ENGINEERING SUBCONTRACTOR EXHIBITION– BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ON TRUST

Having trusted suppliers is acknowledged as an effective route to high quality and low cost production. For companies providing engineering subcontract services, visiting the innovative new Engineering Subcontractor Exhibition (held at the RAF Museum, Cosford on 18th April 2013) provides access to some of the best machinery and equipment suppliers in the UK.

The show takes place alongside the established and highly regarded FAST Exhibition which showcases the latest advances in industrial fastening and assembly. The RAF Museum Cosford venue is a fantastic location for visitors involved in engineering, and offers free entry too.

The roadshow style of the new Engineering Subcontractor exhibition is ideal for visitors who are busy people: easy to get to, easy (and free) to park at, and easy to get round. Subcontract service providers can discover and discuss all the latest new equipment, machinery and processes to have emerged recently from an eclectic portfolio of leading suppliers to manufacturing companies. Included will be multi-axis machining equipment, lathes, turret and bed mills, bridge mills, turning centres, bar feeders, cutting tools and machines, CMM’s, marking equipment, waterjet cutting and much more. 

They will cover the needs of engineering subcontractors active in the fields of machinery, sheet metal working, pressing, plastics moulding and assembly, electronics and additive manufacture amongst more. 

This new event offers a low-cost, easy to manage platform for exhibitors and a focused event designed to deliver visitors with maximum information in the minimum of time and with the minimum of fuss. 

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AUL14 from Armacell UK Ltd - Successful Launch by Armacell for Fire Class Insulation Materials

Armacell celebrated a successful premiere of their latest Armaflex Ultima insulation material at the ISO’12 European trade fair for insulation technology which was held recently in Cologne. With this blue elastomeric foam, Armacell is believed to be the first manufacturer to offer a flexible insulation material which achieves European fire class B-s1, d0. The insulation material has an extremely low smoke density, making it an important contribution to the overall level of fire safety in buildings. In order to be able to install the new material reliably, Armacell has developed a range of purpose designed adhesives specifically for use with Armaflex Ultima. The product is also patent pending and will be launched on several European markets later in the year. Furthermore, Armaflex Ultima meets the requirements for sustainable construction and green building, such as the criteria for the LEED (US), BREEAM (UK) and GREEN STAR systems. All three are third-party certification programs for measuring the environmental sustainability of new and existing homes and buildings, with BREEAM being mandatory for new housing projects in the UK.

Statistics indicate that fires kill between 6,000 and 10,000 people annually in Europe alone. But only a few of these are killed by the flames, the majority die as a consequence of smoke inhalation. In the event of a fire it is vital that escape routes can be found quickly – which is only possible with minimal smoke development. The new European fire classification takes this fact into account, and when assessing the fire behaviour of building products not only tests the flammability, but also the smoke density and the production of burning droplets. The new Armaflex Ultima is the first flexible insulation material to achieve fire class B-s1, d0 in the European fire test. The insulation material releases only a minimal amount of smoke in a fire and thus makes an important contribution to the safety of people in buildings.

For maximum safety and sustainability, all public, commercial and residential new-builds should be planned and built incorporating the principles of sustainability, with the renovation of existing buildings also being given the same consideration. A Green Building certification is now important, and buildings certified under LEED, BREEAM or a comparable national scheme, such as the German DGNB, are characterised by high resource efficiency in the areas of energy, water and materials to have as little negative impact on health and the environment as possible. A range of tubes and sheets, in various sizes and thickness combinations is available in the Armaflex Ultima range, which in combination with the solvent-free Armaflex Ultima SF990 adhesive, can contribute to fulfilling the criteria for LEED certification. As with all Armaflex insulation materials, Armaflex Ultima conserves natural resources and reduces the emission of climate-damaging CO2. The range of purpose designed adhesives developed for the Ultima insulation systems include:

- Armaflex Ultima SF990 Adhesive: the first solvent and VOC-free adhesive for installing elastomeric insulation materials
- Armaflex Ultima RS850 Adhesive: High-performance adhesive with reduced solvent content for clean, non-drip installation
- Armaflex Ultima 700 Adhesive: reliable special adhesive for a wide temperature range

The choice of adhesive depends on the requirements of the project in question, and Armaflex Ultima is available in both standard and self-adhesive versions. In order to provide a reliable insulation system for the sensitive area around the pipe bracket, the Armafix pipe support is also offered in the new Armaflex Ultima quality.

