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Tender Awarded For Integrated Retail, Dining And Entertainment Development In SKYCITY

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Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) recently announced that Roxy Limited, a subsidiary wholly-owned by New World Development Company Limited, has been awarded the right to develop and manage a world-class destination commercial development (Site A2 and A3, the Development) in SKYCITY at Hong Kong International Airport.

The Development is a crucial part of the overall long-term development of HKIA. The award follows an open tender exercise held earlier, which received a number of strong bids from local and international developers and retail operators.

Scheduled to be opened in phases from 2023 to 2027, the Development, adjacent to HKIA’s passenger terminals, will provide a maximum gross floor area of 350,000 square metres, with retail, dining and state-of-the-art entertainment facilities tailor-made for visitors and local residents of different ages. Under the agreement, Roxy Limited will design, construct, finance and manage the Development, which will be the largest integrated retail, dining and entertainment development in Hong Kong.

Apart from the Development, a hotel is being developed on another site of SKYCITY(Site A1a), for which Regal Hotels Group has been awarded the development and management right earlier. The new hotel is scheduled to be opened in the year 2020-2021.

SKYCITY occupies approximately 25 hectares of land and benefit from the customer base of HKIA which served 72.9 million passengers in the past year. The passenger traffic at HKIA is projected to rise to more than 100 million by 2030 with the completion of the Three-runway System. SKYCITY will also tap into the full potential brought by the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that will greatly enhance the connectivity is well-positioned to of the SKYCITY not only within Hong Kong, but also the Pearl River Delta.

Hamad International Airport Ranked 5th Best Airport In The World By Skytrax World Airport Awards 2018

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Hamad International Airport has been ranked the 5th best airport in the world at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2018, which took place during the Passenger Terminal Expo 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. HIA has also been honoured with the title of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the fourth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the third year in a row.

The award recognises HIA’s innovative facilities, five-star customer service and state-of-the-art terminal which can accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually. The terminal has been described as the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world, as well as being the most luxurious.

Commenting on the results of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport stated: “HIA sets itself apart from other airports with its optimised passenger journey, unmatched retail offering, five-star customer service, punctuality, cleanliness, iconic architecture and unique art programme, making the airport a destination on its own. These Skytrax results mark yet another milestone in HIA’s journey in solidifying its position as one of the world’s best airports. We are grateful to our passengers who gave us their trust and endorsement during the voting process.

Mr. Al Meer continued: “In spite of the challenging situation in the region, HIA succeeded in proving its resiliency by maintaining 5 Star passenger’ experience, and smooth operations.

As we are gearing up to welcome more than 50 million travellers by 2022, we will continue to invest in our facilities, services and the newest technologies to provide a world-class passenger experience.”

The Skytrax World Airport Awards are a global benchmark of airport excellence, based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and include 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product – from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.

HIA – The Gateway to Qatar and to the World
Positioned at the edge of the Arabian Gulf, Hamad International Airport’s tranquil waterside setting provides a perfect backdrop for its stylish architectural elements, underpinned by advanced airport systems in line with its ‘Smart Airport’ vision.

Operating 24/7, the airport features two runways, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and currently processes 30 million passengers per year and 360,00 aircrafts per year. With over 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, unmatched spa facilities and a collection of unique art pieces from internationally acclaimed artists, HIA is a destination on its own, designed for the modern traveller.

Singapore Solar Developer Sunseap Donates Solar Array To Green School Bali

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Green School Bali students and friends are one step closer to getting their campus off the grid, with the support of Sunseap, one of the largest clean energy solutions providers in Singapore.

Sunseap, a Singapore-based solar developer, generously donated PV solar panels that will power one of the world’s greenest maker spaces: The Green School Community Innovation Hub. The “iHub” is a green, rapid prototyping facility that is changing the face of education, and is where inspiring entrepreneurial problem solving, student ideas are incubated, tested, rethought, refined, and finally brought to life, under the guidance of the community, visiting entrepreneurs, local artisans and teachers.

Mr. Rob Khoo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Sunseap Group, said: “Sunseap is delighted to support Green School Bali in its efforts to go green. This donation is part of Sunseap’s corporate social responsibility initiative to help people in the region become more aware of the impact of their daily activities on the environment and how they can switch to renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Sunseap’s donation puts the power into the hands of young people to be the change makers they want to be. This project represents the entrepreneurial mind-set and collaborative problem solving that are the hallmarks of both Green School and Sunseap.

