Construction & Civil Engineering issue 122 December 2015

www.ccemagazine.com

A powerful

ISSUE 122 DECEMBER

history The Battersea Power Station Development has been described as a ‘new town centre for London’ See page 6

Berg ahead

One tonne fatberg discovered under Regent Street

Success stateside

UK noise barrier solution used in New York

Innovation rewarded

Rural construction projects receive awards recognition

Visi

NOW

www t our new LIVE w .cce mag ebsite: contents aZine .com

6 Cover story

Chairman Andrew Schofield Editor Libbie Hammond

libbie@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Art Editor Gerard Roadley-Battin Advertising Design Fleur Daniels Staff Writers Jo Cooper Andrew Dann Ben Clark

FEATURES 14, 15, 20 NEWS Updates and information from the construction and civil engineering market

Operations Director Philip Monument

2 Apprentices

Research Manager Laura Thompson Editorial Researchers Nick Bochmann Mark Cowles Tarjinder Kaur D’Silva Keith Hope

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Business Development Director David Garner

£8 billion of investment is creating a new community at Battersea Power Station The challenges and opportunities facing the UK painting and decorating sector

11 Construction disputes

Sales David King Mark Cawston

There are some common types of construction disputes and this article highlights some of the methods that can help resolve them

Production/ Office Manager Tracy Chynoweth

www.ccemagazine.com

6 Battersea Power Station

8 Painting and decorating

Sales Director Joe Woolsgrove

Schofield Publishing Cringleford Business Centre, 10 Intwood Road, Cringleford, Norwich, NR4 6AU, U.K. Tel: +44 (0)1603 274130 Fax: +44 (0)1603 274131

As skills shortages are starting to bite in the construction sector, Libbie Hammond talked to Alasdair Waddell of Network Rail, about the lessons that can be learned from its highly successful apprenticeship scheme

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16 Heavy plant The performance of Europe’s construction industry means there is strong demand for used heavy equipment, and this is good news for IronPlanet

company profiles 21 Machine Mart

As a supplier of tools and machinery, Machine Mart has remained committed to its core values of product range and customer service

32 TMCA

The Traffic Management Contractors Association (TMCA) has spent the last two decades working to maintain high safety standards at major traffic management sites

25 Construction Materials Online @cce_magazine

Building on its experience in the traditional merchant industry, Construction Materials Online has seen the advantages of web commerce

35 A1 Flue Systems

A1 Flue Systems occupies a leading position in the commercial and industrial sectors and is setting it sights on the domestic market

30 Spencer group

© 2015 Schofield Publishing Ltd

Spencer Group has established for itself a robust reputation for providing innovative engineering solutions for the transport, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors

38 Marshall construction

Founded in 1983, Marshall Construction has quickly developed into one of Scotland’s leading independent building contractors

Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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Images courtesy of Network Rail

apprentices

Ready to

learn As skills shortages are starting to bite in the construction sector, Libbie Hammond talked to Alasdair Waddell, recruitment specialist at Network Rail, about the lessons that can be learned from its highly successful apprenticeship scheme

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W

ith the Government’s plans to reach three million apprentices by 2020 and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills stating a commitment to making England’s apprenticeship programme the best in the world, the overall issue of apprenticeships remains high on the agenda.

Apprenticeship schemes not only play a part in meeting objectives to boost skills and drive-up productivity for the country as a whole – they also widen access for young people to the professions and build the high level technical skills needed for the jobs of the future.

The last six months have seen quite a flurry of activity in this area, with the Prime Minister sharing his plans in August

With a growing railway that is getting busier every day, we need to ensure we attract and develop a pipeline of valuable talent into our workforce to help us maintain our 20,000 miles of track and keep people moving.

Today, more than 2000 apprentices have been through our scheme

to boost apprenticeships and transform training (including a controversial Apprenticeships Levy) and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announcing an ambition to boost apprenticeships across the road and rail industry – pledging 30,000 apprenticeship places in the sector during the lifetime of this Parliament, with help from a transport strategy led by Terry Morgan, Chairman of Crossrail.

Indeed, the construction and rail sectors have long appreciated the value that apprentices bring to their businesses and many businesses already have sophisticated and highly regarded schemes in place. One such organisation is Network Rail, which prides itself on its very competitive and thorough apprenticeship programme, that offers candidates the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, in some cases up to degree level, while working and earning.

