Civil Engineering: March 2011

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

BPH Attachment Rental and Sales appointed new UK importer for ProDem professional demolition attachments

BPH Attachment Rental and Sales has become the new UK importer for ProDem professional demolition attachments. Sales and customer support facilities relating to ProDem attachments will now be undertaken by BPH and its network of approved regional dealerships. The company has taken over from incumbent distributor IP Equipment and has retained its depot and maintenance facility in Southampton.

The ProDem range offers a wide variety of robust attachments for use in the demolition, recycling and construction sectors. Hydraulic breakers are available for machines ranging in weight from 0.7 tonnes to 110 tonnes. Other tools include compactors, multiprocessors and pulverizers. There is also a series of smaller crusher attachments available for use with mini and midi sized excavators

Commenting on the latest distribution deal, BPH’s Sales Manager said, “We are pleased to announce the inclusion of ProDem equipment into our distribution and rental portfolio. We believe the ProDem line up will perfectly complement the range of equipment we already offer including Kinshoffer attachments and Spraystream dust suppression units. We look forward to maintaining the sales and support previously offered to customers of IP Equipment whilst accessing new markets through both BPH and our established dealership network

Downwell Demolition dismantles Harry Potter and James Bond film studios

Downwell Demolition Ltd has commenced work on a six month contract at Warner Brothers Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire. The project will see the contractor strip out and dismantle the world-famous studio buildings where the entire series of Harry Potter films together with the James Bond film Goldeneye were all filmed.

A total of seven stage set buildings will be stripped of their ceilings, roofs and existing sound-proofing to allow the creation of new structures that can be used to produce forthcoming blockbuster movies.

Deploying a team of specialist CPCS-qualified staff, including a full time client liaison manger, Downwell will use a combination of scissor access platforms and specialist demolition excavators to undertake the delicate task of removing scaffolding, ceiling ducts, roof panels and skylights from the structures as well as demolishing several ancillary buildings adjacent to the main studios. The strip-out and deconstruction will take place with some stage sets and archive libraries still present within the structures.

A full recycling programme will be implemented for all materials removed from the site to ensure the minimum environmental impact. The end result will leave the seven cavernous studios stripped bare, with the adjacent area clear of unwanted buildings and lean-tos , in readiness for the new phase in the history of Leavesden studios

Quartix Pay As You Go vehicle tracking system saves costs for Canute Group

The Canute Group operates a fleet of some 750 purpose-made vehicles. Canute has equipped more than 300 of its 750 vehicles with Quartix Pay As You Go vehicle tracking – resulting in annual cost savings of around £300,000.

The £100million company, with sites across the UK and Ireland, turned to Quartix after trialling two different systems. The first suffered from a spate of breakdowns; the second was removed when the operating company went into administration.

Mark Longhurst, IT manager, said: “The first system we tried had been installed on our recovery fleet, which operates Government contracts; these contracts dictate that we must have a fully operational tracking system so that we can update them as to the whereabouts of a vehicle at all times.”

Canute approached Quartix for a number of reasons, among them the company’s transparent pricing, straightforward pay-as-you-go rental scheme (no long-term contract), potential for cost savings, and the GPS system’s functionality and ease of use.

Mr Longhurst added: “All the above have been met fully, and the after-sales support has exceeded expectations. In fact, the team, ranging from the support desk to managing director Andy Walters, bends over backwards to assist when needed, which is refreshing.”

Canute financial director Steve Ely calculates the company saves £1,000 per vehicle per year – an annual total of around £300,000.

Mark Longhurst agrees: “There is definitely a cost saving per vehicle as idle times have decreased and our depots use the system to re-route their vehicles to new jobs whilst they are out on the road.

Crane and Rigging Conference promotes crane safety

Co-located with ConExpo-Con/Agg, Mar. 25, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nev., The Crane & Rigging Conference (CRC) offers expanded educational opportunities for contractors, fleet managers, safety directors and others interested in promoting crane safety and improving risk management inside their organizations.

Produced by Maximum Capacity Media, the event is conveniently located at the Riviera Convention Center, just a short walk from the Gold Lot, where most cranes will be on display. Registrations are being taken now for CRC, which costs just $275 and includes lunch and coffee breaks. You must also be registered for ConExpo in order to attend CRC.

The conference includes five educational sessions, one of which is a panel discussion designed to guide contractors and crane owners through the path to compliance with the new OSHA1926.1400 regulation for cranes and derricks in construction. Even though the rule took effect in November 2010, many questions remain over compliance and enforcement.

The panel of experts, who represent a wide range of experience in heavy lifting—from insurance, risk management and general contracting to operator, rigger and signalperson training—will be on hand to talk through the issues and field questions from the audience. As there will be no shortage of strong opinions on the new rules, you won’t want to miss this lively discussion.

HBC-radiomatic UK offers radio control systems and a fully trained team of technicians for servicing, product support and improved access to parts and

Crane Care has been the sole distributor for HBC-radiomatic products in the UK and Ireland for almost 20 years and has developed an extensive knowledge of its products and applications.

