Features

Innovative projects at IRF Awards luncheon
February 22, 2013
Since the launch of the IRF Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA) program in 2000, our main objective has been to showcase innovation and leadership in the global road industry,” noted IRF president & CEO Patrick Sankey, as he opened the luncheon. “We are extremely proud our Awards Program has become an industry reference for innovators across the globe.” IRF Chairman Abdullah Al-Mogbel offered his congratulations to the award winners, noting, “…the award winners provide an inspiring example of the ingenuit
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IRF publishes ITS manifesto
February 22, 2013
Ministerial launch marks IRF’s long-term commitment to ITS deployment and the creation of conducive policy environments for the adoption of smart technology While sustainable mobility is recognised as one of the keys to social and economic development, our roads are becoming increasingly congested, road transport has negative environmental impacts and more and more cars need to be accommodated. For IRF, a pivotal response to this dilemma lies in the increased deployment of intelligent transport systems (IT
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Booming Chinese aggregate demand
February 22, 2013
Global demand for construction aggregates is set to increase 5.2% a year until 2015 to 48.3 billion tonnes, according to research by The Freedonia Group in the United States. The same source tips China alone to account for half of all new aggregate demand worldwide in the period 2010-2015. Guy Woodford reports on the growing importance of the Asian aggregates market. China is already the biggest nation for aggregate production and use in the world, and the competition among the giants of aggregate productio
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A new road safety drive will cut crashes in Europe
February 22, 2013
The ERF is amongst the campaigners for a safer road network. Safety is of crucial importance given the large number of fatalities on Europe’s road network. In 2012 alone, more than 30,000 people died on European roads, resulting in a negative impact on social, economic and health factors. Road safety has become a priority not only for the EU institutions but also at international level for the United Nations with the launching of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Traditionally, improvements in road safe
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Brazil looks to stage major road construction event
February 21, 2013
The upcoming Brazil Road Expo event is capitalising on the country’s strong growth in highway construction. Brazil’s construction machinery market foresees an average growth of 12.5% in 2013, according to a survey of equipment manufacturers and importers released at the end of 2012. The third edition of Brazil Road Expo, the main paving technology and road infrastructure event in the country, is being held from March 19th-21st at the Transamerica Expo Center, in São Paulo. The event will gather some of the
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Durability is crucial while warm mix technology can help disaster recovery
February 21, 2013
Why durability is crucial for both emerging and developed economies, and how warm mix technology can help disaster recovery - Kristina Smith reports. When CORE Construction, a 100% owned Ghanaian company, started working on road construction projects five years ago, it was difficult to source the right bituminous mixes. “In the past, most construction firms had a number of challenges when it came to bituminous works, since the local capacity was not well-developed,” said CORE CEO Frank Lartey. CORE’s soluti
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Notable developments have been made in milling machines
February 21, 2013
The milling machine market is increasingly competitive - Mike Woof reports. Having been a pioneer of the road milling machine market, it is no surprise that the Wirtgen group holds a dominant position in this sector. The company has arguably the broadest range of machines available with the widest array of options and features, to suit specific applications as well as regional requirements. The company has faced increasing levels of competition however, with firms such as BOMAG, Caterpillar, Dynapac, Roadte
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Barrier innovations making roads safer
February 21, 2013
Developments in barrier technology continue to make roads safer for drivers - Mike Woof writes. Innovative new barrier technology is helping make roads safer for drivers. Key developments have been made in barrier design, helping ensure road and highway infrastructure is more passively safe. New barrier designs ensure that errant vehicles are redirected into the roadway, with reduced risks for occupants and also other road users. Continuously slipformed concrete barriers reinforced with steel are now widely
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Emphasis on the new at record-breaking World of Asphalt 2013 & AGG1
February 21, 2013
The 2013 World of Asphalt and AGG1 expositions taking place March 19-21 in San Antonio, Texas are on course to be sold out by opening day, setting new records for exhibitor numbers and attendees. Guy Woodford discovers that major construction industry manufacturers will be highlighting new as well as established machine models in their exhibits at the co-located events Covering more than 10,870m² of exhibit space, attendees at the 2013 World of Asphalt and AGG1 shows can expect to find a huge line-up of new
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New Sudan link will boost economic development
February 21, 2013
South Sudan’s new showpiece road has reduced travelling times and improved access to markets and basic services. Shem Oirere reports Bituminous surface treatment is common for highways with low-traffic or for the rejuvenation of a weakening asphalt concrete pavement. But this is what the 192km Juba-Nimule Highway in the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan, needed in its reconstruction to bring it to international standards. Commissioning of the highway effectively erases the tag ‘landlocked’ from South Su
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Geveko’s worldwide PREMARK
February 21, 2013
Firmly established as part of the road marking landscape on highways in Europe, USA and Australia, Geveko’s PREMARK preformed thermoplastic road marking is being increasingly used to help guide traffic in the North Africa, Middle East and Gulf regions. A recent example is the introduction of Persian words, a car symbol and an ETC logo to help guide the traffic and increase its flow at a toll station in Iran. Meanwhile in Ajman, in the United Arab Emirates, PREMARK is now used on horizontal speed limit signs
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3i Traffic in demand in two hemispheres
February 21, 2013
3i Traffic, a division of 3i Innovation, had its iiiLEVEL road marking installed last year in the Terrace Tunnel, the busiest in the New Zealand city of Wellington. The inductively powered system comprises flush-mounted iiiLEVEL road markers, with uni-/bi-directional light direction and red and white LEDs. The intelligent iiiLEVEL road markers are said to provide dimming functions for day and night time adaption as well as emergency functions with all sides (light directions) on. A previous Terrace Tunnel o
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Improved roadmarkings will boost roadway safety for users
February 19, 2013
An Innovative road marking system helping to boost public transport in a major South American city, and road marking analytic technology robust enough to withstand damage in heavy rain are among products examined by Guy Woodford . DEGAROUTE Methacylate (MMA) cold plastic area markings from Evonik Industries are being used as part of efforts to improve the public transport system in Santiago, Chile. By adding red pigment to the DEGAROUTE binder, distinctive and long-lasting red-coloured bus lanes are being c
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Advances in rubber tyre machine market
February 19, 2013
One market segment where there have been notable developments has been for rubber tyred asphalt rollers. Several models have been introduced, and the Chinese market has played a key role in this respect, with both international and indigenous companies introducing machines. BOMAG’s Chinese factory is not simply building models developed in Europe. This recently expanded facility has its own research and development teams and is developing machines for China, and also for the international market. Emission r
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New machines competing in ADT market
February 19, 2013
All-wheel-drive trucks for the Chinese market - Mike Woof reports. One noticeable development at the bauma China exhibition in Shanghai in late 2012 was the proliferation of ADT models. Doosan and Volvo showed some of their latest ADT variants alongside their latest excavators and are keen to highlight the benefits of ADTs for use on sites where traction or grade may be an issue for rigid trucks or on/off highway haulers. However Caterpillar chose to highlight its off-highway rigid trucks at bauma China, as
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