News

Details of a major programme of road building projects have been unveiled by the UK Government. The plan envisages some €18.83 billion (£15 billion) being spent on constructing new road links and upgrading existing routes. This is the largest single programme of works for the UK’s road network for several decades. The plan includes 100 major projects, perhaps the most notable being the long-awaited tunnel for the A303 past the Stonehenge archeological site. The existing route is narrow at this point and suf

The bauma China 2014 event held in Shanghai from 25th-28th November set a series of records, most notably with its attendance hitting 191,000 visitors, an increase of 6% from the previous show in 2012. The show had a very strong international presence with visitors from 149 countries, as well as a strong showing in respect to international buyers, up some 12% from 2012. Meanwhile there were 3,104 exhibitors from 41 countries, an increase of 14%. The four day bauma China 2014 event was held at the Shanghai N

Indoogoo, a social and trading network for the construction industry, has added geolocation of available equipment to its My Rentals Website. Users of My Rentals have been locating and renting heavy equipment from big organisations including national outfits and smaller local traders. The new service now allows users to search for the machinery they wish to rent, specifying exactly where and when it is needed. The user is presented with a customised map showing all suitable machinery in the specified area.

The head of Brazil’s association of road constructors has warned of more layoffs unless the National Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DNIT) starts paying its contractors. Jose Alberto Pereira Ribeiro, president of ANEOR – National Association of Road Works - said companies already have been forced to lay off around 1,700 workers in light of non-payment by the government. Another 950 employees are on forced holidays. Ribeiro claimed DNIT failed to meet its financial obligations for September

IJM, one of Malaysia’s largest construction conglomerates, has bailed out of a deal to buy the highways concession business SILK. SILK Holdings, owner of the subsidiary SILK, Sistem Lingkaran-Lebuhraya Kajang, and IJM agreed to end the US$118 million takeover deal that was announced in June, the Sun newspaper reported. SILK holds the concession for the 37km Kajang Traffic Dispersal Ring Road, also called the Silk Highway, until 2037. The road opened in 2004. IJM noted in June, in its filing of intention

Serbia’s Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has approved a merger between the public-owned roads companies Putevi Srbije (Roads of Serbia) and Koridori Srbije (Corridors of Serbia). Putevi Srbije maintains roads while Koridori focuses on construction planning and project management, including expropriation of land. The government said the merger will contribute to faster completion of projects such as stretches of Europe’s Corridor 10 and Corridor 11 road networks and hopefully red

Caterpillar is offering its new 326D2 excavator for sale into markets such as Africa, Middle East and the CIS. Maximum operating weight of 26.345tonnes for the non-ROPS variant, with power from the Tier 2/Stage II Cat C7.1 engine rated at 140kW. The machine is equipped with a three-stage fuel filtration system for optimum protection of fuel-delivery components. Features include cross-sensing hydraulics for greater efficiency, robust major structures for long-term durability, ergonomic cab for increased

The Topcon Positioning Group has acquired German console manufacturer Wachendorff Elektronik and its US subsidiary Wachendorff Electronics in a private transaction. Wachendorff Elektronik and Wachendorff Electronics are leading manufacturers of in-cabin mounted consoles for the industrial vehicle market in the agricultural and construction industries. Ray O’Connor, Topcon Positioning Group president and CEO said, “This acquisition is a key ingredient of our global strategy to strengthen our ability to serve

Kobelco Construction Machinery has posted its semi-annual results for the 2014 financial year. The results give grounds for caution as well as some optimism however. In the Japanese hydraulic excavator market, a significant decline was expected initially in response to the impact of last-minute demand in the previous financial year. However, the decline was less than expected owing to strong domestic demand. As a result, the total domestic demand for heavy hydraulic excavators in the first half decreased by

In Chile plans are well in hand for a series of major infrastructure projects, with the work likely to help boost the country’s economy. The Ministry of Public Works in Chile (MOP) has announced that it will speed up the process for key infrastructure construction projects. Those projects involving investments of around US$1.10 billion should be approved by 11th March 2015. The Ministry of Public Works has indicated that three private concession contracts have already been approved, including the dual-carri