HBC-radiomatic has announced the expansion of its UK division as one of the world’s leading suppliers and manufacturers of radio controls for industrial applications in the UK & Ireland. HBC-radiomatic UK started trading in January 2011 independently of Crane Care. The HBC-radiomatic UK headquarters are located in Birmingham along with the service centre and fully trained technical support team.

The new company is able to offer not only high quality radio control systems but a fully trained team of technicians offering application advice, servicing, product support, improved access to parts and spares and a unique dedicated repair-on-site service, with a pre-booked 24 hour turnaround, with full backing of HBC-radiomatic in Germany.

Sharon Evans, Managing Director of HBC-radiomatic UK explains: “The launch of HBC-radiomatic UK, will bring with it the history and established industry relationships built up by Crane Care, which means that the UK market will now be offered an expanded quality of service for all of its radio needs. Unlike many other providers in today’s market our products can be repaired and serviced on site or at our recently refurbished, high tech service centre by our new ‘Partner Level’ team of technicians, now 99% of remotes do not need to return to the manufacturer for repair, providing our customers with that added level of reassurance and worldwide support

China Infrastructure Construction Corp's newconcrete production Xi'an plant in China has begun operations

Because of high labor and operating costs, many Chinese companies have begun to move their operations from eastern China to western China, where labor and operating costs are considerably less expensive than in the more developed coastal regions. Significant infrastructure and logistics systems upgrades and expansions are expected in China's western provinces in order to support growing fixed asset investments by governments and businesses in the region.

Xi'an, located in Shaanxi Province and often referred to as the "Gateway to the West," is expected to benefit from massive investments in infrastructure by the Chinese central government as well as regional and local authorities for many years to come. Xi'an is poised to become a "super city" with a population of 10 million people or more by 2020, compared to approximately 8.3 million today.

China Infrastructure Construction Corp. (CHNC)'s new concrete production plant in Xi'an, China has begun operations and contributed to total revenues in line with management's expectations for the first fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2010

China Shuangji Cement opens new cement plant in Zhaoyuan City

China Shuangji Cement, Ltd. has recently held an opening ceremony for its new 1,000,000 metric ton cement plant in Zhaoyuan City and has started to ramp up production. The official ribbon cutting was attended by local dignitaries including Zhaoyuan City Mayor Mr. Wei Zhang and Party Secretary Mr. Shaoning Xu as well as China Shuangji's employees, suppliers, customers, and other industry officials.

China Shuangji's new Zhaoyuan City cement plant, which is located approximately five miles from the Company's former facility, has direct access to a new highway that leads to many of its customers and to nearby ports for transportation. The new facility is equipped with modern production lines as well as advanced testing equipment. Once operating at full capacity, the Company expects its Zhaoyuan City cement facility will increase its production capacity by approximately 66% to 2,500,000 MT per year. As a result, the Company expects that its revenue run rate and profit will be approximately 66% higher than it is currently.

"On behalf of China Shuangji Cement's shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers, I would like to thank Mayor Wei Zhang and Party Secretary Shaoning Xu and all the other local government representatives who helped make completion of this project a reality. I would also like to especially thank Mr. Jiping Wen, the individual investor who loaned us $3.7 million to complete our purchases and installations of state-of-the-art cement manufacturing equipment," said Mr. Wenji Song, Chairman and President of China Shuangji Cement, Ltd.

Diamond Chain International showcases new Concrete and Asphalt core drills

Diamond Chain International DCI will be showcasing its new Concrete and Asphalt core drills at the 2011 World Of Concrete in Las Vegas, January 18th-21st at their outside booth #O30200. Products being showcased include handheld electric core drills, handheld gasoline powered core drills, hydraulic core drills, and trailer mounted core drill machines.

Founded in 2006, Diamond Chain International has made a name for itself as a leading provider of diamond chain throughout North America. Now in 2011, DCI is introducing a new line of concrete drill machines to service the needs of Highway, Road, Bridge and Mechanical Contractors.

DCI’s new line of core drills will accommodate needs from small handheld core drills and .5” diameter all the way to large mounted core drills with a maximum core bit diameter of up to 72”.

East Midlands Diamond Drilling turns to Siltbuster to solve its dirty water problems at Birmingham New Street station

The Gateway project will transform Birmingham's New Street station into an iconic landmark with a stunning façade. As part of the project, the concourse and platforms will undergo considerable redevelopment. The concourse will be three-and-a-half times larger than at present, enclosed by a giant light-filled atrium with better access to the redeveloped platforms. More than 12,000 tonnes of concrete in total will be removed from site in order to create this atrium, with 7,5000 tonnes of concrete removed in phase 1. Work on the atrium will commence in January 2011 and the new concourse is set to open in 2012, with work due to be completed in 2015.

