Dutest, a third-party inspection company and lifting equipment supplier, will distribute the entire range of load cell manufacturer Straightpoint (SP) throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with immediate effect.
The switch to SP’s extensive range of force measurement technologies follows its acquisition by the largest lifting, rigging, and material handling hardware company in the world, The Crosby Group, which had an existing supply agreement in place. Dutest has facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but delivers solutions to customers across the emirates.
Saravanan T., regional manager—UAE at Dutest, said: “We already work closely with Crosby and receive excellent support from them. Coupled with the proactivity of SP representatives, it made business sense to add their products to our extensive stocks of lifting and rigging gear. UAE is a region that welcomes technological advancement of the industry and that trend aligns with our partnership with Crosby—and now SP. I anticipate demand for their equipment from marine, aviation, manufacturing, and heavy construction industries, in addition to oil and gas.”
David Ayling, global business development director for load monitoring solutions at SP, said: “One of the appeals of Crosby ownership was enhanced market penetration and the Dutest agreement serves as a timely example of that improved ingress. That’s not to say Dutest wouldn’t have considered a partnership with SP directly at some stage, but the existence of the Dutest-Crosby supply chain clearly accelerated us to this point.”
Ayling and David Mullard, business development manager at SP, have already deliveredproduct training to Dutest representatives, covering the whole range. The Radiolink plus is SP’s best-selling product, designed to be rigged with Crosby standard shackles. The wireless tension load cell is capable of weighing and dynamic load monitoring in capacities from 1t to 500t, from stock. It is available in a long range, 2.4GHz version, providing 700m or 2,300 ft. range to the manufacturer’s SW-HHP handheld or wireless software; or in Bluetooth that can be connected to any smart phone running SP’s free HHP app on iOS or Android, at ranges up to 100m or 328ft.
Meanwhile, SP recently launched a new single capacity Bluelink load cell that introduces Bluetooth technology to existing and prospective customers still utilising outdated mechanical force measurement products. Bluelink is a 6.5t (14,300 lb.) capacity load cell, targeted at end users that remain loyal to traditional equipment but who might be receptive to enhanced technology and the inherent advantages of reading data digitally, at a safe distance. As Ayling reiterated, however, the Radiolink and Bluelink are just two examples in a range of safety-centric solutions designed with the end user in mind.
Marcel Tabuteau, area sales manager at Crosby, said: “We are still in the relatively early stages of the previous supply agreement with Dutest so its recent adoption of SP technology is testament to the strength of partnership we have been able to forge even over the past two years. The [SP] range is more advanced than alternatives on the market and it’s evident that greater investment has been made in product development, which is important to Saravanan and his team.”
Saravanan added: “Generally business is good. We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with Crosby [and SP]. When new innovations are launched, we want to be among the first to put them to market. We have a good rapport with end users and are constantly trying to covert our customers to the equipment we on-board.”
Pictured (left to right): Mohammed K. Bin Dasmal, managing director at Bin Dasmal Group; David Ayling, global business development director for load monitoring solutions at SP; Marcel Tabuteau, area sales manager at Crosby; and Saravanan T., regional manager at Dutest UAE.
