In this exclusive interview, we speak with Mr. Ugo Castellotti, Head of Speciality Business (ISEAP Region) of Maccaferri Malaysia, an esteemed Platinum Member of our Chamber.
Mr Castellotti, shares the company’s strategic reasons for establishing a presence in Malaysia, emphasizing the nation’s business-friendly environment and strategic location. We’ll also delve into MACCAFERRI’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, highlighting key projects like the River of Life and the EKVE Highway, as well as groundbreaking advancements such as the HELLOMAC Rockfall Protection System and the SeaFisher offshore fish pen model.
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Mr. Ugo Castellotti of Maccaferri Malaysia is seated in the center. To his right is Dr. Filippo Fusaro, the Italian Trade Commissioner from the Italian Trade Agency in Kuala Lumpur, and to his left is Mr. Francesco Grigolo, Director of Italiving Sdn Bhd. This photo was taken at the recent Annual General Meeting of ITALCHAM, where Mr. Castellotti was reaffirmed as an Executive Board Member
1. Could you share with our readers a brief overview of MACCAFERRI MALAYSIA and its significant contributions to the civil, geotechnical, and environmental construction sectors?
Absolutely! For over a century, MACCAFERRI has stood at the forefront of the civil, geotechnical, and environmental construction industries, delivering state-of-the-art solutions worldwide. Boasting an impressive legacy that spans 140 years, the company has consistently driven innovation and excellence since its inception in 1879. MACCAFERRI’s influence on the infrastructure domain is profound and enduring.
In 1993, MACCAFERRI MALAYSIA was founded, further cementing the brand’s global presence. The company’s prowess is vividly illustrated through landmark projects like the River of Life, the Kelana Jaya LRT Extension, the Central Spine Road, and the EKVE Highway—each a shining example of MACCAFERRI’s significant role in Malaysia’s progress. The company’s diverse array of solutions, including retaining walls, hydraulic constructions, rockfall mitigation systems, and soil reinforcement technologies, have been instrumental in the development of pivotal infrastructure projects around the world.
The latest expansion of Maccaferri’s portfolio includes specialized solutions tailored for the tunnel construction sector. These innovative solutions are designed to improve safety during underground excavation, thereby increasing the overall operational efficiency.
2. What were the key factors that led MACCAFERRI MALAYSIA to choose Malaysia as a strategic location to expand its presence?
MACCAFERRI’s decision to expand in Malaysia was influenced by multiple compelling reasons. The nation’s business-friendly climate and its strategic geographic location within Southeast Asia stood out as pivotal considerations, making it an ideal hub for international trade providing easy access to a variety of markets within the region.
Furthermore, Malaysia’s stable economic environment combined with the robust initiatives for infrastructure development and the government’s backing for construction endeavours presented MACCAFERRI with significant prospects for business expansion to both grow its operations and play a role in advancing Malaysia’s progress.
Finally, Maccaferri’s focus on environmental sustainability aligns with Malaysia’s initiatives and policies towards green technology and eco-friendly industrial growth.
The Kelana Jaya LRT Extension, Klang Valley, Malaysia
3. How does MACCAFERRI MALAYSIA ensure that its solutions are not only innovative but also environmentally friendly?
MACCAFERRI is dedicated to fostering environmental sustainability through its innovative solutions. The company’s commitment is evident in its Environmental Product Declaration (EDP) initiatives.
By focusing on research and development, MACCAFERRI guarantees that its offerings are at the forefront of innovation while being eco-conscious. The company adopts materials and construction techniques that reduce ecological footprints, supports the preservation of biodiversity, and upholds eco-friendly practices across all stages of its projects.
4. Can you highlight any recent advancements or innovations from MACCAFERRI MALAYSIA that have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry?
At MACCAFERRI, innovation is at the forefront of our mission in the construction sector. One of the latest innovations, was the development of HELLOMAC, our groundbreaking development in Rockfall protection technology.
This advanced alert system is designed to safeguard lives, infrastructure and buildings complementing any kind of passive protection in place. HELLOMAC is engineered to identify incidents such as rockfalls, structural stress, or deformation, and promptly dispatch notifications through an app, email, and SMS to the relevant authority and autonomously switch-on visual & sound alerts in the surrounding area.
Today, Maccaferri is reimagining and extending the HELLOMAC concept beyond its initial boundaries. The outcome of this innovative endeavour, integrated into multiple Maccaferri solutions, holds the potential to transform conventional construction methods within the industry, significantly bolstering safety across diverse infrastructures, residential spaces, and industrial sites.
5. Can you provide more details about the SeaFisher concept and how it aims to create safer and more efficient offshore fish pen structures?
MACCAFERRI is a supplier of cutting-edge technologies specifically designed for supporting offshore aquaculture installations, establishing itself as an industry thanks to its KIKKONET, a specialized fish-containment net for technology-driven fish farming.
Manufactured in Seremban (Negeri Sembilan) KIKKONET has been employed, among other important projects worldwide in the improvement works for Ocean Farm 1, the first and largest semi-submersible aquaculture “offshore” farm, which now in operation off the coast of Norway.
Maccaferri has recently been selected as an industry partner for a groundbreaking R&D Offshore Aquaculture project in the Southern Hemisphere. The project aims to conceptualize, optimize the design, and conduct model testing of an innovative submersible offshore fish pen model known as ‘SeaFisher’.
The 2 year-long project, commissioned by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, an independent not-for-profit company established in July 2019 under the Australian Government’s CRC Program, brings together experts in aquaculture, maritime engineering, environmental assessment from some of the main Australian and Singaporean universities and research centres.
Whilst moving to deeper offshore waters is critical for the development of sustainable aquaculture, the harsh weather conditions prevalent in these remote regions pose new challenges for the system design. The threat of large ocean waves during storms looms large, potentially tearing flimsy cages apart. Addressing this threat, the “SeaFisher” is ingeniously designed with a lightweight yet robust structure, integrating advanced technology for submersion during stormy weather. Once the danger subsides, it resurfaces, epitomizing a cost-effective and secure cage technology tailored for offshore farming.
6. What are MACCAFERRI’s future plans and aspirations in continuing to be a leader in providing advanced solutions to construction challenges?
Moving forward, MACCAFERRI is dedicated to maintaining its position at the forefront of delivering sophisticated solutions for construction-related challenges. The organization’s strategic vision involves increased investment in research and development, broadening its range of products, and reinforcing collaborations with key players in the industry. Through persistent innovation and responsiveness to changing demands in construction, MACCAFERRI aspires to be instrumental in influencing the trajectory of infrastructure advancement within Malaysia and beyond.
For more information about Maccaferri Malaysia, visit their website HERE
