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Construction machine sales are strengthening around the globe. A report from the SaMoTer-Veronafiere Outlook reveals that 7,551 construction machines were sold in Italy over the period from January-September 2016. This represents a gain of 32% from the same period in 2015 and a further increase of 37% is estimated in Italy for the two-year period 2017-2018. Worldwide the first nine months of 2016 saw sales around the world of 496,500 earth moving machines, a drop of around 5,000 less (1%) compared to th

Caterpillar is changing its production approach for two key product lines; mini excavators and crawler drills. Caterpillar and Wacker Neuson are to end their agreement for the manufacture of mini excavators, while Caterpillar will cease production of crawler drilling rigs at its plant in Texas.

Algeria is setting up a process to monitor potential landslides that could damage infrastructure. The move follows a recent landslide that resulted in a stretch of the Ben Aknoun to Zéralda highway being closed for 36 hours due to severe damage. A landslide resulted in a 6m wide collapse, with 5 cars being caught up in the incident and 14 people being injured and having to be taken to hospital. Algeria’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works is introducing the new scheme.

Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge to Chirundu highway link now looks set for a complete upgrade. The project has been planned for over 10 years but has faced a series of setbacks and delays, with funding having proved one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the past. The 897km highway runs from Beitbridge, located on the border with South Africa in the south of Zimbabwe all the way up to Chirundu, which is just over the border with Zambia in the north. The route includes part of the A4 highway in the south and the A1 hi

Two major highway projects are now moving forward in the Philippines. One is for the development of a highway stretch to connect the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway. The other is for a new coastal road stretch close to Davao City. The US$485million North Luzon Expressway to South Luzon Expressway highway connection is being handled under a 35 year concession package. Metro Pacific Tollways (MPT) is investing $332 million in the project, which is being handled under the build-operate-tra

Work on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, the A5 route connecting Lagos with Ibadan, is close to completion. Lagos and Ibadan are two of the largest cities in Nigeria and as the distance between the two is comparatively short at 128km, the highway carries heavy traffic. The tender process for the project was won by Julius Berger Nigeria in 2013, with the work being handled in two sections from Lagos to the Sagamu Interchange and from the Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan. Work on the project was halted temporar

Construction of the 5.6km stretch of the D3 motorway Cadca, Bukov - Svrcinovec in Slovakia could start by the end of the year. The tender was rolled out in May 2015 by the Slovak national motorway operator NDS and the final contract was recently signed for the €239million deal. Winners are the consortium of Hochtief from Germany and Austrian firms Strabag and PORR. Completion is schedule for 2020. Porr’s share of the contract is reportedly around €81 million and Strabag's around €105 million. Work inc

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Brazil has South America’s most dangerous roads. That is the key finding from research carried out by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Its study shows that the country’s road death rate is a major cause for concern, accounting for over 40,000 fatalities in 2013 for example. With the country’s population estimated at over 200 million in 2013, this suggests a fatality rate of 20/100,000 of population. The research shows that speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, non-use of seatb

Balfour Beatty has started bridge work over the M3 motorway as part of a €205 million upgrade on highway connecting London to south coast ports. Balfour recently demolished the Woodlands Lane Bridge between junctions 2 and 3 near Windlesham on the M3 which runs from the capital to Southampton and Portsmouth. A new bridge is being constructed Balfour Beatty is working for the agency Highways England to reduce congestion this section of the M3 that handles more than 130,000 vehicle journeys every day.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe has appointed Alain Worp as managing director. Worp has been with Hyundai for 13 years and has held a number of positions within the sales department and is moving up from director of construction equipment sales. For an interim period, he will fulfil both roles. Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe predicts growth of 5% for 2016 compared with 2015. “This result would mean that Hyundai has shown rising market shares for the 7th consecutive year in growing sales numbers and/

The organisers of the bauma 2019 exhibition in Germany are launching a new open innovation challenge online. The challenge calls for solutions for alternative power supplies for lifting gear. The first Open Innovation project was organized at bauma 2016. Now, in mid-November 2016, a new challenge is going online, this time with the aim of finding an alternative power supply for lifting gear. The solutions submitted by experts are handled anonymously and passed on directly to the issuer of the Challenge. P

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India has announced the approval of 12 highway projects valued at nearly US$908 million. Projects are in the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Goa, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The project in West Bengal entails the four-laning of the Haldia from Kolaghat section of NH-41 in addition to the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Barhani-Kataya Chowk near the Shohratgarh section of NH-730. There are three projects in