23 September 2009
Energy savings and energy efficiency are now integrated elements when new buildings and tower blocks are planned. Building owners and contractors demand automated cooling systems that are easy to install and that save as much energy as possible.
Frese's activities in the Middle-East are seeing increasing demand for modulation control in cooling systems. The new Frese OPTIMA combination valve has been the solution in several big projects. These valves are designed to combine automatic balancing and full modulating control regardless of the preset flow. Frese OPTIMA is an intelligent control valve, which adjusts itself automatically to the preset flow in order to provide full stroke modulating control. This means energy savings close to 70 % compared to cooling systems using traditional valves without modulation control.
- The Middle East typically follows American guidelines about improving the energy efficiency in a building. When planning an office or a residential building you are encouraged by local authorities to follow these energy-saving guidelines, said Nathan Cooke, General Manager in Frese Middle East.
The Emirate of Dubai in particular faces a shortage of oil reserves in the coming 15 to 20 years. This is one of the main reasons for energy savings being so high on the agenda in Dubai.
Frese has a strong position in the Middle East. The company has recently delivered 8.000 EVA valves for the prestigious MotorCity in Dubai. A so-called "destination development" situated over an area of approximately 38,000,000 sq. ft. MotorCity contains accommodation, offices - and a race track. The EVA valves installed in this project are particularly designed for the balancing of cooling units. The valves are used for many different applications. At the same time advantage is derived from the dynamic control principles.
Earlier this year Frese supplied 2,500 fully modulating OPTIMA valves for the first phase of the Etihad Towers project in Abu Dhabi, one of the most anticipated projects in the Gulf region. Located on the waterfront, it will consist of five towers, ranging in height between 50-75 storeys,, which will provide 500,000 m² for a luxury hotel, residential apartments, offices and retail areas.
- Although we have seen a slowdown in the Middle East, tower blocks are still going up. At the moment the credit issue is the biggest problem for the industry and for our partners - the distributors. Although Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia keep on investing in the cities and infrastructure, as they have plentiful oil reserves, places such as Qatar and the Emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have slowed down from the levels of activity seen in 2008 said Nathan Cooke.
Nevertheless, cooling is in demand. Especially energy-efficient cooling systems based on modulation control. Distributors and contractors increasingly ask for improved systems. So, Frese is gaining market share in the Middle East day by day.
