Construction Review Africa

a 23rd Anniversary Edition J June 2012, Vol 23 No.5

www.constructionreviewonline.com

In this issue...

The Kings Cross Station Europe’s largest single span station structure Bui Hydro Electric Dam, Ghana On schedule to provide more power Durable Roofing Materials Getting the right roof over you Plant Hire Flexibility and saving Welding Processes Making a lasting joint

MAGAZINE CONTENT

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June 2012

Volume 23 No. 05

Guest - Ken Reynolds Nedbank Corporate Property Finance Divisional Executive for Gauteng and Project Manager of the construction of Nedbank Phase II, SA’s first Green Star Rated building

REGULARS The Site Board 4 News 5 New Products 8 Association News 9 Events 9 Corporate News 10 Cover Story The King's Cross Station

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International Project Ghana's Power Sector Receives Boost

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Personality - Zaha Hadid Director AA Dipl, RIBA, ARB, BDA, AIA

Construction Review is published eleven times a year and is circulated to members of relevant associations, governmental bodies and other personnel in the building and construction industry as well as suppliers of equipment, materials and services in Africa, the Middle and Far East. The editor welcomes articles and photographs for consideration. Material may not be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher.

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The publisher does not accept responsibility for the accuracyorauthenticityofadvertisementsorcontributions containedinthejournal.Viewsexpressedbycontributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Š All rights reserved.

Vol. 23 / No. 5 ISSN 1025-2886 Home page:

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June 2012

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GUEST Ken Reynolds 18

A Directory Of Construction Related Material & Service Providers. Are you listed?

PERSONALITY Zaha Hadid 19 SUPPLEMENTS Burable Roofing 22 Welding Processes 26 PROJECTS Plant Hire 28 New market To Enhance Trade 30

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June 2012

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MANAGING EDITOR Robert Barnes COUNTRY EDITORS Kenya - Francis Makari Uganda - Irene Kabuzire

The Site Board Looking East

WRITERS Irene Kabuzire,Elaine Young, Emmanuel Onsomu, Sam Kamenyi, Dominic Uys, Ann Kariuki, Lindsay Wagner

Europe’s woes which have taken center stage with regards to the global economy is threatening to derail hopes of a rebound in Africa’s traditional European markets.

CHIEF DESIGNER Simon Muhia

Recession has become a reality in Europe’s economies and austerity has become a byword. However this has been a cloud with a silver lining as African countries are forced to look within for greater pan African trade and East for new and untapped markets as well as for financial support.

WEB / GRAPHIC DESIGN Augustine O. Ombwa ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Kenya Frances Lagoussis (Mombasa), Denis Ondeyo, Titus Oyuga, Trizah Njoroge

It is no coincidence then that China’s construction companies which in recent years have become synonymous with most major infrastructure projects in Africa has in turn become a major market for Africa’s resources. This trade-off has seen massive road projects open up the hinterlands to new and exciting economic opportunities.

South Africa: Kevin Schorr ,Tabitha Muthoni, Winnie Sentabire, Prince Moyo, Linda Mangwiro, Angeline Ntobeng Uganda: Mutyaba Deus, Mugabi Moses Botswana: Dickson Manyudza, Gerald Mazikana

These Chinese funded projects come with very little political interference as the Chinese turn a blind eye to any democratic or human rights issues that a country may be having.

Tanzania: Tom Kiage Malawi: Anderson Fumulani Ghana: Anthony Hondah, George Laing

In addition they are done swiftly and to acceptably high standards a thing rarely seen in the construction industry which has always been mired in corruption whose consequence is shoddy workmanship. This has endeared them to the local populace with one poll clearly placing the Chinese are a clear favourite over local indigenous contractors.

Zimbabwe: Cyri’l Zenda Rwanda: Collison Lore Nigeria: Seni Bello China:Weng Jie

Published by Group Africa Publishing Ltd Botswana Office Cadline (Pty) Ltd. P/Bag 494 Gaborone, Botswana.

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E-mail: zimbabwe@ groupafricapublishing.com Tanzania Office Daas Agencies Ltd P. O. Box 96061 Tel: (022) 2124328 Fax: (022) 2124328, Dar es Salaam E-mail: tanzania@ groupafricapublishing.com Nigeria Office B23/24, Aishetu Emoewa Plaza 196, Iju Water Works Road, Ifako Ijaye Lga,Agege, Lagos.

Tel: 234-1-7347860 Email: nigeria@ groupafricapublishing.com South Africa Office College Publishers Ltd 1st Floor Oak Street, Oakfields, Randburg, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 781 4253 Fax: +27 11 781 4287 Email: crinfo@ groupafricapublishing.com Uganda Office Trine Media Ltd 2nd Floor Greenland Towers, Kampala Road, Uganda P.O. Box 37690, Kampala Tel: 256 414 340394/ 312 287770 Fax: 256 414 340393 Email: uganda@ groupafricapublishing.com

Robert Barnes

July 2012

August 2012

Generators Standby Diesel Powered Generators

Partitions Office Partitions

Concrete Products Building With Precast Products

Ceilings New Trends

Concrete

September 2012

October 2012

Lifts Scissor Lifts in Construction

Security Biometrics In Construction

Wet Services Electronic Plumbing

Fire fighting Fire-Rated Plasterboards

The editor accepts letters and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted .

Send your letters to:

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NEWS

South Africa

Mining Projects To Surpass Construction Projects

In South Africa, spending on airports and stadiums has dropped, but the mining sector, roads and energy sectors promise new revenue streams. In May, the South African National Roads Agency was pitching new projects to financiers: the N1/N2 Winelands toll road (at a cost of R10bn ($1.4bn) and 150km in length, the Wild Coast toll road from East London to Durban (R9bn and 560km long), the R72/N2 toll road from East London to Port Elizabeth (R5.3bn and 260km long) and the Cape Town R300 ring road (R4.1bn).

These trends in project execution clearly show the comparison between mining and construction works. Executives from the Basil construction group told the local press that its construction division would have to turn down work should developments in the sector continue at the same pace: its subsidiary TWP Projects is working on five major platinum mining developments in the Western Bushveld. Contractors eagerly await a green light for the government's plans to turn the old Durban International Airport into a seaport at a cost of R100bn.

The mining sector, roads and energy sectors promise new revenue streams.

