Powder is extremely well-suited for thermal insulation when there is a jumble of different sized nanoparticles in it. The scientists were able to determine how the thermal conductivity of powder is influenced by order and chaos in its constituent parts.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180331161145.htm
The behavior of electrons in a material is typically difficult to predict. Novel insight comes now from experiments and simulations performed by physicists who have studied electronic transport properties in a one-dimensional quantum wire containing a mesoscopic lattice.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180330105807.htm
Is your laptop or phone overheating? Newly engineered plastic could lead to self-cooling casings for common electronics.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180330145340.htm
Researchers are developing atomically thin ‘drumheads’– tens of trillions of times thinner than the human eardrum – able to receive and transmit signals across a radio frequency range far greater than what we can hear with the human ear. Their work will likely contribute to making the next generation of ultralow-power communications and sensory devices smaller and with greater detection and tuning ranges.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180330145337.htm
Bacteria in tap water can multiply when a faucet isn’t used for a few days, such as when a house is vacant over a week’s vacation, a new study by engineers has found. The study suggests a new method to show how microbial communities, including those responsible for illnesses like Legionnaires’ disease, may assemble inside the plumbing systems of homes and public buildings.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180329190849.htm
Materials inspired by disappearing Hollywood dinosaurs and real-life shy squid can quickly change how they reflect heat. That makes them invisible to infrared night vision tools.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180329170259.htm
Researchers report the successful synthesis of the smallest spring you’ve ever seen – hexa-peri-hexabenzo[7]helicene, or ‘helical nanographene’.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180329140955.htm
Biological tissues have complex mechanical properties – soft-yet-strong, tough-yet-flexible – that are difficult to reproduce using synthetic materials. Researchers have now managed to produce a biocompatible synthetic material that replicates tissue mechanics and alters color when it changes shape, like chameleon skin. It promises new materials for biomedical devices.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180329140952.htm
Making a giant leap in the ‘tiny’ field of nanoscience, a multi-institutional team of researchers is the first to create nanoscale particles composed of up to eight distinct elements generally known to be immiscible, or incapable of being mixed or blended together. The blending of multiple, unmixable elements into a unified, homogenous nanostructure, called a high entropy alloy nanoparticle, greatly expands the landscape of nanomaterials – and what we can do with them.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180329141009.htm
The woman fighting for her life after being hit by a pallet of bricks dropped from a tower crane in east London is the daughter of a construction worker.
Michaela Bloor, 29, is still in a critical condition in hospital following the accident at a Higgins Homes site on Monday.
Her father Matthew Bloor works for Hertfordshire based brickwork and blockwork specialist Maytrix Construction as a bricklayer.
Maytrix has now set up a JustGiving fund raising page in a bid to raise £20,000 for the family.
The firm said: “Matthew’s work collegues have asked us to start this page to help him and his family at this difficult time.
“Our thoughts are with Matthew and his family at this time. Any donations to assist them would be gratefully received.”
To make a donation click here
The Metropolitan Police and Health and Safety Executive have launched a joint investigation into the incident.
Amey has appointment of David McLoughlin, former chief executive of Spencer Rail, as interim MD of its utilities business.
He brings over 30 years’ client and supplier side experience having also worked as a finance and commercial director for Network Rail’s Infrastructure Projects division.
He is joining Amey from Brandes House Consultancy, where he was managing director.
Andy Milner, chief executive, said: “David has a wealth of experience and will add great value to our utilities business as he helps shape our future strategy. I am delighted he has decided to join us at this exciting time for Amey.”
McLoughlin said: “This is an exciting time for Amey’s utilities business with some great opportunities on the horizon. I have worked with Amey closely in the past and know what a strong leadership team it has. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to develop the business in 2018.”
New research shows that adoption of self-driving cars – also known as autonomous vehicles (AVs) – could significantly reduce the amount of valuable urban space dedicated to parking.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180328182441.htm
Colmore Tang Construction is linking up with Virgin StartUp to launch a construction technology accelerator programme
The Birmingham-based contractor has created the £10m ConstrucTech innovation fund for new companies who can improve construction’s productivity, sustainability and skills issues.
Andy Robinson, Group CEO of Colmore Tang, said: “The debate around technology in construction needs to move forward quickly.
“Other industries are much better at seeing the potential in technology and grasping opportunities to boost productivity and commercial gain.
“Construction is falling behind and it’s having a negative impact on the sector, growing the divide between the traditional, ageing workforce and the young, technologically-advanced workforce that is choosing other industries over ours.
“ConstrucTech will help us discover exciting and innovative start-ups, whose products and services could deliver those technologies and innovations that will be the key to the future success of our business and that of the whole sector.”
Colmore Tang has partnered with not-for-profit company Virgin StartUp to deliver ConstrucTech, which is now open to applications from start-ups and entrepreneurs around the world.