Siltbuster Limited, the total wastewater management specialist, has been appointed by East Midlands Diamond Drilling (EMDD), to treat silt laden wastewater generated by concrete cutting activities at the Birmingham Gateway project to upgrade New Street station. EMDD, one of the UK’s largest concrete cutting and controlled demolition specialists, is responsible for phase 1 of the demolition works. This involves the complete removal of the concrete floor slab on the mezzanine level of the NCP car park adjacent to the station.

EMDD is subcontracted by demolition contractor Coleman & Company Ltd to diamond saw cut the current car park structure, which comprises reinforced concrete beams and slabs into pre-determined 10 tonne sections. Water is used throughout the cutting processes as a lubricant for the diamond cutting blades and wire and also as a means of dust suppression, but by doing so, solids are taken into suspension. During the cutting process, in total four wire saws are utilised, creating up to 1,920 litres of waste water per hour.

In line with guidelines set by the Environment Agency (EA), EMDD is well aware of its responsibilities to treat silt laden water prior to discharge. In autumn last year, EMDD turned to Siltbuster for a solution to its dirty water problems. After reviewing the main issues on site – specifically the predicted volumes of slurry that might be produced and the weight restriction on the existing floor slab – it was decided the HB10 unit was most suitable for the project in question.

The HB10 stills the incoming waters and routes it upwards between a set of inclined plates. Fine particles settle onto the plates and slide down to the base for collection, while treated water flows to an outlet weir. The Siltbuster settlement unit offers a large effective settling area on a small footprint, making it ideal for a cramped site such as New Street station

Cementrade takes stock of the current and future cement investment landscape in China, Russia and CIS markets

A new wave of government housing projects in China this year will likely boost the demand for cement, helping to absorb the country’s additional capacities. Additionally, major upcoming construction projects in Russia and CIS may signal a return to growth for cement markets in these regions.

The 13th Asia Cementrade takes stock of the current and future world cement investment landscape. Experts outline the cement outlook in the rapidly developing economies of BRICs, as well as examine the opportunities and challenges in China’s booming construction sector. And with cement demand rebounding in Russia and CIS markets, the industry is contemplating if growth is here to stay in these regions.

The 13th Asia Cementrade, scheduled on 31 March to 1 April 2011 in Shanghai, is designed specifically to provide insights into how Asia’s cement sector is expected to unfold this year and the key markets influencing global trade movement.

Among the key speakers sharing first-hand perspective on cement investments in rapidly growing economies (specifically BRICs) and future for the sector is Mr. Goran L Seifert, Zone Director for Asia, Ciments Francais (Italcimenti Group). Mr. Seifert will zoom in on the aspects of possible changing composition and prospects of the BRICs. There’s also Mr. Alexander Romanenko, CEO, at Indexbox Marketing & Consulting, invited to answer a pertinent question in the industry: Is cement growth returning to Russia & CIS markets? Mr. Romanenko’s presentation will offer a snapshot of the current state in the Russian economy, its construction sector, on new infrastructure projects and cement consumption, including outlook to 2018.

The conference will also turn the spotlight on latest developments in China’s cement industry. Key highlights include a paper by Mr. Sun Kefang, Director, Ministry of Housing and Urban – Rural Development of China, who will providing an overview into the expected outlook for China’s construction sector. Addressing the challenges and opportunities for Chinese cement producers in the coming year is China Union Cement Company, with details on the rebounding East China market, export capacity & trade issues, as well as future industry trends.

Rounding up the focus on China will be China Development Strategy Institute for Building Materials Industry, analyzing the shifts in policy for China’s cement & building materials industry and plans to develop an inland cement industry

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Upsurge of infrastructure projects in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup

Qatar's decision to invest US$ 100 billion ahead of the 2022 World Cup has lead to an upsurge of infrastructure projects. Eng. Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi, Chairman of Qatar Public Works Authority, Ashghal has already awarded 2 contracts worth US$ 251.48 million since the beginning of the year and is still looking to tender more road projects in the coming months as there is an ultimate deadline to meet.

According to a recent survey done by IQPC, the major challenges in road construction are meeting project deadlines and upgrading the existing construction techniques with latest technologies and materials. Finding solutions to these issues will be of paramount importance in order to complete these projects on time. Effective master-planning, futuristic road designing, ensuring quality control and assurance in road construction are some of the key solutions revealed.

Road Planning, Design and Construction Middle East have been initiated under the patronage of Qatar Public Works Authority, Ashghal with an imperative aim to aid the government in providing world-class road infrastructure

Key road and transport experts from governments, national and international contractors/consultants across the Middle East are congregating at Oryx Rotana hotel in Doha, Qatar from 6-9 March 2011 to engage in a variety of discussions focusing on recent projects and overcoming the challenges in designing, planning and constructing roads.

Costain secures contracts for Manchester and London Heathrow airports

Costain has been awarded two new airport contracts for Manchester Airport and London Heathrow.

The first is an £18.6 million contract, as principal contractor, to refurbish Manchester Airport's main runway, Runway 1, under an existing Framework agreement.

