Busy year ahead for new IoQ NI Chairman

news Busy Year Ahead for new IoQ NI Branch Chairman

Breedon’s Ballystockart Quarry Manager, Patrick O’Connor, has been talking about his new appointment as Chairman of The Institute of Quarrying NI Branch.

Pat has been involved in the Institute of Quarrying since he joined the industry more than 20 years ago and for the last five years he has been quarry manager at Ballystockart, located near Newtownards in County Down. Succeeding ConExpo’s John Moore, Pat has described his appointment as one of the highlights of his career to date. “I am absolutely delighted to take on the role of Chairman for the next two years. It is a real privilege that I never thought I would ever achieve.” His appointment was confirmed at the Institute of Quarrying NI Branch annual general meeting held in April at the Dunadry Hotel and since then he has been drawing up a busy calendar of events that will benefit members and local charities in the months ahead. Over the last few years, the IQ Northern Ireland Branch has raised thousands of pounds to support a wide range of charities, including Guide Dogs for the Blind (NI), Irish Rugby Union Benevolent Fund and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. “I intend to carry on that work within the Northern Ireland branch which will include our annual golf day and our Stonecrushers Ball in October, which had to be postponed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic; these are regarded as our jewels in the crown events,” says Pat. “On top of that, we have our regular monthly technical meetings to benefit our members, so there is much to look forward to, lots of planning to do, and I am very grateful in being able to play my part in all of that.”

Outgoing Institute of Quarrying NI Chairman, John Moore (right), handing over Chair to Pat O’Connor (left) at the Institute of Quarrying AGM.

Kilwaughter Minerals’ K Systems Wins Prestigious Tall Buildings Award

Kilwaughter Minerals’ K Systems brand has had its position as a leading provider of External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems recognised at the prestigious 2022 Tall Buildings Awards.

K Systems was announced as winner of the Best Tall Building Retrofit Project award in recognition of its role in the restoration of Gaywood House in Bristol. Bristol City Council tasked K Systems with restoring the exterior of Gaywood House, an 11-storey residential tower block in southwest England, to its original aesthetic and significantly improving the thermal performance of the building, whilst adhering to industry standard fire safety regulations for high-rise buildings. Together with approved installer Rateavon Limited, K Systems delivered an industry-leading, insulated façade solution that improved thermal efficiency, enhanced building aesthetics, and delivered an outstanding architectural structure that exceeds industry standards. Incorporating mineral wool insulation, the façade ensured a safe home for residents with improved thermal comfort and a unique blend of VBriQ acrylic and VBriQ+ clay brick slips offered superior durability and excellent UV resistance, futureproofing the building against the external elements, and ensuring the multi-storey complex maintains its colour and structural robustness over time. The Tall Buildings Awards are held annually and aim to celebrate businesses from across the UK that are developing unique design and engineering solutions to maximise space in city centres, creating a legacy of iconic superstructures and transforming the UK’s built environment. Speaking following the awards ceremony, David Grace, Sales Director at Kilwaughter Minerals said: “We are extremely pleased that K Systems has received industry recognition as a leading operator within this very important market. “At K Systems, we are dedicated to providing innovative, safe and sustainable solutions and achieving the best possible results for our clients and their customers. These awards are testament to that and it is brilliant to have the unrivalled knowledge and expertise of our team once again recognised at a national level. “We would like to extend our thanks to the entire K Systems team, as it is their hard work and commitment to excellence which has allowed us to experience this continued industry success, and of course a huge congratulations to all those named as finalists and winners at this year’s Tall Buildings Awards.” The Tall Buildings Awards were presented on 19th July following the Tall Buildings Conference in Central London. This news follows K System’s 2021 success at the Insulated Render & Cladding Association (INCA) Awards where the business received the award for best-in-class in the insulation and rendered finish refurbishment category, ranking higher than numerous UK-wide counterparts.

Pictured are Scott Bradshaw and Tarvinder Katavada (centre) of K Systems, with members of the project team which delivered the best-in-class refurbishment beating stiff competition from UK counterparts, receiving the accolade at the annual Tall Buildings awards ceremony in London.

NEW SANY SY135C EXCAVATOR MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT ON HOUSE BUILDER’S BUSINESS

THE SANY SY135C TACKLES WORK EXTREMELY EFFICIENTLY AS A COMPACT EXCAVATOR, AND IS PROVING ITS WORTH ON SITES WHERE SPACE IS LIMITED

VIDEO STORY

SANY SY135C EXCAVATOR SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

When County Antrim property developers S. A. Houston & Co. Ltd entered the market for a second hand excavator they ended up with a brand new Sany SY135 excavator from dealers Sleator Plant! We’ve been finding out why.

