ECO-BUILDING PRODUCTS LIGHTS THE WAY FOR REAL BUSINESS BENEFITS

Lincolnshire-based renewable energy products distributor Eco Building Products has replaced the traditional florescent lighting at its Market Deeping premises with a new sustainable system from Envirolighting Ltd and has been so impressed with the results it has signed a deal with the supplier.

Sister companies Lark Energy and Kestrel Timber Frame also had new lighting installed. All three companies, part of the Larkfleet Group, have seen real savings in energy and costs since installing new tubes and switches.

Eco Building Products is a leading supplier of alternative energy technologies, insulation materials and other products aimed at making new and existing buildings ‘greener’.

Ian Greenfield, operations director at Eco Building Products, said: “The Envirolighting installation cost around £3,000. We are already seeing energy savings of up to 80 per cent and expect payback in less than two years.

“There were no new fittings, just tubes and starters, which keeps costs and installation time to a minimum. We have also installed eco light switches that only turn on some of the lights in a room. If it is too dark, simply flick the switch again and all the lights will come on. As a result, some rooms are using half the number of tubes all the time now, giving us a real saving.”

As a result of the savings that it has made, Eco Building Products is now working with Envirolighting to offer free lighting surveys to its customers and to promote Envirolighting lighting solutions for commercial premises.

Envirolighting contracts manager Paul Fowler said: “We are delighted that Eco Building Products is promoting our lighting solutions. Our surveys include an assessment of current lighting and light levels. We assess contributions of natural daylight to determine if this free light source can be used in conjunction with artificial lighting to maximise energy savings.

“Based on this we generate a proposal, which includes which lighting products we would recommend for each area of the premises, and a full energy report comparing current lighting to proposed. We highlight cost savings and reductions in energy consumption, increases in profit as a result and reductions in the business’ carbon footprint.

“We also often recommend a short trial period where we fit a small quantity of our recommended lighting products in a test area and run them for a brief time so that we can calculate average savings for the entire site. This allows customers to see the benefits of our recommendations without committing to a full project implementation.”

Envirolighting’s solution includes the installation of retrofit fluorescent T5 adaptors which are more efficient than old-style T8 and T12 fluorescents. These T5 adaptors provide the necessary high-frequency ballast to adapt switch start and starterless fittings to accept energy saving T5 fluorescents tubes with simple plug-and-play speed. This energy-saving lighting solution means an easy change to efficient lighting without the need to replace the light fittings or cause disruption.

In addition to the T5 retrofit adaptors, Envirolighting solutions also include sensor control and efficient HID dimming where fittings can be dimmed to ten per cent of their normal output when areas are unoccupied. As the fitting automatically turns back up to full output again when presence is detected, ‘re-strike’ times no longer become an issue.

Ian Greenfield added: “We have joined forces with Envirolighting to further enhance our ability to supply the best in renewable energy products to our customers.

“Eco Building Products is committed to providing the best range of quality renewable energy products available to the trade in this region. Our partnership with Envirolighting will help us to achieve that.”

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ELECOFLOOR’S SPEEDY INSTALLATION WINS £12M RESIDENTIAL CONTRACT

The speed of installation and acoustic properties of Stramit’s ElecoFloor has recently been utilised in the construction of the West Park Development, Manchester. Renaker Build, with expertise in construction projects of varying complexity and value, specified and installed ElecoFloor at the £12M residential project. The West Park development consists of the build of two apartment blocks each containing 85 individual units.

Appointed as the main flooring product throughout the development, ElecoFloor panels provide the necessary sound insulation for separating floors, without the need to source all the required layers for a built up system. This results in a reduction in thickness above the joist being of 50% or more. The medium weight overlay board, designed for concrete and timber floors, is an acoustic flooring system comprising of moisture resistant chipboard and MDF composite bonded boards, with a resilient central layer and a durable polyester felt backing. This construction helps improve impact and airborne noise.

Stramit Panel Products, a trusted partner in leading partition systems in the United Kingdom for over 50 years, understands the importance of a quick installation process and has utilised its expertise in manufacturing laminated and pre-decorated partitioning panels to develop the ElecoFloor system. With its fast installation time, Elecofloor can be fitted up to half the time it takes to install a batten system. Once in place, the panels take up a third of the overall thickness, delivering material savings on brick courses, whilst additionally significantly reducing the overall height of the building.

Renaker, which awarded ElecoFloor the contract, provided a clear schedule for the quick turnaround required. Phased over a 24-month period to meet the client’s sales requirements, Stramit guaranteed the delivery of the ElecoFloor system could meet the flexible schedule Renaker needed to work within.


A spokesperson from Renaker Build commented, “Due to a positive working relationship with Stramit, we have successfully installed ElecoFloor on several projects over the past few years, including West Park and Delta Point in Manchester. We continue to experience a first class service and I feel extremely confident in the knowledge that ElecoFloor will always arrive onsite on time and of the highest quality.

