Kenneth Booth

Titanium A Powerful Metal That Revolutionizes Construction

Classified as a superhard material, titanium is a go-to metal for homeowners who need a sustainable solution to their building needs. Research suggests that the superhard materials industry will be worth an estimated $6.5 billion by the year 2025 and both titanium nitrate and titanium alloys fall within this category. With researchers

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£67m Ipswich Tidal Flood Barrier wins top engineering award

The Ipswich Tidal Flood Barrier has won a top award from the leading international engineering institution. The project, which better protects over 1,600 homes and 400 businesses from the risk of flooding, has won an Exceptional Merit Award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) East of England Merit Awards.

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J S WRIGHT SECURES £4M CONTRACT FOR PARADISE BIRMINGHAM

Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement

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Vivalda Group listed in London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ 2019 report for third year

Architectural cladding specialist Vivalda Group has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ 2019. Despite the current economic uncertainly and the impact of the Grenfell Tower tragedy on the industry, Vivalda has continued to push for greater transparency and leadership within the cladding

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Only 3% of UK, German and French architects are able to identify the four basic fire protection terms No German architects correctly defined all four terms and only 6% in France and 8% in UK Active and passive fire protection better understood by UK architects than by French and Germany

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Infrarail set to return at London Olympia in May 2020

Following on from the hugely successful Railtex, attention now turns to Infrarail, the UK’s leading exhibition of railway infrastructure equipment, products and services. Infrarail returns next year but will be at a new venue, the London Olympia, from May 12th to May 14th. The event is firmly established as Britain’s

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A NEW TEAM FOR AR DEMOLITION AS IT RELAUNCHES EARTHWORKS AND REMEDIATION

Innovative demolition specialist AR Demolition has continued investing in its business with a revitalised earthworks and soil remediation team. The East Midlands firm, which is based at Carlton near Nuneaton, has taken on a new team of earthworks and remediation specialists, to rejuvenate its offering in providing the full suite

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SENIOR APPOINTMENT SIGNALS INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION FOR RLB

Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) announces the appointment of industry heavyweight, Andrew Stamps, as National Head of Infrastructure with immediate effect.  This announcement is the latest in a series from RLB UK, marking the firm’s continuing growth as it heads into a new

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Latest Issue
Issue 345 : Oct 2026

Kenneth Booth

Titanium A Powerful Metal That Revolutionizes Construction

Classified as a superhard material, titanium is a go-to metal for homeowners who need a sustainable solution to their building needs. Research suggests that the superhard materials industry will be worth an estimated $6.5 billion by the year 2025 and both titanium nitrate and titanium alloys fall within this category. With researchers constantly testing and developing new uses for titanium, such as titanium dioxide used to coat buildings in order to reduce smog, these figures are likely to become a reality.  Make Good Bones Better  Wood was a go-to option for many years to set up the framing for homes, as it was fast to construct, durable, lightweight, and cost-effective. However, neither the effect on the environment or woods susceptibility to pests and damage can be ignored. Titanium makes a strong case as the material of choice as it not only provides a strong an durable frame that is better resistant to fires and earthquakes, but it also proves to be an ally for homeowners against pests. Titanium Plate Ticks A Few Sustainable Boxes  One of the advantages of titanium’s anti-corrosion quality is that the need to replace it will most likely not happen, and if it does, it will take more than a few decades. What this means for the environment, is that the constant need for repairs and replacements won’t exist, therefore, freeing up resources. Titanium sheet used in roofing also happens to be a great temperature regulator with a thermal conductivity ratio of only 17.0 W/mK. This means less strain on the HVAC, which in turn, means less strain on the environment.  Achieve An Everlasting Finish  One of the biggest cost factors for a homeowner is the high cost of repainting their roof. While this might only happen every 5 to 10 years, the cost is estimated at $120 to $272 per roofing square, which means the bigger the roof, the higher the cost. Those who decide to use titanium dioxide as a coating won’t have to worry about the color fading. Titanium dioxide is resistant to organic and inorganic materials and also bacteria, which makes it ideal for use inside the home as well.  Titanium is fast becoming the go-to material for the construction industry, as its various applications make it one of the most versatile metals. It’s strong resistance to the elements, low heat conductivity, and anti-warp quality make it the metal of choice for coastal regions and fire and earthquake-prone areas.

