Contract Journal articles from February 2007

Contract Journal archives from February 2007

Fife Police investigate double plant robbery.(06 Plant)
February 7, 2007... Fife Police are appealing for information about the thefts of a low loader and an excavator, which it believes to be connected. The red Dennison step-frame low loader went missing from the Mitchelson Industrial Estate in Kirkcaldy there are...

Speedy opens new safety depot to service Olympic workers.(06 Plant)
February 7, 2007... Speedy has opened its first standalone safety depot to cater for the needs of workers on the Olympic sites. The depot on the Blackwall Trading Estate in Tower Hamlets will carry the hirer's full range of noise and dust monitors,...

Vibration level readings may be inaccurate.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Manufacturers' vibration figures may underestimate the actual level of vibration by more than 50%, according to a study by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL). The lab undertook tests on six road breakers where the stated vibration was...

Bauma expands show as innovations keep coming.(06 Plant)(Bauma 2007)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... World's largest plant show does major business with Chinese and Indian manufacturers. colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk Bauma 2007 will be 30,000m2 bigger than its 2004 event and at 540,000m2 is the largest fair of its kind in the world with...

04 Contracts.(Bardsley Construction receives contract from Argent Group PLC)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... IT'S GREEN UP NORTH: Bardsley Construction has been appointed by developer Argent Group to build the greenest building in Manchester's Northern Quarter - The Hive in Stevenson Square. The 13,340m2 building, designed by HKR Architects, will...

14 Back Page.
February 7, 2007... Without a critical mass specifying eco products, there is not enough quantity when you need it at the right price. Big Brother A warning for all contractors on sites surrounded by high-rise buildings: you're being watched. ...

06 Plant.(Liebherr-International AG built a training school)(Haulotte)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Liebherr-Great Britain has set up a purpose-built training school, complete with a dedicated 30t all-terrain crane, at its Biggleswade headquarters. Hoare Lea Lifting has been renamed the Vertical Transportation Group to reflect its...

Housing work split 20 ways.(04 Contracts)
February 7, 2007... Twenty firms are to share in up to [pounds sterling]150m-worth of housing work for Peterborough-based Cross Keys Homes and Circle Anglia Housing Association. Those who have made the final cut are a mix of regional and national players:...

Costain chalks up Area 10 victory.(04 Contracts)
February 7, 2007... Firm ousts Amey from HA's [pounds sterling]500m road maintenance scheme. Costain has triumphed in its first-ever foray into the highways maintenance sector. Sources say the contractor, part of a group including Colas and consultant...

Six on waiting list for Welsh hospital.(04 Contracts)
February 7, 2007... Six contractors are in contention for a [pounds sterling]34m community hospital in south Wales. Hoping to make the cut for the Mountain Ash Hospital in the Cynon Valley are Interserve, Norwest Holst, Leadbitter and Sir Robert McAlpine. ...

Derby rebuild takes BSF route.(01 News)(Building Schools for the Future )(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Derby Council has gone for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) route to procure a [pounds sterling]16m rebuild task in the city. The project centres on the fire-ravaged Sinfin Community School and within the next few weeks the council...

Kier and Connaught net Merseyside housing job.(04 Contracts)
February 7, 2007... Two winners have emerged from the pack chasing a [pounds sterling]100m housing deal on Merseyside. Kier Building Maintenance and Connaught will tackle the extensive Decent Homes refurb programme for One Vision Housing, a registered social...

DH pays R McAlpine [pounds sterling]29.1m in damages.(01 News)(UK Department of Health)
February 7, 2007... Contractor receives the largest PFI compensation to date, but costs for the company have spiralled to [pounds sterling]100m. carol.millett@rbi.co.uk Sir Robert McAlpine has received the largest ever settlement on a PFI contract of...

Three shortlisted for Newham BSF.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... contract news Laing O'Rourke, Miller Construction and Skanska are in the running for Newham Council's [pounds sterling]200m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The three have been shortlisted for Newham's 15-year BSF...

Government in quest to speed up BSF.(01 News)(Building Schools for the Future)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) has been running the rule over the procurement and delivery of the government's [pounds sterling]45bn, 15-year Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, in a bid to find ways to speed up its...

Editor's comment.(14 Back Page)(Editorial)
February 7, 2007... Just a bit of 'fun'? Everyone likes to have a bit of fun at work. For many people work would be pretty miserable without it. A bit of banter, the odd practical joke - nothing wrong in a bit of harmless fun surely? The answer is...

01 News.
February 7, 2007... Race relations Is racism still rife in the construction industry? Analysis, p6 Green thoughts CJ previews the green innovations to be seen at EcoBuild. Feature, p20-21 Leading Leadbitter MD Bob Rendell on...

