NFT Kuwait says it has been awarded the biggest contract of its kind in Kuwait for the supply of over two dozen tower cranes that will be utilised in the construction of a new terminal at Kuwait International Airport.

The contract was awarded by Turkish contractor Limak Insaat, which is building the new terminal at the airport, a project worth $4.34 billion.

Under the agreement, NFT Kuwait will supply 26 tower cranes that include 18 units of the MD 365, six units of the MD 1100 and two units of the MC 125. This came after more than 50 hours of negotiations between NFT’s sales team represented by Yousef El Ghabra, Fadi Daher, and Ghady El Hachem.

Sales director Daher says the company won the contract against stiff competition from other leading tower crane manufacturers and suppliers. With this deal, NFT Kuwait has increased its market share from 50 per cent to 70 per cent within a span of six years, he adds.

NFT has experienced steady and impressive growth ever since it established operations in Kuwait in 2011, supplying tower cranes to the biggest projects in the country.

“We see a lot of potential in Kuwait. It’s a country rich in natural resources and there’s a lot of scope for construction,” says Nabil Al Zahlawi, CEO and managing partner of Abu Dhabi-headquartered NFT.

He says NFT has come a long way from the four tower cranes – all 8 tonnes and free-standing – erected for Al Amiri Contracting during its hospital project when the tower cranes specialist first entered Kuwait.

The new terminal at Kuwait International Airport ... NFT Kuwait to supply over two dozen tower cranes.

In 2016, NFT marked its position as a pioneering market leader in the region by supplying the biggest tower cranes in Kuwait’s history, for a car-park project. Four MD 1100s were erected at the project.

“The MD 1100 is a gigantic machine and is very popular with precast, steel construction and power plants, having the capacity to lift up to 40 tonnes, and 10 tonnes at 80 m boom,” says Al Zahlawi.

In addition, NFT supplied two MD 550s in a recent order.

He says NFT Kuwait is the only supplier able to supply these massive high-capacity tower cranes deployed and operated with the latest technology.

Another model of tower cranes introduced by NFT in Kuwait is the self-erecting tower crane. The IGO 50 and IGOT 130 can be spotted at Nasser Al Hajri & Partners Company’s job site, lifting pipes and support the lifting of heavy materials at the Mina Al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah (MAB) refineries owned by Kuwait National Petroleum Company.

NFT continues to win numerous large-scale high-profile projects in Kuwait including projects for the oil and gas sector, hospitals, showrooms, airport expansion, and universities. An example is the 10 tower cranes supplied to the Lebanese SEG International Contracting that include two MD 1100s, two MD 550s and six MC 310 k12 units, all equipped with anti-collision systems supplied by NFT as well.

NFT projects in Kuwait have included the NBK tower where the company erected two MR 605 and one MR 225 cranes, marking the first time luffing cranes with such capacity were erected in the country. A Pega hoist was also supplied to the contractor Al Ahmadiah Contracting.

With its ambitious and aggressive sales strategy, commercial flexibility, reliable and qualified technical service, and a stock of 1,500 tower cranes along with spare parts readily available to meet project requirements, NFT is set to continue to increase its market share and success in Kuwait, says Al Zahlawi.

“NFT’s strength also lies in its ability to meet the demand in Kuwait, thanks to its technical and operations team of qualified mechanics, electricians and erectors readily available to support customers on-site directly,” he comments.

This success prompted NFT to open its first country office and yard in Kuwait City in March 2017. Potain also found an opportunity to support NFT’s customers in Kuwait by organising a seminar on safety and product innovation during the same month.

“We will continue to invest in Kuwait to support our customers and to be part of the growing demand for construction,” concludes Al Zahlawi.