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Using a New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Contractor to Build a Basketball Court

Have you looked at an empty lot or unused flat piece of land in your community and thought that it could absolutely be used in a much better way? With the increasing health epidemic that is sweeping first world countries caused by our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, not to mention the decreasing sense of community being caused by our time poor society, wouldn’t it be nice to use those spaces to counter all of this? This is where basketball come in to play. Utilizing otherwise useless areas in the community to create a social space where kids and adults can come and enjoy a game, watching or playing, with rules that fit NBA regulations, or just get made up on the spot to create a unique community form of the game. http://www.jerseybasketballassociation.com/rules/ A lot of the space available may be council owned, and able to be repurposed for community development, otherwise if privately owned you may be able to negotiate a lease with the owner that allows you to develop and enjoy the space for a set period of years, often at little or no cost. The benefit to the owner is that they enjoy community goodwill, and the space is being used until such time as they can develop it themselves (If you go this route allow for a period that will be the majority of the life of the court to get maximum use). Sizing the Court If you’re looking at a regulation court you will need to be able to clear at least 94 feet by 50 feet, plus a little space around the edge, while high school basketball courts are generally a little smaller at around 84 feet by 50 feet. Of course, there is no reason for you to stay strictly within regulations, but it is usually a good idea. However, the main goal is to create a great surface to play ball on. Building the Court Outdoor basketball courts are generally made from asphalt paving or concrete. One of the reasons that you will see basketball courts with cracks and weeds is often that the court hasn’t been laid properly from the start. When you are talking to your New Jersey asphalt pavement contractor about their process, they shouldn’t be talking about just laying down blacktop. The first step is not to just ensure that the surface is flat, but also to make sure that it is very well compacted. Although there are many corners that can be cut, a good asphalt surface will have material that is placed under the top layer, and usually several different layers of differing materials, depending on what drainage and earth is going to be under the court. Each layer must then be well compacted. If you go with a company that will cut corners for you, you will have court that simply won’t last the distance. Even more so if you are building near a busy road or in an industrial area. Painting the Court Using non-slip paint is ideal for an outdoor court, and although you can get a range of different materials for the top in a selection of colors, standard blacktop with white paint is likely to be your cheapest option. However, you may be able to use the space for a logo of the company installing in order to get a discount. The Surrounds Trees provide great shade, but they also may drop leaves which mean that someone will need to clean up before a game can happen. You may think that this is fine, however in a community court simple things like this often become a reason for no one to use the space. Try and look at plantings that will be low mess. Although, fruit vines or trees may be a great option to encourage more families to enjoy the space, with apples, peaches and nectarines growing well in New Jersey (see here). Although these do lose their leaves in winter, so it becomes a balance of which is the more desirable quality.

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£67m Ipswich Tidal Flood Barrier wins top engineering award

The Ipswich Tidal Flood Barrier has won a top award from the leading international engineering institution. The project, which better protects over 1,600 homes and 400 businesses from the risk of flooding, has won an Exceptional Merit Award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) East of England Merit Awards. The Barrier was recognised in the Technical Excellence and Innovation category. ICE is a professional membership body, supporting more than 90,000 engineers around the world. Costing almost £70million, the Ipswich Flood Defence Management Strategy comprises a mix of new and refurbished flood walls and gates along 1,100 metres of the River Orwell. The barrier’s centrepiece is a 200-tonne rotating Radial Sector Gate, which can be raised in minutes in the event of a tidal surge. The barrier was officially unveiled by Floods Minister Dr Thérese Coffey in February. The flood gate has a design similar to that of the Thames Barrier and is so large that it is coated with 6 tonnes of protective paint. The flood gate rotates upwards out of the sea floor into the closed position, holding back dangerous tidal surges that could flood the town. The new defences provide a much higher level of protection from the type of tidal surge which threatened the town in 2007 and 2013, both of which were close to spilling over the existing defences. Aside from the reduced flood risk benefits, the flood defence scheme has the added advantage of helping to boost the local economy through freeing up hectares of land for regeneration. The Environment Agency project was approved by Defra in 2006 and has been delivered by contractor VBA – a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins. The barrier scheme has an exemplary health and safety record. Risk on the project was designed using 3D and physical modelling, along with VolkerStevin’s behavioural safety programme. This resulted in no reportable incidents throughout the three year construction process, which comprised more than 300,000 hours of work. As a result, the project is now being used as a case study for other Environment Agency works including the Boston Barrier. Andrew Usborne, the lead officer on the scheme, said the award was welcome recognition for the Environment Agency and its partners.

