A 12-month contract has been agreed between Siemens Gamesa and the ABP Port in Hull to store 37 wind turbine blades destined for the world’s largest offshore windfarm, the Hornsea One Project. A six-acre area located at the Port of Hull’s Eastern Access, on King George Dock, is now being
After relocating to larger headquarters in Doncaster, civil engineering firm Specialist Engineering Services (SES) has centralised its commercial and operational arms. Employing more than 200 people and boasting a turnover of £9 million, the company made the decision to move its headquarters to Balby Court, Balby Carr Bank, Doncaster earlier
BrandSafway’s acquisition of Lyndon Scaffolding resulted into the merge of two major UK scaffolding companies. Lyndon Scaffolding will be combined with BrandSafway’s scaffolding and access company SGB to become Lyndon SGB. “This is an exciting combination. It allows us to bring together a full range of scaffolding solutions — plus deliver
With construction underway, Cranfield University in Bedforshire is soon going to become home to a new state of the art digital aviation research facility. The £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) will develop ways for aircraft to monitor, test and upgrade their own systems and structures, as
Homeowners keep choosing to take matter into their own hands and undertake their own home improvements, despite the difficulty of some of the projects, such as large kitchen renovations. This is partly due to the increased availability of ‘how to’ guides online and reduced consumer confidence causing people to tighten their
GAP Event Services, a division of GAP Hire Solutions, has been shortlisted for two prestigious supplier awards. The company is competing against several other companies in the ‘Best Crowd/Pit Barrier’ and ‘Best Fencing/Hoarding’ categories at the Festival Supplier Awards. The Festival Supplier Awards recognise the achievements and hard work of outdoor event
Kubota has announced the launch of the KX037-4, a new and improved zero tail swing mini-excavator for 2019. The new KX037-4 replaces another model in Kubota’s construction range, the KX101-3a4, and boasts a wealth of new features to improve everyday efficiency, ease of use and compliance with construction industry regulations.
As part of Yorkshire Water’s “big goal” for the environment, more than 14,000 trees were planted at Ogden Water last month, aiming to create new “green infrastructure”. One million trees will be planted in total on land owned by Yorkshire Water and leased by the Woodland Trust to enhance the
The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office
In order to help enhance railroads in the South East of England, three multi-billion pound contracts have been awarded. J Murphy & Sons were selected by Network Rail to deliver the work in Anglia, with BAM Nuttall and Geoffrey Osborne appointed to complete projects in the South East and Wessex respectively. “We
A 12-month contract has been agreed between Siemens Gamesa and the ABP Port in Hull to store 37 wind turbine blades destined for the world’s largest offshore windfarm, the Hornsea One Project. A six-acre area located at the Port of Hull’s Eastern Access, on King George Dock, is now being leased for the storage of the 75 metre, 30 tonne blades in order to accommodate the expanding business. An operation is underway to transport the fibreglass blades nearly two miles from the current site on Alexandra Dock. “We’re proud to be able to say that we have been an essential link in a major green project such as this, which will eventually see the blades powering one-million homes. It’s also another example of our expertise in handling such large and specialist components. We have worked closely with Siemens Gamesa to offer solutions and to support their business growth, so that together as partners, we can keep Britain trading and provide the nation with environmentally-friendly power,” commented David Morriss, ABP Humber Head of Property. The transportation process requires for a remote-controlled loader to be guided by an operator to carefully transport the wind turbine blades through the port to its new location at 5mph. Each blade takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to move during the early hours of the morning to cause minimal disruption to port traffic. “Siemens Gamesa is delighted to again be working with ABP, continuing a ground-breaking partnership in Humberside. To deliver clean, green energy to millions of UK households is a complex team effort, and ABP is a crucial member of that team,” said Anton Bak, Factory Director, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Hull. Hull City Council has also made improvements to the Northern Gateway Roundabout to help facilitate the movement of abnormal loads, as well as create further investment opportunities in the city and port. The council utilised funding from the Green Port Growth Programme to create a route through the centre of the junction and part-time signals to control traffic during the movements.