Kenya

US$ 4.6millon Syokimau Railway Station To Be Commissioned In July Kenyans using Mombasa Road to the city centre will from July have the choice of travelling in refurbished trains from Syokimau to avoid long hours in traffic jams. Transport minister Amos Kimunya had a taste of the train service that is meant to decongest Mombasa Road and ease access to the city. Mr Kimunya, Transport permanent secretary Cyrus Njiru, Kenya Railways (KR) managing director Nduva Muli and Chairman Jeremiah Kianga travelled in a refurbished train that targets 20,000 new passengers daily. Currently, KR handles 50,000 passengers daily.

The estimated Sh400 million Syokimau Railway Station, which is the first intercity connection train station with all necessary amenities is nearly complete and will be commissioned by President Kibaki. The railway station, which will also have a major shopping mall, targets commuters from Syokimau, Kitengela, Athi River, Machakos and Mombasa.“The station will enable commuters get to the CBD in 22 minutes as opposed to the usual two hours they spend stuck in traffic jams,” KR said in a statement.

Syokimau Railway Station, is the first intercity connection train station.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Needs US$16 Billion To Revamp Construction Sector According to AfDB Zimbabwe needs US$16 billion for the rehabilitation and development of its national infrastructure. Like many other sectors, the construction industry also faces a stark choice: innovate and adapt or shrink. This is because construction firms are largely dependent on derived demand. They are mainly passive within the marketplace reliant on others to generate demand for their services.

In times of low demand construction firms may have to look to themselves. This may mean creating work for themselves through private/risk sharing real estate development since low demand for construction services does not mean low demand for the end-product, i.e. the house. In this respect, a construction company should be ready to assess just where the industry adds value and look beyond construction to a broader view of the built environment.

Construction firms should move from being pasive in the marketplace and create work themselves.

June 2012

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NEWS

Ghana

Brazil to Finance Tamale International Airport Project The government of Brazil has approved a request from Ghana for an urgent consideration of financing for the Tamale International Airport project. Responding to Vice President John Mahama's request in a bilateral meeting in Brasilia, the Brazilian authorities said the request was feasible, and were ready to urgently finalize discussions.

A Brazilian Infrastructure Development Company, Queiroz Galvao, will handle the construction, which is to be financed by Brazil's national EXIM Bank, BNDES. Queiroz Galvao has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Transport, and completed the necessary designs and phasing for the works. Mr. Mahama said the Tamale International Airport, which will be managed by the Ghana Airport Company Limited, will be self-financing and will repay the financing from its operations. He, therefore, requested the Brazilian authorities to unlock the financing of the project from the ongoing discussions of a Master Facility Agreement (MFA), to be handled as a single-purpose project.

The Brazilian Government is ready to finalise the discussions.

Liberia

$7million Set for Rehabilitation of Robert International Airport (RIA) The Government of Liberia says it has provided funds for the rehabilitation of the Robert International Airport (RIA). The Board Chairman of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Musa Bility said the provision was made to rebuild the RIA up to international standard.

Making the disclosure in Monrovia, Mr. Bility said that for 40 years the airport has not been renovated and as such many areas of the port are in a devastating condition. He asserted that renovation work on the port will start within the next 30 to 45 days.

Mr. Bility said despite the poor condition of the airport, many international commercial airlines including Air France have shown interest to begin flying into Liberia. Recently the European Union cautioned citizens of its member countries of the danger flying from some African countries including Liberia which it says have not met with the international civil aviation standard or safety regulations.

U.S.$56 Million for Kenema-Pendembu Road

The Roberts International Airport is to be rehabilitated.

Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) has disclosed that US$ 56 million is budgeted for the construction of the Kenema to Pendembu road. This disclosure was made to a cross section of the press during a familiarization visit to the south and east of the country by the Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure, Alimamy P. Koroma, in order to collect firsthand information about road projects within the southern and eastern parts of the country.

The SLRA further disclosed that eight strategic bridges will be constructed along the route, of which the Daru bridge will be the biggest. The engineer revealed that SLRA and team would be constantly monitoring the project, stressing that the people in that region had suffered immensely due to poor road facility. SLRA assured journalists that the ISU Construction Company would deliver to expectation, adding that eighty-five (85) kilometer stretch of road is expected to be worked on with a width of 10.45 meters and 1.5 shoulder to ensure it is of international standard.

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Eight strategic bridges will be constructed along the route, of which the Daru bridge will be the biggest.

June 2012

NEWS

Japan

World’s Tallest Tower Opens In Tokyo The world’s tallest tower, the Tokyo Skytree, opened to the public with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the Japanese capital’s newest attraction. Despite rainy weather, residents and tourists gathered around the 634-metre (2,080-foot) tower and its adjacent shopping and amusement complex which also opened recently.

Japan’s hard-hit tourism sector is hoping the tower will boost the number of visitors from abroad after figures plummeted in the wake of Japan’s quake-tsunami disaster last year.The Tokyo Skytree is the world’s second-tallest manmade structure, topped only by the 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

It stands taller than the 600-metre Canton Tower in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou and the 553-metre CN Tower in the Canadian city of Toronto. In Japan’s capital the Tokyo Skytree overshadows landmarks in the upscale western district including the 333-metre Tokyo Tower, which was built in 1958 and became a byword for the country’s rapid The Tokyo Skytree is the world’s second-tallest manmade structure. post-war growth.

Bulgaria

EU Funding To Boost Bulgarian Construction The availability of EU funding and Bulgaria's increased capacity for investment will drive steady growth in the country's civil engineering sector in the next decade, according to a report by construction experts in the country.

Research company PMR said road building would become one of the most dynamic parts of Bulgaria's civil engineering market, which in 2011 was worth BGN5.7 billion (€2.9 billion) - up 7% year-on-year.

PMR said a substantial increase in the number of road building projects in Bulgaria was expected for 2012 to 2014. More than 20 schemes are currently under construction in the country, scheduled to be finished this year and next, and it is estimated that projects in excess of €800 million are to be completed by the beginning of 2014.

The value of road projects planned for 2014 to 2020 is put at more than €4 billion. However, Bulgaria's rail infrastructure sector still lacks momentum, despite some improvements in the last two years.

Road building will become one of the most dynamic parts of Bulgaria's civil engineering market.

IDB Approves US$ 260 Million Financing

UAE

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has approved financing of US$ 260.6 million for development projects in member countries and Muslim countries around the world. The funding will finance infrastructure developments in the Middle East and Africa, including US$ 81.00 million for Nigeria's Zaria Water Supply Expansion Project, US$ 33.6 million for the Gorou Banda Thermal Power Project in Niger, and US$ 16 million for the Hadath El-Jubba-Bqerqasha Road Project in Lebanon.