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J S WRIGHT SECURES £4M CONTRACT FOR PARADISE BIRMINGHAM

Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement and external services for two new Grade A office buildings, One and Two Chamberlain Square. The wide-ranging mechanical works will include installing rainwater and above ground drainage, chilled water plant with distribution to serve neighbouring Birmingham Town Hall, and car park ventilation systems. J S Wright will also install commercial landlord systems including sprinklers, general ventilation services for the plant room and communal areas, and boosted mains cold water plant for distribution including landscape irrigation. All the services will be controlled by a central Building Management System (BMS). The electrical works will involve the installation, testing and commissioning of the mains distribution network, including an uninterruptible power system and commercial landlord switchboards, along with submain distribution cabling and small power distribution. J S Wright will also provide lighting and emergency lighting, access control, CCTV equipment, door security and fire alarms, and car park lighting. Work on site is scheduled for completion at the end of 2019. Phil Leech, Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are delighted that our expertise and experience in delivering M&E services to multi-million-pound regeneration projects, primarily in London and the Midlands, has resulted in a commission that will eventually transform our home city of Birmingham.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.

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Vivalda Group listed in London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ 2019 report for third year

Architectural cladding specialist Vivalda Group has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ 2019. Despite the current economic uncertainly and the impact of the Grenfell Tower tragedy on the industry, Vivalda has continued to push for greater transparency and leadership within the cladding sector by maintaining its policy of supplying only non-combustible facades to high rise buildings. The £34m turnover company was founded in 1999 and has a strong track record of investment in both people and equipment. Working closely with building contractors and architects across the UK and Ireland, Vivalda has campaigned for a more robust, evidence-based test regime for cladding systems. A celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), the Stock Exchange award further confirms Vivalda’s enviable reputation as the UK’s largest independent supplier of high-performance cladding to buildings across the UK, Scotland and Ireland. With offices in nine locations, the business has pioneered the use of off-site fabrication within the construction supply chain – providing modular housing manufacturers with complete cladding solutions. Peter Johnson, chairman of Vivalda, said: “Our policy of supplying only certified, non-combustible claddings to high rise buildings has given our customers peace of mind by simplifying what was previously a complicated specification process. This has given us credibility, positioning us in the market to provide non-combustible cladding to the 400 high rise buildings that still require remediation work.” “Industry experts estimate that the total repair bill will be as high as £2bn as landlords strip off inferior cladding and replace with fully tested materials, providing long-overdue peace of mind to their anxious residents,” concluded Johnson. The business currently boasts an annual turnover of £34m and continues to outgrow construction industry norms, based on its uncompromising focus on product safety combined with added value services to both architects & contractors. Group chairman, Peter Johnson, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have had our efforts noticed by the LSE for a third year running. This recognition is a real feather in our cap and is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and passion demonstrated by Vivalda’s people up and down the country. We pride ourselves on going that extra mile for customers, supplying cut-to-size, fully prepared cladding that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing. “All of our fabrication facilities are equipped with the latest CNC cutting machines, dust extraction systems and our new delivery fleet conforms to the latest emissions standards – we believe that sustained profits only follow planned and long-term investment in people, skills and equipment.” To be selected for the list, businesses had to demonstrate not only positive revenue growth over the last three years but also outperform their sector peers. The result is a unique and varied list of the UK’s most dynamic companies. More details on the Companies to Inspire reports and methodology can be found online at www.1000companies.com.    David Schwimmer, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group, said: “Congratulations to all the companies selected for inclusion in the sixth edition of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report, which identifies the UK’s most dynamic SMEs. SMEs drive growth, innovation and job creation and are the lifeblood of the British economy. We believe that supporting the growth of these businesses is critical to the UK economy and the creation of a society that works for everyone.” A full searchable database of all of the companies along with a downloadable pdf of the publication can be found online at www.1000companies.com

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Manufacturer of high-performance construction fibres independent from now on

