Features

Improving aggregate production and quality levels is not just about investing in the latest equipment but making sure existing machines are optimised - Claire Symes reports. Although the cost of fuel has dropped since last summer's high, reducing the cost/tonne of production is still high on the agenda for most quarry operators, along with improving quality.

In determining the mechanical strength of cement, the European Standard EN 196 prescribes both compressive and flexural tests, so when Italian company Tecnotest designed its current generation of cement testing machines, the aim was to obtain highly accurate results over the full scale despite the wide range involved by implementing a dual scale in a single test bay, using load cells as dynamometers.

MB S.p.A. of Italy has launched the first of a new generation in its bucket crusher range following the successful launch of the units in 2007. According to the company, which currently exports to more than 100 countries, applications for MB bucket crushers, which fit a variety of excavator sizes (and which also include an iron separator) are many.

Indeco's innovative HP18000 hydraulic hammer is now being proven in a tough demolition application in the US. The Italian company hopes to sell more of its innovative HP18000 models now that its class-leading hydraulic system is proving its worth in the field. Tipping the scales at an impressive 11tonnes, the HP18000 is now the biggest breaker available on the market anywhere and is designed for use on carriers that weigh up to 140tonnes. Some 4.6m long and with a 250mm diameter tool, the HP18000 can delive

Tough political decisions have to be made to ensure highway investment - *Dr Max Lay reports

SACYR Chile is constructing a bridge on the new Northeast Access Highway in the capital Santiago, and when complete the 22.5km route will link the suburbs of Vitacura and Colina to the city. Acceso Nororiente, opening this year, is the fifth urban freeway in Santiago and stands out because of the challenges in the construction of its bridges ands tunnels.

Rohit Baluja is a man with a mission, and that is to help reduce the grim accident toll on India's roads, the worst in the world. Baluja, a shoemaker by trade, has been studying for a PhD in civil engineering, and this has involved regular trips to Birmingham, UK, to complete his doctorate. All this seems far removed from 18 years ago when in December 1991, using much of his own money, he founded the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), the only organisation in India that conducts accident investiga

Well known in the compaction field, BOMAG continues to raise its profile in the paving sector with the launch of another new machine, the BF300 paver. This model replaces the earlier Marini-developed BF331 and is said to be a combination of the best German and Italian engineering as well as sharing some features with the BF600 series launched by BOMAG during last year. Developed for the 7-8tonne class the BF300 is versatile and manoeuvrable and has a transport width of just 2.5m, even including its mounted

One of the world's longest bridges is being built in Norway – for traffic volumes of just 2,000 cars/day reports Adrian Greeman. The stunning landscape of the long sea fjords in Norway is one of its glories, attracting thousands of tourists every summer. But the high mountains and deep sea inlets are also one of the great obstacles to transport and development.

The highway is being built by Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, known as the Maghreb region (in Arabic: the West), as well as in Libya. Construction of the longest section, the one running through Algeria and extending over 1,200km, began in March 2007 and is scheduled due for completion shortly.

The busy BICES show reflects China’s booming infrastructure investment and growing economy – Mike Woof reports. The recent BICES trade show in capital Beijing was extremely busy, with high visitor attendance levels and crowded aisles. The interest in the event strongly reflects the country’s massive infrastructure growth, which continues to develop. The construction equipment business has been identified as a key economic priority by the Chinese Government, with manufacturers being offered numerous incentiv

An in-depth congress is being held in conjunction with the Intermat exhibition. Visitors to the show will be able to find out about the latest developments in sustainable road construction by attending this congress, which is being organised by the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE).

The Fellowship Orientation and Executive Leadership Program of the Washington Program Center is now the IRF Road Scholar Program. It encompasses the ten-day Fellows' Orientation Program, the Executive Leadership workshop, and the brand new IRF career fair. This year, 25 students from 19 countries participated, bringing the 59-year-old program total to 1,180.

Framework plays a key role in construction of bridges and other major infrastructure works – Mike Woof writes Speeding construction processes can help reduce costs considerably and the latest formwork solutions can provide significant benefits in this regard. In many projects the use of standardized and modular formwork solutions can play a key role, reducing the planning and systems required for bridge building work.