‘Save money and send us your waste windows for recycling’ is Recovinyl’s message to PVC window companies, construction and waste management firms. ‘Save money and send us your waste windows for recycling’ is Recovinyl’s message to PVC window companies, construction and waste management firms. Waste window frames can be readily
A £350m extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram network to Trafford Park has been approved by the government. Above: Artists impression of one of the stops on the new line Transport secretary Chris Grayling has granted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) legal powers to build the new 5.5km line under
Italy-based construction giant Nacanco has reported growth in the first half of its 15th year in operation. This comes on the heels of the company’s activities to expand its fleet and increase its presence in the construction industry. Managing Director, Marzia Giusto, reported a 5% increase in sales and a corresponding
Architecture firm Hugh Broughton Architects has been granted planning permission for contentious designs to revamp the keep of York Castle. Last week York councillors voted in favour of the proposals by an 11 to three majority. This was despite a petition against the project which attracted more than 2,000 signatures (Stop
Willmott Dixon has appointed Richard Blakeway as a new strategic advisor for the division in an attempt to strengthen its residential property developer arm. Mr Blakeway has a significant amount of experience in the industry and is a former Greater London Authority (GLA) deputy mayor for housing. Since leaving GLA earlier
Eric Wright Group has seen revenues increase by a tenth despite profits taking a hit due to a “disappointing” performance from its construction sector. Latest accounts show that the group generated a £177.4 million turnover in the last calendar year. This is a 10% increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, profits before
Middlesbrough manufacturing firm ESCS could be set for a 50% boost to turnover after attracting a growing interest from China. At present the fire protection company has a turnover of £500,000. It sent its self-designed ES300 TL system for demonstrations with a major gas and oil firm based in Qingdao, China.
Aerosols and consumer chemicals manufacturing firm James Briggs Ltd has successfully entered a new emerging market. The Oldham based company won a deal with Iranian protective coating specialist firm Dana Chem. This will see it supply the firm with its branded Hycote paint products. The Hycote brand has been made
A number of major construction industry forecasts suggest strong growth in the UK’s infrastructure spending in the coming years. It is hoped that this would mitigate the faltering commercial industry which is predicted to worsen as the effects of Brexit take its toll. New reports indicate that this influx of
‘Save money and send us your waste windows for recycling’ is Recovinyl’s message to PVC window companies, construction and waste management firms. ‘Save money and send us your waste windows for recycling’ is Recovinyl’s message to PVC window companies, construction and waste management firms. Waste window frames can be readily recycled through the PVC industry’s recycling scheme, enabling firms to save on landfill disposal costs. It’s also the environmentally-friendly option as the material can be recycled into new products, including windows. Recycling capacity has increased throughout the UK network of 16 Recovinyl certified window recyclers and they are seeking more frames. Most offer a nationwide collection service. “We are doing well, but we can handle even more windows,” says Jane Gardner of Axion Consulting, Recovinyl’s UK agents. “So whether you’re an installer, waste transfer station or building company, send your waste PVC windows to one of our registered Recovinyl recyclers and it will save you money on landfill costs.” Recovinyl is an operational arm of VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainable development programme, which is tackling the sustainability challenges for PVC and delivery of current recycling targets to 2020. The Recovinyl network currently comprises 163 companies. In 2015, 107,593 tonnes of waste PVC was collected and recycled in the UK through Recovinyl – the highest figure recorded to date, with PVC-U frames (61,866 tonnes) making up more than half this total. Jane continues: “More than 600,000 tonnes of PVC has been recycled in the UK via Recovinyl since its launch in the UK 11 years ago thanks to the commitment of the glazing, construction and waste management sectors to greater environmental practices and their recognition of the need to reduce the carbon impact of their operations. She adds: “PVC can be recycled up to seven times without any loss of performance and can be reused in a variety of different products, including new window frames thereby ‘closing the loop’. As a nation, we’re doing brilliantly on recycling our waste PVC, yet we can still do much more and we need your support.” Window installers and waste transfer stations who are looking for outlets for post-use PVC frames can contact Axion Consulting on 0161 426 7731 for a list of recyclers or for more information visit www.recovinyl.com. Source link
