AL JAZEERA TOWER

Safety and efficiency in fast-track hotel construction

To support the construction of a new 36-storey five-star hotel tower in Doha, Qatar, contractor Larsen & Toubro invested in an Alimak Scando 650 passenger and material hoist, helping maintain productivity and safety on a demanding schedule.

Fast-Track Construction in Doha

The Al Jazeera Tower was developed as a five-star hotel ahead of the 2006 Asian Games. Built on a compact 30 x 30 m site, the project comprised two basement levels, a ground floor and 36 storeys. Construction began in March 2005, leaving a tight schedule for completion.

“We were in a fast-track project,” said Mr D. Loganathan, Plant & Machinery Manager at Larsen & Toubro Qatar LLC. “At peak production, we were completing approximately one floor per week.”
To support the schedule, the company invested in several new pieces of equipment, including an Alimak Scando 650 dual construction hoist.

Supporting Efficient Material Handling

Throughout the project, the high-speed hoist played an important role in transporting personnel and construction materials to the upper levels of the building.

“We primarily used it for moving construction materials to different floors,” Mr Loganathan explained. “Materials for finishing works, including bricks, cement and marble, were transported by the hoist.”
The Scando 650 operated at speeds of up to 65 m/min and offered a payload capacity of 2,400 kg in the installed configuration.

Safety Was a Key Factor

According to Mr Loganathan, safety was the main reason for selecting the Alimak hoist.
“The main reason for choosing the Alimak hoist was safety. We particularly appreciated the overload warning system and other built-in safety features.”

He also highlighted the benefits of the variable frequency control (VFC) system, which adjusted speed according to the load for smooth, efficient operation. The system’s modular design allowed additional mast sections to be added as the building progressed.

Flexible Control for a Changing Jobsite

The construction hoist was equipped with Alimak’s ALC-II microprocessor-based control system, allowing operators to select active landing levels as construction progressed.

“The landing programme worked very well. We could decide which floors should be accessible depending on the construction stage,” Mr Loganathan said.

The installation featured a 1.5 x 3.2 m hoist car with a three-door configuration, including a side-loading door to suit the restricted site conditions.

At the height of construction, approximately 250 people worked on site around the clock, with work continuing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

PRODUCT DETAILS
Location: Al Jazeera Tower, Doha, Qatar
Application: 5 star hotel construction
Hoist type: Alimak Scando 650 FC 24/32 II
No. of hoist cars: 2
Hoist capacity: 2,400 kg/car
Hoist car size: 1.5 x 3.2 x 2.3 m (W x L x H)
Speed: 65 m/min