Lanes Group business UKDN Waterflow (LG) has made an investment in ultra-violet pipe lining technology to meet the growing demand for the rehabilitation of large diameter pipes, culverts and sewers. The lining division of UKDN has purchased a dual core curing system specifically designed for lining pipes with a diameter
An award winning Cheshire property has been refurbished using Render Systems from Alumasc. Alumasc who supply some of the industries key construction products. Owned by David and Margie Edwards, the magnificent Bankhall House was originally completed in 2008, to a traditional Georgian/Queen Ann architectural design, earning them the prestigious title
Welsh Slate will provide the roofing and flooring for the first major redevelopment of York racecourse’s northern end in 100 years. Phelan Architects specified the firm as a supplier of a natural material that will complement the racecourse’s listed buildings, while their longevity will guarantee the materials for 100 years
Midland Lead, leading British manufacturer of machine cast lead, has invested £122,000 into supply chain upgrades, in a move that marks part of a wider drive to support emissions reductions in the UK. A substantial part of overall investment has seen the firm welcome five state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly forklifts on
Following on from the recent success of Breedon Aggregates in increasing profits by almost 50% last year, in addition to the company’s potential acquisition of Hope Construction Materials, it has been announced that the organisation’s Chief Executive, Pat Ward clearly sees continuation in the brand’s success, procuring some 150,000 shares
As a continuation of the company’s declaration to both encourage and promote innovation for the benefit of the customer, Travis Perkins has gone out of its way to highlight some of the most prominent issues, or “headaches” currently prevalent in the industry. As for the concepts themselves, it is reported
Buildbase: The Tradesman’s Supermarket (The Following is a Promoted Article) Of the challenges facing regional tradesmen, the sheer complexities of building a well established supply chain is often almost as daunting a concept as the job itself. Not only do smaller contractors struggle to find the right supplier for the job,
In recent years, insulation has accelerated in importance for contractors and consumers alike and is amongst the most rapidly growing sectors in the industry. Despite an uptake in business, techniques and solutions have been proportionately slower to progress. Systems have remained unchanged for decades and with the increase in activity,
In recent construction news it has been reported that an increased move towards urbanisation, as well as improvements seen in the wider construction industry, may yet see a notable degree of growth within the concrete fiber market. Highlighted in a report by Transparency Market Research, the report effectively highlights those
A worrying statistic; it has been reported that aggregate reserves are being used up at a notably faster rate than permission is being granted for the development of new quarrying capacity – a warning by the Mineral Products Association (MPA) of a tip in the scales of supply and demand
Lanes Group business UKDN Waterflow (LG) has made an investment in ultra-violet pipe lining technology to meet the growing demand for the rehabilitation of large diameter pipes, culverts and sewers. The lining division of UKDN has purchased a dual core curing system specifically designed for lining pipes with a diameter between 600mm and 1200mm. The division is using it to rehabilitate large diameter culverts for Network Rail. The company states that there are only two ultra violet dual core systems in the UK that can be used on mobile UV lining equipment. The majority of pipe rehabilitation contractors hire them on a project by project basis. Head of Rail Maintenance for UKDN Waterflow (LG), Eamonn Maloney, commented: “Having the system in-house will allow us to plan culvert and sewer rehabilitation programmes more effectively, making them easier to implement, and more cost-effective for rail infrastructure customers. “Our ability to invest in this technology is an example of the benefits that have flowed from Lanes Group’s acquisition of the business 12 months ago. Indeed, the dual-core system will be made available to all Lanes Group sewer rehabilitation customers.” UKDN has also come up with a mobile UV lining pod that will operate the dual core light train, which can be lifted onto or off of trollies or all terrain trailers for transport. There are four lamps on each core of the ProKASRO dual core UV light system. Once a maximum diameter has been set for the guide arms, a safety system will prevent the arms from over elevating beyond the chosen diameter. UKDN lining manager Jack Talbott said: “We can remotely adjust the arms up or down to guide the light source through changing diameters, or sections of deformed pipes during the curing process. “The operator keeps the light source as close as possible to the liner all times. This allows the quickest curing time, which can be essential when lining rail pipes during short track possessions.”