“With valuable acoustic properties and simplicity of installation, ElecoFloor provides competitive pricing which makes a cost effective and time saving product to install.”

Whilst Robust Details, the Certification Scheme for separating walls and floors in new build joined homes in England and Wales is a popular choice for many, Renaker has chosen the Stramit ElecoFloor system which provides important data in order to help demonstrate what acoustic performance is being achieved.

Furthermore, the composite floor system, which successfully meets Part E of Building Regulations, protects residential properties from the noise of activities in other rooms or adjoining properties. ElecoFloor, designed for use in both new build and conversions, is suitable for use throughout a building, including bathrooms and kitchens. Additionally, ElecoFloor is also widely used in the conversion and refurbishment sector, where pre-determined ceiling and door heights can be restrictive.

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CWISC Competent Persons Scheme Notifications Up A Third

In the first six months of 2012, just under a quarter of a million Cavity Wall Insulation installations were carried out under the Cavity Wall Insulation Self Certification scheme (CWISC) - a 36% increase in installations under the scheme compared to the first six months of 2011.

The CWISC scheme is operated and administered by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) in association with the British Board of Agrément. The scheme provides homeowners with the comfort of knowing that work by registered contractors is not only covered by the CIGA Guarantee but complies with building regulations requirements.

Registered installers under the scheme must meet detailed technical requirements and are subject to regular independent inspections and surveillance of work. Under the Scheme a certificate of conformity is sent to the homeowner shortly after completion of the installation.

Gerry Miller, Chief Executive of CIGA, commented: “Qualifying installations also receive the CIGA independent 25 year Guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship. To date, CIGA has issued nearly 5 million guarantees, which, in conjunction with the certificate of conformity with building regulations, provides householders with complete peace of mind.”

The CWISC scheme was officially launched 1st October 2010.

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ACOUSTIC TESTING - PRACTICAL HELP FROM CHILTERN DYNAMICS

ACOUSTIC testing of building products is fast becoming key to planning and design to meet both regulatory and customer requirements.

To meet the construction industry’s needs, Chiltern Dynamics, part of the BM TRADA Group,
has produced a free Technical Information Sheet outlining current requirements, benefits and processes of acoustic testing and common problems areas to consider before testing.

Paul Andrews, Head of Mechanical Testing at Chiltern Dynamics, said: “Noise is an important element in all kinds of planning projects, be they multi-occupancy buildings or developments close to roads, railways etc. Environmental impact assessments may show that external influences mean buildings will need higher levels of sound insulation. Buyers, both residential and commercial, are increasingly likely to consider noise factors, and products proven to provide a specified level of sound insulation will have the commercial edge over those which cannot.”

Evidence of acoustic performance over and above the minimum requirements is increasingly being required to meet wider sustainability initiatives, such as the Code for Sustainable Homes or BREEAM.

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£1.3M UCLan Dental Clinic constructed by Bamber Bridge-based Conlon Construction

Work is now complete on a £1.3M refurbishment project to provide a new state-of-the-art Dental Clinic at the University of Central Lancashire.

Conlon Construction has transformed the existing 515 sq m facility located in the Harrington Building on Adelphi Street, Preston. The space was previously used as offices and seminar rooms and is now ready to welcome its first intake of students in September.

Since Conlon commenced work in January 2012, the new Dental Clinic has been formed by converting part of the ground floor of the Harrington Building and linking through to a newly constructed single storey extension, finished in a state-of-the-art zinc cladding system.

Conlon Construction has also created new external landscaping, fire escapes and access ramps into the building.

The Dental Clinic will be equipped with the latest high specification dental chairs, x-ray machines and de-contamination facilities. This will allow UCLan to deliver the latest dentistry practices and procedures to its post-graduate teaching.

Construction director at Conlon Construction, Michael Conlon, said: “The construction of the new UCLan Dental Clinic will provide excellent facilities for UCLan’s students and will offer a base to train budding future dentists.”

Paul Walsh, Clinical Director of the UCLan Dental Clinic said: “We are delighted that this is an initiative which will benefit our students, the local dental profession and the people of the region.

“We have offered specialist training to dentists in a number of expert areas for some time and now those dentists will offer their skills to benefit the local community.

“The investment from UCLan in setting up UDC will not only improve our dental education and training in the region but also provide high quality care to the local community.”

Iain Scales, director at appointed architects for the project, Cassidy + Ashton, said: “Conlon Construction has completed the works to a very high standard with the installation of complex building services and the high-tech metal cladding system.

“After working closely with the firm during the design and planning stages, the result is fantastic and we are confident that the new building will provide first class dental care for students, staff and others who use the facilities.”

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Ritchie Bros to sell complete crushing plant, mining equipment and trucks in unreserved Dubai auction

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will sell a 2004 SBM STE160x130 closed circuit jaw/impact crushing plant along with hundreds of other equipment items and trucks during a three-day unreserved equipment auction in Dubai, UAE from September 27 – 29, 2010. The highly automated plant includes primary and secondary crushers, screens, generators, conveyors, a control house and more.