Low & Bonar has officially sold its division for high-performance construction fibres with the brand name Adfil to a new owner as from 1 July 2019. The “concrete lab” of the international concern can now carry on independently. With the same name and at the same location, but above all with a new, daring road map. “We want to significantly increase profitability within the first year,” say CEO Tom Winters and COO Ives Swennen, exuding ambition. It has long been a public secret that the international concern Low & Bonar wanted to cash in by selling its business unit for Adfil construction fibres in order to invest that money in divisions that would yield greater returns. Adfil stands for Anglo Danish Fibres Industry Limited, originally an English-Danish company with headquarters in Hull that produced patented microfibers. This was acquired by Low & Bonar in 2005 and subsequently integrated into its site at Zele Belgium. THE ABILITY TO FEND FOR ONESELF Since 2014, Low & Bonar have invested significant sums of money in new macro fibre capacities and a brand new concrete lab in Zele, East Flanders. This has resulted in the production of patented fibres which will ensure Adfil remain at the forefront of producing world class products. Due to other pressures on the business the international group decided to embark of selling Adfil resulting in the business having come under new control from 1st July 2019. The new owner is a private investor who has repeatedly invested successfully in companies in the past and who thinks in the long term. The daily management will be in the hands of CEO Tom Winters and COO Ives Swennen, who will both also become directors. The brand name Adfil will also become the name of the new entity, which, will remain in Zele. Apart from that, there is also a sales office in the United Kingdom, employing six technical sales staff. Tom Winters: “When we used to need money, we could ask for it within the group. Now we will have to fend for ourselves and provide for our own money. Our first major goal? To demonstrate improved profitability within one year. We also want to offer more service and, as an independent company, we will now be able to make more conscious choices about that.” MARKET IS RIPE FOR MACRO FIBRES Micro and macro synthetic fibres are increasingly being used to reinforce concrete, as a sustainable alternative and/or supplement for steel reinforcement or steel fibre concrete reinforcement. Adding synthetic fibres in the correct proportions makes steel mesh or steel fibres superfluous in many applications, such as in concrete interior and exterior hard standings. Until a few years ago, the construction sector was not at all tuned in to the enormous technical sophistication and potential of these polymer fibres. But gradually the market seems to be ripening for it. Winters: “Increasing numbers of concrete producers, engineering firms and contractors prefer synthetic fibres to conventional steel reinforcement. Those are also the three groups we are hoping to convince. Since the middle of last year, Adfil has become very active in Belgium, thanks in part to its having obtained so-called ATG certification. “We needed two years to carry out testing. Those tests were done using the worst possible concrete, in other words the worst case scenario. The ease of working with and the homogeneity of the concrete were thus proven under the most extreme conditions. Thanks to the certification, Belgian companies are now no longer forced to exclusively use steel for reinforcement. In Belgium, approximately 12 million cubic metres of concrete are poured each year, 95% of which is reinforced using steel mesh, so there is still a lot of potential for a better way to carry out reinforcement.” Meanwhile, Adfil has been working together with Interbeton, one of the bigger players in Belgium. NEW PRODUCTS, NEW APPLICATIONS Adfil now has a turnover of 15 million euros – the volumes are increasing month by month – and supplies its fibres directly to concrete plants or via preferred partners. The latter are commercial players who are co-investing in advance and are pushing their brand fully into the market. As many as 90% of Adfil’s customers are located outside of Belgium, but gradually the concrete plants in the Benelux are becoming attracted to its fibres. Synthetic fibre reinforcement still has a particularly large margin for growth, precisely because so many markets are still unexplored. The dosage (kilograms per cubic metre) is getting lower all the time, from 12 kg to the current 3 kg. Ives Swennen: “We try to innovate in every facet of the fibre: in colour, in bonding the fibre into the concrete and in all the mechanical properties such as impact resistance, tensile strength and stiffness. We want to distinguish ourselves by putting a product on the market that is not based purely on the properties of the fibres, but rather on their actual performance within concrete. In this way, after many external tests, we are now able to test the exact composition of concrete using our fibres for customers and thus to know exactly how it will perform.” The new owner recently decided to invest in additional sales staff who have both technical and commercial knowledge. In the future, Adfil also wants to reinvest more of its profits into the company. “Because we are now finally standing on our own two feet, we will not only grow step by step, but we also want to make our people happier. We are in the process of becoming a small but very flexible player, in which our employees will also combine various roles. That is why we really want to dedicate ourselves to job satisfaction, because we consider the person behind the employee to be of paramount importance”, they both conclude.