An award winning Cheshire property has been refurbished using Render Systems from Alumasc. Alumasc who supply some of the industries key construction products. Owned by David and Margie Edwards, the magnificent Bankhall House was originally completed in 2008, to a traditional Georgian/Queen Ann architectural design, earning them the prestigious title of Daily Telegraph Best Traditional House in the UK for 2010. Following some initial problems with the original render system, David Edwards embarked on a 4-month study of the render market, in search of a system that would complement and protect his beloved Bankhall. “To show passion above and beyond that of their competitors” Following rigorous research into suitable products and approved contractors, David brought in Alumasc Registered Installer Bruce Day of Cheshire Facades, who, according to David, “worked alongside Alumasc’s technical team to show passion above and beyond that of their competitors”. David, Bruce, and the installation team, worked closely together in the investigation and resolution of the initial render problems, and specified Alumasc’s MR Polymer Render System with a decorative Silicone Render finish, as the solution. Bruce Day has a well-established relationship with Alumasc and was confident that their products presented the right solution for Bankhall House. He comments: “The traditional architecture at Bankhall presented a number of challenges with regard to application of the chosen render system. Intricacies in the stonework of the main house and also balustrades and plinths in the garden, demanded a robust system that could be easily applied. I have always found Alumasc systems easy to work with and in this case they also provided a perfect ‘cream’ colour match to the existing finish.” David and Margie are thrilled with both the installation process and the result. David comments: “Activity on site was reviewed daily by Cheshire Facades, and snagging was an integral part of my relationship with Bruce and his installers. Bruce insisted, “Our work must satisfy the customer – always”. I was also aware that render products have developed technically since the original installation, and Alumasc were able to offer all of the “cutting edge technology” required to give us the result we wanted. We feel like we’ve been given a new house.” Alumasc Polymer and Silicone Render Systems are BBA Approved construction products and fully warrantied. They are less susceptible to cracking and crazing than traditional plain render and are fully weather resistant whilst remaining vapour permeable. For more information, visit www.alumascfacades.co.uk or call 03335 771 700
Welsh Slate will provide the roofing and flooring for the first major redevelopment of York racecourse’s northern end in 100 years. Phelan Architects specified the firm as a supplier of a natural material that will complement the racecourse’s listed buildings, while their longevity will guarantee the materials for 100 years and can perform for an even longer time than that. Part of the Lagan Group, Welsh Slate will supply products that include 14,000 Penrhyn Heather Blue County-grade roof slates installed by Sothall Roofing on the stables which will include a 30˚ pitch roof, on the circular roof of the Winning Connections building, and on the 40˚ pitch roof weigh-in building with mitred hips and valleys and concealed gutters. A total of 900m2 of 600mm x 300mm and 300mm x 300mm riven and gauged Cwt Y Bugail 12mm Welsh Slate flooring was also specified for the internal toilets and wet areas of the stables and weigh-in building and for the toilets and internal corridors on the champagne lawns and this was installed by the appointed York-based construction company Lindum. These elements make up £5 million of the redevelopment of the northern end of the racecourse which will total £10 million. The northern end of the racecourse was laid out in the early 1900s to the designs of Walter Brierley. Over the years, the racecourse has seen additions but this was the first comprehensive redevelopment of the Conservation Area in 100 years. In order to ensure maximum safety for both racegoers and horses, Phelan proposed moving the enclosure wall which gave them a small addition area which would allow them to relocate the pre-parade ring and provide new saddling boxes complete with dedicated wash-down yard and veterinary stocks box, and weigh-in building with fine-dining restaurant. In turn, this allowed champagne lawns to be re-ordered, with new bard, toilets and back of house space.
