News

A new survey carried out in the UK reveals that male drivers are more likely to risk lives by overtaking blind and speeding on rural roads. As a result male drivers are being urged to be more careful. The survey was carried out jointly by safety body Brake and insurance firm Direct Line. The data reveals that 24% risk catastrophic head-on crashes by overtaking blind, while 44% admit speeding at over the national speed limit of 96km/h (60mph) on rural roads. Men are much more likely to take these deadly risk

Construction software specialist Bentley Systems reports a strong financial performance with its latest annual results. The 2012 financial year has been healthy with regard to the firm’s global operations. The firm’s financial report reveals that revenues grew 5% to a record US$550 million on an historical GAAP basis; in constant currencies, GAAP revenues grew 8% and organic growth was 6%. The company claims user numbers of its software have also grown. The report states that applications use was logged by

Construction of the east stretch of the Rodoanel is an important municipal highway project in São Paulo, Brazil, and significant to national infrastructure development. The project relies heavily on Randon trucks equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions, which are also used at other construction sites in Brazil, due in part to participation in a government infrastructure growth acceleration programme, Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC). Many national infrastructure construction projects

Global Cranes Sales has shipped its first RT100 unit worldwide, since its unveiling at Bauma China. The shipment to South-East Asia is said to precede many more scheduled to ship worldwide throughout 2013. The RT100, which has a 100tonne capacity and 43m boom, is engineered to have the maximum capacity at radius for its weight. The Zoomlion RT rough terrain crane line includes service and support from Global’s established teams in the United States and abroad. Global Crane Sales, in partnership with Zoom

JCB has won a massive order for over 1,000 of its backhoe loaders in a deal which is designed to transform the rural economy of Brazil. Brazil's Ministry of Agrarian Development has signed a tender for the JCB 3C backhoes worth more than £40 million (US$60 million), as the company marks 60 years of backhoe loader production. The machines will be delivered throughout 2013 and put straight to work improving rural roads to ensure food produced for sale gets to market much quicker. The machines will be man

Trimble has established SITECH technology dealers to serve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. SITECH KSA and SITECH Vietnam join the premier network of SITECH dealerships. The fully dedicated global distribution network offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction technology systems to the heavy civil construction contractor. SITECH technology dealers represent Trimble and Caterpillar machine control systems for the contractor’s entire fleet of heavy equipment regardless of machine brand, along wi

Roadtec is launching a 2.5m tamper bar screed developed by the firm’s operation in Germany. This screed has been designed as a heavy-duty, high-quality unit. It is designed to suit customer in Europe and in worldwide markets while for US customers, it will be used for RCC applications. Worldwide it will be sold on the new German-built Roadtec asphalt pavers.

Component specialist BLS Enterprises is offering a durable replacement track pad for use on Wirtgen milling machines. President Barry Stoughton said, “We have a direct replacement for the EPS system.” He said that this two part pad system allows the pad to bolt directly onto the track. Long life and durability are claimed, as well as ease of replacement.

Demand for exhibition space at the inaugural bauma Africa has meant the event has again been expanded. Instead of the originally planned 200 exhibitors, the premiere of bauma Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa from 18-21 September, is now expecting to host around 400 exhibitors. The resulting increase in demand for exhibition space means the event being expanded again, by another 15,000m2 to a total of 50,000m2. Organisers Messe München International says that major players including Atlas Copco, Bauer,

Parking restrictions are strictly enforced in many UK cities

Two road construction projects have been awarded in Vientiane province, Laos. One, granted to Sekko Construction Company by the Public Works and Transport Department of Vientiane province, will be initially funded by Sekko and it will be repaid within ten years by the state. The US$19.05 million, 9.3km road will connect Nanin village of Vi engkham district with Thaxan village of Keo-oudom district.

A new partnership between Jamaica and the UK is intended to reduce road deaths in the Caribbean country. This novel agreement on improving road safety forms part of international twinning programme. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD are joining forces for this twinning initiative. Under the programme Jamaica and the UK will promote the implementation of best practices in road safety data collection. The goal of the twinning is to help Jamaica a

Russia is home to all of the world’s climatic zones and to over 6,000 bridges. Rain and wind, sun and heat, snow and ice mean that the Russian weather is extreme, and because its bridges need special protection their structural elements are insulated with bituminous sheeting. Evonik says that temperature stability and long life are key criteria for selecting insulating materials, and this has led to an increase in the use of special sheeting, some of which has been modified with its Vestoplast product. Ove