Construction and Civil Engineering Issue 103 Final Edition

building

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R I N D U S T R I A L L E A D E R S

CONSTRUCTION CIVIL EngInEErIng

ISS

UE

10

3 F

INA

L

&An overview of the

Passivhaus standard

Ensuring projects

run to budget

Building Britain’s future through infrastructure

Equipment hire market

new addition to Cat Medium Wheel Loaders

zzzz

zzzz

zzzz

zzzz

zzzz

zz Network Rail to use Railway Strategies Live 2014 to launch its new Product Acceptance

process for the first time in an open forum. Conference to offer visitors access to Terence Watson,

Chairman of the newly created RSG

l The Supply Chain of the Futurel Finding the Right Route to Market

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR

Thursday May 15th 2014

Network Rail

Hosted in association with

RAILWAYS T R A T E G I E Szzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

FOR SENIOR RAIL MANAGEMENT

2014Live

stop press

Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor

Terence Watson – CEO, Alstom Transport UK & Ireland, Chair of the RSGDavid Clarke - Director, FutureRailway Enabling Innovation Team,

FutureRailway, hosted by RSSBJim Carter - Head of Procurement, Network Rail

James Lewis - Technology Introduction Manager, Network Rail Richard Holland - UK MD, TBM Consulting Group

Rob Wallis - Chief Executive, TRLMartyn Chymera - Former Chairman, Young Rail Professionals

Chris Rolison - Founder, Comply Serve

SPEAKERS

For further details of the event, email Mark Cawston: [email protected], for delegate enquiries, email Maxine Quinton: [email protected], telephone: 01603 274130 and ask for Mark or Maxine,

or visit: http://www.railwaystrategies.co.uk/eventbooking.php?id=574

http://www.railwaystrategies.co.uk/eventbooking.php?id=574&rp=

Construction & Civil Engineering 1

Lead story 2 The Federation of Master Builders is keen for the Government to cut the VAT on domestic building work

Major Project 6New compressed air jointing systems can increase efficiency and reduce costs

case stUdy 10While numbers of workplace injuries have been reduced in the construction industry, companies cannot be complacent

INForMatIoN tecHNoLoGy 14A new solution is helping JS Wright & Co verify hours worked by individuals on site

eNvIroNMeNt 16Developers need to make sure land isn’t contaminated before undertaking any work

eQUIPMeNt 20Collaboration can deliver projects that will drive innovation and sustainability on a global scale

NeWs 23Announcements, technology and developments in the construction and civil engineering market

eco BUILd eXHIBItIoN 24 Collaboration can deliver projects that will drive innovation and sustainability on a global scale

Ferrobeton 26 Landert Motoren 30dubai contracting company 33 Ktc Group 36 Ita 39LNs 42 sandvik construction 46 KasI 49Normet 52 Nuclear engineering services 55 Bauwerk Boen Group 58 ebema 61vitalo Global thermoforming 64 Haulotte Group 67 Balco 71travis Perkins 75 domoferm 79

Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that

the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly

copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Chairman Andrew Schofield

Group Managing DirectorMike Tulloch

Editor Libbie Hammond

[email protected]

Art Editor Jon Mee

Staff WritersMatt High Jo CooperSteve Nash Drew Dann

Advertising DesignJamie Elvin

Editorial Admin

Emma Harris

Head of ResearchPhilip Monument

Editorial ResearchersGavin WatsonMark CowlesNatalie Martin

Karl RiseboroughElizabeth Szabo

Tony Wright

Sales DirectorDavid Garner

Sales

David KingMark Cawston

Office ManagerTracy Chynoweth

Schofield Publishing

Cringleford Business Centre,

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© 2014 Schofield Publishing Ltd

CONTENTS

2

14

20

23

FEATURES

COMPANY PROFILES

26

As we continue to see a growth in urban living, there is an increasing need for improved

connectivity and the creation of sophisticated transport hubs. Transport infrastructure is now widely regarded as a vital root of prosperity and economic growth,

2 Construction & Civil Engineering

Phot

os ©

Thom

as G

raha

m A

rip

Kings Cross: Building Britain’s economy

through infrastructure.By Mike Byrne

& John Turzynski

Lead story

compete for global business. Thankfully this seems to be well recognised. Throughout the recent period of economic decline and stagnation, infrastructure spending has remained relatively well protected in Britain. The Government has developed an extensive National Infrastructure Plan, which lays out schemes averaging more than $44 billion annually. Amongst these is the $36 billion Crossrail project, which will create 55,000 jobs in the capital during the construction phase alone. This demonstrates the secondary but more immediate effect of infrastructure projects: job creation.

In developed nations, many

London with nations East and West prioritising its development. In December 2012 China opened the world’s longest high-speed rail line from Beijing to Guangzhou, despite many Chinese provinces still lacking basic water and sewage facilities. Meanwhile in, Germany, several projects are underway to position its place as the hub of central Europe’s transport network. These include the $8.4 billion Stuttgart 21 rail project, major airport expansions in Munich and Frankfurt, and the new Berlin-Branden Airport.

With so much activity oversees, Britain’s ongoing investment in its transport infrastructure is essential if the country is to successfully

A symbol of


of the infrastructure projects undertaken are aimed at modernising existing facilities to accommodate ever-expanding user numbers. This is true of London, where much of the infrastructure system was designed in the 19th century and when the capital’s population was under a quarter of what it is now.

Probably the best example of this type of modernisation to date has been the restoration and development of London’s King’s Cross station. First opened in

1852, King’s Cross station is now part of the busiest transport hub in London, with 150,000 people commuting and travelling daily. This is equivalent to 28 million a year, with millions more using St Pancras International and London Underground’s King’s Cross St Pancras.

Twenty years ago, when Arup was first engaged to support various planning applications pertaining to the station’s expansion, the necessity to increase its capacity was clear and we also had to take into account a secondary consideration. In

projects such as this, involving an existing and essential transport hub, planning, engineering and construction teams must balance the work’s urgency with the need to keep the existing transport hub operational. Without this consideration, improvements intended to stimulate economic growth will instead drive stagnation.

Partly for this reason, the redevelopment of the King’s Cross St Pancras interchange occurred in three significant stages. First, St Pancras International, which opened in 2007, followed by King’s Cross St Pancras Underground Station (2009), with the King’s Cross Mainline Station, finally completed on 19th March 2012.

“King’s Cross station is now part of the busiest transport hub in London, with 150,000 people

commuting and travelling daily” London

Increasing capacityWhen the first King’s Cross station opened the terminal housed just two platforms: one for departing and one for arriving trains. Although these had been progressively added to, a drastic overhaul was essential if the station building was to meet current and projected capacity. Our design of a new 8000m2 Western Concourse was central to this. The updated station, including an additional platform, is able to accommodate 17 peak-time train movements per hour using 12 mainline and suburban platforms.

Whilst above ground, the Western Concourse was taking shape; our teams were also working on the £950m redevelopment of King’s Cross St Pancras Underground Station. Again, the new space’s ability to accommodate increasing visitor numbers needed to be central to all plans, and effective ventilation was a crucial part of this. In order to assess ventilation designs, we created a Subway Environmental Simulation (SES) model of the entire station. Taking into account high station temperatures due to increased train and passenger numbers, this allowed engineers

to design and achieve solutions in accordance with London Underground standards.

Maintaining operationWith so many construction elements being undertaken simultaneously, an effective construction and traffic management strategy became integral to the scheme. We developed construction techniques for the deep excavations and tunnels, which avoided damage to adjacent listed buildings and maintained the operation of railways above ground.

In addition we prepared a stage-by stage construction sequence, including provision for ten, fully-assured interim stations to be delivered consecutively during the enlargement of the ticket-hall. The formulation of a traffic management scheme also minimised the impact of the construction on pedestrians,


LEAD STORY

Mike Byrne and John Turzynski are directors at Arup. Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world’s most prominent projects in the built environment and across industry. From more than 90 offices worldwide some 11,000 Arup planners, designers, engineers and consultants deliver innovative projects across the globe. For further information visit: www.arup.com.

whilst a temporary ‘quick bridge’ carried traffic over the top of the Western Ticket Hall during excavation and construction.

Project completionWork continued into 2013, when King’s Cross Square, the final stage in the £550m main line station redevelopment, was completed. The new 75,000 sq ft King’s Cross Square now provides passengers and visitors a view of the original station façade for the first time in more than 150 years. More than visually impressive, this square provides improved entrances to London Underground and, following strong responses to consultations on the subject, has been dedicated as an area for public art.

The redevelopment of the King’s Cross station area has been a catalyst for one of the largest regeneration schemes in Europe, with far reaching social and economic effects. Sixty-seven acres of brownfield land is being redeveloped, creating eight million sq ft of offices, retail space and housing. In 2011, Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design (the University of the Arts London) moved into renovated railway buildings to the north of the station and new offices for Camden council are currently under construction.

King’s Cross is now more than just a station; it is a London status symbol. We are increasingly seeing connectivity as essential for attracting businesses and talent to cities and therefore key to their success. With efficient links to continental Europe, the North of England and Greater London, King’s Cross delivers just this, reinforcing London’s position as an economic power on the global map. m

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

in Sweden has published a

paper investigating the thermal

performance of radiant skirting

boards using Discrete Heat’s

ThermaSkirt heated skirting board

as the test sample. The extensive

experiment evaluated the capacity

of radiant baseboards to work in

conjunction with heat pumps in built

environments.

The rigorous testing of both

ThermaSkirt and a range of

conventional radiators provided

data that showed radiant

baseboards had a significantly

higher heat transfer ability of 50

per cent more than panel radiators.

The research also shows the

compatibility of heated skirting

boards and heat pumps to be more

effective than using traditional

radiator panels in a heat pump

system.

Heated skirting boards benefit

from two key characteristics,

the first being their low fitted

position causing a high transferred

convective heat flux from the

skirting board to the room air.

Secondly, due to being installed


New neighbourhood Developers have been given the

green light to begin building the first

new homes at Chobham Manor, an

exciting new district for Stratford,

east London, and the first new

neighbourhood to be built on Queen

Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Located in the north of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park between East Village

and Lee Valley VeloPark, Chobham Manor will feature a mix of stylish one to five-bedroom

apartments and houses which are expected to go on sale in late spring, with residents moving

in by late 2015.

In E20, London’s newest postcode, work will start very shortly on the first phase of the

vibrant new neighbourhood, which will also feature tree-lined avenues, state-of-the-art

architecture and relaxing green landscaped areas.

Chobham Manor has been designed for a wide-range of Londoners who want to build their

lives in an exciting new community. Seventy-five per cent (194) of the 259 homes will be

family homes with three or more bedrooms. Twenty-eight per cent of homes across the whole

Chobham Manor development will be affordable homes with the first phase delivering

31 per cent (79) of this type of property, including social rented, affordable rented and

intermediate housing.

at the base of the walls they are

exposed to colder room air along

their entire length which in turn

increases the thermal gradient and

its ability to transfer heat to the

room. This results in the radiant

baseboards having a much higher

mean heat transfer coefficient

of 12.6 W/m°C compared to the

8.4 W/m°C of conventional panel

radiators.

The paper concludes that heated

skirting board should be used at

maximum possible height and with

the current guideline value of

100 Pa/m for waterside pressure

loss for the system design.

Aberdeen expansion The UNITE Group plc, the

UK’s leading developer

and manager of student

accommodation, has

announced that it has

concluded conditional

missives (exchanged

contracts) to acquire a circa

one acre development site

in the centre of Aberdeen,

subject to planning consent.

The 120,000 square foot

scheme is expected to have

a total development cost of

£20 million and is expected

to deliver development yield

in line with UNITE’s target

returns of 9.5 per cent – ten

per cent yield on cost.

The city centre site is close

to the University of Aberdeen

and has good transport links

to Robert Gordon University.

It will be transformed into

a home for approximately

400 students and is targeted

to open for the 2016/17

academic year. The site is

currently occupied by a

derelict, listed school building,

and the development will

include its refurbishment

as part of the design of the

property. The listed building,

once renovated, will house 18

per cent of bedrooms.

Richard Simpson,

managing director of

Property for UNITE said: “This

acquisition is a prime example

of how we are investing the

proceeds from our 2013

share placing. This site is in

an excellent central location,

in a market with favourable

supply/demand dynamics.

By renovating and bringing

back into use a listed building,

we are pleased to contribute

to the regeneration of this

city centre location.”

NEWS

New Swedish study

The current Government initiative to allocate nearly £500 million for college upgrades and expansions

throughout the UK will surely help establishments to reach their potential. Fifty colleges are benefitting from significant investment through the third and fourth rounds of the Capital Investment Fund but will it be spent wisely?

By the very nature of evolving educational needs and budgetary constraints of local authority control, many schools and colleges in the UK are the result of a piecemeal formation over many years. This continues to present great challenges for architects to deliver


Learning to spend

MAJOR PROJECT

to be in different physical condition. Issues such as space standards ease of circulation, accessibility and internal environment will vary greatly across each estate.

Successful learning establishments that have increased in size over time may suffer particular legacy issues resulting from infill development. Refurbishment is not a simple panacea for all of these issues. The solution must be driven by the educational vision first and followed by a deep and thoughtful analysis of the existing building stock. Only then will value for money solutions emerge to deliver environments fit for 21st century teaching and learning.

For example, whilst undertaking

wiselyAndy Newell highlights

some of the challenges that are part of school and college refurbishment projects

against modern day requirements but equally so for the contractor that needs to consider practical solutions whilst maintaining structural integrity, safety and operational continuity.

Tackling the legacySchool and college refurbishment projects require careful planning and liaison well in advance of starting works on site and consultation with the contractor is critical to this. The majority of our projects within education either involve the refurbishment of existing buildings or the intrusion into existing buildings to form extensions. Most schools have developed facilities in a piecemeal fashion over time and, as a result, individual buildings are likely

Learning and Resource Centre Pontefract


a new single storey extension for a primary school in York it quickly became apparent that the entire drainage system had been incorrectly surveyed, thus the proposals for the new drainage system failed to tie in with the existing infrastructure. As works commenced we worked closely with the client team to resolve the issues and effectively redesigned the drainage foundations. Additional ‘arisings’ created were utilised to enhance the local landscape.

A further primary school project in Barnsley highlighted great vulnerability to fire. A thorough contractor’s assessment revealed that almost all fire security measures were being compromised. Whilst a contractor may be brought in

to deliver extended solutions, the necessary assessment of existing operations become critical to this and often impact on life threatening risk.

Minimising disruption to the curriculum Continuity is paramount for any educational establishment and whilst term breaks present obvious opportunity for works, this is intermittent and longer, more complex projects require a more militant approach to the works programme.

Necessary demolition was a particular concern for a performing arts centre in West Yorkshire with 1600 students on the campus. To mitigate this risk we undertook

demolition works during a two-week holiday period. The works were also segregated from the main College activities requiring a special licence from the local Council for access across the adjacent public park and the formation of a temporary access road.

At the primary school in Barnsley it was necessary to keep the 300-student school open during extensive works. Communication lines comprised daily briefings and detailed weekly meetings to keep the school fully aware of the construction programme. During construction works the school needed to relocate staff and pupils from the older building to the new extensions as work progressed, sometimes creating makeshift classrooms from the

“Successful learning establishments that have increased in size over time may suffer particular legacy issues resulting

from infill development ”

newly built rooms. This required a significant amount of planning and scheduling with the school to minimise logistical problems. Parents and children were also embraced with the process and were asked to make inventories for relocation as projects.

Prefabrication and off-site modularisation are not new to the construction industry but the increasing interest in ‘lean’ construction, the rising use of BIM technologies, and the growing influence of sustainable design have caused many practitioners to reconsider their appeal. Faced with spiralling construction costs, off-site modular construction is now proving to be a more cost efficient and sustainable alternative to ‘traditional methods’ of construction.

Prefabrication and modularisation are used in a variety of areas but most often in the building superstructure, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and exterior envelope. Offering many desirable qualities, off-site fabrication helps to reduce operative hours on site and offers a much safer approach to construction. It also helps to


MAJOR PROJECT

within the development of the project including a biomass boiler system, under-floor heating, natural ventilation and heat recovery systems, 20,000 litres of rainwater harvesting tanks and a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system comprising mono-crystalline modules secured to the south facing standing seam roof.

The use of biomass in heating systems is beneficial because it uses agricultural, forest, urban and industrial residues and waste to produce heat and electricity with less effect on the environment than fossil fuels. This type of energy production has a limited long-term effect on the environment because the carbon in biomass is part of the natural carbon cycle; while the carbon in fossil fuels is not, and permanently adds carbon to the environment when burned for fuel (carbon footprint). Historically, before the use of fossil fuels in significant quantities, biomass in the form of wood fuel provided most of humanity’s heating.

