Engineers have taken an important step toward the creation of a working optical transistor: precisely controlling the mixing of optical signals via tailored electric fields, and obtaining outputs with a near perfect contrast and extremely large on/off ratios.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131160343.htm
A metabolic engineering research team has newly suggested a molecular mechanism showing superior degradability of poly ethylene terephthalate (PET). This is the first report to simultaneously determine the 3-D crystal structure of Ideonella sakaiensis PETase and develop the new variant with enhanced PET degradation.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131133404.htm
The field of microfluidics involves minute devices that precisely manipulate fluids at submillimeter scales. Such devices typically take the form of flat, two-dimensional chips, etched with tiny channels and ports that are arranged to perform various operations, such as mixing, sorting, pumping, and storing fluids as they flow. Now scientists, looking beyond such lab-on-a-chip designs, have found an alternative microfluidics platform LEGO bricks.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131133327.htm
Engineering researchers have developed a prototype of a high-performance flexible lithium-ion battery that demonstrates – concurrently – both good flexibility and high energy density. The battery is shaped like the human spine and allows remarkable flexibility, high energy density, and stable voltage no matter how it is flexed or twisted. The device could help advance applications for wearable electronics.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131121345.htm
Engineers have invented a ‘4-D printing’ method for a smart gel that could lead to the development of 'living’ structures in human organs and tissues, soft robots and targeted drug delivery.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131090302.htm
Coleman & Company has carried out its own investigation into the Didcot disaster which killed four of its workers in February 2016.
The demolition specialist is warning that a similar tragedy could occur again if current industry practices are not reviewed.
A joint HSE and Thames Valley Police (TVP) investigation into the Didcot collapse is still ongoing with the site not expected to be cleared completely until this Spring.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Craig Kirby said: “This is an extremely wide scale and hugely complex investigation.
“To date over 1900 witness statements have been taken by the investigative team, and a number of interviews have been conducted under caution.
“These interviews have taken a significant length of time, and further interviews will need to be undertaken.
“On-site recovery of evidence continues to be a key line of enquiry, to understand why the boiler house collapsed.
“At this time it is not possible for us to put a timeframe on the completion of the investigation.”
Coleman bosses are worried that unsafe practices are still going on in the industry while firms wait for post-Didcot guidance.
Director James Howard said: “It is clear that Thames Valley Police and the HSE have not yet crystalized a view on the cause of the collapse.
“Given the size, complexity and nature of the investigation this is, perhaps, understandable but we share in the frustration and disappointment that this has created, and continues to create, for all those affected.
“At the time of the accident we pledged to share the learning from this tragedy as soon as possible, in the interests of both the families and the wider demolition community.
“With that in mind, we commissioned our own investigations which, in our view, clearly show why and how units 1 and 2 of the boiler house collapsed.
“We believe the findings highlight industry-wide practices that need to be challenged and reviewed.
“We now consider it essential to share this learning as a matter of urgency, so that immediate steps can be taken within the industry to prevent future loss of life and so that the families can begin to understand what caused this dreadful accident.”
Self-healing smart coatings could someday make scratches on cell phones a thing of the past. But researchers often have to compromise between strength and the ability to self-repair when developing these materials. Now, one group reports the development of a smart coating that is as hard as tooth enamel on the outside but can heal itself like skin can.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131095609.htm
A team of researchers has developed DNA-assisted molecular robots that autonomously swarm in response to chemical and physical signals, paving the way for developing future nano-machines.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131095653.htm
Investors have agreed a funding deal to start construction of a twin-tower scheme of build-to-rent flats that will become the world’s tallest offsite scheme.
Greystar and Henderson Park have exchanged contracts with Tide Construction to acquire the 550-apartment residential development in Croydon, London.
On completion, the 101 George Street development will comprise two of the world’s tallest towers built using modular construction, at 44-storeys and 38-storeys.
The site has full planning permission and the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018.
101 George Street is the fourth project Greystar and Tide Construction have delivered using this modular construction and, once complete, will bring the total number of units the partnership has delivered in London to 1,700 units.
Christy Hayes, CEO of Tide Construction, said: “The towers of 101 George Street will stand tall as testimony to the potential of modular construction within the UK and beyond.
“Modular construction is highly suited to rental developments as investors and operators can welcome residents into their homes sooner and open the revenue streams earlier.”
The modules will be shipped from a factory in Bedford with the electricity prewired and plumbing, furniture and windows already installed.
The total build time for the project will take just 24 months, from construction starting to residents moving in to their new homes.
Troy Tomasik, Greystar Managing Director, Investments, said: “This is an ambitious development and an exciting milestone for Greystar which signals our commitment to finding innovative solutions to London’s housing challenge.”
A new five storey 127 bedroom Travelodge hotel is being built in Lincoln using Sigmat offsite load bearing light gauge steel framing.
Sigmat were appointed by main contractor RG Carter at the hotel which is due to open later this year.
David Ellison, Head of Business Development for Sigmat, said: “Light Gauge steel framing is an ideal solution for projects of this type.
“We have a proven track record in the hotel sector and we are close to double figures for the number of projects competed so far for the Travelodge brand.
“By manufacturing and assembling the panels offsite in readiness for a rapid onsite installation, we ensure that the project can get off to a flying start in terms of the final build.