It will be sold as one auction lot, with no minimum bids or reserve prices on Day 1 of the auction (Monday, September 27th).

“It’s unusual to find a complete crushing plant of this size and in this condition for sale,” said Steve Barritt, Regional Manager Middle East, Turkey and the Red Sea, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. “The fact that it will be sold without minimum bids or reserve prices, just like every other item we sell at our auctions, makes it an extraordinary opportunity. If you’re in the market for a large industrial-sized plant, make sure you register to bid at our upcoming auction – because this plant will be sold to a new owner on auction day, regardless of price.”

The primary crusher is capable of running quarry material of up to 1.2 meters using a sensor-equipped dumb hopper and a hydraulic reciprocating feeder. This allows the plant to automatically feed the single toggle STE 160x130 primary jaw crusher, manufactured by MFL. The secondary crusher consists of two identical lines, each consisting of sensor-regulated hoppers, a crusher and two screens capable of producing 1,000 tons of finished products.

The three-day unreserved auction in Dubai will also feature a variety of used and unused construction and mining equipment, including crawler tractors, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, rock trucks, generator sets and many more items. All equipment items will be sold to the highest bidders with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

Ritchie Bros. will continue accepting equipment consignments in the coming weeks; owners interested in selling their equipment in the auction can phone the Dubai site to discuss their options.

Auction details
· Location: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers’ Dubai auction site: Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
· Dubai auction site phone: +971.4.812.0600
· Time and date: Monday, September 27 to Wednesday, September 29, 2010. Auction starts at 9:30 each day (crushing plant will be sold September 27).
· Interested buyers can visit and inspect the crushing plant at its current location on Saturday, 25 September 2010. For more information, contact Steve Barritt at sbarritt@rbauction.com or +971.50.650.9540.
· Registration to bid is free. Interested buyers can bid in person at the Dubai auction site; online in real time at www.rbauction.com; or by contacting the Dubai auction site to place a proxy bid in advance.

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Barbour ABI’s Q2 Construction Analysis Report Is Out Now!

Barbour ABI has just published Construction Review – it’s our quarterly industry analysis, which highlights key building projects, the best performing industry sectors (based on contract awarded) and everything you need to know about construction activity between April to June 2012.

Construction Review is a must read for key construction industry professionals. Quarter 4 begins with leading stories from two key figures within the construction community; Dr Noble Francis, Economics Director of the Construction Products Association and Brian Green who blogs for Building magazine.

The review provides a detailed analysis of all sectors within the construction industry. Here’s an extract from the Industrial sector summary (April to June 2012):

Slight growth in the industrial sector saw the levels of contracts awarded up 4% on the previous quarter, although disappointingly 16% down on the corresponding quarter of 2011. The building of a new Jaguar plant at Wolverhampton contributed a massive £335 million towards the level.

The latest issue of Landscape is also now available – it’s our rapid review tool to help industry professionals such as yourselves to spot changes in key market sectors.

Launched at Ecobuild 2012 to high acclaim, Landscape can be used to track changes in future workloads in key sectors, or to spot opportunities elsewhere and works by looking at the current value of contract awards in a sector and comparing this against the average seen over the past four years. Then, taking into account the volatility of the sector, Landscape provides a simple score that indicates how much greater the orders have been over the past year compared with the recent past. The higher the number, the greater the value of orders in the sector compared with the past and the greater the likelihood of growth in work in the pipeline.

Landscape also looks at whether the sector has become hotter, colder or remained more or less the same over the past three months, which gives a rough indication of whether the sector may have been coming off the boil or getting hotter. Armed with the Landscape numbers it’s a quick step to check the hottest sectors and look for the contracts that are driving growth.

Barbour ABI reports on every project in the UK by enhancing planning application and public tender information at each stage of the construction lifecycle. For over 70 years, Barbour ABI has provided industry leading services to the construction community.

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As conveyor chain manufacturer adapts to meet the demands of the growing UK biomass and recycling industries - Sales up 70 per cent

Sales up 70 per cent as conveyor chain manufacturer adapts to meet the demands of the growing UK biomass and recycling industries.

UK-based conveyor chain manufacturer and supplier FB Chain Ltd has reported that in the financial year ending April 2012, UK sales of its range of conveyor chains grew by over 70 per cent.

Much of the growth has come from sales to companies operating in the UK biomass and recycling industries.

“We have always had strong sales within the wood and paper and pulp processing industries, but biomass and recycling are relatively new markets for us,” said Peter Church, Managing Director of FB Chain UK.

With Government-backed subsidies driving growth in the recycling sector - 42 new biomass plants are scheduled to open in the UK in 2012 – FB Chain expects to sustain its success in this market and is developing its product range accordingly.

“Because chain conveyors in the biomass and recycling industries are subject to more shock and irregular loads than in any other bulk material handling industry, we are providing much larger quantities of welded pin and bush conveyor chains,” says Peter Church.