The Runway 1 Project will continue through to September 2011 and the Airport will remain operational 24 hours a day during the runway closures period by utilising the 2nd runway

Costain has also been appointed by BAA as one of the suppliers for the Local Project Integrator (LPI) at London Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport. The contract, which is anticipated to have a value of approximately £8 million per annum, will run for up to four years and will commence in March 2011. This award builds on the success of similar contracts at Gatwick and Manchester Airports and the early completion of a £25 million interchange for Gatwick.

Commenting on the contract awards, Andrew Wyllie, Chief Executive of Costain, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded these contracts for Manchester and London Heathrow airports. The contracts represent significant investment in the UK's infrastructure and will help the airports meet the growing needs of passengers in the future."

Chicago Pneumatic expands in India 2011

Chicago Pneumatic (CP) has announced its increased activity and expansion plans for the Indian market in 2011, which include launch of several new products and comprehensively covering the Indian market through more and bigger distributors over the period of next few months.

CP aims at becoming a stronger player in the Indian market and as a part of this initiative the company is exhibiting its new products at one of the world's biggest construction and industrial trade shows being conducted in India, the Bauma Conexpo India in Mumbai.

According to Mr. Kishore Sidhwani, Vice President, Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment AB, Stockholm “We are now actively leveraging and building the Chicago Pneumatic brand globally. CP is well known in India and has been present here for over 70 years. We have a wide range of products designed for offering value to customers in the strong emerging markets. We are launching the new RX range of Hydraulic breakers, Light Towers and more models in Portable Electric Compressors.”

Chicago Pneumatic’s India plant is based in Nasik, Maharashtra and collaborates closely on product design, prototypes and testing. This plant is dedicated solely to construction tools – handheld pneumatic breakers, chipping hammers, pick hammers, scrabblers, rivet busters, surface and underground rock drills. The production lines are ISO 14001 certified, and equipped with high-end machining centers to ensure superior, consistent quality. In the Nasik test labs every single product is tested and certified before delivery.

Euro Auctions to hold a disposal sale of Larry Behan Quarries' entire asphalt plant and quarrying equipment

Due to the restructuring of the Larry Behan Group in Ireland, Euro Auctions will hold an auction sale of industrial plant and commercial equipment on behalf of Larry Behan Quarries. Euro Auctions has been appointed to hold a disposal sale of the entire asphalt plant and quarrying equipment on behalf of Larry Behan Quarries, Ireland.

The auction will take place on 14 September 2010 at the Windmill Hill Quarry, Rathcoole, County Dublin, as well as off-site at Spink, County Laois. The sale comprises the disposal of all assets, which includes:
* 1999 Marini Asphalt Plant (capacity 180 tonnes pr/hr).
* 2004 Marini MAP 230.135 Asphalt Plant (capacity 180 tonnes pr/hr).
* Marini MAP 155.104 Asphalt Plant (capacity 180 tonnes pr/hr).
* Marini MAP 230-142 Asphalt Plant (capacity 180 tonnes pr/hr).

Included in the sale will be all cold feed bins, burner, filler systems, hot storage, screening system, control cabins, mixer, filler silos, bitumen tanks and diesel tanks. Other items due to go under the hammer include crushing and screening equipment, excavators, assorted dozers, dumpers, loaders and other miscellaneous quarrying equipment.

Capital expenditure on the road infrastructure is poised to considerably increase in Central Europe in the coming years

In its latest report entitled "Road construction market in Central Europe 2010 - Development forecasts and planned investments", the market research company PMR estimates that after a 2% decline in 2009, the road construction market in Central Europe will develop at the average nominal rate of 5% in the coming years, with its value exceeding EUR15bn annually in 2012 and 2013.

Capital expenditure on the road infrastructure is poised to considerably increase in Central Europe in the coming years. However, due to the magnitude of the planned projects, not all of the tasks expected to be financed from the EU budget for 2007-2013 will be executed. Thus, the final shape of the EU budget for 2014-2020 is crucial for the countries in the region.

According to PMR's report, Poland will exert the strongest influence on the situation in the region's road construction market; this country represents 40% of the market's value and currently prepares road infrastructure for the approaching Euro 2012 football championships.

Thanks to sizeable investments in motorways and expressways, unprecedented in Poland's history, the Central European road construction market is expected to report positive rate of growth. "Currently, the construction of almost 1,300 km of expressways and motorways in Poland, worth over EUR14bn, is already contracted. These projects have already commenced or will begin soon. Moreover, calls for tenders concerning projects with the total length of over 600 km have already been announced and these projects should be contracted in the coming months", says Bartlomiej Sosna, Senior Construction Analyst at PMR and the author of the report.

More importantly, procedures related to the preparation of the expressway network construction gained pace; in Poland, the expressway network is expected to be twice as dense as the country's motorway network. Thus, in 2010-2013, Poland will account for a steep two-thirds of the 1,200 km of new expressways in the region. As far as motorways are concerned, the other countries in the Central European region perform significantly better, thus the proportions in the regions will be maintained – almost 60% of the 1,700 km new motorways expected to be constructed in 2010-2013 will be built in the five smaller countries of the region (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia).