“We will project manage everything associated with the installation of the frame, working closely with the Construction team at RG Carter to enable them to commence with follow-on trades at their earliest opportunity.”
Coventry-based Godiva Access & Scaffolding has been awarded the contract to provide scaffolding services to Winvic Construction on the city’s tallest new build.
Godiva will use more than 900 tonnes of scaffolding to help Winvic construct the new 1,192-bedroom student accommodation complex in two towers, one 23-storeys and a second at 14-storeys, connected by smaller blocks.
The scheme is located on the corner of Fairfax Street and Cox Street and forms part of a city-wide rejuvenation project following the announcement that Coventry will be City of Culture 2021.
The new win bolsters a growing order book for Godiva which is working on contracts across the West Midlands.
The firm now wants to recruit 20 more scaffolders during the first quarter of this year..
Colin Taylor, managing director at Godiva Access & Scaffolding, said: “This is a fantastic win for us and it will help to create new jobs for local people in Coventry.
“We have a really strong background in working on skyscraper construction so to be able to work on what will become such a prominent feature in Coventry’s sky line is hugely rewarding as we can really showcase our skills in this area.
“With Coventry being announced as City of Culture 2021, there couldn’t be a better time for us to be involved in such an exciting project for the city.”
JSP has launched the Swiss One Safety Brand in the UK – a specialist range of eye wear applying Swiss design with the latest technology.
Swiss One’s new Flexofit technology uses the latest concepts and new materials to produce spectacles with greater flexibility and adjustability in order to properly fit different facial profiles.
Features such as memory form temples, micro nose band adjusters, soft cushioning browguards and temple tips allow the spectacles to adapt and adjust perfectly around the head, nose and ears.
These features and the flexible materials ensure an excellent fit with no pressure points making the range extremely comfortable to wear all day long.
Swiss One Spectacles also have a special permanent lens coating giving a high scratch resistance which prevents fogging.
Laing O’Rourke will be late filing its accounts at Companies House.
Chairman Ray O’Rourke had hoped to file full year accounts to March 31 2017 by the end of this month.
But the Enquirer now understands that will not happen with the figures not due to be finalised until February.
The official filing deadline was the end of last year and some national papers have tried to drag O’Rourke into the construction sector fears caused by Carillion’s collapse.
But the Enquirer understands that 2017 results are looking a lot healthier than the previous year while the current financial year has got off to a strong start.
A source close to the company said: “Everyone was hoping to get the accounts signed off by the end of January but things have taken a bit longer than expected.
“Post Carillion everything is under more scrutiny and Companies House know about the delay as do clients and financiers.
“The business made encouraging progress last year and this year is looking even better with margins holding tight and a lot of new orders coming in.”
HS2 opens prequalification today for two major M&E works contracts along the route from London to Crewe.
The two jobs cover track and overhead catenary system works and tunnel and lineside M&E and ventilation works.
The successful bidder for the £1.55bn OCS package will oversee HS2’s construction and its dynamic testing phase, linking the whole system and trains before handing it over to the operator for the line’s trial running phase.
This includes essential infrastructure, including the overhead catenary ‘power’ system from which high speed trains will draw down power, and 180 miles of track along which they will travel at speeds of up to 225mph.
The vast contract also includes construction work within stations and in tunnels including the provision of engineering trains to link worksites along the route as well as design integration and co-ordination with other railway systems, civil engineering and station construction contractors.
The second £330m contract package is for the tunnel and lineside M&E and tunnel ventilation works.
It covers the design, installation, testing and commissioning of HS2’ safety equipment including tunnel ventilation fans; lighting; handrails; fire safety equipment and tunnel alarm systems.
HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Thurston said: “We’re looking for the smartest, most cost effective solutions that the industry has to offer through these contracts.
“These two essential contracts are fundamental to HS2 operating safely, reliably and efficiently for the millions of people who will use and come to depend on it. ”
Galliford Try Partnerships has formed a joint venture with affordable housing provider Metropolitan to deliver 171 homes in Nottingham.
The joint venture partners will work alongside Rushcliffe Borough Council to deliver 51 affordable homes as well as 120 open-market sale homes.
Construction work will start shortly on Wilford Lane project, worth £44m, which is is due to complete within four years.
The first homes are expected to be available for sale from autumn 2018.
As part of the project, Galliford Try Partnerships will also provide access to the land adjacent to the site that is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, which is planned to be used for a new school.
Galliford Try Partnerships’ Chief Executive, Stephen Teagle, said: “This partnership is the first major contract for our recently established East Midlands team, helping us to further strengthen our national footprint as a leading regeneration specialist.”
“We’re now looking forward to developing a long-term partnership with Metropolitan, combining our skills to fully unlock the potential of this project.”
from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/01/30/galliford-try-seals-40m-nottingham-homes-deal/
Engineers study what it takes to make strong and tough infrastructures by probing the interfacial interactions of polymer and cement, which are key to composite properties.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180129160506.htm
Researchers have uncovered exceptionally efficient gas separation properties in a nanomaterial called MXene that could be incorporated into the membranes used to purify hydrogen.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180129131319.htm
Caddick Construction has taken over from Carillion on the £154m Angel Gardens scheme in Manchester.
Caddick is the sister company of Moda who are developing the scheme with Apache Capital.
