All Construction Articles

Despite some impact from the economic problems in the US, construction growth in the emerging Asian economies remains strong. However, labour shortages and soaring materials costs are a growing threat. Chris Sleight reports.

Stirlingshire, UK-based Denny Plant Hire currently has 2 of its 6 Terex ADTs on rental to contractor Pattersons, which is extracting sand and gravel from a quarry in Throsk.

Last year Latteragh Quarry in County Tipperary, Ireland took delivery of a 500 tonnes/hour mobile crushing system made by Kleeman. The machines are being used to produce seven products in a three-stage crushing operation, five of them complying with the quality requirements for asphalt and concrete production.

Electronic system displays material ratios and produces production reports

Operating a quarry has never been cheap, but with fuel costs sky-rocketing it is a more expensive business than ever. But the latest loaders, haulers and excavators on the market are also more fuel-efficient than ever and great strides are being taken to improve further. Chris Sleight reports.

Warm mix asphalt plant uses more recycled material and cuts fuel use

A new series of button bits from Sandvik deliver great value in almost all rock conditions, especially those in which button breakage is a problem, according to the company. The RT300-series of bits for drifting and tunnelling are optimum cemented carbide buttons for drilling a wide range of rocks, with increased toughness but without compromising its very high resistance to wear.

Once operators have used Gomaco's new G22 controller, they don't want to go back

An ambitious 16km railway tunnelling project near the town of Wiesing, in the Austrian Tyrol, took place earlier this year. Part of the Inn Valley Austrian Railways project involved the construction of a 30m deep rescue shaft, close to a rock face, with the use of an AB 2000 feeder and rock drilling unit from Wimmer.

Optimistic outlook after first year in the road building business

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.