In combination with micro-hydro turbine on the banks of the local river, this gift of solar panels will expand an existing solar array on campus, adding another exciting element to the student-driven energy sustainability project “Operation Rain or Shine”. The ultimate goal of Operation Rain or Shine is to become a model of renewable energy production and storage for the school and local community—a showcase of resilient and reliable clean energy. The hybrid renewable energy micro-grid will now be expanded through the generous support of Sunseap.

Jan Lueder Appointed New CEO Of thyssenkrupp Regional Headquarters in APAC

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Effective April 1, 2018, Jan Lueder – CEO of the Regional Cluster Asia Pacific of the Industrial Solutions business area – will also take on the role of CEO of the Regional Headquarters Asia Pacific for thyssenkrupp. He succeeds Vivek Bhatia, who will join Industrial Solutions in a senior management role. This enables the RHQ Asia Pacific to be closer to the businesses and shows that Industrial Solutions has a key role in driving growth in Asia Pacific.

Mr. Lueder joined the thyssenkrupp Group in Singapore in August 2015 from Primetals Technologies China, where he was serving as President and CEO. Under his leadership the regional setup and impact of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions in Asia Pacific has been further developed and strengthened. Jan, who holds a master degree in electrical engineering, can build on multi-year experience in Asia in various management positions in China, Malaysia and Singapore.

John Mcaslan + Partners And Woods Bagot Are Lead Designers On Sydney’s Central Station

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John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot are the architectural partners delivering the Sydney Metro upgrade to Central Station, a key component of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.

The renewal of Australia’s biggest railway station is underway, with a recent announcement that Laing O’Rourke has won the $955 million contract for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest upgrade of Central Station, including Central Walk. The station is a key one within the $20 billion Sydney Metro project, Australia’s biggest public transport infrastructure project.

Jointly leading the multi-disciplinary, international design team are architects John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot, whose bold, can-do architecture will give the station an entirely new functional and experiential vibe.

Key heritage qualities of the 112-year-old station will be emphasised along with the introduction of new architecturally-inspiring elements as part of a scheme that amplifies Central Station as a Sydney icon. Signalling a step-change in the station’s functional, urban and cultural contributions to the city, the project will trigger much higher levels of people-movement and energy, and wider civic and commercial renewal.

The design team has impeccable credentials. Renowned UK architect John McAslan + Partners designed the highly celebrated and multi-awarded regeneration of London’s King’s Cross Station, restoring the 170-year-old station and adding a highly innovative concourse to accommodate up to 150,000 passengers per day. Woods Bagot’s exemplary transformation of Sydney’s Wynyard Walk commuter link injects civic, cultural and commercial energy by connecting Wynyard Station with Barangaroo and the waterfront.

Below ground, the atmospheric qualities of volume, surface, and natural light characterise the design scheme for the Central Station upgrade. With respect to existing hierarchies of arches and materials, the proposal has a clear relationship with Walter Vernon’s architecture of the station above. While the interfaces between old and new will be quite distinct, they will be architectural segues rather than jump-cuts.

The Central Station metro upgrade includes the main concourse, Central Walk (connecting the Sydney Metro platforms to Chalmers Street), northern concourse (interface between the new metro and the existing station) and the metro box platforms.

Central Station is the backbone of Sydney’s public transport network, with more than 250,000 people passing through the station every day. That number is forecast to grow to 450,000 in the next two decades. The Central Walk concourse will better connect customers to trains, buses, light rail and the new Sydney Metro. Features of Central Walk include:

  • A 19-metre wide tunnel from Chalmers Street, linking to new metro platforms under Central
  • New, easy access points to Sydney Trains platforms 16 to 23
  • Escalators directly to suburban platforms for the first time.

As Sydney director Domenic Alvaro explains, the project is a significant win for Woods Bagot and the result of the firm’s deliberate expansion in the Australian transport sector.

Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project. It will transform Sydney, delivering more trains and faster services for customers across the network. A new stand-alone railway network, Sydney Metro is the solution to clearing the city’s public transport bottlenecks and will deliver a quality of rail service never before seen in Australia.

