Bobcat’s special limited-edition mini excavators (Image source: Bobcat)

To celebrate the start of production for its new R2-Series 1-2 tonne mini excavators, Bobcat is releasing a special, limited-edition run of its top models

Only 50 of these exclusive Premiere Launch Edition machines will be produced for the Africa, Middle East and Europe markets, making them a rare and highly collectible piece of equipment.

The latest generation R2-Series comprises the new E16, E17z, E19 and E20z models, first previewed at the Bauma show in Germany earlier this year.

The exclusive limited-edition version will be available for the top-of-the-range models of the 1-2 tonne range: the E19 and the E20z. Only 25 units of each will be produced.

“We are launching the Premiere Launch Edition to promote the new range and to emphasise our market presence at the time of the start of production for the new machines,” said Miroslav Konas, product line manager for Doosan Bobcat EMEA.

The first deliveries of both the regular and Premiere Launch Edition machines will begin in September.

The special features offered by the Premiere Launch Edition include:

Exclusive charcoal grey colour; Premium red and black cloth or leather seat cover designed by MAD for demanding users of luxury, sports and classic cars; Individually numbered plate in the cab; Aluminium pedals; 4 high-value aftermarket kits as standard; Direct Return to Tank; Top Guard Cab; Travel Motor Hose Guard; Bucket Cylinder Cover.

The E16, E17z, E19 and E20z new generation R2-Series 1-2 tonne mini excavators replace the previous M-Series E17, E17z, E19 and E20z machines, respectively and offer a fresh look, signifying new levels of performance and features designed to meet all the variations found across the EMEA market.

“The Premiere Launch Edition is a strong conversation starter and sales tool and gives dealers an opportunity to offer customers a truly unique, high-spec machine that is both visually distinctive and technically enhanced,” said Konas.

“The non-standard colour and editional branding help increase awareness and generate buzz and it serves to show that the new generation mini excavators are not just an update, they are a bold step forward.”

The report forecasts that the Saudi FM market will expand from US$39.4bn in 2024 to US$52.5bn by 2029

The Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), in collaboration with Frost & Sullivan, has released a comprehensive white paper that provides an in-depth analysis of Saudi Arabia’s facility management (FM) sector.

Published at a time when the Kingdom is accelerating its Vision 2030 transformation, the paper highlights FM’s critical role in shaping sustainable, world-class infrastructure and services.

The report forecasts that the Saudi FM market will expand from US$39.4bn in 2024 to US$52.5bn by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 5.9%. It also underscores the government’s strong commitment to infrastructure development, with US$54bn allocated for education in 2025 to enhance facilities, develop curricula, train teachers, and strengthen research and innovation. A US$2.1tn construction pipeline, including giga and mega projects such as NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, AlUla, Diriyah Gate, Amaala, Al Widyan, and Jabal Omar, is set to transform the tourism, hospitality, residential, commercial, entertainment, and utilities sectors. These developments are expected to fuel substantial demand for FM services in the years ahead.

Expo 2030 and the planned launch of King Salman International Airport in 2030, which will be designed to accommodate up to 120mn passengers, are expected to further boost demand for FM expertise across operations, maintenance, and specialised service contracts. Healthcare and education remain the leading end-user segments, accounting for nearly 60% of outsourced FM demand. The healthcare sector in particular is undergoing rapid expansion, with demand projected for thousands of new hospital beds by 2035 and the creation of over 44,000 new industrial jobs. Outsourcing continues to gain momentum, with outsourced FM services growing to 37% of the market in 2024, valued at US$14.3bn.

Jamal Lootah, President of MEFMA, said, “This white paper marks a critical milestone in the development of Saudi Arabia’s facilities management industry, which is playing an increasingly vital role in the success of the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation. As FM becomes more integrated into national infrastructure, sustainability, and service delivery goals, access to accurate, forward-looking insights is essential. This publication reinforces MEFMA’s commitment to providing knowledge-driven content that enables smarter decision-making, promotes sustainable best practices, and aligns closely with the priorities of Vision 2030. Our aim is to empower both public and private sector stakeholders with the strategic foresight needed to plan for long-term impact.”