Businesses can apply to the ConstrucTech programme to address the following problems:
Sir Tom Shebbeare, Chairman of Virgin StartUp, said: “Entrepreneurs have the power to positively disrupt whole sectors.
“ConstrucTech is an important programme for start-ups that want to access opportunities within the construction sector.
“The challenges Colmore Tang has set are exciting and we can’t wait to partner with them to discover game-changing innovations and facilitate their adoption on building projects across the country.”
The window for applications will remain open until May 31.
Shortlisted applicants will then be asked to pitch their idea to a panel of industry experts during June, from which the programme participants will be chosen.
The ultimate aim of the ConstrucTech programme is to see successful companies trial their solution on one of Colmore Tang’s live sites.
Interested start-ups can apply to be part of ConstrucTech here
Electric vehicles, wind turbines or smart grids require batteries with far greater energy capacity than currently available. A leading contender is the lithium-metal battery. However, dendrite, or sharp needles, made of clumps of lithium atoms can cause the batteries to heat up, lose efficiency and occasionally short-circuit. Using supercomputers, researchers have simulated the behavior of graphene oxide nanosheets that can limit the formation of dendrites.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180328120053.htm
Researchers have discovered a new role for protein vibrations in controlling the transformation of sunshine into useful energy. The study illuminates a mechanism that could help design better solar materials.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180328115954.htm
Scientists have developed a way to print 3-D structures composed entirely of liquids. Using a modified 3-D printer, they injected threads of water into silicone oil – sculpting tubes made of one liquid within another liquid.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180328130334.htm
The study demonstrates how a vertical array of parallel wires may change the forecast for fog harvesters. In a design the researchers have dubbed the ‘fog harp,’ these vertical wires shed tiny water droplets faster and more efficiently than the traditional mesh netting used in fog nets today.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180328083428.htm
House builder Weston Homes has been left fuming after its ten-year sponsorship deal with Colchester United has come to a “bitter end”.
The League Two club confirmed its decision not to renew the deal to staff and fans this week.
But Weston Homes claim they were not consulted and have been left baffled by the decision.
A Weston Homes spokesperson said: “It is really sad and shocking the way this partnership has ended, and it has really upset our Chairman and CEO Bob Weston that the club has chosen to end the deal and then abruptly announced their decision publicly without prior consultation with the housebuilder.
“Weston Homes has been extremely loyal to Colchester United and supported the club in so many ways over the last decade, so this has been deeply distressing.
“It’s a sad ending to what has otherwise been a fantastic partnership.”
The club’s stadium is named after the house builder who were keen to continue sponsoring Colchester United.
The spokesperson said: “Up until these recent events historically we have had a fantastic partnership with Colchester United and the decade long sponsorship agreement got our brand name partnered with the Stadium and the football club and, as a result, has seen us associated with a range of extremely high profile sporting, music, charity and cultural events.”
Colchester United said: “We would like to express our thanks and gratitude for Weston Homes for their fantastic support over the past ten years.
“It has been a hugely successful partnership over the past decade and is one of the longest in the club’s history.
“Weston Homes’ support has allowed Colchester United to establish the stadium as a key community hub and their backing both as title sponsor and at individual events has allowed us to create many special stories together since the venue opened in 2008.”
Balfour Beatty has established its own in house earthworks operation.
Balfour has now taken delivery of its first 22 specialist earthworks machines worth £3.2m and is “ready to deliver its own in house earthworks capability.”
The move is part of a wider £9.6m programme of owned plant investment for this year.
The earthworks move is a collaboration between Balfour’s Plant & Fleet Services, Highways and Major Projects businesses.
It is designed to serve the needs of the company’s growing pipeline of major UK infrastructure projects.
Andy Ormerod, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director Plant & Fleet Services, said: “By building our own fleet of specialist Earthworks machines Balfour Beatty will be leading the market in providing an in-house expert Earthworks capability setting new standards of enhanced safety and increased efficiencies.”
This first package of equipment has been provided by key Suppliers Volvo, Komatsu and Caterpillar.
JCB is claiming an industry breakthrough after developing its first ever excavator that runs entirely on electricity.
The firm said it had produced the battery powered digger to meet customer demands for a zero emissions machine that can work indoors, underground and close to people in urban areas.
The 1.9 tonne mini excavator can be charged by simply plugging it into a standard 230 volt domestic electricity supply.
Once fully charged, it is ready to put in a full normal working day on the building site – digging with the same speed and power as its diesel counterpart. Super-fast charging will also be available at launch, slashing the charging time in half.
The innovative19C-1 E-Tec will go on sale at the end of year after being developed in secret at the company’s Staffordshire HQ.
Its development has been spearheaded by chairman Lord Bamford who today heralded its arrival as a “real breakthrough” for construction.
Lord Bamford said: “JCB has been at the forefront of developing innovative, low emission diesel powered construction equipment for decades. In fact, thanks to our clean diesel technology, typical JCB machines will be pretty close to zero emissions by next year.