06 Plant.
February 7, 2007... Underneath the arches: Jarvie Plant provided two MRT Maniscopic rotary telehandlers, an MRT2150 and an MRT2540, to be used in the renovation of Almond Alley Viaduct in Broxburn. The sandstone under the 36-arch viaduct, built in the 1860s, was...

Unions behind Bill for workers.(01 News)(Private Member's Bill)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... All four construction unions - Amicus, GMB, TGWU, and UCATT - are backing a Private Member's Bill which aims to stop the alleged exploitation of agency workers by giving them the same rights as the directly employed on such issues as basic...

Balfour buys US builder for [pounds sterling]180m.(02 Business)
February 7, 2007... Balfour Beatty has splashed out [pounds sterling]180m to buy Centex Construction, an American building company. Centex's latest financial figures show that a turnover of [pounds sterling]800m resulted in an operating profit of [pounds...

Barratt buys Wilson Bowden for [pounds sterling]2.2bn.(01 News)(Barratt Developments PLC)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Housebuilder Barratt has bought rival Wilson Bowden in a deal worth [pounds sterling]2.2bn. The merger will create the UK's biggest housebuilding group with annual sales of [pounds sterling]3.6bn. Chairman David Wilson, who founded the...

Cemex sees profit reach [pounds sterling]320m in UK.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... Cemex, the global group that established a solid presence in the UK in the spring of 2005 when it bought ready-mixed concrete producer RMC, made a gross profit of [pounds sterling]320m in the UK last year on UK turnover of [pounds...

02 Business.(TATA Steel acquires Corus Group PLC)
February 7, 2007... Tata wins Corus in midnight shootout Back in April 2003, you could have snapped up Corus shares for just 8p. But last week the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker was being fought over for much higher stakes - Corus found itself centre stage as two...

Haymills moves into top gear with [pounds sterling]140m turnover.(02 Business)(Haymills Construction Ltd.)(Financial report)
February 7, 2007... New management strategy pays dividends 2008 turnover expected to jump to [pounds sterling]175m. Haymills' turnover has jumped by 40% and should reach [pounds sterling]140m this financial year (12 months to 31 March 2007), with pre-tax...

02 Business.(RedSky Technologies Inc. cuts down on employees)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Explorer, the new owner of Redsky, the construction IT software group, has been going around the country, office by office, swinging the axe and cutting the headcount. In each office, Redsky staff have been notified of Explorer's...

Brookfield expresses interest in Multiplex.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... The mystery over who is interested in taking over Multiplex has ended with the news that it is Brookfield Asset Management. Brookfield has stepped forward with a formal approach and it wants the job lot rather than just parts of Multiplex....

Building the case for green building.(08 Features)
February 7, 2007... If construction customers refuse to pay a premium for environmental practices, can firms still make a case for taking the green route? James Stagg reports. There is an ever increasing pressure on the construction industry to adapt to...

Trade body criticises WWF's timber claims.(05 Products and Materials)
February 7, 2007... The Timber Trade Federation has slammed the WWF's "cavalier approach" to the issue of illegal timber. According to the WWF, the UK spends approximately [pounds sterling]172m a year on illegal wood, with only China and Japan importing more....

Cemex Rugby plant protest goes to Lords.(05 Products and Materials)(Cemex S.A. de C.V.)(carbon dioxide allocation)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Following Cemex's failure to challenge the carbon dioxide allocation to its Rugby plant in the High Court, protesters fighting for the plant's closure have won the chance to take their case to the House of Lords. The protesters, known as...

05 Products and Materials.
February 7, 2007... FLAT PACKED: As part of the redevelopment of pre-war housing in Edgbaston, Birmingham, Bison Concrete Products' pre-cast cross wall and pre-stressed hollow core flooring have been used in the creation of 77 new flats. Some 488 factory-made wall...

EAG wins deal for [pounds sterling]1.2m uni extension.(05 Products and Materials)(English Architectural Glazing)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Osborne has awarded English Architectural Glazing (EAG) a [pounds sterling]1.2m contract to install all the glazing and external cladding to the Roberts Building extension at University College London. EAG is due to begin work on the...

UK in danger of missing zero carbon homes goal.(05 Products and Materials)
February 7, 2007... Construction Products Association warns that UK will fail to meet nine-year target unless it starts building now. The Construction Products Association has warned that unless a firm framework of development is put in place there will be...

10 Legal.
February 7, 2007... Dispute avoidance Despite the considerable effort that has been made in recent years in the UK construction industry to reduce disputes and to 'Achieve Excellence', parties to the construction process continue to work in an environment...