FB Chain are producing conveyor chains with welded pins and bushes that have tensile strengths some 30 per cent higher than the ISO Standard conveyor chains commonly specified in the sector.

These induction hardened chains – which feature secure welded construction - offer higher durability against overloading and minimise chain failure and subsequent costly conveyor downtime.

Peter Church added: “The biomass and recycling industries are quickly becoming major sectors in the UK and it is essential that we continue to develop our product offering to meet the needs of these markets. I believe that sales of conveyor chains, sprockets and attachments specially adapted to the specific requirements of biomass and recycling operations, will represent a growing part of FB Chain’s conveyor chain business in the years ahead.”

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Volvo introduces EW230C wheeled excavator with superior stability in heavier lift operations

The EW230C from Volvo Construction Equipment is built around a new, more robust platform, which is designed to ensure the stability needed to manage bigger loads, for heavy lifting applications, such as laying big pipe for drainage projects, or hard digging.

Following the recent launch of the EW210C, a benefit of this platform for a machine in this 20t weight class, is that its design ensures that the rear axle weight, when fitted with the standard counterweight, is below 12t – making it approved for road travel between sites. A heavier counterweight is also available for applications not requiring the machine to be moved on the road.

With the standard counterweight, the EW230C weighs 21.6-24.3t, depending on machine configuration. (23.1-25.6t with the heavier counterweight.) A choice of 5.7m mono or optional articulated two-piece boom is available.

The EW230C is powered by a Volvo D6E EHE3 diesel engine, developing 125 kW/168hp net at 2,000 rpm, delivering power where it is needed. When required for mass excavation work, or in heavy lifting applications, the EW230C has a lift capacity among the best in its class, optimising performance and productivity. The EW230C on display at Intermat 2009 is fitted with Volvo’s automatic lubrication system, which not only ensures correct lubrication, but also reduces lubricant use by 50%.

Additional features include:
* Access to the superstructure via steps provides for easy servicing and routine maintenance checks, to minimise down time.
* New and higher capacity cooling module.
* Load-sensing hydraulic system features two pumps – one for the attachment and travel and a second, closed-loop slew pump.
* Slew ring from the larger EC240C, for increased strength and durability in tough working conditions.
* Larger hydraulic cylinders.
* Digging forces 10-15% greater than on the EW210C.

In common with all Volvo excavators, 95% of the machine is recyclable. As one of Volvo’s core values, Environmental Care is central to Volvo’s thinking when it comes to designing, manufacturing and operating machines.

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Euro Auctions - Used Construction Plant Global Review 2011 - 2012 - 2)

What a year 2011 was! Following the crash of the worlds construction markets, the movement of second hand plant and industrial equipment around the globe proved to be highly volatile and not without surprise. The fortunes of plant owners, plant buyers and plant sellers have changed over the last 12 months, but what is the real global story?


Eastern Europe
Large construction, roadway and infrastructure projects in Poland are on the increase so contractors, machine operators and hire companies are buying plant and machinery for that market. Poland has always maintained a good presence at auction and is interested in a complete cross section of plant and machinery with the emphasis being on earth moving equipment. Likewise, Finland has an interest in everything across the board. It also sells across the border to Russia which is back buying in its own right after an absence of some 24 months.

Russia
The Russian construction sector is experiencing healthy economic growth. The overall value of construction contracts signed in 2011 is expected to be higher than in 2010, and as a result demand for plant, machinery and equipment is just becoming visible.

While the residential housing sector remains subdued, civil engineering projects such as the 2012 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit in Vladivostok and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are contributing to sustained growth and the need for construction plant and equipment. Awarding the 2018 FIFA World Cup to Russia will create another need for stadiums and airports in all the host cities which will need to be either built or modernised. Russia is therefore set to boom and the demand will be strong.

USA
In 2011 the USA was still manufacturing new machines but not at a rate at which to satisfy home market demands. This brought US buyers to Europe and favouring the Pound as opposed to the Euro. At the latter end of 2011 American buyers were more visible at auction after an absence of some 12 to 18 months and were looking for large heavy mining equipment for the home open-cast coal and iron ore extraction market, as well as for the oil sands of Alaska. A new emerging requirement is the extraction of shale gas from vast reserves in the US, which is predicted to break the US’s dependency on Middle East gas and oil. As a result big dozers and dump trucks for the contracting market are in demand, with older home market equipment going from the USA to South America.

South America
With the emergence of the success of the BRIC’s countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Latin America's largest economies, Brazil, Colombia and Peru are targeting a total of US$ 40 billion of private investment in infrastructure over the next two years. Brazil is planning to construct more than 5000 km of highways and at the end of 2011 had started the first of two projects to construct 1750 km of roadways. With Columbia embarking on four major initiatives worth an estimated US$ 30 billion, including highways, sea ports, airports, railways and river ways; and Peru embarking on projects in the hydrocarbons sector as well as rail and agricultural projects, South America is already showing signs of a demand for all manner of machinery and equipment. South America is seeking late model, low hours, and clean heavy earth moving equipment, with warranty, that is available immediately.