“But with urbanisation, machines are operating more closely to people as well as digging underground, indoors, near hospitals and in food production environments.
“As a result, there is a new zero emissions sector emerging and it’s emerging very quickly. It’s for this reason we have put ourselves at the forefront of alternative power technologies and developed the first ever electric JCB digger.”
All well as offering zero emissions, the electric mini will also be the quietest in the JCB range.
This means contractors can work after normal hours in urban streets, around hospitals and close to schools without disturbing people. The machine also has a retractable undercarriage to enable it to negotiate tight spaces.
London housing association L&Q has lured head of development at the Greater London Authority to drive its plans to build 100,000 new homes over the next decade.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith will join the housing provider, which now ranks as one of London’s leading developers, as group director for development and sales.
She will oversee landmark projects such as Barking Riverside, L&Q’s joint venture with the GLA to create a new town of 10,800 new homes as well as vital infrastructure, and a strategic partnership with the Mayor of London to deliver another 20,000 new homes across the capital.
Her remit will also include responsibility for Gallagher Estates, one of the largest strategic land companies in the UK which was acquired by the L&Q Group in early 2017.
During her time at the GLA she has delivered several key strategic initiatives such as the London Plan, the Economic Development Strategy, and the London Environment Strategy, and also oversees the operation of the Mayor’s powers in relation to significant planning applications in the capital.
L&Q’s large development operation includes in-house teams to manage land and planning, development projects, construction, and sales and marketing.
The department underwent a major reshaping in 2017, with the aim of scaling up to deliver 5,000 new homes a year by 2020.
David Montague, L&Q Chief Executive, said: “Fiona has helped to put housing at the forefront of the London planning agenda and we hope that her passion will drive our own ambitions to help tackle the housing crisis through the delivery of tens of thousands of genuinely affordable, quality homes.”
Expanding Sheffield-based utility contractor Fulcrum has completed a £1.4m acquisition of specialist engineering business, CDS Pipe Services.
The acquisition, which has been reported in Fulcrum’s latest pre-close trading update for the financial year ending 31 March 2018, is part of the company’s strategy to increase its direct delivery capabilities and to bring specialist engineering services in-house.
Fulcrum had previously subcontracted specialist elements of its projects to Staffordshire-based CDS.
It is Fulcrum’s second acquisition in recent months following the purchase of the Dunamis Group, an electrical infrastructure services company, which created one of the UK’s leading gas and electrical infrastructure services groups.
The integration of Dunamis is progressing well with management focusing on cross selling opportunities within the enlarged group.
In the last half-year ending 30 September Fulcrum reported underlying profit of of £4m(H1 FY16: £3.5m), on revenue of nearly £20m (H1 FY16: £18.1 million)
Fulcrum has also reported strong growth in its forward orders. As of 28 February 2018, the combined order book had increased by £8m to £38.3m, up from £30.3m at 31 March 2017.
Martin Harrison, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, stated: “The successful execution of the company’s strategy continues to place Fulcrum in a strong financial and operational position.
“The recent acquisition of Dunamis and CDS announced today has enhanced our service offering and in-house capabilities, establishing and growing our market leading position in both infrastructure delivery and utility asset ownership. We remain confident in our outlook for the business.”
South east house builder Inland Homes has submitted outline planning to build more than 1,800 homes at Cheshunt Lakeside in Hertfordshire.
The Broxbourne mixed-use scheme will also include 200,000 sq ft of commercial, retail, community, leisure and education space and has an estimated development of £650m.
As majority landowner of the 30-acre site, it represents Inland Homes’ largest and most ambitious project to date and one of the most significant underway in the South East / London fringes.
A key part of Broxbourne Borough Council’s draft submission Local Plan, Inland Homes has driven the design and master planning of the site, to deliver new homes across a range of different sizes and tenures, as well as jobs, commercial and community space, supported by excellent local infrastructure and set in a landscaped park.
Ideally located just outside the M25 to the north of London, the site benefits from excellent transport links. The arrival of Crossrail 2 in 2030 will further enhance the appeal of the development which lies next to the 10,000 acre Lee Valley Regional Park.
The outline application includes the delivery of a two-form primary school, community space and a number of infrastructure improvements, including new pedestrian, cycle, public transport and vehicular routes.
The scheme is timetabled to start before the end of 2018, subject to planning and will sustain around 250 construction jobs a year while it it built out over the next 10 years.
Planned civic space close to the station
Inland Homes acquired the original 13-acre site, which included Tesco’s former HQ, by way of a 50/50 Joint Venture with a third party in July 2016 and has since assumed control of a number of additional parcels of land which form part of this application.
Stephen Wicks, CEO of Inland Homes, said: “This is a major milestone for Inland Homes, at what will be one of the South East’s major regeneration schemes.
