the developer of $5bn (AED18.3bn) master-planned leisure tourism island destination megaproject has announced that it is gearing up construction activities on the project. More than 1,500 construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are working on-site to deliver the project. Phase 1 of The Heart of Europe comprising three islands — Sweden, Germany and Honeymoon Island — 78 floating ‘seahorses’, which are three-level floating homes offering underwater views, as well as the Portofino Hotel will be delivered by the time Expo 2020 Dubai starts. Once complete, The Heart of Europe which combines sustainability with innovation, will deliver 15 hotels with 4,000 holiday homes including the iconic Floating Seahorse Villas and more than 3,500 hotel keys, boosting the UAE’s sustainable tourism sector. Speaking about the progress on the project, chairman of Kleindienst Group, Josef Kleindienst, said: “We have substantially scaled up construction activities on all the seven islands in order to deliver the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – to be able to host more than 20 million guests per year in Dubai’s hotels, by the end of 2020.” The first nine Floating Seahorse Villas have already been ‘floated’ into position in the sea. These villas are being hoisted into place by cranes, and anchored into position on the seabed. The final ballast will be set up once the fit-out has been completed. Cleaning and maintenance below the waterline will be carried out by a specialist diving team in the next few weeks. Phase 1 also includes ten beachfront palaces on Sweden Island; 15 contemporary style beachfront villas and 17 lagoons, on Germany Island, and the 489 Princess Suites at the Portofino Hotel on the main Europe Island.

Turkey’s Evora Istanbul housing project has enlisted the help of 26 construction hoists produced by Swedish lifting equipment manufacturer Alimak Hek. Contractor Teknik Yapi Construction acquired the hoists from local Alimak distributor Atilla Dural Mumessillik insaat Turizm Ticaret. The devices are being used to build the low-and medium-rise structures of Evora Istanbul, which is the Turkish capital’s largest housing project. The 44-block development occupies a 300-acre plot on the Anatolia side of Istanbul. Its high-rise towers are being constructed with the help of tower cranes. The Alimak hoists are designed to lift both materials and personnel. The Alimak Scando 450 model, which accounts for the majority of the hoists being used on the project, can lift a maximum load of two tonnes up to a height of 150m. Evora Istanbul is the brainchild of renowned Turkish architect Eren Yorulmazer, and has been under construction since 2011. The development is being built on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Marmara, and will eventually become home to more than 20,000 people. Once completed, the project will feature 4,300 residential units, three shopping districts, schools, and a host of recreational facilities. Work on the large-scale Turkish housing development is scheduled to end during the first quarter of this year.

The term hoist can refer to the terms buck hoist, platform, man-lift, or industrial/construction elevator and are all different types of construction hoists that serve the same purpose—to transport materials vertically. Each can handle different loads depending on the size and strength. However, not all can carry personnel. No matter the name it is given, a hoist or lift must be able to fulfill its position safely. Space available, weight limits, and even the weather are all factors in choosing the appropriate construction site hoist. As we all know, galvanized products have better anti-rust and anti-corrosion effects, but the cost is higher. In order to meet most of the needs, we have launched galvanized products

Hoists are designed to carry loads vertically and come in all sizes, depending on the workload. Often a construction hoist is made up of one or more cage or car and can be operated by a lift-wheel or drum mechanism using rope or chain. More often, today’s hoists move with a rack and pinion system to carry objects or people up and down vertically and can be powered with gas, electric, or pressurized air systems, and sometimes even manually.