One of the most extraordinary planning applications London has ever seen has been submitted. Lord Norman Foster, Architect of The Gherkin (London) wants to revamp the city. As his original build has become increasingly crowded by a dense thicket of towers and slabs, leading it to be overshadowed by newer
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive
Paul Casebourne, a leading expert in materials handling, has warned of the impact of Brexit on the industry. He runs the Materials Handling Hub and believes that the industry has been forgotten as one of the potential casualties of the UK leaving Europe. He claims the industry is already suffering
Chester-based AH Plant Hire has upgraded its 14-year old Andover Trailers plant body with a 32-tonne 8×2 rear steer Scania G450. The new acquisition joins two other Andover-built plant bodies in service with the company, mounted to a 2010 17-tonne 4×2 Mercedes-Benz Atego and the original 2004 26-tonne 6×2 Scania.
New construction equipment is costly and, at times, completely unnecessary. The used equipment market can be a gold mine at times, full of well-maintained and cared-for gems waiting to be put to good use in your business. But finding these gems is a time-consuming process. It pays to be diligent
A significant investment has been made by one of Scotland’s largest independent plant hire firms, Jarvie Plant, in its fleet of hire equipment with the addition of telehandlers, rotating telescoping handlers (rotos), access platforms and industrial forklifts. Available throughout the company’s depot network, all of the new machines can be
Leading plant hire provider Selwood has played a key role in the construction of a state-of-the-art sports pavilion for one of the UK’s first “green” towns. The new Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club Pavilion is finally complete following a major build project led by Mildren Construction, one of Selwood Plant
The independent hire firm, Alide Hire, has invested in two, award winning, X-Splash wash bays supplied by Trime UK. X-Splash is an ecological, flexible cleaning system for plant and machinery. The system prevents soil pollution and contamination of drains, from oil, grease, and similar chemical contaminants. It features a modular
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is proud to introduce the next generation of hooklifts, the MULTILIFT Ultima, with several industry-first innovations that will enhance productivity, ease of use and operational safety. Hiab is the market leader with its MULTILIFT XR range, the predecessor of the now launched MULTILIFT Ultima. “The Terho
The primary reason for running a renovation project is usually to add value. Whether that’s by rectifying a problem, updating your offering or optimising the space, renovation can improve both the function and aesthetics of a business. Here Connie Johnson, vice president of marketing at surface preparation expert National Flooring
One of the most extraordinary planning applications London has ever seen has been submitted. Lord Norman Foster, Architect of The Gherkin (London) wants to revamp the city. As his original build has become increasingly crowded by a dense thicket of towers and slabs, leading it to be overshadowed by newer projects. Proposed to sit beside his beloved Gherkin, he has brought forth the notion of The Tulip. A high rise observation tower that will stand at 1000 ft tall (305.3m), the tallest structure and the second highest building in the city. It also reflects his original Gerkin design – remarkably closely. If plans go ahead The Tulip will be 5 meters shorter than the Shard, situated across the Thames river, and will illustrate a 12 storey glass bubble-like shape, erected on top of a long concrete stem. The Tulip will consist of rides in transparent pods, bars, restaurants, a viewing area, a miniature park, and an educational zone. Such an architectural extravaganza is borderline unheard of in the United Kingdom, and now the City of London’s planning department will look at Foster and Partner’s application to see if it can go ahead in the future of the city. If successful, the building is thought to be completed by 2025. The Tulip is a parody of architectural hubris. As the pod at the top of The Tulip stands as a miniature Gherkin pushed to the very heights of the sky, meaning Foster does not want to see his building being overshadowed, and will literally reach to the skies to ensure that doesn’t happen. His original icon is now starved of natural light and tourist attention. So his new proposal takes the same concept and pushes it to the very limit of high rise application. The great glass head of The Tulip will be encased by three protruding vertical spoon-like designs that will skim the walls of the lunging atriums – similar to the form of Astana’s Death Star expo pavilion. A transparent slide will allow visitors to `whoosh` between the floors of the egg-like capsule and users can take advantage of the glass spheres, that will take them on an 8-minute long journey in an elliptical loop across the seven storey’s of The Tulip’s flower. A new high rise building is unusual for London – and it is especially unusual for it to be so fanciful. That being said, big changes to the City’s skyline could soon be implemented. With a 2017 survey discussing new London Architecture demonstrating 510 buildings of 20 or more storey’s to be in the pipeline. High rise builds have also been proposed in cities further scattered around the United Kingdom, inclusive of Bristol, Manchester and Norwich. Standing at over 300 meters, The Tulip would be in guidelines to gain classification as Supertall. London currently remains joint 56th in the Global list of cities with completed buildings of more than 150 meters. With 18 in place – London is tied with Seattle, US. Hong Kong showcases 353 Supertall buildings, followed by New York with 269. No other city in the UK scores higher than 180th, and in the entirety of the world there are only three builds that reach the Urban Habitat’s 600-meter Megatall category: Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Shanghai Tower (China), & Makkah Royal Clock Tower (Saudi Arabia) The City of London Corporation will deliver its verdict on the fate of The Tulip, quite fittingly, in Spring 2019. If plans are able to go ahead it could be the very first step in developing a new, unique, skyline for London, as the City decides whether to take to new heights or remain grounded.
