Construction site safety tops agenda at Saudi conference

Experts to discuss bringing modern safety and training standard to the Middle East at Saudi Cranes and PMV Show

Damman, KSA- April 28^th 2008: Issues surrounding training and safety standards, construction industry regulation and new equipment technology will be tackled by industry experts at the Saudi Cranes Conference and PMV Show, organised by ITP Events, on April 29^th and 30^th in Dammam, on the premises of Saudi Aramco. Saudi Cranes 2008 aims to showcase leading suppliers of PMV and cranes in the Kingdom and the Middle East through regional and international speakers who will be presenting both tactical and strategic case studies.

Event director, Kimon Alexandrou said: "Saudi Arabia is the fastest growing economy in the region, and it is set to become one of the top ten global investment centre. This incredible growth is fuelling infrastructure expansion, with a number of large scale projects such as economic cities, the Saudi Land Bridge project, the Aramco total export refinery and the SABIC Kayan Petrochemicals company. Hundreds of billions of dollars will be invested in the construction and fit out of these major projects. The Saudi Cranes & PMV show is designed to discuss how these major projects impact the continued growth and expansion."

Speakers include Amer Al Sulaim, executive director, industrial services, Saudi Aramco, Hosam Hashem, chairman of the Lifting Equipment Engineering Chapter of the Saudi Council of Engineers and Mike Martens, director of operations for the US National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS). The topics will include certifying crane operators, how design impacts equipment choices now and in the future, recruitment and retention of labour, suppliers and reviews of competitive marketplaces such as India and China in comparison to the Middle East.

Also to be discussed at the conference will be how training needs to keep up with technology if a company is to get the best out of its equipment. There will also be a panel session about developments in design of mobile and crawler cranes with presentations by manufacturers Terex-Demag and Tadano.

An additional highlight of the event will include the unveiling of a giant 5,000 tonnes twin-boom crane, made by Abnormal Loads Engineering (ALE) in partnership with Al Suwaidi Heavy Lift. When launched, it will be the largest crane of its type in the world. The huge device has been designed to be demountable, in order that it can be moved from one site to another in a shipping container.

Other presentations on the issues surrounding crane training, safety and maintenance will come from Mammoet, TUV SUD Middle East, Modulift and many others.

ITP Conferences and Events will host the Saudi Cranes and PMV Show on the 29^th and 30^th of April 2008 at Saudi Aramco, KSA.

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About ITP
ITP publishes more magazines serving the Middle East's business and consumer markets than any other company. The group's activities include magazine publishing, Internet ventures and online publishing, contract and corporate publishing, event management and digital printing services.

For more information on the Saudi Cranes and PMV Show, please visit http://www.itp.net/events/saudicranes08

For media inquiries please contact Kimon Alexandrou on 00966 531221075 or email address kimon.alexandrou@itp.com.