Midland Lead, leading British manufacturer of machine cast lead, has invested £122,000 into supply chain upgrades, in a move that marks part of a wider drive to support emissions reductions in the UK. A substantial part of overall investment has seen the firm welcome five state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly forklifts on site, including four Hangcha XF25s and a Hangcha XAC425. Replacing older models, the new forklifts run on Autogas (LPG), known as a ‘green fuel’ due to its use reducing CO2 exhaust emissions by around 15% compared to petrol. Managing director Boudewijn Tuinenburg explains the reasoning behind the company’s keen focus on reducing emissions: “There’s no doubt that greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise – and supply chains make up a substantial part of a company’s footprint that’s often much larger than operational emissions. “As well as supporting the Government’s environmental policies, we know that business leadership and a commitment to managing energy usage are vital for companies like ours in order to make a positive change. Reducing carbon emissions also makes good business sense – saving money, and often coming hand in hand with risk reduction, innovation and a clear competitive advantage.” Alongside the forklifts’ environmental benefits, the new fleet has also been installed with a Keytroller TDS601 system. Supplied and fitted by Transmon Engineering Ltd, the technology works to further improve Midland Lead’s production facility, both in terms of efficiency and safety. Karl Nicolson, engineering and maintenance manager, explains the system’s key benefits: “Offering increased site safety, the system allows us to keep in constant communication with the trucks via Wi-Fi, providing real-time information, and automatically generated reports and alerts. It also allows our truck maintenance procedures to go paper-free, which gives us associated cost and environmental benefits.” Bob Warner, Sales Manager at Transmon Engineering, adds: “Midland Lead’s team are very health and safety conscious, which is why they approached us. The TDS601 dramatically improves site safety and reduces damage from increased accountability. They have also been fitted with the Road Speed Controller, which, along with the Keytroller TDS601, helps to reduce exhaust emissions by encouraging safe driving habits and fuel wastage.” In addition to the new forklifts, the company has also upgraded three of its existing H120D Linde 12-tonne trucks by fitting them with the same TDS601 system, along with cameras and a GreenUrban Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), which captures fumes and reduces emissions by 90-96%. With more changes geared towards further emissions reductions on the horizon, Karl adds: “With the Government’s 2020 drive for vehicles to be more energy efficient, we’re looking to get ahead of the game and start making a difference now, to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, diesel emissions at Midland Lead.”
Following on from the recent success of Breedon Aggregates in increasing profits by almost 50% last year, in addition to the company’s potential acquisition of Hope Construction Materials, it has been announced that the organisation’s Chief Executive, Pat Ward clearly sees continuation in the brand’s success, procuring some 150,000 shares in the company at a rate of 70p – a deal which is heralded as quite a safe investment given the company’s recent, and predicted success. The move signifies Pat Ward’s first investment made into Breedon Aggregates, which will complement the vast number of shares he has recently been presented with as part of the group’s performance share plan; a total of 709,219 shares being provided to Pat Ward, 531,914 shares to Chairman, Peter Tom, and 425,531 shares provided to Finance Director, Rob Wood. Now, more than ever, certainly seems like a good time to invest into Breedon Aggregates, with predictions seeing the company grow almost twofold should the acquisition of Hope Construction Materials follow through. And while the deal is presently facing concerns as to reduced competition in the mixed-concrete market, it would seem that Breedon Aggregates had already foreseen this and may be prepared to sacrifice a portion of its concrete production capacity to enable the deal to continue. Should the deal continue, it is expected that Breedon Aggregates will become something of a powerhouse in the industry and, while regulation will require the company to downsize somewhat to maintain a level of competitiveness in the wider industry, this will still see Breedon Aggregates maintain a sizeable share in the market for the production of mixed-concrete. Also with Hope Construction Materials only recently launching its very own, branded range of product, the company may very well see the acquisition of a very strong product portfolio from Hope Construction Materials which will only cement the company’s future prosperity in the market for mixed-concrete products.