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Mascus partners with RCS MediaGroup to expand in Italy

Mascus has signed a license agreement with RCS MediaGroup, an international multimedia publishing house, in Italy. RCS Media Group operates in daily newspapers, magazines and books, radio broadcasting, new media and digital and satellite TV. The company holds a leadership position in the area of daily newspapers with brands like Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport. In the classified ad sector RCS Digital is present with successful products like TrovoLavoro.it (recruitment), TrovoCasa.it (real estate) and Automobili.com (cars).

"Italy is among top five countries regarding the size of the markets in Europe in the business areas of construction, agriculture, ground scare, transportation and material handling. Therefore, this establishment is important for Mascus in South Europe, and Europe as a whole" says Fredrik Larsson Managing Director of Mascus.

Currently, Mascus has customers from 42 countries and over 1.200.000 unique visitors monthly. Products listed on Mascus cover a wide range including, tractors, trailers, forklifts, diggers, used trucks and much more. The company has fast expanded its operations in Europe, North America, Oceania and South Africa and has partners altogether in 32 countries worldwide.

"Mascus’ concept proves to be applicable in any country around the globe and we are glad to be able to expand our international presence in partnership with such respectable names in the media world. By partnering with major media houses such as RCS in Italy, Mascus now extends all across Europe and the globe in all key languages" added Fredrik Larsson.

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William Anelay repairs grade 1 listed St Augustine's Church

William Anelay Ltd has announced it has completed the latest phase of work at the grade 1 listed St. Augustine’s Church in Hedon near Hull.

The contract involved repairs and replacements to some of the building’s structural masonry, much of it dating back eight hundred years, as well as the sensitive introduction of newly carved masonry pieces produced at Anelay’s stoneyard in York.

One of the building’s grotesques was severely eroded and so a replacement was designed and then produced drawing on knowledge from the Decorated Gothic Ecclesiastical period and using existing carvings as a point of reference. The project lasted 10 weeks and was concluded in time for the Christmas festivities.

Established in 1747, William Anelay Ltd is one of the oldest companies in the UK and currently operates out of bases in York and Manchester with around 90 staff and an annual turnover in 2009 of £17 million. They are one of the UK’s few dedicated building restoration firms and have worked on many prestigious commercial and private residential projects across the British Isles and Europe.

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Powerwall to be Rebuilt After Acquisition by Enevis

Construction specialist Powerwall has been purchased by a leading renewable energy and engineering company in a deal that safeguards 30 local jobs.

The firm, which entered into administration on June 18, has been bought by Enevis, which operates across the UK from its base in Kent, England.

Powerwall offers a range of cutting-edge building products and techniques, including high-tech ‘off-site’ modular construction and green energy insulation solutions. Powerwall is the first UK firm to achieve a 60-year life expectancy certificate for its external insulation materials from the British Board of Agrement.

This deal underpins Powerwall’s future, protecting the company's proud history of manufacturing render in the area, by joining forces with Enevis, which has established a strong foothold in the construction and renewables industry during the past 25 years.

As part of the acquisition Powerwall will split into two separate divisions; Enewall, which supplies renders and aggregates, which will be branded Powerwall; and Enemetric, which will focus on revolutionary Volumetric Space Frame Systems.

Enevis’ investment allows Powerwall’s industry-leading specialisms to be incorporated into its complementary portfolio of products and services.

The company can now offer a full turnkey solution from initial design and concept through to the delivery of bespoke, high-tech ‘off-site’ modular buildings featuring the latest cost-saving renewable energies, all installed by an in-house and expert team of engineers.

Gary Mayatt, Managing Director of Enevis and the newly formed Enewall and Enemetric, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have completed the purchase of Powerwall, the construction industry experts with whom we have developed a fantastic working relationship during the past 10 months.

“Like many companies, Powerwall has been affected by difficult trading conditions brought on by the current economic and financial crisis and was forced into administration. We are pleased to welcome Enewall and Enemetric, an established brand and recognised market leader in Scotland, into the Enevis group of companies. The newly named companies will form an integral part of our future UK business strategy.

“This acquisition brings stability to the company, its staff and customers. It also maximises the key strengths of both parties, allowing us to provide a greater range of services to a greater number of clients.

“By completing this significant financial and managerial investment we have added an invaluable string to our bow. We are now able to offer cost-saving, green energy services and solutions in modular building construction, mechanical and electrical engineering and renewable energy fields – meaning we can design, construct and fit bespoke, money-saving buildings for customers across the UK.”

The acquisition was completed seven weeks after Powerwall went into administration.

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Helmsman gives Barbour ABI a ‘thumbs up’ from a happy customer!

Barbour ABI is proud to be working with changing room solution specialists Helmsman to provide targeted business opportunities.

