News

Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) working with prime contractor TransCore has commissioned the first of five reversible high occupancy toll (HOT) lane corridors. One of the most substantial undertakings of its kind to date in the United States, Metro’s conversion of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes will increase utilisation of the HOV system and subsequently relieve congestion in the general purpose freeway lanes. When completed, the programme will span 135k

The latest addition to the Edge Design range of mobile handling equipment has been released at INTERMAT. The static (SL) / mobile (ML) / tracked (TL) vessel loader is capable of transferring up to 1,200tonnes per hour of material, and can accept it direct from large dumping trucks or tipping trailers. The Edge-Loader TL220 features a conventional belt design and large wide track mounted receiving hopper to facilitate loader filling. It can also be supplied with a discharge conveyor with full 180-degree radi

Repair work is now planned on the first section of the St Petersburg ring road. The work will be carried out from Gorskaya to Primorskoe in 2013. Design work is underway at present. The 24km road will be widened to six lanes and the road structure will be revamped. The repair will end in 2015 and will cost some US$373 million. Work on the interchange in Bronka will commence in 2013 as well.

A 6% increase in lift capacity, greater digging efficiency, reduced emissions and up to 5% lower fuel consumption are the benefits of Case’s new CX470C excavator. The 47 to 50tonne machine has a 9.8litre Stage IIIB engine delivering 270kW at 2,000rpm which contributes to a 5% increase in fuel efficiency and 5% faster cycle times. Some of the savings come from a Boom Economy Control, which automatically reduces engine revs and hydraulic power to the boom when speed and power are not a priority.

JCB CEO Alan Blake has reported record financial results for the UK machinery manufacturer. Turnover in 2011 rose to €3.33bn, 37% up on 2010, with earnings before tax of €430m from sales of 69,100 machines. Speaking at INTERMAT, Blake said: “The market has recovered by 80% since the last INTERMAT, mainly thanks to emerging markets. Russia is up 122%, India 24% and Brazil 10%. However, Western Europe has also improved, up 25% on last year.”

Kapsch TrafficCom has won an order, valued at just over US$355.5 million, for the implementation and operation of a nationwide electronic toll collection system in Belarus. The agreement signed by Erwin Toplak, COO of Kapsch TrafficCom, and Ivan I. Shcherbo, Minister for Transportation and Communication of the Republic of Belarus, extends over a total road network of 2,743km and is for both the implementation of a dedicated short-range communication based system as well as its operation over a 20 year pe

Volvo Construction Equipment has started its own Russian revolution by beginning work on its US$52million excavator factory in Kaluga. High profile dignitaries, including Kaluga Region governor Anatoly Artamonov and president of Volvo CE Pat Olney, attended a special ceremony on April 18 to mark the start of the groudbreaking project.

JCB has introduced two additional Stage IIIB-powered wheeled loaders, the 427 and the 437. Replacing the 426 and 436, the loaders use a Cummins QSB engine, which meets the requirements of Stage IIIB without the need for a diesel particulate filter or selective catalytic reduction (SCR). A variable geometry turbocharger improves response, while an optional five-speed powershift transmission with intelligent clutch cut-off system helps to reduce fuel consumption.

Intel Capital has announced a US$100 million investment fund to help accelerate innovation and the adoption of new technology and services in the automotive industry, claiming it is the first global technology investment organisation headquartered in Silicon Valley to announce a dedicated focus on automotive technology innovation. The Intel Capital Connected Car Fund will be invested globally over the next four or five years in hardware, software and services companies developing technologies to promote

Attachments specialist Labounty has introduced two new cutter crushers, said to be the most powerful in their class. The MDP 20R can be mounted to the dipper of a 25tonne machine or to the boom of an 18tonne carrier. The heavier MDP 30R matches the dipper of a 35 tonne excavator or the boom of a 25tonne.

Epec is hoping to be a controlling influence at INTERMAT. The Finnish firm’s managing director, Jouni Matikainen, said the 32-bit processor and increased calculating power of the new 5050 control unit for mobile construction machines had created a “very powerful” unit. Matikainen said that all Epec’s range of control units, including the new 2024 model being exhibited at the show, have been made to cope with extreme application conditions, including dust-heavy mining.

The Metropolitan Police in London, England is reported to be considering the option of pursuing the first ever corporate manslaughter charge against a highways authority. Twenty-four-year-old cyclist Deep Lee was killed in a collision with a lorry at the junction of Pentonville Road and York Way in King’s Cross last October. An independent consultants’ report on pedestrian safety in 2008 had warned the capital’s highways authority, Transport for London (TfL), that the junction at York Way needed prope

BLS Enterprises is promoting its full range of Tufpads polyurethane track pads for pavers and asphalt milling machines, including the European introduction of its W series. W series pads can be used as a direct replacement for Wirtgen’s EPS system. Polyurethane lasts two or three times longer than rubber, said president Barry Stoughton. The Tufpads system is available in both one-piece and two-piece versions. The one-piece pads are bonded to the metal, while pads in the two-piece system are bolted on. This

The Fayat Group’s road building division is “ready to play its part” in overcoming the global economic downturn, Group general manager Jean-Claude Fayat told a press conference at INTERMAT. “The crisis is not over. The financing aspects have to be handled with care,” said Fayat, who stressed how the French Group’s “diversification and internationalisation” had left it in “good shape” to come through tough economic times.