November 21, 2019

Cruise liner refurbishments benefit from Barnshaws’ curved sections

UK metal bending expert, Barnshaws Sections Benders, has supported two marine projects by providing precision-curved, rectangular hollow section (RHS) to support contractor Leisure Structures. The work was part of the recent interior refurbishments of the Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium cruise liners. Barnshaws delivered a tonne of precision-curved stainless steel

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Altitude Glass Completes Office Schemes

Altitude Glass Completes Office Schemes

One of the North West’s leading glass partition firms, Altitude Glass based in Blackburn, has completed work on two commercial office schemes in Lancashire. Altitude Glass has supplied and fitted the glass for a new office scheme in Ribchester for design and digital agency, Workhouse Marketing; and completed a stunning

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Milestones for GAP Hire Solutions and Kubota

Milestones for GAP Hire Solutions and Kubota

2019 has seen Kubota UK turn 40, giving us a chance to reflect on how the construction industry has witnessed significant change over the last few decades; whether that be through technological innovation, shifts in the economic climate or changes in how to hire the right skills. But one of its oldest

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4 Ways to Provide a Safer and More Convenient Construction Site

Construction sites have many dangers for workers and visitors who are not aware of them. It’s incumbent on both the construction company and people at the site to be vigilant and follow safety protocols to avoid incidents. It’s also important to provide a convenient place for people too. This could

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

November 21, 2019

Murphy Plant increase their fleet of temporary welfare units with EasyCabin

Murphy Plant, part of the specialist engineering and construction company J. Murphy & Sons Limited, is continuing to make major investments in temporary site welfare facilities with AJC EasyCabin. Their latest order comprises twenty 20ft static units and five 12ft mobiles. Murphy Plant now has over one hundred EasyCabin welfare cabins in their fleet. These new units will be deployed around the country as replacements for rehired equipment from their supply chain. Commenting on this most recent investment, Managing Director at Murphy Plant, Mike Carpenter said, “The reliability of our current units have been excellent and our team consistently comment on the high quality of the finish. “AJC’s Sales Manager, Mark Samuel, has been an excellent support to ensure that users have a working knowledge of the units. AJC has visited a number of our major sites and projects.” Murphy Plant have been partnering with AJC for a number years. They make reference to AJC’s on-going progress in respect of innovation and manufacturing the most eco-efficient welfare products as a key element in this on-going relationship. Mike continued, “I’d like to think that the original EasyCabin Murphy mobiles in the Murphy-green branding set precedence for a number of companies purchasing similar units. As ever, the after service provided by AJC has been excellent, whether its queries with the units, spare part requirements, or developmental suggestions for improving the products. They are extremely responsive and continually looking to improve. “We find AJC easy to do business with and they always deliver new assets exactly on schedule,” concluded Mike. The units have been delivered to Murphy Plant dressed in the iconic Murphy green livery, ready to be sent to sites throughout the country. Murphy Plant is responsible for the day-to-day enablement and operation of plant, equipment and transport for J. Murphy & Sons Limited. The team offer everything from small electrical drills to a 135 tonne crawler-crane, as well as specialist equipment within rail, pipelines, tunnelling, marine and ground engineering. EasyCabin is the brand name for static and mobile welfare accommodation units manufactured by AJC Trailers Limited. The company has been producing a range of mobile units since 1964 and presently operate from a modern 32,000 sq. ft. plant, based in Luton, Bedfordshire.

