Contract Journal articles from June 2004

Contract Journal archives from June 2004

A taxing issue.(construction industry)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Editor's comment As we suspected, most small construction firms are against the idea that labour-only subcontractors should be subject to PAYE and National Insurance. And large firms seem quite happy with the proposal. The results of the...

All-risk insurance.(BP Exploration -v- Kvaerner Oilfield Products)
June 3, 2004... The recent case of BP Exploration -v- Kvaerner Oilfield Products examined whether an insurer providing a contractor's all-risk policy is entitled to recover from the contractor monies that it has paid out following a claim under the policy....

Settling in.(Construction industry New Products)
June 3, 2004... Now in its third year at SED, there was an agreeable air of familiarity at the Concrete Show this year. However, Laura Hailstone found plenty of new products that sparked an interest among visitors. Causing a stir among spectators in the...

Concrete protector.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... A controlled permeability formwork liner designed to protect concrete in extreme environments has been launched into the UK by Beverley-based Adfil. The company has been appointed as sole UK distributor of Formtex, manufactured by Danish...

Construction ahead of schedule as Wembley raises arch.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The 133m-high Wembley Arch began its lift last Friday. The Arch will take up to six weeks to raise into position. There are four key stages to the operation as the arch is lifted 30[degrees], 65[degrees], 100[degrees] and 112[degrees]....

Bovis hits gold with [pounds sterling]120m redevelopment.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Bovis Lend Lease has won a [pounds sterling]120m contract to redevelop the Golden Square shopping centre in Warrington. Lend Lease will provide development and asset management services, as well as construction management services through...

Costain and China Harbour.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Costain has formed a global alliance with China Harbour, one of China's largest construction groups. The two will work together internationally on projects involving marine development and port construction. China Harbour has one of the largest...

HA defends selection for Area 2 EMAC deal.(Early Managing agent Contractor)(Highways Agency)
June 3, 2004... Agency's inclusion of a sixth contender prompts bidders to question purpose of CAT process. The Highways Agency (HA) has defended its selection process on the Area 2 EMAC contract for Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Devon, after...

NR appoints consultants.(Network Rail, contract)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Network Rail has awarded framework agreements for the supply of permanent engineering and technical staff to four recruitment consultants. EPCglobal, Morson, Resourc-ing Solutions and Roevin will provide a first tier of recruitment for the...

Lend Lease denies Bovis sale rumour.(Bovis Lend Lease Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Lend Lease, the Australian developer, has quashed rumours that Bovis, its construction management division, might be sold to Multiplex as a result of its [pounds sterling]2.6bn proposed merger with General Property Trust (GPT). GPT, Australia's...

[pounds sterling]17.6m pay-off for Carillion rail.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Carillion will receive [pounds sterling]17.6m after Network Rail took its rail maintenance contracts back in-house. Carillion's net assets in this business are valued at [pounds sterling]16.5m. Network Rail will pay in cash and the proceeds...

Confederation in deficit again.(Construction Confederation)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The Construction Confederation marked up an operating deficit of [pounds sterling]165,000 last year, according to its latest financial review. It is the sixth consecutive year in which confederation expenditure has exceeded income. The annual...

New suitors woo jilted Lawrence.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Pipeline constructor now has several offers after McNicholas plc ends negotiations. Lawrence, the specialist pipeline constructor, is back on the market after McNicholas plc pulled out when close to completing a deal. As a result, several...

ProCure 21 boosts speed and quality.(new product)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Review of new procurement method shows it saves up to half the time of the old system. ProCure 21 is slashing the time it takes to deliver NHS capital works by up to 50%, according to Peter Woolliscroft, head of partnering at NHS Estates....

Roving safety reps get ready.(roving worker)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... A national launch of roving worker safety representatives - or worker safety advisers (WSAs) - backed by employer associations and unions and with cash support from the government is due this month. At least two construction partnerships...

Pupils win new school toilets.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Monkseaton High School won ConstructionSkills' Creative Spaces competition. The school will now benefit from [pounds sterling]50,000 of building work, carried out to designs created by the school's pupils. Monkseaton's design involves...

North/South output divide continues.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The north/south divide in construction output growth is set to continue this year and next. Experian associate director James Hastings said: "While national levels will again be strong in 2004, this isn't painting the whole picture. Last year...

RMD and AWG fined [pounds sterling]110,000 after steel death.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... RMD Kwikform and AWG were fined a total of [pounds sterling]110,000 last week after a man was crushed to death under a tonne of steel in Staffordshire. RMD was fined [pounds sterling]100,000 at Staffordshire Crown Court following the incident...

