Products

Composite rather than metal manhole covers are better for the UK road network, according to a recent technical paper by distinguished chartered engineer John Newton. In his paper Mr Newton, inventor of the composite manhole cover, claims tests have proved a new generation of innovative composite covers, developed and manufactured by Barrow-in-Furness-based Structural Science Composites (SSC), outperform ductile iron manhole covers, while also offering better value for money.

The work of Echo Barrier was highlighted at a prestigious Institute of Acoustics (IOA) sponsored awards ceremony held at the House of Commons. The company, which develops and supplies temporary acoustic barriers for use on major construction projects to reduce noise pollution, was highly commended for its Echo H1 barrier and range of products during the 2011 John Connell Awards.

AT THE TIME of year it is worth considering how strong the construction market will be towards the end of 2010 and on into 2011.

Road safety is a crucial issue worldwide and on the busy roads of the 27 EU nations, action is being taken to reduce the annual death toll.

The future of Scotland's Forth Road Bridge is posing serious questions with a wide potential impact for the transportation sector.

Corporate results from a series of equipment manufacturers for the early part of 2011 all seem to agree that demand for machines continues to improve.

Barrier Systems is extending its line with the introduction of its new U-MAD trailer-mounted attenuator (TMA). This uses the proven U-MAD technology and is intended to make work zones safer for highway maintenance personnel. These TMA units can be used to protect errant motorists who collide with slow moving or stationary shadow vehicles, improving safety for the motorist and the support vehicle operator, as well as shielding highway workers.

JCB is strengthening its range of JS Auto tracked excavators for the Russian and CIS markets with the addition of the 29tonne JS290. Unveiled at CONEXPO Russia, the new machine is based on the undercarriage components and upper structure of the larger JS330. The JS290 is powered by the same six-cylinder EU Stage 3A compliant diesel engine and it bridges the gap between the S260 Auto and JS330 Auto in the existing line up. JCB says that by using this large capacity 7.8litre engine, the JS290 offers an unstre

Building on an 80-year history of serving customers in Russia, Caterpillar used the first CONEXPO Russia trade show in Moscow to unveil the first hydraulic excavator assembled at its facility in Tosno, Russia.

Three years ago Atlas Copco launched the first of the new generation of solid body breakers based on a new manufacturing method and new body design, and last year it sold more than 10,000 small breakers in the 50 to 550kg class. Atlas Copco SB breakers are used for road work, trenching, general demolition, plus primary and secondary rock breaking, and the company is now launching the mid-range model, the SB 302, for excavators of up to 9tonnes.

Underground construction in the world is increasing, metal ores are mined deeper, and there is an ever-growing demand in emerging countries for metals, infrastructure and energy.

The new Blade Runner Series B from New Holland combines the characteristics of a crawler excavator and a crawler dozer. The combination of two machines is the solution that New Holland designed to enable the user to carry out different jobs with a single product. The Blade Runner from New Holland and its partner Kobelco (who have developed the Series B by combining the technological experience of the two manufacturers) allows the operator to work with precision and agility in applications such as digging di