All Construction Articles

The Portland Cement Association's (PCA's) summer forecast for the US cement and construction industries says there will be a -7% decline in construction activity in 2009, following on from this year's -9% contraction.

Heijmans has agreed to sell its € 70 million per year industrial services business to SPIE.

Venezuela has nationalised its cement industry with the acquisition of majority stakes in Holcim and Lafarge’s operations, and the seizure of Cemex’s assets in the country.

In an effort to alleviate water shortages and meet increasing demand the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to construct 68 dams over the next five years.

The Deutz Group has significantly increased its revenue and sales figures in the first six months of 2008 compared with the same period last year, a statement from the company said.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$ 850 million loan to finance public infrastructure upgrades, according to a statement on its website.

Brazil's government has approved construction of one of two dams planned in the Amazon, but possible legal challenges and a dispute between contractors threaten to delay both projects.

Hochtief reported healthy first half results for 2008 (IHY08) with revenue up +14,7% on 2007 first half figures from € 7,9 billion to € 9 billion. Pre-tax profit rose +61% on like-for-like periods from € 182 million to € 292 million.

The last year or so has seen Gomaco rollout its new G22 controller across its range. Although its early days - the unit was first seen at last April's Bauma exhibition, and US customers saw it for the first time this year at ConExpo and World of Concrete - the company says it has been universally well-received.

Vögele's Navitronic Plus, the new system for 3D machine control was used on a Super 1900-2 tracked paver during construction of Germany's L546 road.

Wirtgen and Hamm machines are working on Germany's first public private partnership (PPP) motorway construction project.

Contractor, Matteini Srl (Arezzo) has used a range of Dynapac equipment during repair work along Italy's SR71 state road.

The Wirtgen Group is establishing a new subsidiary in Turkey's capital city, Ankara, in order to serve the requirements of the country's growing road construction market.

Machine control and guidance systems have advanced dramatically and now play a crucial part in the rapidly evolving European road building equipment market. Becca Wilkins reports.

Access International is the only global magazine for users and buyers of aerial work platforms.

The powered access sector is unusual, if not unique in that it has an internationally recognised operator training and certification scheme in the shape of the Powered Access Licence (PAL) Card scheme.

The APEX 2008 Exhibition, held in Maastricht, the Netherlands from 17 to 19 September, will be the largest ever. The 2008 show, supported by IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and Access International magazine, is the world's largest, dedicated powered access exhibition and conference. It has attracted over 100 of the world's most important access manufacturers as exhibitors.

With the major US manufacturers suffering on their home market, Europe is receiving more and more attention, giving buyers and users more choice of powered access platforms than ever before. At the same time, Europe's rental companies and manufacturers are pushing into Eastern Europe, again expanding contractors' choices. Maria Hadlow reports.

The Brazilian Development Bank BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) made record disbursements of BRL 78.8 billion (US$ 49.5 billion) in the 12 months to June 2008, an increase of +34% over the previous 12-month period, according to a statement on the bank's website.

Balfour Beatty has reported continued growth in the first half of 2008 with sales up +28% on the same period in 2007 to UK£ 4,3 billion (€ 5,5 billion). Pre-tax profit also increased +25% to UK£ 95 million (€ 120 million).