Wirtgen Group aims for €1.8bn 2012 sales and targets emerging markets
Wirtgen Group expects to achieve record net sales of €1.8 billion in 2012, according to joint company president Jürgen Wirtgen. The performance forecast for the German road building and quarrying equipment manufacturer – a slight rise on 2011 net sales of €1.76 billion – was revealed as Jürgen and brother and co-Wirtgen Group president, Stefan Wirtgen, told a press conference at the recent Wirtgen Mineral Technology Days event about the company’s sales push in emerging markets.
Addressing a silent disaster
As India's economy registers 9% annual growth, promising material super-power status by mid-century, the nation is barely beginning to address a silent disaster, that of road casualties It was Dr. P K Sikdar [a director of International Consultants and Technocrats/ICT and a former director of the Central Road Research Institute/CRRI] who coined the phrase "silent disaster."
9% profit rise for merged HaskoningDHV
The combined half-year accounts of the merged Royal Haskoning and DHV showed profits up 9% despite the tough market conditions. Both former companies contributed equally to an operating profit (EBITA) over the first six months of 2012 at €13.9 million.
India’s road to safety
India's growth rate is the envy of the world, and its infrastructure is rapidly improving, but its road safety record is the world's worst. Patrick Smith reports on a conference aimed at finding answers to the problems Ambling through the gardens and marble magnificence that is the Taj Mahal or gazing down on the city of Jaipur from the hilltop Jaigarh Fort is far removed from the world outside.
Hyderabad plans $12 million Bharath Electronics traffic signalling scheme
The city of Hyderabad has announced an ambitious 12-month plan to install a new city-wide traffic signal system called the Hyderabad Traffic Integrated Management System (HTRIMS). The US $12 million contract, which was awarded to Bharath Electronics Limited (BEL) earlier this month, aims to upgrade traffic signals at 180 existing junctions across the busy city and bring a further 41 new junctions into the system.
Getting a foothold on road safety
The Indian businessman, Rohit Baluja, has become one of the most articulate and outspoken advocates of road safety in developing countries. A leading figure in his country’s shoe industry, Baluja was converted to the cause that has become his lifelong passion during regular business trips to Europe
SMEC wins India State Highway deal
SMEC is now working on construction supervision and contract administration for the Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (stage Two) in India. The project is located in Karnataka State and the contract was awarded to SMEC earlier by the local authorities.
Mumbai Airport on the up
To handle the increasing number of passengers and larger cargo volumes, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, has been undergoing a continuous process of expansion since 2006. As part of the ambitious project Indian construction and mechanical engineering company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is building a new multi-storey parking structure and a new air traf c control tower. Among equipment being used are Terex CTT 181-8 and CTT 231-10 tower cranes. The two flat top tower cranes are mainly u
bC India exhibition ‘nearly’ fully booked
A leading global construction and mining machine industry showcase event being held in 2013 has nearly booked out its exhibition space – despite a 50% extension. Organisers of the Bauma CONEXPO show bC India 2013, which will cover 150,000m2 of exhibition space compared to 88,000m2 in 2011, say they have drawn up a waiting list for some sections of the event being held from February 5 to 8, 2013, at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
Indian expressway opens
Efkon India has announced that is has provided design, installation, and commissioning solutions for the three main toll plazas and three ramp toll plazas of the Yamuna Expressway Project (YEP) - a 165km highway stretch connecting Delhi with Agra – that will be inaugurated today. The toll plazas comprise a total of 129 lanes and all main plazas have 32 lanes furnished with fully automatic and semi-automatic fare collection system. The solution includes 24 weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems across all main plazas
Indian construction equipment event in Mumbai
The organisers of the bC India 2013 construction equipment exhibition report strong bookings for the event, which is scheduled for 5th-8th February 2013 in Mumbai. The second edition of this event, it is expected to host 700 exhibitors and attract over 30,000 visitors. The show will occupy 130,000m2 of exhibition space at the Bandra Kurla Complex, an increase from the 88,000m2 occupied during the last fair.