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive price. With more firms soaking up the market, demand and prices for equipment also start to increase – increasing contractor operating costs. Hiring construction equipment If a company is working on short-term, or one-off project, it is usually better to hire equipment for the amount of time, that’s required. The reason for this is that it benefits the firm’s cash flow, as they are not making a significant one-off payment. Also, the firm does not have to absorb long-term repair, operating, and storage costs for the equipment being hired. Although, from 2012 to 2015 the price in rental costs of cherry pickers, forklifts and earthmoving machines, was set at 5.5% and between 2015/18 this is set to grow by 1.9% at 7.4%. This suggests that renting equipment isn’t getting any cheaper anytime soon. However, construction firms can make a saving when renting when the equipment is specifically utilised for a required job. Hiring the wrong equipment, or equipment that does not fit for the purpose, can be costly for a construction as it wastes time and money when working to deadlines. This is why construction firms are now more and more reliant on third-party services that can help assist them in getting the right equipment that will aid the performance of a job in the most cost effective and efficient manner. For example, Reconomy – specialists in servicing recycling solutions for the construction industry – can help firms with caged tipper and site equipment hire that allows them to rent based on the client’s specific on-the-job requirements, so that the equipment is rented at a cost-efficient price for the right job. Planning a project-specific ethos Rentals for specific projects are desirable for a lot of reasons, as the can save the firm time and money when working on a job that may not be repeated. Whilst being tailored to the requirements of the job, they can provide the highest amount of utilisation possible, based on each machine that is rented if it is used properly. Additionally, if a company has more than one job going on at the same from, then they don’t have to incur the same logistical cost as those who purchase their own equipment and move it from site to site. This makes project planning less time-consuming – as those foreseeing the completion of a job can account for the specific nature of the equipment needed, as the nature of each job changes. However, the annualised price growth of buying equipment from 2012 – 2015 to 2015 – 2018 had dropped by 0.5% from 10.1% to 9.6%, this is still 2.2% more than the projected forecasts of annual rising rental costs. What this suggests, is that construction firms will need to establish whether the equipment they purchase will be able to perform all the necessary jobs on-site through the course of the machine’s lifetime. If it can’t perform a specific task, or a container isn’t fit for the job, then the firm could waste capital on purchasing tasks. It is more than likely that when it comes to more project-specific construction – firms will be more willing to rent a machine that benefits the bespoke nature of a job, rather than purchasing a machine that is less specific in its job-scope and specification. Sources: http://www.tcsconstruction.ca/advantages-of-renting-construction-equipment/ https://www.ibisworld.com/media/2015/07/27/renting-vs-buying-factors-to-consider-when-sourcing-equipment-and-machinery
Paul Casebourne, a leading expert in materials handling, has warned of the impact of Brexit on the industry. He runs the Materials Handling Hub and believes that the industry has been forgotten as one of the potential casualties of the UK leaving Europe. He claims the industry is already suffering as a result of the uncertainty about the country’s relationship with the EU. The materials handling industry currently accounts for some of the biggest imports and exports in the UK, with machinery and vehicles accounting for a combined worth of £55 billions. “The UK currently benefits from the free movement of goods within the EU. This means imports from other EU member states have no import duties, taxes or customs clearance,” he said. “More to the point the harmonisation of engineering standards requires representations if we are to keep up with international projects. We currently have EU rights to be included in tenders within the EU, I have heard of no plans to make up ground in this respect. Forty years of work in the balance and not a word of comfort from the political structure,” Paul continued. The expert also expressed his concern on the situation in the UK around export and import duties. “Following Brexit, the UK will be back to custom clearing its EU imports as well as paying taxes and import duties on them and it’s possible that some goods will require an import license after Brexit,” he said. Although many industries have expressed their concern about what Brexit means now nobody seems to have looked at the impact this will have on the materials handling industry. Mr Casebourne, who has worked in the industry for more than 40 years and supplies equipment to a range of industries and also creates bespoke solutions, added that “we’ve already seen a number of big projects put on hold and people are reluctant to invest in new equipment.” “The whole situation really is intolerable at the moment while we are neither in or out. The UK has launched itself headlong into a 20-year project with no plan B, in fact without any plans at all whilst still handcuffed to the EU, powerless to put the plans in place that we need to get on with investing in our future,” he concluded.
