News

Volvo Construction Equipment has started work on its new test and development centre in Hapcheon, Korea. The facility lies close to the company’s existing excavator manufacturing facility in Changwon. The new facility doubles as Volvo CE’s excavator testing capacity in Korea and includes an all-weather test dome, reliability and noise test field, workshops, various complete machine performance test areas and a customer clinic. Engineers at the 253,515m2 site will focus on excavator product development, adva

TRL has won a research grant package from Qatar focussing on recycled materials. The 6th Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) Forum (14th May) has been awarded a research grant under the seventh cycle of its National Priorities Research Program (NPRP). The research will focus on the innovative use of recycled aggregates in construction, with the project commencing in autumn 2014 and lasting three years. Maximising the use of recycled and secondary aggregates is a priority to meet the demand for aggregates i

According to All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association chairman Sanaullah Khan, marble exports totalled US$70 million (€51 million) from July 2013 to April 2014, a 45% year-on-year increase. China accounted for half of this amount, primarily semi-finished products, while other major importers include the USA, Europe, Middle East, Japan and South-east Asia. Over 90% of the exported marble originated from Balochistan province and the nearby city of Karachi. Khan stated

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) believes an imminent Technology Strategy Board led programme to encourage innovation in the UK’s Off Highway sector is likely to lead to a multi-million euro investment in the future of the construction equipment supply chain. Speaking of the keenly-awaited programme CEA chief executive Rob Oliver said, “We have been working with the TSB for some time and are now confident that a funding competition will be confirmed very shortly. The TSB have a well-established

The Italian city of Milan has won the 2014 Transport Achievement Award (TAA) for its ‘Area C’ urban road pricing scheme. The TAA is awarded annually by the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD, an intergovernmental organisation for the transport sector with 54 member countries. The award will be presented tomorrow in the presence of ministers from around the world during the opening plenary of their global transport summit organised by the ITF. Milan, said by the ITF to be one of the most c

A new Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group guidance document on ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ has been published by the UK-based CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association). The new ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ document aims to clarify methods for employers to manage, develop and record employees' competences to operate all types of plant. The HSE and CITB were key participants, alongside a wide range of other organisations. The guidance covers management of training and management o

Kobelco Construction Machinery Group is expecting strong sales in North America and Europe in the 2014 financial year after recently re-entering both key markets after a decade-long absence. Consolidated net domestic sales in Japan in 2013 financial year (April 2013-March 2014) were up 29.2% year-on-year to US$1.362 billion (138.3 billion yen), with overseas sales at $1.771 billion (179.9 billion yen), a year-on-year increase of 11.9%. The ratio of overseas sales to consolidated net sales decreased slightl

Research carried out in the UK suggests that safety problems such as tailgating and speeding are common on UK motorways. According to the survey carried out jointly by road safety body Brake and insurance firm Direct Line, 57% of UK drivers admit to tailgating while 60% admit breaking the speed limit by 16km/h (10mph) or more. Male drivers are far the worst offenders however.

UK-based engine producer Perkins has celebrated the production of its 20,000,000th engine. The company started in business building engines 81 years ago and this milestone was celebrated with a ceremony, attended by 70 employees. The 20,000,000th engine was a 1206 two-stage turbo Tier 4 diesel engine, built at its factory at Peterborough in the UK. Of the 20,000,000 engines the firm has built, at least 4.5 million are still in use. The company builds engines at its manufacturing facilities in Peterboroug

Dr Shanjiang Zhu, assistant professor of engineering at George Mason University in Virginia, USA, is the recipient of the International Transport Forum’s 2014 Young Researcher of the Year Award. Dr Zhu was selected by an international jury of experts for his work on choosing the best strategies against traffic congestion. He is being presented with the distinction on 21st May in Leipzig, Germany during the opening plenary of the Annual Summit of transport ministers organised by the International Transport F

Two Turkish contractors have been awarded a major road project in Iraq. The package of works is worth some US$415 million and the deal requires the construction work to be completed within three years. The Turkish contractors are Elitas Insaat, Kur Insaat Ticaret ve Sanayi, and Intas Insaat Taahhut Ticaret. The contract is for the 60-Metre Road project in Sulaymaniyah.