Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/319134
I DA U N I V E R S A L M ay -J u n e 2 0 1 4 49 passed on to end users. How- ever, in order for this change to happen, operators would have to pay extra for low-sul- phur fuel. is would increase operating costs in the shorter term," he added. "In addition, such a move would require governmental support, and in the UAE espe- cially, authorities are doing their best to keep construc- tion costs down. is is why the industry is still permitted to use older engines. Also, in the UAE, there are no weight regulations for on- road vehicles, which is not the case anywhere else in the Mid- dle East. ese are the types of policy that help to maintain a lower cost of construction," explained Lahoud. It seems that despite long- term benefi ts for end users, the time that it takes for low-sul- phur fuel and Tier 4 tech- nology to reach the Middle East will depend largely upon the market. However, as and when policy makers do decide to push ahead with the transi- tion, the Middle East will need to be aff orded suffi cient time to narrow the gap with regulated regions. Regulatory respite in the West would off er the added benefi t of allow- ing manufactur- ers to innovate in other areas, according to Franco Invernizzi, senior director for sales in Africa and the Middle East at Case Con- struction Equip- ment's parent company CNH Industrial. "If you look at the industry over the last 15 years, there has been little to no innovation at all, apart from engines and emissions," he explained. "Manufacturers like Case have invested huge amounts of money into the development of engines that match regula- tions. is has obviously been a good thing because machines are now much more environ- mentally friendly than they were. However, it has slowed innovation in other areas. If you look at all the major manufacturers, you will see that with the exception of engines, their machines are largely the same as they were 15 years ago." As such, Invernizzi would like Western policy makers to take their time before moving to the next regulatory stage. As well as increasing the scope for innovation, he argues that some breathing space would give unregulated markets time to level the global playing fi eld. "What I would like, in an ideal world, is a break before moving to Tier 5. is would not only allow manufacturers to innovate in other areas, but it would also allow for the introduction of legislation in non-regulated regions. It would provide countries with the time that they need to reduce the gap between themselves and Tier 4 Fi nal countries," he said. ● www.constructionweekonline.com, 4/14