All Construction Articles

Strabag subsidiaries have won three Polish infrastructure orders totalling € 375. The largest contract is for the € 233,8 million construction of a 14 km section of the A1 highway from Belk to Swierklany. Additionally, Strabag will be responsible for upgrading 18,5 km of the existing DK 16 national road to highway specification in Wojewodschaft Mazury, an order worth € 87.7 million.

While Western Europe faces a slowdown, much of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is experiencing a boom across all sectors of construction activity. Steve Skinner looks at demand in the region and what the issues and expectations are for the future.

The design of the seventh crossing to span Dubai, United Arab Emirates' Creek has been approved by the tiny emirates' ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Russia’s Gaz group previewed its new 27,5 tonne ET-26FS excavator at the ConExpo Russia show in September. Certification testing is scheduled for the coming months with the first pilot batch to be available in 2009.

Hyundai excavators have found favour with Scottish rental companies following the opening of the Doune, Stirling dealership in Southern Scotland last year.

Germany’s Bickhardt Bau put Hitachi excavators into pole position when it recently completed track improvements at the Hockenheim and Sachsenring race circuits as well as at Porsche’s test track.

Hidromek is committing almost all of its engineering resources and research and development processes to completing its excavator range according to marketing director Ahmet Bozkurt.

Bilfinger Berger has seen its third quarter pre-tax profits increase by +33% to € 88 million compared to € 66 million recorded during the same period in 2007.

Sentiment on the European construction industry slipped lower in November, with results of the month's CE Barometer survey indicating stronger signs of a recession.

Manufacturers have continued to launch a number of next generation machines and model upgrades to complete their ranges following last year’s implementation of emission control legislation. Steve Skinner reports on the latest designs, advances and processes.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to lend Kazakhstan US$ 700 million to help improve a major road it says will transform the country's economy.

Balfour Beatty has appointed Andrew McNaughton to the new role of chief operating officer (COO) and to the company's Board from 1 January.

Holcim's sales for the third quarter were down -5% on the same period in 2007 at CHF 6,9 billion (€ 4,5 billion), down from the CHF 7,2 billion (€ 4,8 billion) reported last year. Pre-tax profit fell -27% from CHF 1,5 billion (€ 1 billion) in 2007 to CHF 1,1 billion (€ 741 million) this year.

NCC Group recorded third quarter pre-tax profits of SEK 787 million (€ 79 million), a -9% decrease on the SEK 866 million (€ 87 million) recorded during the same period last year.

Germany’s Bauer Group recorded pre-tax profits for the third quarter of € 39 million, up +29% on the € 30 million reported in 2007. Sales in the quarter also rose by +19% from € 281 million in September 2007 to € 335 million this year, the company’s best ever quarterly result.

Hochtief recorded third quarter pre-tax profits of € 123 million, down -24% on the € 161 million reported for the same period last year. Overall sales in the third quarter were up +14% from € 4,3 billion in 2007 to € 4,9 billion this year.

Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) president Dr Tim Leverton has called on the European Commission to help save manufacturing jobs in Europe.

In an effort to boost regional economic growth and reduce poverty the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$ 293.4 million loan to Tunisia, Mozambique and Third Emerging Capital Partners Africa Fund (EAF 3).

The Chinese government has unveiled a U$ 586 billion "Economic stimulus plan" that will be used to finance programs in 10 major areas over the next two years.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$ 200 million loan to expand potable water and sanitation services in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and suburbs.