January 22, 2018

Hinkley alternatives ‘offer huge saving’

©PA A model of the proposed Hinkley Point C power station. The project to build the reactor is expected to cost £18bn Britain could save £1bn a year by pursuing cheaper alternatives to the proposed Hinkley Point nuclear power station, according to a report that says the Franco-Chinese project is

Read More »

Western aluminium makers face new threat

Chinese producers of the lightweight metal push to supply automotive and aerospace industries ©FT Graphic / Bloomberg Aluminium smelting inside a China Hongqiao factory in Zouping, Shandong province China Hongqiao, the world’s largest producer of aluminium by output, used its latest annual report to warn that fierce competition in its

Read More »

Care homes for Clugston

Clugston Construction has booked an £11m contract to deliver two new care homes for Porthaven Care Homes in Farnham and Kidlington. Above: Artists impression of Farnham Care Home The two homes will be built and fitted out by Clugston’s West Midlands team. They will have up to 70 bedrooms and

Read More »

Battersea Power Station chimneys dismantled thanks to bespoke solution provided by Delta International

After three years and more than 250,000 man hours, the four chimneys at one of London’s most famous landmarks – Battersea Power Station – were successfully dismantled and removed using a self-climbing platform technique designed by Oldham-based working at height specialists, Delta International. Established in 1977 as a steeplejack company, Delta

Read More »

The Results of the FMB Survey

The results from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ‘State of Trade Survey’ show that more than two thirds (68%) of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms struggle to hire bricklayers and 64% struggle to hire carpenters and joiners. These are the highest figures since 2008 and are

Read More »

Former Children’s Home Sold with the Help of Engine of the North

Engine of the North, a strategic property company wholly owned by Cheshire East Council, has completed the sale of the former local authority children’s home in Nantwich to Richmond Care Villages for £3.5 million. The ex-children centre will become a specialised centre in dementia care, following planning approval from last

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

January 22, 2018

Hinkley alternatives ‘offer huge saving’

©PA A model of the proposed Hinkley Point C power station. The project to build the reactor is expected to cost £18bn Britain could save £1bn a year by pursuing cheaper alternatives to the proposed Hinkley Point nuclear power station, according to a report that says the Franco-Chinese project is not essential to keeping Britain’s lights on. As few as four big offshore wind farms could provide as much electricity as the 3.2 gigawatts expected from Hinkley, with additional gas-fired power and interconnectors with other countries also helping to fill the gap if the Somerset plant is scrapped. More On this topic IN UK Politics & Policy The findings from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit follows the decision by Theresa May, prime minister, to put Hinkley on hold pending a review, with a decision expected next month. Critics say that the £18bn project is too expensive and risky. Richard Black, director of the ECIU, said the think-tank set out to determine whether it was possible for the UK to maintain adequate electricity supplies without Hinkley while keeping carbon emissions and energy bills in check. “Our conclusion is that [Hinkley is] not essential; using tried and tested technologies, with nothing unproven or futuristic, Britain can meet all its targets and do so at lower cost,” he said. “If Mrs May decides to go ahead with Hinkley, all well and good — if she decides not to, or if the project stumbles at a later stage, we have alternatives.” The report said that replacing Hinkley with more offshore wind power could shave £10-£20 per year off the average household energy bill, while greater use of gas-fired power to meet peak-time demand would save £16bn in infrastructure costs. ©Bloomberg Turbines in the London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, situated in the Thames Estuary A combination of these alternatives, together with more cross-border interconnectors and measures to reduce electricity demand, would produce an annual saving to the UK economy of £1bn compared with the cost if Hinkley goes ahead, the report said. The claims were seized on by critics of Hinkley, such as Paul Massara, chief executive of North Star Solar, a renewable power company, who said that it would be “madness” to proceed when there were cheaper, more flexible alternatives. EDF, the French state-controlled company planning to build Hinkley with Chinese financial backing, said that the scenarios set out by the ECIU were “not credible” and highlighted the greater reliability of nuclear power compared with wind and solar. “[Hinkley’s] cost is competitive with other large-scale low carbon technologies. It will generate electricity steadily even on foggy and still winter days across northern Europe.” EDF will receive £92.50 for each megawatt hour of electricity — double the current wholesale price — for 35 years if the plant is approved. Advocates say that the high price was needed to incentivise EDF to invest in a project expected to meet about 7 per cent of UK electricity demand. Responding to the ECIU report, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, said that the UK needed “a diverse and reliable mix of energy sources including nuclear, renewable energy and gas”. The government was “considering all component parts of the Hinkley project and will make its decision in early autumn”, it added. Peter Haslam, head of policy at the Nuclear Industry Association, an industry group, said that nuclear power had a crucial role in replacing the 65 per cent of UK electricity generation capacity expected to have disappeared between 2010 and 2030 as coal-fired power is phased out and old nuclear reactors are decommissioned. He said: “The debate shouldn’t be about nuclear versus other technologies, but how the UK can replace its ageing infrastructure with low carbon and reliable power.” Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