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Only 3% of UK, German and French architects are able to identify the four basic fire protection terms No German architects correctly defined all four terms and only 6% in France and 8% in UK Active and passive fire protection better understood by UK architects than by French and Germany counterparts France has greater understanding of reaction of fire than UK and Germany UK architects have the lowest understanding of fire resistance Only 2% of architects surveyed have had comprehensive fire protection training A third of architects say their current employer doesn’t spend enough on fire protection training Over three quarters of architects believe they are lacking in fully comprehensive fire protection training Zeroignition, the fire-retardant technology firm has announced the European findings from its study of architects and specifiers. Architects in the UK, Germany and France were asked about their knowledge and understanding of four common terms relating to buildings and fire protection. Across the three countries only 3% of architects were able to correctly define the four basic fire protection terms: active fire protection, passive fire protection, fire resistance and reaction to fire. Of the architects surveyed in the UK 8% where able to define the four terms, in France it was only 6% and in Germany none. Across the three countries over half (54%) of architects were unable to correctly define the concept of active fire protection (systems which protect structures and people – typically sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms). This breaks down to one in three (35%) architects in the UK, over half those asked in Germany (59%) and two out of three (67%) architects surveyed in France. When asked to define passive fire protection (whereby the spread of fire is slowed or contained through the use of fire-resistant walls, floors and doors, amongst others), more than half (57%) of architects were unable to provide an accurate definition. UK architects showed the most understanding with just under half (48%) unable to answer. The number of architects who could not answer increased to 61% in Germany and 63% in France. In total 63% of architects could not explain ‘reaction to fire’ protection (products designed to slow the growth of fire in its early stages to aid escape). This includes over one third (35%) of those asked in France, over two out of five (42%) of UK respondents and almost all (94%) German architects. When asked to define fire resistance (a set of products that prevent fire spreading to other parts of the structure) more than half (56%) were unable to. By country this breaks down to almost three quarters (71%) of UK architects and half those surveyed in France (51%). Germany showed a better understanding with less than half (45%) answering incorrectly. Hardly any of the architects interviewed, a mere 2%, said they’d had comprehensive fire protection training, most had some training and less than one in ten (8%) say they’ve never had fire protection training. Ian King, chief operating officer, Zeroignition, commented: “Lack of fire knowledge among architects in Europe, as indicated by the survey findings in the UK, France and Germany, show the issue is not limited to one country. Some countries fare better than others depending on the basic fire term in question but it is clear fire knowledge is lacking across the board. Professional bodies, and the construction industry as a whole, need to invest more and tackle the issue.”

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Infrarail set to return at London Olympia in May 2020

Following on from the hugely successful Railtex, attention now turns to Infrarail, the UK’s leading exhibition of railway infrastructure equipment, products and services. Infrarail returns next year but will be at a new venue, the London Olympia, from May 12th to May 14th. The event is firmly established as Britain’s leading showcase for every aspect of railway infrastructure technology and expertise, attracting visiting managers, engineers and buyers at the highest level. The show comes at a busy, exciting and challenging time for Britain’s railway infrastructure. Large scale investments and upgrading of assets continue to take place across the UK network, including electrification and modernisation schemes in excess of £2.8 billion, Crossrail 2 valued at £32 billion, the Digital Railway programme worth up to £450 million and the Thameslink project valued at £6.5 billion, to name but a few. The exhibition will again display its effectivity in enabling the supply sector to demonstrate its response to these opportunities as the industry’s premier networking event for rail infrastructure. Exhibitors from the full scope of infrastructure sectors will be on display, including track construction and maintenance companies, signalling, communications and passenger information specialists, electrification contractors and equipment providers, measurement, monitoring and testing system suppliers, station equipment and system providers and civil engineering companies, amongst others.   The recently agreed Rail Sector Deal, based on four key pillars- Digital Railway, Data, Sustainable Railway and Exports, will also feature heavily at the exhibition, with a range of exhibitors and supporting features planned around these themes. Historically, Infrarail has been the industry’s favoured meeting place for key decision makers, government bodies and buyers, managers, project leaders and engineers active in the supply chain. Visitors will be in attendance from around the world with 200+ organisations anticipated to be exhibiting from countries across the globe, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands and Spain to name a few. The show also offers a strong supporting programme of keynote speeches, technical seminars, project updates and discussion forums, all of which will be revealed in the coming months. Infrarail will undoubtedly put exhibitors and visitors at the centre of the huge opportunities currently available on the UK’s rail network. Leads will be created, insightful discussions will be had and connections made at London’s Olympia next year. Stand space is now available to be booked at Infrarail 2020. For more details, visit www.infrarail.com.