A £350m extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram network to Trafford Park has been approved by the government. Above: Artists impression of one of the stops on the new line Transport secretary Chris Grayling has granted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) legal powers to build the new 5.5km line under a Transport & Works Act order. Construction work could start this winter and the line be operational by 2021. TfGM said that it woul appoint a contractor ‘shortly’. The Trafford Park line will branch off from the existing Pomona stop and call at six new tram stops at key destinations, including Wharfside, near to Old Trafford football stadium, the Imperial War Museum, and key business areas through the industrial park. The majority of the new route is not on roads to ensure faster, more reliable journey times. It will pass under the Trafford Road Bridge and run alongside the existing promenade next to Manchester Ship Canal before joining Trafford Wharf Road. The new line will increase the size of the Metrolink network to more than 66 miles (106.5km) with 99 stops. The £350m funding package to build the line has already been secured by Greater Manchester Combined Authority through the ‘earn back’ funding arrangement as part of the Greater Manchester devolution deal. This article was published on 14 Oct 2016 (last updated on 14 Oct 2016). Source link
Italy-based construction giant Nacanco has reported growth in the first half of its 15th year in operation. This comes on the heels of the company’s activities to expand its fleet and increase its presence in the construction industry. Managing Director, Marzia Giusto, reported a 5% increase in sales and a corresponding increase in the company’s operating profit. He claimed this was in part due to longer average rental contracts and utilisation which grew from 62% to 65% in two years. Company reports also indicate that the firm’s ReRent service continually records profits. The company has also invested in expanding its fleet. It recently purchased JLG electric scissor lifts with 8m-10m working heights, an 18m JLG diesel articulated boom lifts and 20m Socage truck mounts. Nacanco now boasts more than 2500 pieces of equipment for hire. This comprises over 100 different models with a range of capabilities catering for heights between 3 and 43 metres. The Managing Director went on to recall the giant strides made by Nacanco’s sister company. Nacanco Service grew in terms of turnover, number of certified operators and range of different training facilities it provides. Giusto, stated that the company expects to keep the current growth rates and margins until the end of the year. The announcement comes as Nacanco celebrates 15 years in the aerial equipment rental sector. Employees celebrated with an open day at the company’s head office in Montichiari, Brescia. The celebrations also saw the launch of a new branch in Verona, a city in the north of Italy. ‘Increase the level of services’ Commenting on the launch of the new branch, the commercial director of Nacanco, Ramon Santamaria stated that it was part of the company’s strategy to increase the level of services offered to final users, both in terms of the variety of equipment offered and the firm’s presence in the industry.”
Architecture firm Hugh Broughton Architects has been granted planning permission for contentious designs to revamp the keep of York Castle. Last week York councillors voted in favour of the proposals by an 11 to three majority. This was despite a petition against the project which attracted more than 2,000 signatures (Stop English Heritage Making Clifford’s Tower Look Like Disneyland!). Hugh Broughton Architects is working with conservation specialists Martin Ashley Architects on the scheme. It landed the project after a competition in January last year. The scheme, backed by English Heritage, is striving to improve visitor facilities inside the ruined keep. A timber structure will be installed to partially cover the ruin. The company will also provide a viewing platform at roof level. The new additions will rest on pad foundations designed to spread the loads without impacting on the archaeology of the tower. A new single-storey visitor centre at ground level will also feature an orientation area, staff offices and facilities. A substantial section of the tower’s wall, buried since 1935, will be uncovered as part of the project. Clifford’s Tower is the biggest surviving structure from the medieval royal castle of York. The castle was was an important seat of government of the North of England in the Middle Ages. It was constructed atop a tall earthen mound in the mid-13th Century. It was ruined by fire in 1684 and has stood roofless since. The castle mound is thought to have been raised during the reign of William the Conqueror. ‘Thrilled’ Jeremy Ashbee, head curator of properties at English Heritage, commented: “This project will reveal more of Clifford’s Tower than ever before and allow us to finally do justice to its remarkable history. “An enormous amount of care was taken in preparing the planning application, in consultation with planners, designers and members of the public. We are thrilled to have permission to go ahead with this project.”