It is one of the first major private jobs to restart on site following Carillion’s collapse.
Caddick will be directly hiring 20 former Carillion employees and the move will save around 500 jobs on site protecting around 30 subcontractors previously working under Carillion.
Angel Gardens is one of the country’s biggest residential schemes outside of London and Caddick Construction will now act as construction manager to deliver the 35 storey, 466 home build to rent (BTR) project.
Carillion started work on Angel Gardens in January 2016.
Andrew Parker, director of projects at Moda, said: “We have had contingency plans in place for some time and wanted to prioritise saving jobs, as we hugely appreciate the critical role played by the main subcontractors and small businesses that support major projects.
“We have always remained close to the key subcontractors and suppliers throughout the process and this has proved to be an essential part of the solution to keeping Angel Gardens on track.”
Adrian Dobson, commercial director at Caddick Construction said: “The fast and effective takeover of this complex project is testament to the strength and depth of our team.
“We are fortunate that our construction team has been able to step in and take this project forward within two weeks and are delighted that so many key Carillion employees elected to join the group, as this really strengthens our team in the North West.”
The Ministry of Justice has formed a new government-owned facilities management company to take on Carillion FM work.
The new company Gov Facility Services will take over the delivery of the prison Facilities Management services previously provided by Carillion such as cleaning, reactive maintenance, landscaping and planned building repair work.
Around 1,000 staff, including 100 contractors, previously employed by Carillion, will now move across with their terms and conditions of employment preserved.
Services, which are provided to 52 prison establishments located across South West, South Central, Kent & Sussex, Greater London and East of England, will continue unaffected in the transfer.
Justice Secretary, David Gauke said: “We have robust contingency plans and are taking appropriate action to ensure that the prison FM services continue to operate normally.”
This means the work that was undertaken by Carillion will move to a new government-owned company set up for this purpose. I’d like to thank all the Carillion staff who are moving across into the new company, and reassure them that their jobs are secure. The vital work they do to maintain and improve our prisons is greatly valued and appreciated.
The new company has already been created and will take responsibility for the prison FM services as soon as the formal transfer of staff has occurred.
Carillion liquidator PwC has started full-scale consultations with staff over planned redundancies and transfers to new contractors.
A letter sent to unions and staff by accountants assisting with the liquidation warns that TUPE regulations will not apply if workforces are transferred to new contractors because the businesses are in liquidation.
It also suggests liquidators are aiming to transfer as many staff as possible before the end of the month.
Now unions are calling on Government to ensure that Carillion staff are not switched to vastly inferior rates of pay and poorer conditions.
The PwC letter, states: “In this situation staff will not automatically transfer under TUPE because a winding up order has been made against each of the Carillion companies.”
“Consequently we are seeking agreement from any new providers that they will take on as many affected staff as they can on appropriate terms.
“Where there is an opportunity for contracts or projects to continue with a new employer (under TUPE or otherwise), transfers may need to happen very quickly to facilitate securing roles for Carillion employees with new employers.
“It is quite possible that moves may need to be completed within a matter of days – perhaps less. We cannot confirm any specific transfer today but such transfers could happen before 31 January in some cases.”
A spokesperson for the Official Receiver said: “As required by law, we have started our consultation process with the workforce in respect of potential redundancy.
“This includes consultation with people who are likely to transfer to a new employer, and the Liquidator and Special Managers are in extensive discussions with organisations in relation to such possible transfers.
“The company continues to service all its existing facilities management contracts which it has done since the date of liquidation and will continue to do so with the support of its customers, employees and suppliers.”
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Even if the jobs of workers are preserved they now face the prospect of being transferred to new companies without warning with potentially far lower rates of pay and poorer conditions.
“The government and its taskforce needs to immediately get a grip of this issue and to ensure that companies taking on Carillion workers respect their existing pay, conditions, pensions and length of service.
“A situation where other companies were able to enrich themselves by picking up contracts and slashing workers’ pay is absolutely intolerable.”
The research team that announced the first optical rectenna in 2015 is now reporting a two-fold efficiency improvement in the devices – and a switch to air-stable diode materials. The improvements could allow the rectennas – which convert electromagnetic fields at optical frequencies directly to electrical current – to operate low-power devices such as temperature sensors.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180126110033.htm
A team of researchers has succeeded in developing world’s first stretchable aqueous Li-ion batteries that may power the next generation of wearable devices.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180126095336.htm
Scientists have discovered high concentrations of hazardous elements including antimony, barium, bromine, cadmium, chromium and lead in many second hand plastic toys.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180126085435.htm
Around 300 of Carillion Construction’s smaller rail suppliers are to be paid what they were owed in the weeks before the firm’s crash.
A deal to pay smaller specialists and suppliers has been struck between Network Rail and the Official Receiver’s special manager, PwC.
It covers Carillion’s small rail suppliers arrears from Christmas time through to 15 January when the group went into liquidation and touches around two-thirds of it’s rail supply chain.
Last week Network Rail announcement that all certified work after 15 January would be paid until further notice and that Carillion rail employees would be paid until at least mid-April.
Matthew Steele, commercial director, said: “We recognise how challenging this period has been for our small suppliers.
“We hope that this will be some positive news to the hundreds of smaller companies up and down the country who have been worried about the impact on their business.
“These small organisations are a critical part of our supply chain both now and in the future.