Read More »

Western aluminium makers face new threat

Chinese producers of the lightweight metal push to supply automotive and aerospace industries ©FT Graphic / Bloomberg Aluminium smelting inside a China Hongqiao factory in Zouping, Shandong province China Hongqiao, the world’s largest producer of aluminium by output, used its latest annual report to warn that fierce competition in its home market would lead to “survival of the fittest”. At the vanguard of China’s dominance of the global aluminium industry, Hongqiao appears to be thriving: in March the privately owned company set out plans to expand production capacity to 6m tonnes by the end of this year — 33 per cent more than the combined output of its US rivals in 2015. These ambitious plans help explain why US and European aluminium producers fear their Chinese competitors could undermine a tentative recovery in the price of the lightweight metal this year. This is because western producers say excess production by Chinese rivals was a key factor behind falling prices between 2011 and last year. Any fresh deterioration in the aluminium market — the rebound has been attributed to a limited increase in demand allied to some cuts in production in certain countries including China — would have significant repercussions for producers including Alcoa of the US, Norway’s Norsk Hydro and Russia’s Rusal. Furthermore, Chinese producers are set to become even more potent competitors by pushing into production of high quality aluminium for industries including aerospace and automotive. This area has so far been dominated by European and US producers. Jeremy Wrathall, analyst at Investec in London, suggests European and US aluminium producers are under severe pressure. “Does the west want an aluminium industry or not?,” he asks. “They’ve got to make a decision if it’s of strategic importance or not.” The high stakes were highlighted by how President Barack Obama discussed the issue of excess aluminium production by China with President Xi Jinping at a meeting of leaders of the G20 group of nations this month. “The US and China recognise that due to a weak global economic recovery and depressed market demand, the excess capacity of the . . . aluminium industry has increased and become a global issue requiring collective response,” said a White House statement. China overtook the US in aluminium production in 2003, and now, globally, produces half of the metal. Most of China’s production of primary aluminium — the basic, unworked metal — is consumed domestically due to an export tax levied because of the high energy costs of smelting. Companies such as Hongqiao deliver the metal in liquid form or cast ingots to Chinese customers that turn it into so-called semi-finished products. These include rolled products, such as aluminium sheet used to make drinks cans, and extruded items like girders for the construction industry. China’s exports of these products have soared over the past decade, reflecting how production far exceeds domestic demand. Little wonder that European aluminium producers are worried about China’s output, and the impact on prices. “Our concern is one word: overcapacity,” says Maximo Miccinilli, director of public affairs at European Aluminium, which represents the region’s producers. It estimates that China has excess aluminium capacity of 10m tonnes a year currently — five times the EU’s total output. “In the last 10 years [Europe has] lost one-third of our capacity,” adds Mr Miccinilli. “We had to shut down smelters in Europe and of those that are still operating, most are under serious risk.” Similar concerns exist in the US, where the aluminium industry has been in steady decline since the financial crisis. Production fell to its lowest level in more than 30 years in June. Western aluminium producers complain of unfair trade, alleging that some Chinese rivals receive subsidies for electricity costs — the largest single expense in smelting. They also claim Chinese producers are dumping aluminium on the global market at lowball prices. The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, which represents Chinese aluminium producers, declines to comment on these allegations. Western producers now face an additional challenge: Chinese rivals’ ambitions to expand into making higher quality aluminium products for use in aircraft and cars. “What China lacks is high-value added aluminium products for aviation,” says Laura Zhai, analyst at Fitch. “All Chinese companies would want to get a hold of that.” A company affiliated to China Zhongwang, the world’s second-largest producer of aluminium extrusions, last month agreed to buy Aleris of the US for $2.3bn including debt. Aleris specialises in rolled aluminium products for the aerospace and automotive industries, and the takeover “raises very serious concerns for the entire aluminium industry”, says the Aluminum Extruders Council, which represents US producers. “Zhongwang is a state-supported enterprise and has received large benefits and financing from the government of China,” it adds. But Lu Changqing, president of Zhongwang, says it has always been a private company and has not received any direct or intermediate investment from the Chinese state. “Zhongwang . . . has grown up and developed in a completely market-based process, and in this process, the company has had not special government support and has had no subsidies,” adds Mr Lu. Yet Zhongwang’s takeover of Aleris could lead other Chinese aluminium companies, both state and privately owned, to hunt for overseas assets, say analysts. “Chinese aluminium companies are looking outside China,” says Charlie Durant, analyst at CRU, a consultancy. One potential source of relief for western aluminium producers are signs since late last year the Chinese government is willing to tackle excess capacity in the domestic industry. Some analysts question Beijing’s commitment, but so far this year Chinese aluminium output has fallen by an estimated 3 per cent compared to 2015. Zhang Bo, Hongqiao’s chief executive, said in March the company would slow its capacity expansion or even suspend output of basic aluminium if demand faltered. However, since many Chinese aluminium producers focused on semi-finished products are privately owned, it could be difficult to control the country’s output of the metal, says Paul Adkins, founder of AZ China, a consultancy. “The opportunity for [Chinese industry] leadership and co-ordinated efforts

