Features

Shem Oirere reports on plans for a major highway to Rwanda to other parts of Africa Construction of a 78km highway stretch that links Rwanda to the rest of Eastern Africa will start in May. State Minister in Charge of Transport Dr Alex. Nzahabwanimana said the contract for the US$54 million project has already been awarded to German construction company Strabag International.

Colbond, a leading producer of synthetic nonwovens and polymeric mats and composites, has appointed Jan Mahy as global director of research and development. He brings with him 18 years of professional experience and moves from Akzo Nobel, a former parent company of Colbond. "I am looking forward to join Colbond's vision to strengthen the company's postition as an innovative global player in technical textiles. Leading an international group of experts to develop and improve products for this industry

Superlatives, once applied only to China's phenomenal growth, are now being used for India. Patrick Smith reports Those involved with the Naini Bridge in Allahabad are so proud of the result that they have set up an exhibition centre detailing its construction.

A huge infrastructure programme is being planned at present for the Australian state of Queensland With an annual growth rate of around 3.2%, Queensland is the fastest growing state in Australia and has been for over a decade. The State attracts an average of 1,500 new permanent residents each week, 1,000 of whom move to the South East corner.

The South Interoceanic Road is a path of integration and development: it is also a GRAA 2011 Winning Project . On 24 January, 2012 the International Road Federation formally presented a Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) in. the Programme Management category to Concesionaria Interoceánica Sur Tramos 2 y 3, S.A. for its leadership in the provision of integrated services as part of a large-scale transportation infrastructure programme. IIRSA Sur Concessionaire - Stretches 2 & 3, builds, provides maintenanc

Demand for geosynthetics in the United States alone is projected to increase 4.4% per year through to 2010 to more than 727 million m². Geosynthetics, used worldwide in the highway sector for strengthening, include geotextiles, geomembranes, geonets, geogrids, geosynthetic clay liners, preformed geocomposites, geocells and geofoams. The US advances will be fuelled by a recovery in nonbuilding construction. Additionally, geosynthetics will continue to increase their use in a wider range of applications

Wirtgen's new 120F milling machine has been developed from the 100F launched late last year. The two machines use the same basic chassis but the 120F is a more powerful mill that can handle wider cuts of up to 1.2m. Jeff Wylie is product manager for Wirtgen's milling machines in the US and explained that the machine comes with several new features. Power comes from a Cummins QSC diesel and this engine is rubber-mounted, to reduce vibration and noise. A variable speed cooling fan is fitted that senses engine

A new range of equipment from SHANBAO has helped to increase limestone production to meet Henan Province's aggregates demand. SHANBAO has supplied a full range of equipment to two companies in a growth region of China.The Chinese-based manufacturer of stationary crushing and screening equipment supplied the equipment to Yongsheng Aggregates and Yongye Trading. The crushing, screening and feeding equipment is being used to process limestone that supplies 10% of the aggregate requirements in the Henan region'

With substantial corporate changes for two of the major manufacturers of milling machines, the market is in a state of some flux. Only a few months ago Atlas Copco bought its fellow Swedish firm Dynapac, followed shortly afterwards by the announcement that another Swedish company, Volvo, was planning to acquire Ingersoll Rand's road development range. Exactly how these two large businesses will be integrated into Atlas Copco and Volvo remains to be seen. Both Atlas Copco and Volvo will face a learning c