Contract Journal articles from January 2004

Contract Journal archives from January 2004

Tender evaluation procedures.
January 9, 2004... The Privy Council is the highest UK court of appeal for countries in the Commonwealth. On 1 December, five law lords of the judicial committee of the Privy Council gave judgment on an appeal from the Court of Appeal in New Zealand concerning...

BT Jenkins takes UK's first Volvo EC160BLC excavator.
January 9, 2004... The UK's first Volvo EC160BLC excavator has been delivered to BT Jenkins of Cyst St Mary, Devon. The machine is the company's second Volvo unit after it took delivery of a 21t EC210BLC in March 2003. Launched at Intermat 2003, the 16t...

New generation Litronic for Norton.
January 9, 2004... S Norton & Co of Liverpool has increased its fleet of Liebherr materials-handling machines with the delivery of a new generation R 984C EW Litronic unit. The latest generation of Litronic handlers have an increased operating weight of 136t and...

New year, ; new challenge.
January 9, 2004... Have you made a New Year's resolution? No, not got round to it yet? Perhaps CJ's selection of New Year resolutions across the construction board will get you thinking. Michael Ankers Construction Products Association Chief executive The...

Phil Hill hails JCB precision.
January 9, 2004... The UK's first JCB 3CX Contractor backhoe loader equipped with JCB precision controls has been delivered to Phil Hill Plant Hire of Exeter. Commenting on the purchase, Phil Hill said: "I tried the machine out at a recent JCB demonstration day...

New scabbler from Speedy.
January 9, 2004... A new precision scabbler - a tool for repairing and refinishing concrete surfaces - is available from Speedy Hire. The tool is the result of close co-operation between Speedy and Macdonald Air Tools, and is said to offer 90% reduced vibration...

Terex launches AWS.
January 9, 2004... All-wheel steer site dumper is 'most important design change since the early 1970s'. Terex Benford has launched an AWS (all-wheel steer) rigid chassis site dumper, claiming the machine is the most significant development for dumpers in...

Partnering is visible among manufacturers.
January 9, 2004... Sir, Professor Stuart Green and his colleague Neil Jarrett were absolutely right to express misgivings about the relevance of partnering and KPIs to the average building Bob on a construction site (Partnering ethos comes under fire, CJ 26...

A one-sided view on trade associations.
January 9, 2004... Sir, Your front page lead on trade associations (CJ 10 December) is somewhat one-sided in suggesting that they are ineffective "old boys' clubs". The Citigate Dewe Rogerson report on which you based your article actually reports a very...

We're not all 'old boys' clubs'.
January 9, 2004... Sir, I read with interest your article about trade associations (CJ 10 December 2003) and feel I must write to redress what I consider an imbalanced report based on the Citigate Dewe Rogerson survey. My own association, the National Federation...

In brief.
January 9, 2004... Sennebogen completes crawler crane range German manufacturer Sennebogen said it has completed its crawler crane line-up with the launch of the 110t 3300 Star-Lifter. The company now has a range of four cranes with capacities from 80t to 180t....

Star Capital kick-starts secondary PFI market.
January 9, 2004... Investment group in moves to acquire [pounds sterling]100m of equity in current projects from seven leading contractors. The anticipated secondary market in PFI equity funds has burst into life with the formation of the Star Capital...

Overseas work boosts Per Aarsleff's turnover.
January 9, 2004... Per Aarsleff has reported a pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]1.4m ([pounds sterling]1.5m) on a turnover up 27% to [pounds sterling]14m ([pounds sterling]11m) in the 12 months to 30 September 2003. The UK company is a foundation piling...

Seven chase MoD deal worth 'tens of milions'.
January 9, 2004... Seven consultants are in formation for a Defence Estates deal that could be worth "tens of millions of pounds" to contractors. The project is to inspect about 50 airfields throughout the UK and advise the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on...

Higgins profit up again.(financial results from the Higgins Group show an annual average 47% growth in profit over the last five years)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Latest financial results from the Higgins Group show an annual average 47% growth in profit over the last five years. Higgins' latest crop of financial data (results covering the 12 months to the end of July 2003) puts turnover well ahead at...

Clad all over.
January 9, 2004... Known primarily as a roads contractor, SIAC Construction (UK) recently withdrew from the market to concentrate on what managing director Sean McGettigan calls 'total envelope contracting'. And with orders totalling almost [pounds sterling]20m...

European Court ruling boosts social dumping.
January 9, 2004... Unions alerted to European Court of Justice decision implying companies need not respect foreign laws. British construction unions have been warned that a ruling by the European Court of Justice implies that foreign companies can operate...