“By combining the expertise of our planning and remediation team with our rapidly growing in-house construction platform, we are in a unique position to be able to deliver a thriving residential and business community with the creation of thousands of new jobs and significant inward investment.”
from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/03/28/inland-homes-submits-plans-for-650m-hertfordshire-scheme/
They die at the most inconvenient times. Cellphones go dark during important conversations because a battery hasn’t been recharged. Or the automotive industry revs up with excitement for a new battery-powered vehicle, but it needs frequent recharging. Researchers have developed a high-powered, environmentally safe lithium-sulfur substitute that could drastically lengthen battery life.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327162617.htm
Fiber-optic cables package everything from financial data to cat videos into light, but when the signal arrives at your local data center, it runs into a silicon bottleneck. Instead of light, computers run on electrons moving through silicon-based chips, which are less efficient than photonics. To break through, scientists have been developing lasers that work on silicon. Researchers now write that the future of silicon-based lasers may be in quantum dots.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327141726.htm
An interdisciplinary, interdepartmental group of scientists conducted fundamental physics studies at the nanoscale to support development of experimental platforms that will control dissipation in quantum systems and materials.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327141712.htm
It’s difficult to conceptualize a world where humans could casually manipulate nanoscale objects at will or even control their own biological matter at a cellular level with light. But that is precisely what mechanical engineers are working toward with their ‘nanotweezers’ – a new tool for handling nanoparticles using light that could create opportunities for innovations in nanotechnology and individual health monitoring.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327102803.htm
A 28-year-old woman is fighting for her life after being hit by a load dropped from a tower crane.
The victim was passing a Higgins Homes site in east London on Tuesday morning when the crane dropped a pallet of bricks.
Police in Tower Hamlets are appealing for witnesses after launching an investigation with the Health and Safety Executive.
A police statement said: “Officers were called at 09:38hrs on Tuesday, 27 March to Burdett Road at the junction with St Pauls Way, E3.
“A 28-year-old woman had apparently been struck by debris falling from a building site crane.
“The London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was taken to an east London hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.”
Steve Boreham, construction director of Higgins Homes said: “Our primary thoughts and concerns are with the lady who has been injured and those affected today.
“We are working with the Health and Safety Executive who are investigating the incident to determine the cause and will release more information as soon as it is available.”
Cutting kirigami-style slits in stretchy films could make for stickier bandages, heat pads, wearable electronics, according to a new study.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327110500.htm
Researchers ahve used 3-D printing to make high-quality customized lenses quickly and at low-cost, which could be used for optical imaging, vision correction, and disease diagnosis.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180327094013.htm
New research shows that stainless steel composite metal foam (CMF) can block blast pressure and fragmentation at 5,000 feet per second from high explosive incendiary (HEI) rounds that detonate only 18 inches away.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180326110041.htm
Dartford Borough Council and Homes England have signed an agreement with urban regeneration specialist Muse to take forward the £75m regeneration of the town’s Westgate area.
Muse were named preferred bidder last October and will now move forward on working up detailed plans for a mixed-use development which incorporates a six-screen cinema at the heart of a new social neighbourhood with bars, restaurants and family-friendly hospitality.
The scheme, designed by architect TP Bennett, will also see the creation of a new public square, a 109-bed hotel, a multi-storey car park and up to 140 homes.
Talks are also underway for a new health facility providing space for GPs, family healthcare, social care providers and mental-health services.
Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said: “The Westgate Scheme is so important to us – a new leisure quarter with a cinema and a range of facilities that will further strengthen the town’s offer.
“Muse Developments has a track record of delivering projects that harness arts, hospitality and leisure as major regenerative forces. We are very excited to be working with creative, energetic and successful partners to deliver great things for the people of Dartford.”
John Robinson, development director at Muse, said the firm was hoping to submit a planning application towards the end of this year for a start on site in late 2019.
Developer Weston Homes has unveiled plans for a £300m residential-led waterfront scheme on the edge of Barking town centre in Essex.
The house builder has struck a deal to buy the 6-acre former Abbey Retail Park site, which fronts onto the river Roding, a tributary of the River Thames.
It plans to build more than 1,000 homes in a mix of tenures alongside riverside shops and gastro-pub space with a pedestrian promenade.
Weston Homes intend to submit a full planning application this summer, which will be the largest submitted to Be First, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham’s pioneering urban regeneration company.
If permission is granted, construction will start on site during 2019.
It will be the company’s eighth residential development in the east London Borough.
Bob Weston, Chairman & Chief Executive of Weston Homes says: “The regeneration of this important Gateway site into a new waterfront urban village adjacent to Barking Town Centre forms part of the Borough Council’s vision of bringing aspirational waterfront living and regeneration to Barking.
“The Abbey Retail Park is within the so-called “Barking Smile regeneration zone” and the redevelopment of the site will create a vibrant new community in Barking, contributing to the area’s ongoing transformation.”
The redeveloped site will be complete with waterfront promenade
Imperial College has appointed Ardmore Construction Limited to delivera £100m student accommodation scheme in North Acton.
The scheme at 140 Wales Farm Road on the former Perfume Factory site will contain 600 student rooms and 85 PRS residential units.