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Cruise liner refurbishments benefit from Barnshaws’ curved sections

UK metal bending expert, Barnshaws Sections Benders, has supported two marine projects by providing precision-curved, rectangular hollow section (RHS) to support contractor Leisure Structures. The work was part of the recent interior refurbishments of the Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium cruise liners. Barnshaws delivered a tonne of precision-curved stainless steel to create two modern, curved canopies forming the entrance to the ship’s restaurants. Though more commonly associated with curved structural steel and aesthetic metal elements in the construction industry, Barnshaws is seeing growing involvement in the marine sector. Its wide range of specialist bending machines, its branches in the West Midlands, Manchester and Scotland, combined with its EXC class 4 for steel fabrication, means the business is well-placed to meet the volume and quality demands of the industry. Leisure Structures reached out to Barnshaws to provide five stainless steel 200 x 100 mm RHS sections at six metres in length curved to a 8980 mm radius. Having worked with Barnshaws in the past, the contractor was well aware of the high-quality workmanship the business could provide. This was particularly important as the curved stainless-steel elements of the canopies would be visible to passengers on both vessels, so it was imperative that rolling and transportation left minimal marking on the steelwork. Each section was ‘protection wrapped’ during the metal bending process to ensure the best possible finish. The Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium were fitted out in Alaska and Singapore respectively. Both are sister ships of the Millennium-class, operated by Celebrity Cruises. The Summit’s two GE gas turbines allow the ship to reach 24 knots and carry 2,218 passengers; while the Millennium relies on the same turbines to carry 2,138 passengers while attaining the same top speed. Stuart Anderson, Sales Manager at Barnshaws, said: “As a group, we have previously supplied high-quality fabrications to support the offshore industry. Supporting cruise liners was new to us, but we have employed our steel curving experience and extensive in-house capabilities to deliver these sections within the project timeframe.”

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Altitude Glass Completes Office Schemes

Altitude Glass Completes Office Schemes

One of the North West’s leading glass partition firms, Altitude Glass based in Blackburn, has completed work on two commercial office schemes in Lancashire. Altitude Glass has supplied and fitted the glass for a new office scheme in Ribchester for design and digital agency, Workhouse Marketing; and completed a stunning acoustic glass fit-out for the accountancy firm, Towers and Gornall. Workhouse Marketing were extending their existing office floor space into a new barn conversion, creating a large mezzanine floor with a modern, contemporary feel. Altitude Glass were tasked to install more than 14 linear metres of internal glass partition walls and doors, to create separate offices within the building. The new office exudes a fresh and elegant look, which ensures maximum use of natural lighting and effective use of the space. The second project, for accountancy firm Towers and Gornall, involved a significant remodelling of the building to create three separate offices, a reception area, boardroom, kitchen and storeroom. The offices were on the top floor in the loft space, an area where natural light is limited. The solution needed to create a more open plan, modern feel in the area, yet also maintain privacy. To meet the brief, Altitude Glass worked with acoustic glass to create the all-important light-filled space. This type of glass was ideal for the project due to its soundproof qualities. Sharon Snape, managing director of Altitude Glass, said: “Open-plan spaces are losing some favour because of the lack of privacy and the distraction that noise has on employees. Organisations instead want to create a mix of both open and private spaces that are linked together and flooded with natural light. Glass partitions are the perfect solution for this. This trend is driving demand for internal glazing, in particular, acoustic glass, to create private but connected spaces that significantly reduce noise in the workplace.” She added: “The Towers and Gornall project focussed on the sound transference element. For this reason, acoustic glass was selected for the partitions, and framed glass doors were incorporated to ensure minimal sound transference. We also designed the graphics for the glass partitions, which for privacy purposes, were sized to reach halfway up the glass. “The graphics featured a subtle use of colours generated from Towers and Gornall’s logo, to complement their branding and offer consistency throughout. The resulting office, with the acoustic glass, was a great success as the sound rating was around 48db once the door was closed instead of 32db.” Altitude Glass are experts in glass partitions and panels. The team develop and install products including glass partition walls, balustrades, doors and bespoke glass panels. The company has worked on many major glass projects for commercial office buildings, spas and hotels.