Healthcare developments are also to receive funds, with US$ 118 million going towards the development of the Dr. Shariati Hospital in Iran and US$ 10 million for Burkina Faso's Strengthening the National Primary Health Care Services project. US$ 1.36 million has also been granted under IDB's Waqf Fund for infrastructural educational projects in Muslim communities in Ethiopia (US$ 480,000), the Philippines (US$ 280,000), India (US$ 200,000), Malawi (US$ 200,000) and Tanzania (US$ 200,000).

The IDB is to finance development projects in member states and muslim countries around the world.

June 2012

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PRODUCTS

New Hydraform M7MI SUPER Mobile Interlocking Block making Machine The New Hydraform M7-MI SUPER block making machine with integrated pan mixer, is the latest innovation from Hydraform boasting an almost 50% increase in production, bigger tyres for better towing clearance and a new modern slick design.

Features & Advantages • Mobile machine • Integrated Pan mixer • Diesel powered • ± 2200 blocks a day • Interlocking soil cement blocks Website: www.hydraform.com

NPT Taper Pipe Taps Emuge Corp. introduces a new line of NPT Taper Pipe Taps that features a newly developed flute form with variable skip tooth geometry. The advanced flute design optimizes chip flow and clearance and lowers tapping torque, which is ideal for materials that produce long, stringy chip formations.

Taper pipe threads have a much higher volume of chip removal in the tapping process compared to straight UN screw threads, especially in materials that are prone to clogging flutes with long chip strings, such as aluminum, carbon steels, stainless steels and mold steels.

Emuge NPT taps significantly improve chip flow, provide better thread finish and gauging, in addition to higher production rates due to less machine downtime.

Website: www.emuge.com

Office Partitions Echopanel is a new product from Woven Image that demonstrates our commitment to environmental performance and sustainable interiors.

Echopanel is produced from 100% PET which is recyclable. PET is the same material that many drink bottles are made from.

Each Echopanel is 2400mm x 1200mm and at 2400 grams per square metre, Echopanel is about one third of the weight of MDF board or Plaster Board in equivalent 12mm thickness.

Website: www.greenspec.co.uk

Neproplast UPVC (Pvc) Pipes New Products Industries Co. Ltd. (NEPROPLAST) is the first ever and currently the only factory in the Middle East to have successfully produced UPVC (PVC) pipes that are made from organic raw material that is totally free from heavy metals such as lead.

It’s completely 100% safe for potable water application and it is environment friendly while still maintaining the same desirable physical properties that UPVC pipes are known for.

For the same reason, NEPROPLAST UPVC (PVC) pipes are the first and currently the only UPVC pipes producers in the Middle East to have been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International of USA as compliant with NSF-61 Standard for drinking water system component health effects. NEPROPLAST is very shortly starting production of HDPE Pipes ranging from 20mm – 400mm with an expected capacity of 15,000 tons / year.

Website: www.ikk-group.com 10

June 2012

ASSOCIATION NEWS & EVENTS

Association of Equipment Manufacturers AEM will conduct a trade mission to the Oil Sands in Alberta, Canada. Spearheaded

by AEM’s Small Enterprises Committee, it will offer companies, small to large, a comprehensive overview of one of the world’s fastest growing equipment markets.

The mission is part of AEM’s continuing efforts to help member companies reach the right markets. The mission will provide an overview of the oil sands industry through tours of in situ sites where oil is extracted from the sand and refining sites. Market briefings by industry experts will also be provided along with an opportunity to meet with local industry and relevant business enterprises.

Space is limited for the trade mission, and the event fee will include hotel accommodations, roundtrip flights to Ft. McMurray from Calgary, tour services and food.

(Airfare to/from Calgary is not included. AEM’s Alex Russ explains that expanding their export business is of high interest to the association’s small to medium-size companies (SMEs). In an informal survey they overwhelmingly chose Canada and, in particular, the Alberta Oil Sands. The August time frame reflects the current congressional debate on the Keystone XL pipeline and the boom in Canada’s oil sands industry.

Bridges Africa 2012 Date: Venue: Contact: Email:

July 2-5, 2012 IQPC Kenya Olivia Olivia.Modisakeng@iqpc.com

Bridges Africa 2012 is the regional bridge engineering community’s annual platform at which key industry decision makers from government, contractors, consultants, engineering companies and specialists meet to exchange technologies and network.

The event will bring together the who’s who of bridge engineering to discuss the growing needs of bridge infrastructure in Africa.

4th Annual International Africa Public Private Partnership Conference Date: Venue: Contact: Tel: E-mail:

November 14-16, 2012 Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria Aurore Colella +44 207 697 1060 aurore@ametrade.org

The APPP conference now in its 4th edition and has evolved into Africa’s Premier APPP event unparalleled in its presentation and presentation platform as a definitive platform and strategic forum to gain hard information on Africa’s APPP sector.

APPP 2012 will be the only event in Africa where senior professional, VP to CEO level delegate from small engineering firms to top 10 global infrastructure developments firms, financiers and legal advisers behind innovation will gather to discuss high level strategy and build quality relationships. APPP 2012 is where forward thinking companies and leaders of national PPP units will come to initiate their next PPP deal. The 2011 edition was held in Nairobi, Kenya and attracted the attendance of 231 delegates from 25 countries.

June 2012

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Davis & Shirtliff Introduces New Products

Caterpillar To Develop Natural Gas Fuel System

Aveng Invests R7 Million In Rammed Earth Technology

Davis & Shirtliff recently announced new products. These include the UPA circulator pumps with applications for boosting domestic water pressure, the CMV vertical booster pump range and the technology leading CRFlex solar pumps, all from Grundfos.

Construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar has teamed up with fuel specialist Westport to develop natural gas technology for off-highway equipment. Westport supplies clean-burning fuel technology for engines, including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and renewable natural gas (RNG) fuels, such as landfill gas. It has also developed High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology for these fuels. Caterpillar - which itself manufactures diesel engines for off-highway equipment - said the two companies would combine technologies and expertise to become the first in the market to offer a Westport natural gas HPDI fuel system for high horsepower, off-road machines.

Leading infrastructure group, the Aveng Group has reiterated its commitment to building a lasting legacy by continuing to invest in priority development projects, Aveng has invested in excess of R7 million rand in construction projects via its Rammed earth technology.

The Dayliff range also continues to expand with introduction of the DWW/DWV range of economical, high performance waste water and sewage pumps.

Another interesting pump initiative is the Italian made Dayliff Nastec HS, a variable speed submersible pump with a built in inverter that is compact, economical and ideal for domestic water supplies.

Other exciting new products include the Cooper range of compact generators that feature modern engine technology for improved performance and economy and the latest technology Ultra Filtration plants that use UF membranes that remove almost all impurities to produce high quality water in large quantities.

