THE International Trade Fair for Elevators and Escalators Technologies and Accessories (LifTech Expo), which was inaugurated at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events on Thursday, saw 80 regional and global companies from 10 countries compete over a million housing units in mega real estate projects in Saudi Arabia, while showcasing their latest technologies at the expo. [caption id="attachment_119160" align="alignright" width="300"] Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Mutrafy, director of Civil Defense, Makkah, tours the LifTech Expo. [/caption] The exhibition was inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Mutrafy, director of Civil Defense, Makkah, in the presence of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) officials, economists, manufacturers and those interested in real estate development in the Gulf region, aiming to access the Saudi market and attract investors in the largest sector in the region. German, Italian, Chinese, Turkish, Indian, Egyptian, UAE, Kuwaiti and Saudi companies showcased the latest technologies in lifts, escalators, contracting of elevators' systems of security and safety, installing, operating and maintenance. The event is sponsored by the Elevator World, Inc., publisher for the international building transportation industry. Exhibitors eyed to penetrate the Saudi market, which is witnessing housing and real estate giant projects — including construction of a million housing units over five years in addition to towers and shopping malls in major Saudi cities, by signing major deals. Al-Mutrafy confirmed the importance of providing the highest safety standards in the operation and installation of new elevator systems, pointing out that the Makkah region reported 1,594 elevator accidents last year causing 30 deaths and many injuries as causes varied between power outages, misuse, overloading technical malfunctions. He also stressed that the Civil Defense department's ‘Prevention' integrated pavilion highlights its role, activities and contributions and its correlation to licenses for manufacturing and installation of elevators and escalators in keeping with the required regulation. Hussein Al-Harthy, vice president and managing director of National Exhibitions Co., clarified that the exhibition, in its first edition in Jeddah, showcases elevators' developed technology. He said: "Chinese, German, Italian, Turkish and Indian companies along with Saudi and Arab companies provide multiple types of high-lifts accuracy and quality. This is in keeping with the increase of towers and skyscrapers in most countries, whereas the sector has achieved spectacular growth in Saudi Arabia and will exceed 200% by 2020. "With the large urbanization and the allocation of towers and high-rise buildings that requires standard and panoramic lifts, in addition to shopping malls that feature diverse types of escalators, the companies are here to identify areas in which they can contribute." Al- Harthy, forecasted keen competition at LifTech noting that the four-day Expo is targeting more 90,000 construction companies, and expects large number of specialized visitors from a sector that exceeds SR300 billion investments per year to cope with sustainable development, the pivot of Vision 2030. "Estimated annual spending on elevators and escalators is nearly SR10 billion with 35% growth per annum, where Saudi Arabia has the largest economy in the Middle East." Al-Harthy said. He stressed on the high demand for elevators and escalators, which has led foreign companies to access the Saudi market, calling for the need to follow the latest global technology standards, configurations and safety devices which follow global and Saudi standards and metrology and the terms of Civil Defense and all concerned authorities, as well as providing all spare parts. He added that elevators and real estate sector pass intense activity due to rising demand. The LifTech is open from Feb. 9 to 12 showcasing all related things to elevators and escalators technologies and accessories, including compressed air transformers, system equipment, transfer and safety of personnel, elevators and escalators security and safety systems, installation, operations and maintenance of elevators and escalators contracting works. LifTech targets construction, real estate companies, management of shopping malls, universities, government and private hospitals and import companies.
