New flyover construction programme planned for Hyderabad
A new transport pan for the Indian city of Hyderabad will see a series of flyovers being built. In all 20 new multi-level flyovers are planned for Hyderabad, capital of India’s Telengana State. The work will form part of the US$635.5 million Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) for Hyderabad. The work will be carried out under a design, build, maintain and transfer model and the cost includes carrying out the civils works as well as land acquisition. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has prop
IRB wins India’s Agra-Etawah Bypass project on National Highway 2
IRB Infrastructure Developers has won the Agra-Etawah Bypass project with a winning bid of nearly US$416.5 million, Indian media reported.
The project, awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), will have six lanes built onto the Agra-Etawah Bypass in Uttar Pradesh state under NHDP Phase 5 of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll model.
The 15km Agra-Etawah Bypass runs between the Uttar Pradesh cities of Agra - home to the iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum – and Etawah on the banks of Yamuna
Demand diversity in the construction equipment sector
Demand within the global construction equipment manufacturing industry is anything but homogenous, with certain countries and sales regions significantly outperforming others, with a whole host of factors fuelling and suppressing each key market - Guy Woodford reports
Golden opportunities in the MINT - Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey
Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey – Global Report offers up some food for thought about where smart money might be headed within the next several years – David Arminas writes
China’s rate of growth may be slowing down, but other South East Asian companies are being quick to offer alternate investment opportunities, notably Indonesia.
Nigeria, too, has had issues with security of investment. But there are signs that the government may be getting serious at last about tightening up rules and regulation
Plans in hand for bauma 2016 exhibition, with positive market outlook
The organisers of the bauma exhibition in Germany predict a positive future for the construction market in 2016. Large increases are expected in the North American market while there are also pPositive trends in the Near and Middle East.
Last year North America and Europe were the most dynamic construction machinery markets in the world according to data from the bauma organisers. Some market experts believe that this trend could continue in 2015. This is one of the reasons why the market in construction
JCB’s 2014 results hit by weaker BRIC trading
UK construction equipment manufacturer JCB reports lower sales than in the previous financial year. Sales turnover slid to €3.46 billion (£2.51 billion) compared with the €3.69 billion (£2.68 billion) achieved in the previous year. The firm recorded machine sales of 64,028 units, compared with 66,227 in 2013. Overall JCB says that despite improvements in some Western markets, falls in other sales territories hit overall business. The company also faced a one off restructuring cost of €15.14 million (£11 mil
The IRF Road Safety Challenge aims to cut the rate of deaths and injuries for Africa
With the IRF Road Safety Challenge launched in Addis Ababa in early March, IRF reiterates its strong commitment towards making the recommendations for the Decade of Action a reality worldwide In its commitment to act as a catalyst in raising awareness and in promoting immediate practical actions, IRF has brought together Ministers from all over Africa under the auspices of the African Union, the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). An IRF Africa Chapter under the requ
Africa’s road builders need a reliable supply of good-quality bitumen
Crying out for consistency
Getting hold of the right product, or any product at all, is often the challenge, as delegates to the Argus Africa Bitumen conference heard
Many parts of Africa have ambitious road building plans for the next few decades. But clients and contractors are facing problems with the quality and supply of bitumen, delegates at the Argus Africa Bitumen conference were told.
If there was one overriding message to come out of the conference, held in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in Feb
Kenya develops annuity road funding model
Kenya is introducing novel methods for funding its necessary road infrastructure development - Shem Oirere writes. Kenya has unveiled a new financing model for road construction and reviewed its design standards and construction methodologies, which forms part of a new strategy for the East African country. Under this new plan Kenya is planning to upgrade 10,000km of road, with these links featuring asphalt surfacing; the work being carried out over the next five years at a cost of US$2.8 billion. Despite t
Nepal’s earthquake devastation revealed
Reports from Nepal highlight the devastation the country has suffered due to its recent massive earthquake. Measuring an enormous 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake has demolished many buildings in capital Kathmandu, as well as damaging roads and other infrastructure. This was followed by a series of aftershocks, one of which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale.