Caterpillar will fund the development programme, which will initially focus on mining trucks and locomotives, and Westport is expected to supply key components. The companies said development programmes would start immediately for both new and existing engines, combustion technology and fuel systems. Commercial production is expected to begin in about five years.

Rammed earth has been used around the globe for years in a wide range of climatic conditions, from wet northern Europe to dry regions in Africa. It is a method of building walls whereby earth is compacted in layers between forms.

A pneumatically powered backfill tamper something like a hand-held pogo stick with a flat plate on the bottom or even a manual tamper used to compact the material to around 50% of its original height.

Each layer of earth is approximately 15 cm deep. As each form is filled, another form is placed above it. This is continued until the desired wall height is achieved.

Association Partners Kenya

Zimbabwe

South Africa

Tanzania

Nigeria

- Architectural Association of Kenya - Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors - Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya - Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers - Institute of Engineers of Kenya - Association of Consulting Engineers of - Kenya - The Construction Industry Federation of - Association of Professional Societies of East Zimbabwe (Cifoz) Africa APSEA) Ghana - Kenya Property developers Association - Ghana Institute of Engineers - Institution of Surveyors of Kenya - Architects Registration Council - Ghana Institute of Surveyors Namibia - Ghana Green Builders Association Institute of Namibian Quantity Surveyors - Ghana Institute of Planners Association of Consulting Engineers of Namibia

Uganda

Institute of Surveyors of Uganda

Botswana

Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors

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- Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors - Construction Regulation Board (CRB) - Tanzania’s Registration Board of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (AQSRB)

- ASAQS - SAICE - South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession - Khuthaza ( Women for Housing) - Concrete Manufacturers Association - Green Building council of SA - South African Property Owners

Association - Master Builders South Africa - Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria - Association of Professional Women Engineers Of Nigeria - Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria - The Nigerian Institute of Architects - American Association of Petroleum Geologists Africa Region June 2012

1194 South Coast Road, Mobeni, Durban, 4092.

South Africa.

Tel: (+27-31) 450 6300 Fax: (+27-31) 450 6303 Call centre: 0861 372 653 e-mail: ks-design.za@franke.com

Design a Bathroom Competition

WIN

www.frankedesign.co.za

Registration now open!

1st PRIZE

For Professionals (Interior Designers and Architects): An all expenses paid trip to ISH Plumbing and Sanitaryware Exhibition in Germany in 2013.

For Students (Interior Designers and Architects): R5000 Cash Prize

Franke Kitchen Systems (Pty) Ltd is a leading manufacturer of stainless steel sanitaryware products based in Durban, South Africa.

Stainless steel products are 100% recyclable, stylish as it goes with any colour. Produced with state-of-the-art technology, Franke products are suitable for any public ablution where hygiene is of the utmost importance.

What is this competition all about: Franke Kitchen Systems (Pty) Ltd is a leading manufacturer of stainless steel sanitaryware products based in Durban, South Africa.

Stainless steel products are 100% recyclable, stylish as it goes with any colour. Produced with state-of-the-art technology, Franke products are suitable for any public ablution where hygiene is of the utmost importance. We have decided to offer all architects, interior designers of commercial buildings and student architects the opportunity to design a public ablution using Franke stainless steel sanitaryware and bathroom accessories.

There are two competition categories, one for registered architects (Sub-Saharan Africa only) and one for students (South Africa only).

How to enter the competition: Step 1:

Register on the Franke www.frankedesign.co.za website as a contestant.

Step 2:

Read and accept the rules of the competition. By registering you agree to be bound by the competition rules.

Step 3:

Once registered, you will be granted access to download the 3D rendering design components in the required format which may be used in your public bathroom design.

Step 4:

Upload your completed designs to the website by not later than the 30th September 2012.

Step 5:

Announcement of Winners - The winners will be announced on or before 30th November 2012.

Closing Date: 30th September 2012 Terms & Conditions apply: Please refer to www.frankedesign.co.za WASHROOM SYSTEMS

Endorsed by:

The King's Cross Station

Europe’s largest single span station structure The show-piece is clearly the Western Concourse - Europe’s largest single span station structure and the heart of the development, but the overall project is far more complex: an extraordinary, collaborative effort that has delivered an internationally significant transport interchange, fit for the 21st century and beyond.

Trio Styles Of Architecture Applied The transformation of King’s Cross Station for Network Rail involves three very different styles of architecture: re-use, restoration and new build. The train shed and range buildings have been adapted and re-used, the station’s previously obscured Grade I listed façade is being precisely restored, and a new, highly expressive Western Concourse has been designed as a centerpiece and the 'beating heart' of the project.

King's Cross will become a new, iconic architectural gateway to the city, ready for the 2012 London Olympics. The design reorientates the station to the west, creating significant operational improvements and will reveal the main south façade of Lewis Cubitt’s original 1852 station. Although the Western

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Concourse is probably the most visually striking change to the station, JMP’s work on the project also involves a series of layered interventions and restorations including the restoration of the Eastern Range building and the revitalization of the Main Train Shed, Suburban Train Shed and Western Range buildings.

Architectural Ambition The architects practice began work on the project in 1998 and established the overall master-plan for the development in 2005.

As a result a key role was played in the wider transformation of the King's Cross area - infrastructural, social and commercial changes that now connect the station with the massive King’s Cross Central scheme north of the station as well as to St Pancras, the

London Underground, and the surrounding urban context. The architectural ambition of JMP’s scheme has been to create a new iconic landmark that will function as a key catalyst for the ongoing regeneration of this new London quarter as well as providing striking new facilities that will accommodate the 50 million passengers now passing through the station each year.

Main Train Shed The station’s Main Train Shed is 250m long, 22m high and 65m wide, spanning eight platforms. The restoration includes revealing the bold architecture of the original south façade, re-glazing the north and south gables and refurbishing platforms The two barrelvaulted roofs were refurbished and lined with energy-saving photovoltaic arrays along

June 2012

the linear roof lanterns, while a new glass footbridge designed by JMP extends across the Main Train Shed, replacing the old midshed Handy side bridge and giving access to every platform as well as the mezzanine level of the concourse.

JMP’s design integrates the main and suburban train sheds for the first time, creating a completely coherent ground plan for passenger movements into and through the station. Improvements to the Suburban Train Shed located to the north of the Western Concourse and Western Range buildings have enhanced the operation of its three platforms (the busiest in the station during peak-hours).