Predictions for 2012
Predicting the trend for 2012 is difficult, particularly when external, natural and even economic factors can change the landscape overnight, however there are a number of assumptions one can make.

UK Prices – the prices of good second-hand equipment in the UK will likely continue to hold for the foreseeable future, at least until manufacturing comes up to speed and takes the pressure off the interest in pre-owned equipment. In 2011 12 to 24 month old equipment was reaching premium prices, closely followed by good 24 to 48 month old stock. This trend is likely to increase. Several major UK construction projects are about to commence in the UK, including the first new bridge over the Thames for over 20 years, with others in the planning phase, and these will help ensure plant does not stand idol and sustain market demand.

Export – with the strengthening economies around the globe, machinery from the UK and Europe will continue to leave these shores for BRICs countries, Australia, South East Asia, South America and the USA.

Emerging Markets – Australia may well be the star of 2012, continuing to demands good quality late years equipment and machinery. South America will continue to develop as an emerging market, with demand expected to increase through 2012 as new infrastructure project increase tempo. With huge weight on its shoulders to deliver key projects on time and budget, demand from Russia will continue to grow in a sustained fashion.

One to watch - The ‘S’ in BRIC’s is no longer a signifier of the plural, as South Africa is accredited to now having that status as the ‘S’. This is seen as the next emerging economy and is one to watch.

Plant demand – European demand may be affected by strengthening sterling, leaving the UK more expensive than the rest of Europe. Australia has a huge demand for crushers, screeners, large dump trucks such as the Volvo a40e, CAT 740, Komatsu hm400 and large excavators in the 50 tonnes plus category. In North Africa it will be a case of waiting and seeing if peace holds, then wheel loaders, generators and batching plants should all be needed during the rebuild process. There will be continued demand from South America as the Brazilian market continues to grow, but importation is problematic and expensive

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Online registration now open for Interbuild Onsite

Interbuild Onsite will provide a clear focus for exhibitors and visitors this year, thanks to the creation of six specific new zones dedicated to important product and business areas for the building trades.

In addition to Commercial Vehicles and Tools, the principal featured zones at Interbuild Onsite now include Kitchens & Bathrooms, Painting, Decorating & Finishing, Installer (plumbing, heating and electrical), Flooring, an FMB Zone (Federation of Master Builders) and an Outdoor area for specialist construction site equipment, such as bulldozers, excavators, scaffolding, etc.

Each product area will be home to the latest vehicles, equipment and innovations from the major brands in these respective sectors. They will also provide focused opportunities for relevant workshops, tests and educations sessions. The FMB Zone meanwhile will occupy an area that will include exhibition space for FMB partners to offer free workshops, seminars and business critical advice. Visitors will be able to engage with insurance, accountancy, legal and other professionals who specialise in supporting small businesses.

Already, key exhibitors taking advantage of the range of value for money stand packages at the show include Ford and Renault in Commercial Vehicles and Irwin Industrial Tools in Tools.

“Interbuild Onsite is the number one national platform for the building trades, providing them with all they need so that they can get the job done well on-site” says Event Director, David Pierpoint. “Commercial Vehicles and Tools remain a stand-out attraction for the show, as they were in 2009. But our aim in 2010 is to make Interbuild Onsite an even better, more productive and complete experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. That’s why we’re re-defining the floor plan to create more clearly themed zones for new products, demonstrations, training, information and debates”.

“We are delighted that Interbuild Onsite is still attracting a great line up of commercial vehicle manufacturers and are looking forward to signing up other vehicle brands in the coming months” explains Event Director, David Pierpoint. “The show has always been an excellent platform on which to showcase new developments and innovations and this year will be no exception. With a strong line-up of commercial vehicle exhibitors to see this year, visitors are going to have a particularly rewarding time at the event in October”.

Charles Peugeot, Head of Citroën Commercial Vehicles comments: “As a major supplier of light commercial vehicles to the construction and building services industries, Citroën is once again pleased to exhibit at Interbuild Onsite to meet existing and new customers in these key industry sectors. Citroën LCVs appeal to operators in these sectors thanks to their optimum financial, operational and environmental performance, as well as the ability to offer bespoke products to suit all needs. Interbuild Onsite allows us to demonstrate our products directly to these operators.”

Mark Beal, Experiential Marketing Manager at Ford of Britain, says: "Interbuild Onsite is an important part of our overall van marketing strategy. Being able to reach businesses who operate one or a few vans means we can target a discrete audience and that's extremely valuable. We are very proud that the Ford stand at Interbuild Onsite is always staffed by our own employees and this means we can talk expert to artisan. We enjoy interacting with current and potential customers and they seem to enjoy talking about what is new in the world of Ford commercial vehicles. Job done!"