Timber frame firm expands to keep pace.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... "Phenomenal demand" for timber frame structures across the whole housing spectrum has encouraged timber frame specialist Pace Timber Systems (Northern) to increase its production facilities by more than 50%. The company, formerly known as...

Plumbers consider alternatives as steel prices continue to soar.
June 3, 2004... Plastics industry looks set to pick up business as further steel price rises are forecast for the next three months. Steep rises in the cost of steel pipes and tubing are changing the way contractors specify materials for plumbing work....

QC briefed on rolled-up pay.(Queen's Counsel)(holiday pay )(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... George Brumwell, general secretary of UCATT, has said that his union is briefing Queen's Counsel in preparation for the issue of rolled-up holiday pay going before the European Court. Brumwell was responding to the English Court of Appeal...

Regional batching necessary for Scottish LIFT to succeed.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... If NHS LIFT is to succeed in Scotland, schemes will need to be batched regionally, leading players warned at a recent seminar. The seminar, held in Edinburgh last week, was part of the Scottish Executive's public consultation on how primary...

Cutting edge kit.(Recyling Equipments - crushers)
June 3, 2004... Since its introduction to SED four years ago, the Site Clearance Zone has proved fertile ground for inventors and entrepreneurs. Will Mann reports on another bumper year for the pioneers behind recycling equipment. Of all the sectors at...

A tall order.
June 3, 2004... A walk through the Cranes and Access Village at SED revealed some interesting innovations at this year's exhibition. Geoff Ashcroft reports. Perhaps one of the most innovative access solutions at the show was among Versalift's exhibits,...

Driving success.(transportation industry)
June 3, 2004... Record crowds, plenty of handshakes and excellent feedback from exhibitors old and new - SED was deemed a success. The transport industry turned out in full to demonstrate new products and provide some welcome shade. Kevin Swallow reports. ...

High fives at Conn aught.(Connaught)
June 3, 2004... It never used to be seen as a profitable market, but social housing has helped Connaught become one of the darlings of the City. Will Mann talks to chief executive Mark Tincknell about the firm's rapid rise. "We call it 5-5-5," says...

The third way.(Arms Length Management Associations)
June 3, 2004... It wasn't quite what the government intended, but Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) are fast becoming local authorities' preferred delivery mechanism for bringing their housing stock up to the decent homes standard. Will Mann visits...

Thieves target Arc-Gen kit at SED.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Arc-Gen had [pounds sterling]18,500-worth of kit stolen from its stand at SED last week. As well as exhibiting, Arc-Gen supplied the lighting towers for SED and as such did not pick up its kit until the Monday after the show. However, on 23 May...

Portsmouth United.(Portsmouth City Council)
June 3, 2004... Portsmouth City Council enlisted the help of the Collaborative Working Centre to help with its procurement strategy for a central heating installation programme. The result was the UK's first local authority strategic partnership involving...

WYG goes overseas with IMC purchase.(White Young Green)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... White Young Green (WYG) has paid [pounds sterling]10m for IMC Consulting and IMC Europe. They were previously subsidiaries of Rio Tinto, the global mineral extraction and processing group. It is the first significant move outside the UK for...

Adjudication enforcement.
June 9, 2004... In August 2000, Rockingham Motor Speedway entered into a contract with AWG Construction, which at that time was known as Morrison Construction, for the design and construction of a new motor racing track near Corby in Northamptonshire. The...

Cutakerb modifies Wirtgen planer for trench cutting.(Power Plane)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Roadworks specialist Power Plane has taken delivery of a 1m-wide Wirtgen planer specially modified by Cutakerb. The modification enables the machine to cut a trench 300mm wide and up to 400mm deep and reduce the kerbstones to aggregate. Damage...

CIG helps members comply with new STGO plate rules.(Crane Interest Group)(Special Types General Order)
June 9, 2004... Forms need to be sent to crane makers so they can issue new plates by 1 December. The Crane Interest Group - part of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) - has produced a form to help members requiring revised Special Types...

Kerbcrawler takes manual input out of kerb precision.(Exac-1)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Attachment specialist Exac-1 has introduced a kerb lifting and positioning system for excavators called the Kerbcrawler. It consists of a Kerb-Karry trailer, a Kerb-Grip Grab and, if required, a free swinging or Tiltrotator positioning system....