“PwC, together with our in-house task force and the Carillion teams, are carefully managing this difficult period to keep all our rail projects going, and are working hand-in-glove to find ways to support staff and suppliers alike.”
Nearly one in five construction sites still force men and women to share toilets despite industry efforts to attract more women into construction.
A survey of over 3,500 workers found that many are forced to endure entirely inadequate toilets and washing facilities.
The survey of construction union Unite members found that on 17% of sites there were no separate facilities for women workers.
Unite members tend to work on a mix of larger sites and housing maintenance projects where there are issues of mobile working.
In total, 18% of respondents’ rated their workplaces as having adequate toilet facilities and 10% of sites did not supply toilet paper.
Just over half of respondents said that their workplace did not have any showers.
Even when showers were provided in 16% of cases there were no separate showers for women.
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “This survey must act as a wake-up call to the construction industry.
“In the 21st century there is no excuse for any workplace not to provide clean and decent welfare facilities.
“Companies that fail to provide decent welfare facilities can and should be prosecuted and this is an area where Unite is working with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure standards are improved.”
Civil engineering contractor Barhale saw revenues return to normal levels and profitability restored last year.
Turnover at Barhale, which employs more than 700 people, jumped to £122m in the year to June up from £81m in 2016 as revenue from water frameworks increased and production jumped up.
The uplift saw pre-tax profits jump to £2.1m from £157,000 with operating margins restored to 2%.
Barhale, which reported strong growth in its southern region during the year, said it continued to seek to expand in Scotland and Northern regions as it delivered more projects for power sector clients.
Matthew Behan , chief executive officer, said: “The forward order boom remains healthy and, with a number of major UK infrastructure projects due to commence, turnover is expected to further improve in 2017/18.
“The gross profit was consistent with tender expectations and increased in line with turnover.”
He added: “2017 represented a year of improved performance, as we continue to deliver for our clients within the AMP6 frameworks. Yorkshire Water and Anglian Water frameworks increased markedly in line with their spending plans.
“Our joint venture BTU, delivering work for Southern Water, had a disappointing year and volumes were lower than anticipated.
“We expect this to improve in 2017/18 in line with this client’s regulated spend profile.”
“The group continues to pursue opportunities arising from major long-term civil engineering projects and blue chip client organisations such as Thames Tideway, HS2 and Midland Metro.”
Building services engineering contractor Proline has taken on four former Forrest apprentices after they were let go by the contractor late last year.
Forrest changed its business model to rely on more subcontractors for building services installation.
And supply chain partner Proline has now stepped-in to continue the quartet’s training.
The apprentices are now working on two Proline projects at X1 The Plaza and Port Street residential developments in Manchester and are continuing their studies with the same Greater Manchester training providers.
Managing director of Proline Michael Fraser said: “As a former apprentice myself, I understand the value of this route into the industry and the importance of training with a credible and people-focused company.
“That’s why we’re in the 5% Club, with apprentices making up more than five per cent of our employees.
“We had planned to bring on another 10 apprentices before the end of the year in line with our current growth and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to bring these four young men into the business part way through their training and offer them excellent career prospects in their chosen trades.”
Two of the apprentices that have transferred across to Proline are in the fourth year of their apprenticeship with the remaining apprentices currently part way through their second and third year of study.
Mark Nicholson, CEO at Forrest added: “Proline’s decision to employ these four apprentices is the ideal outcome for all involved and an example of how the construction sector can benefit from strong supply chain partnerships.
“With Proline, the apprentices will benefit from excellent mentoring on site alongside their formal college training and will also have the opportunity to work on major schemes with a company that can offer them long-term job security and a clear career path.”
Researchers have identified a mechanism that triggers shape-memory phenomena in organic crystals used in plastic electronics. Shape-shifting structural materials are made with metal alloys, but the new generation of economical printable plastic electronics is poised to benefit from this phenomenon, too. Shape-memory materials science and plastic electronics technology, when merged, could open the door to advancements in low-power electronics, medical electronics devices and multifunctional shape-memory materials.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125135532.htm
Researchers in Japan have demonstrated a range of highly tunable vivid color pixels controlled by the geometry of a monocrystalline silicon metamaterial surface. The pixels created showed dual-color response dependent on the polarization of the light source, as well as subwavelength resolution. These materials have potential applications in high-resolution printing, particularly for anti-counterfeiting technology. They could also be used for optical data storage and three-dimensional displays.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125101306.htm
Researchers have shown that heat flow behaves similarly to a viscous fluid when studied at nanoscale. The discovery paves the way to a better thermal management in electronic devices.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123112601.htm
A team of experimental and computational scientists have synthesized a long sought-after form of titanium nitride, which has promising mechanical and optoelectronic properties.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125085108.htm
An influx of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) charging without coordination could prove challenging to the nation’s electric grid, according to new research.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123171435.htm
Climate change, finite resources, increasing burdens on the environment mean that more and more industries are focusing on sustainable production. And this is also the case in the production of coatings such as paints and varnishes. In Germany alone, 100,000 tons of coating materials for protection against corrosion are produced every year. However, in the past, paints and varnishes with bio-based binders or film formers have usually been too expensive or could not meet the requirements. But through the use of modified starch, scientists have now found a way which even in this field makes sustainable and cost-effective solutions possible.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123112912.htm
Liverpool-based George Downing Construction has broken ground on the Leeds Beckett University’s £80m Creative Arts building in the city.
