Features

Demolition is a highly specialised business, as the machinery required to carry out the work on high-rise demolition contracts can be very site specific. Today's high reach demolition rig is no longer simply a tracked excavator with a long boom, indeed some machines cannot be used as excavators at all. Likewise a machine that is dedicated to carrying a 2.5 or 3tonne shear or hammer will need to be built to take the stresses and strains of demolition life. Many of the ultra long boom machines are designed

Ferocious daytime temperatures can provide a tough challenge to construction firms working in desert conditions in Egypt's south. Despite the high daytime temperatures however, Egyptian contractor Orascom has managed to complete an airport project on budget and ahead of schedule, while meeting the client's tight specifications. The firm has just completed the project to revamp Suhag Airport in the south of the country. This airport now features a new runway, taxiways and aircraft hard standing, as well as n

New demolition tolls are coming to market while safety training for high reach excavator operators has been established With the Intermat equipment exhibition due shortly, various manufacturers are offering new demolition tools to the market. Meanwhile the UK's National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is now setting a lead in the sector by offering a high reach excavator training course. The NFDC has partnered with the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) to develop the world's first train

Close to Sweden's second largest city Göthenburg lies the efficient Jehander quarrying operation run by Heidelberg Cement. The site produces around 9,000tonnes/day at peak seasonal demand and has an output of some 1,000,000tonnes/year. The site has recently renewed its operating permission and now has the necessary approval to work until 2021. Niklas Osvaldsson is regional manager for Heidelberg Cement and said, "Since early 2000 this has been part of the Heidelberg Group." Stone production originally st

A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection as Mike Woof reports. The work to upgrade the Desert Highway connecting Egypt's sprawling capital Cairo with its major port Alexandria, is one of the country's largest infrastructure projects for many years. This 220km highway link is being widened and improved to cope with the hugely increased traffic volumes resulting partly from Egypt's fast growing vehicle population. The Egyptian economy is strong

The latest developments in drilling rigs can help boost efficiency in quarry producion applications - Mike Woof reports. Efficient drilling and blasting operations can have a huge impact on production costs in quarrying. Accuracy of hole direction and depth, as well as optimum blast design and explosives use, are critical for efficient blasting work. Ineffective blasting can result in high quantities of fines of low commercial value as well as over-sized material requiring secondary breaking. This impacts o

A high speed bridge demolition project has been carried out successfully in Germany. Speed was of the essence as the bridge spanned an important road link and had to be removed in a tight time frame, minimising disruption to traffic.

Effective compaction control is one of a series of technical innovations boosting performance efficiency – Mike Woof writes. Maximising compaction efficiency can be a major cost factor on construction projects. Both for soil and asphalt compaction sectors, the risk from leaving an area under or over-compacted is substantial.

Long reach demolition excavators are now special purpose machines, Dan Gilkes reports The majority of construction equipment manufacturers offer a range of demolition specific machines, built to meet the needs of a sector of the industry that works its plant harder than most. Reinforced structures, additional hydraulic services, cab and body protection, dust suppression and additional engine air cleaners are just some of the standard alterations required by the demolition contractor. For many years exca

Long reach excavators now dominate the demolition sector - Mike Woof reports The last 10-15 years have seen the way demolition work is carried out change dramatically. Safety issues have long been of concern in the demolition sector, with the industry having been criticised for not doing enough to protect its workforce. Demolition projects can be dangerous due to the very nature of the job, with old structures being knocked down and broken up on-site. There is a substantial risk to site workers from

World of Asphalt 2012 and the co-located AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo will be the largest in the history of the two events.

New machines are now coming to the international market, with Chinese firms producing a particularly strong showing. At the last BICES exhibition in Chinese capital Beijing, one of the most notable developments was how many of the country’s equipment manufacturers now offer ranges of soil compaction and/or asphalt compaction equipment.

Innovations in drilling and blasting and crushing and screening are bringing major economies of scale to aggregate production operations. Drilling and blasting is an area where new technology is offering major saving to quarrying companies. This is another important factor in the quarrying process, as inefficient drilling and blasting can have major financial repercussions.

Compact compaction units are delivering increased performance – Mike Woof reports. Competition is tough in the market for non-ride-on compaction units, with two manufacturers now introducing revamped models. Both JCB and Wacker Neuson aim to claim a larger section of the market with their latest designs, compaction plates and remote-controlled trench rollers respectively.

The Wirtgen Group is developing its manufacturing facilities outside of Germany. The company has extensive operations in Brazil and China and has now opened a new plant in India, which has started production already. Joint president Stefan Wirtgen said, “The first machine we made was a Hamm compactor. It is specially developed for the Indian market.”