HSS cuts ties with Davis.(HSS Hire Services Group has cut its ties with former parent company Davis Services Group)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... After almost a year of speculation, the buy-out of HSS Hire Services Group took place just before Christmas. In a [pounds sterling]145m move backed by venture capitalist 3i, HSS has cut its ties with former parent company Davis Services Group....

HM in Hitachi financing link.
January 9, 2004... Hitachi Construction Machinery distributor HM Plant has formed a partnership with Hitachi Capital to offer flexible financing and leasing arrangements on construction equipment. Ian Briggs, divisional managing director of Hitachi Capital...

DfT allocates [pounds sterling]1.9bn to local infrastructure.
January 9, 2004... The government has unveiled a [pounds sterling]1.9bn plan to improve and upgrade local roads, public transport and streetlighting this year. New local integrated transport schemes get the lion's share of [pounds sterling]657m, followed by...

Cleaver expected to move.(Mansell's chief executive Philip Cleaver is expected to move to a new high-profile post in the construction industry in the next few months)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Mansell's chief executive Philip Cleaver is expected to move to a new high-profile post in the construction industry in the next few months. Privately owned Mansell was recently bought by Balfour Beatty for [pounds sterling]42m (CJ 26 November...

Plumbers top [pounds sterling]10 per hour.
January 9, 2004... This week plumbers became the latest trade group to see the bulk of their operatives top the [pounds sterling]10/hr minimum rate of pay. With immediate effect, the basic hourly rate for an advanced plumber and gas service engineer rose by 6% to...

Commons raises questions about Bouygues' Home Office site policy.
January 9, 2004... More than 50 MPs have signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM) that questions the industrial relations policy of Bouygues, in particular, and other top construction companies. The EDM says there are "worrying implications" for the...

Bilfinger and Balfour first.
January 9, 2004... First-time joint venture for two firms pays dividends on [pounds sterling]1bn Manchester scheme. A first-time joint venture between German firm Bilfinger Berger and Balfour Beatty looks to have paid dividends on a high-profile commercial...

RMC share price boost.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... RMC has enjoyed a jump in its share price following the news that it expects to deliver full-year profit at the top end of analysts' forecasts. The group's latest trading statement said that the performance would be achieved despite a possible...

European Standards set to boost recycled aggregates.
January 9, 2004... WRAP claims European standards will ensure long-term growth in secondary aggregates. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is predicting that the changeover from British Standards to European Standards for aggregates, to be...

In brief.
January 9, 2004... Bowmer & Kirkland awarded [pounds sterling]20m deal Bowmer & Kirkland has bagged a [pounds sterling]20m deal to upgrade facilities at Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham. The job involves teaching accommodation and a multi-purpose sports...

Barr back in black as it exits non-core activities.
January 9, 2004... Deputy chairman claims the firm's debt was due to quick growth and diversifying into non-construction areas. Drastic action to put Barr, the Ayrshire-based construction group, back on its feet has worked. After three years of running up...

John Laing wins [pounds sterling]350m NHS PFI.
January 9, 2004... A John Laing/Sodexho jv has beaten off Carillion to emerge as preferred bidder for a [pounds sterling]350m PFI scheme for North Staffordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The job involves building a new acute hospital on the University Hospital of...

Barr drops out of roads contracting.
January 9, 2004... Barr's construction division has pulled out of roads contracting. "We couldn't compete with the likes of Balfour Beatty," said Rush. "Previously, we did a lot of highways work, but while our Garrion Bridge project won us awards it also lost...

In brief.
January 9, 2004... Information Resourses key for Oldham library Kier-led Information Resources is preferred bidder to build an [pounds sterling]18m library and lifelong learning centre in Oldham. The Metropolitan Borough Council PFI deal is worth [pounds...

Warings steering for [pounds sterling]30m deal.
January 9, 2004... Portsmouth-based Warings is in the driving seat for a [pounds sterling]30m deal to build a heritage centre at the world-famous Brooklands racetrack in Weybridge, Surrey. The firm has raced past rivals Sir Robert McAlpine, Kier and Carillion to...

Rockwool secures Heathrow T5 deal.
January 9, 2004... Stone wool insulation manufacturer Rockwool has secured a major order with Hathaway Roofing to supply a variety of insulation products for Heathrow's T5. Worth almost [pounds sterling]500,000, the contract will see Rockwool supplying Hathaway...

