All Construction Articles

Better efficiency is a key aim for any area of construction, but the drilling sector is showing this can be achieved at the same time as better environmental performance - particularly noise reduction. CE reports.

Modena, Italy-based excavation specialist Fercav has bought a new Extec E-7 screen to replace its previous Extec Robotrac. According to the company, production has already doubled with the new machine without any increase in costs.

More and more contractors and quarry operators are seeing the advantages of mobile crushing and screening equipment. The increase in popularity also means more choice, with more active manufacturers and numerous new machines. CE reports.

The Government of Qatar has announced that it is to freeze the prices of four basic construction materials for three years, reports Qatari daily The Peninsula.

The European Commission is researching ways of measuring engine emissions from construction machines under real-life conditions, rather than relying on laboratory tests. CECE reports.

The Commission is now in favour of permanently allowing reduced rates of VAT for private repair and maintenance work. FIEC is now focussing its efforts on Member States to ensure those opposed to reduced VAT do not de-rail the legislation.

Two judgements have modified the view that On Demand Bonds are as good as cash in hand. Julian Brooksbank and Philip Norman of Pinsent Masons look at situations where breaches of contract have overridden Bond calls.

Share prices around the world achieved some modest gains in May, although record oil prices and general worries about inflation spoiled the party. Chris Sleight reports.

The latest picture from Dubai-based developer Emaar Properties' Burj Dubai project shows the view from the top of the spire. Currently standing over 629 m high the Burj Dubai is the world's tallest man-made structure.

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed contracts worth BRL 2.7 billion (US$ 1.6 billion) with 12 state governors for sanitation and urbanisation works, according to government news agency Radiobrás.

The use of machine control and guidance systems in the road building sector is escalating. As well as improving productivity and efficiency, these systems ease labour for the operator.Becca Wilkins reports.

Putzmeister is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style with the launch of the largest concrete truck pump in the world, the 70 m vertical reach M 70-5. The first machine off the production line has been bought by Associated Concrete Pumping of Sacramento, California, US.

The latest figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows employment in the US construction industry fell to 7.26 million jobs in May. This was -5.05% lower than in May 2007.

Eric Nielsen, the head of Volvo's excavator business has joined Terex as president of Terex Materials Processing & Mining. Last year the division, which makes mining trucks and shovels, rock drills and crushing & screening equipment, accounted for US$ 2.09 billion of Terex's US$ 9.14 billion total revenues.

HeidelbergCement and Italcementi have signed an agreement that will see the two companies jointly develop photocatalytic products. Photocatalytic cements use a special binder that destroys pollutants in the presence of light, making them both self-cleaning and pollution reducing.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has inaugurated its new building on a site next to its existing headquarters on the Kirchberg plateau in Luxembourg. The larger premises now allow the bank to accommodate its entire staff on a single campus.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is well positioned to benefit from the continued strong growth of countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, according to the company's president and chief executive, Tony Helsham.

John Deere's engine factory in Saran, France has produced its 2-millionth engine. The milestone unit was a six cylinder, 6,8 litre 6068H destined for New Way, the company's long-standing engine distributor in South Africa.

Doosan has launched the new 8.8 tonne DL160 and the 25.5 tonne DL450 wheeled loaders to its product range.

Bobcat has introduced the new 15H and 30H augers, which like the current range of 10, 15C and 30C models, can be mounted on the company's compact loaders, excavators and telehandlers.