The flagship building in the new Innovation District in the city is designed by architects Hawkins/Brown and is being delivered by Downing which both developer/builder.
When finished in September 2020, the Portland Way hub will be home to the university’s School of Film, Music and Performing Arts, plus the fashion department.
Ian Orton director of GDC, said: “This landmark building will be packed with specialist facilities including a performance theatre and 220-seat Dolby Atmos movie cinema, as well as specialist studios for fashion, music, film and television.”
The Innovation District is a partnership between Leeds Beckett University, the University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds City Council.
This partnership aims to attract new research facilities and drive economic development and regeneration.
It is the first new development in a £200m programme of investment at Leeds Beckett over the next five years. It is also the final phase of Downing’s £100m transformation of the once vacant wider site into the distinctive City Village campus living environment.
Researchers have discovered a technology that enhances the efficiency of Quantum Dot LEDs. They succeeded in improving the efficiency of Quantum Dot (QD) Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) by designing metallic nanostructure substrates.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123101953.htm
Berkeley Group has been given the planning go-ahead to build a modular homes factory in Ebbsfleet.
The 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility and a 15,500 sq ft office building will sit on a ten-acre site in Northfleet and produce up to 1,000 properties a year.
It will produce finished modules complete with plumbing, electrics, and internal finishing, including flooring and fittings that can be configured to form new homes.
Around 240 people will be employed at the new factory.
Tony Pidgley, chairman of the Berkeley Group, said: “Given the skill shortages we are facing, speed of production and the impact on labour are vital issues for the future of our industry.
“But the real driver for Berkeley is the quality we can achieve with modular housing.
“It will help us create fantastic homes for our customers where they can live comfortably in a beautiful setting.
“That is what will really drive demand and create value for our business, as well as build fantastic communities for people in the future.”
The site, in Northfleet East, is in the North Kent Enterprise Zone and Berkeley becomes the first company to locate within it at Ebbsfleet Garden City.
The planning committee recently approved plans for 600 new homes in Northfleet East by Keepmoat in a scheme that will transform that area along the River Thames.
Kier this morning said it was confident that is mounting debt would peak this year and then reduce over the period to 2020.
In a six-month trading update this morning chief executive Haydn Mursell revealed that the group’s average monthly net debt had jumped to £350m from £300m a year ago.
He put the rise down to the £24m cost and acquired debt of McNicholas Construction and investment in commercial and residential property, where assets were valued at around £500m.
Kier investment in property is now at target level with debt expected to peak in the six months ahead before reducing over the next two years.
“Our first half performance continues to demonstrate the strength and stability of the business and the benefits of our client focused strategy.
“The group remains on course to deliver double digit profit growth in the current year and to achieve its Vision 2020 targets,” said Mursell.
He added that the McNicholas acquisition was performing well with a clutch of fresh orders since Kier bought the 2000-staff firm seven months ago.
Mursell said operating margins had been maintained at the construction and services divisions with order books strong at £9.5bn, and all of forecast revenue for the 2018 financial year secured.
Kier’s Highways business is currently in negotiation with Highways England for three-year extensions to its Area 3 and 9 contracts, with a final decision expected by the end of March 2018.
Van Elle has revealed that its bills went unpaid for two months in the run up to Carillion’s collapse costing the piling specialist £1.6m.
Van Elle is now preparing top write the money off as a bad debt following discussions with the Official Receiver.
Network Rail contracts worth £2.5m to Van Elle which were due to start this year with Carillion may also be shunted back.
Van Elle chief executive John Fenton said: “Van Elle carried out regular work for Carillion as a specialist lead sub-contractor, principally in respect of rail improvement and maintenance work and, as previously confirmed, our outstanding debt and work-in-progress exposure with Carillion is approximately £1.6m.
“We also identified approximately £2.5m of anticipated revenue for the second half of the current year which related to work with Carillion.
“Whilst the Group is continuing to engage with the Official Receiver in respect of this outstanding balance, it is now expected that we may recognise an exceptional bad debt charge of approximately £1.6m in its full year results. All of this debt arose after 31 October 2017.
“We have also had constructive dialogue with both the Official Receiver and Network Rail in respect of the £2.5m of anticipated revenue and whilst it is possible that some of the anticipated contracts may be delivered in the current year, the status and timing of specific programmes remains uncertain.”
Fenton added that: “The Board believes it is prudent at this stage to recognise that the disruption to the expected order book due to the situation at Carillion will impact the Group’s ability to achieve its previous expectations for the year as a whole.”
Interim results for the year to October 31 2017 show the firm made an underlying pre-tax profit of £5.4m compared to £4.7m last time on turnover up to £52.6m from £43.1m.
