Farnek launches transformational hybrid cleaning unit
By
The robotic units can handle heavy lifting, repetitive cleaning, and large surface areas, allowing human operatives to focus on higher value or specialised tasks
UAE-based facilities management (FM) company Farnek has launched the Farnek Hybrid Unit (FHU), presenting a transformation in cleaning by integrating human operatives with advanced and intelligent robotic cleaners, the firm said in a statement.
Robots can collaborate with operational staff without traditional physical supervision, carrying out cleaning tasks autonomously. They can recharge themselves, using real time localisation and environmental perception to avoid hazards, and clean up to 5,000sqft per hour. During autonomous cleaning, robots are equipped with sensors and mechanisms that enable obstacle detection, fall prevention, and anomaly impact detection, it added.
'Essentially the model is centered around Hybrid Units (HU), where tasks are completed without distinction between humans and robots, focusing on efficiency and quality of outcome. The robotic units can handle the heavy lifting, repetitive cleaning, and large surface areas, allowing manual operatives to focus on higher value or specialised tasks, such as sanitising sensitive areas, and spot cleaning. This strategic distribution of tasks enhances overall productivity while reducing overlapping and wasteful man hours,' said Julian Khalil, Managing Director, Farnek Services.
Robotic vacuum cleaners are digitally mapped, ensuring precise and 100% area coverage. This eliminates the gaps often left by manual processes, which can occur due to human error or fatigue. Robotic paths are pre-mapped and optimised, guaranteeing complete surface coverage and achieving cleaning standards.
'Unlike human operatives, robots can be deployed in operations 24/7 without fatigue. This multi-shift capability reduces the need for additional manpower, particularly in high-traffic areas and during off-peak hours. The Farnek Hybrid Unit is a transformative step to deliver commercial cleaning services. This is more than just a technology shift it's a cultural evolution in how we see cleaning, moving forward. Data-driven, performance-oriented, and future ready. The maintenance of intelligent robots is predictable and scheduled, avoiding unexpected maintenance costs typical with manual equipment. With robots handling repetitive tasks, fewer human operatives are required, optimising labour costs,' added Khalil.
Farnek's CAFMTEK Mobile App, which was designed and developed by its sister company HITEK AI, dynamically schedules and monitors all Hybrid Units. This app provides supervisors with real time visibility, live task updates, and dedicated reports. It also enables instant adjustments to manpower and robotic assignments based on real time demand. Consistent status updates are available via the CAFMTEK app on smartphones or PCs, the statement outlined.
'The unique aspect of Farnek's hybrid model is our use of AI technology. Our CAFMTEK digital solution, which provides connectivity and technology integration, links the robots to operational management teams, accelerating precise, real-time monitoring, predictive cleaning and manpower requirements, as well as enhancing data-driven decision-making,' explained Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK AI.
Optimisation leads to substantial cost savings. Unlike humans, robots don't take vacations, sick leave, or suffer from fatigue. They operate continuously, eliminating any potential efficiency or cost impact caused by human or cleaning equipment downtime. Human productivity typically declines over an eight-hour shift, while robotic units maintain consistent performance throughout. This minimises the cost of managing shifts, payroll, and compliance through automated scheduling, the statement concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
39 minutes ago
- The National
My Abu Dhabi Salary: 'I earn up to Dh80,000 a month in property sales. You have to hustle hard'
Alexandra Warren moved to working in real estate after a six-year career in aviation as a flight attendant with Etihad Airways. The career switch felt like a natural progression, says the 32-year-old South African, who lives with her husband and four-year-old daughter in Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi. 'A role in aviation as cabin crew or flight attendant has you at the front line dealing with people, so you need strong interpersonal skills,' says Ms Warren, who works as a sales consultant at Crompton Partners Estate Agents in Abu Dhabi. 'Those are easily transferable skills. In real estate, too, we work with different people, so it was a natural transition.' Ms Warren, who is from Cape Town, finished a bachelor's degree in arts with a major in communication and psychology. She's been in the UAE for more than 11 years and has worked in property for just over two-and-a-half years. What was your first job and salary? My first job was right out of university in 2013, when I joined Etihad Airways as a flight attendant at the age of 21. I worked this job for six years. My salary at the time was around Dh11,000 ($2,995) to Dh12,000 a month. It fluctuated, based on our flights and rosters. I was travelling, enjoying and exploring, until Covid-19 happened and I was one among many of the cabin crew who were made redundant. Tell us about your current role. What is your salary now? I joined real estate over two years ago. I started off doing rentals and the average salary would range