Sydney Metro City & Southwest will extend metro rail between Chatswood and Bankstown, including a new crossing beneath Sydney Harbour, new railway stations in the lower North Shore and CBD, and the upgrade and conversion of the current line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

HVACR Vietnam 2018 Introduces Green Building And Energy Efficiency

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HVACR Vietnam is excited to be hosting its latest edition in Hanoi, after 11 previous editions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Local & International Exhibitors
This year, the event will also welcome international exhibitors from countries like China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA. Additionally, there will be international pavilions from China, South Korea, and Taiwan at this year’s HVACR Vietnam.

Gearing Up To Go Green
HVACR Vietnam is proud to introduce a strong green theme in this year’s exhibition, featuring collaborations with industry experts, as well as a series of complimentary professional seminars on green HVACR technologies and systems.

Mr Park Byung-Hun, Secretary General of the Korea Building Energy Management System Association (KBEMSA) which has set up a pavilion at this year’s exhibition, said: “Our association was established to contribute to the development of high efficiency and green buildings through the development of ‘building energy management technology’, which integrates construction technology, ICT technology and energy management technology, as well as systematic management of building energy facilities. HVACR Vietnam 2018 is especially important to us, given the rising global attention on energy efficiency, and the emphasis of this year’s exhibition on showcasing the related technologies.”

Complimentary Power-Packed Professional Seminars
Throughout the three-day exhibition, a series of complimentary HVACR and Green Building seminars and technical talks will be held, hosted by HVACR Vietnam organisers as well as its partners the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), and Vietnam Energy Efficiency Network (EEN-Vietnam).

New B2B Online Meeting System
As a value-add to their esteemed exhibitors and buyers, the organisers of HVACR Vietnam 2018 will be launching a B2B Online Meeting System, where both parties will be able to make appointments online before the show, and then conduct the one-to-one business meetings during the three-day show.

The exhibitors and buyers will be able to find potential clients, locate investment opportunities, forge lucrative partnerships, broaden their business network, as well as share and exchange knowledge. This complimentary service is available to buyers from Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities; the organisers now invite interested buyers to register for this service at www.hvacrseries.com/vietnam, where they will then receive a curated list of participants based on their interests and a human concierge will be available to help maximise the attendance value.

UEM Sunrise Doubles Profits In 2017 Financial Year

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UEM Sunrise Berhad announced on 28 February, 2018 its financial results for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 where total revenue recorded for the year increased to RM2903.4 million, as compared to RM1841.5 million reported for the financial year ended 31 December 2016 – an increase of approximately 58 percent.

Profit after tax and non-controlling interests for the year increased to RM280.1 million, an increase of approximately 90 percent compared to RM147.3 million for FY2016 on the back of strong revenue growth.

Property development activities contributed a total of RM2, 249.4 million, representing 77 percent of total revenue for the year – an improvement of approximately 40 percent compared to the property development revenue in FY2016 of RM1611.5 million.

Property development sales for the year was RM1491.7 million, exceeded by 24 percent than its sales target of RM1.2 billion for 2017, contributed mainly from its inventory monetisation initatives, the newly launched Solaris Parq Residences in Dutamas, followed by the company’s latest overseas venture, Mayfair in Melbourne. The company also exceeded its 2017’s Gross Development Value (“GDV”) target of RM1.7 billion with a total GDV of approximately RM2.0 billion launched for the year.

UEM Sunrise is proposing a first and final single-tier dividend of 1.0 sen per ordinary share of RM0.50 each for the financial year ended 31 December 2017. Commenting on the financial results, Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of UEM Sunrise said, “We are very pleased with our performance as we achieved record-high revenue results for FY2017 since the Company was listed in 2008. In particular, property development revenue contributed significantly to the Group revenue, charting its highest contribution driven by strong construction progress locally and internationally.”

Touching on the Company’s deliverables for 2018, he said, “We expect to complete Estuari Gardens and Denai Nusantara both in Iskandar Puteri by the second quarter of 2018. Renovations and fitting works for the 4-star Hyatt House hotel in Arcoris Mont’Kiara are progressing well with anticipation to commence operations at the end of the second quarter of 2018. In Melbourne, the first deck of our maiden project, Aurora Melbourne Central comprising 210 units from level 10 to 32, with a GDV of AUD133 million, is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018 while Conservatory, with a GDV of AUD320 million, is also on track to its completion by this year. We hope to deliver all 446 units of Conservatory to our buyers before the end of 2018.”