“Renault Business is delighted to be participating in this year’s Interbuild Onsite exhibition as it provides us with an ideal and timely opportunity to present our brand new commercial vehicles to the construction market” adds Darren Payne, Director, Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations at Renault. “Renault has been number one van selling manufacturer in Europe for 12 consecutive years and this year we are confident that we will consolidate this position with our enhanced product line-up. From the recently launched Kangoo Maxi Crew Van to the tough New Master and New Master converted vehicles out later this year, we have a comprehensive award-winning range of practical, reliable and ultra-efficient vans to suit the needs of the building trade.”

Once again, Interbuild Onsite will co-locate in Hall 4 with Glassex, the premier event for the windows, doors and glazing markets. Glassex traditionally attracts installers and fabricators who are also major purchasers of trucks, tools and other on-site equipment and services.

Alongside Interbuild Onsite in Hall 5 is BEST - Built Environment Solutions & Technologies - the new built environment exhibition where innovative products offer practical solutions to real challenges. BEST will span a wide range of market sectors including education, private housing, affordable housing, hotel & leisure, infrastructure, retail, community and amenity, health, industrial and offices showcasing construction excellence across the entire built environment.

Online registration has now opened for Interbuild Onsite. Visitors can now sign up to receive their free badge for the event by registering in advance using priority code EREG2 via Interbuild Onsite’s dedicated website, interbuildonsite.com, saving them the £20 entrance fee. Tickets will be issued prior to the event, allowing visitors to bypass the on-site registration procedures and avoid the inevitable queues on the day, guaranteeing fast-track entry.

Having registered, visitors can benefit from regular email updates which will automatically supply them with the very latest show news as well as a range of exclusive show offers and discounts. In addition, visitors can browse the show’s exhibitor list and check out testimonials from a collection of exhibitors who took part in the 2009 event.

They will be featuring new products and technologies for the industry alongside a raft of other exhibitors, such as Evolution Power Tools, Fluke UK, Irwin Industrial Tools, Sortimo International, UK Plumbing Supplies and X L Joinery, amongst others. A number of new interactive feature areas have been introduced for 2010, including a Retrofit Skills demonstration programme, a tool demonstration area and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Zone. A series of free flooring skills demonstrations from the Flooring Industry Trade Association (FITA) will also be making a return to this year’s event.

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Custom Under Slab Insulation for Concrete Installers Launched by Insulation Stop

Insulation Stop has supplied radiant barrier and reflective foil insulation nationally for over ten years and the addition of new products to the concrete insulation sector is a natural progression. Now in addition to standard size four feet wide insulation rolls, Insulation Stop offers wider roll sizes up to ten feet allowing larger square footage projects to be completed much faster.

“The under slab insulation or concrete side of our business continues to grow,” stated Nick Semon, owner of Insulation Stop. “The product is popular because it combines several products into one. When used in under slab applications, our layered bubble foil insulation is a radon barrier. It also takes the place of a vapor barrier so you do not need to use the standard poly sheets. Although not a radiant barrier in concrete applications it does provide a thermal break and R-value. There is nothing available at its price point in the market today.”

“We are excited to be offering the new sizes. Take for instance a typical 20,000 ft² building. You use 15 rolls less using the new 10’ wide rolls versus the standard 4’ wide. The installation costs are cut down dramatically due to less labor in installing the material and taping the seams. Our larger project customers are pleased because they immediately see savings. These products have now been added to our online catalog and available for our national audience as well.”

Nick Semon is co-owner of Insulation Stop. They offer individual and bulk orders of U.S. made radiant barrier and reflective bubble foil insulation products for commercial and residential use. The company is committed to offering extensive knowledge on the use and application of its reflective insulation products.

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ENGINEERED FOR EXTREMES- J D Neuhaus

With nearly 270 years of experience in the design and manufacture of high performance handling and lifting equipment, the J D Neuhaus company has updated their ‘logo and slogan’ to a design which more closely represents their latest products, including new developments, designed for applications in some of the toughest markets and environments.

For many years the logo slogan of ‘powered by air’ was fully appropriate for their full range of hoists, cranes and winches. More recently, however, the introduction of hydraulically powered products has been predominant, suitable for the operating conditions in heavy engineering markets such as shipbuilding, mining, tunnelling and oil and gas exploration which all have their own unique requirements. To do justice to these developments, the logo slogan has been updated to ‘engineered for extremes’, which the company feel is more representative of their current product performance and developments. The new logo also incorporates a modern typeface which is more powerful and vibrant, reflecting the changes in the markets served.

JDN products incorporate 100% duty ratings, insensitively to humidity and dust while operating at temperatures from -20°C to +70°C. They are ideally suited for working in hazardous atmospheres and are Ex rated for use in potentially explosive areas. Highly specialised operating conditions have also been accommodated, with hoists currently available for underwater applications (down to 70 metres in depth), as well as for operation at arctic temperatures down to -45°C.

To complement and supplement these changes, the JDN website address has been consolidated for worldwide operation to the website. Users of the site will be automatically routed to an existing site appropriate for their country and language. However, all existing email addresses will remain unchanged at the present time.