Chester-based AH Plant Hire has upgraded its 14-year old Andover Trailers plant body with a 32-tonne 8×2 rear steer Scania G450. The new acquisition joins two other Andover-built plant bodies in service with the company, mounted to a 2010 17-tonne 4×2 Mercedes-Benz Atego and the original 2004 26-tonne 6×2 Scania. “We’ve looked after our original Scania and both the truck and body have been brilliant. We calculated that the vehicle has been loaded and unloaded close to 120,000 times, and it’s still going strong – if that isn’t a testament to the build quality and longevity of Andover’s products, I don’t know what is,” said Andrew Heaton, Director at AH Plant Hire. The new body boasts Andover’s trademark low-profile deck, which sees the cross members transect the body runners, as well as a double crank beavertail connected to a pair of 2.8m long hydraulic power toe, and knife edged ramps. The ramps go alongside a hydraulic winch to aid loading and unloading and 10 pairs of lashing points on the deck for maximum load security and flexibility. The combination of the double crank beavertail and longer ramp length creates a shallower load angle, helping to improve safety when loading and unloading. AH Plant has also decided to include additional lighting under the bed and inside the toolboxes, helping to make operation at night as safe as possible. “The ability to develop a plant body to our specific requirements is what makes Andover stand out from its competitors – that and the fantastic level of customer service we have received from them since day one. It sealed our decision to remain loyal to Andover with this latest order,” said Andrew Heaton. The new vehicle will be on the road six days a week, clocking up close to 75,000 km a year and expected to remain in service for around six years.
New construction equipment is costly and, at times, completely unnecessary. The used equipment market can be a gold mine at times, full of well-maintained and cared-for gems waiting to be put to good use in your business. But finding these gems is a time-consuming process. It pays to be diligent in your search. The more you inspect and probe before you part with your cash, the more likely your purchase will be a good one and you won’t regret your decision. So, where to start looking for used construction equipment? One of the best places to pick up quality used construction equipment is at auction. www.EquifyAuctions.com is one such auction with an extensive inventory of used equipment. Before you dive right in, here at five tips to finding the best used construction equipment for your business. Get the Exact Specifications Before you even start looking at inventories, make sure you have the precise specifications. So many business owners start looking, even getting as far as negotiating a price before they realise that the equipment they need comes in several sizes or has a number of different attachments. Go into the search informed with the precise requirements and specifications so that you don’t waste any time. Inspect the Machine’s History The dents and scuffs on a machine tell its personal story, but you might want a bit more information before you hand over the cheddar and take the machine home. First, you need to ensure the equipment isn’t stolen. The best way to do this is by writing down the equipment’s serial number and checking it with the police or through the National Equipment Register. Also, check the name on the title and ensure everything adds up. If the name on the title is a financial institution or bank, I would recommend proceeding with caution. This likely means that the equipment has not been paid for in full. If the previous seller doesn’t complete the payments, the machine may be seized by the financial institution, causing you all sorts of headaches later on. Check the Fluid Levels This might sound strange, because after all, you can top up the engine oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid once you get it to your site, but checking the equipment’s fluid level can offer an insight into its maintenance history. If the fluids are low or exceptionally dirty, it could be an indicator that the equipment has not been well looked after. If the previous owners have not maintained a rigorous upkeep schedule, there may be underlying mechanical problems lurking beneath the surface. Check the Operating Hours You should be able to check the machine’s operating hours. You don’t want to buy equipment that was worked ragged by its previous owner (even if you do, you might be able to get the seller to accept a lower price after seeing the equipment’s operating hours). Run the Engine If the equipment has an engine, it is best to test it. Pay extra close attention to how the machine runs when the engine is cold. This will tell you a lot about its maintenance. A poorly-maintained machine will sound a little off or produce a smoke that is exceptionally black or white in colour.