Eng. Mohannad AlMadhi, MEFMA Board member (KSA) said, “Saudi Arabia’s facilities management sector stands at the heart of the Kingdom’s transformation, underpinning the success of mega projects, urban development, and quality-of-life initiatives. As demand grows in scale and complexity, with all the upcoming PIF led projects, operational excellence is becoming a national imperative. This white paper captures the realities on the ground and charts a path forward that equips industry players with the insights needed to innovate, adapt, and build a world-class FM ecosystem that reflects the ambitions of Vision 2030.”

Dubai Municipality’s is focused on safeguarding building standards

Dubai Municipality has carried out more than 25,000 field inspections relating to construction activity in the first half of 2025 – a 36% increase compared to the same period in 2024

The inspections covered over 18,800 buildings under construction, with a total built-up area exceeding 36mn square metres

Compliance rates reached 96%, reflecting the Municipality’s ongoing efforts to safeguard building standards and maintain sustainable urban planning practices, ensuring safety and quality throughout all stages of construction. The approach supports Dubai’s vision to be the world’s smartest and most sustainable city in the construction sector, while reinforcing the emirate’s reputation as an investment-friendly hub with advanced infrastructure and flexible, integrated regulations.

Eng. Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, said, “Dubai Municipality places great emphasis on precise engineering oversight of construction activities, considering it a key tool to regulate the sector and elevate its standards, in line with our unwavering commitment to developing it into the world’s smartest and most sustainable. We aim to provide a safe and sustainable construction environment, applying the highest quality and safety standards at all stages, which contribute to enhancing residents’ quality of life and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading hub in construction and building.”

The Municipality oversaw the use of more than 1.5 million cubic metres of green concrete, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. Additionally, 16.4 million cubic metres of soil were recycled and transported. The Municipality issued 4,222 permits for sand transport and supply, ensuring optimal resource use, and approved over 1,126 requests for free sand to support Emirati citizens building private villas.

These initiatives form part of Dubai’s broader vision for an innovative and sustainable construction sector, streamlining building procedures, enhancing governance, and ensuring legislative and regulatory flexibility.

Cat motor graders delivering in harsh environments (Image source: Cat)

The new High Performance Circle (HPC) design for Cat 140 JOY, 150 JOY and 160 JOY motor graders is increasing efficiency and uptime availability

It is also driving overall machine performance compared to the previous Cat motor grader series in earthmoving and road building applications.

The new HPC design available for Cat 140 JOY, 150 JOY and 160 JOY motor graders helps to eliminate hours of monthly planned maintenance for frequent inspection, wear strip replacement and circle shoe adjustments associated with conventional circle designs, according to Pablo dos Santos, global product application specialist for motor graders at Caterpillar.

“Our new HPC provides more hours-of-service life, to significantly reduce planned maintenance,” said dos Santos.

Adopted from the Cat excavator swing drive and 14 motor grader worm drive, the HPC features a fully sealed bearing design.

It replaces the previous open circle and drawbar, reducing operator touchpoints, extending service intervals and improving machine uptime.

Additionally, the HPC provides smooth, effortless blade rotation and assists in meeting jobsite and road design elevation tolerance.

It is designed for reduced maintenance and improved safety, added dos Santos.

Better adjustments

“Caterpillar’s industry-leading machining capabilities, designed to tight tolerances, help ensure high-precision alignment of the drawbar, drives and circle, so it requires no adjustments for the life of the grader.”

The new HPC maintains the same machine connection interface as the standard drawbar/circle/moldboard.

An innovative pinion gear shape with a large shaft diameter delivers durable operation and allows the drive to be removed vertically without drive adjustments.

Dowel locators precisely position motors for simplified servicing, optimal tooth contact and long pinion life. Its new design improves component reliability to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

The new design significantly increases wear life between the circle and drawbar, and it reduces the likelihood of excessive clearance between the circle and drawbar surface.

Its centrally located grease bank offers quick and easy servicing, while the easily accessible ring gear provides quicker inspection and maintenance.

Beyond lowering total cost of ownership, less required circle maintenance reduces component handling to properly maintain the machine, which improves safety for service technicians. If the circle teeth have reached their wear limit, they can be rotated 180 degrees to double the component’s service life.

Also read: Caterpillar highlights key features for its newest Cat 980 GC wheel loader