If you’re looking for lockers, cubicles and seating then Helmsman is the brand for you. They manufacture, supply and install lockers, cubicles and bench seating primarily for leisure centres, schools and workplaces.

Having 250 years of trading under their belts, Helmsman is experienced and skilled at delivering high quality products to their ever expanding customer base. Owned by Sperrin Metal Products, Helmsman’s operation spans beyond nationwide, as they have a network of distributors across Europe and the Middle East.

Helmsman only joined us last year, but they’re fully benefiting from the excellent service Barbour ABI provides, Sarah Gibson, Marketing Manager from Helmsman says: “We used to use a competitor for leads previously, but the main reason we switched was because Barbour ABI’s Evolution system offers functionality for diarised calls.”

“We have four telesales staff using the data at any given time and to reduce duplicate calls we used to have to download data and import in a spreadsheet which was time consuming and frustrating.”

“After trialling ABI we could clearly see who was calling who, set profiles for different users so all stages of a construction project was covered i.e. pre-tenders (making sure we are specified), contacting all bidders and contract awarded projects. A big part of the telesales role is to ensure we are specified and if not specified ensure that we are given the opportunity to provide a quotation to contractors.”

“The site is very intuitive and once you have the initial training you are pretty much up and running. The Barbour ABI team is very friendly and always responds to suggestions for improvements to the site. If in the very rare chance that information is out of date, ABI do perform research calls on demand and update me within 24 hours.”

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CENTRALISED PNEUMATIC CONTROL FOR FOUR HOISTS

Materials handling specialists J D Neuhaus have recently supplied a BOP handling system comprising four of their air operated monorail hoists. This featured a centralised pneumatic system providing common sensitive controls for all the lift and traverse movements of the hoists either as individual or paired hoists, or with all four hoist units operating together in common.

The four hoists supplied were the EH 50 models each providing a 50 tonne lift capacity. Two hoists operate in tandem on one common overhead beam providing a collective synchronised lift of up to 100 tonnes, with two separate power supplies also provided for individual hoist operation when required. To accommodate the provision of separate energy chains in the limited space available, the fitment of individual energy chains on both the top and underside of the support beam was necessary. Each of the four individual hoists are also equipped with an emergency lowering device to handle the controlled and safe grounding of suspended loads in the event of any total loss or interruption of mains air power supply. As well as the centralised four-hoist control panel, optional pendant controls for use during equipment maintenance operations were also provided.

This handling system operates off a 6 bar mains air pressure and is suitable for working in hazardous areas where there is a potential risk of explosion. It incorporates compact, low headroom design hoists, fitted with instant-starting vane motors which have low maintenance requirements and are also insensitive to humidity and dust, with an operating temperature range from -20°C to +70°C. These reliable, robust hoists can be used on land installations, as well as on jack-up and semi-submersible drilling platforms. An offshore paint finish provides corrosion protection against tough weather conditions including salty, moist air on land as well as at sea.

The EH range of hoists cover individual lift capacities of 10, 16, 20, 25, 30, 37, 40, 50, 60, 75 and 100 tonnes. Hoists designed for operation where low headroom conditions exist can also be supplied. Multi-hoist assemblies and associated controls can be supplied to order providing a wide range of product lift requirements for general engineering from small workshop to major handling applications. Overload protection, two speed trolley controls with rack and pinion drives can also be provided as optional extras, to complement standard fail-safe braking systems, and both anti-climb and anti-drop devices. Optional hydraulic operation for the EH range of hoists can also be supplied for the 20, 25, 37 and 50 tonne lift capacities.

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Record online and mobile activity for oil and gas industry job site

Oil and Gas Job Search releases its half year online activity report, showing growth and user behaviour since the launch of their new site in September 2011, and their mobile site in January 2012.

Traffic

Over the last 6 months the website has seen a huge 40% increase in web traffic and a 260% increase in mobile traffic to their site. May saw a record number of 500,000 candidate visits and reported more than 4,000,000 page impressions.

Comparison of traffic locations vs. 6 months ago:

-Europe 23% increase

-Australia 45% increase

-Middle East 65% increase

-North America 34% increase

Job postings are up 60%, affirming the fact that the oil and gas industry is on the up and in good shape.

Comparison of registered site user locations vs. 6 months ago:

-24% increase in Europe

-20% increase in Australia

-34% increase in Middle East

-41% increase in North America

Duncan Freer, Managing Director at Oil and Gas Job Search comments: ‘Although the past few years have been something of a rollercoaster within the oil and gas industry. Our latest results indicate a significant upturn. At the start of the year, Oil and Gas Job Search had a record breaking number of visits in a month since launching 12 years ago. New figures show that vacancies posted in the first six months of 2012 were 50% higher than for the same period in 2011, while the number of applications made in May 2012 was 60% higher than in May 2011.’

