News

Registrations are open for the 2012 Summit of the International Transport Forum, which will focus on seamless transport. This global transport policy platform is linked to the OECD and will take place on 2-4 May in Leipzig, Germany. The event will bring together ministers, industry leaders and top experts from the Forum’s 53 member countries and beyond. The theme of the 2012 Summit is Seamless Transport: Making Connections and for the first time, China will be participating as a full member in the Summit.

Despite the recent failure of the Turkish Government’s tender for the project to build a third bridge over the Bosphorus, the deal may yet go ahead. Japanese firms Itochu, Obayashi, IHI and Mitsubishi have revealed that they are still interested in constructing a third bridge over the Bosphorus at Istanbul, as well as constructing the associated tolled highway.

2012 sees the start of a new wheeled excavator programme from Liebherr, and the A916 represents the first fruit from the project. Replacing the A316 Litronic, the new A916 has been developed to meet Stage IIIB emissions requirements and has an operating weight from 17-18.1 tonnes depending on specification. Power comes from a four-cylinder 110kW engine with common rail fuel injection, EGR and DOC – a DPF is available as an optional extra for those working inside buildings.

A new range of safety-focused automatic quick couplers will be launched by Geith at INTERMAT, specifically for mini excavators. The new QC35/40 hydraulic coupler is designed for use on mini-excavators from two- to four tonnes, giving the operator a fully automatic, safe change-over system without having to leave the cab. A patented double pin locking system ensures that the coupler retains the attachment in a safe position even if there is a loss of power, said the firm.

Mission Mitsubishi, a Mitsubishi dealer in San Antonio, has announced that Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Prototype will be taking on the historic Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which will take place in Colorado on 8 July, 2012.

The EU Human Rights Court has ruled in favour of two drivers who received traffic tickets from French authorities, but were not provided the means to contest them. Both men paid the fine required and one lost a point off his driver's permit. Both called for the reimbursement of the fine.

Caterpillar Paving is introducing its AP1000E and AP1055E pavers, which replaced the earlier D-Series machines. The machines are said to be able to place smooth mats and deliver high-production as well as redirecting fumes away from operators. The AP1000E is a wheeled model while the AP1055E is the tracked version of the same basic machine. Productivity is provided in part through the heavy-duty screed designs offered, with customers able to choose between the AS2302C, AS3301C, AS4251C and AS4252C.

Moscow's Directorate for Investment Project Support and Participatory Construction Oversight (Moskomstroyinvest) has introduced a huge programme for developing parking space in the Russian capital. It provides for the construction of at least two million parking spaces in the city by 2025.

PTV has beaten 70 competitors to win the prize for the best solution in the category Mobility and Logistics, in the Bitkom (the German Association of Towns and Municipalities) Urban Solutions Pitch.

According to a recent report from Pike Research, as manufacturing efficiencies improve and access to lithium expands, the installed cost of Li-ion batteries will fall by more than one-third by the end of 2017.

Major UK insurance company Aviva is said to be experimenting with an iPhone app that will offer discounts on car insurance based on customer's driving speed and style, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.