Natural ventilation is the process of supplying and removing air through an indoor space without using mechanical systems, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint of a building. At Ward Green School we used a buoyancy-driven ventilation system which works by a natural directional buoyancy

significantly reduce waste whilst maximising quality control and together they offer a more sustainable approach to building services delivery. With the careful management of all manufacturing logistics and sequencing, off-site assembly results in high quality components, which contribute to sustainable targets without any compromise to product quality.

Integrating green initiatives and technologiesSubstantial effort and funding is invested into encouraging ‘green’ actions by pupils, teachers and parents and supporting initiatives are fast becoming a pre-requisite in almost all educational build programmes. The challenge is how is best integrated within a refurbishment project.

There are many opportunities to integrate cost effective solutions that also tick the ‘green’ box in even the most archaic buildings. In fact a refurbishment presents an ideal opportunity to adapt change.

For the school in Barnsley we utilised many ‘green initiatives’



force from temperature differences between the interior and exterior of the building. The heat recovery system works hand in hand with the natural ventilation because as building efficiency is improved with insulation and weather stripping, buildings are intentionally made more airtight, and consequently less well ventilated. Since all buildings require a source of fresh air, the need for heat recovery ventilation (HVR) has become obvious. While opening a window does provide ventilation, the building’s heat and humidity will then be lost in the winter and gained in the summer, both of which are undesirable for the indoor climate and for energy efficiency, since

the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems must compensate. HRV introduces fresh air to a building and improves climate control, whilst promoting efficient energy use.

The photovoltaic solar panels installed at Ward Green School were the most efficient available at the time. Monocrystalline solar cells are made out of silicon ingots, which are cylindrical in shape. To optimise performance and lower costs of a single monocrystalline solar cell, four sides are cut out of the cylindrical ingots to make silicon wafers, which is what gives monocrystalline solar panels their characteristic look. Advantages include: l Monocrystalline solar panels have

the highest efficiency rates since they are made out of the highest-grade silicon. The efficiency rates of monocrystalline solar panels are typically 15-20 per cent. l Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are space-efficient. Since these solar panels yield the highest power outputs, they also require the least amount of space compared to any other types. Monocrystalline solar panels produce up to four times the amount of electricity as thin-film solar panels.l Monocrystalline solar panels live the longest. Most solar panel manufacturers put a 25-year warranty on their monocrystalline solar panels.l Tend to perform better than similarly rated polycrystalline solar panels at low-light conditions. m

“At the primary school in Barnsley it was necessary to keep the 300-student school open during extensive works. Communication lines comprised daily briefings and detailed weekly meetings”



Britcon is a member of the Hunt Group of Companies which includes Specialist Surfacing Ltd, Coldmac Ltd and Highways Alliance Ltd. Operating with its subsidiaries as well as external partners, the company offers complete turnkey solutions for almost all types of construction projects with expertise in general civil engineering, building, steel erection and highways engineering. Specialising in design and construction Britcon works as a valued partner on projects ranging from remote quarry engineering and highways/rail infrastructure to bespoke emergency services and renewable energy schemes. For further information visit: www.britcon.co.uk.


CASE STUDY

Victorian conservatory at Wentworth Castle in Stainborough near Barnsley


Country Houses Foundation, the European Regional Development Fund and the venue’s own Trust with William Anelay involved in a number of phases of the building restoration work.

The 300 square metre conservatory was constructed in 1885 by Crompton and Fawkes of Chelmsford and is thought to be the first to incorporate electric lighting. It had fallen into a dangerously bad state of disrepair and had become overgrown with vegetation.

William Anelay worked closely with Shepley Engineering of Barnsley to dismantle and catalogue the complete structure and carefully restore each of the hundreds of wrought iron glazing bars before infillng with new glazing, sited within a 2mm seating, supplied by Bootle Glass on Merseyside.

Anelay project manager Dave Akitt explained: “This was an incredibly challenging process that started in September 2012. It was akin to an enormous Mecanno jigsaw puzzle. Inch perfect precision was required to reassemble the conservatory effectively and sympathetically. Were any of the beams just a few millimetres out then we would have had to start from scratch.

“One key aspect of the complexity lay in the way the conservatory was originally constructed with the 28 circular hollow columns also serving as rainwater down pipes. In order to protect these Shepley

A pane-staking restoration in

South Yorkshire has brought

a Victorian conservatory

back to its former glory

Rebuildinghistory

A stunning Victorian conservatory at Wentworth Castle in Stainborough near Barnsley, one of the

finest examples of its kind anywhere, has been painstakingly and faithfully restored to its previous splendour.

William Anelay Ltd, a building firm established in 1747, was charged with the task of delivering a complex 12 month project, in conjunction with architects Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams that involved the complete restoration of the conservatory and the construction of an adjoining new build extension with visitor area, shop and cafe facilities.

The recently completed project has already been nominated and shortlisted for an English Heritage Angels award under the category ‘Best Craftsmanship employed on a Heritage Rescue.’

Set in the rolling countryside of South Yorkshire, the grade I Listed Wentworth Castle is currently home to the Northern College for Residential and Community Education and was propelled into the national consciousness as a runner up in the 2003 BBC Restoration series hosted by Griff Rhys Jones. Previous work also saw Wentworth shortlisted in the Country Life Restoration of the Century award back in 2010.

Over the past decade a major programme of work has taken place, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, the


CASE STUDY

Anelay chairman Charles Anelay concluded: “This is undoubtedly one of the most challenging

projects we have undertaken in recent times. There was no room for manoeuvre when it came to accuracy”

coated the inside with bitumen paint. “That is why Shepley are restoring or replacing every single part of the structure and then reassembling it in full in their large workshop facility.

“The start of works involved the clearing of vegetation inside the Conservatory prior to Shepley arriving on site and carefully scheduling and dismantling the structure. The ground was excavated to form a flat terrace, level with the original floor of the conservatory with the original masonry walls being cleaned and repaired as necessary. “Now reconstructed, the conservatory has access into what was originally a potting shed. This forms part of the new build extension that includes toilets, kitchen, plant room and an interpretation area.

“The new build aspect of the project is of a timber construction with cedar cladding and a green and patent glazed roof. Both the conservatory and the extension were fitted with new mechanical and electrical services throughout,” added Dave.

The rear of the conservatory features new terracing and soft landscaping with hard landscaping around the new and restored structures to improve visitor access and parking areas.

Claire Herring, director of Wentworth Castle Heritage Trust comments: “Great team work has made this project possible involving funders and our volunteers as well as the experience and skill of the craftsmen who have brought the Conservatory back to life. It’s been a real labour of love.”

Anelay chairman Charles Anelay concluded: “This is undoubtedly one of the most challenging projects we have undertaken in

recent times. There was no room for manoeuvre when it came to accuracy and it called for very close liaison with all of those organisations involved.

“The end result is a new conservatory and welcome area that will radically transform the experience for the thousands of visitors that make their way to the castle and park every year and also creates a venue that is perfect for weddings and other major events,” added Charles.

The finished Wentworth Castle conservatory reflects the very best traditions of days gone by as well as the cutting edge skills and knowledge of today. m

A stunning Victorian conservatory at Wentworth Castle in Stainborough near Barnsley, one of the finest examples of its kind anywhere, has been painstakingly and faithfully restored to its previous splendour

Sprinkler study One in five warehouses

in England will have a fire

requiring the attendance of

fire fighters each year. The

total annual cost to the UK

economy of fires in English

warehouses without fire

sprinklers is £232 million.

The main finding from a

three-year study conducted

independently by BRE Global

and commissioned by the

Business Sprinkler Alliance

has shown that sprinklers are,

on average, a cost effective

investment for warehouses

with a floor area above

2,000 m2, with the greatest

benefit arising from the

reduction in direct fire losses.

Dr Debbie Smith, director

of fire science and building

products at the BRE, said:

“Despite a year-on-year

decrease in the number

of commercial fires, the

estimated annual cost of

these fires is rising along

with related societal and

environmental impacts. This

project has broken new

ground in terms of evaluating

these broader sustainability

impacts of fire in warehouses

and demonstrating that, on

average, sprinklers can be

shown to deliver a net benefit.”

Iain Cox, BSA Chairman said:

“The findings of this study

scratch the surface in terms

of the return fire sprinklers

bring to business. What is

clear from the current research

is that insurance alone is

not enough to fully protect

companies from the long-term

impacts of fire. We urge the

government to do more to

encourage the installation of

fire sprinklers in commercial

premises and promote a better

understanding of the positive

impacts of physical resilience.”


Steel solution Simpson Strong Tie has kicked off

2014 with the launch of a full range

of performance tested connection

solutions for the steel frame

construction industry. Developed

for use with light gauge steel, this

innovative range of time saving

brackets, clip connectors and

holdown systems also includes

collated fastenings and heavy

duty anchoring products - all fully

tested and available from one

source.

Head of the engineered

products division at Simpson

Strong Tie, Jon Head said: “We’re

delighted to begin the year

with the launch of a new range

which we believe will save time

and money for the steel frame

construction industry. Many of

the products in this light gauge

steel connectors range are

already well established in the

USA, but are now available in

variations suitable for use in

the UK.”

Simpson Strong Tie has

also developed a new line of

connectors within this range

especially for buildings which

have ‘over sail’ structures, as part

of its commitment to expand

its range for light gauge steel

applications.

A new brochure that

includes installation advice and

performance values is available

as a hard copy or as a PDF

download from

www.strongtie.co.uk

NEWS

Structural Masonry DayThe Brick Development Association (BDA) which represents the UK Brick Industry is organising

a Structural Masonry Day in association with IMS (International masonry Society) on 3rd April,

held at Arup as part of its annual seminar series. Leading experts in structural masonry design

will be on hand to offer authoritative advice on masonry prefabrications and movement in

masonry as well as case studies on innovative structural solutions. There will also be practical

demonstrations on thin joint construction.

The event will be held at Arup, Shear & Emmerson Room, 8 Fitzroy Street W1T 4BQ from

10am to 4pm. Tickets cost £75 (plus VAT) including lunch and refreshments and can be

purchased by visiting the BDA’s website:

www.brick.org.uk/2013/10/bda-structural-masonry-day/.

According to research by Barbour ABI in November 2013, although the housing and

commercial sectors are driving UK growth between Q2 and Q3, analysis of construction output shows that levels are still 13.3 per cent below the pre-recession peak


showing difficult times for the industry. These figures prove that the construction sector remains under pressure, with companies fighting tooth and nail for every contract.

The biggest challenge for many businesses is managing costs – they continue to rise, and many companies simply do not have

With margins ever tightened, ensuring projects run to budget is crucial for any construction company.

Simon Eyre discusses the tools available to help firms maximise the impact of every pound spent

pennies Looking after the

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY


the systems in place to manage them. Too many businesses rely on disparate systems providing different data from a range of departments, leading to inefficiency and confusion over what are the true costs of the project.

Construction companies need to better understand that organisation of their data is the most effective way to keep projects on track, through an integrated ‘one version of the truth’ view of projects.

What can companies do to mitigate risks? Historically the construction industry has been slow to adopt new technology, and many companies still use paper based systems and spreadsheets. But such is the pace of systems advancements, providing businesses with real competitive advantage, the opportunities presented by automating processes are hard to ignore.

Indeed with an ever growing volume of restrictive regulation on workforce management, health and safety, waste management and environmental control, construction companies need to take control of their data and have a holistic view of the performance of every area of the business to create one version of the truth.

Critical data that needs to be captured includes tender figures, including anticipated tender margin, forecast figures at completion for cost and value together with, the current payment applications by the contractor, the current certified value, an account of any period adjustments or provisions against cost to date and the cash received to date including the retention deducted and certified sums unpaid.

Having a centralised view of data across all departments significantly helps to close the gap between ‘budget’ and ‘actual’. Despite best efforts to control costs, companies are prone to budget overruns owing to the time lag between when a

financial commitment is made and when cost is accrued.

Traditional cost control mechanisms focus on establishing cost to date, with manual reconciliation back to budgets. This process typically starts following finance closing the purchase ledger, and effectively means that, at best you know where you ‘were’ several weeks after the event. This can lead to overstated budget balances and subsequently to overspending.

Any orders, invoices or adjustments impact the budget, but intelligent systems track commitment against budget to help avoid overspending, immediately highlighting buying/value gains/losses. Commitment and accurate cost to date help predict the final cost and value at completion, and therefore the anticipated margin at completion.

Knowledge where it’s neededThe prevalence in smart phone and tablet usage has led to an increased demand for information at the point of need. Increasingly professionals need access to project information, whether on site or away from their usual workstation. It’s vital therefore those systems are robust enough to deliver real time information across departments whenever it is required.

Leading by exampleAs margins are ever more squeezed and management teams wonder if the information they receive is an accurate view of reality, more and more businesses are relying on software to bring together the established totals for cost and value to illustrate the profitability of a contract. Thus ensuring that contract profits shown in company accounts are accurate and are supported with complete details of all transactions and reconciliations.

While individual managers and departments need greater visibility of activities for which they are directly responsible, it is only at senior management level that a true

“Having a centralised view of data across all departments significantly helps to close the gap between ‘budget’ and ‘actual’ ”

overview of performance can be gleaned and then acted upon. It is here that the greatest opportunities are being realised, with technology no longer being regarded as simply a number cruncher, but as a strategic management tool that will enable construction companies to grow. m

Simon Eyre is managing director of construction software specialists Xpedeon. Xpedeon builds software solutions for the construction industry and is a leader in helping companies to maximise margins in a dynamic and ever changing business environment. Xpedeon has been built by collaborating with some of the largest companies in the construction business. Its integrated solutions are therefore purpose built for the unique requirements of building contractors, civil engineering contractors, specialist contractors and housebuilders using industry best practice and easy to access data. For further information, visit: www.xpedeon.com.

Passivhaus is the leading international low energy, design standard. With over 37,000 buildings

having been designed, built and tested to this standard worldwide it offers a robust, proven and cost-effective method to reducing energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in the UK, as well as providing high standards of comfort and building health. Passivhaus buildings provide significantly draft


ENVIRONMENT

free environments, which provide improved indoor air quality along with lower heating bills. Through improved fabric and services, Passivhaus can achieve real energy demand reductions below the level proposed by building regulations.

Passivhaus buildings are built with meticulous attention to detail and rigorous design and construction, according to principles developed by the Passivhaus Institut (PHI) in Germany, and can be certified

The Passivhaus Trust gives an overview of the ‘Passivhaus’ standard

Healthybuilding

Award-winning Lancaster Cohousing

Community self build Photo: Jon Sear


through an exacting quality assurance process. Key principles state the building must be able to achieve excellent airtightness levels and this must be confirmed using on site air leakage tests and commissioning of mechanical services. Excellent onsite workmanship and attention to detail is crucial to achieving the required standards.The new-build Passivhaus Standard requires:l A maximum space heating and

cooling demand of less than 15 kWh/m2 year or a maximum heating and cooling load of 10W/m2

l A maximum total primary energy demand of 120 kWh/m2/yearl An air change rate of no more than 0.6 air changes per hour @ 50 Pa.The Passivhaus refurbishment standard, EnerPHit, is slightly more relaxed when the existing architecture or conservation issues mean Passivhaus is not feasible and requires:l A maximum space heating and cooling demand of less than 25 kWh/m2.year or a maximum heating and cooling load of 10W/m2

l A maximum total primary energy demand of 120 kWh/m2/year + heat load factorl An air change rate of no more than 1.0 air changes per hour @ 50 Pa.

To achieve the Passivhaus Standard in the UK typically involves:l Very high levels of insulationl Extremely high performance windows with insulated framesl Airtight building fabricl ‘Thermal bridge free’ constructionl A mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery. m

“ Passivhaus: A building in which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling the fresh air flow required for a good indoor air quality, without the

need for additional recirculation of the air ”Passivhaus Institut (PHI)

The Passivhaus Trust is an independent, non-profit organisation that will provide leadership in the UK for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology. Its aim is to promote the principles of Passivhaus as a highly effective way of reducing energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in the UK, as well as providing high standards of comfort and building health. www.passivhaustrust.org.uk.

Chester Balmore – Camden, London.Large scale residential developmentPhoto: www.chesterbalmore.com/the-apartments/

250 riverfront apartments at Carrow Quay in Norwich,

believed to be the largest scheme in the UK designed to

Passivhaus principles


ENVIRONMENT news

Passiv pool The municipal swimming pool

operator in the German city of

Lünen ventured into unchartered

terrain when it decided to build its

indoor swimming pool to the Passive

House Standard some years ago.

This courageous step has now paid

off, as recent monitoring results

have shown. The savings in terms of

energy consumption, for heating as

well as for electricity, are substantial

compared with other swimming

pools. The monitoring carried out

by the Passive House Institute also

shows that even further optimisation

is possible during the building’s use.