Mobile

With more than 20% of site users now using their mobile devices to access the job site, and 3.5% of all visits arriving through a tablet device, combined mobile traffic is up 260%. This has resulted in a 140% increase in job applications via mobile devices.

Comparison of device usage vs. 6 months ago:

-417% increase in visits from candidates using iPad

-155% increase in visits from candidates using iPhones

-390% increase in visits from candidates using Android

John Roberts, Marketing Director at Oil and Gas Job Search says: “These findings have powered the decision to build device optimised applications for the iOS and Android platforms. These will be the first ever job site apps within the oil and gas industry and are due to be launched within the next 4 weeks. We are looking forward to seeing the results of engaging with our audience via this new medium.”

Social

Response from joint email and social media campaigns has been fantastic, driving traffic and increasing social media engagement levels by 40%. The results show over a 60% increase in job applications via social media channels.

Comparison of social media traffic sources vs. 6 months ago:

-218% increase in Facebook traffic

-810% increase in twitter traffic

John Roberts comments “The increase in traffic and job applications via social over the past 6 months has been astounding and I have decided to invest in new and innovative ways to interact with our site users on a social level. The rise in social media usage has nurtured a need to be more creative with our marketing strategy and I have made changes so that social has a larger role to play in our core marketing activities over the coming months.”

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CONTRACT FOR A57 TODWICK BYPASS AWARDED TO RINGWAY

Following the decision from Local Transport Minister, Norman Baker, to conduct an improvement programme on the dual carriageway at the A57 in Rotherham, Ringway, a leading highway construction provider, has successfully been awarded the contract which is estimated to be worth £14m.

The scheme, which will be carried out on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, will provide a new dual carriageway, approximately 1.6km in length, running from junction 31 of the M1 to the junction with the B6463.

“Our successful bid for the A57 contract is fantastic news and comes after many years of working within effective partnerships with Rotherham” says Kevin Graham, Divisional Director of Ringway, “It will give us the opportunity to use our local workforce and knowledge to really improve this vital part of the South Yorkshire road network.”

The A57, in its current state, is said to be one of South Yorkshire’s most notorious accident blackspots. The new dual carriageway will improve safety and also relieve major trafficking issues in the area. It is also thought that the improved access will bring increased investment into the area, unlocking the economic growth potential in Dinnington.

The works are expected to begin on site in August 2012, with the new road to open by December 2013.

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Timber Expo 2012 to focus on importance of correct specification, installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products within timber frame construction

Chiltern International Fire (CIF) will be exhibiting at Timber Expo 2012 as an official show partner, this year highlighting the importance of passive fire protection.

Visitors to CIF’s stand will get an overview of the range of services the company offers, including its redeveloped fire resistance testing facilities and training opportunities. The particular focus this year will be on the importance of correct specification, installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products within timber frame construction and how CIF can help companies ensure they meet the required standards.

In addition, Peter Barker will be presenting on Passive Fire Protection during the afternoon of the 25 September in Theatre 2. This will be based on one of the company’s popular training days.

Mark Cummings, Deputy Technical Manager, said: “Timber Expo is an excellent platform to demonstrate our expertise on fire-related issues, to meet clients – established ones as well as potential new ones – and to really be part of the exhibition by presenting topical seminars.”

Other activity CIF is undertaking at the exhibition is:

‘Fire Protection Measures – Understanding Your Responsibilities’ – a half day seminar on the morning of the 25 September, in the Aylesford Lounge, Floor 2 of the Ricoh Arena. This is being run in association with ASFP, FPA, BM TRADA Certification and legal firm Browne Jacobson. It will be a free event and delegates will also be able to visit Timber Expo in the afternoon.

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3M TO SHOWCASE NEW ADVANCED PIPE LINING SOLUTION AT NO-DIG 2012

Diversified technology company 3M will unveil two novel solutions to aid asset management in the utilities sector on stand 303 at No-Dig Live 2012 to be held from 2-4 October at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry.

Scotchkote Pipe Renewal Liner 2400 from 3M is a liquid lining solution for BS EN ISO 11295:2010 Class D (water quality) which can also be applied at specified lining thickness to help provide structural enhancement in excess of Class B requirements for potable water pipe lining applications.