Speedy Hire aims for 400 depots.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Speedy Hire aims to have a national network of more than 400 depots within the next couple of years. It plans to increase its present 18% hire market share through further acquisitions and new greenfield sites. Speaking at the company's...

Doka SCPs to be used on Manchester tower.(self-climbing formwork platforms)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Platforms will rise independently on UK's tallest residential building. Doka's hydraulic self-climbing formwork platforms (SCP) will be used for the construction of the UK's highest residential building, the Beetham Tower in Manchester....

Land & Water Plant ups 'green' credentials.(environmentally considerate lubricants)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Long reach excavator specialist Land & Water Plant has specified hydraulic fluid with biodegradable environmentally considerate lubricants (ECL) for use in three New Generation JCB JS220s. The new machines' dippers carry a...

Development report welcomed.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... The Construction Products Association's 'Working Smarter to Improve Profitability' initiative, which is looking at the issues that will influence the development of the industry, has received a warm welcome. "There's generally been a positive...

EU offers health and safety bypass.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 9, 2004... Editor's comment Companies operating under a flag of convenience may be commonplace in the world of shipping, but we can do without them in the UK construction industry. However, a proposed EU directive on services in the internal market...

Cowboys to fly EU flags of convenience.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... The prospect of cowboy contractors operating outside the law under "flags of convenience" is a step closer thanks to a proposed EU directive. The directive on services in the internal market is intended to open up the EU market to competition....

Fitzpatrick shows profit.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Fitzpatrick has published its 2003 accounts, showing a pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]6.1m. The group's 750 staff recently learnt that ownership is passing to Dutch group VolkerWessels, the agreed price being put at [pounds sterling]40m....

Irish 'untouchables' will monitor labour.(inspectors general)
June 9, 2004... As well as combating racketeering, inspectors will enforce correct employment terms. Ground rules for the appointment of a pool of construction site "untouchables" to police contracts in Northern Ireland and to combat racketeering reveal...

Midas Projects makes debut.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Midas has set up a new subsidiary to boost its drive into major projects. Midas Projects, formed last month, will handle contracts valued at more than [pounds sterling]10m. Its managing director is Alan Hope, formerly managing director of...

Morgan Est expands with AWG Rail purchase.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Morgan Est's push to expand its rail capability has led to the purchase of AWG Rail Services, which has an annual turnover of [pounds sterling]15m a year. No price has been disclosed. AWG, formerly known as Anglian Water, bought the business in...

TNT boss claims staff can reject TUPE to RMC.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... RMC may struggle to take on the staff currently working for logistics contractor TNT on its Rugby Cement contract following its decision to bring the work back in-house. RMC divisional supply chain director Clive Oakley said he expects the 380...

Lenard blasts industry for lack of leadership...
June 9, 2004... Constructing Excellence consults other bodies about setting up a construction college to train future leaders. Construction suffers from a "serious lack of leadership", according to Constructing Excellence (CE) chief executive Dennis...

Jarvis subcontract form under scrutiny.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... SEC Group chief brands Jarvis amendments to subcontract form a 'no-win situation'. The Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group will submit Jarvis Construction's amendments to the standard DOM/2 subcontract form to the Construction...

M1 scheme to use CAT method.(Capability Assessment Toolkit for shortlisting tenderers)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... A [pounds sterling]117m scheme to improve the M1 at junction 19 will be among the first batch of Highways Agency (HA) major schemes to use the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) method of shortlisting tenderers. A project source said the HA...

Treasury backs payment abuse taskforce.(Specialist Engineering Contractors)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... The Treasury has approved the Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group's request to set up a taskforce to tackle payment abuse by local authorities. In a recent letter to the SEC Group's campaigning MP Claire Curtis-Thomas, Treasury chief...

Wates slashes staff turnover to 11%.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Staff turnover at Wates has been trimmed to just 11%, one of the lowest in the construction industry, according to finance director Jonathan Houlton. He put the industry average at 15% to 20%. "Our success results from the investment made in...

Seven vie for [pounds sterling]12m Wigan road.(Alfred McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Birse, Costain, Edmund Nuttall, Morgan Est and Mowlem)(contractors)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Seven contractors are due to pick up the tender paperwork within the next few weeks for a [pounds sterling]12m design and construct road deal in Wigan. The line-up for the council's inner relief road scheme is Alfred McAlpine, Balfour Beatty,...