Combining two different polymer forms can switch manufacturing of silicone parts from molding, casting and spin coating of simple forms to 3-D printing of complex geometries with better mechanical characteristics and better biological adhesion, according to a team of researchers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122164705.htm
New research has found an effective approach to replacing graphite in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries using silicon, by reinforcing the anode’s structure with graphene girders. This could more than double the life of rechargeable lithium-ion based batteries and also increase the capacity delivered by those batteries.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123171448.htm
A team of chemical and biological engineers has developed highly selective membrane filters that could enable manufacturers to separate and purify chemicals in ways that are currently impossible, allowing them to potentially use less energy and cut carbon emissions, according to new findings.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123171456.htm
Researchers have used supercomputers to simulate how bubbles caused by explosions may damage neurons in the brain. Using similar methods, the team reported how nanoparticles affect the fragility of ceramic materials used in space shuttles. They found that the conventional wisdom that nanoparticles improve material strength is not necessarily guaranteed.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124131714.htm
Nanoengineers are finding new ways to use graphene printing technology. A new research paper describes how they’re treating printed graphene with lasers to create electronic circuits that repel water. That could lead to washable electronics and better biological sensors.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124131556.htm
The iridescent shimmer of a string of pearls may one day be more than pretty adornment. Scientists now report a hybrid material consisting of imitation pearl combined with silver nanowires that works as a heater, with the added benefit of high flexibility, suggesting a potential role in wearable devices.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124114147.htm
A new discovery could underpin a new class of implantable devices that provide biological signals to surrounding tissue for better integration with the body and reduced risk of infection. The team has developed low-cost, practical techniques to guide and attach peptides to surfaces. Medicine increasingly relies on biomedical devices but their effectiveness is often limited because of unsuccessful integration with the host, necessitating replacement through revision surgery, or the development of untreatable infections.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124111239.htm
Scientists have developed a sensor for measuring the strength of electric fields, which is much smaller, simpler and less prone to distortion than comparable devices.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124110834.htm
An international team of scientists has produced the first high-powered, randomly polarised laser beam with a ‘Q switch’ laser, which typically emits pulses of light so brief that they’re measured in nanoseconds. Lasers are a critical part of modern technology – they’re used in everything from our automobiles to medical equipment to the satellites orbiting Earth. Now, researchers are broadening the potential applications of even smaller and more powerful lasers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180123101948.htm
Kier has finally got the planning go-ahead for a £150m redevelopment of Guildford railway station and its adjacent car park site.
The scheme, which is being development as part of the Solum joint venture with Network Rail, involves a new station building, £25m of station improvements and 438 new homes and office space.
It has got the green light from the planning inspectorate, which was called in after Guildford Borough Council refused the proposal to revitalise Guildford Station back in October 2016.
Since then Kier Property pulled out of its wider Solum joint venture with Network Rail, but kept the Guildford project partnership alive because plans were so advanced.
The professional team includes Mace as project manager, architect Rolfe Judd and Hurley Palmer Flatt for building services design.
Alan Jones, from Solum said: “We are very pleased that this exciting brownfield regeneration project has been given the green light. This is a scheme that will transform the area around Guildford Station and provide a new Gateway to the town.
“Solum has been working with Guildford Council and the community for seven years.
“The scheme has undergone significant change through the planning process and we look forward now to working with the council to deliver the scheme.
“We recognise that there are several local groups that continue to object to the scheme and would also like to thank the hundreds of Guildford residents that registered support for the proposals.”
Former Carillion bosses are being summoned for a grilling by two committees of MPs.
The joint probe has been launched by the Work and Pensions and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committees.
Witnesses to be called include chief executive Richard Howson, chairman Phillip Green, finance directors Richard Adam, Zafar Khan and Emma Mercer and interim chief executive Keith Cochrane.
The MPs will also look into Carillion’s pension deficit and the actions of KPMG who signed-off accounts.
Frank Field MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, said: “Another day, another company goes bust hot on the heels of a clean bill of health from a Big Four financial services firm.
“The particularly nasty twist in this now grimly familiar tale is the mountain of debt and giant pension deficit this public services contractor leaves in the wreckage of its collapse– with an accompanying massive hit to the public purse.
“It must also be time now for the auditors who cosily signed off this disaster-in-the-making as a ‘going concern’ less than a year ago to begin to account for themselves.”
Rachel Reeves MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee said: “In the wake of the BHS scandal, Carillion has the hallmarks of another corporate governance failure with directors asleep at the wheel while the business went off a cliff, in this case leaving jobs, pensions and public services under threat and a host of suppliers out of pocket.
“How is it that so many warning signs were ignored by the company and the Government?
“What were the Carillion board and senior management doing to address the spiralling problems at the company?
“Why are the regulatory bodies stepping in only after Carillion’s collapse?
“As a Committee we will also want to explore the executive pay arrangements at Carillion, the potential cost to the taxpayer of the insolvency, and the role of both directors and non-executive directors in the company’s collapse.”
Building services specialist J S Wright has secured a contract worth more than £2m to fit out one of Birmingham’s tallest residential buildings.
The M&E services specialist has been commissioned by Wates Construction to equip the new 31-storey second building at The Bank development on the city’s Broad Street for Regal (West Point) Ltd.
J S Wright, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and install all the mechanical services for the building’s 205 high-quality apartments including boosted cold water and domestic hot water services supplied through electric water heaters.
It will also provide an energy saving heat recovery ventilation system, water sprinklers, above-ground drainage and a building management controls system.
The iconic 16,055 sq m structure is nine storeys higher than its neighbouring building, which is already in the process of being equipped by J S Wright.
J S Wright will start work on site on the second building this summer with completion scheduled for autumn 2019. Both buildings have been designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects.