Drawing on 3M’s extensive experience in coatings technology, the product has a 1:1 volume mix ratio, and is formulated using advanced aliphatic polyurea chemistry, helping to both minimise water absorption and extend design life, ensuring rapid cure and restoration of the pipe to service. The new product has undergone stringent testing at locations across the globe and is suitable for ductile iron, cast iron, steel and non-asphaltic cement mortar lined (CML) pipes in diameters between 4” and 24”.

Also on display will be a new liquid metal based system for the rapid restoration of sunken or rocking access covers, helping to negate the labour and traffic diversion costs traditionally associated with access cover maintenance. Using a compound which is simple to mix and apply, manhole covers with many years of life left in them can be quickly restored to a stable, correct position in relation to the surrounding road surface. The system comes in a kit which contains everything needed to perform the task, including tools and consumables.

Meanwhile, stand visitors can discover more about the latest techniques for the application of protective coatings to pipe interior surfaces through a process developed by Whirlwind UK, a leading innovator in contract services for water pipe rehabilitation and a key strategic partner to 3M in the utilities sector.

Paul Woolvine, General Sales & Marketing Manager – Infrastructure Protection Products at 3M, commented: “Extracting maximum service life from pipes is a key business driver for water companies and was a major reason for the development of the new lining product. Applied by authorised applicators and quick to cure, it rapidly and consistently restores water pipes to serviceable condition and helps meet both current and future AMP specifications. “Our access cover repair solution has once again been designed to help reduce the cost of asset management, extending the life of these products through a simple-to-apply solution which minimises traffic disruption and labour costs.”

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Precast Rocket Walls® outweigh any other type of freestanding unit, storing a greater amount within the same floor space

Precast Rocket Walls® are unique to Eleco Precast ™ and they meet BS8110. They can be delivered fPrecast Rocket Walls® are a high quality, freestanding, precast concrete unit and are available in 3 different heights, 2.4, 3 or 4 metres. They outweigh any other type of freestanding unit. This is because they have been specifically designed to be able to store a greater amount of material within the same floor space. Another advantage of the Rocket wall® units is that they can be rapidly installed to form storage bunkers and bays. With the unique inverted “Y” shaped profile, it means that there is no ‘toe’ for the loading shovels to hit and therefore prevents the lodging of stored material.

Rocket walls are designed to be sited on an existing concrete floor slab or foundation and bolted down, using fixing bolts. This prevents movement and, as a result, improves site safety and maximum efficiency. Precast Rocket Walls® are designed with external fixing points for easily unbolted and re-sited with relative ease if need be, offering even more flexibility in their use. It is this uniqueness that makes them suitable for a variety of uses including,

• MRF Bays
• Aggregate Storage
• Crop / Soil storage
• Internal and external dividing walls
• Loading one side or both

They can also take materials of up to 16KN/M3 in density and therefore are ideal to be used for the construction sector, for storing recycling products and/or used as a grain and crop storage solution.

Precast Rocket Walls® are unique to Eleco Precast ™ and they meet BS8110. They can be delivered from our two locations to cater to the whole of the UK. Bell & Webster is located in Lincolnshire, for more information visit www.bellandwebster.com or for Milbury Systems which, is located in Gloucestershire, then please go to www.milbury.com.

A number of projects have used Rocket wall® units for example:

Milbury Systems supplied 300+ units for M & D Kemp’s project which involved processing East Yorkshire County Council’s green waste.
M & D Kemp were happy with our precast Rocket walls so much that they re-ordered since their last project for East Yorkshire County Councils green Waste and here are the reasons why:

Availability: Milbury Systems were able to supply an initial order for 300 + units from stock on a rolling contract to kick start phase 1 of the project.
Economical: M & D Kemp used their own transport to collect Rocket Units from Milbury’s factory. They were able to load 24No. 2.40m high units per load, illustrating an economical transport cost.
Ease of use: M & D Kemp’s workmen were amazed how easy Milbury Rocket walls were to handle and install.
Unique patented design: The open "Y" section aids free drainage of the composted material by providing an open space for the liquid to run off and channelling it to the drains at the rear of the bays.

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TRACKER Plant takes the stress out of owning and using plant equipment

The launch of TRACKER Plant brings TRACKER’s fleet tracking capabilities together with its award winning stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) solutions, to meet the specific requirements of the Plant market. Now owners and hirers of plant machinery can monitor its actual usage on and off-site, helping to increase efficiency whilst benefiting from the ultimate security system in the event of theft.

The National Plant & Equipment Register (TER) reports that 95 per cent of plant equipment that is stolen every year is not recovered and says “Plant is seldom fitted with appropriate tracking devices – the right tracking device is an excellent way to make recoveries and generate actionable intelligence for the police.”
The combination of the latest technology from TRACKER offers plant owners a critical defence against plant theft, as well as a new level of control, inorder to get the best out of their plant fleet.