Wates wins work worth [pounds sterling]48m-plus.
January 9, 2004... Wates has clocked up contract wins in London and Leeds totalling [pounds sterling]48m-plus. In Leeds, the Wates-led QED group has held off bids from Mowlem and Jarvis to register a [pounds sterling]32m PFI deal to build 10 primary schools for...

Peri UK shows all at SED 2004.
January 9, 2004... Rugby-based formwork supplier Peri UK will display its latest range of formwork and falsework for the concrete industry for the first time at this year's Concrete Show at SED. The 2004 event will also see Sheffield-based Valbruna UK, a supplier...

Harder asphalt from AI and BP.
January 9, 2004... Aggregate Industries and BP Bitumen have developed a type of asphalt that could improve road surfaces in urban areas. The companies have spent the past year working to produce Bardon Superflex, which has the potential to drastically reduce road...

WYG falls short of [pounds sterling]15m target.
January 9, 2004... Consultancy White Young Green (WYG) has raised approximately [pounds sterling]9.7m from the City, falling short of its target of nearly [pounds sterling]15m. WYG launched a placing with institutional investors and an open offer to qualifying...

New Year's Honours list sees Gershon knighted.
January 9, 2004... Office of Government Commerce chief executive Peter Gershon led the field of construction industry people feted in the New Year's Honours List with a knighthood. CBEs were handed out to: Rear Admiral Louis Armstrong, chief executive of the...

Morgan and May Gurney to share [pounds sterling]300m Lincs job.
January 9, 2004... Two contractors are set to harvest [pounds sterling]300m worth of highways work in Lincolnshire, spanning 10 years. The county council has rolled out a framework deal covering a decade of major projects and sources said the client has now...

Conder fined [pounds sterling]100,000.
January 9, 2004... Burton-based Conder Structures has been fined a total of [pounds sterling]100,000 at Leicester Crown Court for its part in a fatal accident involving the death of a 16-year-old youth. The accident occurred on 28 November 2000 during the...

Nevis Water chosen for Project Aquatrine.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Nevis Water, a jv of Thames Water and Scottish Water, has won preferred bidder status on the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Project Aquatrine Package B. Nevis beat a jv of Brey Utilities, Yorkshire Water Services, Earth Tech Engineering and...

Costain scoops [pounds sterling]120m British Gas deal.
January 9, 2004... Costain Petrofac has clinched an estimated [pounds sterling]120m-plus deal to provide a range of engineering, construction and project support services to British Gas Hydrocarbon Resources (HR) at Morecambe Bay. The project starts this month,...

Fife schools delay angers PFI bidders.
January 9, 2004... Fife's second PFI schools deal is facing delays after Fife Council's eleventh hour decision to ask all three bidders for Best And Final Offers (BAFOs). Under the original timetable the council was set to choose a preferred bidder in December...

Exempt SMEs from liability insurance.
January 9, 2004... BAA calls on the government to exempt all SMEs from employers' liability insurance. The British Aggregates Association (BAA) has called for the government to exempt all SMEs from employers' liability insurance. In a letter to the minister...

Miller reports good decade.(Miller Group's 2003 says profit is expected to increase for 10th successive year)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Miller Group's 2003 trading update shows profit is expected to have increased for the 10th successive year. Full results are due in March, but advance information points to a 15% increase in group turnover to more than [pounds sterling]750m,...

CWS removes materials after non-payment.
January 9, 2004... CWS Construction, a groundwork subcontractor working for Ballast on its [pounds sterling]90m Tower Hamlets PFI schools project, was so incensed at the non-payment of [pounds sterling]320,000 for completed work that it went back on site during...

25% of workers set to quit construction.
January 9, 2004... DfES survey reveals 40% of construction workers 'drifted' into the profession and view it as a way to pay bills. A quarter of construction workers are set to quit their jobs this year, according to a survey from the Department for Education...

In brief.
January 9, 2004... United Utilities Water calls for contractors United Utilities Water is inviting contractors to pitch for its AMP4 five-year framework contracts. Four firms will undertake major projects worth [pounds sterling]40m to [pounds sterling]100m a year...

Primaria up for Leeds LIFT.
January 9, 2004... Miller is celebrating a victory over rivals Infracare and ExcellCare after its consortium Primaria was chosen as preferred bidder on the lucrative [pounds sterling]115m Leeds NHS LIFT contract last month. The initial phase of work will see...

Jarvis beats competition to bag N Ireland PFI school.
January 9, 2004... Jarvis is set to register its second PFI schools deal in as many months. The firm is tipped to see off stiff competition and emerge as preferred bidder for a [pounds sterling]20m-plus deal in Bangor, Northern Ireland. The contractor had to...