Stone trainer seeks experts.(Natural Stone Industry Training Group)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... The Natural Stone Industry Training Group (NSITG) is looking for professionals who can help improve skills in the sector. The NSITG is managed by the Stone Federation of Great Britain and funded by the Construction Industry Training Board. It...

Ready-made mix for Corium.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Baggeridge Brick has introduced a dry-bagged mortar and pumping package for use with Corium, the company's clay brick cladding system. The Corifix range, developed in conjunction with Tecroc, comes in a single pack and in a variety of colours....

Corefast makes debut in Dublin.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... The first installation of Corefast, the new offsite construction system for lift and stairway cores from Corus, was completed last week at the [pounds sterling]270m Dundrum Town Centre development near Dublin. The six-storey lift core was...

UK aggregates under attack from cost rises on all fronts.
June 9, 2004... Oil prices add to growing financial burden caused by transport, legislation and duty rise. Soaring oil prices will add to a raft of cost increases that are having an adverse impact on the competitiveness of the UK aggregates industry, the...

Low-grade timber in 'green-gluing' study.(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... A feasibility study has been launched to investigate the potential of 'green-gluing' to create a practical use for low-grade timber and as a basis for a range of new timber products. Green-gluing is the process that allows the jointing and...

Peterhouse 'rebels' to stand down if bid fails.
June 9, 2004... 75% of Peterhouse shareholders must support Babcock's third and final takeover bid if it is to succeed. The futures of six of Peterhouse's senior team are hanging in the balance as a result of their support for Babcock's takeover bid....

Pochin to buy rival firm.(Pochin Plant discusses acquisition of Raynesway Concrete Pumping)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... Pochin Plant is in discussions to buy Raynesway Concrete Pumping for an undisclosed sum. Raynesway will add 30 machines and operators to Pochin's 100-plus fleet. It covers Scotland, the North East and North West and is thought to fit in well...

Survival of the fittest.(construction industry politics)
June 9, 2004... The Construction Confederation is losing money, while UCATT is going from strength to strength. John d'Arcy investigates their contrasting fortunes. Serious question marks hung over the future of what remains the most powerful construction...

WYG buys Hawthorne Kamm for [pounds sterling]1.5m.(White Young Green combines forces to strengthen presence)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2004... White Young Green (WYG) has paid [pounds sterling]1.5m for Hawthorne Kamm, a privately-owned business based in Droxford, Hampshire, which provides town planning services. All Hawthorne's directors will stay in their posts. Hawthorne's latest...

Watson Steel workers vote to strike at Heathrow T5.
June 9, 2004... Workers want improved deal but employers question mandate. Watson Steel workers on T5 have voted to strike over pay, but the turnout was low with only 35 of the firm's 90 staff voting. The Amicus union wants to wait for ballot results to...

Be inspired.(UK steeplejacks and lightning conductor engineers are a breed apart)
June 16, 2004... Of all the specialists in the access sector, few command as much awe as steeplejacks and lightning conductor engineers. Geraldine Faulkner finds out what makes them scale the heights - and why their trade body is getting a revamp. If...

Hanging in there.
June 16, 2004... A-Plant Acrow's new support system looks like a shelf bracket and is designed to make bridge refurbishment jobs much easier. Paul Howard reports from the River Leven in Scotland where it is being used to widen a 250-year old bridge. ...

Haki has it covered.(Stowe House)
June 16, 2004... One of England's most celebrated country houses is undergoing a major restoration project and Haki's 750 roof system is protecting the building during the programme. Will Mann reports. Stowe House is one of the most prestigious locations of...

Poacher turned gamekeeper.(Interview)
June 16, 2004... IPAF managing director Tim Whiteman is a familiar face in powered access after covering the industry as a journalist for many years. Now he is on the other side of the fence, he tells Will Mann what his plans are. Tim Whiteman laughs at...

SGB wraps up Glasgow.
June 16, 2004... The latest product to come out of the SGB stable is EnviroWrap, a form of temporary cladding that effectively 'shrink wraps' a building during its construction. In Glasgow - not a city known for its clement climate - it's proving ideal for...

Companies should set cleanliness targets.(Noria)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Noria chief calls for proactive rather than reactive maintenance. Martin Williamson, UK director of consultancy firm Noria, has called for all plant companies to set cleanliness targets. Speaking at the Cleanliness Summit at the National...

Colmar units get UK certificate.(UK Engineering Acceptance Certification)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Following the opening of its UK headquarters in Monmouth, south Wales, Italian specialist machinery manufacturer Colmar said its T4300FS and T10000FS rail loaders have achieved full UK Engineering Acceptance Certification (GMRT1300 Issue 4)....