The ambitious transformation of the station creates a remarkable dialogue between Cubitt’s original station and 21stcentury architecture - a quantum shift in strategic infrastructure design in the UK. This relationship between old and new creates a modern transport super-hub at King's Cross, whilst revitalizing and unveiling one of the great railway monuments of London.

Western Concourse The centerpiece of the £500m redevelopment is the new vaulted, semi-circular concourse to the west of the existing station. The concourse rises some 20m and spans the

full 150m-length of the existing Grade I Listed Western Range, creating a new entrance to the station through the south end of the structure and at mezzanine level to the northern end of the Western Concourse.

The 7,500sqm concourse has become Europe’s largest single-span station structure, comprising of 16 steel tree form columns that radiate from an expressive, tapered central funnel. The graceful circularity of the concourse echoes the form of the neighboring Great Northern Hotel, with the ground floor of the hotel providing access to the concourse.

The Western Concourse sits adjacent to the façade of the Western Range, clearly revealing the restored brickwork and masonry of the original station. From this dramatic interior space, passengers access the platforms either through the ground level gate-lines in the Ticket Hall via the Western Range building, or by using the mezzanine level gate-line, which leads onto the new cross–platform footbridge.

Located above the new London Underground northern ticketing hall, and with retail elements at mezzanine level, the concourse will transform passenger facilities, whilst also enhancing links to the London Underground, and bus, taxi and train connections at St Pancras.

The concourse is set to become an architectural gateway to the King’s Cross Central mixed-use developments, a key approach to the eastern entrance of St Pancras International. It will also act as an extension to King’s Cross Square, a new plaza that will be formed between the station’s southern façade and Euston Road.

Western Range The Western Range at King's Cross is the historic station’s biggest component, accommodating a wide range of uses. Complex in plan, and articulated in five buildings, the practice's considered architectural intervention has delivered greatly improved working conditions for the station staff, train-operating companies and Network Rail management teams.

The Northern Wing, destroyed by bombing in World War II, has been rebuilt to its original design. The reinstatement of the Western Range also delivers key gated connections, including a new gate-line at the southern end, now the main point of connection between the Western Concourse and the platforms of the Main Train Shed.

With this multi-phased development now complete, the significance of the King’s Cross Station development is finally revealed.

June 2012

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A TRUSTED INDUSTRY LEADER For 90 years, SCAW, a South African industry leader, has been a preferred supplier to the construction industry.

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Ghana’s Power Sector Receives Boost With Construction Of New Hydroelectric Dam Introduction The power sector of Ghana will be boosted by an additional 133 megawatts of power to the generation sector by the end of 2012, when the first phase of the Bui Hydroelectric Power Project is completed. More importantly, the project will add 400 megawatts of power upon full completion in 2013.

The preparatory works which commenced in January 2008 involved the provision of support facilities and pre-constructional activities needed to facilitate the execution of the main works. The preparatory works included the following activities access roads, recreational facilities, and warehouse complex. The key milestone of the entire first phase was the successful diversion of the river by the construction of the diversion channel and coffer dams(upstream and downstream) in December 2008 to enable the main works to commence in January.

The second phase involves the construction of the main and saddle dams, power housecivil and electromechanical works, hydraulic turbine model test, transmission lines, environmental and social impact assessment as well as finalisation of transmission line route selection. The project will be the third major dam in the country after the Akosombo Dam and the KpongDam and isa partnership between the government of Ghana and Sino Hydro, a Chinese construction company and is managed by the Bui Power Authority, on behalf of the government of Ghana.

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Background The Bui hydro-electric dam has first been envisaged in 1925 by the British-Australian geologist and naturalist Albert Ernest Kitson when he visited the Bui Gorge. The dam has been on the drawing board since the 1960s, when Ghana’s largest dam, the Akosombo Dam, was built further downstream on the Volta River.

By 1978 planning for the Bui Dam was advanced with support from Australia and the World Bank. However, four military coups stalled the plans. At the time Ghana began to be plagued by energy rationing, which has persisted since then. In 1992, the project was revived and a first feasibility study was conducted by the French firm Coyne etBellier. .

In 1999 the Volta River Authority, the country’s power utility, signed an agreement with the US firms Halliburton and Brown and Root to build the dam without issuing a competitive bid.

In December 2000 President Jerry Rawlings, who had ruled the country for the two previous decades, lost elections and was replaced

by John Kufuor. In October 2001 the new government shelved the dam project.

According to Charles Wereko-Brobby, then President of the Volta River Authority, Bui Dam was not considered the least–cost option and could not meet “immediate” energy needs. Instead gas-powered thermal power plants were to be built, producing

electricity at what was said to be half the cost of Bui. Furthermore, a severe drought in 1998 exacerbated the energy crisis due to low water levels in Akosombo Dam. As a consequence, the government wanted to reduce its dependence on hydropower at the time.

However, in 2002 the project was revived. An international call for tender was issued, but only a single company submitted a bid and the tender was cancelled. In 2005 the Chinese company Sinohydro submitted an unsolicited bid for the dam together with funding from the Chinese Exim Bank. The government accepted the bid and the Ministry of Energy signed contracts for an environmental impact assessment in December 2005, as well as for an updated feasibility study in October 2007.

In August 2007 the government created the Bui Power Authority to oversee the construction of the dam and the associated resettlement, as well as to operate the dam and power plant. The responsibility for the dam was thus taken away from the Volta River Authority, which until then had been responsible for the development and operation of all power projects in Ghana.

Field investigations for the dam began in October 2007.

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June 2012

Guest SA’s first Green Star Rated Building Ken Reynolds, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance Divisional Executive for Gauteng and Project Manager of the construction of Nedbank Phase II, SA’s first Green Star Rated building.

As South Africa’s green bank, it is generally expected of Nedbank to be something of an environmental pioneer in the business environment. The bank undoubtedly lived up to this expectation in September 2010 when its Phase II Head Office building in Sandton was recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBCSA), as the country’s first ‘As Built’ Green Star Rated building.

Ken Reynolds

The incorporation of environmentally sound building principles – whether to new construction projects or the retro-fitting of older buildings - remains largely a compliancedriven consideration in this country, rather than an environmental and economic sustainability imperative.

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More than merely reinforcing Nedbank’s ‘green’ brand positioning, this achievement, and the building on which it was based, succeeded in significantly raising awareness of the massive impact that buildings have on South Africa’s overall carbon emissions.

This has also raised the urgent imperative to incorporate environmental considerations – particularly energy efficiency and carbon emissions management - into new and existing buildings across the country.

considerations could raise the overall cost by around 10%, our experience is that this cost does not take long to recoup, particularly given the rapidly increasing cost of utilities in this country.