Read More »

Care homes for Clugston

Clugston Construction has booked an £11m contract to deliver two new care homes for Porthaven Care Homes in Farnham and Kidlington. Above: Artists impression of Farnham Care Home The two homes will be built and fitted out by Clugston’s West Midlands team. They will have up to 70 bedrooms and communal living and dining facilities. The Farnham project, in Surrey, is expected to be completed by July 2017 and the Kidlington project, in Oxfordshire, is scheduled for completion by August 2017. Clugston regional manager Danny Dawson said: “The care home sector is an area of growth for us and one we have been focusing on for a while. We are delighted to have been selected by Porthaven Care Homes to deliver these schemes and look forward to building a strong relationship with them.”     This article was published on 4 Aug 2016 (last updated on 4 Aug 2016). Source link

Read More »

Two-thirds of construction bosses can’t find a bricky or chippy, says FMB

Two-thirds of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters ( Bricky and Chippy )as construction skills shortages hit a ‘record high’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Key results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey, which is the only quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include: More than two-thirds (68%) of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 63% are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners – the highest figures since records began in 2008; The number of firms reporting difficulties hiring plumbers and electricians (48%), plasterers (46%) and floorers (30%) also reached record highs; Construction SME workloads grew at a slightly slower rate than in Q3 2017, but new enquiries and expected workloads slowed more sharply; expected workloads among those firms building new homes showed a negative net balance for the first time since 2013; Fewer construction SMEs predict rising workloads in the coming three months, down from 41% in the previous quarter to 38% in Q4 2017; 87% of builders believe that material prices will rise in the next six months, up from 82% in the previous quarter; Nearly two-thirds (61%) of construction SMEs expect salaries and wages to increase in the next six months. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Skills shortages are sky rocketing and it begs the question, who will build the new homes and infrastructure projects the Government is crying out for. The Government has set itself an ambitious target to build 300,000 homes every year in England alone. More than two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers which is one of the key trades in the building industry. This has increased by nearly 10% in just three months which points to a rapid worsening of an already dire situation. What’s more, nearly as many are facing difficulties hiring carpenters and joiners. These figures are the highest we’ve noted since records began a decade ago. As a result, the wages for these increasingly scarce skilled tradespeople continue to rise sharply; that’s a simple consequence of supply and demand. This, coupled with the fact that small construction firms continue to face significant material price increases, will inevitably squeeze their margins and put a brake on growth.” Berry continued: “The Government must take account of the worsening construction skills shortage with Brexit looming large on the horizon. The Prime Minister must ensure that the immigration system that replaces the free movement of people can take account of the particular needs of key sectors such as construction and house building. Without skilled labour from the EU, the skills shortages we face would be considerably worse, and it is not in anyone’s best interest to pull the rug out from under the sector by introducing an inflexible and unresponsive immigration system. On the domestic front and in the longer term, to ensure we have an ample supply of skilled workers in the future, the Government must continue to work with industry to set the right framework in terms of T-Levels and apprenticeships.” Berry concluded: “The silver lining to current skills shortages among construction SMEs is that the numerous tradespeople and professionals, who may find themselves out of work following the collapse of Carillion, have a ready supply of alternative employers. The FMB is working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Construction Industry Training Board to match-make ex-Carillion workers with small construction employers in need of skilled workers. We’re also working hard as an industry to re-home the 1,200 Carillion apprentices who are the innocent victims of the major contractor’s demise. It’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that these young people continue on their path to a rewarding career in construction.”