“We will also continue to drive the overall vibrancy of our projects in Iskandar Puteri. Besides rejuvenating waterfront development Puteri Harbour, in January this year we appointed Atkins, a world-class master planner for the development of an International Land Use Master Planning for Gerbang Nusajaya’s Transit Oriented Development (“TOD”) for the lands surrounding the Iskandar Puteri High-Speed Rail station in Gerbang Nusajaya. This will be the next growth catalyst for Iskandar Puteri. The potential spill-over benefit is immense, and we hope it will enhance the economic and social potential of Iskandar Puteri and Iskandar Malaysia as a whole.”

The Company plans to remain prudent in its targets for 2018 despite exceeding its 2017’s sales target. For 2018, UEM Sunrise’s sales target remains at RM1.2 billion.

thyssenkrupp’s TeleRetail Delivery Robot Debuts in the US

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thyssenkrupp’s TeleRetail delivery robot was among the technical innovations and vehicles presented at a US Senate Field Hearing, held on January 24th, 2018 at the Washington Auto Show 2018 in Washington D.C.

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, convened a hearing titled “Driving Automotive Innovation and Federal Policies” at the Washington Convention Center. The session focused on self-driving vehicles, and thyssenkrupp Elevator’s and TeleRetail’s groundbreaking delivery robot was named as a benchmark product.

“Fast growing American Metropolitan areas need intelligent solutions to cover the last mile in delivering spare parts to our technicians. In connection with TeleRetail we are testing autonomous vehicles to solve this growing logistical problem,” explains Ivo Siebers, Senior Vice President of Global Logistics at thyssenkrupp Elevator.

Self-driving vehicles already play a major role in the future of urban logistics – not in the shape of cars commuting people, but also in the shape of robots carrying and delivering goods. In collaboration with software developer TeleRetail, thyssenkrupp Elevator launched a pilot project in which delivery robots transport spare parts and other material to maintenance job sites. Perfect for maintaining elevators in a contemporary way, the robots represent the future of smart maintenance logistics, reinforcing thyssenkrupp Elevator’s position as a future-oriented mobility provider.

Every year, the Washington Auto Show wows audiences with its cutting-edge exhibits and advanced technologies. More than 600 new models from over 35 manufacturers impress visitors while providing a glimpse into the future of mobility. Attendees can view thyssenkrupp’s TeleRetail delivery robot at booth MTI1 right in front of saloon H.

For elevator and escalator servicing, spare parts are needed quickly and a technician either has to drive back to base in his or her service vehicle or have it delivered by a colleague. But with increased traffic clogging up city streets, the pressure on the supply chains is rapidly. “This is a major urbanisation challenge that our service technicians are already experiencing today,” continues Siebers. “With driverless delivery robots we could fill a gap and get spare parts from our warehouses to the job site faster, more efficiently and with less impact on the environment.”

The delivery robots are just 85-centimetres wide and are suitable for traveling on sidewalks, thereby avoiding road congestion. They can also reach inner-city areas where vehicular transport is limited, carrying payloads weighing up to 35 kg. Information on delivery status can be obtained quickly via an online Logistics Automation Platform. “We hope to improve our service delivery in this way,” adds Siebers.

TeleRetail is developing driverless delivery vehicles, and for thyssenkrupp Elevator they could be an optimal logistics solution for elevator servicing. The cloud-based driverless systems could form complete supply and logistics networks; a promising solution with enormous development potential.

“With our platform we want to optimise logistics by saving time and costs, and minimising space requirements, energy consumption and emissions,” says Torsten Scholl, CEO of TeleRetail Mobility Automation. “thyssenkrupp Elevator and TeleRetail are looking forward to conquering the emerging 3D logistics automation opportunities together.”

Schneider Electric Named a Leader in Facility Optimisation Software

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Schneider Electric, one of the world’s leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, recently announced that independent analyst firm Verdantix has positioned the company as a leader in its Green Quadrant Facility Optimisation Software report.