Kasi's infrared chamber upgrade allows seamless asphalt repair in under 20 minutes

Kasi has redesigned its heating chamber with a new upgrade option that makes seamless asphalt repair even faster, deeper, and more uniform. The infrared chamber upgrade enables seamless asphalt repair in under 20 minutes (of a typical 5’ x 5’ patch including preparation and clean up), and doubles infrared chamber longevity to over 10 years.

At the heart of what makes this possible is a new 9”-wide, Inconel alloy, heating converter, mesh design in place of typical 2”-wide heating converter mesh. With the wider infrared heating mesh design, more asphalt is heated faster, deeper, and more evenly. The greater heating coverage, in fact, can soften existing asphalt to be patched, up to a 3” depth in as little as 4 minutes, about half the time of typical infrared heat converters. The more uniform heat coverage eliminates potential hot or cold spots, making the raking or “scarifying” of existing asphalt to remove seams even easier.

Since the wider heating converter mesh design generates more heat with better coverage, it also reduces the need for replacement parts used in typical asphalt infrared repair technology. With fewer replacement parts, the new design doubles the life expectancy of Kasi’s upgraded infrared heat chamber to over 10 years.

Unlike traditional “saw, cut, and remove” or “crack filler” asphalt repair techniques, Kasi’s infrared asphalt repair has no seams for water and ice to penetrate. Instead, Kasi’s infrared restorations fuse to the existing pavement, creating a continuous surface. This eliminates the need for tack-coating the edges, enhances durability, and allows roads to be opened to traffic immediately. It also makes the repair process less expensive, since existing asphalt is recycled, crew size is typically limited to two; and only a single truck or trailer is used.

Ringway resurfaces carriageway from the gates of Buckingham Palace to Constitution Hill

Caterpillar's AP655D tracked paver is proving the ideal machine for contractors involved in projects across Europe, from France, Spain and Portugal to Germany and Norway. The possibility to equip the machine with a choice of conventional steel tracks, or the flexible rubber Mobil-tracTM System (MTS), offers customers a paver with exceptional manoeuvrability, high traction capabilities, rapid travel speeds and good flotation.

The machine provides three steering modes: one for paving, one for travel and a manoeuvring mode that permits the tracks to counter rotate, allowing the paver to turn within its own footprint. This Caterpillar designed system permits operators to rapidly reposition the machine when moving to a new start point. It also enables the machine to access restricted job sites, including narrow mountain roads.

An AP655D was used by French contractor Braja on a narrow roadway in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. Working on a 7.1km section between Villepredix and Leoux, where the elevation of the road rises from 450-750m, the machine was able to lay 250 tonnes of bituminous concrete mixture in just 45 minutes. The next day the same machine was utilised to pave an 8km stretch of road from Verclaus to Lemps, again covering a change in altitude of more than 200m.

Braja’s road crews said that the AP655D, fitted with the MTS rubber track system, handled the jobs in one third of the time that it would have taken with a conventional steel track paver. The operators also claimed that the Mobil-trac system provided additional stability and security on the mountainous roads.

Caterpillar's AP655D tracked paver builds roads throughout Europe

Caterpillar's AP655D tracked paver is proving the ideal machine for contractors involved in projects across Europe, from France, Spain and Portugal to Germany and Norway. The possibility to equip the machine with a choice of conventional steel tracks, or the flexible rubber Mobil-tracTM System (MTS), offers customers a paver with exceptional manoeuvrability, high traction capabilities, rapid travel speeds and good flotation.

The machine provides three steering modes: one for paving, one for travel and a manoeuvring mode that permits the tracks to counter rotate, allowing the paver to turn within its own footprint. This Caterpillar designed system permits operators to rapidly reposition the machine when moving to a new start point. It also enables the machine to access restricted job sites, including narrow mountain roads.

An AP655D was used by French contractor Braja on a narrow roadway in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. Working on a 7.1km section between Villepredix and Leoux, where the elevation of the road rises from 450-750m, the machine was able to lay 250 tonnes of bituminous concrete mixture in just 45 minutes. The next day the same machine was utilised to pave an 8km stretch of road from Verclaus to Lemps, again covering a change in altitude of more than 200m.

Braja’s road crews said that the AP655D, fitted with the MTS rubber track system, handled the jobs in one third of the time that it would have taken with a conventional steel track paver. The operators also claimed that the Mobil-trac system provided additional stability and security on the mountainous roads.

On the Braja contracts in France, the rubber track system was not only perfect for the actual paving work, it also proved an ideal solution to support transport difficulties as well. Due to the sharp mountainous turns and confined space available, it was not possible to transport the machine to the job site on a truck. However, with the excellent mobility provided by the MTS track design, the machine was able to make swift progress up the mountain roads without damage to existing paving.