As a continuation of the company’s declaration to both encourage and promote innovation for the benefit of the customer, Travis Perkins has gone out of its way to highlight some of the most prominent issues, or “headaches” currently prevalent in the industry. As for the concepts themselves, it is reported that they became apparent upon Travis Perkins conversing with a mixture of industry manufacturers, housebuilders, contractors and members of staff. Of the key gripes, the weather in the UK was noted to be one of those challenges shared by many individuals across the sector. Notoriously poor weather has always been something of a gripe for the UK as a whole, but within the construction sector it is something to which many organisations attribute a degree of their construction delays, the reduced effectiveness of some building products, and a deprecation of working conditions and overall productivities. It’s of no real surprise that another of the key areas highlighted was health and safety, being something that presently places more limiters on what can be done more than any other construction concept. Incorporating areas such as working from heights and the use of heavy equipment and materials, the potential for injury within the construction sector has always, and perhaps always will be something of an annoyance to the industry itself. As has also been reported, the skills shortage was also highlighted as one of the other key areas of challenges, which has placed severe brakes on the continued growth of the sector; this also being something very difficult for the average SME to be able to overcome without dedicating a great deal more attention to community engagement and recruitment strategy. Travis Perkins’ Group Strategy Director, Norman Bell commented: “This is a golden opportunity for those in construction who face daily problems that are a barrier to progress and profit, as well as for creative minds that want to make a difference to a vital industry sector.”
Buildbase: The Tradesman’s Supermarket (The Following is a Promoted Article) Of the challenges facing regional tradesmen, the sheer complexities of building a well established supply chain is often almost as daunting a concept as the job itself. Not only do smaller contractors struggle to find the right supplier for the job, but with the inability to demand economies of scale and a lack of support in finding the right products for the task at hand, comes a situation in which contractors are unable to focus on what it is that they do best. But this is where Buildbase comes in, offering a simple and effective source for everything required by the modern tradesman. Established in the UK some 20 years ago, Buildbase, part of the Grafton Group, the UK’s third largest builders merchanting business, has an unrivalled offering of everything the modern-day building contractor could hope for. Electricbase, Hirebase and Plumbase sit alongside Buildbase in the Grafton merchanting portfolio of businesses, enabling tradespeople to access the full range of building materials. The core of the Buildbase range is, as is to be expected, standardised building products, however Buildbase differentiates itself by being the only national supplier of the whole package of these products, combined with that of a comprehensive range of electrical goods – something which keen competitors have yet to fully develop. Additionally, Buildbase also has a national hire business, boasting 120 sites across the country where customers are able to hire whatever they may need. Understanding that individuals are, in general quite “time poor”, Buildbase presents itself as a one-stop-shop, an easy and simple solution for sourcing any supplies for the task at hand. As Kate Tinsley, Managing Director of Buildbase explains: “We can essentially build a house from the ground upwards, with every single thing you can see in that house, provided here, by us. Whatever the build contract is, Buildbase can support with a complete materials offering. They can find everything they need in one place, reducing time and money spent driving around to negotiate prices with different sources. Instead, they simply come straight to us and do it all in one go.” The Buildbase range is consistently being updated, not only to incorporate new products, but also to ensure that everything on the shelves is fit for purpose. While customer and market research do play a vital role in this process, Buildbase equally regards the importance of direct customer feedback and liaison with customers on a day-to-day basis. Through straightforward communication, Buildbase team members pursue an initiative-led approach to better understanding customer needs and effectively finding ways of making it as easy as possible for tradesmen to complete the jobs which they are currently working on. Key to this ethos is, as one would expect, the economies of scale that Buildbase can offer its customers. This is achieved by offering customers the weight and breadth of Buildbase, as well as of the Grafton Group, in getting the best value, fit for purpose products on demand. As Kate Tinsley furthers: “We leverage everything powerful that comes with being part of a national company. This mostly comes down to the suppliers, but is also about making sure the people at the front-end of our network are agile and responsive to customer needs. It’s effectively like being a local merchant but with the national leveraging behind it.” Yet it isn’t simply a case of supplying to the requirement of the customer, as Buildbase understands it. Due to the sheer experience and understanding of the wider industry, Buildbase simultaneously toes the line of offering a responsive needs-based service, whilst also providing an advisory role in both specification and the best products for the job itself. And this level of support is essential for many an SME, where tradesmen may have ambitious designs or challenges to meet, but require something a little above and beyond the bare provision of product and, in this instance, Buildbase