A significant investment has been made by one of Scotland’s largest independent plant hire firms, Jarvie Plant, in its fleet of hire equipment with the addition of telehandlers, rotating telescoping handlers (rotos), access platforms and industrial forklifts. Available throughout the company’s depot network, all of the new machines can be found in nine locations across Scotland and the North West of England. The Manitou 6m (MT625); 11m (MT1135); 18m (MT1840) and Roto’s MRT2550+ have all been added as well as 7m, 14m and 17m loadalls from JCB. “Telehandlers are such versatile machines that we often find them in high demand, so we have constantly grown our portfolio of them. Rotos are becoming increasingly popular because of the savings they offer over traditional cranes effectively comprising three machines in one – telehandler, crane and access platform,” explained business development director, David Jarvie. “Their minimal set up time increases productivity on a construction site and they come equipped with a range of safety features, such as sensors for load placement, height and slew restriction. With a wide range of attachments, clients can reduce their need for other machines such as access platforms, telehandlers and cranes,” he added. New to the range are also some specialist items, such as the 10m VJR access platform and 2.5T diesel yard forklifts. Both offer benefits for internal warehousing access and both internal and external loading on compact yards. Jarvie Plant is also looking to the future with an investment in a wider range of pallet fork trucks and personnel lift platforms for the growing industrial and warehousing sector. “Retailers are widely investing in supporting their online sales through logistics and distribution warehouses. It’s an area we can only see expanding as consumer demand increases and our machines will be crucial to supporting that growth,” concluded Mr Jarvie.
Leading plant hire provider Selwood has played a key role in the construction of a state-of-the-art sports pavilion for one of the UK’s first “green” towns. The new Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club Pavilion is finally complete following a major build project led by Mildren Construction, one of Selwood Plant Hire’s longest-established customers. The project has been supported throughout with equipment from Selwood and, in just over a year, site manager Mark Hornibrook and his team at Mildren Construction have transformed the site in Hampshire to create a multi-purpose community facility. Selwood has supplied equipment from its extensive plant hire range, including three-tonne, eight-tonne and 14-tonne excavators and a six-tonne dumper. A 12-metre telehandler and 120 roller have also provided solutions for the construction team over the past year. The development of Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club Pavilion will be one of the key facilities in the new Whitehill & Bordon development. The £1bn multi-partner regeneration project will see 3,350 new homes and a range of new facilities built on the former Prince Philip Barracks over the next 15 years. The site, transforming the garrison town into a ‘green’ town, will be one of four such towns in the UK with an emphasis on sustainability. The two-storey replacement building provides a larger sports pavilion, improved tennis courts, boules courts and a bowling green, alongside reseeded sports pitches as well as a series of community spaces for functions of varying sizes. Jason Boxall, a plant hire specialist for Selwood, said: “This was a complex construction but Mark and his team have done a fantastic job at every stage of the build and I think the result speaks for itself. They have produced a world-class building that the whole community can be proud of. “We were delighted to meet the specific needs of our long-standing client Mildren Construction and were pleased they benefitted from our extensive range and technical know-how.” Selwood has an extensive fleet of plant available for hire from its network of regional branches across England and Wales. Its teams pride themselves on an unrivalled depth of technical expertise, exceptional customer service and product knowledge.
