UAE-based NFT, a specialist in tower cranes, has moved into a new sprawling 300,000-sq-m yard, located just off Ghweifat International highway, in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi.

The premier Potain dealer in the Middle East, NFT said the giant yard is home to its stock of tower cranes, spare parts and hoists, and will also become the new HQ offices in the near future.

On the company move, CEO Nabil Al Zahlawi, said: "After extensive and careful research, the plot of land in Al Dhafra was chosen to be the base of our operations not only for the UAE, but for our worldwide activities as well."

The yard will combine both our existing yards in Al Mafraq and Sweihan near Al Ain City, and we also have plans to move the headquarters in Mina Zayed.

“In less than three months, more than 1000 trailer truck trips completed the move from Mafraq to Dhafra, without any interruption of our ongoing export/import operations. Our day-to-day work was not compromised and the move from the 15,000 sq m Mafraq yard to Dhafra was completed,” stated Al Zahlawi.

In light of the increase in demand of second-hand equipment, NFT, he said, has dedicated two facilities for reconditioning used tower cranes.

"The first one will be handling all the welding and painting while the second one will be focusing on mechanical and electrical work," explained Al Zahlawi.

The two facilities are joined together like an assembly line whereby each part of the used tower crane is checked and improved step by step until finishing with painting.

"The yard has enough space for testing as well. Considering the increase in demand for used tower cranes as the market becomes more price sensitive, NFT has invested heavily in this in-house solution of tower crane reconditioning in line with being the one-stop supplier for all lifting needs," he added.

Al Zahlawi said each item is carefully classified and organised. "For ease of discovery NFT has invested in a software that allows the workshop team to check and locate any number of available items efficiently and quickly from any operating device," he noted.

Golf carts and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have been included to allow for movement of staff in this huge space.

According to NFT, the yard now houses a growing stock of 1,800 tower cranes, of which 200 are brand new models, 500 hoists, and 35,000 pieces are spare parts.

Although the main office building is still in the design phase, all NFT staff will eventually be moving to the Dhafra yard to incorporate all 600 employees from administration, engineers, mechanics, operators, and labourers.

"As a forward-thinking and innovative leader in the industry, NFT believes that this move can only strengthen its position and continuous effort to increase its stock, protect the quality of new equipment and to recondition used items to almost brand new status," stated Al Zahlawi.

NFT prides itself in its local experience and its after-sale services; this new yard only strengthens NFT’s ability to better serve its clients, he added.-TradeArabia News Service