The beacon in Westphalia thus forms

an outstanding basis for subsequent

projects. Details on this will be

presented by Jessica Grove-Smith

from the Passive House Institute at

the International Passive House

Conference in Aachen, taking place

from 25 - 26 April 2014.

Swimming pools are extremely

energy-intensive. Since many

swimming pools in Germany were

built in the 1970s, there is a great

need for refurbishment on a broad

scale. “There is a huge potential for

savings – and the data from Lünen

clearly shows that Passive House is

a practicable solution here as well,”

explains Søren Peper, scientific

advisor at the Passive House

Institute.

One of the key requisites for

achieving the Passive House

Standard, also in the case of indoor

swimming pools, is a high-quality

building envelope, including the

glazed areas. This not only helps

significantly improve thermal

comfort, but also allows for the pool

to be operated at higher levels of

indoor air humidity without causing

condensation. Higher levels of

indoor air humidity means reduced

evaporation from the water surface,

thus resulting in lower heating

requirements for the pools.

Further savings can be achieved

with the ventilation system. Heat

losses are reduced by the use of

high quality heat exchangers and

adapted ventilation regulation.

Smaller air quantities and the use

of energy-saving devices provide

for significantly lower consumption.

Improved swimming pool

technology with energy-efficient

electrical systems and recycling

of filter backwash are other key

aspects in this concept.

windows certified Green Building Store has launched its

Passivhaus certified Ecocontract ULTRA

timber window range. The new insulated frame

version of the Ecocontract ULTRA range

offers whole window U values of 0.68 W/m2K

and has received certification as a Certified

Component from the Passivhaus Institut.

The Ecocontract ULTRA range has been

developed by Green Building Store in response

to specifier demand, and is designed to

help fill a gap in the UK Passivhaus and low

energy market. Ecocontract ULTRA’s outward

opening style is available in a suite of insulated

or solid frame versions to give a very high

level of design flexibility. In the timber window

market, outward opening windows are more

familiar to the British public (and building

professionals), but have been hard to source

for Passivhaus projects in the UK.

Chris Herring, director of Green Building

Store, said: “We are delighted to have received

Passivhaus certification for the new insulated

version of the Ecocontract ULTRA timber

window. Now the Ecocontract ULTRA range

will be able to give designers working on

Passivhaus and low energy projects greater

design flexibility.

efficient apartmentsNorwich based architects Ingleton

Wood has achieved reserved

matters planning approval for 250

riverfront apartments at Carrow

Quay in Norwich, believed to be the

largest scheme in the UK designed

to Passivhaus principles.

Whilst Ingleton Wood’s Planning

Consultants have negotiated some

flexibility in the planning approval as

to how a fabric first approach can

be achieved through construction,

Carrow Quay will potentially be

the first high-density development

in the UK built to the Passivhaus

standard.

The scheme, designed on

behalf of local housing association

Broadland Housing Group, marks

the culmination of three years of

research by Broadland and its

consultant team.

As an organisation responsible

for 5000 homes across East Anglia,

Broadland Housing Group has made

a commitment to target building

fabric performance in an attempt to

minimise fuel poverty for its tenants,

having recently completed its first

rural Passivhaus scheme in North

Norfolk.

Ingleton Wood’s architects,

specialists in sustainable residential

design, have worked closely

with German Passivhaus experts

Herz-Lang GmbH to develop the

principles of the building’s thermal

envelope.

Project architect Chris Stammers

commented: “Carrow Quay is a

project driven by a client that’s

extremely passionate about

creating great environments for its

tenants.

Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power, is the foundation of UK sustainability regulation. It’s the minimum

standard for new build, the reference standard for building refurbishment, the benchmark for planning carbon policy and the ‘cornerstone’ for BREEAM Excellent and Outstanding ratings. It’s oft quoted though understood by a relative few practitioners.

Given its status within the UK sustainability agenda it’s worth understanding a little more about how it works and consider if it represents good value in its current form. In this context value doesn’t just equate to cost, though clearly Part L has financial consequences, but more a broad public confidence in its use and application.

To start its worthwhile understanding what Part L ‘is’ and in this context I mean Criterion 1 of Part L2A. It’s a carbon emissions calculation methodology. The results then allow you to benchmark and compare regulated carbon emissions between new buildings and compare your actual building to the required Part L standard. Regulated carbon emissions include emissions from lighting, auxiliary equipment (fans and pumps), heating, cooling and hot water. Equipment plugged into the smaller power network, process loads, lifts and computers are excluded. Furthermore to allow a


FEATURE

chp is modelled using a different methodology than a building containing the same technical solution in a local plant room. An efficient chp in a building with a large heat demand will result in a much better result than the same building served with the same chp from a heat network.l Heat network connections normally ignore the significant pump energy used to distribute the hot water round the network to the building.l Lighting is assessed by how efficiently it is supplied not how much you use. So if you lower the lighting level in a space it will not make an equivalent improvement in Part L.

The origins of the Part L calculation as a simplified energy-modelling tool didn’t envisage its current day use or the need to demonstrate continued carbon improvement. As we progress to zero carbon buildings or more immediately address the GLA planning policy target of a 40 per cent improvement in Part L 2010 we need a more precise, flexible methodology with the ability to take a longer term view. m

sustainability & value Part L

Part L may often be discussed but is it understood? David Bownass sheds some light on the regulations

fair comparison between buildings, occupancy profiles are standardised so it doesn’t consider the real occupancy of the building.

With this simple introduction it’s evident that a Part L calculation will not provide a realistic indication of a building’s true energy consumption, as it doesn’t consider all the energy uses and it’s unlikely a user will mirror the standard occupancy profile (see CIBSE TM 54: 2013 evaluating operational energy performance of buildings at the design stage for more details).

If we understand that Part L simply calculates the carbon emissions for a new building’s regulated load, does it do this accurately and fairly? Let’s examine a few of the anomalies:l It’s a one off calculation based on current data. No cognisance is made of the building’s operational carbon or energy use over its lifespan. In theory grid electricity carbon content will reduce to around 50 g/kWh in 2030, currently the figure is 517 g/kWh. This will lead to completely different technical solutions to those promoted today.l Energy associated with LTHW and CHW pumping is modelled as a fixed figure. While small adjustments can be made for pump control (three options are available) if the building has one or 1000 pumps it makes no difference to calculation.l A heat network with a remote energy centre containing a gas-fired

David Bownass is sustainability director at professional consultancy WSP. WSP is a leading professional services firm in the UK providing consultancy services to all aspects of the built and natural environment working with governments, planners, developers and architects. The firm has been involved in many high profile UK projects including the Shard, Crossrail, New South Glasgow Hospital, the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham and the re-development of London Bridge station. For further information visit: www.wspgroup.co.uk.


Mark Rooney reflects on the last five years within the construction industry and how the downturn has helped the equipment hire market become more customer centric and focused on innovation

purpose

EQUIPMENT

Like most sectors in the UK over the last five years, the construction industry has felt the impact of

the economic downturn, which has inevitably affected the equipment hire market. There have been fewer projects and opportunities and this has undoubtedly led to tougher competition for the work that has been available. Hire companies have had to look at how they operate in detail to ensure they provide the best value for money and levels of service to remain competitive and win repeat business. As a result, the most successful companies have become more customer focused, leaner and more efficient. As such the ones that have flourished through the recession are now likely to be much better placed as the economy and general construction industry starts to recover.

In terms of the construction industry, the good news is that we have been starting to see a definite increase in activity over recent months. There is a lot more optimism in the market and significantly more work. As always, this has pulled through into the hire industry with more requirements for equipment and increased levels of

how efficiently they were working. This placed the onus

on equipment hire companies to look at the products and solutions they were offering. It is no longer enough to simply provide the same tried and tested solution when a more efficient way of working may be available. This has given rise to a number of new products focused on improving site efficiency. Saving time on site is one of the major cost savings available and companies will often pay more for a piece of hire equipment if the time savings are great enough to outweigh the additional hire costs.

In addition, by working closely

A

business. It is still nowhere near the highs reached in 2006/07 but the level of work available is much higher than it has been for some considerable time. London and the South East in particular is a vibrant market at the moment with many new projects underway and significant investment in construction and infrastructure. The rail industry is also busy with Crossrail investing heavily.

Demands for more efficient solutionsThe above-mentioned economic climate had the effect of forcing construction companies to look at

hire


with the customer, hire companies can help to improve efficiency in a number of other ways aside from new products. Improved levels of service, accurate delivery and collection times and reduced lead times have all become key to the customer when they are choosing an equipment provider.

Hire companies can provide innovative solutions to customer problems on site but only if they are aware of what the problem actually is. The nature of the hire industry is that we are often quite removed from where the product is being used and so it’s vital to work closely with the customer to understand their problems and issues to enable hire companies to develop the best

solutions in conjunction with the customer. It is far better to develop a solution with a client to solve their exact problem than design a product or solution in isolation and then try to convince the client it is what they need. Introducing new technologyThe construction industry has traditionally been conservative and slower than some industries to embrace new technology. Again the economy has changed this outlook, with companies constantly looking for an edge and turning to new technology as a potential source for this. Similarly in the equipment hire arena development

has sometimes been slow due to the risk of redundancy that introducing new technology can bring. This attitude has changed in recent times and is gathering momentum with new technology becoming more prevalent.

The main place where technology has been embraced has been in the area of communication and the provision of information. The explosion in the use of smartphones has enabled companies to find new more efficient ways of working. For example, product user videos can be viewed on a phone anywhere in the field. Similarly, phone apps can provide customers with real-time account information or the facility to place an order quickly

and efficiently. This is a constantly changing area and companies need to be continually up-to-date with new innovations and how these may be used to improve the customer’s experience.

Hot topics and trendsRightly so, health and safety is always a hot topic, the UK leads the world in the provision of a safe working environment and our construction industry benefits from a continually improving health and safety record. This area retains a high priority in equipment hire with new innovations hitting the market on an increasingly regular basis. Previously introduced ‘nice to haves’ have now, in many cases, become prerequisites on site as legislation tightens and standards improve.


EQUIPMENT

Another trend in the non-mechanical hire industry is towards lighter equipment, which still performs as well as traditional methods. Lighter products enable contractors to use lighter machinery to handle them and also reduce the impact on the environment through reduced size transport and lower fuel usage. To facilitate this, companies will need to consider new materials for products and smarter methods of manufacture.

Sustainability remains high on the agenda and hire companies are obviously naturally good in this area due to the continued reuse of their equipment. However, consideration needs to be given to such things as transport routing to minimise the impact on the environment. m

“Sustainability remains high on the agenda and hire companies are obviously

naturally good in this area due to the continued reuse of their equipment ”

Mark Rooney is managing director of Mabey Hire. Mabey Hire Ltd is part of the family owned Mabey Group of companies. It employs 430 staff, including 40 engineers, across 17 depots nationwide. With a turnover in excess of £42 million, the company offers hire products to the construction industry including: groundworks, formwork and falsework, propping and jacking, temporary bridging, and contract services.

For more information please visit: www.mabeyhire.co.uk.


£46m Uni libraryWillmott Dixon, one of the UK’s

largest construction companies,

has been awarded a design and

build contract to construct the

University of Bedfordshire’s new

library building in Luton.

Spread over seven floors,

the iconic building will become

a landmark in the town centre

incorporating 7400 sq meters of

space, connecting to the rest of

the University’s Luton campus via

a bridge link.

“The appointment of Willmott

Dixon to build our new library is

great news,” said the University’s

Vice Chancellor, Bill Rammell.

“This move further underlines

our ambitions for current and

future generations of students at

Bedfordshire. The fantastic new

facility will further enhance the

students’ learning experience,

offering the latest digital learning

technologies, an expanded space

for print resources and flexible

study space for individual and

group study, which will be open

Series rollout Caterpillar has rolled out the M

Series 980 and a new addition

to the Cat Medium Wheel

Loaders Line, the 982M. The

new 980M and 982M Wheel

Loaders have EU Stage IV

ACERT engines equipped

with a combination of proven

electronic, fuel, air and after-

treatment components.

Applying proven technologies

systematically and

strategically lets CAT meet its

customers’ high expectations

for productivity, fuel efficiency,

reliability and service life.

Deep system integration

results in reduced emissions,

improved performance and

improved fuel economy

without interrupting machine

performance making it

seamless to operators.

24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Chris Tredget, managing director

at Willmott Dixon, added: “We are

delighted to be involved and look

forward to delivering this superb

new library for the University of

Bedfordshire. As a local company,

with an office in nearby Hitchin,

Herts, and staff living across

Bedfordshire, we are naturally

very proud to be responsible

for an important addition to our

community. We will also buy local

construction materials whenever

possible to support jobs and

companies in the local area.”

NEWS

Finance offer Fleximize, a newly launched finance

company, will provide SMEs in

the construction sector with an

innovative and flexible source of

financing – a revenue advance.

Max Chmyshuk, founder and

managing partner at Fleximize said:

“Revenue-based financing (RBF) is

often viewed as ‘the best of both

worlds’ sitting between debt and

equity investment. The value of

monthly repayments fluctuates

with the performance of the client’s

business so they pay more in good

months and less in bad ones. This

can be attractive for many SMEs in

the Construction sector, particularly

in the current uncertain economic

environment.

“We feel that our revenue-based

financing solution is significantly

less risky for a business than

other forms of more mainstream

financing usually involving fixed

regular repayments. There is a

natural alignment of interests

between us and our clients.”

Ecobuild returned to London’s ExCeL, 4th–6th of March. Now in its 10th year the event connected industry professionals in

order to help them network, learn, and discover new products and innovative business solutions.

Championing the business case for more sustainable buildings, Ecobuild connected the entire built environment supply chain and helped professionals to respond to complex and demanding legislation.

This year’s Ecobuild featured an unrivalled information programme comprising of an exciting mix of industry experts, ministers and celebrities. The event also played host to the most comprehensive showcase of sustainable construction products in the world. To ensure that visitors made the most of their visit, the event was divided into three core areas;


Building

ECOBUILD EXHIBITION

of BIM, Mace, and Head of BIM Implementation, Cabinet Office chaired a seminar updating visitors on the Government BIM Task Group’s work on the Tuesday of the event, and a further session on the Thursday explored how to get the best value from BIM in all phases of a project.

Exploring effective refurbishment and retrofit strategies saw a focus on accessing funding as well as a practical assessment of how the latest retrofit innovations, technologies, and materials perform in a controlled whole house environment.

Alongside the education programme there was an array of exhibits and interactive attractions. Within the Sustainable Design & Construction zone area the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) held

success The Ecobuild exhibition is the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and

the built environment and the UK’s largest construction event of any kind

Sustainable Design & Construction, Energy, and Future Cities.

The Sustainable Design & Construction zone focused on the topic that has been at the heart of Ecobuild since its inception. This is the area where visitors learned about the latest design ideas, future construction materials, lighting and technical solutions to sustainable construction challenges.

The area featured three unique seminar streams focusing on key issues facing the industry today; Build Performance & BIM, Design, and Refurbishment & Retrofit. Sessions featured experts delivering insight and case studies exploring themes such as Government Soft Landings, the latest development in Passivhaus, the Green Deal, ECO, and individual versus neighbourhood solutions.

Professor David Philp, Head


membership clinics. The clinic was open to both members and non-members who want advice on joining, upgrading, level of membership, completing applications, and any other general enquires.

Exploring the ever-evolving ideas surrounding the use of timber in construction, the Ongreening Timber Pavilion (S840/41) included a green lounge, allowing visitors to take a break from exploring the show. The Timber Pavilion also played host to screenings of Ongreening’s exclusive interviews with inspiring green thinkers and an exciting showcase of impressive and innovative sustainable projects and best practices.

Suppliers such as Fluke UK (N2426), Grant Engineering (N2230), Ashwell Biomass (N2311), and Lafarge Tarmac (N320/21) exhibited

in this area.The Energy section

of the show played host to the most comprehensive display of sustainable construction products in the world and included a range of features on renewable energy, resource management and energy efficiency, as well as hundreds of the latest energy innovations. Two hugely popular features will return in this area: Practical Installer and the Solar City. Plumb Center’s Practical Installer brought together 17 of the industry’s leading manufacturers to give live demonstrations and installation advice on solar thermal and heat pumps. The flagship Solar City, in association with SMA Solar features seminars and practical demonstrations covering all aspects of the solar PV

market in the UK.The Future Cities

area incorporated a range of topics

from biodiversity to technology,

infrastructure to water and waste. It also housed the Natural Building

Materials stand, providing visitors with the opportunity to see natural materials in use through a variety of demonstrations and talks on reclaimed timber, wattle and daub, straw bale, clay and lime rendering, hemp and cob and sheep wool insulation. Exhibitors such as Bauder (S1311), Alutec (S1711), Kemper (S1520/21), and Carlisle Construction Materials (S1720/21) exhibited in this zone. mTo see what else the 2014 event offered visit: www.ecobuild.co.uk.