The independent hire firm, Alide Hire, has invested in two, award winning, X-Splash wash bays supplied by Trime UK. X-Splash is an ecological, flexible cleaning system for plant and machinery. The system prevents soil pollution and contamination of drains, from oil, grease, and similar chemical contaminants. It features a modular section drainage base with a micro-switch in the rear solids collection tank set to activate the drainage pump when the water reaches a pre-set level. The surrounding area is kept safe from over spray via its large side panels and the anti-slip diamond tread ramp ensures operator safety when loading plant on and off the wash bay work area. The unit comes complete with separation tanks for oil, water and solids. The X-Splash’s ecological qualities have been formally recognised by the internationally respected campaigners, The Green Organisation. Brett Thompson, Alide Hire’s managing director said, “We are a responsible company and take the care of our environment very seriously. So when we decided to upgrade our plant washing facilities at our Bath and Bristol depots, we were immediately drawn to sustainable and recycling attributes of the X-Splash. The X-Splash is well-built, robust and the people at Trime are knowledgeable and gave us a good service.” Alide Hire Services is an independent tool; toilet and small plant hire company with depots in Bristol, Bath and Keynsham. Established in 1981 Alide Hire Services provides a hire service to both the public and private sectors. They have a large fleet of vehicles and range of equipment and deliver throughout the South West area. Alide Hire Services display the strapline “where quality and service still count…” Trime UK believe that installing an X-Splash Wash Bay will work towards eliminating accidental discharge of contaminated water and cut-down on the overall water consumption. This brings together environmental benefits to the wider society and costs savings to the operators. In addition, the Hire Association Europe (HAE) , a leading hire trade association, have confirmed that the anti-pollution features and recycling capabilities, means that the use of an X-Splash Wash Bay will demonstrate a hire firm’s commitment to eliminating water contamination. This is one of elements needed to achieve HAE SafeHire Certification. Trime UK is extending its line of equipment to encompass a range of environmentally biased equipment built specifically for the hire markets. The X-Splash is one of the first products in this expanding range.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is proud to introduce the next generation of hooklifts, the MULTILIFT Ultima, with several industry-first innovations that will enhance productivity, ease of use and operational safety. Hiab is the market leader with its MULTILIFT XR range, the predecessor of the now launched MULTILIFT Ultima. “The Terho brothers from Raisio, Finland, developed the demountable system in 1947 and turned it into a commercial product in 1949. Ever since this time, the MULTILIFT brand has been the industry leader. With the MULTILIFT Ultima, we reinforce our long tradition of innovation. The MULTILIFT Ultima makes use of state-of-the-art technologies such as cameras, smart sensors, and advanced connectivity features, to make operating the hooklift easier and safer than ever before”, says Henri Janhonen, Director, Sales and Product Business Management at MULTILIFT product line, Hiab. The MULTILIFT Ultima features a number of industry-first innovations that will help operators in every type of loading task: HookliftAssist(TM) offers operators three different levels of camera-based assistance, guiding the load-handling operation. SafePositioning(TM) is a detection system designed to safely slide containers into a pre-set position based on their length. The system automatically stops containers from dropping off rear rollers and prevents damage to other equipment such as truck cranes. Integrated Load Weighing (patent pending) is available with MULTILIFT Ultima ensuring everything required to maximize your payload while avoiding the risk of overload charges. This unique system calculates weight during the loading process, replacing the need to use an auxiliary indicative weighing system with a more cost-effective solution that lets the operator work more efficiently than ever before. FutureTouch(TM) display is an advanced all-in-one interface that lets the operator control every aspect of the hooklift and other on-truck equipment. With the FutureTouch(TM) display, the operator has easy access to diagnostic messages, load indicator and weight information, the Integrated Weighing System, and more, from a single, convenient interface. uControl represents a new era of hooklift control, thanks to the three different control system options that form part of Hiab’s revolutionary uControl platform. uControl Base, Flex and Pro lets Hiab’s customers choose exactly the right level of control for a wide range of modern loading tasks. The MULTILIFT Ultima can be ordered with HiConnect(TM), a connected service for Hiab