'Utterly disgusting'.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... CJ reveals shocking YouTube footage that shows dangerous 'horseplay' apparently involving construction workers. NG Bailey chief executive Mark Andrews says: neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk Shocking images of construction workers being...

Amey balancing act gives perfect service.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... End-to-end providers should target an 80% contracting/20% consultancy split, says Amey. Construction firms need to have a turnover and employee count weighted to 80% contracting and 20% consultancy before they can be truly regarded as an...

Firms told to stay out of trouble.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... The construction industry needs to avoid entering into unnecessary disputes, with 600 construction-related wrangles running at the current time. That is the opinion of commercial and contract management construction consultant Blake...

Mapping system aims to cut cost of remediation.(01 News)
February 7, 2007... Contractors could save paying substantial bills on unforeseen land remediation following the launch today (Wednesday) of a new mapping system introduced by GroundSure. Under the Environmental Protection Act, companies that take on a site...

11 Letters.(Letter to the editor)
February 7, 2007... Sir, With reference to your article 'Testing Times' on vibration data relating to hand tools (CJ 17 January 2007), semi-quantitive risk assessments are always a problem for the end user. This is due to the lack of productivity data in...

01 News.
February 7, 2007... up on the roof: The building division of Norwest Holst, part of the Vinci group, is approaching the end of its [pounds sterling]11.5m contract to refurbish and extend a fire-damaged Victorian warehouse building at Seven Dials in London's Covent...

01 News.(Birmingham City Council's contract)(Norfolk County Council invites contracts)(Skanska UK Ltd. appoints David Tydeman)(Brief article)
February 7, 2007... Birmingham City Council has advertised its Building Schools for the Future programme, which is worth [pounds sterling]820m over six phases. It will cover 80 secondary schools, some primary schools and up to seven academy schools. Phase One is...

06 Plant.
February 7, 2007... TALL ORDER: Hewden has invested [pounds sterling]8m in 24 new Demag Cranes, ranging in capacity from 35t to 100t. The machines will arrive throughout the first half of the year and bring Hewden's crane fleet to 229.

Is construction racist?(01 News)
February 7, 2007... Allegations of racism are never far beneath the surface in the white male-dominated construction industry. Two black workers talk exclusively to Tom Bill about their experiences. "Jade Goody on Big Brother was nothing. I hear those kind of...

08 Features.(Leadbitter's expansion efforts)
February 7, 2007... Leadbitter has a remarkable growth record. Since 1985, it has grown at an average rate of 20% a year, with turnover rising from just [pounds sterling]300,000 to [pounds sterling]183m for 2005. Following the [pounds sterling]17m acquisition of...

11 Letters.(Letter to the editor)
February 7, 2007... Sir, With reference to CJ 10 January 2007, the article entitled '10 Big Issues Construction Will Face In 2007' on the Control of Asbestos Regulations is extremely misleading and in places totally inaccurate. Mr Stuart Armstrong of...

Bobcat rolls out backhoe attachments.(06 Plant)
February 14, 2007... Bobcat has introduced new side-shift backhoe attachments for its skid steer loaders. The R30S and R35S replace the 730H and 835H units, and have greater compatibility with Bobcat's machines, allowing them to also fit all its tracked...

Caterpillar switches motor graders to joystick steering.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Caterpillar has made a radical change to its new motor graders, replacing the steering wheel and up to 15 levers with a pair of multi-functional electro-hydraulic joysticks. Graders are regarded as the most difficult machine to operate and...

GE repositions plant hire closer to its TLS business.(GE Equipment Services Plant Hire)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Parent company has no immediate plans to consolidate vehicle rental and plant hire. GE has reorganised its portfolio, aligning its plant hire arm with its vehicle rental specialist TLS, rather than Modular Space. It has also made Andrew...

Prolec to rent out accuracy system.(pcX-3D system)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Machine control manufacturer Prolec has introduced a rental scheme for its pcX-3D system. The company said using the system can increase productivity by up to 50%. The system has been taken up enthusiastically in mainland Europe but sales...

HAE updates vibration level indicators.(06 Plant)(Hire Association Europe )(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... The Hire Association Europe (HAE) has updated its 'traffic light' system for indicating the vibration levels of hand tools. Introducing the new system at the Executive Hire Show, HAE technical officer Kevin Minton said it is viable and...

Unic and Clow in mini crane venture.(06 Plant)
February 14, 2007... Unic Cranes Europe has teamed up with Glasgow-based Clow Group for the hire and distribution of mini cranes in Scotland. Unic has a hire fleet of 50 mini cranes and depots in England, but was finding the cost of transporting hired units to...