PROFILE: Ferrobeton

The name Ferrobeton first appeared during 1991 when a Dunaújváros based factory split from the

BVM Concrete element group to begin a separate venture. The full heritage of the company however, can be traced as far back as 1955 during a tenacious moment

throughout 35 nations. Ferrobeton itself currently has a core work force of around 430 and works closely with trusted temporary workers during peak capacities and larger projects. It is one of Hungary’s largest concrete and reinforced concrete fabrication companies and has completed a far-reaching breadth of projects within the residential, commercial and infrastructure sectors. Solutions are provided in both turnkey design applications and standardised prefabricated products depending on the needs of the client. Commenting on the diverse nature

in Hungary’s history when the government of the time decided to construct a large iron factory to support the nation’s industrial sector. In a bid to spur the growth of central Hungary’s manufacturing capacity a new town, Dunaújváros began construction during the same time. It was these events that would drive the formation of the predecessor of Ferrobeton as it is recognised today.

Ferrobeton celebrated 50 years in operation during 2005 and as of 2008 is part of the CRH Group, which employs as many as 76,000 staff worldwide in 3500 locations

concrete foundation

ABridge beam

For 58 years Ferrobeton has been at the forefront of construction and civil engineering in Europe, with a rich history and an expansive and

diverse project portfolio


concrete

over 70,000m3 of concrete.” Infrastructure is a key market

for Ferrobeton, where it produces beams and bridge parts for motorways as well as railways. Telecommunication applications have also added to the portfolio of projects undertaken by the company, which has benefitted from its ability to service multiple markets in the face of the global economic downturn. While the slowdown in construction throughout Europe saw its output of concrete elements fall from 140,000m3 to 70,000m3 in the years following 2007, investment

of the projects that Ferrobeton has executed, CEO Zoltan Vass states: “We build factories, halls, storage and warehouses as well as shopping malls, schools, football stadiums and many other types of construction. Ferrobeton has been involved in projects with companies like Audi, Hankook, Mercedes and Lego in Hungary encompassing

in infrastructure by the Hungarian government has enabled Ferrobeton to weather the crisis. Its industry-leading reputation in the field of concrete fabrication marked the company as an obvious choice in renewing the nation’s public infrastructure and as such the company today enjoys capital of around 2.5 BN HUF and an annual production, not including ready mixed concrete of around 70,000m3.

From its base in Hungary, Ferrobeton provides services throughout Europe. While eastern regions including Slovakia, the

Factory Dunaújváros

Bridge beam


PROFILE: Ferrobeton

Ukraine, Romania and Hungary represent its traditional customers the company is keen to provide solutions to its clients wherever they are. For example, within its native Hungary it has been involved in the construction of facilities for some of the world’s most recognisable brands, the improvement and building of highway bridges across the country and the supply of the prefabricated concrete structure of the prestigious Ferencvárosi soccer stadium in Budapest. Further afield in Romania, Ferrobeton is proud of its Mihai Bravu – Vacaresti overpass bridges and in the Ukraine the prefabricated structures of the Arena Lviv soccer stadium.

Serbia is becoming an increasingly important market for Ferrobeton and as it develops its strength in the region the company will rely on its proven track record

beginning of our Serbian expansion and last year we created Ferrobeton Serbia with a small sales office. We are currently learning our way in the Serbian market and are looking to build extensive client relationships.”

Strong customer focus

and comprehensive industry experience to help it deliver projects to new customers, as Zoltan explains: “Our work is our marketing. You will hardly find a project with prefabricated structures where we are not involved. We are just at the

The biggest PC strand and wire manufacturer in Central-Eastern Europe

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Steel wire �bres for strengthening concrete structures (industrial �oors, tunnels, concrete pillars)

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motorway without intermediate supports. The benefits of this design are that it is more cost effective all in all, needs no supplementary protection due to intermediate columns and results in a shorter construction time.

Moving forward, Ferrobeton has a solid foundation on which it can build a solid platform for growth. Having restored profitability in

represents one facet of what gives Ferrobeton its competitive edge; this along with its ability to innovate bespoke solutions in tandem with prefabricated structures, interoperability and high production capacity makes it a leading player in the concrete market. Additionally, the advantageous geographic location of its factories leads to a reduction in freight costs for both ready products and raw materials. “Our strong production capacity allows a reduction of the lead time of projects and that is a significant competitive advantage,” says Zoltan. “Of course the support of the CRH Group in terms of finance and expertise allows for a calm operation.”

Ferrobeton constantly seeks to modernise its product portfolio to deliver market-leading designs to its clients. A recent example is the application of a 44 metre bridge beam, able to span a six lane

the face of the global downturn throughout the construction market, the company will use the lessons and indeed the strengths it has taken from the crisis and seek to extending its holdings within its current markets and beyond. m

Ferrobeton

www.ferrobeton.hu


PROFILE: Landert Motoren

Active on all five continents, independent Swiss family firm Landert Motoren AG has

a long tradition of manufacturing specialist industrial products to find the best solutions for its customers. Split into two divisions: TORMAX, for cutting-edge door automation solutions, and SERVAX, for the manufacture of customised electric motors, Bulach headquartered Landert Motoren AG has more than 700 dedicated employees at its 14 group companies throughout the world.

Speaking to Construction and Civil Engineering magazine

constantly out of our home base in Switzerland and today have reached a turnover of CHF 120 million. Anja Landert, the granddaughter of the founder is chairwoman of the board of directors.”

As the original business of Landert Motoren AG, SERVAX is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of customised electric motors, a reputation gained from a focus on developing high quality, innovative products and its dedication to forming close working relationships with customers. Through retaining these integral strengths, SERVAX creates outstanding solutions for challenging machine drives that offer impressive performance, a

about the history of Landert Motoren AG, CEO Sonke Bandixen states: “Landert was founded in 1924 in Bulach, near Zurich, by Heinrich Landert, a young Swiss entrepreneur who was fascinated by the opportunities that electrical motors offered to deliver new industrial solutions. Since then Landert has developed and produced electrical drives for special purpose and for high efficiency applications of machine manufacturers in many industrial branches. It was in 1951 that Landert pioneered the use of automatic driven doors with the installation of Europe’s first electro-hydraulic swing door; we have since grown

drive for success

Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2014, Landert Motoren AG today is one of the world’s leading companies for automatic doors


of all electrical drives used within its automatic doors, TORMAX base a large part of its installed drives on the external rotor motor principle; this offers significantly longer service cycles than standard DC drives. Represented in five continents and boasting a finely interlinked international network of more than 500 local sales partners and subsidiaries, the division ensures availability of its high quality products and services in over 50 countries. “TORMAX is a pioneer and specialist for advanced door automation solutions; we believe in our capability to generate customer benefits through cleverly engineered drive and control technology as well as the tight management of a world-wide supply chain,” states Sonke.

With a core product range that includes sliding doors, swing doors, revolving doors and folding doors, TORMAX products can be used as fire and smoke doors,

long life cycle, simple maintenance, safe operation and reliability. “We are not competing in the wide segment of mass produced standard drives and differentiate ourselves through technology and quality,” highlights Sonke. “This commitment to quality over quantity has resulted in SERVAX developing drives for the major machine manufacturers in Europe and North America.”

With a mission to provide ‘peak performance for life-long contented customers’, Landert Motoren AG’s second division, TORMAX, is based on the company’s own electrical drive developments. As the sole engineers and designers

safe emergency exits, effective protection against burglary and vandalism and also offer barrier-free access that removes some of the restrictions faced by handicapped people. In addition to standard applications, TORMAX can manufacture customised doors and hermetic doors that are equipped with a circumferential hermetic sealing system for use in laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry or clean-room production.

Through the operation of two distinctive brands, the company has developed a strong foothold in strategic locations around the world and can rely on the diversity of its product range to

Factory Dunaújváros


PROFILE: Landert Motoren

ensure continued growth when certain economic markets become challenging. “The European markets are currently somewhat flat; however with special offerings we can still grow and expand our

come. Meanwhile, an increased need for automated solutions for the elderly and handicapped as well as a constantly growing population of value added buildings in emerging markets means our markets are closely bonding with the cyclical construction industries,” says Sonke.

Despite these opportunities in the market, the company faces challenges as larger conglomerates continue to acquire smaller door automation firms in Europe and Asia/Pacific, which causes constant pressure on prices and forces manufacturers to find innovative ways to optimise their supply chain. To ensure continued growth and success Landert Motoren AG is relocating its central production and logistic operations from Switzerland to a new plant in Prague, Czech Republic, as Sonke concludes: “This move will generate cost synergies and will allow us to optimise our supply chain further. With new products for sliding and swing doors applications we are supporting our growth plans and are envisioning a continuous above average growth rate.” m

market share on a moderate scale. Meanwhile, in North America and Asia/Pacific we are growing double digit per cent per annum and are therefore focusing our growth initiatives to these markets. The swing door applications are growing stronger than the slider segment,” explains Sonke.

Operating in a period where demand for electrical motors continues to grow and the door automation market continues to be driven by mega trends, Landert Motoren AG benefits from spikes in demand that stem from changes in regulations and increased attention to the accessibility requirements of more vulnerable members in society. “The CO2 reduced energy usage will require millions of specially engineered and produced electrical motors around the world for decades to

Landert Motoren AG www.landert.comServices: Develop and produce special purpose electrical drives

Aluminium-Werke Wutöschingen AG & Co.KG P.O. Box 11 20 79791 Wutöschingen Germany

Phone +49 (0)7746/81-0 Fax +49 (0)7746/81-217 E-mail [email protected] Internet www.aww.de

Our products and services are as varied as aluminium in its applications.

We produce extrusions, including both unprocessed semi-finished goods (solid and hollow profiles, pipes, forged bars) and processed system components. Secondly, we produce slugs from continuous casting and rolling, sheet metal blanks or profiles and bars.

We live Aluminium

http://www.aww.de


PROFILE: Dubai ContraCting Company

Enviable reputation

Bridge beam

Established in 1962, Dubai Contracting Company

(DCC) is today a leading middle-eastern construction company


Enviable reputation

commenced during the first half of 2013 with an expected completion date towards the fourth quarter of 2015.

However, although the work undertaken by DCC has grown significantly, it still retains the original dedication to quality that has been the hallmark of the company since the first day. By applying industry-leading standards to its projects, DCC ensures that both the company and the client are proud of the final product. Attention to detail permeates throughout the entire organisation, and strict adherence to proven international standards and procedures have allowed DCC to build a reputation as one of the best contractors in the Middle East. Such adherence to quality also means DCC is able to deliver projects on time, and on budget. DCC’s continuous dedication to quality is inextricably linked to its commitment to integrity, honesty and transparency. This steadfastness has played a key role in driving its process, and is intrinsically part of every DCC activity.

It is also applied to and expected from all of DCC’s stakeholders, including its partner companies,

It prides itself on embodying a spirit of commitment and trust that is unique to a construction organisation, and it has established an

enviable reputation through three generations of leadership in the same family.

Today DCC specialises in building residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings and hospitality and leisure complexes, and is focused on projects that are designed and built to the highest quality standards available in the industry.

The collective portfolio of DCC projects has grown rapidly in the past few years and includes some of the finest landmarks in the Gulf region. These include the 21 storey AD-1 Tower in Abu Dhabi, the Trunk of Palm Hotel, Jumeirah, Dubai, and the mixed-use 63 storey Rolex Tower, in Dubai.

Furthermore, its impressive order book for the future contains several new and prestigious projects, such as the Brightstart beach resort and the Kingdom of Sheba mixed use residential and leisure luxury resort that is situated on the Crescent of the Palm in Jumeirah, Dubai.

In addition to the growth in the portfolio of its buildings, it has also enjoyed a significant expansion in the geographical base of its operations both within the UAE and further afield in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The company has also developed the scope of its services beyond standard contracting to include complete turnkey solutions. For example, in 2012, it signed a turnkey contract for Saraya’s W Amman hotel and tower project in Amman – Jordan. The project is located in the Al-Abdali development area in downtown, which is considered to be Jordan’s new financial and commercial district. The hotel consists of 36 floors with commercial and retail amenities. The W hotel is a five-star luxury hotel operator that is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts worldwide. The civil works

suppliers and subcontractors. Indeed, by never compromising on these principles, the organisation has been able to surround itself with a loyal group of companies, creating a team of organisations able to tackle the most complex projects.

These partners are very carefully chosen for their expertise and dedication to quality, and they include Al Bonian, OPTC, ITWORKS and Studitalia. To assure that its clients have preferred access to these services, DCC has strengthened its ties to these companies by making them official associates.

DCC’s approach to its projects is also another aspect that sets it apart from the competition. Visitors to a DCC site won’t find the usual mayhem of a construction site – the company prides itself on maintaining a prevailing air of organised workflow, cleanliness and order. This had become a visible manifestation of DCC’s disciplined attitude to the construction process and it is enabled by a toolbox of construction resources that always contains the latest and best in technology and expertise.

Bridge beam

PROFILE: Dubai ContraCting Company


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In addition, it constantly hones this edge by perfecting its competitive, cost-effective construction processes. Clients reap the benefits in buildings that are built on time and on budget, and reflect the overall attitude - they are testaments to quality, in steel, concrete and glass.

It would not be possible for DCC to maintain its position as a quality leader without the right team of staff on the ground and back at headquarters. Recruiting the right people is of paramount importance, as is the constant upgrade of the skills of its people to assure that their expertise is first class. The company advertises vacancies on its comprehensive website, and its requirements for the right qualifications are stringent and highlight its focus on a quality end product.

includes environmental preservation principles, and DCC also regularly provides extensive support to education courses and charitable entities in its operating environment.

The company has spent the past five decades building a company that truly reflects its founder’s ambitions. As Abdallah H. Yabroudi, CEO states on www.dcc-group.com: “Our vision has been clear and consistent from day one. DCC built its reputation on quality. In pursuit of that goal we have worked with discipline and dedication to continually raise the bar on our quality standards. Today we have reached the highest level of professionalism in the construction industry and have been rewarded by our clients’ trust and ongoing satisfaction.” m

DCC also recognises that continuous employee improvement is only one part of being a responsible company, and that means it directs attention to being a contributing member of the community as well. This programme

www.dcc-group.com

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PROFILE: KTC GROUP

The organisation has achieved unparalleled expertise in large-scale excavation, earth moving and

civil construction works, and has developed close relationships with Singapore’s leading infrastructure developers and large contractors. Thanks to the ready availability of critical earth moving equipment in-house, huge capacity and seasoned project management expertise KTC’s clients are able to treat the company as a partner they can rely on for each and every project.

The Civil & Infrastructure segment of KTC Group is essentially the group’s flagship company – KTC Civil Engineering & Construction

and construction of expressways, and we are now active in the building of bridges, underpasses and substructures as well. Our focus is on transport related construction projects, and here in Singapore there is more than enough work to keep us active,” added Yu Kong. “Over the past two years there have been 25 billion dollars worth of projects in the market and we have been actively participating in all many major civil engineering and infrastructure projects including the construction of a road between TPE and Yishun Avenue 6, and the East-West Transmission Cable Tunnel.

“We are also involved with preparation work for a large rail depot in Singapore, which involves massive earthworks removal, as well as the construction of two very large bus parks or depot, for which we are responsible for preparing the ground and building the substructure and infrastructure.”

Yu Kong pointed out that KTC’s current work on a metro (mass rapid

Pte Ltd. Yeap Yu Kong is director of infrastructure at the company, and he highlighted that the organisation had grown from humble beginnings into the impressive corporation it is today: “KTC began in 1988 as an earth moving and haulage contractor,” he began. “Over the years we have grown and developed, and in 2007/2008 became very active in a more extended range of industries.

“We expanded into the design

buildersTeam

The KTC Group is one of Singapore’s leading civil engineering enterprises

Structural Works to Casino Building at Integrated Resort

East Coast Parkway Diversion


educating the workforce and site management teams, and discussing issues with stakeholders, as well as encouraging new ways of working. The skill set and mind set must also change with the times as well, otherwise a company can’t move forward and grow.” In fact, Yu Kong credits the drive and commitment of the managers and staff of KTC for the company’s market leading position: “Sometimes it is really the team that make the difference,”

transit) station is the most complex in the company’s history. “This is located in a densely built area of Singapore, and this means that managing noise and consideration for the environment and pollution are big challenges that need to be managed,” he said.

