Caterpillar 2012 Annual Report Download - page 7

Features 7
2012 Year in Review
ROCK SOLID
Saudi Arabia’s typical harsh desert conditions are occasionally
interrupted by sudden, torrential rainfall that usually results in
serious flooding. For the town of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-
largest city, the problem is an outdated sewer and drainage
system that cannot handle large water volumes in downpours,
according to Caterpillar Industry Sales Manager Maarten
de Haas. In 2009 and 2011, the city experienced devastating
floods that destroyed businesses, left roads submerged and
killed nearly 500 people.
This recurring devastation prompted the Saudi government to develop
a permanent solution for the water drainage problem — a $171 million
citywide stormwater, flood-control and wastewater infrastructure
improvement program. The program calls for the construction of five dams,
the expansion of existing stormwater canals in northern, southern and
eastern Jeddah, and the construction of a new canal adjacent to a major,
international airport. The new system will allow water to be collected
in dams and then channeled underneath and around the city to the
sea to prevent future flooding in the city.
At the heart of this long-awaited resolution are Cat® machines. More
than 100 Cat machines will support this much-needed project, working
around the clock to complete it in less than eight months.
“We are using Cat machines because they have the best up time and
best productivity,” said Caterpillar customer and Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Saudi Pan Kingdom Company (SAPAC) Shaikh Sulaiman
Al-Harbi, one of the major contractors on the project. “Our main challenge
for this project is its short time frame, so we wanted to ensure we were
dealing with reliable machines, as well as working with a dealer with
a good reputation that could support our project needs.”
Al-Harbi said the aftersales support provided by Cat® dealer Zahid Tractor
was a major factor in their decision to use Cat machines. Throughout
the project, Zahid has provided unmatched support, parts and service
support, as well as weekly operator training and demonstrator visits.
The Jeddah stormwater and drainage program is just one of many
projects improving the infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The country has
infrastructure development and improvement projects under way
at all levels. In 2012 alone, nearly $25 billion was budgeted for
infrastructure development.
For instance, the Saudi Railway Organization awarded Caterpillar
customer Saad Al Mobty & Partners a $1.7 billion-plus contract for
the construction of a bypass to move its existing railway from the city
center of Al-Hofuf. The new railway will reduce the amount of traffic
in the city significantly, while improving its current railway system.
“We consider Cat® products to be the best brand with the best value and
quality worldwide,” said Majed Al Mobty of the Mobty Company, who
is using Cat® equipment exclusively for this job. “The machines offer the
best productivity and best product support with the least running cost.”
Mobty has more than 100 Cat machines on the job site, in addition to
three Cat® generators. The machines are working in harsh conditions,
cutting nearly 10 million cubic meters of limestone and filling 8 million
cubic meters of desert sand, while constructing nine bridges and 3,000
meters of pipeline protection. Zahid Tractor has provided two qualified
technicians to remain on site to perform warranty repairs and preventive
maintenance throughout the duration of the project, as well as a certified
demonstrator to train operators on site.
The nearly $200 million USD (SR 750M) project began in April 2011 and is
estimated to take three years to complete. To date, more than 35 percent
of the project is already complete.
Rock Solid Potential
DEVELOPMENT
IN THE DESERT
Saudi Arabia invests millions in
infrastructure improvement.