Using our own Nedbank Phase II building as an example, after just over a year of occupation the energy efficiency initiatives that were incorporated into the construction and design have delivered a 30% improvement in energy efficiency. Assuming this trend continues, the cost of building green into our new office spaces will have been recovered in around three years - at which point the savings become even more relevant to our bottom line.

Unfortunately, while awareness of the need for greener buildings is undoubtedly rising in South Africa, our country still lags significantly behind the rest of the developed world in terms of the application of environmental considerations.

Of course, building green is new territory for many businesses, which means it’s easy for the potential economic and environmental benefits to be severely compromised by very expensive learning curves. To avoid this, and ensure that the environmental sustainability of a building is supported, from the outset - by a solid foundation of economic benefit - owners, builders, and investors would do well to learn from those who have already negotiated this learning curve.

A key contributor to South Africa’s poor position on the global green building achievement scale is the fact that the incorporation of environmentally sound building principles – whether to new construction projects or the retro-fitting of older buildings - remains largely a compliance-driven consideration in this country, rather than an environmental and economic sustainability imperative.

As a bank that has been involved in six of South Africa’s GBCSA Green Star SA Rated buildings, and occupies two of these and will occupy a third in April next year, Nedbank has learnt a great many lessons – the most important of which is undoubtedly the aforementioned imperative that any desired environmental benefits are accompanied by sustainable economic considerations.

Changing this perception of green as a ‘scorecard item’ is a key requirement if we are to eventually achieve a truly ‘green’ built environment. Such a paradigm shift requires an understanding that so-called green buildings are not just reputational or environmental sustainability requirements, but also potentially significant contributors to long-term economic sustainability.

Achieving this begins long before the first sod is turned, or the first energy efficient bulb installed. It requires extensive and exhaustive planning, continued effort to get the buy-in of every single stakeholder in the project, and a keen eye for ‘green washing’ - to make sure that the claims of suppliers and products are legitimate and will indeed unlock long-term benefits, rather than proving to be nothing more than additional costs.

Nedbank’s extensive involvement in the area of green building in South Africa has afforded us a keen insight into the economic benefits that can be unlocked by incorporating energy efficiency and other environmentally beneficial elements into any building. While a like-for-like comparison of a green and nongreen building of similar proportions shows that incorporating effective environmental

Ultimately, achieving a green building is a massive commitment, whichever way you look at it. But as Nedbank’s experience has proven, it is also hugely rewarding. Not just in terms of the environmental contributions it can facilitate, but also thanks to the fact that building green is a proven way to help keep any business in the black.

June 2012

Personality Zaha Hadid Director AA Dipl, RIBA, ARB, BDA, AIA Profile Zaha Hadid, founder of Zaha Hadid Architects, was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered to be the Nobel Prize of architecture) in 2004 and is internationally known for both her theoretical and academic work. Each of her dynamic and innovative projects builds on over thirty years of revolutionary exploration and research in the interrelated fields of urbanism, architecture and design.

Hadid’s interest lies in the rigorous interface between architecture, landscape and geology as her practice integrates natural topography and human-made systems, leading to experimentation with cutting-edge technologies. Such a process often results in unexpected and dynamic architectural forms.

Education Hadid studied architecture at the Architectural Association from 1972 and was awarded the Diploma Prize in 1977.

Teaching She became a partner of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, taught at the AA with OMA collaborators Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis, and later led her own studio at the AA until 1987. Since then she has held the Kenzo Tange Chair at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University; the Sullivan Chair at the University of Illinois, School of Architecture, Chicago; guest professorships at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg; the Knolton School of Architecture, Ohio and the Masters Studio at Columbia University, New York.

In addition, she was made Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture and Commander of the British Empire, 2002. She is currently Professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria and was the Eero Saarinen Visiting Professor of Architectural Design at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Awards Zaha Hadid’s work of the past 30 years was the subject of critically-acclaimed retrospective exhibitions at New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 2006, London’s Design Museum in 2007 and the Palazzo della Ragione, Padua, Italy in 2009.

Her recently completed projects include the MAXXI Museum in Rome; which won the

Stirling award in 2010. Hadid’s outstanding contribution to the architectural profession continues to be acknowledged by the most world’s most respected institutions.

She received the prestigious ‘Praemium Imperiale’ from the Japan Art Association in 2009, and in 2010, the Stirling Prize – one of architecture’s highest accolades – from the Royal Institute of British Architects. Other recent awards include UNESCO naming Hadid as an ‘Artist for Peace’ at a ceremony in their Paris headquarters last year.

Zaha Hadid

Also in 2010, the Republic of France named Hadid as ‘Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ in recognition of her services to architecture, and TIME magazine included her in their 2010 list of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’.

This year’s ‘Time 100’ is divided into four categories: Leaders, Thinkers, Artists and Heroes – with Hadid ranking top of the Thinkers category.

ZHA Projects Zaha has played a pivotal role in a great many Zaha Hadid Architects projects over the past 30 years. The MAXXI: National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy; the BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany and the Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg, Germany are excellent demonstrations of Hadid’s quest for complex, fluid space. Previous seminal buildings such as the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, USA, have also been hailed as architecture that transforms our vision of the future with new spatial concepts and bold, visionary forms.

Currently Hadid is working on a multitude of projects worldwide including: the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games; High-Speed Train Stations in Naples and Durango; the CMA CGM Headquarters tower in Marseille; the Fiera di Milano masterplan and tower as well as major master-planning projects in Beijing, Bilbao, Istanbul and Singapore.

In the Middle East, Hadid’s portfolio includes national cultural and research centres in Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, as well as the new Central Bank of Iraq.

Zaha has played a pivotal role in a great many Zaha Hadid Architects projects over the past 30 years. The MAXXI: National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy; the BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany and the Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg, Germany are excellent demonstrations of Hadid’s quest for complex, fluid space.

June 2012

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Durable Roofing Materials

By Emmanuel Onsomu There are numerous materials available for home owners to choose from to fit their roofing needs. However, before deciding on any roofing material, it is important to fully understand the geographic location and position of your house. This is very important as durability of the roof will greatly depend on the climatic conditions.

New products are always being developed to overcome the shortcomings of older roofing materials, meet the demands of modern building techniques, and conform to increasingly tough building codes. While choosing a durable roofing material, it is also advisable to take into consideration its initial price, the maintenance cost and the insulating properties. The most commonly used roofing materials are; metal, concrete and clay. Some innovative, energy-efficient homes are being roofed with sod.