After relocating to larger headquarters in Doncaster, civil engineering firm Specialist Engineering Services (SES) has centralised its commercial and operational arms. Employing more than 200 people and boasting a turnover of £9 million, the company made the decision to move its headquarters to Balby Court, Balby Carr Bank, Doncaster earlier in the year. Funding for the firm’s relocation, as well as modifying the access point to its rail operating centre to allow for heavy plant access, has been secured from Business Doncaster, a partner of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project. “It’s great to see SES choosing Doncaster as the location of its headquarters and we are thrilled to have been able to support the team throughout this transition. Here at Business Doncaster, we are dedicated to offering comprehensive business support packages to established businesses and encourage all local business owners to get in touch and benefit from our independent advice and support service,” said Michael Stanley of Business Doncaster. Furthermore, with the help of Northern Rail Alliance and National College for High Speed Rail, SES is now in the process of rolling out an apprenticeship scheme that will allow students to benefit from their training programme. “Our move to the area contributed to boosting the local economy and creating jobs and so, as a result, we were able to benefit from funding which really helped us to transition between sites and improve the accessibility of our nearby operating centre,” said Emma Shrimpton, business services manager at SES. “We were delighted that Business Doncaster could introduce us to the Northern Rail Alliance which led to us working with the National College for High Speed Rail and getting access to students for work experiences and apprenticeships,” Emma added.
BrandSafway’s acquisition of Lyndon Scaffolding resulted into the merge of two major UK scaffolding companies. Lyndon Scaffolding will be combined with BrandSafway’s scaffolding and access company SGB to become Lyndon SGB. “This is an exciting combination. It allows us to bring together a full range of scaffolding solutions — plus deliver excellence in a suite of other access technologies for our customers. By combining the assets, expertise and reputation of Lyndon Scaffolding with SGB, we will be able to expand our service solutions in key major cities in the UK, broaden our overall footprint and accelerate our growth,” explained Dave Witsken, president of Energy and Industrial for BrandSafway. Robert Lynch, CEO of Lyndon Scaffolding, also commented on the acquisition: “We look forward to being on the same team with SGB. SGB is one of our industry’s best-known and well-respected names. By working together and sharing our expertise and best practices, Lyndon SGB will be able to offer customers more products and services and improved solutions.” Having worked on some the UK’s largest projects, Lyndon Scaffolding’s portfolio includes JubileeBridge at Runcorn, BBC Broadcasting House, Tate Britain, Severn Bridge, Birmingham Gateway Station, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and the Scottish Parliament Building. Mick Herke, managing director of Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services in Europe, thinks that this is a smart move for Lyndon SGB, as it will gain access to more locations and greater depth of expertise, resulting in improved customer service. “Both Lyndon Scaffolding and SGB are strong companies with an emphasis on excellent quality and service. Together as Lyndon SGB, we can create more value for clients,” Mick concluded.
With construction underway, Cranfield University in Bedforshire is soon going to become home to a new state of the art digital aviation research facility. The £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) will develop ways for aircraft to monitor, test and upgrade their own systems and structures, as well as looking at the future of the passenger experience. “Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) will be a flagship research facility that will help unlock the potential of digital aviation. Working with our partners in DARTeC, we are looking to develop new digital solutions to tackle the challenges of over-capacity in both airports and airspace, develop improved passenger experiences and create more sustainable air travel,” said Professor Graham Braithwaite at Cranfield University. Curtins, the built environment consultancy, supports the development by providing structural, civil and geo-environmental services. “This project represents an important investment at Cranfield University, ensuring that it is a leading centre for aviation technology. We are delighted to be providing world-class facilities that will directly and positively impact the aviation industry as we move towards a more automated future,” said Associate Matt Woodhall, who is leading the design of the project from Curtins’ Birmingham office. “The structure of this new research centre is a really interesting structure with a truly unique roof design. The canopy produced needs to be able to house a full-size aircraft, as well as being a functional and cutting edge research facility,” Matt added. The Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre is expected to be completed next year, and is scheduled to open in 2020.
Homeowners keep choosing to take matter into their own hands and undertake their own home improvements, despite the difficulty of some of the projects, such as large kitchen renovations. This is partly due to the increased availability of ‘how to’ guides online and reduced consumer confidence causing people to tighten their purses. This boom has been witnessed first-hand by Roofing Megastore, which has shipped in excess of 250,000 products to over 12,000 customers. The majority of these customers are homeowners who are taking on small roofing projects themselves, typically reroofing a shed or constructing a polycarbonate shelter. Although, according to the Banbury-based supplier of roofing materials, a healthy portion of their customers still seek the advice of a tradesman, the company feels ready to provide one-to-one support to DIYers. This includes an award-winning Customer Care Team and steady flow of how-to guides to inspire homeowners. “When buying high involvement products online customers are often overloaded with information we commit considerable resources into simplifying that information and providing a seamless user experience. When combined with our dedicated Customer Care Team, we believe this provides homeowners with the confidence they need to turn their DIY dreams into reality,” said Managing Director Gian Carlo-Grossi. Having seen the DIY market’s continued growth, Roofing Megastore has decided to expand its offering to consumers. Not only will this involve welcoming leading brands, such as Redland and Britmet, onto its website, but continuing to remove the confusing lingo that often leaves homeowners bewildered. The company also has hopes of going beyond roofing to expand their offering to both DIYers and tradesman. Having witnessed almost 300% growth over the past 12 months, there is little doubt that Roofing Megastore will inspire more homeowners to take on their projects throughout 2019.