Honda in action.(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Honda has launched a number of court actions against companies it accuses of counterfeiting its products. The company has already won cases in the UK, Germany, the US and South Africa and has launched a further 22 actions. Many of the actions...

Mercedes deal.(Daimler-Benz AG)(ServicePackage)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Mercedes-Benz is offering up to five years peace of mind maintenance deals called ServicePackage on Vito and Sprinter vans for a one-off payment of [pounds sterling]395. ServicePackage is designed for small fleets with fewer than 25 vehicles...

Search invests in Land Rover and Iveco hydraulic platforms.(William G Search)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... As part of a planned [pounds sterling]100,000 investment, Leeds plant hire firm William G Search has unveiled four vehicle-mounted hydraulic platforms. Two go-anywhere 14.5m platforms are mounted on Land Rover 130s and the other two 11m...

UK Forks buys more Bobcats.(Bobcat machines)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... UK Forks has expanded its tele-handler fleet with the delivery of more than 70 new Bobcat machines, representing its largest single order with the manufacturer. The order consists of 28 14m-reach T40140s, 40 17m-reach T40170s and a number of...

E7 ready for quarrying.(heavy-duty track-mounted self-propelled open-flow screening and stockpiling system)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Extec has launched a tracked screen system purpose-built for the recycling and quarrying sectors. The E7 is a heavy-duty track-mounted self-propelled open-flow screening and stockpiling system, which has been under development for the past 18...

M5 Pacer makes its debut.(municipal chassis)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Seddon Atkinson showcases municipal chassis and first R5 Strato at Institute of Waste Management exhibition. Seddon Atkinson unveiled its M5 Pacer municipal chassis at the Institute of Waste Management exhibition in Torquay earlier this...

Thousands choose not to renew CSCS cards.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)
June 16, 2004... Clients' failure to verify certification has encouraged many operatives not to bother renewing their cards. Thousands of workers are not bothering to renew their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) membership and are working on...

Carillion restructures to make a business services division.(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Carillion has reshaped its internal structures to form Carillion Business Services. The division is a combination of five previous elements within the group: Carillion Building; Carillion Services; TPS Consult; TPS Schal; and Schal. Managing...

MoD's review delays Chelsea Barracks again.(Ministry of Defence)(Private Finance Initiative)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... The jury is still out on the fate of the beleaguered [pounds sterling]150m Chelsea Barracks PFI scheme. The MoD Investment Approvals Board is conducting a review of the project, following the withdrawal of the Amec/Berkeley Homes consortium...

Council reviews [pounds sterling]4.3m bill to repair Bath Spa.(Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) Council)
June 16, 2004... Bath & North East Somerset expects findings by 15 July after GTMS report says costs 'spiralled out of control'. Costs for rectifying the flaking paint on the [pounds sterling]26m Bath Spa project are the focal point of an internal review...

ICE criticises UK's local transport and waste.(Institution of Civil Engineers)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... The UK's infrastructure is still suffering from a lack of joined up thinking and has shown little improvement, according to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). In its The State of the Nation 2004 report, the ICE awarded overall...

Balfour in row over Mersey Wave.(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Balfour Beatty is in the centre of a legal row over who should shoulder the redesign costs for the [pounds sterling]700,000 Mersey Wave sculpture for the Liverpool Land Development Company (LLD). The 30m-high aluminium structure is being...

NFB contests 'lack of leadership' claim.(National Federation of Builders)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has hit back at last week's claims by Constructing Excellence's chief executive Dennis Lenard that the industry lacked leadership (CJ 9 June). The NFB's chief executive Barry Stephens responded: "The...

Network Rail cleared ; of unfair procurement.(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Network Rail (NR) has been cleared of all allegations of unfair competition by the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR). Last year, it was revealed that the rail operator was to be investigated over the streamlining of its welding contractors...

CIPER 'faces uphill battle' in Brussels.
June 16, 2004... Consultative body for regulations may have difficulties preventing problems before they occur. CIPER, the government's new consultative body for regulations affecting the construction industry, will face an uphill battle to succeed in its...

Taylor Woodrow database aims to reduce paperwork.(Brief Article)
June 16, 2004... Taylor Woodrow has unveiled an online supplier platform designed to reduce paperwork and the risk of inaccuracies in contact details, as well as facilitating feedback. The company recently completed an in-house supplier database and the first...