Meeting the needs of projects such as this requires investment and innovative thinking, and these are both areas where KTC is at the forefront of the market. “We monitor various key measures, and one of these is to constantly to look at the latest technology and how it can be utilised,” he said. “So items such as low noise machines, like silent generators and silent excavators are useful when working in residential areas, and we both buy and hire items such as this.

“We also spend a lot of time

he stated. “Commitment and dedication are key ingredients, and we have staff that have worked with us since we were founded in 1988 and we have been through the process of development together where the history and company culture are formed as driving forces.”

In order to continuously develop and maintain a high level of in-house engineering skills KTC also offers numerous scholarships at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels: “These are part of our succession plans,” commented Yu Kong. “There are presently four undergrad scholarships and two MSc scholarships, which were created because our company founder has always been very keen in investing in HR, he always believed

Tampines Central Station

http://www.fuchslubricants.com


PROFILE: KTC GROUP

that the right people at the right positions and good leadership are essential for success. These study programmes highlight that we are prepared to plan for the very long term - ten to 20 years down the line - because we know that we can’t move on without young leaders and young engineers and managers. We need these to survive.”

He added: “Of course there are other ways of looking at growth as well as accumulation of skills and management knowhow, including business turnover and quality control and safety management. In advanced markets such as the UK and US a lot of weight is put on safety so we are also emphasising this area in order to work to the same standards as these markets.”

For the rest of 2014 KTC has several major projects underway, and is actively involved in bidding on more underground and railway work. “We understand our strengths and do not see a need to diversify into other fields of construction immediately. That being said, there are investigations underway into the area of bored tunnelling, as this could be a promising area to

industry. “This makes our willingness to embrace the new ways of working even more significant, as we have to change,” concluded Yu Kong. “We can’t stay with the old ways, we have to embrace the new while developed the existing skills to maintain our leading position.” m

develop.”With so many projects on the

cards the Singapore market is becoming increasingly competitive and international companies are arriving to compete for contracts, which makes it even more important for KTC to remain innovative and at the top of its game. Raising the productivity with advanced technology and skilled labour force with new thinking at the management level will raise the company’s competiveness in the

KTC Group www.ktcgroup.com.sg Services: Civil Engineering

Realignment of East Coast Parkway

Engine hood, CATBasement Construction for MICE Building at Integrated Resort

Cabin interior parts

Construction of Skypark

Established in 1974 and celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the ITA was created to support the use

of the subsurface space for the benefit of public, environment and sustainable development and to endorse advances in planning, design, construction, and safety construction of tunnels and underground spaces.

Formed by 19 countries, today it has 71 member nations and 310 corporate or individual affiliate


When it comes to encouraging and promoting the use of subsurface space, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA)

is the world’s most experienced resource

FOREWORD ITA

share technical knowledge between different parties and countries. This can be from places that have been building tunnels for centuries to ones that are just beginning or even haven’t built any tunnels yet. This knowledge exchange is facilitated through technical working groups that cover different topics, and can include members from any member country.”

Another benefit to members is that the entire supply chain of tunnelling and underground space is represented through ITA

third

members. As Olivier Vion, executive director of the ITA explained, these members take the form of associations, where each association represents a country. “We function as a UN body, with UN status, and that means each country gets one vote, regardless of the size of the population they represent,” he said.

One of the major benefits of being a member of the ITA is access to an enormous range of information and experience. Said Olivier: “Our main purpose is to

Thedimension

Olivier Vion: executive director of the ITA


third

membership, from design and economics all the way through to planning, engineering, contracting and supplies, and all these roles participate in working groups. Furthermore, member nations can create a working group on a subject that is particularly of interest or relevance to them, or one on which they are looking for an international perspective.

Soren Eskesen, ITA president, noted that while some of the topics for these working groups have stayed the same since the

ITA was established, some have finished and new ones started “There is no limit to the number of working groups we can introduce, except practically,” he said “At the moment there are 14 active working groups, and in addition we now have committees, and these differ because the participants are companies rather than countries. We have four committees: safety, training, the use of underground space and new technology.”

While of course safety is a top priority, Olivier highlighted the

fact that training and recruitment are getting a lot of scrutiny at the moment and this is likely to continue, especially as the amount of global underground projects continues to grow: “Many countries lack enough skilled people in this area and we have seen that in the UK on the Crossrail project, where they have had to create a lot of training programmes, and that will continue with HS2. Indeed, this is the case in many countries as the total market for underground work continues to increase.

“The main market is China, but Europe, the US and South America are all seeing a lot of projects on the horizon and to deliver these we need to have more skilled people such as engineers, but also blue collar workers.

“This is why we are so actively working on our committee on training, and why we are organising training sessions all over the world.” Since it was established, the training committee has reached several milestones, including the creation of the concept of

the ITA University Network, aiming to facilitate training and education actions, the exchange of students and professors, and the interaction of research; the creation of Training Sections (short-courses), the endorsement of Professional Master Courses on Tunnelling at international and national levels; and the creation of a task force on Training and Education to study the perspectives of these actions for the future of the ITA and how to implement and co-ordinate them. It is clear that the ITA is a

Soren Eskesen: ITA president


FOREWORD ITA

highly regarded and influential organisation, and the findings and conclusions of its working groups and committees have far reaching effects. Olivier noted this was especially true in the safety arena: “Our safety working group is recognised worldwide for producing guidelines that are used by many countries,” he confirmed. “ITA COSUF is the Centre of Excellence for worldwide exchange of information and know-how regarding safety and security of underground facilities in operation.”

Design challengesAs cities become more congested and the population increases, underground tunnelling and the use of subspace offers designers and planners an option of expansion that is sustainable and can offer better quality of life. Soren noted: “When you move areas like traffic

underground you also move the noise and dust. It can also help to continue a growing economy as if a city gets too congested it may not be able to expand where it needs to – one solution to this is to consider the underground space.”

This inevitably brings design challenges, but this again is an area where ITA has a vast repertoire of experience and is one often discussed at the Association’s annual conference. Soren explained that this event has become an ideal

ITA’s next event is the World Tunnel Congress 2014 (WTC2014), which will be held in the city of Foz do Iguaçu/Iguassu Falls, Brazil, from May 9th to 15th, 2014. Focusing on ‘Tunnels for Better Living’, WTC 2014 will discuss and illustrate the importance of tunnels, especially in big cities, as solutions for traffic jams, flooding, transportation, environmental conservation and also for saving surface areas for nobler uses, such as leisure and human relations.

WTC 2014 will host a large meeting of the Brazilian and international technical community, involving a spectrum of participants – public managers, builders, designers, equipment

suppliers, engineering service companies, professors, professionals and students. Together, tunnel experts will discuss and put forward solutions that are most appropriate and used on a global scale.

WTC will also be the place for many ITA activities, meetings of WGs and Committees’ activity groups, and the ITA General Assembly, which is also going to see the launch of a Young Members Group, designed to attract a younger audience to the ITA.

For more information on WTC 2014, visit:

http://www.wtc2014.com.br/.

place to not only visit suppliers at the exhibition side, but to network and learn from colleagues and new contacts: “At our conference the papers and technical solutions are often presented by designers, but the reason our conference is so successful is because it brings these people and contractors and owners together in a very useful knowledge exchange,” he said.

Over the four decades the ITA has been in existence it has witnessed many changes, in areas including technology, learning and safety. As Olivier highlighted: “Thanks to an incredible evolution of equipment and technology, it is now possible to build facilities and tunnels that could not have been constructed 30 or 40 years ago.” Soren agreed: “It’s true to say that the ‘easy’ tunnels have already been built,” he added. But as evolving nations start to create their own underground solutions, and first world countries share the wisdom of their experience, the next 40 years of tunnelling and subspace look set to be as exciting and innovative as those that came before. zz


PROFILE: LNS

The company’s core activities include road and tunnel construction, and mining – in fact,

LNS owns several mines and also operates mines on behalf of several mining companies.

In recent years, LNS has been involved in several major projects, plus it also built the UN Global Seed Vault on Svalbard. The company

challengeOvercomingthe

Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner AS (LNS) is one of Norway’s largest contractors. The company specialises in solving demanding projects in areas that pose difficult logistics challenges


it decided to use a tunnel-boring machine (TBM). TBM has not been used in Norway for more than 20 years, and with this project, the company is bringing back the TBM knowledge to the tunnel industry in Norway.

LNS GroupThe company is part of the LNS Group, which has five core areas of activity:l Tunnels, rock caverns l Road constructionl Mining contracts l Earth movingl Concrete production

Within these areas, it employs approximately 900 employees and had a turnover of NOK 1.8 billion in 2012.

LNS was established in 1961 and since then the company has expanded to become a major global engineering group that includes 15 highly specialised companies. The latest company established

has broad international experience, having completed projects on Iceland and Greenland, as well as in Antarctica. It has also established separate companies in Iceland and Chile, and is now completing a major tunnelling project in Hong Kong.

Over the years, LNS has taken a leading role in introducing new technology, and on its latest project in Norway, a hydropower project,

is LNS Saga, located in Iceland. The ongoing activities extend around the globe from the Antarctic and Eastern Europe, to South America, Asia and the South Pole. Its key clients are predominantly mining companies, hydropower businesses and the Public Roads Administrations in Norway.

New projects that LNS is starting within 2014 are a harbour development in western Norway, a road- and tunnel construction in northern Norway and a road- and tunnel construction on the Faroe Islands. Recently LNS finished a research station built for the Norwegian Polar Institute on Bouvet Island. Bouvet Island is one of the most isolated islands in the world, and 93 per cent of the island is covered by glaciers.

LNS’ many years of operations in the Antarctic have also provided it with unique expertise in the areas of polar mining and logistics operations. The construction and mining industries are in a constant process of change and the demands placed on contractors such as LNS, continues to grow. In order to meet these demands it has become increasingly important to focus on a variety of forms of collaboration in order to achieve improved project coordination, faster problem identification and resolution. The objective is

Workers on their way to work

TBM assembly

Preparing for blasting

TBM assembly


PROFILE: LNS

also to achieve stable, long-term relationships that yield better, more cost-effective outcomes. LNS has experience with many different forms of project collaboration which includes the forming of Public Private Partnerships (PPP), Joint Ventures (JV’s), strategic alliances and project collaboration with individual operators.

A recent example of the benefits of working in partnership with other specialists is exemplified by the company’s joint venture with Leighton Asia Ltd., which secured a contract worth NOK 2.1 billion for a major sewage tunnel project in Hong Kong. This extensive project is part of the Hong Kong government’s Harbour Area Treatment Scheme. The project involves planning and driving a 7.5km tunnel with five shafts, each varying from 70 to 120 metres long through a busy

part of the metropolis and harbour and more than 160,000 cubic metre of concrete will be required. This is because the tunnel runs partly below the sea and partly below office buildings in Hong Kong. The tunnel excavation will finish in November 2014 and the tunnel lining and the lining of the shafts will go on until autumn

Galvano TiaGalvano Tia was established in 1955 and we are one of the biggest manufactures of bolts and embedded parts for rock support and Frost/water proofing, in Scandinavia. We offer:l Fully grouted bolts l Anchored boltsl Combination bolts l Spiling bolts.l Rockfall protection systemsWe also offer anticorrosion and longevity increase with hot galvanization and powder coat from our own factory in Norway. Our products are widespread in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Faroe Islands in different projects; railway tunnels, road tunnels, water power plants, mines and slope protection.We are proud to have been one of LNS’s preferred vendors over several years.

Your reliable partner for Rock Support, Frost/Water proofing, anticorrosion and longevity increase manufacturer in Norway from 1955.

All our bolts are produced, hot-dip galvanized and powder coated, locally produced at our own factory.

Phone +47 75 60 11 00 Email: [email protected] www.galvanotia.no

GALVANO TIANORWAY

Global seed vault

http://www.galvanotia.no


projects abroad.Concludes Frode Nilsen: “The

bottom line is that you have to find the optimal solutions and be as efficient, reliable and cost-effective as practicable. We are number one in the mining and tunnels sectors as well as being a major contender in all our other areas of activity.

2015. This project has given the organisation some challenges that it is not used to. There have been many regulatory requirements that are unusual for a Norwegian entrepreneur. This combined with the experience it has gained through the joint venture with Leighton has given LNS a better understanding to enter into new

This is thanks to our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes at all times for our customers.” m

LNS www.lns.no Services: Road & tunnel construction

We develop solutions for the future in collaboration with our customers. With LNS we have an integrated supply service, which allow LNS to focus on their job, and fully trust they always find as required in our containers, placed at designated areas in agreement with LNS.

We bring the goods to our customers, whether it is a factory site, storage location or remote area. AEO has 18 industrial warehouses covering all of Norway. They are organized in 5 regions were we support the customer with quality brands in a wide range of products (from personal protection, work wear, tools, screws and so on, to heavier machine tools, pumps, welding machines and bearings).

www.aeo.no

The Industrial Warehouse in Norway

A breakthroughInside a tunnel

http://www.aeo.no


PROFILE: Sandvik ConStruCtion

The history of Sandvik group began in 1855 in Sandviken, Sweden when Goran Goransson purchased a small

ironworks factory and successfully produced the first high quality steel based on the Bessemer method. Forming Sandvik in 1862, he acquired the rights to use the method and began manufacturing finished products such as saws and steel tubes.

Over 150 years later, Sandvik’s

leading supplier of rock excavation equipment, tools and services for the mining and construction industries where it mostly propelled itself through organic growth and acquisitions. This is also how the drilling expertise was brought to the company: In 1997, Sandvik acquired a Finnish drilling equipment manufacturer Tamrock Oy. This expertise today prospers in two business areas of the Sandvik Group namely in Sandvik Mining and in Sandvik Construction.

business idea still is to develop, manufacture and market highly processed products that contribute to improving the productivity and profitability of its customers. The company primarily targets specialized core niches where it is, or has the potential to be, a world leader. Sandvik Group is divided into five business areas: Construction, Mining, Machining Solutions, Materials Technology and Venture.

Today, Sandvik is known, among other things, as the world’s

Pioneering innovations and market-oriented solutions

Sandvik DT1131i tunneling jumbo

Pekka Nieminen


In construction industry, safety and environmental issues have continuously grown in importance, in particular during the past ten years. “Today, all manufacturers also put a strong focus on operator environment,” Mr. Nieminen points out. “The amount of noise, dust and vibration in operator compartments has to be minimised, and new ways of decreasing those even more are being developed”.

Another strong trend is the requirement of equipment and

Pekka Nieminen, Product Area President, Breaking, Surface Drilling and Tunneling at Sandvik Construction, says that Sandvik Group aims at setting the industry standard. “We are a growth oriented company. We strive to be truly global and, despite our large size, also agile and flexible and ready to meet the needs of our customers with new pioneering innovations, market-oriented technological solutions and excellent service”.

tools being built of recyclable components and materials. Manufacturers are also developing oil spillage protection and the machines’ ability to use biodegradable oils only.

“Automation is of course on the agenda. In the past few years, remote access has come into the picture as well,” says Mr. Nieminen. “Remote-controlled units represent the latest technology in the field even if there still are some safety-related limitations in their use.”

At the same time, there is another strong key driver brought into the picture by the ever-more increasing globalization: A growing need for basic machines that mechanize the excavation process and increase productivity but without sophisticated automation systems.

Pioneering innovations“At Sandvik increased requirements set by customers and projects have definitely been the main drivers of technological development, the most important of those being cost efficiency, safety, excavation quality and productivity. We have responded to these challenges with thorough research of the industry needs and the development of intelligent, accurate and safe drilling technology”, Nieminen describes.

An example of that development is, in the field of tunnelling, the intelligent Sandvik DTi tunnelling jumbo series that was launched a few years ago. These jumbos represent the absolute top-of-the-line in the business, similar to the Sandvik iSURE, an excavation process management tool that is quite revolutionary in its approach – and has received a lot of praise in the industry for the excellent results it delivers as well as for its user-friendliness.

Alongside tunnelling, surface drilling technology at Sandvik has developed over the past few years. “Customer needs have always been the driver for any development in this field too,” Nieminen points

Sandvik DT1131i tunneling jumbo

Sandvik iSure view

Sandvik DP1500i surface top hammer drill rig


PROFILE: Sandvik ConStruCtion

out. “Lately, this has resulted in the development of solutions for low fuel consumption, various kinds of automation systems as well as a range of noise and dust decreasing systems, for example.

“A few years back, we introduced a new type of computer-controlled surface top hammer rig, the Sandvik DPi. This rig features a range of automation and reporting features and offers excellent productivity and very low fuel consumption. The covers of the Sandvik DPi won a design competition in Finland as their structural design ingeniously combines functionality and simplicity, giving a clear competitive edge for the whole lifetime of the product.”

But Sandvik has not only focused on intelligent automated drilling solutions but also developed robust,

productive and user-friendly basic units. “Based on the customer needs, we are about to launch a new surface top hammer rig that is targeted at markets outside of Europe and the USA,” Nieminen sheds light on the upcoming developments.