In addition, the website now incorporates an interactive online platform that has been designated as JDN Community. This provides an exchange medium for anyone involved with the JDN company and its products. Technical issues can be raised, together with product user experiences with images welcomed illustrating application sites of JDN lifting and handling equipment. Indeed, everyone posting a JDN story on the site will be entered in a prize draw for a 7 day holiday.

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Additional North West Council Wins Secured by ISG

Taking schemes at the National Cycling Centre and at Cledford House in Middlewich, ISG has secured further work from the North West Construction Hub Framework.

The contractor has secured a £550,000 refurbishment scheme with Cheshire East Council to convert the former Cledford Primary School in Middlewich into ‘Cledford House’, which will house office accommodation for Cheshire East Children and Families Services.

The refurbishment includes reorganisation of the internal space, alterations and upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems, new decoration and floorcoverings throughout and a range of external works. The facility will provide both offices and play areas, creating a base for Children’s Services as they process applications to foster or adopt, and a dedicated environment for children to come into contact with prospective parents.

ISG will also be returning to the National Cycling Centre, where the company has previously carried out a full track replacement, creation of a new restaurant area and various infrastructure upgrades, taking on two new projects for Manchester City Council under the auspices of the North West Construction Hub framework.

The first of the two schemes involves replacement lighting for the velodrome track area to improve lighting intensity and ensure facilities are in line with requirements for high definition TV broadcasts. ISG has also been contracted to upgrade the lighting in the central area within the track, which is used for other sporting activities such as basketball and badminton. The project will include the installation of additional wiring and lighting controls.

The contractor has also secured a £580,000 project, independent from the framework, with Cheshire West and Chester Council, to refurbish two industrial units to provide a new office and storage facility for the authority’s library service. The 16-week programme will see ISG install new mechanical and electrical services, create offices within the building and install specialist racking for the book storage areas.

ISG’s Jim Parker, managing director - North West, commented: “The latest wins via the North West Construction Hub are indicative of the variety of schemes delivered through the framework. This approach to procurement reduces the tendering process for both the client and the contractor, which has a positive impact on costs, quality and project delivery timeframes.”

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BUILDREAMS 2012

Here opens the gates to the battle to be won by creativity and thinking alone.A challenge to the architects and civil engineers out there to think of and come out with ideas that break stereotypes.

In BUILDREAMS, you will be posed with a few real life problem statements dealing with planning and designing of buildings and the various aspects of it.

The process is simple.Check out for the problem statements, think, dream, live..that’s everything….!

This is an online and onsite event.The Online Round starts on Dec 15th, 2011.The event is for 2 months with 4 sessions (15 days each,independent of one another).

The winner for each session will be selected based on the review on a specified date (Feb 1- 4,2012).Top 20% of the entries will only be called for a final review.

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Ballast Nedam and Microbeton Join Forces

The co-founders of Concrete Valley, Ballast Nedam and Microbeton will focus on specialised solutions in the concrete industry. Concrete Valley consists of two companies, Waco Lingen Beton from Bergen op Zoom and Microbeton from Krimpen aan den IJssel. Microbeton will transfer its operations from Krimpen aan de IJssel to Waco Lingen Beton's current site at Bergen op Zoom.

Waco Lingen Beton (a Ballast Nedam company), focuses on the development, production and delivery of high quality, serially produced prefabricated concrete elements for use in groundwork, road building, and hydraulic engineering. These include pipe drops, culverts, tunnels, and noise barriers. The company possesses the expertise and ability to tackle major projects, elements, and the associated production facilities.

Microbeton is a specialist in the development, production, and delivery of distinctive concepts. Its ferro-cement products are characterised by a slender, lightweight construction which delivers 70% savings in terms of materials usage and weight. Microbeton's sustainable products are used in top-quality architectural designs for new construction, renovation, and redevelopment projects.

The Concrete Valley joint venture is fully in keeping with Ballast Nedam's strategy. Concrete Valley delivers distinctive capacity by harnessing the innovative abilities of supply companies and specialist companies. Hans van der Meer, the head of Ballast Nedam Supplies, notes that "Combined solutions based on Microbeton's lightweight products and Concrete Waco Lingen's prefabricated concrete products create a range of promising opportunities in areas such as groundwork, road-building, and hydraulic engineering, in addition to residential and utilities construction. One example would be the use of sandwich panels as facade elements."

Pieter Nap, the managing director of Microbeton points out that "Concrete Valley's facilities enable us to keep on growing. In Ballast Nedam, we have a partner who shares our ambitions. Concrete Valley will develop into an inspiring environment within which various companies can cooperate with one another. Their common goal will be to develop products and solutions that add value for our customers!"