Willmott Dixon has appointed Richard Blakeway as a new strategic advisor for the division in an attempt to strengthen its residential property developer arm. Mr Blakeway has a significant amount of experience in the industry and is a former Greater London Authority (GLA) deputy mayor for housing. Since leaving GLA earlier in the year, Blakeway spent many months advising the Government on housing policy. In this new role, Mr Blakeway will offer strategic advice to Willmott Residential to increase development volume throughout London in conjunction with local authorities and other land owners; particularly in growing ‘Be:here’, the company’s build for rent business. ‘Tremendous breadth of knowledge’ Willmott Residential Chief Executive, Nic Simpkin, commented: “Richard brings a tremendous breadth of knowledge of housing with a proven track-record for unlocking opportunities to deliver significant numbers of homes while at the GLA. I’m delighted Ric’s experience is going to play a key role in the next phase of our growth as we target new land opportunities, including creating a real step change in build for rent homes, with our next development in Hayes for 118 homes being delivered next month and developments at Barking and Kew ready to start having obtained planning consents.” Mr Blakeway said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to play an important part in Willmott Residential’s growth. I’ve been impressed with how its build-for-rent company Be:here has raised the bar for this emerging asset class and given the huge availability of institutional investment in money for build-for-rent, coupled with the significant need, we can really increase the availability of quality homes for people to rent.” Meanwhile, Willmott Dixon has secured a £20 million contract to build a new science and technology facility in Wales. The location of this development is in M-SParc’s science park in Gaerwen, Anglesey. Work on the 20-acre site is to begin later this year and with a completion time of early 2018.
Eric Wright Group has seen revenues increase by a tenth despite profits taking a hit due to a “disappointing” performance from its construction sector. Latest accounts show that the group generated a £177.4 million turnover in the last calendar year. This is a 10% increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, profits before tax decreased by 14% to £7.8 million over the same time frame. Eric Wright Group is the holding company behind the Eric Wright group of companies. The group’s activities include facilities management, property development, civil engineering, contracting and building. Alongside the accounts there was also a report. In this, chairman Eric Wright stated that “the principal reason behind the reduced profitability was the disappointing performance reported by our construction division.” Wright continued: “Despite the reduced operating profit in construction, its turnover was £17m stronger in 2015 contributing to an overall group turnover of £177m, some £17m higher than the prior year. The other division which saw a significant increase in turnover during 2015 was the water and civil engineering business up at £42m (2014: £28m).” The chairman also said that the construction division was unable to meet programme commitments on two private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. As a result were liable for “substantial liquidated damages and incurred significant cost overruns.” The losses incurred from these contracts were “onerous” because of the conditions associated with PFI contracts and had a severe impact on the results for last year. ‘Excellent progress’ He added that the resulting £1.7 million loss saw further increase following the resolution of positions on some legacy contracts. As well as this, general market factors resulted in unforeseen delays to secured contracts starting onsite. Jeremy Hartley, managing director at the Eric Wright Group, said: “The group made some excellent progress across many of its core businesses in 2015, ending the year with another robust set of financial results – a profit before tax of £9.88m.
