Features

Highway road tunnels and inter-city vehicle underpasses are vital components of an essential busy highways network. Keeping them clean is essential. Road tunnels and vehicle underpasses require a specific strength of light. Too bright, and the lamps or lights may dazzle or distract drivers, and too dim the tunnel can seem claustrophobic and daunting, as well as increasing dangers from obstructions and other hazards.

A new bridge inspection unit is carrying out vital work in Vietnam.

superior Industries is now offering virtual welder training at its Welding Training Centre.

On behalf of the International Road Federation, I am delighted to extend a personal invitation to road industry professionals to join us in Portugal for the 16th IRF World Road Meeting.

In preparation for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the Black Sea health resort of Sotschi, Russia, is tackling its growing traffic jam problems.A 13km bypass and a new main road passing mainly under the city involves the construction of 15 tunnels and a number of bridges and flyovers.

Komatsu Europe has invested in developing an efficient spare parts operation - Mike Woof writes. Komatsu Europe is reaping the benefit of its investments in the spares support facility in Belgium. During the financial crisis new machine sales plummeted across Europe for all manufacturers but Komatsu Europe was able to ensure steady income through its spares support service. With many European customers holding onto machines longer during the last few years due to the downturn, spares support has been pivota

The German construction equipment manufacturer's association, the VDMA, has said that the new EU-exhaust emission directive presents a major challenge for its members. According to the VDMA, the introduction of the EU-Exhaust Emission Regulation Stage IIIB has resulted in a great deal of investment at huge cost. For customers that has resulted in higher prices and the VDMA sees tighter regulation as being counter-productive.

New legislation has changed fuel specifications as well as engine emission requirements, writes Claire Symes. The latest Stage IIIB engines mean that on-site maintenance routines for newer equipment need to be changed. And at the same time, new fuel specifications also mean changes to management of fuel for all machines. The European standard for gas oil, EN590, changed at the start of the year in order to comply with the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality Directives. This means fuels now must be low sulphur