Stephen Doran, Managing Director, TRACKER, explains, “Speaking to our plant customers it became increasingly apparent their needs had changed. Whilst a stolen vehicle recovery system was essential, they also needed a solution to help them better manage their plant fleets. We have combined the power of TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery technology with our fleet tracking capabilities to deliver to the plant sector a comprehensive answer in one neat package.”

Fleet Tracking

TRACKER Plant is based on a combination of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM), but with the added benefit of TRACKER’s successful and proven Very High Frequency (VHF) radio technology. Fundamentally, this is brought together in a robust and waterproof unit, proven to withstand the harshest plant usage.

The system reports real time information about the usage of plant, such as engine running hours, and allows owners to set a location radius within which the plant can move freely, alerting them if it is moved outside of this location, known as Geofencing. The system will even inform owners when servicing of equipment is due. TRACKER Plant summary reports are emailed weekly containing clear and concise plant data, both on an individual item plant or as a group, for easy monitoring.

Vehicle Security

TRACKER Plant also includes TRACKER’s market leading stolen vehicle recovery system, offering an unrivalled level of protection against theft, as well as significantly increasing the chances of recovery. The system is Thatcham approved, offering added quality assurance and the possibility of an insurance discount.

Doran concludes, “The launch of TRACKER Plant encompasses the key issues surrounding the use of plant equipment and its security. We are bringing plant owners a powerful new way to monitor the status of a machine and its usage, bringing significant cost efficiencies, as well as giving peace of mind with our stolen vehicle recovery system. Designed specifically for the plant sector, this new product will help protect valuable assets, close the net on criminals and ensure businesses get the best out of their fleet.”

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7 bidder evaluation criteria

Because the construction bid evaluation is limited to price and other price-related factors only, the decision procedure of bidder evaluation criteria is much more simpler than other competitive procurement measures relating  more complicated evaluating factors.

Bid Evaluation Procedure  is carried out in 2 steps. After the bid has been determined responsive, the bidder must be determined responsible as follows.

7 bidder evaluation criteria

In order to be determined responsible, a bidder must be successfully evaluated against the 7 following criteria:

1. Performance Schedule.

The bidder must be able to comply with the performance schedule, required or proposed delivery, taking into consideration all existing commercial and governmental business commitments.

2. Financial Resources.

The bidder must have adequate financial resources to perform the contract, or the ability to obtain them.

3. Performance Record.

The bidder must have have a satisfactory performance history, if any. Nevertheless, a prospective contractor shall not be determined responsible or non-responsible solely because of a lack of relevant performance history, except when specified in a standard for special acquisitions.

4. Integrity and Ethics.

The bidder must have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics including satisfactory compliance with laws related to taxes, labor and employment, environment, antitrust, and consumer protection.

5. Construction Machinery .

The bidder must have the necessary technical equipment and facilities for production or construction, or ability to obtain them.

6. Organization and Skills.

The bidder must have the necessary organization and skills, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them.

7. Other Qualification.

The bidder must be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations.

Bidder evaluation criteria is also known as: bidder Responsibility Determination, contractor responsibility determination, vendor responsibility determination, bidder evaluation worksheet.

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Lakesmere installs a complex roof structure for the new Terminal 2 Building at Heathrow Airport

The £2.2 billion facility at the new Terminal 2 Building at Heathrow Airport will provide a new hub for Star Alliance Airlines, which includes British Midland, Lufthansa and United and will be capable of handling 30 million passengers a year by 2019.

The check-in area alone will be the size of three football pitches and, with Phase 1 due for completion in 2014, it provides an ideal opportunity for Lakesmere, the UK’s leading envelope provider, to showcase its innovative approach to what is considered to be the largest construction project currently on-site in the UK.

Lakesmere has commenced work as part of a £15 million contract for BAA to design and install a complex roof structure for the new Terminal 2 Building at Heathrow Airport.

Designed by leading architects Foster & Partners, the project will be delivered by a dedicated team at Lakesmere’s head office in Winchester and will result in the employment of up to 60 new site operatives.

Working alongside its key supply chain partners and utilising the latest 3D design technology and logistical planning tools, Lakesmere’s in-house design team developed a sophisticated technical solution for the unique 40 000m² sqm ‘eyebrow-shaped’ roof. The result meets the stringent acoustic, thermal and energy performance requirements demanded for the 180,000sqm building sited alongside a major international runway.

