Features

Milling techniques remain one of the most widely used recycling methods

The preparation of the new EU Road Safety Policy for the next decade will take place during Spain's presidency of the EU. Patrick Smith reports. An the past 10 years, half a million people have been killed on European Union roads, with road crashes costing an annual €160 billion or 2% the EU's GDP.

Highway road tunnels and inter-city vehicle underpasses are vital components of an essential busy highways network. Keeping them clean is essential. Road tunnels and vehicle underpasses require a specific strength of light. Too bright, and the lamps or lights may dazzle or distract drivers, and too dim the tunnel can seem claustrophobic and daunting, as well as increasing dangers from obstructions and other hazards.

Aximum is a comparatively new organisation, but it incorporates many old-established companies in the route safety business. As Alan Peterson discovered, it is 'ready to pick up speed'. A few weeks ago the French-based Aximum Group added a fourth international subsidiary to its portfolio of businesses at the end of what has been a busy period for the fledgling company.

A new bridge inspection unit is carrying out vital work in Vietnam.

superior Industries is now offering virtual welder training at its Welding Training Centre.

Specialist materials company, Element Six, hopes to boost worldwide sales for its high performance tungsten carbide tools. The firm has been manufacturing road planing picks for over 20 years and has proven its products in Europe but is looking to develop its worldwide profile. Well-proven in the European market, the company’s MasterGrade range is increasingly used by road contractors globally. The MasterGrade product is said to feature a high quality tungsten carbide grade, which the firm claims can delive

On behalf of the International Road Federation, I am delighted to extend a personal invitation to road industry professionals to join us in Portugal for the 16th IRF World Road Meeting.

In preparation for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the Black Sea health resort of Sotschi, Russia, is tackling its growing traffic jam problems.A 13km bypass and a new main road passing mainly under the city involves the construction of 15 tunnels and a number of bridges and flyovers.

Many countries had their most severe winter for years, but it could have been much worse without the right equipment and technology as Patrick Smith reports. As many countries faced up to the 2010-2011 winter, hard-pressed maintenance teams did their best to keep things moving on the roads. With some of the lowest temperatures and heaviest snowfalls on record, the UK, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, France, Scandinavia, Germany, and Belgium were among those affected. Russia, eastern Europe and the USA did

A new Caterpillar grade control system can be installed at the factory to certain Tier 4 Interim/ Stage IIIB emission compliant dozers, graders, scrapers and excavators. The technology improves operator efficiency and equipment performance while reducing the overall cost of a machine guidance system on site.

Productive performers provide increased output for customers in the loading and hauling sector of the earthmoving market - Mike Woof writes. Loading and hauling machines play key roles in earthmoving operations, with the excavator and ADT combination proving both versatile and productive. While machines such as scrapers may be more efficient in specific earthmoving applications, these do not offer the versatility of the excavator and ADT combination, reducing utilisation.

Komatsu Europe has invested in developing an efficient spare parts operation - Mike Woof writes. Komatsu Europe is reaping the benefit of its investments in the spares support facility in Belgium. During the financial crisis new machine sales plummeted across Europe for all manufacturers but Komatsu Europe was able to ensure steady income through its spares support service. With many European customers holding onto machines longer during the last few years due to the downturn, spares support has been pivota

The German construction equipment manufacturer's association, the VDMA, has said that the new EU-exhaust emission directive presents a major challenge for its members. According to the VDMA, the introduction of the EU-Exhaust Emission Regulation Stage IIIB has resulted in a great deal of investment at huge cost. For customers that has resulted in higher prices and the VDMA sees tighter regulation as being counter-productive.