between Dh12,000 to Dh13,000 a month. It's a commission-based job. During an exceptional month in leasing, I would make around Dh25,000 to Dh30,000. A year ago, I was promoted and transitioned into sales. The salary has increased significantly, especially in the past six months. My July salary was around Dh195,000. It's hard to give an average figure as the income varies every month. I did a deal in February for an off-plan project. Sometimes, the developers take time to pay us. So, some of my commission in July would have been from a deal that was done a few months ago. On average, I earn about Dh70,000 to Dh80,000 a month. But it depends on the deal that you're making. We do not receive a basic salary, so what you put in is what you get out. You need to hustle hard to make money. This industry is all about trust, building relationships and networking. In this industry, referrals are important for your business. Do you manage to save and have considerable savings? I do. When I was doing leasing, it was quite difficult to save because my salary then was significantly smaller. With sales now, we're in a much better position where I'm able to provide or have a cushioning. I'm saving now and looking at investments of my own, which will probably be real estate as well. I have around Dh250,000 worth of savings now. That is a significant number from somebody who was a housewife two years ago. What asset classes do you invest in? We've only been investing in real estate. We own the three-bedroom apartment that we live in, which has appreciated well since we bought it. It was worth Dh2.5 million when we bought it last year and took out a mortgage to pay for it. It's currently worth Dh3.6 million. We also own a land plot in South Africa. Plots there are rare and valuable, so those perform well over a long period of time. We plan to eventually build on it, rent it out or sell it to invest and diversify our portfolio. It's currently rented out as a storage unit. My next investment will also be in Abu Dhabi real estate: a smaller property with a low entry point in one of the up-and-coming areas. Do you have any debt? Nothing except the mortgage, which my husband has been paying off. People say some debt can be healthy, but I haven't reached that stage yet. Growing up, were you taught how to handle your finances? Yes. My parents would tell me to work hard to build a good future for my kids and save every month, while still trying to maintain a healthy balance. That was something my dad always tried to instil in me. My father also has a strong real estate investment portfolio, so he's been able to guide me. What are your major monthly expenses? The mortgage mainly. Personally, my main expenses are on my daughter, pets, a nanny, gas and utilities. I pay municipal tax on our property in South Africa. I also pay service charges for our home here. How do you budget your salary every month? It depends on the money I earn that month. I do not live above my means. I budget by trying to set aside a certain amount for savings every month, just so I have that financial cushion. I just save what I can, at least more than half my income every month. Have you started saving for retirement? I haven't started saving for retirement, but I've started saving. I do not plan to retire anytime soon. My goal right now is to focus on investments in real estate that can provide me with a passive income stream when I retire. A certain amount of interest would come in and I wouldn't have to stress. That's something my parents have done for themselves. I see the way they live and that's something I want for myself. Watch: Why expat salary packages are not what they used to be Do you have an emergency fund? Yes, my savings. I'm working on increasing that number. What do you spend your disposable income on? Activities with my daughter, going out with friends, dinners, personal upkeep and retail therapy. I spend a maximum of Dh2,000 on myself each month. Do you worry about money? Everyone worries about money, especially when you have the responsibility of kids. I wouldn't say that I can't sleep at night. But we all want to be comfortable. We consider my kid's expenses as she grows up. My husband's work covers her school fees. But when she goes to university or college, that's an additional expense. I work hard to provide a comfortable life for my daughter. Having properties that have appreciated gives you a strong sense of reassurance, and knowing that we don't have liabilities in South Africa. What are your financial goals? My goal is to continue closing deals to bring in an income for myself, perform better than the previous month and the prior year. I want to exceed the targets that I set for myself. What is your idea of financial freedom? To not worry about finances, have a safety net and streams of income coming in from all my investments. Financial freedom is to be comfortable enough to eventually retire, not stress about finances and not live month to month. Do you earn passive income? Not yet. The rent that we earn from our plot in South Africa is paid towards the municipal levies every month. Our next investment will generate passive income, so it should be a rental property in the UAE or South Africa.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Empower's district cooling consumption on strong demand, expansion
Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, reported a 7.1 per cent increase in consumption during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The growth, measured in refrigeration tons per hour (RTh), was attributed to high occupancy rates in existing projects and the addition of new developments to the company's portfolio. Empower said in a statement that the expansion has further diversified its customer base, which includes residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and other sectors. These industries are increasingly adopting energy-efficient cooling solutions to reduce carbon emissions and align with sustainability goals. The company signed 86 new contracts in the first six months of the year to supply more than 99,000 refrigeration tons (RT) to projects across Dubai. With these additions, Empower's total contracted capacity reached 1.86 million RT, while connected capacity grew to more than 1.6 million RT following an increase of approximately 38,000 RT. The number of buildings served rose to 1,684. Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said the company's performance underlines its role in supporting Dubai's growth and sustainability agenda. 'We are committed to delivering district cooling services of the highest quality and reliability, leveraging advanced technologies and innovations,' he said. 'Our operations support Dubai's population growth, urbanisation, and economic development, while contributing to the emirate's green future and net zero goals,' Ahmad bin Shafar said. He added that the steady rise in consumption reflects customers' trust in Empower's ability to help reduce their carbon footprint and implement sustainable practices. 'The increase in demand and expansion of our customer base is a testament to the efficiency of our services. This motivates us to maintain quality while further growing our business and partnerships for the benefit of all stakeholders,' Shafar said. Shafar noted that Empower's readiness to meet rising demand in H1 2025 was due to its state-of-the-art district cooling systems, high operational efficiency, and advanced technologies. These factors, combined with significant capacity, enabled the company to serve a diverse range of sectors effectively. Ahead of the peak summer season, Empower carried out an extensive maintenance and preparation campaign across its 88 district cooling plants and distribution networks. This ensured operational readiness to meet the seasonal surge in demand, particularly during periods of high temperatures. The measures helped maintain a comfortable indoor environment for residents and businesses across also highlighted that district cooling consumption in Dubai has increased by approximately 69 per cent between 2020 and 2024. This long-term growth trend remains a key driver for the company's ongoing network expansion, as well as its revenue growth and profitability.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai Chamber welcomes 35,500 new companies as exports hit $47bn in H1 2025
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has reported strong growth in the first half of 2025, welcoming 35,532 new member companies — a 4 per cent year-on-year increase — and driving member exports and re-exports to AED171.9bn ($46.8bn), up 18 per cent compared to H1 2024. The performance reinforces Dubai's position as a global hub for trade and investment, backed by targeted initiatives to boost international market access and strengthen public-private partnerships. Record gains in trade activity and business support in this time include: Certificates of Origin issued: 409,083 (Up 10 per cent YoY) ATA Carnets processed: 2,961, covering goods worth AED1.94bn ($528m) New Business Councils formed: Five, representing Brazil, Slovakia, Peru, Indonesia, and Hungary Mediation cases handled: 94 (Up 19 per cent YoY), valued at AED213.5m ($58.1m) Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, said: 'The emirate continues to strengthen its position as a leading global centre for trade and investment. Dubai's integrated business ecosystem plays a pivotal role in reinforcing investor confidence in the positive outlook of the national economy. 'We are committed to empowering the local business community by shaping a regulatory and legislative environment that fosters growth, creates opportunities, and supports the development of priority sectors. 'The chamber will continue to strengthen its efforts to enhance public-private partnerships, which form a key pillar in achieving the goals of the D33 Agenda.' Dubai Chamber of Commerce growth The chamber's 'New Horizons' initiative enabled 60 local companies to expand into new markets in H1 2025 — a 76 per cent rise from last year. Trade missions to Thailand, the Philippines, Angola, and Mozambique generated 1,076 B2B meetings between Dubai firms and international partners. Working closely with Business Groups, the chamber reviewed 27 laws and draft laws, with 60 per cent of private-sector recommendations adopted — up from 46 per cent in 2024. It also held 98 meetings with Business Groups and Councils, marking a 104 per cent increase in engagement. Through the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, the chamber partnered with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism to publish 'Family Businesses in the Emirate of Dubai: A Guidebook,' offering best practices for preserving wealth and ensuring long-term continuity. The Chamber's H1 2025 performance highlights sustained momentum in attracting businesses, expanding global trade links, and shaping a supportive legislative framework — aligning closely with the emirate's D33 Agenda to double the size of the economy over the next decade.