Metal Roofing Metal Roofing is one of the greenest and most sustainable materials available. Metal Roofing is primarily manufactured from RECYCLED steel or aluminum. It also REFLECTS the UV that strikes rather than absorbing it into the building thus reducing energy costs.

Additionally, Metal Roofing will last far longer than any other roofing material. Corrugated iron sheet roofing structures are lightweight and inexpensive in comparison with other roof structures. They are portable and have simple laying procedures making installation easy and quick.

Typically they weigh less than one-third the weight of asphalt/fiberglass shingles; and are as much as 75% lighter than clay, concrete or slate. Corrugated iron sheet roofing structures are more rigid providing more 24

dimensional stability and structural integrity.

They are available in a wide range of sizes, colors, thicknesses and materials, allowing homeowners and contractors to customize a roof as per their desired needs. Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. The lowest end metal roofing, thin gauge with acrylic or polyester paints, commonly called AG (agricultural) or Utility panels will last 20 to 30 years. Most metal roofing products today come with warranties from 25 to 50 years.

They are also energy efficient; Coatings with high reflectivity like Kynar with "cool roof" pigments commonly save 20-30% on airconditioning costs due to reflecting away much of the sun's heat.

This increases the thermal efficiency of buildings in high temperature areas with its cool-roof paints and high emissivity. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills. The coatings and fixings on steel roof sheeting can be designed for different environments including industrial and marine locations.

Due to their high strength to weight ratio, metal roofs are often used to cover large buildings.

The roof of the new Wembley Stadium is an example. It consists of approximately 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) steel sheeting. Metal roofing is hail resistant. Painted metal roofs are usually snow-shedding. For this reason, metal roofing is ideal for homes in high latitude or mountain regions.

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List of Collaborators Drexel Metal Inc. customerservice@drexmet.com www.drexmet.com Classic Metal Roofing Systems info@classicroof.com. www.classicmetalroofingsystems. com Cool Roof Rating Council Contact: Jessica Clar jessica@coolroofs.org coolroofs.org Dreadnought Tiles Contact: Alex Patrick-Smith Alex.Patrick-Smith@dreadnoughttiles.co.uk www.dreadnought-tiles.co.uk/ Alcoa Architectural Products Contact: Liane Hรถtger liane.hoetger@teampenta.de www.alcoaarchitecturalproducts.eu June 2012

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Welding Processes

By Emmanuel Onsomu Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the work pieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce the weld.

This is in contrast with soldering and brazing, which involve melting a lower-melting-point material between the workpieces to form a bond between them, without melting the workpieces. Welding is a craft that can be performed reasonably by amateurs. As always, good equipment is important for producing good work. The basics and theory can be learned solo, and from books, but like many crafts, learning from someone proficient is very desirable. A real good way to start is to take some kind of night school or similar beginning welding class.

You get exposed to various equipment and methods. There are often advanced classes

available, as well. One of the most common types of arc welding is shielded metal arc welding (SMAW); it is also known as manual metal arc welding (MMA) or stick welding.

Electric current is used to strike an arc between the base material and consumable electrode rod, which is made of steel and is covered with a flux that protects the weld area from oxidation and contamination by producing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas during the welding process.

The electrode core itself acts as filler material, making separate filler unnecessary.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process is versatile and can be performed with relatively inexpensive equipment, making it well suited to shop jobs and field work. An operator can become reasonably proficient with a modest amount of training and can achieve mastery with experience. Weld times are rather slow, since the consumable electrodes must be frequently replaced and because slag, the residue from the flux, must be chipped away after welding.

Gas Metal Arc welding Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as metal inert gas or MIG welding, is a semiautomatic or automatic process that uses a continuous wire feed as an electrode and an inert or semi-inert gas mixture to protect the weld from contamination. Since the electrode is continuous, welding speeds are greater for GMAW than for SMAW. A related process, flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), uses similar equipment but uses wire consisting of a steel electrode surrounding a powder fill material.

This cored wire is more expensive than the standard permits even higher welding speed and greater metal penetration.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), or tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is a manual welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode, an inert or semi-inert gas mixture, and a separate filler material. This is especially useful for welding thin materials, this method is characterized by a stable arc and high quality welds, but it requires significant operator skill and can only be accomplished at relatively low speeds.

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GTAW can be used on nearly all weldable metals, though it is most often applied to stainless steel and light metals. It is often used when quality welds are extremely important, such as in bicycle, aircraft and naval applications.

Submerged Arc Welding Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is a highproductivity welding method in which the arc is struck beneath a covering layer of flux. This increases arc quality, since contaminants in the atmosphere are blocked by the flux. The slag that forms on the weld generally comes off by itself, and combined with the use of a continuous wire feed, the weld deposition rate is high. Working conditions are much improved over other arc welding processes, since the flux hides the arc and almost no smoke is produced. The process is commonly used in big industries, especially for large products and in the manufacture of welded pressure vessels.

There is, of course, a wide range of equipment, capabilities, quality, and pricing. The quality can make a big difference in the ease of use and quality of work. "You get what you pay for." Experience and practice are also very important. Learning from an expert gets you there a lot faster.

Miller Electric Miller Electric of the U.S.A., is a leading manufacturer of TIG welders, MIG or wire welders, stick welders, flux cored welders, multi-process welders, plasma arc cutters, engine-driven welding generators, wire feeders, multi-operator systems, resistance spot welders, automated welding systems, submerged arc welders, induction heating systems, welding equipment, welding guns and accessories, and welder training materials for the Industrial, Maintenance & Repair, Farm and Ranch, Construction, Motorsports, Hobbyist and Fabrication markets.

List of Contributors

Miller Electric also features a line of welding helmets and safety gear. In Uganda, Miller is represented by Terrain Plant Ltd. as their Authorized Agent.

Email: ebt@electronbeam.com

Oxy-fuel welding and cutting Oxy-fuel welding (commonly called oxyacetylene welding, oxy welding, or gas welding and oxy-fuel cutting are processes that use fuel gases and oxygen to weld and cut metals, respectively.

