portable compressor to supply all air power for cleaning and grouting.

According to a project spokesman, the contractor previously had four portable compressors on-site, but since rebar cutting and steel work has finished, the Atlas Copco unit easily supplies all necessary air power.

The Atlas Copco XA 125 compressor is working at 7 bar (102 psig) and has an actual free air delivery of 10.4 cu m/min.

The contractor says that the Atlas Copco compressor remains on-site because of its dimensions and the site's restrictive size.

The site is close to the busy Sheikh Zayed Road and consequently space is at a premium. The Atlas Copco XA 125 has a width of 1,660 mm and a length of 3,940 mm, which is ideal for tight working conditions.

"We had four compressors on-site at one time, but the Atlas Copco unit has proven to be extremely reliable as well as the best unit for this project, because of its size," says the spokesman.

Adjacent to the tower, a nine-storey car park is also under construction. Both the tower and car-park are being constructed with poured in-situ concrete. The car-park will also have a mechanical plant room at the roof level. The tower's ground floor lobby area will have an extensive range of retail outlets, a security guard room, service areas and back-of-house facilities such as garbage disposal.

The project's architect/engineer and project manager is WS Atkins & Partners, while the Atlas Copco XA 125 portable compressor was supplied by local Atlas Copco representative INMA. Atlas Copco Airpower is a company within the Atlas Copco Group - an international group of industrial companies with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden.

Atlas Copco companies develop, manufacture, and market electric and pneumatic tools, compressed air equipment and generators, construction and mining equipment, assembly systems, and offer related service and equipment rental.