Speedy opens depot at massive Cairo project

Speedy has established an on-site rental depot at the massive Cairo Festival City development in Cairo, Egypt. It is the UK rental company's first major contract in North Africa.

The depot, which will stock £2.5 million worth of Speedy equipment, is being set up for Al Futtaim Carillion, the Middle East/North African joint venture between UK contractor Carillion plc and Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group. Al-Futtaim is the developer of the Cairo Festival City scheme.

Equipment on site will include telehandlers and backhoe loaders and Speedy will also offer asset management services, bar coded tool distribution, training and health and safety advice.

Nine Speedy employees are already on site in Cairo and that number is expected to reach 40 as the project develops. At its peak, the US$3.2 billion mixed-use development is expected to employ 6500 construction workers.

Mike McGrath, managing director, International Asset Services at Speedy, said; "We support our customers in delivering major overseas projects and facilities management contracts by providing a managed site support service, which combines our core expertise in equipment hire with asset management, infrastructure and logistics services."

The contract is one of the first fruits outside of the Middle East of Speedy's partnership with Al Futtain Carillion.

Cairo Festival City is a development covering an area of nearly 10 million sq ft and including retail outlets, office space, housing, restaurants, entertainment and a school. It will provide space for over 50000 office jobs and housing for 13000 residents when it is completed in 2011.Al-Futtaim Carillion and Egypt's Orascom are the two main contracators on the project.