The new 14 tonne machine is currently working on a housing development at Victoria Road in Ballyclare where we got to speak with operator Bill Houston to get his ‘view from the cab’ and he’s been very impressed with its performance and versatility. “Having compared it with the price of a second hand digger we decided to invest in the new Sany as it came with a very attractive five year warranty,” says Bill. “Plus, the standard spec on the machine offered everything we needed.” Established almost 40 years ago, S. A. Houston & Co. Ltd builds new, high quality premium homes, so its small team is kept very busy; the new excavator has made a positive impact on the business. There’s no doubt, the Sany SY135C tackles work extremely efficiently as a compact excavator, and is proving its worth on sites where space is limited, as Bill has discovered. It offers high performance and impressive stability; its versatility and reliability means various tasks around the building site can be quickly and successfully completed. Its robust, wide heavy-duty undercarriage and large working radius are also plus points, with a maximum horizontal reach of 8,290 mm and maximum excavation depth of 5,500 mm. The SY135C’s powerful Stage V ISUZU diesel engine, with its maximum torque of 375Nm and 1800 rpm, and sophisticated hydraulics system ensures a strong performance with reduced fuel consumption that result in significant savings in these days of high diesel prices. Both powerful variable displacement axial piston pumps are operated in such a way that they only build up as much pressure as is actually required, again reducing fuel usage. In addition, its hydraulic system has a sophisticated structure which reduces friction loss and pressure drops in the pipelines and ensures that power is transferred efficiently no matter the working conditions, and an integrated safety valve keeps the boom and arm in position, even in worst case scenarios.

www.sleatorplant.co.uk

CONTINUED

COMFORTABLE & QUIET

The cab on the SY135C excavator offers an excellent working environment, with excellent insulation that provides reliable protection from noise and vibrations. Operator comfort is further enhanced by features that include a heated air suspension operator’s seat, with high backrest and various adjustment options. There is plenty of space and room for movement and lots of storage areas for the operator’s personal effects and other items. Other features include joystick control, clear instrumentation and a large high resolution colour multifunctional display, a radio and a 12v jack. Also standard is adjustable ventilation, heating and automatic climate control system, and integrated cooling box. SAFETY FIRST

Safety also takes a priority. A rear view camera provides optimal visibility, enhanced by large mirrors and LED worklights, while a travel alarm and rotating warning beacon also keeps the operator safe and those working in close proximity. Ergonomic handrails enable safe access to the maintenance platform, where all routine maintenance points are easily accessible, while the engine bonnet can be fully opened, with key components in the centre facilitating safe and quick servicing. Adds Bill: “We’ve only had it for a few weeks, but it is certainly living up to our expectations, and the service and support we got from the team at Sleator Plant has been excellent, so we have no regrets about opting for the Sany.”

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Shannon Airport €1.8million airbridge programme underway

Shannon Group is installing three new airbridges at Shannon Airport at a cost of a €1.8 million. The latest investment is part of a suite of airport enhancement projects by Shannon Group totalling almost €10 million.

The installation of three 60 tonne airbridges form phase one of the airbridge investment plan, which will see the airport’s six airbridges replaced over the next three years. Airbridges are used to board passengers directly from the airport terminal building on to aircraft without exposing passengers and crew to the elements. The first of the three airbridges has just been installed at the airport and took over two days, using multiple cranes to fit it to the terminal building. The airbridge is capable of accommodating over 22 types of large aircraft, excluding some smaller regional jets. Over the past 12 months, Shannon Group has been busy

Pictured Grainne McInerney, Head of Engineering with Shannon Commercial Properties and John O’Leary, Shannon Airport’s Capital and Engineering Projects Manager.

upgrading the airport experience, and enhancing infrastructure. Projects completed with support from the Department of Transport under the Regional Airports Programme, include a €2.5 million state-of-the-art security screening system which is halving the dwell time for passengers through security and eliminating the need to remove liquids and electronics, and €5.3 million on airfield rehabilitation works. Commenting on the initiative, CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine said: “Shannon Group is focussed on future proofing the airport infrastructure, and this latest airbridge programme forms part of our investment strategy across the Shannon Airport campus. We are extremely grateful for the funding support from the Department of Transport, under the Regional Airports Programme, which has enabled us to undertake this work.” The newly installed airbridge, manufactured by CIMC-Tianda Airport Support in China, arrived at Shannon Airport after a long journey halfway across the globe from Shenzhen. A further two airbridges will be replaced later this year, and in early 2023, with plans to replace the remaining three airbridges during phase two of the project at a later stage.

BRIAN JAMES CONNECT - A VERSATILE TRAILER

The all-new Brian James Connect is quite possibly the only trailer you could ever need for your business.

It really is a trailer with many faces; a flat bed trailer, trailer with drop sides, ladder rack, tilt bed, car transporter, machine transporter and extra high side extensions for carrying everything from fallen trees to waste. Available in no less than 8 lengths and 5 widths and with a pay load of up to 3500kg capacity there really is a Connect model for every requirement. As with all Brian James Trailers it comes equipped with an industry leading chassis 5 year warranty and unique engineering features to make towing a safe and enjoyable experience.

available to order from your nearest dealer 2022 CONNECT

THE ULTIMATE MULTI-PURPOSE TRAILER FROM BRIAN JAMES TRAILERS

DEALERS

The new Brian James Digger Plant is available to order from your local Brian James Authorised Retailer now. In Northern Ireland, Eakin Brothers, Co. Londonderry and Trailertek (NI) Limited, Co. Armagh. The Republic of Ireland dealers include AD Test Centre Limited Co. Kilkenny, Barrett Trailers Co. Limerick, BG Motors Co. Kerry, Blue Print Autos Co. Roscommon, DH Farm Machinery Co. Galway, Heneghan Plant Hire Ltd Co. Mayo, Noblewood Co. Cork, SME Group Co. Meath and Trailerstuff (KER Group) Co. Donegal.

11 Authorised Dealers throughout N.I & ROI www.brianjamestrailers.ie www.brianjamestrailers.co.uk