It would not be possible to launch such products without maintaining a constant focus on the market, in order to try and predict what topics will be at the top of the agenda going forward. In its quest to provide productive solutions to customers, it is clear that Sandvik Construction has remained dedicated to investing heavily in research and development of new products. Continuing into the future with a growing product range, the company is set to make a real vital impact on the tunneling and surface drilling industries. m

Sandvik Construction www.construction.sandvik.com Services: Specialist mining and construction equipment

Sandvik DT1131i in Norway

http://www.slb-gmbh.de


PROFILE: KASI

Established in 1992 with the aim of being the sole supplier of a broad range of sewage related products for concreting plants, KASI today is a leading manufacturer of sewage castings, street and yard grilles, adjustment rings, manhole covers, manhole steps and covers for plastic

pipes for the construction industry. “KASI is a privately owned Czech company, with two private owners. We have five main work shops in the Czech Republic, which is a major strength for us as it is our main goal to deliver local production to local industries and businesses,” explains Jakub Albrecht, sales manager of KASI. “Our main focus is on manufacturing, however we are also a design and sales company with a wide range of products that are mostly equipment for concreting plants and companies in need of manholes, gully elements and pipes.”

Elaborating further on the history of the company, Jakub adds: “In the beginning, the business was centred around producing parts for concreting machines and plants. We then designed our own system technology and increased our activities, which at first only involved sales for manholes. However, both owners understood that the future was in manufacturing and they began preparing facilities that led to KASI producing almost 90 per cent of products ourselves. This has been our strategic plan for 21 years and now we have our own workshops and casting foundries; we acquire raw material and produce independently. The only items in our product range that we don’t produce are specialised products, as own production is not an efficient option.”

Concreteplans Following the construction of a new foundry, privately owned Czech firm KASI, spol. s r. o. is developing its foothold in surrounding countries


PROFILE: KASI

Dedicated to delivering an efficient, high quality product to its customers, KASI decided to stop buying from China and India and instead begin independently supplying to its customers in 2005. This transitional period resulted in a decrease in sales and the company proving its abilities once again to companies it had previous relationships with. “When

with one another; this enables us to produce a capacity of 22,000 tonnes of metal a year, which is similar capacity to countries such as China, India and Turkey where they have more than 1000 employees. We produce the same amount at greater precision with 140 employees.”

Committed to continual improvements, KASI constantly adjusts and enhances its products to offer customers the best solution for their requirements. Notable innovations include adjustment rings that are used as manhole cover underlay to adjust covers at road level. Built in accordance with EN 1917 standard, the company offers three types of rings; differing in shape and bearing surface size, each ring type is chosen in relation to its underlying parts. For example, adjustment rings BAR, BARZS are used for frames and cover plates

we stopped buying from China we developed a brand new foundry in the Czech Republic, which was completed in 2011. It is one of the five most modern foundries in Europe and has the most state-of-the-art technology in the country,” enthuses Jakub. “It is capable of grey and ductile iron production, and is equipped with furnaces from UK, moulding line from Germany, an automatic vibrating transporting system, sand shop and automatic pouring device. All of this modern technology is connected by computers that communicate

pour-tech AB Today Kasi is an important customer for pour-tech AB. In 2011 pour-tech AB took over the business from KOINS for the European and African market and it has made improvements of the automatic pouring system and developed a number of new important features for casting quality. The latest development is the laser-controlled inoculation monitoring system. All systems are built in Sweden and Germany and the company supplies tailor made turnkey solutions.

http://www.pour-tech.com


Investing heavily in new technology and machinery, the new production hall will be place for polyurethane application to open more technical and technological opportunities in the future.

“We want to optimise our

product range, which is why we are installing cutting-edge technologies into our new warehouse and production hall. We also want to prepare rectangular manhole covers as we currently focus on round covers that are used in inland Europe, however rectangular covers are used in other areas such as the UK. We haven’t produced these yet, but we see an opportunity is there and we want to optimise it,” concludes Jakub. m

KASI

www.kasi.cz/eng/

Services: Leading manufacturer of sewage products

produced in accordance with DIN V 4034-2 precast reinforced and unreinforced concrete components for soakaways and well shafts, while BAR-V, BAR-VS are used in accordance with DIN V 4034-1 prefabricated concrete manholes, unreinforced, reinforced and steel fibre for drains and sewers.

With a core client base of approximately 13 cementing companies in the Czech Republic, KASI’s strategic decision to build a new foundry three years ago has resulted in the innovative firm expanding into surrounding countries such as Poland, Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Furthermore, with eastern and southeastern countries beginning to develop sewage infrastructure for the very first time, the company is keen to take advantage of these opportunities for further growth. “The new foundry meant our capacity was raised, so the last two years have really been about getting back to where we were before through contacting old partners in Germany, Poland and other countries, while also expanding our reputation in areas such as Russia, the Ukraine and Baltic countries as well as Slovenia, Bosnia, Romania and Croatia. Other companies may have suffered in the recession, but to us the market is open as we didn’t have the capabilities to move into these markets before.”

Having built the foundations to become a wholly independent firm, the future looks optimistic for KASI as it continues to enhance its products and expand its foothold into new areas. Despite reaching its strategic goal, the dynamic firm sees opportunity for further growth, responding to market demand with the construction of a new warehouse and production hall.


PROFILE: NORMET

Normet was established in 1962 in Finland originally as Peltosalmi Metal Works. It was one

of the pioneers in developing and manufacturing forest machines to be installed on farming tractors like winches, wood chippers, cranes and trailers. From the beginning of 1970, following a change in ownership, the Normet name was formed and the business began to manufacture

the world providing customers with the best possible service.

Complementing the geographical expansion and control of equipment sales, spare parts and servicing, Normet’s strategy was revised encompassing the new role as a solution provider for processes in underground mining and tunnelling. Between 2005 and 2013 it was able to increase turnover by an average of 20 per cent each year. The company develops, manufactures

mining and tunnelling equipment leading to the majority of the company being purchased in 2005 by Cantell Oy.

Under the new ownership focus was drawn on the sale of products and services having previously operated through distributors and agents. In 2006 Normet had sales and service locations in just three countries before an increase in network size that today promotes the company in 38 locations around

Tunnel vision

Networking beneath the surface, Normet has been supplying its specialist products to support the mining and tunnelling industry for 50 years

the


discusses the industry and the company’s forecasted growth: “In recent years in the mining industry the supply has been higher than the demand putting pressure on commodity prices. The excess supply has led to the closure of unprofitable mines and postponing new mining projects. Mining companies have changed their focus from production volume to the cost of production, which has led to decline in mining capital expenditure (Capex). However, in civil underground construction there is an increase in the number of infrastructure projects, especially in growing markets such as China, South East Asia and South America.”

As an example of its capabilities, Normet offers sprayed concrete processes in tunnel support, providing equipment for concrete spraying and underground transport, all chemicals and expertise in the whole process from the raw materials to the right strength sprayed concrete at the tunnel wall.

Forming part of Hong Kong’s largest ever sewage infrastructure

and markets machines as well as construction chemicals and specialised dynamic rock bolts for underground processes. Mobile robotised concrete spraying, highly mechanised explosive charging, underground logistics, scaling and rock reinforcement are services supported by the comprehensive range of lifetime care services.

In an interview with Construction and Civil Engineering, global marketing manager Jukka Pihlava

project, the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS), Normet has supplied, under Contract 24, over 20 items of equipment for concrete spraying, explosive charging and underground logistics. In addition, Normet provides a 24/7 service to the customer and technical support for the equipment fleet. Water ingress requirements in the HATS project are stringent and Normet has also supplied considerable amounts of water sealing chemicals for the pre-excavation grouting of the ground.

“We invest about four per cent of our turnover in the development of equipment and chemicals. Our equipment technology centre, including the prototype manufacturing premises, is located in the main factory in Iisalmi, Finland,” Jukka highlights.

All R&D, engineering and documentation functions have been centralised in Finland, and products are developed in close partnership with customers as Jukka explains: “They are an inseparable part of the development and solutions are

Charging with Normet Charmec

LC 605 VEC emulsion charger

Spraymec 8100 VC

Concrete Sprayer Alpha30 underground


PROFILE: NORMET

tested thoroughly before released. Prototypes are first tested at the technology centre, then at the customer work site to be sure that the equipment is suited to their needs.

“Future development is focused on operations such as concrete spraying, explosive charging, man lifting, underground installation works, scaling, and man and material transport. Modular platforms make it easy to change and add new functions to the equipment, from very basic transporters to fully automated self-propelled rock support machines.”

Normet has established a competent and innovative team of chemists and material technologists responsible for developing construction chemicals. The major part of this team is based at the Global R&D Centre located at its premises in the UK, with additional chemical specialists in premises in Chile, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.

With a growing interest in equipment rental for the mining and construction machinery market, Normet has developed rental solutions for mining and tunnelling contractors as well as plant hire companies. “The demand for rental is a result of increased competition for contracts, size of projects, unpredictable market changes and optimisation of capital

skills in the industry is not reflected within the company. Customers also receive industry standard tuition in the processes, through training delivered at customers’ sites and at the Normet Academy locations in Finland and India with concrete spraying, the most demanding underground process, involving classroom and simulator training before entering actual underground conditions.

The advanced simulator is an artificial cave where a 3D tunnel is projected to the walls, providing operators with the opportunity to learn techniques with different models of Normet concrete sprayers. The training covers spraying boom movements and tasks before spraying in different tunnel conditions with performance monitored based on the amount of rebound, the quality of spraying and the cost

of sprayed concrete. Through the simulator training, an average 23 per cent improvement in operator efficiency has been achieved.

Moving into 2014 Normet remains committed to developing and supporting robust, sustainable solutions for the underground mining and tunnelling industries that enable its clients to excel with improved safety and productivity.

Summarising the vision over the next five years, Jukka concludes: “The mining industry will come back to its growth path as the commodity demand in emerging markets begins to grow. In addition, the demand for underground infrastructure projects such as metros, railways, roads, hydropower stations, fresh water and sewer plants and parking is continuously increasing in order to stimulate the economy and welfare in urban areas and global mega cities.” m

employed,” says Jukka. Through rental agreements, customers are able to reduce their own fleets, avoid investments and minimise the risks of fleets. An integral part of the rental contract is service, which lowers the costs of maintenance and repair costs.

The entire range of equipment for mining and underground construction is manufactured in Finland i.e. equipment for concrete spraying and transport, lifting and installation, explosive charging, underground logistics and scaling. In Sweden the company manufactures equipment primarily for installation and finishing work in infrastructure tunnels, but also for mining, while in Chile it is manufacturing equipment for concrete spraying and transport (of different types and sizes than manufactured in Finland). Normet Chile is the only producer of specialised spraying robots and low profile transmixers for the application of wet sprayed concrete in Latin America.

Normet provides training for its personnel to ensure the shortage of

Normet OY

www.normet.com Services: Machinery and equipment for

the mining and tunnelling sector

Concrete Spraying with Normet Spraymec SF 050 DV

Normet factory in Finland


PROFILE: Nuclear eNgiNeeriNg ServiceS

Today the organisation specialises in the design, manufacture, assembly, test, installation and

commissioning of bespoke solutions for the nuclear decommissioning, defence, and nuclear new build markets, and it has supplied an extensive range of equipment and solutions to most UK nuclear power stations, including fuel route, remote handling and inspection equipment, encapsulation and waste handling solutions, gloveboxes and shielded containments, and reprocessing equipment.

Split across three locations, Wolverhampton – Head Office, Risley – Centre of Engineering Excellence and Beckermet – North West Division, NES’s unique capabilities, facilities and experience ideally position the company to take

engineering skills in-house, NES’ innovative approach to engineering ensures that all solutions are considered, before the best value option is pursued, managed and tightly controlled through Integrated Project Teams (IPTs).

The company has earned a highly respected name in the decommissioning sector and works with many recognisable names, including Sellafield. In fact, in July 2013, Jack Devine the chief decommissioning officer of Sellafield Ltd visited NES to see first-hand the progress on construction and commissioning of three silo emptying plant (SEP) machines.

The SEP machines will be responsible for emptying waste and sludge from the compartments in the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo and placing it in modern containment vessels ready for storage. Speaking

on a wide variety of projects on a national basis.

When it comes to the markets served by NES, Nuclear Decommissioning is one of its prime areas of expertise. The company has established a proven track record in this market and is currently tackling some of the largest technical and manufacturing challenges within the nuclear decommissioning programme. DecommissioningAs a result of the experience the company has accrued in this area, NES is able to operate as a standalone contractor tackling decommissioning projects, or take the lead as part of a larger framework agreement, providing specialist design, manufacture, assembly and test services. Retaining all the required

activeHighly Nuclear Engineering Services (NES) has over six decades of nuclear experience, with the company’s origins dating back to John Thompson and the supply of the first nuclear reactor housing to Dounreay


PROFILE: Nuclear eNgiNeeriNg ServiceS

after the visit, Jack said: “After all the photos and presentations and discussions, seeing the actual SEP machines is really impressive - and a bit intimidating as well. This equipment is central to successful execution of the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo project. Working with NES we’ve made great progress - but there’s a lot more to be done. We’re looking forward to continuing, productive collaboration.”

Alongside decommissioning, NES also works with defence projects. It has 20 year’s experience in successfully developing and delivering innovative, bespoke services and solutions to the defence industry, building an excellent reputation and a loyal client base. Typical contracts completed include remote handling and lifting equipment, fuelling and defueling plant, gloveboxes and enclosures,

heat exchangers, design support and critical spares.

Using in-house capabilities, together with carefully selected specialist sub-contractors, working to defence standards 2781, NES is currently undertaking the design; servicing and repair of heat exchangers and associated pipe work for all in service HMS Royal Navy Nuclear Submarines, of which it is the OEM supplier. Servicing and repair activities can take place either at its works, or in-situ, using security cleared, suitably qualified experienced personnel. Whilst working on site, NES has established environmental agreements with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), the Environmental Agency, Natural England, and Marine Scotland, for the safe disposal of waste items generated whilst working in-situ. NES has the

Morson ProjectsMorson Projects’ Technical Services division specialises in the delivery of operational and maintenance contracts to the nuclear sector. Its operations focus on the underpinning of and adherence to nuclear site licence conditions and their associated supporting processes and procedures. Morson Projects provides efficient and cost effective support, whilst complying with the safe operation and management of nuclear sites. Specific capabilities include asset management, maintenance support, system drawing analysis and update, operations support, safety case support, configuration assessment, the production and review of technical documentation, commissioning support and the analysis, design and delivery of operator/maintainer training packages.

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explanatory details given by experts on site.

The visitors were given special access to the SEP mobile cave control rooms, to get a closer look and better understanding of how the machines work and are operated. They were also allowed access to the Replica Retrievals Rig (RRR) tower, bringing the sheer size of the silos to reality. The RRR tower is a 25m high test tower, built to replicate the size of silo, which the SEP mobile caves will be extracting waste from.

The tour also included a demonstration of NES’ waterjet cutting capabilities, the silo rake used on the SEP mobile caves, waste retrievals equipment for current contracts being delivered by NES, and a tour of the new CNC machines currently being commissioned.

This type of event is a useful tool for NES, as it highlights not only its ability to meet the needs of the most demanding and critical projects in the world, but also its dedication to training, development and the future. It is this kind of activity that helps to cement NES’ position as the supplier of choice for the provision of unique engineering designs, manufactured products and services, which are recognised for consistently adding value, delivering excellence and delighting clients in the nuclear and defence markets. m

Nuclear Engineering Services Ltd www.nes-limited.com Services: Bespoke solutions for the nuclear market

required facility to undertake any project up to the security level of Classified, with secure areas in both engineering and manufacturing, with access restricted to MoD cleared personnel only.

Nuclear new build The third area of speciality for NES is nuclear new build. Experience gained through its history and involvement in nuclear projects ideally places the business to meet the challenges and assist in the timely and safe delivery of the UK nuclear new build programme.

To address the needs of these highly technologically challenging sites, NES offers a range of services such as project management, engineering, manufacture and assembly, procurement, test and commissioning and installation. To maintain the exceptionally high level of quality needed to work in sensitive market such as nuclear, NES has to ensure it invests in the latest technology, as well as adheres to the most rigorous specifications and legislation.

This policy of investment has resulted in NES creating a world class manufacturing facility, and in July 2013 the company hosted an event designed to showcase the various types of mechanical handling equipment that is used throughout the UK nuclear industry, as well as demonstrate its manufacturing competence and wherewithal to the nuclear industry.

The ‘Mechanical Handling Workshop’ was organised with the Nuclear Institute, Young Generations Network (YGN) and included presentations from guest speakers and a guided workshop tour of the NES manufacturing facility.