Bevan fits HMF cranes to Jewson trucks

Like other bodybuilders, Bevan has previously relied on crane suppliers to mount their own hydraulic loaders on customers’ vehicles. This time, though, the West Midlands-based company is fitting the HMF cranes and their sub-frames itself, as Jewson returned to Bevan Group with its latest order for crane trucks. This development has greatly increased flexibility and efficiency within the build process, with twin benefits of reduced hassle and super-quick build schedules.

Not only is this ‘one-stop shop’ solution making life easier in administrative terms for Jewson, it also means the new trucks are being delivered significantly earlier than would previously have been the case.

Jewson’s latest order is for 55 MAN chassis, a combination of 18- and 26-tonners, which will operate from the builders’ merchant’s depots nationwide. Bevan is fitting these vehicles with split dropside bodies and, immediately behind their cabs, radio-controlled HMF 1420-K2 14-tonne/metre cranes with Kinshofer brick and block grabs.

It is Jewson’s first experience of operating HMF cranes in the UK. Bevan recently became an authorised dealer for Danish-owned HMF, whose premium brand products are renowned not only for their strength and durability, but also for their advanced safety technology – Jewson has specified its cranes with the latest, dynamic version of HMF’s EVS (Electronic Vehicle Stability) system, which calculates the extent to which the load on the back of a truck can also serve as a counterweight, thus allowing the operator to maximise the loader’s capacity while eliminating any risk of the vehicle toppling.

In another move that has shaved an additional week or so from the build timetable, Bevan is employing dropside panels and other extrusions which have been pre-powder-coated in Jewson’s familiar shade of blue. This means the vehicles do not have to go through a paintshop process.

Crane and Rigging Conference promotes crane safety

Co-located with ConExpo-Con/Agg, Mar. 25, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nev., The Crane & Rigging Conference (CRC) offers expanded educational opportunities for contractors, fleet managers, safety directors and others interested in promoting crane safety and improving risk management inside their organizations.

Produced by Maximum Capacity Media, the event is conveniently located at the Riviera Convention Center, just a short walk from the Gold Lot, where most cranes will be on display. Registrations are being taken now for CRC, which costs just $275 and includes lunch and coffee breaks. You must also be registered for ConExpo in order to attend CRC.

The conference includes five educational sessions, one of which is a panel discussion designed to guide contractors and crane owners through the path to compliance with the new OSHA1926.1400 regulation for cranes and derricks in construction. Even though the rule took effect in November 2010, many questions remain over compliance and enforcement

HBC-radiomatic UK offers radio control systems and a fully trained team of technicians for servicing, product support and improved access to parts and

Crane Care has been the sole distributor for HBC-radiomatic products in the UK and Ireland for almost 20 years and has developed an extensive knowledge of its products and applications.

HBC-radiomatic has announced the expansion of its UK division as one of the world’s leading suppliers and manufacturers of radio controls for industrial applications in the UK & Ireland. HBC-radiomatic UK started trading in January 2011 independently of Crane Care. The HBC-radiomatic UK headquarters are located in Birmingham along with the service centre and fully trained technical support team.

The new company is able to offer not only high quality radio control systems but a fully trained team of technicians offering application advice, servicing, product support, improved access to parts and spares and a unique dedicated repair-on-site service, with a pre-booked 24 hour turnaround, with full backing of HBC-radiomatic in Germany.

Sharon Evans, Managing Director of HBC-radiomatic UK explains: “The launch of HBC-radiomatic UK, will bring with it the history and established industry relationships built up by Crane Care, which means that the UK market will now be offered an expanded quality of service for all of its radio needs. Unlike many other providers in today’s market our products can be repaired and serviced on site or at our recently refurbished, high tech service centre by our new ‘Partner Level’ team of technicians, now 99% of remotes do not need to return to the manufacturer for repair, providing our customers with that added level of reassurance and worldwide support.”

Street Crane's new LX hoists are ideal for localised workstations and production line applications

Street Crane has designed the new LX chain hoists for precise and safe lifting for a range of industries such as automotive, commercial transport, construction, aviation, light marine and general engineering workshops. In capacities from 125 to 5000Kg, the new LX chain hoist opens a new market segment.

Flexibility was a key project goal – there are hoists to meet every need. Eye suspension models for stationary lifting, powered or push trolley options, standard height models or chain hoists configured for low/restricted headroom situations are just a few of the choices. Other options include choices of hoist and travel speed, dual speed hoisting, enhanced environmental protection to IP55 and variable frequency travel drives. IP54 is the default environmental protection standard and all models are suited for temperatures from -20 to +50 degrees C.

Safety is paramount. A slipping clutch provides overload protection and chain hoists feature high performance disk brakes. Plug and socket electrical connections simplify final fix installation. Limit switches can be set for both hoisting and lateral travel.

There are several answers to problems of height limitation. On low headroom hoists the hook rises to the side of the motor gearbox to give an exceptionally low profile. Where the available operating envelope for the hoist is more limited, the hoist can be installed between the beams of a double beam crane to give an even greater clear working height.