The demanding performance requirements of the building necessitated a sophisticated technical solution from Lakesmere that included a structural deck sitting off the main steelwork, supporting a thermally-efficient Kalzip standing seam roof. In turn, this incorporates innovative glazed roof lights, offering a high level of solar control and acoustic insulation, along with photovoltaic power generating panels and sophisticated sun-shading.

Commissioned by main contractor HETCO, a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and Ferrovial, Lakesmere will complete the roofing package during 2012 and will employ more than 70 staff on the project - good news for both the region and the industry.

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Lakesmere International lands multi-million dollar airport contract

The international division of UK based roofing and cladding specialist Lakesmere has secured its largest new contract to date following the team’s appointment to complete work as part of the ambitious redevelopment of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Lakesmere will design some 300,000m2 of Kalzip aluminium roofing covering the airport’s new passenger terminal building, railway station, air traffic control centre, and the main rescue and fire fighting station. Work will commence on the 18-month build programme towards the end of 2012. The extensive design, engineering and detailing work is currently underway and is being resourced from Lakesmere’s UK head office in Winchester. The specialist contractor is working closely with local partner SBG (the Saudi Binladen Group), the largest construction organisation in the country, for client GACA, the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia.

As well as providing a major boost to Lakesmere International’s order book, the new multi-million dollar contract win will also help to create employment opportunities in both Jeddah and the UK. With all site work being completed by local teams, Lakesmere is currently recruiting new staff to its Winchester office to help resource the complex design, engineering and planning work that is required.

Commenting on the new contract win Lakesmere’s Managing Director Mark Davey said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to join the project team at King Abdulaziz International Airport and to continue to strengthen our position as one of the leading building envelope specialists serving the global market. Our expansion into the international aviation sector perfectly complements the work we are currently undertaking in the UK and in particular, the several contracts that we have been awarded in the transport sector including Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2 building and various projects for Network Rail such as Farringdon and Reading rail stations. These are exciting times for Lakesmere, both home and abroad, and we are well placed to continue to meet these new challenges head on.”

The new multi-million dollar roofing contract at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport is the latest prestigious order to be secured by Lakesmere International in the aviation and infrastructure sector. The new win follows the company’s earlier appointments to complete a roofing package at a new airport in Salalah, Oman, various roofing works on several new ancillary buildings at Muscat Airport and a roofing contract for a new Civilian Aviation Centre and Air Traffic Control centre in Oman.

Lakesmere International has gone from strength to strength following its 2009 launch in Abu Dhabi with further offices now established in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in addition to premises in Muscat, Oman. In 2011, Lakesmere International appointed a dedicated General Manager to further develop business in this growing market.

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CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES SET OUT AT INDUSTRY SUMMIT

MORE than 500 delegates attended UBM’s Government Construction Summit 2012 with leading construction industry figures hailing it as the sector’s most important construction event of the year.

The event was organised by Building Magazine in conjunction with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to encourage greater levels of dialogue between the construction sector and Government departments. Attendees heard keynote speeches from Government Construction Advisor Paul Morrell and Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, as well as Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise. The inaugural one-day event was held at Park Plaza, Westminster, in London. Tom Broughton, Brand Director, Building, said: “We’ve had a fantastic turn out to the event confirming the Government Construction Summit’s place at the heart of the construction agenda.

“We want to see the pubic and private sector work better together and this conference is a sign of that improving relationship. Building magazine will be checking on its progress in the coming months.” A stellar line up of industry speakers set out their thoughts on how to better procure major public projects and increase value. Dr Uwe Krueger, Atkins’ Chief Executive Officer, said: "The UK Government has again made it clear the infrastructure sector must continue to create efficiencies for the public purse. Partnership is key, with the Government continuing to cut the red tape that can act as a drag on its supplies, and the sector must respond by showing the world-class innovation that the UK is famed for. “With London 2012 just 25 days away, we must emulate the best athletes and create a fitter industry capable of beating all-comers.”

Mike Putnam, President & CEO of Skanska UK, said: "Around 40 percent of the projects we deliver as an industry are procured by the public sector. I believe that by sharing best practice across a number of areas, we can help both the future of the construction sector in the UK and, in the longer term, the British Economy. “The Government Construction Summit has been a great way for us to facilitate such collaboration.” Autodesk and Atkins were Platinum sponsors of the event, with Skanska, CITB Construction Skills and Laing O’Rourke as Gold Sponsors.

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Capelwood Utilities relies on Mercedes-Benz vans

Water engineering specialist Capelwood Utilities relies on Mercedes-Benz vans. The latest arrivals from Sittingbourne dealer Sparshatts of Kent are four Medium-length Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIs. All represent extensions to the Capelwood Utilities fleet, which now numbers 24 vehicles and is dominated by the three-pointed star.