The adjudication ambush.
January 14, 2004... In late 1998 London and Amsterdam Properties commenced a construction project to develop Midsummer Place Shopping Centre in Milton Keynes. It entered into a professional appointment with Waterman Partnership, which agreed to act as structural...

60-second interview.(Terry Oakes, commercial and training manager, Hargreaves Homes)(Brief Article)(Interview)
January 14, 2004... Terry Oakes, commercial and training manager, Hargreaves Homes What is your greatest work achievement? Being part of the Hargreaves contracting team when it completed the DeVere Hotel next to the Reebok Stadium in Bolton - a fantastic...

Steely-eyed.
January 14, 2004... Construction is Corus' single biggest sector, accounting for about a third of its [pounds sterling]7.2bn worldwide sales. And of that, one third is in the UK. No wonder it takes the domestic construction industry seriously. Rob Willock...

Reversal of fortune.(construction industry)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2004... We are now seeing the first credible data to suggest that construction industry growth is about to go into reverse. It is still safe to say that construction will avoid a meaningful recession, but the forecast combination of a slowdown in...

A metal in its own right.
January 14, 2004... The use of stainless steel in the construction industry has never been extensive and is rarely used as the dominant material as it is perceived as being expensive. Laura Hailstone spoke to the British Stainless Steel Association to find out if...

Rand Group formed out of UCS.
January 14, 2004... Management looks to double turnover to [pounds sterling]100m within 10 years, with expansion planned in North East and North West. UCS Group, the parent of UCS Civils, Linpave Building and National Road Planing (NRP), has been restructured...

Cotswold transition complete.
January 14, 2004... The transition from agricultural contractor to plant hirer was perhaps an unusual step for Cotswold Recycling partners Richard Cooper and Paul Finch. However, the partners said, after advice from Demrec, a division of Bristol-based equipment...

McAlpine wins MQP contract.
January 14, 2004... McAlpine Business Services has won a seven-year contract to load and haul four million tonnes of blasted granite a year at Midland Quarry Products' (MQP) Old and New Cliffe Hill quarries. The deal is the first UK outsourcing contract to be...

The Empress' new clothes.
January 14, 2004... Standing out above the rooftops of Earls Court is the revamped Empress State Building with its glass facelift and sparkling new canopied entrance. David Bennett reports on the use of a lightweight architectural concrete that is making a...

Case WX170 for Plasmor.(Plasmor Concrete Products has taken delivery of a wheeled excavator )(Brief Article)
January 14, 2004... Plasmor Concrete Products' new fully automated block manufacturing plant in Newark has taken delivery of a specially adapted Case WX170 wheeled excavator to be used for stacking and loading duties. The excavator is equipped with a block grab...

In brief.
January 14, 2004... Business support helpline from CPA The Construction Plant-hire Association has launched a business support helpline for members. The service, on 08707 454545, offers free advice on tax, VAT, PAYE, health and safety and commercial legal...

Liebherr on target for [pounds sterling]2.8bn 2003 turnover.
January 14, 2004... Europe, Asia and South America targeted for growth areas. The Liebherr Group has said that it will achieve its target of a fully consolidated turnover of [pounds sterling]2.8bn for 2003, the same result as 2002. Although turnover dropped...

PFI land deals to remain exempt from Land Tax.
January 14, 2004... PFI land transactions will remain exempt from Stamp Duty under new rules introduced late last year. Stamp Duty Land Tax has replaced Stamp Duty and applies to all land transactions completed on or after 1 December 2003. The new rules clarify...

Three Peaks Challenge.
January 14, 2004... Last year 28 teams from the construction industry raised [pounds sterling]143,000 for humanitarian organisation CARE International by undertaking the COINS Three Peaks Challenge - climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden within 24 hours. If...

Diesel bowsers to be exempt from regs.
January 14, 2004... ADR regulations to be relaxed allowing 15-year exemptions. The Health & Safety Executive and the Department for Transport are set to relax the interpretation of the ADR regulations. This will allow existing diesel bowsers to be classified...

JMK launches an on site cut-out service.
January 14, 2004... JMK Cut-Outs, a division of JMK Flooring, has launched a new service providing factory quality floor panel cut-outs on site. The Enfield-based firm has been developing specialist equipment for the past 18 months to provide the service. Partner...

Rok recovers spend on Ballast.
January 14, 2004... Rok Property Solutions has already recovered its investment in Ballast. It snapped up the three northern regions of the troubled construction group after it went into administration three months ago. Rok's initial offer of [pounds sterling]2m...