Control options include 48 Volt standard pendant control or remote operation by radio device for greater convenience and safety. Control units can be set-up for solo operation or to work twin hoists for tandem lifts

Daunting Year Ahead For Bay Bridge Retrofit

THE NSW Government is undertaking electronic monitoring of the $2.3 billion Epping to Chatswood rail line after cracks appeared in the tunnel and its builders conceded the infrastructure would not survive a mandated 100-year life span.

A 24-metre section of the tunnel is under surveillance for any movement while trains continue to use the line and plans are being drawn up to repair the tunnel. The cracks were discovered six to eight weeks ago.

The area is where pits were dug to drop in the tunnel-boring machines that carved the length of the 13-kilometre underground railway, near the corner of the M2 and Delhi Road.

Advertisement: Story continues below The cracks appeared in the arches that were built to support the roof of this section, which was replaced after the boring was completed.

The tunnel's builders, Thiess Hochtief, are worried that it will not last until 2109, a minimum life span dictated by the NSW Government contract.

The Government insists the tunnel is safe for passengers

Last year the Herald revealed serious defects had emerged in the project that threatened its long-term reliability, after being leaked a secret Government report which exposed thousands of flaws in the way the tracks were fixed to concrete slabs

Earthquake simulation at UC San Diego put building materials to the test

Engineers conducted a simulated earthquake today in San Diego on a piece of equipment called a "shake table" to help determine what kind of building materials are best to use in earthquake-prone areas.

The first shake test was done at 80% of the intensity of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which left 57 dead. The Northridge quake was a magnitude 6.7. In the simulation, almost all the masonry on the one-story structure made of bricks, mortar, wood and drywall -- the same materials used to build many homes and businesses in Southern California -- collapsed.

"I was not expecting to see this at this level," said Richard E. Klinger, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

On the second shake, which was 120% of the intensity of the Northridge earthquake, the rest of the masonry on the structure came crashing down.

The tests were conducted at the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. The tests were paid for by the masonry industry and the national government

City Readies 520 Bridge Recommendations For State

Seattle City Council members laid out their recommendations on Monday to guide the Legislature in selecting a six-lane replacement for the Evergreen Point Bridge.

On a day when the 2009 Legislature convened and a tunnel was chosen to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the council called on state lawmakers to find additional funding for the state Route 520 project. Members passed a resolution seeking a new financing plan that would include money for transit operations across 520.

Council President Richard Conlin said he was concerned that a more costly viaduct tunnel would reduce state funding for 520, particularly for environmental, neighborhood and other mitigations. Originally estimated at $3.9 billion, new costs have risen to $6 billion, though some dispute those figures.

"We don't have a lot of information at this point, but there is a lot of stress in the transportation budget," Conlin said. "I'm really worried about possible financial impacts (of the viaduct decision) on the 520 Bridge."

The council did not choose any plan as its preferred alternative. Instead it recommended that all three produced by a multi-neighborhood, multiagency mediation team be analyzed in a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) being prepared by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Members declined to include a four-lane option in the resolution, much to the dismay of supporters who say four lanes was the most eco-friendly and affordable.

Innovative Jakway Bridge nominated for quality award

AURORA - The new Jakway Park Bridge in Buchanan County can certainly be called “Innovative”. It could be this innovative style that got the bridge nominated as an Iowa Quality Initiative Structures Award contestant.

It is the first highway bridge in North America to be built with a new generation of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) pi-girders, the first North American highway bridge project to incorporate batching of UHPC in a ready-mix truck, and the second highway bridge project in Iowa and North America to be built with UHPC girders -- providing another, significant step towards “The Bridge of the Future.”

Buchanan County was granted funding for this project through the TEA-21 Innovative Bridge Construction Program (IBRC), managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to construct a highway bridge using an optimized pi-girder section with (UHPC).

The Office of Bridges and Structures at the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Bridge Engineering Center at Iowa State University designed the bridge; a combination of cast-in-place, simple span slabs with a center span consisting of a series of precast UHPC pi-shaped girders.

The bridge is 24 ‘ 3 “ wide by 112’ 4” long. The UHPC center span is 51’ 2”

THE MATERIAL

Developed in France during the 1990s, UHPC has seen limited use in North American bridge projects. Consisting of fine sand, cement, and silica fume in a dense, low water-cement ratio mix, this highly moldable material offers a combination of superior properties including compressive strengths up to 30,000 psi and flexural strengths up to 6,000 psi, ductility, durability and a vast range of aesthetic design possibilities.

UHPC is denser than conventional concrete which attributes to its remarkable imperviousness and durability. In addition, UHPC is extremely low in permeability and performs better in terms of abrasion and chemical resistance, freeze-thaw, carbonation and chloride ion penetration (less than 0.5 mm). To improve ductility, steel or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers are added, replacing the need for passive mild reinforcing steel.

Shanghai Skyscraper Named “Best Tall Building

The Council on Tall Buildings and the Urban Habitat has named the Shanghai World Financial Center the “Best Tall Building Overall” for 2008. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and completed last year, the building was chosen from among four “Regional Tall Building” winners, including The New York Times Building by Renzo Piano Building Workshop with FXFOWLE, London’s 51 Lime Street by Foster and Partners, and the Bahrain World Trade Center by Atkins.