World Highways correspondent Ram Krishna Wagle reports that with many road links to other towns severely damaged, this is hampering the relief eff
XCMG develops overseas presence
Chinese construction equipment manufacturer XCMG is in the process of developing its operations outside of its home market, in a bid to strengthen its international profile
XCMG recently won a large export order of 80 machines to the Middle East, which will raise the profile of the brand in this market. The deal is significant for XCMG as it gives the company a stronger foothold and greater brand recognition in the Middle East, helping with its plans to develop exports.
The machine order includes an a
India: Asian Development Bank to support rural road works
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it will provide around US$2 billion for constructing new rural roads in five Indian states, according to The Hindu newspaper. The projects in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal states, will involve constructing and upgrading 31,000km of rural roads that will improve connectivity to more than 12,500 villages.
The move will also provide more employment opportunities in the area, improve school enrolment and provides better remuneration for f
Volvo Construction Equipment’s Q1 2015 sales down 5% due to weak Asia sales
An improvement in European and North American sales could not offset continued weakness in Asia leading to Volvo Construction Equipment sales falling by 5% year-on-year in Q1 2015.
Sales in China in particular were less than half what they were in the same period of 2014, the Swedish sector giant said.
“We are working to adapt to lower volumes and are implementing a series of measures to reduce cost levels. However, our efforts could not fully offset the significant drop in volumes,” said Volvo Const
BKT has big ambitions in off-highway tyres
India-based tyre manufacturer BKT is pursuing its goal of a wider market share of the industrial construction and mining tyre market with an ambitious programme of new product releases. BKT is a leading player in the agricultural tyre market, which still accounts for around 65% of its current turnover.
Volvo lines up its SDLG brand for greater global export sales
Volvo’s Chinese manufacturing subsidiary SDLG is making inroads into the export market and could be destined to play a much more important role in the Swedish group’s global strategy. “As we grow our export strategy there is an opportunity for SDLG to become an increasingly larger piece of our total revenue,” said Martin Weissburg, president of Volvo Construction Equipment.
MB Crusher’s new MB-LS140 screening bucket for skid-steer loaders
MB Crusher’s MB-LS140 screening bucket for skid-steer loaders, launched at INTERMAT, is its third new crushing and screening bucket unveiled this year.
Ambitious growth plans for Alliance Tire Group
With plans to almost double its annual sales from $555m today $1bn in 2017, Alliance Tire Group (ATG) is keen to push its message of innovation at INTERMAT 2015. “It’s our ambition to be one of the top three global market leaders in the agricultural, forestry and construction sectors,” said ATG’s European president Peter Bauer, recently brought into the group to drive its expansion in Europe.
Magni’s new telescopic handler reaches a record 35m
Magni has launched the world’s highest telescopic handler - the RTH 5.35 which stretches up to 35m. “Ours is the biggest in the world; the maximum reach of our competitors is 32m,” says Magni’s president and founder Riccardo Magni. “The normal market is 21m and 25m. We are trying to push the market up.” Since the machine was launched in November last year, Magni has sold to 20 customers in India, Turkey, UK, France, Holland, Sweden and the US. “The dealers like it because it is something different for them
Crane and articulated dump truck tyres debut at show
China’s Techking Tires introduced new crane and articulated dump truck tyres to its catalogue of off-road radial products. The ETCRANE range is the result of a seven-year research and development programme and features closed shoulder and multistep groove design to avoid irregular wear and stone ejection on off-road and highway applications. ECE approved size options include 385/95 R25 and 445/95 R25. The tyres are approved by crane manufacturers, such as Terex, Sany and Zoomlion, and are already in service
Indian road tenders awarded in Tamil Nadu
Key road project tenders for the state of Tamil Nadu in India have now been awarded. The three project tenders are worth a total of US$117.1 million. The work relates to upgrading major routes in the state and work will be carried out in 36-42 months-time. The tenders involve upgrades of the Malliyakarai to Rasipuram, Thiruchengode and Erode Road, Arcot Villipuram Road and Kanchipuram to Vandavasi Road.