Read More »

Battersea Power Station chimneys dismantled thanks to bespoke solution provided by Delta International

After three years and more than 250,000 man hours, the four chimneys at one of London’s most famous landmarks – Battersea Power Station – were successfully dismantled and removed using a self-climbing platform technique designed by Oldham-based working at height specialists, Delta International. Established in 1977 as a steeplejack company, Delta has evolved through the years and is now well known for its expertise in providing tailored solutions for projects that require working at significant height and on complex schemes.      Delta International was appointed by Battersea Power Station Development Company to carefully remove the four concrete chimney pots, which had suffered serious corrosion and decay since they were decommissioned in the early 1980s.  The original chimneys have been replaced as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of the site. Delta’s Technical Director, Nigel Matthews, played an instrumental part in designing the bespoke self-climbing platform allowing engineers to dismantle and remove each of the four concrete chimneys with no lost timeaccidents or delays. Delta International’s vast experience and knowledge was invaluable in putting forward engineering design solutions for a site that was not without significant challenges. Built in the 1930s and 1950s, the chimneys rise 51 metres from the ground and were in a significant state of disrepair, all of which had to be taken account of when proposing a viable solution.  The main issues were not just access and height but also the efficient and swift removal of the severely corroded chimney stacks once dismantled.  Delta also had to allow for the fact that there were people working directly underneath the Delta team throughout the project. The tailored solution was to erect the self-climbing platform which slowly rose up to the top of the chimney while simultaneously installing a safety ladder providing a primary access route to the platform.    Once it reached the summit of the chimney, a series of temporary beams were fixed to the top of the stack allowing the platform to reach the summit. At the top Delta’s engineers installed a scaffold across the chimney opening allowing for a platform to be suspended on the inside.  This allowed for essential stabilisation work to be carried out on the internal tiles of the chimney (a reinforced wrap that would prevent any debris from falling during the deconstruction process). Nigel explained: “As skilled and experienced engineers working at height on complex projects presents little difficulty for us but Battersea Power Station had on-site challenges that no-one could have predicted. “One such challenge was discovering that each chimney was 40% thicker than original reports had stated.  We had to come up with a solution quickly and one that would not cause any delays or increase costs on the project.” The chimneys were removed using specialist equipment that could penetrate the concrete and dismantle it steadily.  All debris was carefully removed using rubber chutes suspended below the self-climbing platform. In addition, Delta’s painstaking removal of the chimney had to be undertaken with other teams working beneath them for the entire duration of the de-construction.  Delta’s Operations Director, Paul Bentley, said: “Health and safety is always paramount, particularly when working at such heights but knowing that we had people working below us for whole duration of the project meant extra vigilance.  And we achieved it.  Over the three years it took to complete using 250,000 man hours, we had no lost time accidents – a major success for such a complex project.” Delta International has more than 40 years of experience of working at height on complex projects.  Nigel concluded: “This significant expertise proved invaluable on the Battersea Power Station project and we are proud to have been part of the restoration work for such an important London landmark. “While the type of at height project has changed over the years, skills, expertise and experience remain a vital component.  Currently we are using a similar bespoke climbing system to dismantle a chimney at Sellafield nuclear plant.  We have recently removed and replaced an entire roof of a major industrial unit while work continued uninterrupted beneath us for the duration of the project.” Key facts: ·       Health and safety stretched not just to workers on the deconstruction project but also a family of falcons nesting in Battersea Power Station structure. ·       As part of the dismantling process, Delta extricated a circular section of one of the chimneys which will be placed on display in the new development. ·       500 small segments of the old chimneys were extracted, preserved and given to residents living in the local area ·       A total of 600 tonnes of concrete and 72 tonnes of lining tiles per chimney were removed swiftly and silently from the site Delta International is experienced and expert in the inspection, maintenance and demolition of tall industrial structures, including chimneys, cooling towers, flare stacks, silos and pipelines. Delta work predominantly in the European power and refining markets and have some of the largest companies in these sectors as clients.