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Milestones for GAP Hire Solutions and Kubota

Milestones for GAP Hire Solutions and Kubota

2019 has seen Kubota UK turn 40, giving us a chance to reflect on how the construction industry has witnessed significant change over the last few decades; whether that be through technological innovation, shifts in the economic climate or changes in how to hire the right skills. But one of its oldest partners also has cause for celebration this year. Our friends at GAP Hire Solutions have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the company throughout 2019. Over the last half a century the company has grown to become the UK’s largest independent plant, tools, equipment and vehicle rental firm. Established in 1969 by Gordon Anderson, the family-owned and run business operates from over 140 depots and employs over 1,800 people nationwide. GAP has remained a family-run business, ensuring that the same family principles on which the company were founded continue to this day. GAP and Kubota UK have worked together for many years, with the former selling over 500 construction machines since the partnership began, and for much of their partnership, Kubota UK has been GAP’s sole supplier of mini and midi excavators. To celebrate this milestone and its longstanding relationship with the hire company, Kubota has gifted GAP with a gold Kubota machine. For the next year, 50% of all hire revenue from the golden machine will go to The Lighthouse Club, a charity which provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families. The most recent rental of the machine secured £180 for this organisation. To support this initiative and local charities affecting the construction industry, Kubota has pledged to match the money GAP raises through the golden machine. Ken Stewart, Head of Procurement at GAP Group, said: “Here at GAP, we run a large fleet of Kubota excavators ranging in size from 800kg to 8.0t. When looking at the types of products we want to buy, price is and always will be an important factor. But we also look closely at factors such as the cost of ownership, reliability, after sales support and general market acceptance. In our opinion, the Kubota product continues to tick all the boxes and is well received by both our customers and our UK depot network. “We have a strong affinity with Kubota in general with their engines being used in so many of our other products such as compressors, tandem ride on rollers, dumpers, lighting towers and generators to name but a few. “We look forward to working with Kubota UK for the next 50 years and beyond!” Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager Construction Division at Kubota UK commented: “GAP is Kubota UK’s largest independent customer, and this is a testament to the strength of the relationship that we have built with the team over the last few years. We know that our machines are well suited to GAP’s needs as they provide reliable, well designed and robust solutions to withstand the rigours of the hire industry. What’s more, our responsive dealership network has allowed GAP to rapidly respond to customer and depot requirements. From all of us at Kubota UK, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our friends and colleagues at GAP. We can’t wait to see what they do next!

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4 Ways to Provide a Safer and More Convenient Construction Site

Construction sites have many dangers for workers and visitors who are not aware of them. It’s incumbent on both the construction company and people at the site to be vigilant and follow safety protocols to avoid incidents. It’s also important to provide a convenient place for people too. This could mean enough sanitary washrooms, access to refreshments or other conveniences to make peoples’ lives that bit easier than they’d otherwise be while on-site.   Let’s now look at four ways to provide a construction site that’s convenient and safer. Provide Conveniently Located Washroom Facilities The people at Satellite Industries have considerable experience in providing portable washrooms to many different industries. This might be for construction sites but can also be to cover an office where one or more washrooms are closed for maintenance. Even an outdoor wedding event might find a use for premium washroom facilities, so guests aren’t forced to trek through muddy fields to the main building to find a place to freshen up. Think about how many facilities are needed and where they should be placed? While it may make sense to position them on either side of the site, if most workers are toiling away in a specific area, then have washrooms installed a short distance from them instead. Beware of Anyone Working at a Height The construction industry deals with height routinely, but it poses unique dangers for workers. This is not a new thing but there are different approaches to making it safer today compared to the past. Certainly, using scaffolding provides guard rails but it also allows workers to utilize harnesses and safety lines to hook onto the scaffolding to arrest their fall should they lose their footing. Just this alone saves lives. Protective equipment should be worn at all times without exception. Along with safety protocols, it’s there to ensure everyone on the site is as protected as possible. Clear Communication Avoids Adding Confusion into the Mix It’s often overlooked but concise communication that’s clear to both parties is extremely valuable. It avoids confusion that leads to unexpected actions or mistakes. The method of communication can be in-person, over a walkie-talkie, a smartphone or a headset for hands-free usage. However, given the background noise with construction work and when the wind picks up, long verbal exchanges only create confusion. Everyone must be on the same page with intentional interactions, so it’s clear what is needed or what action should be taken. Use the Best Equipment & Maintain It Well It’s no good providing good information or documentation if construction workers are using inferior equipment. Either they must come onto the job with the right tools themselves or these must be provided by the company. There’s no excuse for companies that fail to check that the equipment is satisfactory from a safety standpoint. Also, don’t neglect the maintenance requirements of all equipment used by personnel on the site either. Just because it was bought in good working order doesn’t mean it will remain so (or continue to protect workers) over time. Know when it’s time to replace equipment because it’s past its useful life too. Providing a safe and convenient working environment is a goal of every employer, but that’s especially true within the construction industry due to the higher risks involved. Ensure the reporting and checks are present, so high standards get maintained rather than allowed to slip over time.

