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Plans are on track for construction work on Seattle’s Alaskan Way tunnel to commence in mid-2013. The massive TBM that will drive the tunnel has been tested in Japan by its manufacturer Hitachi and is now being shipped to the US. The TBM has a 17.5m diameter cutting head, making it the largest machine ever constructed. This is bigger even than the Herrenknecht machine with its 15.62m diameter cutting head built for the Bologna-Florence highway tunnel project in Italy. The new Hitachi TBM has been disassembl

The Nepalese Government is conducting out a comprehensive survey of road transportation, the first time in the country’s history this has been carried out. Nepal’s Central Bureau of Statics, the government’s statistical agency, began its survey a month ago and is expected to complete with the end of June, 2013. The survey data is expected to help government fiscal planning, employment, public transportation role and GDP and also help in education and research. The Government of Nepal has also decided that d

Global manufacturer of percussive rock drilling tools Rockmore International has added the ROK 600A and 650A to its ROK series DTH hammer product line. The 600A and 650A are 6inch (152.4mm) class DTH hammers that are the first models in the newly-emerging A Class hammer range from Rockmore. The A hammers feature new component designs that are said to demonstrate better performance and penetration rates suited to smaller compressors. “We are committed to developing new DTH hammer solutions that increase prod

Spectra Precision is introducing its sophisticated ProMark 700 system, a GNSS network RTK rover aimed at duties in land survey applications. The unit weighs in at only 650grammes and is said to be the lightest GNSS RTK smart antenna available on the market. Its light weight, together with its compact and slim design, makes the unit the receiver portable and comfortable for field use. It features a long battery life, a rugged, waterproof design and a wide operating temperature range, allowing the ProMark 700

Trimble says that its combined device for mobile communications and surveying data collection offers high performance and reliability. Called the Trimble Slate Controller, this rugged new unit is said to combine the convenience and ease-of-use of a smartphone with durability. Optimised for use with the Trimble Access field software and the Trimble R4 GNSS receiver, the Trimble Slate Controller supports a surveyor’s workflows. Offering voice, SMS text, and 3.75G cellular data transfer capabilities on GSM cel

Trimble says that it is increasing the capabilities of its integrated GNSS survey receiver range. This line-up includes the Trimble R4, Trimble R6, Trimble R8 GNSS systems and is rounded out by the latest Trimble R10 GNSS System. The new improvements being added include increased satellite tracking and Real Time Kinematic (RTK) performance. These modernise the integrated receiver portfolio to add functionality, flexibility and capability as well as providing more options for surveyors.

Bonfiglioli is now offering new electrical traction solutions for aerial platforms. These now offer electrical drive capabilities for telescopic boom, articulated boom, vertical and scissor type lifts. The firm says these drives are highly energy-efficient electric traction solutions for aerial platforms, which integrate motor and gearbox. This allows customers to benefit from electric traction technology as installation is easy and flexible due to compact component dimensions, while maintenance and repair

The new 700CT Series integrated hydraulic motor drive from Bonfiglioli is designed for use in compact track loader. Said to suit closed circuit applications, this drive range offers compatibility with the previous 700CK Series in closed circuit applications. The new product features the same chassis side and sprocket side dimensions and does not require machine manufacturers to change the design of their present gear motor drive train interface. Compared to conventional drives, however, the new hydraulic mo

Bonfiglioli Trasmital has developed a new series of travel drive gearboxes for use in large, heavy duty tracked machines. The firm is now offering three new product sizes, the 722C, 724C and 726C, which extend its range of tracked travel drives. The 722C develops a maximum torque of up to 330,000Nm, making it suitable for use on excavators of 120-150tonnes, as well as cranes and drilling rigs of 180-230tonnes. The 724C develops a maximum torque of up to 450,000Nm, and is specially designed for large cranes

Bonfiglioli is broadening its range of drives for road construction equipment with a series of new products for use in milling machines, pavers and compactors. The new milling drive for asphalt planers now features a two-stage gear motor with reinforced bearings on the integrated pulley mounting shaft. The technical specifications for this new solution include integrated lubrication that eliminates the need for a system installed in the milling head and maximises lubrication efficiency. There is also an off

A key innovation for concrete mixer trucks has been developed by Bonfiglioli, This novel electric drum drive has been developed specially for the new hybrid truck mixer from CIFA, the concrete equipment specialist owned by Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion. Stefano Baldi, worldwide sales manager at Bonfiglioli Trasmital said, “The cement mixer truck market has always been an important one for us, and we have always done our best to offer key account customers superbly reliable, high performance solutions. As th

Auction specialist Ritchie Bros has sold over US$44 million of equipment at a sale in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the firm, site records for registered bidders and online bidders were set as more than 3,100 heavy equipment items and trucks were sold during the two-day heavy equipment auction at Fort Worth. New auction site records were set for total registered bidders with more than 3,900 and total online bidders, in excess of 2,300. "This auction offered one of the largest quantities of high-quality la

UK city Aberdeen was yesterday presented with an EU sustainable mobility award. The city won the 2012 Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) Award. The video shows more about the winning city and provides a glimpse of its cutting-edge achievements in the field of sustainable urban mobility.