The Bertoli Group, a leading Italian industrial plant and machinery manufacturer, is to set up an assembly plant and training centre in the UAE to help capitalise on the construction boom in the Middle East.

Bertoli is among a major group of Italian companies that will use the Big 5 PMV, the new construction industry showcase event in Dubai, to capture a share of business from more than 2,100 existing and planned projects valued at $1.2 trillion in the region.
The company, which expects a big increase in Middle East sales of concrete production plant, is working with its UAE-based regional agent KF1, to finalise plans for a Dh7 million ($1.9 million) assembly plant. The facility will be built at Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone by the end of this year.
“The company is also planning to set up a centre of excellence at RAK Free Trade Zone to train Bertoli’s regional network of dealers, operators, engineers and technical staff,” says Mukhtar Ahmed, KF1’s business development manager.
The Middle East has become one of the world’s biggest market for plant, construction vehicles, machinery and equipment. Demand for construction machinery is expected to rise by up to 20 per cent over the next five years as work on more airports, ports, mega resorts, theme parks, residential and commercial cities plus man-made islands progress.
Manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to cash in, and Bertoli is among 38 Italian companies already signed up for the Big 5 PMV at Airport Expo Dubai from November 25 to 29.

Perfectly timed
For Fast Verdini, another Italian manufacturer, the launch of the exhibition is perfectly timed. While its range of more than 100 construction machinery products sell in 50 countries worldwide, the company has only recently begun operations in the Middle East market and needs help to attract buyers, says a spokesman for the company.
“Having established distributors in Libya and Yemen, we are now keen to develop the company’s regional network by appointing a representative in the UAE,” says sales director Gisella Verdini.
“This is one of the priorities behind our appearance at the Big 5 PMV which will bring manufacturers of plant, machinery, construction vehicles and equipment suppliers together with key buyers from across the region and overseas,” he adds.