At the time of Patrick McLoughlin’s announcement, Mark Carne, Network Rail Chief Executive explained that the company needs a highly skilled workforce to enable it to deliver its multi-billion pound railway upgrade plan and a network fit for the 21st century. “That’s why we have a steadfast commitment to training and developing everyone from apprentices and graduates to up-skilling our 35,000-strong workforce and others across the industry with the latest digital, technical and engineering skills,” he said.

It is clear that the Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme is a vital component of its recruitment strategy, and as Alasdair Waddell, recruitment specialist at Network Rail explained; it has been as such for a decade. “With a growing railway that is getting busier every day, we need to ensure we attract and develop a pipeline of valuable talent into our workforce to help us maintain our 20,000 miles of track and keep people moving. Today, more than 2000 apprentices have been through our scheme.”

Eighty-three per cent of these trained apprentices also still work for Network Rail, with many progressing onto senior positions within the company, proving again that its investment is being returned. “Our scheme has a retention rate well above the average, with a 95 per cent completion rate, more than 20 per cent ahead of the sector average of 74 per cent. This means that the young people we’re training are staying with the company and growing through our programme,” added Alasdair.

What also makes schemes such as this so important is the diversity of activities in which trainees can be involved. So at Network Rail for example, apprentices that complete the scheme can go on to develop their careers in a number of areas across the company. “The apprentices we have trained have progressed to become national aerial survey specialists, assistant track maintenance engineers, as well as team leaders and technical officers,” highlighted Alasdair.

“Some on our current programme are working on the government sponsored Thameslink Programme

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Images courtesy of Network Rail

apprentices

– one of our biggest construction projects as we rebuild London Bridge and the railway around it.”

Many of the skills learned can be transferred across departments, as well as in different companies and even across industries.

But as Alasdair noted, a high proportion of individuals remain with Network Rail once they’ve graduated, and today these people are working throughout the business in roles across signalling, telecoms, engineering and project management.

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“A couple of examples of graduated apprentices that have gone on to excel within our business include Reece Martin, a senior project engineer. He joined our Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme in 2006 and has gone on to become a senior project engineer overseeing national development projects across the country, he’s also been promoted to a senior management position and gained his Institution of Railway Signal Engineers license.

“Another great example is

Adam Fountain, now a scheme project manager, responsible for managing a £5 million maintenance project, which is crucial to keeping Britain’s railway moving. Adam has also been promoted four times since joining the scheme in 2006 and managed a number of large project teams along the way.”

While the scheme is obviously very successful, Network Rail is continually making improvements and appreciates that the benefits

of the approach are not all about business success but the human element as well. Therefore, as part of the Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme’s ten-year anniversary, the organisation commissioned an employee survey to capture their views on the value that apprentices bring to the organisation. “That survey looked at what the scheme offers our apprentices and we’re thrilled to see that the partnership works both ways. Forty-seven per cent

Above Mark Carne and 10 apprentices from 10 years of the scheme

of our apprentices achieved professional accreditation earlier than their peers who hadn’t taken part in an apprenticeship, while 62 per cent felt they made a direct impact on the company at an earlier stage.”

What also sets the scheme apart is its inclusive nature – Network Rail doesn’t set an upper age limit for applicants for example. “The minimum requirements for applicants are four A*- C GCSEs, including English, Maths and Science however it is a candidate’s personality and aspirations that we are most interested in,” emphasised Alasdair. “We are keen for candidates who enjoy a more practical working environment, who embrace problem-solving tasks and want to kick-start their career by getting into work rather than continuing in the classroom.”

It is easy to see why Network Rail’s scheme can be held up as an example to other businesses that might be weighing up the benefits of creating an apprenticeship programme, and Alasdair would encourage those considering it to go ahead. “We think it is a fantastic way to boost your workforce,” he stated.

“Apprentices have delivered fantastic results year-on-year for Network Rail and bring fresh thinking, a willingness to get stuck in and an eagerness to learn that really sets them apart.

“As a company we’re very proud of our apprenticeship scheme; it’s attracted a wide variety of talented people to our company who we’ve been able to nurture and develop. For anyone thinking about pursuing an apprenticeship, I would recommend strongly considering it. Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to learn in a hands-on fashion while getting paid, as well as gaining valuable life skills along the way – why not give it a shot!”