During the workshop tour, Nick Chown, head of business development at NES and Andrea Basso, head of engineering at NES, were able to give the delegates further information regarding the projects currently in a build state in the NES workshop, with more

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PROFILE: Bauwerk Boen Group

The Bauwerk Boen Group can rightfully be considered one of the world’s leaders in hardwood parquet

flooring. It benefits from a long history and the combined expertise of the Bauwerk and Boen brands, which collaborate in unison to provide the group with a synergy that sets it apart within the high-end parquet industry. Bauwerk Parkett AG was founded in 1944 and today

in June 2013, Bauwerk Boen AG has consolidated its position as a leading supplier of high-end parquet throughout Europe and beyond. Today the company maintains a staff of around 1400 employees and produces over eight million m2 of parquet per year.

The group is able to manage its market focus across its two brands, which enables it to offer targeted services to ensure that it is able to operate efficiently and

the company is the leading Swiss manufacturer and supplier of two-layer parquet. Boen Bruk AS can trace its roots back into the 17th century, when two sawmills were founded near the Norwegian city of Kristiansand. These mills would lay the foundations that would lead to Boen becoming the formost supplier of three-layer parquet that its clients would recognise today. With the completion of the merger of the two companies

Layingfoundation Despite a heavily saturated market, the Bauwerk Boen Group has established a leading reputation and is a strong global player in parquet hardwood flooring

the


single supply chain and world-class manufacturing facilities, including one of the world’s most advanced factories for hardwood flooring situated in Lithuania, greatly strengthens the synergy between the companies. Between its two brands, the group boasts a leading level of expertise and a rich history of innovation that has defined its leading position in the parquet market. Today the group primarily serves a European market, however its business is growing within Asia in China, Singapore and India, as well as in the United States.

Although the Bauwerk Boen Group is currently enjoying a growth in sales throughout its global operations, it is in the face of an increasingly challenging market as Klaus explains: “Hardwood flooring consumption has been in decline in Europe and had declined by five per cent between 2011 and 2012. The market in Southern Europe is currently very weak although other areas like Germany, Norway and Switzerland have seen small increases in trade. Other market players remain very fragmented, there are still approximately 200 companies operating with huge over-capacities. Consolidation within the market has only started with Kährs/Karelia, Tarkett and the Bauwerk Boen Group.”

To ensure that the company continues to grow and maintain is market position the group has

cost-effectively throughout the world. “Our Bauwerk brand has its main focus on distributing parquet, skirtings, glue and accessories for glue-down applications directly to European installers,” says CEO Klaus Brammertz. “Whereas our Boen brand’s main focus is on distributing parquet and corresponding skirtings to the world market, which is supplied mainly via trade partners.”

The efficient management of a

adapted to the changing tides of the industry and focused its operations where production is most cost-effective. Within Austria for example, production has ceased while the company’s sales and marketing office will remain to continue to drive sales in the country, as Klaus elaborates: “The Salzburg facility was focused on small strip parquet, mainly used in projects, largely

for the European market. Prices for these projects have declined by 40 per cent over the last five years. However, Austria still has the highest hardwood consumption on Earth and both the Bauwerk and Boen brands have strong positions there, which is why the group will retain its sales and marketing offices in the region.”

New locationFurther to this the group has recently completed the transfer of its production plant in Germany to its new location in Lithuania. “This move has been planned within Boen for quite some time,” Klaus explains. “The lamella cutting and press lines had previously been relocated to Lithuania in recent years. The main benefits of the move are increased efficiency and decreased production costs within a highly competitive market environment.”

As 2013 draws to a close and 2014 appears on the horizon the Bauwerk-Boen Group will contemplate how it intends to navigate the market over the coming year and beyond. At present it is enjoying growth of around six per cent despite the challenges posed by an uncertain market and competing companies and the group will seek to maintain this growth through innovation and strong service as well as through potential mergers and acquisitions. Core to ensuring that the company is able to continue to deliver its world-class range of parquet


PROFILE: Bauwerk Boen Group

products are the group’s 1400 staff, whom the group routinely invests in to drive the company forward. “Skilled personnel are key for us,” Klaus observes. “We work with standardised processes regarding

individual target setting for all of our employees, as well as appraisal talks and individual training. We run team building events and seminars at al levels of the group and also a very well received talent development programme, which will soon be complimented with a senior management programme.

“Through these and managing the transitions in supply chain we aim to remain the preferred brands of our customers and to gain a sustainable market share in all of the group’s focused markets around the globe. We will also run one of the largest new line launch programmes ever in both brands.” m

Bauwerk Boen Group

www.bauwerk-boen.com Services: Parquet and skirting experts

sia Abrasives Your key to a perfect surface. Many materials hide a secret. They keep their real beauty hidden. Only a professional finish can reveal what is inside. sia Abrasives has devoted itself to achieving perfectly finished surfaces for more than 135 years. ‘Finished by sia Abrasives’ – the final touch makes all the difference to a wide variety of materials: wood acquires its expressive colour, striking colour contrasts or astounding grain, leather captivates with its subtle nuances, contact lenses ensure the very best acuity of vision, metal glows at the peak of its perfection, marble develops its variety of effects, both robust and filigree, and plastics or the most sophisticated of coatings become the embodiment of functionality and aesthetic appeal. With its tried and tested surface solutions, sia Abrasives is on hand to offer the expertise that your specific applications require.

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PROFILE: EBEMA

strenghAesthetic

The Belgian family business can trace its roots back to 1946, when it began its life as a wholesaler of building

materials, before growing into a widely regarded supplier of high quality, concrete paving products for public spaces. Its aesthetically designed products have found applications across a range of locations including, bus stops, swimming pools and cemeteries as well as numerous village and town centres across Benelux, Germany and France.

Today, Ebema is active within two key markets specialising in concrete paving products for public authorities, municipalities, engineering offices and contractors under the Ebema brand name, while its Stone & Style brand delivers products for garden, terraces and

other outdoor applications. This range is distributed exclusively through construction dealers throughout Belgium, The Netherlands and France.

With a workforce of 200 highly competent employees operating across two locations in Zutendaal and Rijkevorsel, Ebema is able to achieve a turnover of €40 million in its main markets within its home country of Belgium as well as the Netherlands, France and Germany. Key to this success has been the firm’s dedication to forming long-term relationships with its clients, as CEO Jan Panis explains: “The basis for a long-standing customer relationship is to provide an excellent quality coupled with an outstanding service at the right price. Additionally, Ebema pays close attention to training customers and we like to maintain strong, personalised contact with the company’s clients.

“We build a long-lasting collaboration with our suppliers in order to achieve a win-win relationship and we intend to continue to achieve this by pursuing a spirit of open co-operation.”

One of the ways that Ebema maintains its close ties with its customers and suppliers is through the organisation of company

KNIELEKNIELE Mischtechnik is a leading, international supplier of turnkey mixing plants. Kniele’s specialty is mixing equipment for specific functions, such as hazardous waste treatment (dust, slurry), soil treatment (recycling), dry mixtures, brick / ceramics and glass industry, mixed gravel processing, polystyrene concrete, plaster and clay, epoxy resin, fodder, floating screed, etc. The Cone Mixer allows the production of liquid and earth-moist concretes, fiber concrete, light or heavy concretes and special concrete types like SCC and UHPC as well as dry mixtures. The Laboratory Cone Mixer is in use in educational institutions, research and material testing institutes.

Ebema is a leading name in the provision of concrete paving products

http://www.kniele.de


PROFILE: ebema

visits. The company opens its doors to visiting groups of around 25-30 people from various associations, enterprises, institutions and schools where visitors can ask professional Ebema guides questions regarding the company and the products important to them. Ebema has also invested significantly to ensure it has the very best in production facilities. Its plant in Rijvevorsel is specialised in the construction of customised, tailor-made products, such as prefab elements for railways, dyke reinforcements as well as smooth objects made of self-compacting concrete. During October 2013, the company announced the opening of its new facility in Zutendaal. The €20 million project brings with it increased capacity, an ultramodern colorlab and office facilities as well as a new

factory setting covering 7000 square metres. The colorlab is the ideal location for Ebema to work in collaboration with architects and designers to develop new products, with a range of over 200 different materials and surface finishes. In addition to this, new machining facilities offer increased productivity through the development of several time saving measures. “Individuals, architects and public clients want increasingly distinguished unique design, colours, finishes and combinations of them,” says Jan. “In time we will even be able to produce on a project basis, which is a revolutionary concept.

“Two very time-consuming steps in the production process were drastically curtailed. The automatic exchange of molds takes only five minutes; the previous manual process took 30 minutes and

M.I.P. NVVaart 20B-2310 RijkevorselT. +32 3 311 68 66F. +32 3 311 79 38

[email protected] www.mip-nv.com

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The Aviena Circle is also greatly appreciated at exhibitions and product launch presentations and the first projects using the flag are underway. It is strongly felt that the Aviena Circle is a product that can give an extra touch to projects.”

Another important product to emerge has been the introduction of the company’s Megategels. Ebema was the first company to respond to consumer demand for greater freedom to enjoy their gardens and introduced flags 1x1m in size to accommodate increasingly elegant design. “The garden has become an extension of the home,” Jan explains. “Just as the home is decorated in a certain atmosphere, attempts are made to distinguish the garden. It is therefore no coincidence that trend-conscious consumers and landscaping architects are extremely charmed by the collection of large

flags of Stone & Style by Ebema. The Megategel collection makes it possible to design a garden fully tailored to a client’s house style.”

As it moves into 2014, Ebema will look to increase its reputation and reach in new geographic markets as well as developing new and innovative product lines. “Further collaborations with designers and architects abroad could play an important role in this,” Jan confirms. By increasing its global foot print and product portfolio in conjunction with a dedicated approach to treating its staff as the ‘first ambassadors’ of the company, Ebema is laying a strong path that will take it far into the future. m

Ebema

www.ebema.com

Services: Leading concrete paving products

cleaning the machine now also runs partly automatically. Through these innovations Ebema offers a unique concrete factory in Europe, nowhere else can be so fast to respond to the changing needs of the market.”

During 2013, Ebema’s new aesthetic grass concrete flag Aviena Circle was used to tremendous effect in France’s Mantes-la-Jolie. The €410 million urban renewal project saw five large apartment buildings demolished, 2500 houses renovated and 250 new businesses housed as well as the repair of roads, planting of trees and installation of an ultra-modern pool. The Aviena Circle concrete flag was co-created by Ebema and French architect Maxime Saisse to provide a seamless integration between functional permeable paving and the natural environment. Aviena Circle has attracted a great deal of interest from within the industry through high-profile projects like Mantes-la-Jolie and numerous trade shows, as Jan elaborates: “Architects and engineering offices are impressed by the product and see the added value that it can offer in the landscaping of outdoor spaces.

HESSThe HESS Group GmbH is an international concrete

products machine manufacturer with

over 700 employees. A long-term policy of

continuous innovations and the uncompromising

application of future-orientated technologies are what help maintain

the HESS Group’s current position as a major supplier

to the concrete industry of complete systems on a

worldwide scale.

http://www.hessgroup.com


PROFILE: Vitalo Global thermoforminG

Today the company employs more than 700 people and boasts a turnover of €70 million. It carries full ISO 9001

and 14001 certification and through more than 75 years of experience it has developed a comprehensive knowledge base of expertise in plastic processing technologies including, thick and thin gauge thermoforming, insulation materials processing and thermo-compression of natural and synthetic fiber. This has allowed Vitalo to enter into a diverse portfolio of markets including electronics, medical, industrial applications and mass transport.

With manufacturing facilities throughout the world, Vitalo is able to expertly serve its customers both promptly and efficiently. Its manufacturing facilities are located in China, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Slovakia and Belgium. In addition to its manufacturing base, the company is headquartered

and Thailand. In the Philippines for example, we are currently doing a lot of work for hard disk drives and in China we are doing a lot of work for the telecom industry.

“Moreover, in Belgium we are currently very strong in agricultural machines. These are the larger machines such as harvesting equipment, where the materials used in the market are generally the same as those used in construction equipment. For every market segment our customers are the market leaders.”

A key part of the success of Vitalo and its use of thermoform technology is that it has an in depth understanding of the process and the advantages that its finished products are able to offer. “Our strength is that we know about thermoforming, we know the market and we also produce for all of the major customers within our markets,” says Steven. “We have a strong knowledge base in design, so when our customers have a

in Belgium, where it maintains a competence centre, which is complemented by further centres in China and the Philippines. Within these locations, Vitalo serves its varied markets, with applications ranging from protective packaging to heavy gauge machine panels, as global innovation project leader Steven Meyns observes: “Our electronics market is currently focused in the east, in countries like China, India, the Philippines

formTop

With a history that dates back to 1936, Vitalo Global Thermoforming has grown to become a leading name in the fabrication of plastic parts and systems for industry

Milling of thermoformed parts

Milling of thermoformed parts


employed within its thermal and sound insulation market, where it is also able to offer consultancy services to offer customers the very best in performance. Later, during the 1950s, Vitalo diversified into processing with plastic and began on the path that would see it take its market leading position today. Its thin-gauge applications allow it to work with material at a maximum thickness of 1.5mm in a wide variety of materials and

design on paper, we can help them make it in real time. We produce cabin roofs by twin-sheet thermoforming for example; this is typical in industrial vehicles and construction equipment, where if you have a metal roof there is no design freedom. However, we can make a plastic roof that is durable and has good design freedom and does not need to be lacquered, has very good gloss properties, so it’s a very different mindset.”

The company’s success is further powered by its use of varied production methods and technologies. Its foam processing applications date back to its inception and today are commonly

techniques, including thin-gauge thermoforming and high-pressure thermoforming of complex components assemblies. Typically, products produced via thin-gauge thermoforming are trays, blister or clamshells and often more cost-effective than standard injection molded parts. Other key advantages of this style of fabrication are the introduction of multilayer solutions and the ability to create thicknesses less than 0.5mm, which is the minimum for injection molding.

Heavy-gauge forming employs the same basic process as continuous thin-gauge sheet forming; this typically involves draping a heated plastic sheet over a chosen mold. Often, heavy-gauge applications rely solely on vacuum in the form process, however some

Twinsheet thermoformed cabin roofs

Engine room, sound insulating parts

http://www.mattesammann.de


PROFILE: Vitalo Global thermoforminG

employ two halves of mating form tooling and apply air pressure as an aid to form. In comparison to thin-gauge forming, heavy-gauge parts are often hand-worked after forming for trimming to the final intended shape or additional drilling, cutting or finishing. Heavy-gauge protects tend to meet the requirements of the ‘permanent’ sector of the market, while thin-gauge products are more often used as disposable or recyclable items, such as packaging for food or other products. Production quantities of heavy-gauge thermoforming are averaged between 250 and 3000 units annually, while the process tends entail lower tooling costs and faster product development than competing plastic technologies.

As the company moves into 2014 it is readying itself for the challenges of a relatively fluid market and the demand for larger products, as Steven concludes: “The challenge at the moment is that everything is getting bigger and bigger, however we are looking into investing into larger machines to follow the market. The machines we use are

the moment, which are electronics, industrial applications, railway and medical. As we have seen in 2008, with the global economic crisis, the industrial market can decrease a lot, as much as 60-70 per cent. We offer a diverse range of products so have remained strong, but have decided to increase our market share in railway and medical equipment.” m

custom made. For thermoforming, if a company is designing a machine with a very large side panel, for example and it is too large for our machines we offer solutions to split it into several parts. However, if the design absolutely needs such a large part then we would look to invest into a new machine to produce the panel. Of course we would have to look at volumes before we invest in a new machine, to ensure it is sustainable.

“We have four main markets at

Vitalo Global Thermoforming www.vitalo.net Services: Thermoform fabrication

Cabin of Doosan Moxy dumptruck

Engine hood, CAT

Formed engine hoods, before milling

Cabin interior parts


PROFILE: HAULOTTE GROUP

Focused on continuous improvement in the lifting equipment creation field, the group provides

customers with a broad range of over 60 models to meet all unique requirements. “Haulotte Group began as a crane company at the start of the last century and remained focused on cranes until the 1960s when it became more of a service provider. Throughout the 2000s, until the economic crisis in 2007, we extended our operations worldwide and now have 20 facilities all over the world as well as major subsidiaries,” begins Stephane Hubert, European sales and marketing director at Haulotte Group.

He continues: “In 2007 we achieved a turnover of 800 million euros, however once the crisis hit we had a big downturn with 2010 being our worst year for the access platform business. Since that difficult

Platformfor growth

With more than 120 years experience in material handling

equipment, Haulotte Group has

become the European leader in its field

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time we are now back on trend, with a turnover of 355.7 M€ for 2012, we are in the top three worldwide giants of the active platform business and have between 20-60 people working on site at each of our locations where we offer services such as repairs, training and after care. Our work is divided across four major regions, North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, a structure that illustrates our vision for ‘customer proximity.’”

