What is Acrow Qatar’s main business focus and who is your market?
While Acrow Qatar’s main business is formwork and scaffolding, we are actually focusing more on the formwork side, especially for the mega-projects and the infrastructure projects happening all around. Our main clients are construction companies ranging from the international to the local companies.
Acrow provides a full range of products to cover all applications, including unique projects and architectural projects that might need a different treatment and a special formwork solution, which is the biggest challenge for the formwork companies. Acrow has gained a reputation for after-sales services and technical support which is present during the whole project’s duration. We feel this is one of our main advantages, putting Acrow a step ahead of other formwork suppliers.
In which projects in Qatar has Acrow been involved?
Acrow is working and supplying the formwork on some of the biggest mega-projects in Qatar like Lusail CP4 with Midmac Yuksel JV; Lusail Expressway with Hyundai E&C; Al Muntazah street extension with Al Jaber & Partners; North Road P059 with Tekfen Insaat; the East Corridor P011 with China Harbour engineering co; AL Rayan Road Project with Dogus Onur JV; Orbital Highway Contract 2 with QDVC Bin Omran JV; Orbital Highway Contract 23 with HLG & Al Jaber JV; Lusail CP07 with HBK & QBC JV; Marina Tower; Hilton Tower; Al Bustan Project and with Al Bandary Engineering. This is in addition to the other ongoing and previously completed projects of the Doha Expressway program, Lusail City Development and The Pearl Qatar.
Does Acrow have any other branches?
As a leading company in the field of formwork and scaffolding, Acrow was founded in 1935 in England, becoming one of the European market experts in its industry. In 1979 Acrow England joined forces with leading Egyptian companies to found its Egyptian arm, Acrow Misr, establishing itself as the sole manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa – while conforming to British standards.
Since then, Acrow has been expanding in the Middle East and Africa and, for now, continues to expand in the European market through the newly opened branches in Slovenia and Romania. Acrow Qatar was established in 2005 as it foresaw the Qatari market as one of the booming markets in the worldwide construction industry.
How do you see the construction sector within Qatar presently and moving towards 2022?
The construction sector in Qatar is one of the biggest in the region now, with expected spending of $150 billion on the infrastructure sector for the next seven years before the kick-off of the World Cup 2022.
With some of the major projects already announced, many formwork companies are trying to establish a strong presence in Qatar while the existing companies are trying to strengthen their presence to be ready for the coming billions-worth of infrastructure projects which will shape the country’s hosting for the World Cup 2022. So too, infrastructure projects for the 2030 National Vision will require the services and skills of companies such as ours.
Can you describe challenges within construction eg. skills shortages, materials shortages etc?
The Qatari market is a big challenge for all the formwork companies owing to the fast-tracking of projects. The highly specced architectural needs required to build some of the unique projects in the region, like Al Wakrah Stadium and the Al Sharq crossing will be a big challenge for companies such as ours. One of the biggest challenges faced in Qatar is the tight time schedules and how to provide a cost-effective formwork solution that will accommodate the fast construction schedule, while still maintaining quality.
What is Acrow’s plans for the future?
Acrow is planning to strengthen its branches in the MENA Region to increase its market share. In addition to that, we are expanding in Eastern Europe as we have fierce plans to expand and establish our production facilities and factories. Acrow has invested in the R&D sector to develop some new formwork systems for all kinds of buildings. We strive to be one of the leading formwork companies in the MENA region and to adequately service our yearly increasing market share.