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battersea power station

A powerful

history

The foundations are being laid for a new community at Battersea Power Station, with £8 billion of investment creating a thriving, diverse neighbourhood. October 2015 witnessed a new milestone in the project

T

he Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station, situated in the Nine Elms area on London’s South Bank, is the largest brick building in Europe and is notable for its original, lavish Art Deco interior fittings and decor. Having ceased generating power in 1983, numerous redevelopment plans were drawn up from successive site owners, but it

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wasn’t until 2012 that Knight Frank announced that administrators Ernst & Young had entered into an exclusivity agreement with Malaysia’s SP Setia and Sime Darby and were working towards a timely exchange and completion of the site and associated land. Completion of the £400 million sale took place in September 2012, and work finally commenced with Phase 1 on July 4th, 2013 - the 80th anniversary of this historic building.

This vast 42-acre former industrial brownfield site is going to be revitalised into a community of homes, shops, cafes, offices and 18 acres of public space.

Described as a ‘new town centre for London’, it will also be serviced by an extension to the Northern Line. The overall plans include the restoration of the art deco structure internally and externally, reconstruction of the chimneys,

and refurbishment of the historic cranes and jetty. Also included are 4000 homes of varying sizes, and sales of residential apartments in Phase 1 of the redevelopment began in January 2013 with around 75 per cent of townhouses and apartments being sold within four days. Construction work on Phase 1, called Circus West, is being undertaken by Carillion and commenced in 2013. The full redevelopment consists of seven main phases, some of which are planned to run concurrently.

Phase 1 is due to complete in 2016/17 with the Northern line extension and requisite new Battersea Power Station terminal anticipated to complete in 2020. The overall development is anticipated to be completed in 2025, with The Power Station itself expected to be open to the public for the first time in over 30 years in 2019.

Chimneys As mentioned above, reconstruction of the chimneys is part of the site plan, and in fact, is a significant part of the project, given that Battersea Power Station’s four chimneys are iconic structures that are instantly recognisable and a much-loved feature of London’s skyline.

However, following exhaustive surveys and testing by leading experts it was found that any refurbishment of the existing chimneys would only ever be a short-term fix and not actually prevent the chimneys from continuing to deteriorate.

Therefore, with the agreement of Historic England and the London Borough of Wandsworth, it was agreed that the chimneys would be dismantled and rebuilt, using the same techniques and materials, so that they will continue to dominate the skyline for generations to come.

Each new chimney will be visually identical to the original, the only difference being that the new chimneys will use a more modern pattern of steel reinforcement within the concrete.

Initially, work started on just the new South West chimney and October 2015 saw a major milestone reached in this aspect of the project, when it reached

a height of 25m above the highest point of the wash tower brickwork. This marked the halfway point, and meant that work could start to dismantle and rebuild the other three chimneys simultaneously.

Rob Tincknell, Chief Executive Officer at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), agreed: “Reaching the halfway point on the first chimney to be rebuilt is another significant milestone for everyone involved in the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. We are very proud of this achievement and with work to start soon on the other three chimneys, I would like to offer the teams on site every best wish for the rest of the project.”

Cllr Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, added: “These chimneys are a defining feature of the London skyline so as the local planning authority we have a profound duty of care to make sure the rebuilding process is a success. With each of these structures towering above the Power Station’s brickwork we also have to recognise that this is a truly unique engineering challenge.”

The rebuild process is to pour concrete into a set of wooden shutters measuring 1.22 metres in height. The concrete section or ‘lift’ as it is known is left to set for 24 hours and then the shutters are removed unveiling the new chimney surface. In total, running vertically through the concrete sections will be approximately 70 tonnes of steel reinforcement bars that are set into the concrete in two concentric rings.

With another 10m of new chimney lying inside the brick washtower, the South West chimney will be restored to its full height of 50m before the end of 2015. The rebuild programme that uses the same construction principles to ensure the new chimneys are rebuilt to be visually identical to the originals will conclude late summer 2016. Once

the rebuild work is completed, all four chimneys will then be painted. Until then the chimneys will remain in their grey concrete– fluted form as they did when they were first built. Paint scrapings have been taken to ensure that the new chimneys will then be repainted in the same original colour. Whilst the colour will look brighter initially, this is simply because the surface will not have weathered yet, which will affect the eventual shade.

The rebuild programme has been undertaken by a group of specialist contractors including construction managers Skanska, Beroa Bierrum and Buro Happold Engineering. BPSDC is working with Historic England and LBW throughout the process of redeveloping the Grade II* listed Power Station to open it up to the public.

Nigel Barker, Planning Group Director for London at Historic England concluded: “We are excited to see the delivery of this milestone stage. