Fraco wins $7m order for Qatar mega-project

Canadian mast climber manufacturer Fraco Products has won a contract valued at more than US$7 million to supply as many as 74 mast climbing work platforms to subcontractors working on the massive Barwa Commercial Avenue mega project in Doha, Qatar.

Fraco's platforms have been selected by Alumco Qatar and Reem Emirates Aluminum LLC, the façades sub-contractors who will provide aluminum cladding, curtain walls and glazing works on the 8 km long façade. The main contractor on the project is Hochtief Construction Qatar.

The contract calls for the supply of 20 ACT-8 platforms - Fraco's most popular platform -followed by a further 54 units by July 2010. At the peak of the project, Fraco platforms will be used by up to 750 people.

Armand Rainville, chairman of Fraco, said; "The agreement is the result of two years of tireless efforts by our dealer in Qatar, SkyClimbers Limited, to position Fraco's equipment in the Arabian Peninsula.

"Being involved in the development boom of Doha is an incredible opportunity for our company. In fact, that project is consequent with our geographical market development strategy, and is in accordance with our market segmentation approach which target commercial, industrial, oil and gas, and industrial areas."

The Barwa Commercial Avenue project is located in the southern outskirts of Doha, and is a mixed development with 600 retail spaces, 850 residential units and offices, and various service centres and amenities.

The first 20 platforms will be used on a 2.2 km segment of the project where Alumco Qatar will install 31000 m2 of aluminium cladding and 48500 m2 of stick system curtain walls, windows and doors. This portion of works should start in April 2010 and will be complete by mid 2011. The other subcontractor, Reem Emirates Aluminum, will be responsible for other building types.