Work will include construction of a series of blocks rising to 31-storeys.
Ardmore’s managing director, Cormac Byrne, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as the main contractor for this important project.
“I am especially pleased that Imperial College have shown such confidence in us to deliver one of their most prestigious schemes.
“140 Wales Farm Road will be the tallest traditional masonry tower in the UK, and its unique design provides several challenges; not least providing external façade access at 31-storeys via an innovative climbing screen.
“We look forward to working with Imperial College and their team to tackle these challenges head on and deliver some of the best student accommodation in London.”
Steelwork contractor Billington has warned that rising raw material costs are threatening to undermine the competitiveness of steelwork construction with concrete.
A series of price rises over the last two years has seen the cost of structural steel sections jump by 40% over the last two years.
Mark Smith, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Consequently, this presents a challenge to the wider structural steel market to remain competitive with alternative forms of construction.”
He added that Billington continued to work on ways to mitigate raw material price escalation and long term volatility.
“However, more recently, steel prices appear to have stabilised and the group hopes this stability will continue.”
Despite market pressures on both selling prices and input costs, margins were maintained with a 16% rise in revenue to a record £73m delivering pre-tax profits also up 16% to £4.4m.
Trading in recent years with Carillion was restricted to its hoard-it business, with the business taking a £106,000 on its liquidation.
Billington’s development of the Shafton facility continued with the new and upgraded machinery becoming fully operational in the latter part of the year.
This has already enabled the Billington to bring work in-house and offer alternative and enhanced solutions for its clients.
Smith said: “We are continuing to see the success of the expansion strategy at the Shafton facility, now two years in to the five year adaptation programme initiated in 2015.
“This has allowed the group to increase its capacity and expand its processing and fabrication production to over 30,000 tonnes of steel this year.
“UK structural steel demand is forecast to remain stable throughout 2018 and 2019 and the board will continue to closely monitor further developments in the industry in the year ahead.
The expansion strategy at the Shafton facility is continuing and Billington is well positioned to adapt to changes in the wider industry, which combined with our dedication to client relationships, should help us in achieving another solid performance in the current financial year.”
from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/03/27/billington-profits-rise-despite-40-steel-price-rise-in-two-years/
Mace has submitted plans for a mixed-use residential and student scheme in Sheffield’s city centre.
The plans for a site on Hoyle Street have been designed to make as its centrepiece an iconic Grade II listed cementation furnace for steel making, the only one of its kind to survive undamaged in Britain.
The building complex rising to 12 floors will include 247 build-to-rent flats and 658 student beds, comprising studios, cluster flats and townhouses, which also benefit from dedicated, private open space.
It is expected to cost around £70m to build
The proposals mark further progress for Mace’s extensive student development portfolio which, together with Sheffield, will see the contractor deliver more than 2,000 student beds in the next three years including consented sites in Cardiff, Exeter and Oxford.
David Grover, Mace’s chief operating officer for development, said:“We have worked hard to design a scheme which places Sheffield’s industrial heritage at the heart of our proposals. As well as bringing forward modern student housing and new homes for Sheffield, the designs are sympathetic to the local area and will give the iconic cementation furnace a new lease of life as the centre piece of the site.”
The furnace was built in 1848 when Daniel Doncaster and Sons began using it to produce steel through the cementation process.
It has been designed by Jefferson Sheard Architects, working out of their Sheffield office, and CBRE has advised Mace on planning.
The site is close to the University of Sheffield main campus, in walking distance to the City Centre and has the amenities of Kelham Island on its doorstep.
The developer of an energy from waste plant in Glasgow is in “ongoing” discussions with original contractor Interserve after costs rose by £95m to £250m.
Viridor’s parent company Pennon confirmed the current state of the job in a trading statement.
>Pennon said: “The Glasgow ERF is in final commissioning. Completion of the construction has required a somewhat higher level of remediation than previously anticipated following the need for contractor change.
“Overall expenditure is expected to be £95 million higher than the original £155 million target.
“Viridor is contractually entitled to recover incremental costs from the original principal contractor, Interserve, under certain circumstances.
“Discussions with Interserve are ongoing with regard to the contractual settlement.
“Dependent upon the conclusion of those discussions, margins over the life of the project to 2043 could potentially be lower than originally expected, although we do not believe there is any immediate impact on earnings.”
Interserve had its contract on the job terminated in late 2016 when it was replaced by Doosan Babcock.
The Glasgow job was at the heart of a series of Interserve profit warnings sparked by problems in the energy from waste sector.
Engineers have built a bright-light emitting device that is millimeters wide and fully transparent when turned off. The light emitting material in this device is a monolayer semiconductor, which is just three atoms thick.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180326140217.htm
Specialist Mick George Ltd has won a demolition deal from Parkway Construction (MK) Ltd at former agricultural site known as Deans Farm in Leighton Buzzard.