GAP Event Services, a division of GAP Hire Solutions, has been shortlisted for two prestigious supplier awards. The company is competing against several other companies in the ‘Best Crowd/Pit Barrier’ and ‘Best Fencing/Hoarding’ categories at the Festival Supplier Awards. The Festival Supplier Awards recognise the achievements and hard work of outdoor event and festival suppliers. GAP Event Services has been recognised for its work at numerous events in 2018, including the Adidas Series Run, European Championships, and projects with Glasgow City Council. They supplied crowd control barriers, fencing and trackway for a number of the events. All the equipment was of the highest standard, supported by high levels of service, with the added insurance of the Account Manager being available 24/7 and first-rate site support on hand from the first delivery to the last collection. “The Events division at GAP has grown an average of 19% a year since 2014. I believe this is due to the team’s absolute commitment and passion for the events we work on. This is embodied by the team being available to our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and always doing our best to provide a solution to our customer needs whatever they may be. The team genuinely care about the events we work on and take a personal interest in the success of the event. I’m hugely proud of the team we’ve built at GAP,” said Daimon Dunhue, GAP Event Services Division Manager. The Festival Supplier Awards ceremony will be held in London’s Hurlingham Club on Thursday 31 January 2019. GAP’s Event Services division combines the expertise of all GAP services to provide a complete hire solution for event management companies. Whether crowd barriers for s sporting event of the summer are needed, pedestrian barriers to demark a site or trackway to provide vehicles with easy access, GAP Event Services has the the right hire solution.
Kubota has announced the launch of the KX037-4, a new and improved zero tail swing mini-excavator for 2019. The new KX037-4 replaces another model in Kubota’s construction range, the KX101-3a4, and boasts a wealth of new features to improve everyday efficiency, ease of use and compliance with construction industry regulations. The 3.7-tonne machine will be available from Kubota dealers in the UK and mainland Europe from January 2019. Numerous safety features come as standard on the KX037-4, including four top frame tie-down points for safe transportation of the machine on other vehicles. The new model also features Kubota’s engine safe start system plus a hydraulic lockout on the left-hand console, and optional safety valves for the boom, arm and dozer. A fuel tank buzzer alerts operators to prevent fuel waste and minimise financial cost to operators and harm to the environment. The machine also features easy access for daily maintenance and safety checks, with large opening panels covering the engine and side of the vehicle. The KX037-4 is protected by Kubota’s highly-regarded anti-theft system, which is fitted as standard. The updated excavator also features numerous improvements to comfort for operators, including a larger and more spacious cab with improved foot space, and a new door configuration which is approximately 40% wider than that of the previous KX101-3a4, offering improved access. The cab also features a weight-adjustable full suspension seat as standard, and air conditioning as an optional extra. An easy-to-read LCD panel in the cab enables effortless monitoring of the machine’s status at all times. The KX037-4 is powered by a Stage V-ready 17.8 kW Kubota engine delivering power, economy and low emissions. The excavator also has auto-shift and auto-idle features as standard, which offer both smoother operation when dozing and turning and reduced fuel consumption with lower noise levels and emissions. “Offering powerful digging force, market-leading versatility, and smooth, simple and comfortable operation, the KX037-4 is a mid-weight compact excavator which does not compromise on performance. As well as Kubota’s traditional reliability and ease of servicing, the new features of this model are designed to aid compliance with environmental and construction industry standards making this the ideal excavator for multiple applications,” commented Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager, Construction Division, Kubota UK. The KX037-4 also offers proportional controlled Aux 1, with 11% greater flow than the previous model, with proportional Aux 2 available as an option. In addition, large capacity variable displacement pumps enable smooth, synchronised operation of the boom, arm and bucket, returning exceptional productivity.