Established in 2004, the company offers a 24-hour, seven days-a-week service to both commercial, municipal and domestic customers, covering the installation and overhaul of water mains and the identification and repair of leaks.

Its 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinters carry specialised moling and thrust boring equipment, as well as other tools and pipes, and are used by Capelwood’s teams of engineers to attend job sites throughout southern England.

Managing Director Paul Capon said: “We bought our first Mercedes-Benz in 2006 and haven’t looked back since. The vans are work very hard but our Sprinters have proved more than equal to the job, strong, well-built, and very reliable. Sparshatts also provide a first-class service. The dealer’s sales executive Tony Kitchen and his colleagues are nice people to deal with.”

In addition to its 20 Sprinters, the firm also runs a pair of smaller, 2.7-tonne Mercedes-Benz Vito vans. One, a Vito 120CDI Sport Dualiner model with a second row of seats, metallic silver paintwork and alloy wheels, was supplied by Sparshatts in May and now serves as Mr Capon’s personal transport.

“My nine-year-old son Tommy competes in motocross events through the south-east and it’s a doddle to get his bike and other gear in and out of the back of the van,” explained Mr Capon. “But the Vito Sport is also a great looking vehicle and, with the automatic gearbox, lovely to drive – that 204hp V6 offers plenty of performance.

“I’m conscious too, that Mercedes-Benz vans are among the safest vehicles on the road which is another important part of their appeal, given our Duty of Care obligations to staff.”

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Ronacrete and Cemplas repair fire station buildings, appointed by The London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority

The London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority appointed Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs Ltd as the principal contractor to undertake concrete repair, brick repair and rendering works to the training tower and rear boundary walls of Croydon Fire Station. Cemplas completed the project using a variety of products selected from Ronacrete’s Concrete Repair & Protection and Waterproofing & Tanking ranges.

Training tower

Cemplas carried out investigation works before removal of defective concrete from the training tower. Steel reinforcement bars were cleaned, and Ronacrete Standard Primer was applied to the prepared bars. The areas to be reinstated were primed with Ronacrete Standard Primer, and the concrete was repaired using RonaBond Concrete Repair Mortar. Ronacrete Curing Membrane was spray applied to the fresh mortar , to prevent rapid surface moisture loss.

Rendered rear boundary wall

Prior to undertaking brick and render repairs to the rear boundary wall, Cemplas cut back the vegetation and cleaned the wall, to remove all surface dirt and debris. All cables were temporarily removed from the wall surface, existing render was hacked off, and the wall was dismantled. The original bricks were re-used to rebuild a 2m x 1.5m section of wall at parapet level.
The wall was rendered with Ronafix Mix A Weatherproof Render incorporating a bell cast drip. Ronafix Slurry Coat was applied to the prepared wall. Two coats of RonaBond Nigatex, high opacity, water-based coating were applied to the finished surface.

Unrendered rear boundary wall

Cemplas cut back the vegetation and cleaned the wall, to remove all surface dirt and debris. Joints were raked out to a depth of 25mm, and re-pointed using a 4:1 sand and cement mortar. A section of bowed wall at parapet level was dismantled and rebuilt. Ronafix Slurry Coat was applied to the prepared wall and the finished surface was coated with RonaBond Nigatex.

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Miller Construction extends invitation to sub-contractors to attend an open day

Miller Construction is extending an invitation to sub-contractors to attend an open day to find out more about becoming involved in the £180 million Leicester Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Subcontractors are invited to attend the Hilton Leicester Hotel, M1 Junction 21, Leicester, LE19 1WQ on Thursday 12th July, for the opportunity to find out more about the Leicester BSF Programme and its projects. The day will commence at 9.30am with registration and light refreshments and will be followed by a presentation from Miller Construction and Leicester Miller Education Company (LMEC) at 10am. Between 11am and 1pm there will be an opportunity for sub-contractors to speak with representatives from Miller Construction and LMEC to receive more information about the individual projects.

Andrew McGarva, Operations Director, Miller Construction, said: “We are keen to extend our supply chain for the Leicester BSF programme by introducing new local and regional suppliers and sub-contractors. We have already successfully delivered phase one of the programme and are well under way with phase two.

“This event will provide those interested, the opportunity to speak face to face with representatives from Miller Construction and Leicester Miller Education Company and find out more about the projects and the programme itself.”

There are a total of 18 Leicester BSF projects currently in the pipeline. Rushey Mead School is currently nearing completion and both Crown Hills Community College and City of Leicester College are underway, with another 15 in the design phase.

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