The Shanghai World Financial Center, which boasts the highest occupied floor in the world, was chosen as the winner for “its revolutionary structural design and inspirational symbolism,” according to the council. Formed out of a square prism intersected by two “cosmic arcs,” the building includes a distinctive, multi-story trapezoidal aperture at its upper floors. The firm’s design was inspired by two Chinese burial symbols: “a square prism essentially representative of the earth, and a heaven symbol—a circular disc with a circular aperture cut through it,” says Bill Pedersen, FAIA, of KPF. “We wanted to do a building that was a genuine expression of the relationship between the earth and the sky,” he explains, “and also that could be connected to the culture within which it is placed.”

The tower’s tapering form is more than an aesthetic move—it also allows the building to maximize floor plate and material efficiency. Structural innovations by the engineering firm Leslie E. Robertson Associates succeeded in increasing the building’s volume by 20 percent while retaining its original weight, thereby minimizing its total embodied energy. And the range of floor plates that the design’s unique geometry creates allowed KPF to “negotiate the different program necessities” of the building’s office, hotel, and retail components, according to Pedersen.

Construction of dams and canal integral to plans for California water system

A panel of the governor’s top advisers has backed sweeping changes to California’s water system, including the building of dams and a canal to pipe water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Delta Vision Committee endorsed a plan that asks California lawmakers to revisit the canal idea that voters rejected long ago. It also promotes building dams, which Democrats oppose, and restoring 100,000 acres of habitat in the delta, where some native fish are struggling to survive.

A final public hearing was held recently in a two-year process to come up with ways to restore the ailing delta while shoring up California’s water supplies.

The committee will present Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with recommendations by the end of the year.

The panel’s meeting came a day after the Bush administration ordered state and federal officials to drastically reduce the amount of water pumped from the delta in order to save a California native fish from extinction. That decision has left many farmers in the Central Valley and cities in Southern California with the prospect of water shortages next year.

The delta plan envisions a new plumbing system to funnel water from rivers in Northern California to the majority of the state’s population in the arid south and San Francisco Bay area. The idea is to move away from the delta — a fragile maze of levees, islands, river channels and sloughs that are susceptible to rising sea levels, earthquakes and levee breaks.

But transforming the delta and California’s water system will be expensive and potentially a hard sell to legislators currently bickering over how to close a staggering budget gap of US$41.8 billion through mid-2010.

Recession Adds to WTC Troubles

NEW YORK -- The recession has cast uncertainty on plans for the office space at the World Trade Center, likely leading to more delays in rebuilding the site.

Executives for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that owns the 16-acre area in lower Manhattan, and private developer Larry Silverstein are in early talks on how to cope with construction problems and the slumping property market. Solutions are likely to include delays to the 2013 targets to complete the office and retail space meant to replace the Twin Towers, according to participants in the talks.

The rebuilding of the trade center, destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has been hampered by delays, infighting and cost overruns. Work is under way on the project -- which includes five office towers, a memorial and museum, a shopping mall and a transit hub -- but most of the attention is now focused on the memorial and below-ground infrastructure, which are years behind schedule

A Port Authority review issued in October was meant to put the project back on track, but plans for the eight million to 10 million square feet of office space at the trade center are up in the air. "We definitely have challenges on the commercial side of the project about timing and raising capital. Those are the things we are talking to Silverstein about," said Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia.

The authority's executive director, Christopher Ward, said "discussions are under way to ensure infrastructure and the buildings meet the markets at the right time."

Mr. Silverstein declined to comment. In the past, he has expressed determination to build despite obstacles.

The economic environment is making it difficult to move forward on speculative office buildings. Debt financing for real estate has dried up, and the banks and financial firms that could fill the towers are reeling. Mr. Silverstein has floated the idea of having the Port Authority use its balance sheet to finance the office buildings, according to people familiar with the talks

Failing water scheme leaves Beijing high and dry

The completion date for an engineering mega-project to bring water from a tributary of the River Yangtze in the wet south of China to the capital city, in the arid north, has been postponed again.

China's northern plain, its breadbasket for thousands of years, is running dry. With rivers often empty, the country is pumping out underground water reserves to keep taps flowing and crops growing. So, in 2003, the government promised relief with the South-North Diversion, a $60-billion scheme aiming to divert water northwards from three different locations.

When the scheme was launched, Beijing's mayor promised the water in plenty of time for the Olympics that took place earlier this year. Then the project was postponed to 2010. But last week, Chinese officials set a new completion date of 2014.

Now the whole project is in serious doubt. The eastern route, using the ancient Grand Canal, is held up because factories are polluting the canal. The western route, tapping the Yangtze headwaters in Tibet, has not been started. Officials also blame pollution for the latest delay to the middle route - a canal stretching more than 1200 kilometres from the Danjiangkou reservoir on the River Han. They say more treatment plants must be built to bring the water supply to a high enough quality.

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