Demolition of the existing office / store buildings and two bungalows will make way for a £3.6m warehouse, loading bay, sorting shed, service-yard, office and vehicle-parking facility, on this 1.79-hectare site off of the A505.
Michael George, Contracts Director at Mick George Ltd said: ‘‘The exceptional level of works conducted by Parkway Construction Ltd has subsequently dictated the large volume of high-profile projects that they are involved with at present.
“It’s a testament to our service offering that they continue to use us for many of the associated enabling works.
“Earthworks are more prevalent but on this occasion, it is demolition.
“Pleasingly, our multiple construction disciplines are being recognised, easing the process for any Principal Contractor.
“Our East Anglian roots and familiarity with the Agricultural sector means we’re suitably equipped to handle the environmental challenges that are likely to exist with such a project.’’
Scientists have found a way to understand and manipulate the transition of charges in molecular junctions.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180326140234.htm
Researchers have created a genetically modified yeast that can more efficiently consume a novel nutrient, xylose, enabling the yeast to grow faster and to higher cell densities, raising the prospect of a significantly faster path toward the design of new synthetic organisms for industrial applications, according to a new study.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180326090324.htm
Researchers have discovered a new approach for creating important new catalysts to aid in clean energy conversion and storage. The method also has the potential to impact the discovery of new optical and data storage materials and catalysts for higher efficiency processing of petroleum products at lower cost. The researchers created a catalyst that is seven times more active than state-of-the-art commercial platinum by combining theory, a new tool for synthesizing nanoparticles and more than one metallic element.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180322112731.htm
Around half of Carillion’s 18,000-strong UK workforce spanning construction and support services have secured work with other contractors.
The Official Receiver confirmed this morning that to date 9,073 jobs have been saved and 1,705 jobs have been made redundant through the liquidation.
A further 123 staff will leave the business later this week as the programme of redundancies rolls on.
Around 6,400 staff are still in limbo helping the liquidator to deliver the remaining services on around 70 remaining contracts awaiting a decision on whether to transfer or cease these contracts.
More than half the 460-strong workforce at Carillion’s Wolverhampton headquarters have lost their jobs with just over 200 back-office staff still working with liquidators PwC.
A joint venture partnership between Kier Property, CTP and Liverpool City Council, has been formally signed up to deliver the £200m Pall Mall mixed-use commercial scheme in Liverpool’s central business district.
The development team will regenerate the vast 1.6 ha site to the rear of Exchange Station, subject to planning approval.
The masterplan comprises 400,000 sq ft of office space for the city, as well as associated leisure, retail and landscaped public realm.
A planning submission is expected to be made in late spring 2018, and subject to approval, the developers are then expected to start on site on the first phase of the masterplan, which will be the regeneration of the Pall Mall NCP car park area.
The scheme is significantly important for the city as it is expected to attract considerable inward investment and create 1,800 jobs.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said: “Liverpool is undergoing an unprecedented era of growth with £14bn of developments in the pipeline and the council is playing a huge role in enabling this regeneration, be it Paddington Village in the Knowledge Quarter, Ten Streets, Festival Park or our new housing company.
“Pall Mall is in the perfect location as a natural expansion to our commercial district. I’m delighted we have partners of the calibre of Kier Property and CTP in this hugely important scheme and I look forward to seeing their ambitious plans take shape.”
Tom Gilman, managing director (North) Kier Property, said: “We have worked hard to develop plans that not only benefit the city, but also, the people who live and work here every day.
“Next steps will be to conclude legal agreements before submitting a planning application following the consultations that we carried out last year with the public and Places Matter.
“This project adds to Kier’s presence in Liverpool where we’re currently delivering a number of schemes, including the new student accommodation block and three-storey college building for Liverpool International College at the city’s Knowledge Quarter.”
Specialist contractors are calling for the Government introduce late payment legislation with teeth after the high-profile collapse of Carillion M&E specialist Vaughan Engineering.
Chief executive of the Building Engineering Services Association David Frise said consultation and voluntary measures had failed the industry allowing late payment to undermine the supply chain and send specialist contractors to the wall.
Prompt payment legislation backed up by tough enforcement was needed now – not further consultations or voluntary measures, according to the new chief executive of the Building Engineering Services Association
Frise urged the government to pick up the pace of reform in light of the insolvency of Vaughan Engineering, which was linked directly to January’s collapse of the construction firm Carillion.
“The government already has many of the tools it needs to tackle this problem,” said Frise.
“The Aldous Bill, which seeks to bring about reform of the retentions system, is due to have its next reading in Parliament on April 27. Project bank accounts are being widely – but not universally – adopted; and the emergence of digital payment makes transparency in supply chain finance far easier to achieve.
“I can’t see why this needs any further discussion.”
“Thousands of SMEs have been left in a perilous financial state as a result of Carillion and the government must respond,” he said. “Today there are 160 people facing redundancy directly as a result of Carillion failing to pay Vaughan Engineering for completed work.