Taywood's 2003 profit prediction close to [pounds sterling]300m.
January 14, 2004... Taylor Woodrow's 2003 pre-tax profit is expected to run to close to [pounds sterling]300m before exceptional and goodwill charges, according to an average of predictions made by analysts who follow the housebuilding sector. In a trading...

CPA slams Part L energy regs.
January 14, 2004... CPA attacks the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister claiming, proposals for Part L Building Regs are 'flawed'. The Construction Products Association has slammed the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) proposals for Part L (energy...

Two vie for [pounds sterling]56m Brum PFI.
January 14, 2004... Birmingham City Council prepares tenders for Galliford and Balfour for [pounds sterling]56m schools refurb/rebuild deal. Galliford Try is hoping to pick up its second big-value PFI schools deal for Birmingham City Council. The group is one...

Industry split over technical assessments.
January 14, 2004... Constructionline is set to launch the new version of its much-criticised technical assessment criteria at the end of this month. The launch is going ahead despite not receiving backing from the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) or...

Miller has open mind over selling PFI equity stakes.
January 14, 2004... Miller Group chief executive Keith Miller is open-minded about the benefits of selling PFI equity stakes to one of the players in the evolving secondary market for PFI equity. Miller has numerous income streams from completed PFI projects....

Mowlem and CCS fight over DOM/2.
January 14, 2004... Confederation of Construction Specialists' barrack room stance is an old, outdated attitude, says Mowlem. Mowlem and the Confederation of Construction Specialists (CCS) are embroiled in a war of words after the latter described the...

Five fight it out for [pounds sterling]15.5m HA East Yorks road.
January 14, 2004... Five firms are in the mix for a [pounds sterling]15.5m Highways Agency deal in East Yorkshire. The line up for the scheme, on the A63 at Melton, is: Balfour Beatty; Birse; Costain; McAlpine; and Skanska. The task involves a grade separated...

EMAC deals only for CAT-registered firms.
January 14, 2004... HA reassures contractors that future maintenance work will go to firms with a CAT score. The Highways Agency (HA) has moved quickly to settle contractor fears after rumours that it was considering allowing contractors to bid for...

Travis Perkins' results boosted by housebuilding and DIY boom.
January 14, 2004... Travis Perkins expects full-year earnings to be in line with forecasts of [pounds sterling]175m before tax, amortisation and goodwill, against [pounds sterling]149.7m in 2002, as the builders' merchant continued to profit from the housebuilding...

Concrete mixed on site alleviates decline in sales.
January 14, 2004... An increase in the volume of concrete mixed at on site batching plants has helped alleviate the decline in ready mixed concrete sales delivered to sites, according to BDS Marketing. During 2002, site plants are thought to have poured more than...

McAlpine on track in N London.
January 14, 2004... North London is to get an athletics track after all, now that McAlpine is on the starting blocks for a [pounds sterling]16m PFI scheme to build a sports centre at Willesden. The victorious contractor is due to start work early this summer on...

NFB makes Wise move in naming policy director.
January 14, 2004... The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has strengthened its policy and public affairs team with the appointment of policy director Christopher Wise, who was senior policy advisor for the National Farmers' Union (NFU). During his 10 years...

Bridging the gap.
January 14, 2004... Precast concrete beams are playing their part in the fast construction of top-down bridges on the A34 in Berkshire. Geraldine Faulkner reports. The A34 Newbury Bypass in Berkshire generated substantial opposition from environmental groups...

Residents mark roadworks.
January 14, 2004... A system for assessing the quality of roadworks that incorporates local residents' views has been launched by West Sussex County Council and its highways maintenance contractor Minerva Accord. The system involves the issuing of pre-paid comment...

Lone bidder for Tyne PFI school.
January 14, 2004... South Tyneside Council is pressing ahead with a [pounds sterling]20m PFI school deal although it has only one bid to evaluate. Originally two bidders were vying for the deal at Boldon Secondary School, Newcastle upon Tyne, but the second was...

Mowlem 'not responsible' for Bath Spa paint failure.
January 14, 2004... Council's confidential test results show spa problem was not caused by Mowlem's application of paint. The simmering feud between Mowlem and Bath & North East Somerset Council over the [pounds sterling]22m Bath Spa project has taken another...

Thailand MBO takes Semple away from overseas markets.
January 14, 2004... Mechanical and electrical contractor Semple has completed its pull-out from overseas markets after selling its Thailand business unit to a management buy-out team for nearly [pounds sterling]1m. The Thailand business' area of work is the...