is able to step up to the challenge and work alongside the customer to assess the commercial viability of a project as well as the various areas which must be covered over the course of the project itself. “One of the big differentiators between us and our competitors is that our staff have extensive product knowledge and, as experts, we can offer advice where required. We also offer an estimating services and so, people can bring in their building plans and we can advise on how much that might cost from a project perspective,” enthuses Kate Tinsley, nodding to the support offered to tradesmen through simple, yet effective communication. It is, however, not solely on this side of the fence that truly defines Buildbase. Kate Tinsley adds: “We work really closely with key suppliers,, partnering with them and taking new product suggestions. Additionally, we’re in constant communication and we’ll feed back customer thoughts and responses to their products too – in this industry you have to work closely with the manufacturers as ultimately they are the ones with the intimate product knowledge that can often be required by our customers.” On both sides, it is the expertise of Buildbase’s team that makes all of this possible. Unlike many keen competitors who do indeed offer a friendly service, Buildbase’s offering is one whereupon each and every member of the team is qualified and experienced enough to offer targeted, project-specific advice and consultation. This approach is not only backed by extensive training programmes for the team, but also through a keen recognition of the importance of this service and the motivational support required to ensure that each and every member of staff is both ready and able to provide for the customer as best as can be done; effectively, as Buildbase understands it, it is a case of developing relationships in an industry where trust is paramount. Providing her personal thoughts and drive behind the Buildbase approach to people, Kate Tinsley explains: “I try to push engagement with our people. It’s very much a relationship-driven industry and if we
In recent years, insulation has accelerated in importance for contractors and consumers alike and is amongst the most rapidly growing sectors in the industry. Despite an uptake in business, techniques and solutions have been proportionately slower to progress. Systems have remained unchanged for decades and with the increase in activity, as well as the increasing use of poor quality timber in the process, something has to change in order to prevent a future of failures. Introducing pioneering best practice to a sector of renewed interest, Swifix offers ground-breaking new possibilities in the way of efficiencies and cost reductions. Swifix made its entry into marketplace at the end of 2015 and, with its revolutionary range of insulation products, has ambitions to invoke sector-wide change. Where insulation would ordinarily be interrupted by external fitments such as washing lines, downpipes, lights, alarms and outdoor taps, signage, canopies, the company presents the opportunity for 100% building insulation– and at a fraction of the cost. Millions of UK properties can benefit from insulation renewal and thousands are upgraded on a daily basis. At present, the process currently involves stripping every fitting from the exterior, and fitting large blocks of timber in order to be able to replace fixtures with a screw. The use of timber instantly compromises the insulation system and introduces areas of weakness, thereby preventing maximum gains in efficiency. As Paul Brown, Managing Director of Swifix continues, “As soon as you incorporate timber into the system, you’re effectively introducing an alien, unnecessary product. Coupled with inappropriate timber being used due to costs and the insulation process has the potential to cause long-term system failures, putting customers at financial as well as health and safety risk. Though it’s been best practice in the sector for quite some time, that’s purely because there has never been a commercially suitable alternative.” That alternative however has now arrived, and Swifix suite of products have been designed and engineered so as to be installed in conjunction with external or solid wall insulation, and are there- fore capable of making a structure completely water-tight. Alongside maximum thermal efficiency and the accompanying savings on annual fuel bills, clients are also provided the assurance of a product which is long-term, non-degradable and flexible to repair and maintain. Brown is keen to stress the advantages of such: “One of our target markets is social housing, and those properties require much more in the way of maintenance and repair. If somebody wants to fit something to the property three days, three weeks, or three years down the line, Swifix products provide the flexibility to do so without compromising on the integrity of either the structure or insulation.” Of course, beyond a product being more technically-capable, it must be financially viable, and cost remains a motivating factor for both domestic and commercial property-owners. As well as the long-term cost advantage of increasing energy efficiency, Swifix’s installation products are also far cheaper at initial investment; for a typical, three-bedroom, semi-detached house, using the Swifix range would provide savings of up to 20% as opposed to the use of timber, and over a 100% against alternatives currently on the market. The products in scale therefore provide critical competitive advantage for main contractors and developers. Having currently gained approval and recommendation from 14 of the UK’s largest system manufacturers and secured the backing of the both National Insulation Association (NIA) and Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA), Swifix has high aspirations for the future. Determined to ‘re-define best practice’ in an industry of phenomenal growth, the company is encouraging businesses to embrace change and enjoy guaranteed results. and savings.