customers to enhance productivity, efficiency and the safety of their business and the connected Hiab equipment. Clear and simple overviews and graphs help customers monitor status, plan maintenance and improve the operation of each unit and operator. As with all Hiab equipment, the new MULTILIFT Ultima also comes with the option of Hiab ProCare(TM), a flexible service contract designed to secure the uptime of the equipment. Scheduled and preventive maintenance helps retain the same high quality the customer has invested in. Using original spare parts and the highest standards, our global service network takes professional care of every piece of Hiab equipment, reducing the risk of costly breakdowns and unexpected downtime. The MULTILIFT Ultima is ready to receive orders at the IAA exhibition and the first deliveries will start during the fourth quarter of 2018. Please visit us to learn more about the MULTILIFT Ultima at our stand P35 at the IAA exhibition in Hannover, Germany from 20-27 September and join our launch event at the outdoor stand on Thursday 20 September at 12.30 CEST. The event will be also live streamed and available here: https://www.hiab.com/en/multilift/highlights/multilift-ultima/
The primary reason for running a renovation project is usually to add value. Whether that’s by rectifying a problem, updating your offering or optimising the space, renovation can improve both the function and aesthetics of a business. Here Connie Johnson, vice president of marketing at surface preparation expert National Flooring Equipment, explains how technology can help improve a renovation project’s return on investment. The starting point for a renovation project is to establish what the end goal is for the organisation. In most cases, the project is not just to replace the floor, but actually to meet a business objective. The objective could be something as critical as to bring in more customers or improve a building’s efficiency. For example, in a café or restaurant, it is important to install flooring that feels and looks good under a customer’s feet, is easy to clean if a drink is spilt and is slip resistant for safety. In a casino, a busy carpet may encourage visitors to look up, resulting in an increase in spending – helping the business to increase its profits. A patterned carpet will also conceal any spills, making the carpet cheaper and easier to maintain. A floor covering can even impact the energy efficiency of a business. In large warehouses or supermarkets, a reflective polished concrete floor can cut energy bills. For a project to have any real return on investment, it must be clear what problem the renovation is trying to solve and what environment the business is trying to create. Once the goals and objectives of the project are defined, there are several ways that a business can maximise the return on investment of their floor. The first stage is during the renovation itself. On the job When renovating a business, it’s critical that the work does not disrupt day-to-day activities. Many companies remain open during renovation or refurbishments, which means business owners must be conscious of noise, dust and debris. The contractor can choose a battery or electric powered machine, use dust collection equipment and regularly remove any debris or rubble to help keep the business in operation during the project. Technology can help a contractor to perform the renovation more quickly. A commonly overlooked factor is ergonomics – the more comfortable the contractor is, the more quickly the job can be performed. For this reason, surface preparation equipment that can be adjusted can help improve the speed of renovation is ideal. Versatile equipment on the job site will also improve ROI. For example, with the right tooling, National Flooring Equipment’s Helix grinder can grind, polish, edge grind and scarify a surface – offering four capabilities in one machine. Whether you own equipment or hire a contractor, the use of one machine can improve the speed and ease of which a renovation can be completed. Advances in coating technology can impact the floor’s return on investment, both in terms of meeting a business objective and in the floor’s lifespan. Consider this example, your business is flooded your floor is mouldy and ruined. Do you want to lay the same covering again and risk a repeat occurrence? Of course not. The best option is to address the issue underneath the floor by laying a moisture barrier and safeguarding the floor against future water damage. Renovation return on investment is about more than the cost of the project. True ROI is achieved by a project that helps a company to meet a business objective, either saving energy costs or increasing customer spend. Ensuring the floor will last the test of time so the business can continue to reap the rewards of the renovated floor is another important factor. Surface preparation is critical for improving lifespan, keep this at the forefront of your mind when you next consider adding value to your business. For more information visit https://www.nationalequipment.com/.