Middlesbrough manufacturing firm ESCS could be set for a 50% boost to turnover after attracting a growing interest from China. At present the fire protection company has a turnover of £500,000. It sent its self-designed ES300 TL system for demonstrations with a major gas and oil firm based in Qingdao, China. Talks are now underway with regard to the Chinese company possibly ordering 10 of the machines in a £250,000 deal. ESCS makes specialist corrosion control and spray application equipment. It already boasts major gas and oil operators in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia among its customers. However, managing director Shaun McDonald believes that the ES300 TL has the ability to revolutionise the fire protection sector. The specialist machines spray thick coatings of intumescent epoxy materials to protect steel structures from the threat of fire. ESCS already makes and exports the ES430 from its new premises on South Tees Freight Park. The ES430 is a bigger applicator of passive fire protection, but on request from its Chinese customer produced the smaller, faster version. ‘A real innovation’ McDonald devised ESCS himself and invested £27,000 into the planning, design and research of the machine, with manufacturing support from Middlesbrough companies Donoghue Engineering and Teesside Precision Engineering. He now believes that after initial trials at Azko Nobel in Felling, the new machine is going to be a big hit throughout the sector. McDonald said: “I knew it would do a job, as it will reduce the set-up time and application process on smaller jobs by at least two thirds, but it far surpassed even my own high expectations during the testing. “This is a real innovation because it will save so much time. There is nothing like this on the market so I think these machines will fly off the shelf once people out there know about it.”
Aerosols and consumer chemicals manufacturing firm James Briggs Ltd has successfully entered a new emerging market. The Oldham based company won a deal with Iranian protective coating specialist firm Dana Chem. This will see it supply the firm with its branded Hycote paint products. The Hycote brand has been made in the Royton area of Greater Manchester since 1982. It includes products for valeting, maintaining and painting vehicles. Although there was some skepticism surrounding the future of British exporting after the EU referendum in June, the weakened pound has increased UK export activity by 8% to its highest rate in the last two years. The manufacturing company says that the its international performance has fallen in line with the wider positive outlook. It is now looking to increase its presence in Europe and further afield. The partnership with Dana Chem has added to a number of international firsts for the firm. Over the last year and a half the company has entered new markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East throughout the last year and a half. ‘An exciting new era’ James Briggs CEO Tim Pugh said of the deal: “James Briggs has continued to realise its strategy of targeting new international territories, such as Iran, that are receptive to high quality, British-developed products. “While Brexit has meant a necessary realigning of our export activity, our wider strategy has always looked beyond the single market and we’re confident it will continue to serve us well in the near and long-term.“ He continued: “Our partnership with Dana Chem marks the beginning of an exciting new era for James Briggs, and we look forward to expanding our presence in Iran as our partnership and products begin to gain traction.” In August, Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) worked with James Briggs Limited on a joint development programme. The business has developed a form of graphene it says can deliver a six-fold improvement in barrier and anti-corrosion properties. James Briggs is expected to use the product in primers to offer greater protection from weathering.
A number of major construction industry forecasts suggest strong growth in the UK’s infrastructure spending in the coming years. It is hoped that this would mitigate the faltering commercial industry which is predicted to worsen as the effects of Brexit take its toll. New reports indicate that this influx of monies into the sector could result in a post-Brexit growth of between 0.2% and 0.3%. A sharp deviation from the predicted 3.6% growth before the referendum. Figures from the CPA suggest that a majority of the industry activity in the interim are being sustained by the work on projects that were agreed on or started before the referendum. The construction forecast posits Construction output to rise 0.6% in 2016, 0.3% in 2017 and 0.2% in 2018 Offices construction to increase 8% in 2016 before falling 3% in 2017 and a further 10% in 2018 Factories construction to fall 5% in 2016 and 2% in 2017 Infrastructure work to rise by 6.2% in 2017 and 10.2% in 2018 Private housing starts to rise 2% but remain flat in 2017 and fall 2% in 2018 Retail construction to fall 8.0% in 2016 before falls of 4% in 2017 and 2% in 2018 This implies continued activity in the industry for the first half of next year. The second half though, does not bode well for privately funded construction sectors who are poised to suffer more from the uncertainty of the current times. Noble Francis, the economics director at the CPA predicts that industrial construction outputs could fall as much as 11% by 2018. This he argues is because large players in the industry would likely make fewer major investments as a result of the economic uncertainty that has gripped the industry. Reports indicate that it is vital that the Chancellor, for the upcoming autumn statement, focuses on reducing uncertainty for the private sector and ensure the delivery of projects that are already in the pipeline if the industry is to survive the times.