In recent construction news it has been reported that an increased move towards urbanisation, as well as improvements seen in the wider construction industry, may yet see a notable degree of growth within the concrete fiber market. Highlighted in a report by Transparency Market Research, the report effectively highlights those areas within which the success of the market depends upon, not solely for today, but into the future (2016 to 2023 most specifically). Most commonly used to manage cracks occurring as a by-product of ventilation shrinkage and the reduction of plastic, concrete fibers represent one of the most favourable reinforcement materials as a direct result of the physical, and chemical attributes held within. In particular, concrete fibers are reported to offer a high degree of resistance, stability and the overall strength of the material as a result of its particular environmental, chemical, mechanical and optical attributes. In the report, a degree of expansion has been predicted in the coming years, with the aforementioned reasoning sitting behind this. Additionally, reduced boundaries to entry in the sector has also seen an increasing competitiveness in the industry, with new industry players popping up to serve the specific requirements of smaller development projects; something to which a degree of growth thus far can be attributed. As to where the emerging markets for concrete fibers lie, Asia Pacific has been highlighted as one of those markets enjoying a great deal of growth, with the areas having enjoyed some 40% of the global market back in 2014. As such, there are great hopes and expectation for further growth within this market, amongst others, in the times to come. Whether the market will indeed fall in the line with the predictions made is, as always, uncertain, however the positive outlook portrayed by Transparency Market Research is to which organisations in the sector may find hope in, with the potential to benefit from renewing market confidence levels and growth out of the recession.
A worrying statistic; it has been reported that aggregate reserves are being used up at a notably faster rate than permission is being granted for the development of new quarrying capacity – a warning by the Mineral Products Association (MPA) of a tip in the scales of supply and demand for key construction materials. The warning of the supply and demand situation was showcased in the MPA’s Annual Mineral Planning Survey, which covers the period up to the close of 2014, incorporating data submitted by the association’s members from around the UK. As the construction industry as a whole recovers, with increasing workloads and developments coming to the fore, so too has the demand for aggregates. Yet, whilst this would seem like a very positive result for key aggregate suppliers, dwindling reserves and the inability to develop further capacity quickly enough may prevent suppliers from truly taking advantage of the surge in demand. As such, the MPA has urged local authorities to reassess mineral plans and hasten the planning process for new capacity. Other key areas aside from aggregates in a similar situation include the supply of sand and gravel. Shockingly, it was actually reported that reserves are being used at a rate two times as high as the new capacity is being facilitated. And while crushed rock is a material being superficially restocked, it has been argued that this simply acts as a shroud over the lack of replenishment seen across other key construction materials. Yet, it has been argued that it isn’t a case of an actual lack in the availability of raw materials, but simply ineffectiveness in the arrangement of mineral plans. Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the MPA commented: “With over half of new permissions being for sites that have not yet been allocated in mineral plans, it is clear that the plan led system is not providing the certainty that it should.”