Call for major rethink on hand-arm vibration.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Wacker boss says the issues of productivity and ergonomics need more attention. The whole issue of hand-arm vibration should be re-examined, according to Wacker (GB) managing director Andrew Howells. "Low vibration is a good goal, but...

Volvo hails 2006 as best ever year.(06 Plant)
February 14, 2007... Volvo said 2006 was its most successful year ever, with income growing 17% to [pounds sterling]2.9bn and machine sales growing 11% to top 37,000. Profit jumped a massive 41% to [pounds sterling]280m. European and Asian sales were up more...

06 Plant.
February 14, 2007... Extra EHS nib

Four win share of LHC Network repairs work.(04 Contracts)
February 14, 2007... Apollo (London), Ipswich-based Bauder, Romford-based Breyer Group and Connaught Partnerships have been chosen by specialist public sector procurement consortium LHC Network for its UK-wide, [pounds sterling]20m to [pounds sterling]40m external...

HBF responds to CABE report.(01 News)(Home Builders Federation, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has defended standards in the home building industry following a damning report from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). CABE determined that 82% of housing built in the past...

Tender prices set to rise by 5% nationally in 2007.(01 News)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Average tender price inflation will be 5% nationwide during 2007, as strong growth in the commerical, health and education sectors continues to feed growth, according to project and cost consultancy Davis Langdon. The rise, which Langdon...

Jarvis says MMC system saves 35% building time.(01 News)(modern methods of construction)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Jarvis (not connected with Jarvis plc) has found that its modern methods of construction (MMC) house-building system yields an average time saving of 30% to 35% and a waste saving of 30% over traditional methods, having used it for a year. ...

CCS: workers need change in attitude.(01 News)
February 14, 2007... The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) has called for a change in the mindset of construction workers, after CJ exposed a series of YouTube videos apparently showing poor behaviour on site. CCS general manager Edward Hardy said that...

Government often a poor client, says OGC.(01 News)(Office of Government Commerce )
February 14, 2007... Office of Government Commerce hatches plan to tighten up procurement procedures. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has admitted the government can still be a poor client and indicated it will take a leaf out of the private sector's...

01 News.(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... BULL IN A CHINA SHOP: If you employ site workers born between April and May, you might want to encourage them to take a wide berth around trenches, keep their feet firmly on the ground and not to walk under ladders. That's because a survey from...

Kelly's carbon challenge for housebuilders.(05 Products and Materials)(Ruth Kelly)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled details of a new scheme that will ask housebuilders to bid for the chance to design and construct zero or low carbon homes on a series of designated sites in the UK. The Carbon Challenge, which...

09 Special Report.(GCA Construction Inc. and United Utilities PLC sign deal)
February 14, 2007... At first glance, the small piled excavation taking place in a picturesque north Manchester park looks unremarkable. On closer inspection, however, you begin to spot the various odd little devices dotted around the site, their complex appearance...

Double act.(09 Special Report)(King Trailers' vehicle for equipment delivery at Roger Bullivant Ltd.)
February 14, 2007... King Trailers' ingenious bundling of a lightweight tractor, trailer and stone-column piling rig into a single vehicle has increased efficiency at Roger Bullivant, ensuring that equipment is delivered on site in just one trip. Conrad Jowell...

Calming the palm.(09 Special Report)(Pennine Group undertakes reconstruction of Jumeirah island)
February 14, 2007... One of Dubai's artificial palm-shaped islands has been disintegrating - and British ground improvement specialist Pennine has been brought in to stop the development sinking into the Gulf. Conrad Jowell finds out how. Pennine has come to...

09 Special Report.(construction of Forth Rail Bridge)
February 14, 2007... Scotland's famous Forth Rail Bridge, and the road suspension bridge alongside, take much of the traffic, and all the engineering fame, on the Firth of Forth just north of Edinburgh. But upstream, where the estuary narrows, another new bridge is...

09 Special Report.
February 14, 2007... Until August 2005 Stent had a narrow, albeit intense, focus on the UK piling market. Its acquisition of Pennine has broadened the group's scope considerably, and the accompanying impact on the balance sheet has convinced managing director...

Hidden dangers.(09 Special Report)
February 14, 2007... Research has shown that unforeseen ground conditions cause delay on almost half of all construction projects. So how should groundworks contractors deal with such a risk? James Duckworth explains. safer ground: The ICE 7th Edition should...

Healthy outlook.(07 Analysis)(Ross Pearman )(Interview)
February 14, 2007... Following its successful occupational health pilot, Ross Pearman talks to Constructing Better Health about its plans for a national scheme and what the benefits are for the industry. Industry preconceptions that handling occupational health...