Read More »

The Results of the FMB Survey

The results from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ‘State of Trade Survey’ show that more than two thirds (68%) of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms struggle to hire bricklayers and 64% struggle to hire carpenters and joiners. These are the highest figures since 2008 and are mostly to blame the construction skills shortages. Other results show that the difficulties to hire plumbers and electricians (48%), plasterers (46%), and floorers (30%), also reached record highs. The workloads in SME grew at a slower rate than in 2017 and the firms building new homes had a negative net balance for the first time since 2013. 87% of builders believe that material prices will rise in the next six months; however, nearly two thirds expect salaries and wages to increase as well. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, argues that these skills shortages will lead to the question of “who will build the new homes and infrastructure projects the Government is crying out for”. The new target for home developments every year is 300,000 for England only, but if the workload keeps decreasing there would not be sufficient personnel to build those houses. “More than two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers which is one of the key trades in the building industry. This has increased by nearly 10% in just three months which points to a rapid worsening of an already dire situation. What’s more, nearly as many are facing difficulties hiring carpenters and joiners. These figures are the highest we’ve noted since records began a decade ago. As a result, the wages for these increasingly scarce skilled tradespeople continue to rise sharply; that’s a simple consequence of supply and demand. This, coupled with the fact that small construction firms continue to face significant material price increases, will inevitably squeeze their margins and put a brake on growth,” said Berry. There is also the question of what will happen after the Brexit and the Prime Minister must ensure that the immigration system that will replace the free movement of people will be capable to deliver the needs of these two key sectors: construction and house building.

Read More »

Former Children’s Home Sold with the Help of Engine of the North

Engine of the North, a strategic property company wholly owned by Cheshire East Council, has completed the sale of the former local authority children’s home in Nantwich to Richmond Care Villages for £3.5 million. The ex-children centre will become a specialised centre in dementia care, following planning approval from last November. The 71-bedroom new facility will create 80 jobs and will operate as a satellite campus to Richmond’s existing care village in Nantwich. The old building will get demolished and replaced with the new care home that will have a car parking, a secure garden area, and additional landscaped areas. The Engine of the North has managed to sale a difficult and sensitive site that will now be used for the widespread support in the community. “The sale has generated a substantial capital receipt for the Council and will pave the way for a substantial investment in a much needed specialist care facility that will serve the community and create new jobs,” said Councillor Jamie Macrae, Chairman of Engine of the North. According to the new plans, Cheshire East will retain ownership of the land to the east of the former centre, which includes a football pitch and a pond, and the public footpath. Created in 2014, Engine of the North promotes innovative and commercial strategies to exploit the Council’s surplus assets. This creates jobs and facilitates economic growth, maximising capital receipts for the authority. The capital generated by this project will be used to support the Council’s capital programme. “Engine of the North is a team of property professionals, whose focus is to deliver on Cheshire East Council’s objectives, with the advantage of being able to think and work as a development company,” said Jamie. It identifies opportunities for the Council and generates new projects for inclusion in the Development Programme, while providing commercial property expertise. Together with the Council, they secure additional private sector, Government, and European funding for potential development schemes.

Read More »