As part of Yorkshire Water’s “big goal” for the environment, more than 14,000 trees were planted at Ogden Water last month, aiming to create new “green infrastructure”. One million trees will be planted in total on land owned by Yorkshire Water and leased by the Woodland Trust to enhance the environment and reduce the risk of flooding. “We made a commitment in January 2018 to plant one million trees in the county over the next ten years to help reduce flood risk, capture carbon and boost woodland wildlife opportunities. I am thrilled to see trees being planted at Ogden as part of our commitment to tree planting within the new Northern Forest,” commented on the scheme Yorkshire Water’s catchment and recreation manager Geoff Lomas. The partnership between the water company, the Woodland Trust and the Forest of Bradford will help expand the White Rose Forest as part of the new Northern Forest project. A mixture of native trees and shrubs including oak, beech and silver birch will be planted to enhance the biodiversity of the site while protecting its archaeology and retaining public access. The scheme received backing from the prime minister, Theresa May and environment secretary Michael Gove in 2018, and over the next 25 years the Northern Forest will see the planting of more than 50 million trees from Liverpool to Hull, the first of its kind for more than a quarter of a century. “The launch of this ambitious project at Ogden Water is a huge milestone for Calderdale and will have far-reaching benefits for future generations to come. With the Calder Valley being a flood-prone catchment, we truly value this programme of work not only for its benefits for ecology, biodiversity and air quality but also as a complementary measure to support traditional engineered flood defences,” said Councillor Barry Collins of Calderdale Council. Spanning more than 120 miles between the cities of Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, the proposed Northern Forest will help boost habitats for woodland birds and bats and protect species such as the red squirrel.
The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office building for Wolverhampton. The i10 development has already proven that new occupiers are attracted to Wolverhampton and the state-of-the-art transport links of the Interchange will be a major attraction for those new occupiers,” said Steve Parry, managing director of Ion The scheme follows on from the success of the award-winning i10 complex on the opposite side of the road in the heart of the City of Wolverhampton Interchange. “Wolverhampton is undergoing a period of regeneration that is set to transform the city and attract further investment and jobs to the area. We are therefore pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor on the i9 – a significant new headquarters building that benefits from a prime location and high-spec office facilities. We look forward to working with the wider project team to deliver this new, sustainable commercial development for the city,” commented John Maguire, Regional Business Development Director for GRAHAM’s Birmingham office. Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, City of Wolverhampton Council added: “The appointment of GRAHAM means we can look forward to i9 emerging at the heart of the city’s Interchange in 2019. It is another step towards our aspirations of creating a Commercial District in this area of the city and we want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre. This important site ideally lends itself to a distinctive, high-quality headquarters building.” The i9 development is expected to be completed in 2020.
In order to help enhance railroads in the South East of England, three multi-billion pound contracts have been awarded. J Murphy & Sons were selected by Network Rail to deliver the work in Anglia, with BAM Nuttall and Geoffrey Osborne appointed to complete projects in the South East and Wessex respectively. “We are excited to be part of Network Rail’s strategic partnership to deliver CP6. This award continues our long partnership with them in renewing and enhancing infrastructure throughout the UK and will give us the chance to work together and drive innovation and improvements. It was a real team effort across Murphy, and the framework will leverage our engineering and rail capabilities across our whole business. We are looking forward to getting started and delivering safely and efficiently to benefit rail passengers across the Anglia route,” said John Murphy, CEO of J Murphy and Sons. Huw Jones, BAM’s Rail Director also commented on the news: “We’re proud of the contribution we’ve made and are excited to be continuing our collaboration with Network Rail, and our supply chain, for the safe delivery of exceptional rail infrastructure. This confirmation of our continued involvement allows us to invest with confidence in developing skills, our innovation pipeline and technology. We look forward to playing our part, demonstrating BAM’s commitment to creating sustainable solutions that enhance lives – including rail passengers and the communities where we work.” The contracts are worth up £7 billion for Control Period 6 (2019-2024), involving the delivery of projects of varying value, including stations, buildings and civils, electrifications, power, signalling, telecommunications and track. “Over the last few years we have made a shift towards working more collaboratively and closer to fewer key contractors, which has allowed us to deliver major improvements for passengers successfully and safely. Given that we are delivering in some of Britain’s busiest stations and on some of the most used routes into the capital, our ability to upgrade the railway with minimal impact on passengers is increasingly important. We want to build on this success for CP6 and the relationships we have with our suppliers, and we look forward to working with them all going forward,” added Cameron Burns, Commercial Director Southern region. The CP6 framework is initially in place for a five-year period but has the option of three one-year extensions if required.