Key road projects moving forward in India
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has selected a consortium for the 45-year Mumbai Trans Harbour Link concession. The consortium comprises Spanish firm, OHL Concesiones, Indian firm, Gammon Infrastructure Projects, and South Korean firm, GS Engineering & Construction. The 22km highway will connect Sewri with Nhava andwill include a 16km bridge over the bay of Mumbai. Meanwhile the authorities in Uttar Pradesh state are planning to invest US$279.54 million in road improvements during the
Contraflow with Mike Woof
‘Before I get down to this month’s main agenda, I’d like to draw your attention to a range of improvements that we’ve made to the content of World Highways. In conjunction with a fresher look, we have introduced features both long and short: At the ‘long’ end of the scale in our World Report…this month the subject is Australian roads…and at the ‘short’ end of the scale is the five-minute interview with an industry personality. Our equipment features have been beefed up with more analysis, and the signpostin
Micro-mobility transport solutions under development
A new report by research specialist Frost & Sullivan suggests that major vehicle producers are working on micro-mobility solutions. The development of these micro-mobility options is being carried out in parallel with that of more conventional four-wheeled vehicles. In all, the report suggests that 25 of the major vehicle manufacturers are working on a total of 150 micro-mobility projects aimed for launch by 2020. These international vehicle firms believe that micro-mobility solutions will suit commuter use
Times they are a changing
Construction in China still appears to be on course for growth even with the gloomy economic outlook, as it enjoys "a strong budgets position." Patrick Smith reports One thing is certain in the current global economic climate: nothing is certain. And while China has not been unaffected by the economic events of recent months it has, according to Robert Zoellinck, president of the World Bank, a very strong current account and budgetary position. For some years, the nation has enjoyed double digit growth (the
More satellites, more signals
Greater GPS accuracy suggests closer tolerances for surveying and machine control functions What happens in the future for GPS surveying and machine control could depend on satellite choice and signals. Right now there are around 30 satellites in orbit, largely built by the US, but by 2012 that could rise to 120 as Europe, China, India and Russia fully enter the market. A chequered history has faced the European's Galileo system. At long last, the finance appears to be in place and the European Commission a
Working towards safer India mobility...
Sibylle Rupprecht, IRF-GPC Director General, looks towards sound mobility management at the 3rd Regional Conference of the International Road Federation 3rd-4th October 2008 in New Delhi, India More than 1.2 million deaths and 23 million injuries are caused by road accidents worldwide every year. Of these, India accounts for 10% of fatal accidents. These alarming figures were disclosed by the speakers at the 3rd Regional IRF Conference on 'Mobility and Safety in Road Transport' to some 250 engineers and exp
Worldwide machine sales growing
Steady growth in machine sales reflects global demand for construction equipment - Mike Woof reports
Keynote speakers at the UK’s Construction Equipment Association (CEA) recent annual general meeting revealed steady demand for new machines worldwide. Although Europe’s economy remains troubled, worldwide machine sales are strong and exports are providing huge turnover for manufacturers. Colin Timms of Off-Highway Research said that global equipment sales last peaked in 2007 at $98 billion, falling to $55 b
A bridge of hope?
As Russia prepares for a major Asia Pacific conference in nearly four years' time, the economic climate is felt in other countries in the region. Patrick Smith reports AUS$1 billion-plus suspension bridge is to be built to link the city of Vladivostok in the far east of Russia and Russky Island. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has signed an instruction for construction of the 3,150m long bridge, which is intended to provide access to the 24th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held o
Brazil’s booming economy fuels infrastructure demand
The emergence of Brazil as a major economic force and its need to improve infrastructure is proving a magnet for investment. Patrick Smith reports Brazil is now the sixth biggest economy in the world according to its Finance Minister Guido Mantega. The largest country in South America with a population of 190 million and one of the BRICS, (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Brazil’s economy grew 2.7% in 2011 and is now worth $2.5 trillion, having overtaken the UK. With big oil and gas reserves stil