Marcus Aniol, J S Wright Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to apply our specialist skills and experience in continuing to regenerate Birmingham’s Broad Street as a vibrant city centre area in which to live, work and shop.”
The Welsh Government has signed up Gleeds to advise on its new public private partnership model to deliver the next wave of 21st Century Schools.
A £500m part of the programme to modernise over 100 crumbling schools will be funded using the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model plan, designed to finance major capital projects due to a scarcity of capital funding.
As technical adviser Gleeds will now work with specialist legal and financial advisers to draw up details of the MIM building programme.
This will involve production of standard documents for the construction of schools and colleges, including specifications, bid documents, and business case support for tranches of projects.
Band B of the 21st Century Schools programme will run from 2019-20 to 2023-24
MIM borrows heavily from the NPD model in Scotland and crucially has been judged as off-balance sheet.
Unlike historic PFI deals, the Welsh model allows the public sector to share in any profits with a 20% equity stake, excludes the provision of services such as cleaning and catering from the contract, excludes low-level value maintenance work and ensures transparency about costs and performance.
Planned schemes will see private partners build and maintain public assets. In return, the Welsh Government will pay a fee to the private partner, which will cover the cost of construction, maintenance and financing the project.
At the end of the contract the asset will be transferred into public ownership.
During the construction phases of the projects, contractors will create apprenticeships and traineeships to benefit local communities.
Uplift Drone Training has launched the first OSC Volume 3 training course available in the UK.
As the next step from gaining the CAA Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO), the OSC Volume 3 is essential for individuals and companies needing to operate with reduced distance separation compared to what the standard Permission for Commercial Operations allows.
A reduced distance permission has huge benefits across construction.
Matthew Lee, Director at UDT, said: “Qualified operators will be well aware of the benefits of holding a PfCO from the CAA.
“However with the PfCO also comes restrictions.
“The OSC Vol 3 or sometimes referred to as an “exemption” is the next step to gaining permissions that are above what the standard PfCO allows.
“These enhanced permissions may be operating closer to uninvolved persons or flying higher than the standard PfCO allows.
“Our OSC course gives an insight into how to write the documentation to support this application process and what evidence to submit to the CAA.”
Main contractors are backing the campaign to end retentions in construction.
Calls to abolish the hated system have been led by specialists.
Now the major players through their industry trade bodies are calling for change in the wake of Carillion’s collapse.
Build UK, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the Construction Products Association have added their voice to calls for reform.
A joint submission to ongoing government consultation said: “The industry is fully committed to achieving zero cash retention and we believe that Government must introduce legislation to ensure there is zero cash retention within the industry by no later than 2025.”
The trade bodies said abolition of retentions would mean:
Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE said:“The collapse of Carillion has reinforced the need for significant change in the construction industry, and we urge Government to take legislative action to abolish cash retention.
“The industry is ready to support this by implementing a phased approach to zero retention, in partnership with Government.”
Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive at CECA, added: “CECA has long supported the abolition of retentions.
“The use of improperly managed retentions by employers often has substantial impacts on SMEs further down the supply chain as these companies operate within extremely tight margins and reserves.
“Carillion’s collapse has highlighted once and for all how change is needed in our industry.
“As a first step, we call on Government to legislate to abolish cash retentions and work with industry to implement an agreed route map based approach to achieve this ambition.”
Chinese builder Beijing Construction & Engineering Group International is believed to be close to signing a deal to deliver a 34-storey tower on the vast Liverpool Waters scheme in the North West.
Carillion had previously been in talks with build to rent developer Moda to deliver the Lexington tower, which will be the tallest development at Princes Dock on the city’s waterfront.
A contract deal is expected to be announced shortly, according to business website Place North West and would be a major coup for BCEGI.
Until now the Chinese builder has mainly worked in Manchester but is expanding in Liverpool.
In Manchester it has just started the second phases of the £1bn Middlewood Locks PRS development for Scarborough Group and Fairbriar International and is on board
for Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development in the city.
BCEGI is also a construction partner on Manchester Airport Group’s Airport City development, where Carillion was also engaged as a delivery partner.
The Liverpool Waters tower, designed by Falconer Chester Hall architects, has been called the Lexington because its apes the New York-style design.
It will house 304 private rental apartments, with communal facilities including a 17th floor residents’ lounge, gym, a roof, terrace, a garden and a cinema.
Galliford Try has temporarily taken over work on the £96m Lincoln Eastern Bypass after the county council terminated its contract with Carillion.
Galliford Try will ensure work continues while Lincolnshire County Council looks for a new firm to manage the project in the longer term.
Council leader Martin Hill said: “I’m delighted that we’ve managed to get work on the Lincoln Eastern Bypass back on track in such a short space of time.
“We know how important this new road is to residents and businesses, and, by bringing in Galliford Try, we can ensure work is not significantly held-up by the Carillion situation.
“While Galliford Try will be keeping things moving in the immediate future, we’ll be working to find a long-term replacement.
“We hope to have this new company take over in the summer.”
The council said it “will be doing its best to ensure that the local Carillion team can continue to work on the bypass project”, initially with Galliford Try and then with the new contractor.
Galliford Try and its successor will also be encouraged to honour the existing arrangements with subcontractors and suppliers.
Works Galliford Try will be carrying out over the coming months include highway connections to the existing road network and fencing.