Miller Electric Contact: John Montgomery Email: monty@terrainplant.com Website: www.terrainplant.com Gullco International Ltd. Contact: Nick drake Email: ndrake@gullco.com Website: www.GULLCO.com Electron Beam Contact: Valgene Raloff Website: www.electronbeam.com 3M Contact: Stephen Llewelyn Jackson Email: sljackson@mmm.com Website: www.3M.com Thermadyne Industries Ltd. Contact: Sean Mallion Email: SMallion@thermadyne.com

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Website: http://thermadyne.com/victor/ Broco, Inc. Contact: Tom Joos Email: tjoos@brocoinc.com Sunbelt Stud Welding, Inc. Contact: Curt Gardiner Email: cgardiner@sunbeltstudwelding.com Website: www.sunbeltstudwelding.com Speciality Welds Ltd Contact: David Keats Email: sales@specialwelds.com Website: www.specialwelds.com Yuryoku Email: info@yuryoku.com Standard Equipment &Automation Contact: Derek Harvey Email: Derek.Harvey@esab.co.uk Welding Alloys Contact: Wiehan Zylstra Email: Wiehan.Zylstra@welding-alloys.com Air Liquide Welding Contact: Roure, Georges Email: Georges.Roure@AirLiquide.com Fronius Contact: Rauch Marion Email: Rauch.Marion@fronius.com Nelson Stud Welding Contact: Mark Koester Email: Mark.Koester@nelsonstud

June 2012

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tied down to his own equipment or having to buy what’s available but he can shop around and can get the best equipment for a fraction of the cost it would have otherwise cost if he was to by it. A favourable hiring agreement means that he can also sleep nights without worrying about breakdowns since the hire firm ma offer replacement equipment should this arises saving valuable downtime.

There is no limit to the kind of equipment available on hire but the more common ones are excavators, bulldozers, generators, dumpers and cranes.

Excavators which dig trenches, holes and can do earthmoving services in any working condition are popular when it comes to hiring.

The excavator utilizes a bucket to dig and a boom to reach fair distances where the earth will be loaded or moved.

Plant Hire

Offers flexibility and savings Plant hire as a service industry to the construction industry has come of age in the last twenty years as firms have seen the benefit of hiring over buying. The recent slowdown in building activity in addition has also left many large construction firms with excess capacity leaving them with no option but to put them to work for hire to other firms rather than having them lie moribund.

Hiring equipment is very attractive to companies because it means that they can release capital rather than having it tied down

in machinery. It also means greater flexibility for the hirer because he need not be restricted to his own machinery should a project require a one off specialised equipment.

Hiring also offers savings in maintenance, transportation and even manpower becase once the project is completed these can be released back to the owner. The result is savings and subsequently hire profits.

The flexibility that comes with hiring is incomparable because one a contractor is not

Bucket sizes are important to be able to work an excavator efficiently and Plant hire companies usually have different shapes and sizes of buckets.

The bulldozers come with an attachment called a deep ripper which can handle work on compacted ground. Other work like clearing or roadway construction is best done with a bulldozer. This machinery can work faster and on a wider area than using the manual method.

Dumpers come in handy when there is a need to move large volumes of earth, rocks or trees then these kinds of vehicles are needed. They can prove to be invaluable to any project, ensuring that endless hours aren't wasted transferring materials from the site to a dumping area.

Some plant hire firms will also be able to provide various cranes. These are absolutely needed equipment for shifting bulky goods to locations many stories high.

Most project sites or areas do not have electric power due to distance or remoteness. A generator is equipment that will be invaluable especially if there are other machineries that need power.

Having a generator around will assure that all other machines can function including the field office. A generator can really help you to save time and money, whatever job you're carrying out. The list of equipment that can be hired out is endless and all depends on market demand.

In coming years as plant hire firms become more specialised and sensitive to customer needs and regulations become more favourable the need to purchase over hiring will become all but non-existent.

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June 2012

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Relevance Of The Project The project, estimated to cost Ksh 148m (US$1.7m) will act as a pilot project that can be used to gauge the possible success of such developments with the aim of possible replication in other areas within the Council’s jurisdiction.

The project is geared towards restructuring the existing market with a view to increase the number of stalls to 420 and reducing the amount of human waste and other waste that is discharged into the open environment.

New Market to Enhance Trade Kenya

Background To The Project The Kakamega Municipal Council is charged with the responsibility of providing modern market stalls for traders within the town, among other services. In the past, the Council has tried to provide these facilities.

However, due to a surge in population, which has led to the proliferation of numerous market centres, it has not been easy for the Council to adequately provide residents with proper facilities for the smooth conduct of business.

The open air market traders, fish dealers and hawkers travel from far and wide every

day. Therefore, any health hazards posed by the market arising from poor sanitation and overcrowding may be felt in a wide area of the Western region.

The most affected are women traders at the market who carry along with them their children. Others are the business community, public service operators and users, small scale traders (hawkers) and fish dealers.

It is the responsibility of the Kakamega Municipal Council to provide modern public sanitary facilities within the market. These would replace the existing pit latrines.

The skills imparted shall go along way in making sure that the Council acts as a leader in innovation and awareness creation as far as modernization of the markets and sanitation issues are concerned. During the implementation of the project, the Council will work with the residents, business community, small scale traders, fish dealers and women.

The main beneficiaries of the project are the Municipal Council of Kakamega (who stand to collect revenues exceeding Ksh 4,200,000 (US$50,000) per year in licenses and rent, small scale traders, fish dealers as well as women and children who accompany their mothers to the market.

The project kicked off in January 2011 and was expected to go on for 72 weeks. However, as with every construction project, some challenges arose. These included the heavy rains that pounded the area, slowing down works considerably. Matching levels with the road was also a challenge.

Project Team Architects: Arch Concepts Main contractor: Channa Construction Ltd Plumbing: Plumbuild Engineering Ltd Electrical installations: Raicha’s Electro Services Quantity Surveyors: Ujenzi Consultants Structural Engineers: Interconsult Consulting Engineers

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Sheikh Zayed Bridge Abu Dhabi Sanitaryware Choosing & sourcing The Hornbill Kenya Ponte City South Africa Symbion Uganda

Inside: Kolomela mine Comes on stream

Filtration Systems Emerging trends

Modular Housing Speed and durability

Crushing & Conveying Selecting a conveyor belt

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中国重卡(坦桑尼亚)有限公司

CTT

CHINA TRUCK ( T ) LTD Plot No.96 Mandela Road, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania P.O. Box 23198 Tel: 00255 757126420 E-mail: yzjtansang@chinatruck.com Website: www.chinatruck.com.cn

CHINA TRUCK (T) LTD mainly sell SINOTUCK HOWO series, which include: various tipper trucks, tractor trucks, semi-trailers,cargo trucks, concrete mixer trucks, bulk cement tankers, water tankers, fuel tankers, fire fighting trucks, other specialized vehicles, machinery, bus, pick-ups etc, and their spare parts.

CHINA TRUCK (T) LTD has exported nearly 3000 units heavy duty trucks to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, D. R. Congo and other countries. Further, we provide good technical services and sufficient spare parts efficiently to our overseas customers.

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Kenya 36

June 2012