14 Back Page.
February 14, 2007... The savings gained can turn a marginally cost-effective project into a safe prospect. Catwalk construction The Considerate Constructors Scheme's (CCS) ambition knows no limits: not content with improving the construction industry's...

Orders grow, but Q4 poor.(03 Benchmark)
February 14, 2007... New construction orders grew strongly in value and volume terms last year compared with 2005, but Q4 was subdued. Justin Stanton reports. New construction orders were worth [pounds sterling]47.9bn in value last year, according to the...

06 Plant.
February 14, 2007... Mansell Construction has used 1.5km of SGB's Extraguard edge protection on its steel-framed development in Richmond Street, Salford. Generator Power has added another six of Atlas Copco's super-silenced QAC 1000 (1,000kVA) containerised...

Two chase Blackpool PFI.(04 Contracts)(Blackpool Primary Care Trust )(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Blackpool Primary Care Trust is casting its eye over bids from two contenders vying for a PFI project that could be worth up to [pounds sterling]48m. The scheme, known as 'Vision PFI', has reached the best and final offer stage. It has...

Four contenders line up for [pounds sterling]20m college scheme.(01 News)
February 14, 2007... Four firms are swotting up for a [pounds sterling]20m education deal on the south coast involving the redevelopment of Highbury College's Cosham Campus in Portsmouth. Pricing the deal are Norwest Holst, Fitzpatrick, William Verry and local...

HA's Cambs road deal now worth [pounds sterling]678m.(01 News)
February 14, 2007... The Highways Agency (HA) has re-advertised one of its biggest road deals, with a price tag up some [pounds sterling]194m more than when it first came up for grabs in August 2005. The A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton widening scheme in...

EA picks seven for flood defence work.(01 News)
February 14, 2007... Seven in line for four-year, [pounds sterling]500m deal with Environment Agency, broken in to core and coastal works. brian.warner@rbi.co.uk Seven contractors are understood to be in negotiations with the Environment Agency (EA) for a...

Hydrock digs deep to scoop Bath mine deal.(04 Contracts)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Local firm beats big boys to win [pounds sterling]50m deal to stabilise collapsing mines near Bath. Sources say that local firm Hydrock is poised to pounce on a [pounds sterling]50m-plus deal to stabilise collapsing mines beneath the...

Three chase readvertised [pounds sterling]35m Scottish port deal.(01 News)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... For the second time of asking, three firms are hoping to sail away with a port deal in Scotland worth at least [pounds sterling]35m. Hochtief, Kier and a McLaughlin & Harvey/Pierse joint venture are vying for the re-advertised redevelopment...

Mace bags [pounds sterling]53m RSC theatre.(04 Contracts)
February 14, 2007... Mace has moved centre-stage for a high-profile [pounds sterling]53m deal to revamp a world-famous theatre in the Midlands. The firm has the construction management contract to redevelop the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon...

Six bid for Somerset brownfield job.(04 Contracts)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Regeneration agency Project Taunton has lined up six groups to develop a brownfield site in the centre of the Somerset town. David McLean Developments/Carillion, Development Securities, Kier, St Modwen Properties, Stanhope and Terrace Hill...

'Horrendous' self-imposed targets for ConstructionSkills.(01 News)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... CHALLENGE AHEAD: ConstructionSkills' Sheila Hoile outlined the training demands needed to meet construction growth in London. Sheila Hoile, London development director at conference sponsor ConstructionSkills, outlined the "horrendous...

14 Back Page.(managing occupational health )(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... Employers have a legal obligation to manage occupational health. A healthy scheme Persuading employers to provide an occupational health scheme for a transient workforce is a tough sell. Most employers will naturally wonder why...

Land Sec looks to strategic relationships.(01 News)(Land Securities Group PLC)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... "Three snags in a room and I'll walk out and come back when you're finished." Those 15 words, uttered by Land Securities development director Geoff Taylor, highlight what a demanding client that organisation is. Land Sec has [pounds...

06 Plant.(Birchwood)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... FLAT OUT: Birchwood has produced 'flat pack' podiums and self-erecting towers - both of which can be quickly assembled by one person. The 600mm x 600mm podium floor can be set at a height of 700mm or 950mm, while the platform height of the...

CITB to be dropped in ConstructionSkills rebrand.(01 News)(Brief article)
February 14, 2007... The days of the CITB brand appear to be numbered, with the building and civil engineering's statutory training board opting for the newer half of its existing name. It is aiming to drop the familiar CITB initials and simply call itself...