With a distribution network of 20 subsidiaries and offices based in strategic markets around the globe, the ISO 9001 certified Haulotte Group has coverage of more than 100 countries and the facilities to provide the best possible product solutions to its partners and customers. “We have six different factories, three of which are in France, one in Romania, one

what you can provide to them, as well as on the optimisation of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for our key customers the Rental companies,” says Stephane. Furthermore, by working closely with rental firms, Haulotte Group is provided with accurate information from professionals that use its products; thus enabling continued improvements that can further meet the requirements of its diverse customer base.

Returning customers for the group include military forces located around the world who require a broad range of high quality equipment, such as earthmoving equipment, telescopic handler and aerial work platforms (articulated and telescopic booms, scissors, vertical masts). To meet specific military requirements, Haulotte Group has an R&D department

in China and one in the US; because we work in a commodity driven market, we believe innovation should be focused directly on the benefits of the end users and

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an incredible achievement that is already generating positive attention.

“The new telescopic booms HT61 & HT67 RTJ (HT21 & HT 23 RTJ) are remarkable products that are

probably one of the best rated by our customers. A heavy-duty machine with an automatic differential lock, it has a high rough terrain capability, a high level of precision and control and high

where it can develop tailor-made solutions. Designing its products to be user safe, cost-effective, easy to maintain and ready for future operations, the group is committed to offering customers total reliability and efficiency.

The group’s most recent innovation, the telescopic boom HT67 RTJ (HT23 RTJ: name for ROW) offers the best performance in its class and breaks records at all levels. With a platform working height of 73ft5in (20.5 metres), a horizontal outreach of 60ft (18.3 metres) (an increase of approximately three foot compared to industry standards), optional dual load capacity that offers a maximum lifting capacity of 450 kilogrammes and an incomparable lifting speed of just 56 seconds to reach full height, the HT67 RTJ (HT23 RTJ) telescopic boom is



visibility. They are the first machines to have the new Haulotte modular basket, which makes it possible to replace the damaged component instead of the whole basket. The maximum height is the best ever and it is a cost effective option on the market as well; it an outstanding machine that has achieved worldwide interest with strong success from users,” enthuses Stephane.

Due to be launched at the ConExpo-Con/Agg trade show in Las Vegas in March, the HT67 RTJ (HT23 RTJ) will be one of a range of products to be exhibited by the technically innovative group. “We see strong potential in the US market as the country grows

and begins to recover from the economic crisis; with the ConExpo-Con/Agg trade show coming up we anticipate a lot of interest from companies participating. Throughout 2014 we aim to boost our network and brand awareness in the US as it is such a big country and a challenging territory. Even though we acquired Bil-Jax Inc, the largest scaffold manufacturer in the US, in 2008, this area is still a market to conquer for us,” says Stephane.

Despite a challenging market in the US, the future looks positive for Haulotte Group as it continues developing its foothold in Latin America and Europe, as Stephane concludes: “We want to ensure we

are party of Europe’s economic recovery by focusing on the training and capabilities of our staff in this area; furthermore, we aim to maintain our strong position in Russia, Brazil and Argentina while also paying attention to Asia over the coming years. Due to regulations and lack of investment on assisted platforms yet in this area there is huge potential in this still emerging market; we want to be part of this over the coming years.” m

Haulotte Group www.en.haulotte.com Services: Material lifting equipment specialist


PROFILE: BALCO

Balco began operation in Sweden, where it is currently headquartered in the city of Växjö. The

company works to deliver turnkey solutions within a niche market and today delivers balconies through out its native Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and United Kingdom. The growth of Balco has been impressive, with the turnover of the company doubling every third year during the first 15 years of its operation and accelerating to an average increase of ten per cent over the following ten years. Today, despite challenging market conditions the company’s performance remains strong allowing it to claim an annual turnover of £60 million.

As Balco has grown, it has evolved to meet the varied demands of its clients. This ability to anticipate the needs of its customer base

Since the company was founded in 1987, Balco AB has pursued its passion

for delivering industry-leading balconies and today provides as many

as 5000 units each year

Balconies


PROFILE: BALCO

and respond to potential market opportunities has proven invaluable in allowing the company to expand, as chief operating officer Anders Ingemarsson explains: “When Balco was founded, open balconies were originally the target market. However, the Scandinavian climate with its short summers led to increased focus on glazed balconies as a way to prolong the warm season. In addition to the insulating effect that they provide, a glazed balcony also has noise reducing properties and of course has an energy saving effect on the building.”

Eventually, the company’s push to incorporate new services sparked the logical move to pay closer attention to the exterior of the client’s structure itself as Anders further details: “Over time we have also moved towards looking at the

total façade of the building so that we are able to give customers a total lift of the structure’s exterior.”

Today, Balco continues to provide industry-leading balconies as well as the renovation and refurbishment of façades. It provides option in glazed, open and access balconies that are serviced and installed with a host of innovative patents that the company has created through dedicated research and development activities. These include Balco Flexible, its range of tolerant fixings that allows compensation for deviations in the host building; Balco Cleanline, which is designed to allow the collection and flow of water in the window track and down through the aluminum frame, keeping the façade clean; and the Balco Vision, which provides a folding glass system without a frame, combined with glass corners. This provides the impression of a single expanse of glass and an excellent view.

For clients looking for the pleasure of an open balcony and the benefits of a glazed solution during the cooler seasons, Balco has developed Balco Twin and Reversible technologies. Balco Twin allows

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with a sliding pane with double-energy glass that can be turned 180 degrees.

Balco also delivers products that that allow for a degree of environmental control as well

as energy saving elements. Its Balco Vettech technology enhances the balconies built-in ventilation to reduce condensation and uncomfortable heat gain in addition to protecting the building’s existing ventilation system. A recent development that is patent pending is the company’s Balco Climate technology. Balco Climate is a glazing solution with two separate sheets of glass in the parapet – clear glass on the outside and heat absorbing glass on the inside. Solar-powered fans sit between the glass at the bottom. The column of air between the glass is heated by the sun and when the fans start, the warm air is forced up inside the parapet. This offers an excellent warming solution to combat cold snaps during the winter months.

These innovative solutions have made Balco a market- and made it popular with customers including its largest segment in co-operative, tenant-owners’ building societies. Within this sector the company is largely involved in the replacement or refurbishment of existing

customers to open up the whole balcony or to fold in an individual pane at any point along the track, with very little effort. The Balco Reversible also allows for both glazed and open environments

PROFILE: BALCO


balconies and the installation of new balconies on apartments that previously did not have them. It also works with construction companies in the construction of new builds and refurbishments.

During a project in northern Norway, Balco was able to successfully address problems with the façade of two 12-storey apartment buildings. Among other problems, the bricklayer of the façade was

in very bad condition and tenants were unhappy with the condition of their current balconies. Balco was able to fully refurbish the façade as well as to install new and larger balconies. Commenting on this and other projects Anders says: “Balco is very strong when it comes to engineering. As all buildings are different and unique, the design solution has to be customised for each project and more-or-less for each individual balcony. As a project could span for as many as 20 to almost 1000 balconies the company needs to be able to handle both smaller and larger projects effectivly. That is one of the real strengths of Balco.”

Balco can rely on vast deposits of experience and innovation as it moves into 2014. All of its products are designed and manufactured in-house and it relies on trusted subcontractors to install its unique designs. With these strengths the

company is confident of future growth during the coming years as Anders concludes: “During 2014 we aim to increase our footprint in the UK as it appears to be the company’s next big market. We will also establish Balco in its newest market in the Netherlands while sustaining business in Sweden, Norway and Germany. We will look to further potential markets to help the company reach a target turnover of £100 million within five years.” m

Balco AB www.balco.se Services: Specialist provider of balconies and façades

Kronsminde: After

Kronsminde: Before

Kronsminde: During

With the largest building merchant and home improvement

network in the UK, the company has more than 1900 trading locations nationwide, providing in excess of 250,000 products to trade professionals and serious DIYers. The product range is extensive, and includes building materials, landscaping, plumbing and heating, kitchens and bathrooms, timber and sheet materials, dry lining and insulation, painting and decorating, doors and joinery and hand and power tools.

Established from a merger in 1988 between Travis & Arnold and Sandell Perkins, the organisation boasts some of the industry’s

Settingthe foundations


leading brands, including Travis Perkins, Keyline, City Plumbing Supplies, Wickes, Toolstation, BSS, CCF, Benchmarx and PTS. The company has enjoyed consistent growth despite market fluctuations, which is due to its continued investment in customer proposition and product innovation. Furthermore, the Group boasts an industry leading strategic network of local branches, stock availability and clear, competitive trade prices; customers can open an account and benefit from prices that offer the best deals on the products they buy the most. Furthermore, reliable, knowledgeable, friendly staff are on hand at all branches and stores, ready to offer the best service and expert advice for the largest and smallest of jobs.

With a history of supplying building materials to the trade for more

than two centuries, the Travis Perkins Group is now one

of the largest suppliers to the UK’s building and construction industry

profile: TraviS PerkinS

Determined to lead the way in delivering building materials to those who need them, the Travis Perkins Group has achieved this through an awareness of market trends, high quality employees and embracing the latest technology. This strategy has proven highly successful, and the Group is looking forward to continued success as the recession starts to weaken and the housing market gets back on track in 2014, as group commercial director, Travis Perkins plc, Ian Preedy, explains: “The main reason for this growth is new-build residential house

building. A strong set of numbers for new house builds in Britain was released this year, showing a 20 per cent increase in this sector.”

He continues: “We are starting to see an optimism in consumer markets as we look ahead to next year, as we know there’s usually a nine-month time lag between housing transactions and the consequent up spend from consumers as they start to embark on home improvements. The strength of housing transactions is an important indicator for us, and so we are encouraged by this increase in consumer demand.”

A recent surge in mortgage approvals, housing transactions and positive results from house builders has helped the UK’s housing market recover from its previous slump. Part of the reason for this positive kick-start is the government’s ‘help to buy’ scheme, which enables house buyers to secure financial help if they live in England and can’t afford to buy a home. It is open to both first-time buyers and home movers on new-builds worth up to £600,000. “The government’s help-to-buy-scheme has helped in two ways. First, by providing access to funding for homeowners who wouldn’t have had access to it before and second, by driving confidence in the market. As a Group, we are fully prepared for this growth in demand as we have a number of different operating businesses working together to support other brands in the Group, so our businesses stay strong and healthy,” comments Ian. Following a boost in orders, the company is anticipating a steady increase in demand for its wide range of products over the next


profile: Travis Perkins

three to four years. “The increase in demand we see closely aligns to the stages a house goes through as it’s built. For example, below ground drainage, bricks and blocks are the first products that go into

building a house and these are the first markets to have recovered. For the first time in ten years, we’re seeing the upsurge in demand in this area, and so we’re working hard with those on the supply side to ensure that the confidence we’re all seeing sustains,” says Ian.

A very clear indicator that the economy is developing positively is the major contract awarded to Travis Perkins by Crest Nicholson in September 2013, a contract that sees Travis Perkins as the sole

supplier of building materials as Crest Nicholson begins construction of over 500 homes during 2014.

With sophisticated forecasting, the Travis Perkins Group has been

discussing the market with its suppliers to ensure all levels of service and products are available in line with the expected upsurge. On top of that, the company aims continually to expand its branch network, with a particular focus on its distribution capability. “We are recruiting at the moment, a drive which supports our own well-established management training scheme. Next year, we plan on increasing investment in both our management and graduate training schemes to help us better face the

Defender - Light Cannon


constantly evolving challenges in our sector,” says Ian.

Looking ahead, the Travis Perkins Group also sees emerging trends in how products are being bought,

either via mobile technology or via the internet, and is aiming to use its direct sourcing capability to invest more heavily in these areas to differentiate itself in the market. Meanwhile, the company also aims to significantly invest in developing its own brand products, like its work wear ‘Scruffs’, commercial lighting brand ‘Defender’ and fixings brand ‘Bullet’, all of which have seen strong growth. With so much opportunity in the housing and repairs and maintenance markets coming up, the future for Travis Perkins plc looks positive as it continues to invest in its company to improve services and products for existing and future customers. m


Travis Perkins

www.travisperkins.co.uk Services: Builders merchants

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The responsible sourcing of our products and investment in modern processing equipment supports a dedicated and professional team focused on your needs.

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profile: Domoferm

The smiling sun is the trademark of Domoferm International, and the organisation aims for

its service to echo its sentiments of sympathy, strength, reliability and energy. Since it was founded in 1960 Domoferm has grown to be one of the most successful medium-sized businesses in Europe. Today Domoferm is the leading European manufacturer of frames and one of the leading European providers of steel doors and fire doors.

Strengthened by the professionalism of an entire group of companies, Domoferm International is a holding company that owns four manufacturing companies BOS (Emsdetten, Germany), BBE (Brilon, Germany), HSE (Humpolec, Czech Republic) and Domoferm (Gänserndorf, Austria) as well as five distribution companies in Russia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia and the Netherlands. The entire group employs more than 1000 people with over 300 people working at the headquarters in Gänserndorf, Austria.

The frames and doors produced

Domoferm frames are made to the highest quality standards, with a diversity of variations and options available, including modern, elegant finishes and easy care varieties – they create the frame standard of today.

Another product range available from Domoferm is sliding doors, and these are as varied as the projects in which they are utilised. They can be created as a sliding door, telescopic sliding door or lifting door, and Domoferm is able to assist clients to find the optimal solution to their requirements.

A very versatile choice, Domoferm sliding doors can be used to separate sections associated with fire requirements, as well as create multifunctional rooms. All of the Domoferm sliding doors are tested according to ÖNORM and EN and in terms of design, they as adaptable as its door ranges. Also complementing its range of doors and frames, Domoferm can offer a range of glazing options, including those with fire, sound and radiation protection.

The wide range of products available from Domoferm are

by Domoferm provide strong benefits, starting with perfect design and going all the through the process to the variety of finishes that are available. With many equipment options on offer, they are ideally suited to any room and their steel construction offers the additional benefit of a long lifecycle.

Domoferm offers highly aesthetically appealing door sets, in accordance with the requirements of modern architecture: Clear lines, high-quality materials and surfaces combined with perfect function, and for safety, there are the options of fire and sound proofing, heat protection and burglar resistance. The door elements are tested for fire protection to ÖNORM, DIN and EN standards, but in terms of design they appear like other doors, and can be equipped with vision panels, attractive lever handles, individual colours or different surface materials.

The company also offers a comprehensive range of steel doorframes because it believes the frame completes the role of a door and gives it the necessary structure to be a fully functional product.

Door todoor service

When it comes to doors, Domoferm’s expertise and design led product range is second to none

supported by its in-depth expertise, which has been acquired over a range of projects, such as the Thürnlhof in Vienna, The Albertina Museum in Vienna and the Nitsch Museum in Mistelbach.

The Thürnlhof project involved the construction of 209 apartments, and for this project, a partner was needed to supply steel frames as well as steel and fire protection doors – the contractor turned to Domoferm. There was a big emphasis on light, and this can be seen in Domoferm’s installation of numerous special frames with fanlights and side glazings, which not only provide light-flooded spaces, but allow, for example, that parents can observe their children playing in the play room from the laundry room through large glass surfaces.

In addition to the single and double leaf doors, special frames were used, and the thick rebated product group UNIVERSAL. This product has already been certified to the new European classification EI230.

Another very prestigious project that features Domoferm products is the Albertina, one of the most famous museums of Vienna. It houses one of the largest and most important graphic arts collections in the world, with exhibits ranging from the Gothic to contemporary art. The name ‘Albertina’ comes from its founder, Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen.

Domoferm was challenged to integrate oversized doors with fire protection in the heritage listed building as inconspicuously as possible, without damaging the building integrity. The company utilised a number of Domoferm

products that were discretely integrated into the museum, including the BIG UT7xx/UT8xx - a product for oversized openings and therefore ideal for the renovation of historic/artistic buildings. It meets all the necessary equipment options in the commercial sector and meets the highest standards. The BIG is widely used in applications where high functionality is required to exist alongside outstanding design.

It is clear from these examples that architects, planners and builders are keen to work with


profile: Domoferm

Domoferm

www.domoferm.com Services: Door and door frame manufacturer

Domoferm products. As different as the individual planners, their aesthetic ideas and design assumptions, their methods of operation and construction projects may be, they are all united by one common theme - a belief in the high quality and performance of products from Domoferm. m

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Construction and Civil Engineering Issue 103 Final Edition

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Transcript of Construction and Civil Engineering Issue 103 Final Edition