Ballast Nedam has a leading position in construction and infrastructure. The company operates mainly in the Netherlands on integrated and other projects for companies, public authorities and housing consumers, in the fields of mobility, housing, employment, leisure and energy. Ballast Nedam operates internationally in various areas of expertise. Ballast Nedam supplies project, process and contract management in the development, implementation and management phases. The company also provides specialized know-how and skills, and semi-finished and finished products. Ballast Nedam is listed on NYSE Euronext in Amsterdam. The share is included in the Amsterdam Small Cap Index.
Source: Ballast Nedam NV

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DEUTZ unveils telematics system for the remote monitoring of engines

DEUTZ has unveiled a new telematics system for the remote monitoring of engines and fleet management. The system uses satellite tracking technology to send engine and machine data to a central server that can then be accessed by DEUTZ customers.

Data on the current condition of the engine and the equipment it powers, such as coolant, oil and fuel levels, can be constantly and reliably monitored. This data can be read and evaluated on an Internet-enabled computer from anywhere in the world. In addition, warning messages are sent to the user's PC whenever the fuel, oil and coolant levels reach minimum levels.

By using the system, downtimes in equipment and engines can be reduced. Because the condition of the engine is permanently known, maintenance schedules can be planned and adjusted to suit usage requirements.

The controller that records the information via a GPS (Global Positioning System) is attached to the engine. It records data such as speed, operating hours, and oil and fuel levels and transmits it at regular intervals by GPRS (Global Packet Radio Service) to a central server.

Anyone with the appropriate access permissions can communicate from anywhere in the world via the server to gain access to the engine's settings. All that is required is an Internet-capable PC.

DEUTZ Telematics works bi-directionally, so that it can provide remote access to defined functions as well as analysing and monitoring the engine. By constantly monitoring the capacity, utilisation and availability of their engines and equipment, customers can identify excess capacities and improve the efficiency of their vehicle fleets.

Another important function, 'geofencing' theft protection, is included in the system. Users are able to select the operating range of their equipment. If this limit is exceeded, a warning signal is emitted or a text message is sent to the owner.

DEUTZ Telematics is easy to install and can be adapted to meet customers' specific needs. It is also compatible with non-DEUTZ engines. Various models are available, allowing users to select the most appropriate for their requirements.

DEUTZ UK Service General Manager, Mike Nugent, said: "DEUTZ Telematics is yet another first from the world's largest independent manufacturer of diesel and gas engines. We believe that it offers customers the very latest and best solution for the fast and efficient online monitoring of their engines and equipment."

With an overall engine range extending from 9kW to 500kW, and models suitable for wide variety of markets and applications, including the construction, quarrying, mining, materials handling, agricultural, groundcare, industrial and airport ground handling equipment sectors, DEUTZ produce around 286,000 units annually.

DEUTZ engines are widely used in excavators, wheeled loaders, access platforms, compactors, cranes, crushers, screeners, compressors, lift trucks, tractors, ride-on mowers, chippers, shredders, gensets and other off-highway mobile plant.

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Top industry award for Quartix vehicle tracking at Van Fleet World Honours

Quartix, one of the UK’s leading vehicle tracking providers, has won the Internet Award in this year’s Van Fleet World Honours.

The trophy was presented during a ceremony at London’s Royal Automobile Club.
John Kendall, chairman of the judges and editor of Van Fleet World, said: “Quartix uses the internet to best possible effect, ensuring that their customers are able to keep track of their entire fleet at any time from any location.”

He added: “The telematics sector has made a huge contribution to the fleet management industry in the last 10 years with an ever more sophisticated range of services from a proliferation of suppliers, large and small.

“Quartix’s success has come not just as a result of its excellent internet-based service, but also because of the prudent and professional way in which the company is run.”

Andy Walters, managing director of Quartix, said: “It is extremely gratifying to receive this prestigious award and to have the work we carry out for our customers so publicly recognised. It is also testimony to the dedication, commitment and hard work of our entire team.”

More about Van Fleet World Honours
Van Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

The awards are open to all motor manufacturers and the judging process combines the expert opinion of the van Fleet World editorial team with the values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.

The judging panel is chaired by John Kendall, editor of Van Fleet World, and includes Steve Moody, Alex Grant and Ross Durkin of the Fleet World editorial team.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Fleet World managing editor, Ross Durkin, said: “The LCV manufacturers continue to produce some first-class vans which every year seem to get better in terms of safety, environmental performance, reliability and whole-life cost. As well as traditionally powered vans we are now seeing the emergence of a growing number of electric vehicles and this exciting market sector promises much in the future. We are also delighted to recognise the excellent quality of some of the industry’s key fleet service providers in this year’s awards.”

More about Quartix
Founded in 2001, Quartix has grown to become one of the UK’s most successful providers of vehicle tracking systems.

Today, more than 3,500 customers across a wide range of sectors – including government organisations, housing associations, construction firms, hospital trusts, the emergency services, SMEs and large British brands – use the online service, while the company’s unique, own-design tracking unit has been installed in more than 55,000 vehicles.

The Quartix system provides users with a fast, efficient, 'point-and-click' source of real-time information, together with tailored e-mail reports. The highly-flexible service has scope to meet the needs of large corporations and owner-managed businesses alike.

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