A new study unravels the properties of a promising new material for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which could be safer and longer-lasting than traditional batteries.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170202122722.htm
Construction group Mick George Ltd is looking for more franchised drivers at its transport division.
The expanding company is a keen supporter of franchising and currently has 14 franchised drivers at its concrete vehicle division.
It is now extending the model to its 200-strong fleet of tipper vehicles.
Individuals are given the chance to run their own successful business, delivering construction materials, including aggregates and muck away services.
In exchange they partner with the trusted Mick George brand while receiving financial and back-end support to get the investment up and running.
The company said drivers can double their earnings compared to standard industry wages.
Jon Stump, Finance Director at Mick George said: ‘’Everyday as a business we’re looking for innovation in one form or another, and that has been a major factor in our achievements and future forecasts.
We’ve built some fantastic relationships with our current franchisees.
“We have experienced the pain and the stress that building a business organically brings and understand the challenges and demands placed upon the shoulders of business owners.
“That is why we’re looking to relieve some of that pressure, whilst allowing like-minded people that share our values, passion and desire the opportunity to leverage success from our established brand.”
A man who used a false name to work on UK construction sites has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Twenty-three year old Nigerian national, Gideon Emeka Okafor was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court following a Home Office and Construction Industry Training Board investigation.
Okafor was arrested in November 2016 and charged with using a fake French national identification card in order to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card in August 2015.
It is understood he then used the fake CSCS card to work illegally on construction sites in London for over a year.
Okafor was caught following a Home Office investigation into his false documentation.
Information from the CITB confirmed that a card had been issued in the name of ‘Patrice Beziat’ – Okafor’s alias.
Ian Sidney, Fraud Manager at CITB and former Police Superintendent, said: “CITB is working closely with the Home Office to keep fraud out of construction.
“We hope that the sentencing of this young man sends a message loud and clear to fraudsters – there’s no place for you in the construction industry and you will be caught.
“The case also highlights the need for employers to be vigilant in checking workers’ documentation and to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
“Fraudsters on construction sites present a danger to themselves and others and we need to work together to stamp this activity out.”
What to do if you spot a fraudulent card
Employers are urged to conduct regular checks on cards either using CSCS smart card readers or the CITB online card checker on our website – please see attached link to check cards.
If you think you know someone using a fraudulent card you should:
Retain the card if possible
Make photocopies of front and back
Record cardholder’s name and address
Ask the cardholder where the card was obtained from
Call the local police and report the matter
Refuse access to site (subject to company rules)
Forward copies of all evidence to CITB Quality Assurance Team, Building 16, Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, PE31 6RH, marked ‘SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT CARD’ with details of the crime number given by local police.
You can also email Report.it@citb.co.uk
Transparent window coatings that keep buildings and cars cool on sunny days. Devices that could more than triple solar cell efficiencies. Thin, lightweight shields that block thermal detection. These are potential applications for a thin, flexible, light-absorbing material just developed by engineers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170202090752.htm
Developer LBS Properties has signed a £150m contract with Balfour Beatty to build a 53-storey residential tower near Canary Wharf in London.
The full construction contract follows on from its initial £1m pre-construction services win early in 2016 for The Madison project.
Rising to 187m, the Marsh Wall landmark tower will house 423 luxury flats of up to three bedrooms, including 104 affordable homes.
Piling works are currently underway, with commencement of the excavation of the basement and construction of the main concrete frame imminent.
The slender hexagonal glass clad tower is designed by Make Architects with all of the new homes meeting Lifetime Homes’ standards and Code for Sustainable Homes level 4.
The entire project is due for completion in 2020 with the development now over 35% sold.
Dean Banks, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s UK Construction Services business, said: ”Following a successful partnership with LBS Properties during the pre-construction phase, we’re delighted to have been appointed to deliver full construction of this iconic structure.”
Construction suffered its weakest growth in January since the post Brexit referendum recovery began last year.
Despite this, construction buyers remained confident about the outlook for the year-ahead, largely reflecting new project starts and a resilient economic backdrop.
The latest Markit/CPS survey also recorded strong staff hiring activity at the start of 2017 with employment numbers growing as the fastest rate for eight months, while subcontractor usage also rose at the steepest pace since December 2015.
It also flagged up concerns about rising prices for imported materials in a mixed picture for contractors.
The seasonally adjusted Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 52.2 in January, down from 54.2 in December
Housing, commercial and civil engineering recorded softer rates of output growth in January
Tim Moore, Senior Economist at IHS Markit and author of the Markit/CIPS Construction PMI, said: “UK construction firms experienced a subdued start to 2017, with all the key categories of activity losing momentum.
“While housebuilding retained its position as the fastest growing part of the construction sector, the latest upturn was the weakest since the post-referendum rebound emerged in September 2016.
“New business volumes also expanded at a softer pace in January, but there were more positive trends in terms of staff hiring and business optimism regarding the year-ahead outlook.
“The latest survey revealed an accelerated rise in payroll numbers at construction companies, as well as the fastest upturn in sub-contractor usage since the end of 2015.
A number of survey respondents commented on a boost to their workloads from the resilient economic backdrop, alongside a strong pipeline of new project starts in 2017.
“Meanwhile, the weak pound continued to have an inflationary impact on the UK construction sector in January. Purchasing costs increased at the strongest rate for almost eight-and-a-half years, as suppliers sought to pass on higher prices for commodities and imported construction materials.”
David Noble, Group Chief Executive Officer at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “Despite the biggest rise in input costs since August 2008, the sector was in buoyant mood at the start of the year, with highest level of confidence since December 2015.
“Continuing cost pressures from the weak pound and escalating commodity prices failed to impact significantly on purchasing volumes , as input buying increased following last month’s slight fall while job creation rose to an eight-month high. Previously stalled projects and plans were given the go-ahead as the sector ensured sufficient staff resource was in place to meet future demand.
“However, the dark cloud on the horizon was the continuing pressures on supply chains. Material shortages, lengthening delivery times and supplier performance, the weakest since June 2015, could become a roadblock to the sector’s continuing growth. “In the short term at least, the outlook is positive, as long as economic conditions remain supportive and firms are able to control their rising costs.”
