The ongoing furore surrounding the use of semi-automatic quick hitches has taken another twist, according to UK publication Construction News. The magazine believes that main contractors may ban semi-automatic quick hitches on excavators after machinery firms stop supplying them on new plant next month. The debate is now how operators will respond when semiautomatic quick-hitch mechanisms are outlawed on new machinery on 1 October.
You can read the full story here.
In the latest example of the shortcomings of the UK Government’s decision to scrap rates relief on empty properties, Asda is demolishing one of its former call centres to cut costs. The supermarket group had planned to get consent for a £100 million redevelopment of the 6-acre site in New Barnet, Hertfordshire, but will instead knock down the building.
Full details of the story can be found here.
The first-stage of the Missouri River bridge implosion that we reported just over a week ago (http://www.demolitionnews.com/2008/09/03/bridge-implosion-scheduled/) has been completed according to plan.
A video of the successful implosion can be seen here.
UK demolition contractor Cuddy Group is making £80,000 available to a range of sports and culture initiatives after recording a 31 per cent rise in profits.
Further details can be found here.
Construction materials and sustainability website, Earth Exchange, has reported a surge in membership and interest as construction companies seek to reduce the costs of site waste management and source more locally-produced recycled and sustainable materials.
Alex Albon, operations director of Earth Exchange Limited says over 500 construction sites across the UK are operated by members who have joined the Earth Exchange website in recent weeks to capitalise on the efficiencies www.EarthExchange.com brings to waste management and resource use.
Earth Exchange is a membership website that allows sites with materials surpluses to link up with sites experiencing materials deficits and arrange exchanges instead of sending excess to landfill and buying in virgin resources.
“On current projections, it is conceivable that in 12 months’ time Earth Exchange members could have exchanged 7.25 million tonnes of construction waste thereby avoiding landfill taxes and improving their environmental performance. By this time they may also have cut road haulage by 9 million miles and reduced fuel use by 5.8 million litres, cutting operating costs and reducing the carbon footprint of their businesses,” said Albon.
He added: “Construction companies are increasingly turning to Earth Exchange to for help with resource efficiency and to cut operating costs. Members are also finding the site valuable in demonstrating to customers that they are committed to sustainability and take corporate social responsibility seriously.
“Membership of Earth Exchange has the potential to add a competitive edge to tender and contract bids. It also supports businesses in trialling leaner cleaner construction systems that meet government expectations for the industry to halve the amount of construction waste sent to landfill by 2012.”
Earth Exchange covers the entire UK with members ranging in size from large plcs with many of sites to small operators with a single site. Materials that can be exchanged via the website currently include soil, crushed aggregate, topsoil, subsoil, compost, bricks, blocks, paving and pipe.
Earth Exchange works by using real-time accurate mapping of actual and future construction sites – the locations where construction wastes are generated and where such wastes can be re-used. Members can state what and when materials will be available at each site and state what materials are required on their sites. Exchanges are made on terms agreed between members and can be swaps or trades. The site has been described as a major breakthrough for the construction industry. It means that for the first time there will be accurate mapping of construction activity in the UK and a simple and accessible method of streamlining procurement and waste management.
In what can only be described as typical short-termism, the London Development Agency is considering demolishing the 2012 Olympic stadium once the Games are complete, and building a football stadium in its place.
Contract Journal reports here.
As oil prices have reached unprecedented levels in recent months, the fuel economy benefits of the Terex® Pegson X400S series have become a major purchase driver for those seeking the best value mobile jaw crusher. Terex Pegson is renowned for producing high performance jaw crushers that are suitable for quarries, recycling and contractors. The ground breaking Terex® Pegson X400S series are high performance, primary jaw crushing plants that are easy to set up, versatile and engineered for quarrying, demolition and mining applications that require high production capacities.
“The Terex® Pegson Direct Drive system in the X400S series has shown fuel cost to be lower than competitors time and again,” comments Paul Donnelly, General Manager of Blue Group, London. “With today’s high fuel prices, customers are very savvy to any fuel efficiency.”
These Terex® Pegson plants are fitted with a Direct Drive system to the chamber which gives proven fuel efficiency and substantial savings on running costs when compared to hydrostatically driven machines. In trials comparing the Terex® Pegson X400S with equivalent competitor machines, the X400S reduced fuel costs by up to 33%, and hydraulic oil costs by up to 96% – real and substantial savings for customers.
The comparison using July 2008 prices indicates that by using 22 litres per hour compared to 33 litres per hour of a typical hydrostatically driven jaw crusher, in a single year the Terex® Pegson X400S can save up to £16,500 – a huge financial saving of 33%.
When comparing hydraulic oil, even bigger savings can be made. The Terex® Pegson X400S needs its hydraulic oil changed every 2000 hours (400 litre tank) – typically competitors need their hydraulic oil changed every 250 hours (1333 litre tank). In a typical working year (July 2008 prices) that can save up to £14,764 – a potential 96% saving.
US magazine Equipment Today has an interesting article on the often tricky subject of hydraulic hammer selection.
You can read the full article here.
In these days of digital photography, it is not unusual for demolition work to be captured photographically. But the Minnesota Department of Transport is taking this a stage further, posting progress photos on a specially-created website to keep local residents informed of progress on the dismantling of the Lake George & Mississippi River bridges.
The photos can be viewed here.
Residents in York in the UK say they are experiencing problems with noise from the demolition taking place on the site of the city’s former British Sugar factory.
The Labour Group on City of York Council said Acomb ward councillors have been contacted by a number of residents living in the area adjacent to the British Sugar site, in Boroughbridge Road, Acomb.
Full details of the story can be read here.
