ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has opened the first certified KNX training center in the Middle East and Africa to cater to the training needs of channel partners and green building industry professionals in the region. KNX is a global standard for home and building automation control, designed to increase comfort and energy efficiency.
Based in Dubai, UAE, the ABB center is certified by the KNX association, an umbrella group of 200 global companies that manufacture building automation products and systems. It offers a host of theoretical and practical KNX training courses to different countries in the region, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
ABB i-bus® KNX technology controls all application inside a home or modern hotel guest room and is one of the most widely used intelligent building control system in the world. The technology is designed to increase convenience, comfort and energy efficiency, and is currently installed in top hotels, commercial buildings and residences across the Middle East.
Speaking at the training center opening event in the UAE, Tarek Zakaria head of ABB’s i-bus KNX intelligent building automation systems in the Gulf, commented: “This is an important milestone for ABB as it expands our local training facilities and offers a cost-effective solution for our stakeholders; our regional system integrators and channel partners can now learn hands-on about KNX technology from qualified professionals without having to travel aboard. More importantly, the center will significantly raise the level of qualifications of specialists in the implementation and introduction of KNX standards, which is the key to spreading the technology in the region."
Zakaria also revealed plans to promote the awareness of KNX technology in educational institutes across the region. He said, “One of the center's missions is to join forces with leading engineering universities and vocational schools across the region with the aim of incorporating KNX technology in the curriculum with the help of ABB technology experts."
The training center will offer two main KNX trainings per year and certify up to 50 individuals. It will also provide channel partners with support for supervision, testing and commissioning of KNX installations in hotels, commercial and residential buildings, universities and more.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 117,000 people.