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A NEW TEAM FOR AR DEMOLITION AS IT RELAUNCHES EARTHWORKS AND REMEDIATION

Innovative demolition specialist AR Demolition has continued investing in its business with a revitalised earthworks and soil remediation team. The East Midlands firm, which is based at Carlton near Nuneaton, has taken on a new team of earthworks and remediation specialists, to rejuvenate its offering in providing the full suite of demolition-related enabling functions. The team will be led by AR Demolition’s operations director Matt Barrow, who formerly headed up the operational delivery of the remediation arm at Keltbray following a decade in civil engineering and soil stabilisation roles. He is joined by compliance manager Felicity Barnard, an industry-proven remediation professional who brings an MSc in Environmental Science alongside a certificate of technical competence to her new role. AR Demolition are also actively recruiting to support growth in this discipline. Mr Barrow said: “Earthworks and remediation have always been part of AR Demolition’s armoury. Now we have a dedicated team with a specialist skillset so we can relaunch our offering, communicating to current and future clients that we can provide a turnkey solution for fully enabled construction-ready sites. “We will bring AR Demolition’s customer-focused, innovative approach across the board, from inception to planning, asbestos removal, demolition, right through to remediation and earthworks “What this specialist knowledge will provide is bespoke, collaborative, design-led solutions for our  clients. “We have a comprehensive understanding of the relevant regulations and we can manage the process – through planning and delivery to sign-off. “As AR Demolition rejuvenates its business and its offering, it’s really exciting to be part of a genuinely innovative company, which wants to place clients first and has designs on revolutionising the image and the work of the demolition industry.” AR Demolition was founded by managing director Richard Dolman in 2007 and, following a period of restructuring and stabilisation in 2017, the company reported a record start to 2018 and is shortly to announce this year’s turnover figures and profits. The latest investment follows significant investment in new plant and machinery, including £1.5m spent on three new cutting-edge high reach Kiesel machines in 2018 after previous investment of £1m in 2016. AR Demolition is also unique among small demolition contractors in having its own aggregates recycling facility, at its AR Aggregates urban quarry in nearby Leicester. Mr Dolman said that he and the leadership team at AR Demolition is keen to develop the company into a new type of demolition contractor, one where quality, safety and innovation – particularly in terms of sustainability and recruitment – were placed at the forefront. He said: “Our revamped remediation service is another example of how we are looking to offer our clients a spectrum of services where quality and innovation stand alongside sustainability and efficiency. “Matt and his team will provide a valuable service that we hope can play an important role, not just in providing our customers with the best possible service but also to help with urban regeneration. “AR Demolition is gradually turning into the company we have all visualised – it’s an exciting time for all of us here and great to see our continued development, setting an example for what a small demolition contractor of the 21st Century can be.”

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SENIOR APPOINTMENT SIGNALS INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION FOR RLB

Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) announces the appointment of industry heavyweight, Andrew Stamps, as National Head of Infrastructure with immediate effect.  This announcement is the latest in a series from RLB UK, marking the firm’s continuing growth as it heads into a new financial year. Stamps, who previously worked as a Director at Turner & Townsend, has over 30 years’ worth of experience of commercial leadership in the delivery of major infrastructure projects and frameworks including projects with Scottish Water, Sellafield Ltd, URENCO, Anglian Water, Eon, Severn Trent Water, Network Rail, Highways England, Birmingham Airport and Transport for Greater Manchester. RLB UK already works on significant infrastructure projects both globally and nationally with the sector equating to 10% of its UK turnover in 2018/19. The firm estimates that by 2030 this will grow to 20%. Mark Weaver, RLB UK Board Director, comments, “Although we have been working in the Infrastructure sector for many years, bringing Andrew in to head up this area reinforces the importance of this market to us.  Underpinning our growth strategy, we are committed to having first rate talent in our business to be able to provide the best services to our clients and Andrew’s experience is second to none.” Andrew Stamps, Partner and National Head of Infrastructure at RLB UK, comments, “It is an exciting time at RLB. It is a company that is rapidly growing across the services it offers and the sectors it provides those services in. I am looking forward to working with the existing team and clients to help build this area of the business and be part of the senior management team that can deliver on our growth aspirations.”

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