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5 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Constructing Your First Self-Build

It can be a very exciting and thrilling decision to decide to build a home for yourself from scratch. It means you have the opportunity to make your home exactly the way you want. You will still have limitations and, if nothing else, in the budget. So you need to be sure that you are planning and correctly executing this project. There are so many rookie errors or mistakes as we might call them and here are some of the gravest ones to avoid, as it’s so easy to have a mistake become a costly one and send the whole project into ruin. Here are some ways to avoid this disastrous situation from becoming a reality. Know Why You Are Building it This may sound like a strange and odd thing to say but it is important to know exactly why you want to build your own home? Is it to be your primary home and residence? Or maybe it’s a second home, and in the times you are not using it you might be wanting to rent it out to vacationing families, this means that you will be needing to keep in mind how desirable it looks, as well as location and proximity to the local amenities such as transport routes, etc. You may even be looking to build it to sell on and make a profit, in this case, you will be wanting a project that is low risk and you don’t get bogged down in a costly building project. Make Sure to Research the Plot For the reasons above you will need to research the plot thoroughly to ensure that you are getting the correct plot of land for your particular use. You can quickly and easily research and compare potential plots without even leaving the house. You can identify potential sites here online and then be sure to know if you are going to be able to get planning permission to build easily. Some plots already come with planning permission granted which makes life so much easier, unfortunately, you will tend to have to pay more for these types of plots, but it certainly is worth it as planning applications can be tricky and time-consuming. Hiring the Wrong Contractors In a construction project personnel is the biggest thing you can get right or, alternatively, get wrong. You must nail this. So make sure that you approach it as if you are hiring an employee for work. The first one you should put in place is the architect and for this appointment, you should take on someone who has experience of similar types of property that you are looking to construct. Ask for examples of previous work as well, this will show you what they have done before and always ask for references. Once you have the architect on board you will need a construction company, the architect may be able to give you a recommendation of ones they have worked with before. Be Sure to Have the Property Inspected Before Moving In, Renting or Selling Once construction is finished it’s easy to congratulate ourselves and marvel at a job well done. But it’s not quite finished yet, and even beyond making sure all the finishing touches are complete, including decorating and landscaping the gardens, you are going to want to have the property thoroughly inspected for two very good reasons. Firstly you need it to be up to code, this means making sure that you have kept to all the legal minimum safety and architectural rules and that what you have built is identical to the plans you submitted. Also, secondly, you will want to ensure that the work you have hired contractors to do has been done to the standard agreed, you should not settle any final bills until the property has been professionally inspected. I always use a professionally recommended firm and these guys have been inspecting homes in Amherst, NY for a long time, and come highly recommended. Keep Track of Expenses Accurately Building a property is essentially like running a small business and your plan will be very similar to a business plan, this financial plan will include expenses, cash flow projection, costing and timescale. If you are able to keep track of your progress in accordance with this plan then you will easily be able to know if you are on track or if you are heading towards a costly over-run.

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