By combining benchmark data from live product demonstrations and questionnaires with an independent customer panel, this year’s report recognises a market shift. Facility administration has evolved away from the reactive state of energy management and towards facility optimisation solutions that help save money, lower risk and improve efficiency. This evolution has been powered by the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), allowing even greater connectivity between systems.

The report placed Schneider Electric in the leader quadrant by assessing its wide range of software capabilities and strategic momentum in the market for facility optimisation software. As part of its report analysis, Verdantix examined Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Building offers and noted the following strengths:

  • Energy risk and utility bill management: EcoStruxure Resource Advisor received high marks for its energy procurement and risk management capabilities.
  • Facility data capture: EcoStruxure Building Operation building management software that achieved top scores for its ability to capture facility performance data from energy meters, sensors, HVAC and lighting systems, equipment and external sources such as weather data.
  • Energy monitoring and tracking of energy management projects: EcoStruxure Building Advisor recognised for its ability to identify energy efficiency opportunities and was noted for its ability to provide insight into HVAC system poor performance and faults.

“Schneider Electric breaks away as a leader in our Facility Optimisation Software report,” said Derrek Clarke, industry analyst, Verdantix. “Firms with complex operations that seek to future-proof their building system investments should shortlist Schneider Electric among their considered vendors.”

“We are honoured that Verdantix recognises us as a leader in facility optimisation software. Their independent analysis validates the work we do to make EcoStruxure the backbone of our clients’ smart building strategies,” said Laurent Bataille, executive vice president, Eco Building, Schneider Electric. “As buildings can produce massive amounts of data, EcoStruxure Building helps clients capture and use that data to create greater efficiency, productivity and sustainability,” he added.

The Green Quadrant report provides a detailed comparison of 14 facility optimisation software applications. The report provides guidance for senior executives and decision-makers, including CFOs, heads of procurement and directors of energy, facilities and real estate. It helps those in industries such as banking, commercial real estate, healthcare, hotels and leisure, insurance, media and retail select a software supplier to assist in improving the performance of their firm’s facility operations, from the office building to the enterprise level.

YORK YZ Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller is First Performance-Optimised Chiller With New, Low-GWP Refrigerant

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Johnson Controls recently introduced the YORK® YZ Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller, the first chiller fully optimised for ultimate performance with a next generation low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant – R-1233zd(E).

Chosen for its efficiency, safety, availability, low environmental impact and cost, nonflammable R-1233zd(E) has an ultra-low GWP of 1 and is readily available from refrigerant manufacturers.

“We have long led the industry in delivering chiller innovations,” said Laura Wand, vice president, Chiller Solutions, Building Technologies & Solutions at Johnson Controls. “With the new YORK® YZ, we have engineered the world’s most efficient low-GWP line of centrifugal chillers. Our broad range cooling capacity will serve our customers’ many diverse application needs.”

Johnson Controls used a holistic approach to system design and engineering, optimising every component around a carefully selected next generation refrigerant for ultimate performance. The YORK® YZ chiller uses an integral, variable speed drive and advanced magnetic bearing technology that features a single moving assembly suspended in a magnetic field that does not require lubrication.

This technology requires 80 percent fewer moving parts than traditional oil- or refrigerant-lubricated drivelines. The result is enhanced reliability, reduced maintenance and improved efficiency. Compared to traditional fixed-speed oil-bearing chillers, the YZ delivers up to 35 percent annual energy savings.

The YZ chiller can deliver significant energy savings and lower operating costs by taking advantage of the off-design conditions where chillers operate 99 percent of the time. The YZ operates with entering condenser water temperature as low as 40°F (4.5°C), providing enhanced performance in every operating condition and the widest operating envelope in the industry. The YORK® YZ uses an optimised single stage design to provide industry-leading real- world energy efficiency.

The chiller can also operate with condenser temperatures below the evaporator temperatures, eliminating the need for a water-side economiser, which simplifies the system, requires less mechanical room space and saves money on components, piping, controls and maintenance.

“We continue to deliver industry-leading chiller options that best meet the needs of our current and continually expanding customer base around the world,” said Bill Jackson, president, Global Products, Building Technologies & Solutions at Johnson Controls. “The YZ is another fantastic platform system that equips our customers with environmentally friendly performance in an optimised solution. Thank you to our YORK® Chiller team for leading the way.”