Bam Nuttall has also agreed to take over ducting works around the perimeter of the proposed Washingborough roundabout next month.
Researchers at have designed and fabricated the world’s smallest electro-optic modulator, which could mean major reductions in energy used by data centers and supercomputers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122164659.htm
Scientists have used inverse design principles and a 3-D printer to create highly efficient broadband metadevices at millimeter-wave frequencies that could prove revolutionary for consumer products, defense, and telecommunications.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122164654.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that sound waves can be used to produce ultraminiature optical diodes that are tiny enough to fit onto a computer chip. These devices, called optical isolators, may help solve major data capacity and system size challenges for photonic integrated circuits, the light-based equivalent of electronic circuits, which are used for computing and communications.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122150806.htm
Researchers have, for the first time, used a material’s persistent photoconductivity to stimulate neurotype cells. The technique, which is relatively simple, should facilitate future research on using charge to influence cellular behavior.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122110809.htm
Extremely fine porous structures with tiny holes – resembling a kind of sponge at nano level – can be generated in semiconductors. This opens up new possibilities for the realization of tiny sensors or unusual optical and electronic components.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122104045.htm
Researchers have discovered that a form of perovskite, one of the hottest materials in solar research currently due to its high conversion efficiency, works surprisingly well as a stable and photoactive semiconductor material that can be reversibly switched between a transparent state and a non-transparent state, without degrading its electronic properties.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122110835.htm
Researchers have discovered a reaction path that produces exotic layers with semiregular structures. These kinds of materials are interesting because they frequently possess extraordinary properties. In the process, simple organic molecules are converted to larger units which form the complex, semiregular patterns.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122110832.htm
Researchers have been exploring the intricate shapes that emerge when air is injected into soil. These findings could one day be used to speed up the decontamination of industrial brownfield sites.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122110822.htm
Whether smart phone, computer or dialysis machine – there is no electronic device without chips and their electronic components inside. The individual circuit elements are therefore often wired using three dimensional so called bridge constructions. Physicists are now working on a more efficient variation, where specific quasiparticles named magnons instead of electrons are being used. They have shown for the first time, in an initial model, that magnon current flow is possible in an integrated magnon circuit, in which case the components are only being connected two dimensionally.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122111111.htm
Scientists used spiraling X-rays to observe, for the first time, a property that gives left- or right-handedness to swirling electric patterns – dubbed polar vortices – in a layered material called a superlattice.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180116095633.htm
TH Real Estate has struck a deal with Mace to deliver the £24m expansion of the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet shopping centre near Ellesmere Port.
McArthur Glen, as operators of the Cheshire Oaks Outlet, are working in a development manager with Mace working as main contractor.
The expansion will create more than 25,000 sq ft of extra shops, a visitor centre and expanded car parking. A new footbridge will also improve access for local residents.
The programme of work will be delivered over the next twelve months, with completion targeted for December 2018.
Mace has worked with TH Real Estate on several other major projects, including both 70 St. Mary Axe and 1-19 New Oxford Street in London.
Neil Hennessey, Mace’s Regional Director said:“It’s a great win for the Leeds based regional team at Mace, and we are looking forward to working with the local community to deliver tremendous benefits for the wider area as a whole. We are excited to be a part of this prestigious and complex scheme.”
Advancements in a fuel cell technology powered by solid carbon could make electricity generation from coal and biomass cleaner and more efficient, according to a new article. Innovations in the anode, the electrolyte and the fuel allow the fuel cell to utilize more carbon, operate at lower temperatures and show higher maximum power densities than earlier direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs).
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122091312.htm
Researchers now describe the development of an inexpensive, efficient catalyst material for a type of fuel cell called a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which turns the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity and is among the most promising fuel cell types to power cars and electronics.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122091301.htm
Tarmac Building Products is trying to head off threatened strike action at its Essex plant.
The company will hold further talks with Unite officials this week after the union announced plans for a series of 24-hour stoppages starting on January 30.
Negotiations between both sides have been ongoing since before Christmas.
The dispute centres on terms and conditions for news starters at the Stanford Le Hope block-making plant.
A ballot for strike action produced a yes vote with further strikes planned on February 6, 8 20, 22 and March 20 and 22.
Unite Regional Officer Guy Langston said: “Tarmac’s plan to cut pay for new starters is the thin edge of the wedge. Our members believe that if this is unchallenged it will lead to further attacks on terms and conditions.
“Strike action will create serious disruption to Tarmac’s business but managers have brought this on themselves.”
Steelwork contractor Cleveland Bridge UK is opening a office in Newport to support to projects in Wales and the South West of England.
Located at the Langstone Business Park, the office will deliver sales, design, engineering and project management services, creating 12 jobs.
Cleveland Bridge has experienced an upturn in activity in the south of the UK and Wales, which has contributed to two consecutive profitable years with the company reporting profits for 2016 of £4m, an increase of more than £1.5m on the previous year.
Andrew Morris, Head of Infrastructure at Cleveland Bridge UK , said: “South Wales is strategically important for Cleveland Bridge, opening a large office here will enable us to strengthen our Welsh team and provide closer support to the Welsh infrastructure and construction sectors as well as regions such as the South East and South West of England.
“It will also allow us to take advantage of the wealth of skilled people from the area that will help Cleveland Bridge further grow its market share.”