“The government must not stand idly by and watch more companies go under and more people lose their jobs.”
MPs investigating the Carillion insolvency have expressed grave concerns about the Prompt Payment Code administered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy .
Carillion was a signatory to the code and received public sector contracts as a result, but forced its own supply chain contractors to accept 126-day payment terms.
Frise revealed that BESA intervened directly on behalf of Vaughan Engineering, which appealed to it for help, but received no response from local or central government.
he also added that the association was continuing to support several other member firms affected by the Carillion fall-out.
BESA, along with electrical contractors body, ECA, met business secretary Greg Clarke in the aftermath of the Carillion insolvency, to stress the importance of supporting payment security measures such as placing retention money in ring-fenced deposit protection schemes; project bank accounts; and public contracts payment models.
“We have had multiple voluntary late payment initiatives over the last two decades – none of which proved of to be of any use whatsoever in the face of notorious late payers like Carillion,” said Frise.
“Mr Clark is right when he says this is an urgent problem that is fundamental to our economy. So let’s have urgent and tough action – starting with getting the Aldous Bill through Parliament on April 27.”
Scientists have found a way to determine the density of charges on an area of a whispering gallery mode micro-bead’s surface, as well as the charge of an ensnared nanoparticle or virus, which could allow researchers and manufacturers not just to identify nanoparticles, but to manipulate them.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180322140849.htm
Scientists have developed a world-first, graphene-based, laboratory-scale filter that can remove more than 99 percent of the natural organic matter left behind during conventional treatment of drinking water. The filter is being scaled up for possible use in conventional plants.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180319090703.htm
Materials science and engineering experts have made significant experimental strides in understanding how, when and where the constantly moving atoms in molten metal ‘lock’ into place as the material transitions from liquid to solid glass.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180319090700.htm
A construction worker has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a colleague on a site in Liverpool.
It is believed a row between the two men escalated on Friday afternoon.
Merseyside Police said: “We have arrested a man following an incident at a construction site in Toxteth this afternoon.
“At 2pm, a man was reported to have been injured during an incident at a construction site at the junction of Stanhope Street and Plaza Boulevard.
“A 30-year-old man sustained a one-inch stab wound to his back and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
“He has been taken to hospital where his condition is described as stable. His injury is not believed to be life-threatening.
“A 37-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault. He has been taken to hospital for treatment to a minor cut to his leg.
“A knife was recovered from the scene and taken for forensic testing.
“Further enquiries into the incident are ongoing. Witnesses are being spoken to and CCTV opportunities are being explored.”
Researchers have developed a stretchable, flexible patch that could make it easier to perform ultrasound imaging on odd-shaped structures, such as engine parts, turbines, reactor pipe elbows and railroad tracks – objects that are difficult to examine using conventional ultrasound equipment. The ultrasound patch is a versatile and more convenient tool to inspect machine and building parts for defects and damage deep below the surface.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180323141345.htm
Decontamination of landfills and open dumpsites could prove profitable – both financially and for the environment.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180323090958.htm
Developer Argent has struck a deal with BAM Construction to complete Carillion’s Paradise building project in the centre of Birmingham.
Work was halted at the One Chamberlain Square building when Carillion went into liquidation.
Now BAM, which recently secured the nearby Two Chamberlain Square office project at the site, will also finish off Carillion’s project that was topped out last December.
Once finished in early 2019, it will be handed over to accountant PwC for its Birmingham office relocation.
The majority of subcontractors who were working on the building will now return from 23 March when BAM formally takes over the site.
Demolition contractor DSM has remained active on site at Paradise throughout the winter period maintaining the programme for Two Chamberlain Square.
Rob Groves, Regional Director of developer manager Argent, said: “Ever since Carillion went into liquidation on 15 January we have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure disruption to Paradise was kept to a minimum.
“Having BAM on board for the building along with remaining close to subcontractors and the supply chain means we are now able to move ahead with getting One Chamberlain Square completed as soon as we can.
“We will be very pleased to see contractors back on site later this month and the building progressing towards completion over the next year.”
How One Chamberlain Square will look once finished in 2019
Rod Stiles, Regional Director for BAM Construction in the Midlands, said: “Our work on Two Chamberlain Square started last month and having already taken on many of Carillion’s high calibre existing team we are now working closely with the existing supply chain to recommence construction on One Chamberlain Square as well.
“Our ability to work efficiently and fairly with the supply chain is one of the factors that distinguish BAM’s approach to collaborative construction and is an integral part of our ability to solve problems. Paradise Birmingham is a critical part of this city’s development. We’re delighted to be so intimately involved.”
At 1.8m sq ft, Paradise Birmingham will deliver up to 10 new flagship buildings, offering offices, shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and a four star hotel across 17 acres.
The Paradise Birmingham redevelopment is being brought forward through Paradise Circus Limited Partnership, a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council.
The private sector funding for Phase One and Two is being managed by Hermes Investment Management which has partnered with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on the first phase of the development. Argent is the development manager.
Torsion Group has won its largest contract award to date for a £28m residential scheme in Birmingham city centre.
The firm is understood to have beaten off competition from rivals Interserve and Speller Metcalfe and will now deliver the job in partnership with Court Collaboration and Top Capital Group.
Arden Gate will contain 225 luxury apartments with communal areas and parking.
Torsion Group Pre-construction Director, Andrew Wilson said “The successful contract award follows five months of detailed negotiations.
“To ensure that we met our clients exacting standards of cost, quality and programme we undertook a significant value engineering review and challenged the concept design in terms of frame type, façade materials and engineering services.
“By adopting our design to budget ethos we reduced the anticipated contract sum by £2.5m
“Utilising the principles of BIM we were able to provide a fully co-ordinated solution which; via the use of 3D modelling and printing, gave our client the assurance to know that the design was robust, affordable and most importantly ready to construct.
“Securing Arden Gate marks a new chapter in our growth and is the first of a number of higher value projects that we are taking through the pre-construction stage to be started on site later this year.”
Architects Corstorphine and Wright, and Structural Engineer CWA are part of Torsion’s design team on the project which is due for completion in November 2019.
The BuildForce initiative has appointed Lendlease Commercial Director Angela Forbes as its new Chair.
BuildForce encourages military service leavers and veterans into careers in the UK construction sector.
Forbes was one of the founding partners and s long-standing supporter of the armed forces.
She created Lendlease’s Ex-Military Initiative and is also a director of Be Onsite which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged people find work in the property and construction sectors.
Forbes, said: “Ten years ago I asked Lendlease for support because I wanted to do more to help our service leavers, veterans and our industry.
“Since then, BuildForce has grown into something quite remarkable. I’m honoured to be asked to be its new Chair.”
BuildForce is funded by the Construction Industry Training Board and aims to help reduce construction skills gaps by helping ex-military personnel – through mentoring, work placements and training – into worthwhile careers.
The initiative is sponsored by its founding partners: Crossrail, CTS, EY, Lendlease, Morgan Sindall and Wilson James.
Oliver Turner, Construction Manager at Lendlease, said: “When I left the Forces, the BuildForce network helped connect me with other former service personnel who were making the same journey into construction.
“BuildForce provided the gateway I needed to make my ambition of working in the construction industry a reality. It opened doors I couldn’t have otherwise.”
Henry Boot’s mixed model of development, land sales and construction delivered record results last year.
Revenue exceeded £400m in the year, which is more than double that achieved two years ago. Group operating margins rose to 13.7%.
This was helped by building projects such as the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, the residential conversion of the former Terry’s Chocolate Factory and the extension of its Markham Vale industrial scheme.
Boot also sold 15 strategic land sites, delivered over £60m of construction work, £17m of plant hire sales and almost £25m of new house sales through its joint venture house builder, Stonebridge Homes.
Chairman, Jamie Boot said: “We have made a good start to the 2018 financial year, having already concluded a number of land sales.
“In addition, we have a strong pipeline of construction work, commercial development projects and strategic land sites working through the marketing process, on which to capitalise through the year.
“Our focus consequently continues to be on the profitable delivery of these schemes and the value they will create for all our stakeholders. I look forward to reporting on our success in doing this through 2018 and beyond.”
He added that in the longer term the commercial development scheme pipeline now exceeded £1bn for the first time.
“Our strategic land acreage increased by over 10% to more than 13,000 acres, after taking account of the acreage sold during the year.
“We also added some 2,200 plots to our inventory of plots to sell, having obtained planning permission on some 4,500 plots during the year.
“The scale and number of these sites and schemes, held as inventory, are once again at record levels, giving us confidence that we can continue to deliver sustainable returns to our stakeholders well into the future.”
Henry Boot Construction started 2018 with the healthiest order book seen in recent years. But the firm said it remained cautious, particularly in the medium to long term, regarding the possible reduction in construction activity due to market uncertainty associated with exiting the EU, price pressures on imported materials associated with exchange rate volatility and other labour and supply chain price pressures.
Construction operating profits decreased slightly to £9.6m after improved results from plant hire, following the acquisition of the Leicester depots, and Road Link were offset by lower construction returns due to delayed starts.
Property investment and development produced a significantly improved operating profit of £30.4m (2016: £15.1m) arising from a full year’s activity on the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, final residential sales from the York Chocolate Factory conversion and continuing contributions from our Markham Vale industrial development.
Land promotion operating profit also showed a strong performance, increasing to £23.2m (2016: £18.6m) as Boot disposed of 2,169 residential plots during the year (2016: 1,609).
Boot said that the movements within the group’s mix of business streams demonstrated the nature of deal-driven property and land promotion businesses, dependent upon demand from the major UK house builders but combined with the relatively stable returns from construction.
This continues to demonstrate the benefits of our broadly based operating model, working together to the benefit of our group, he added.
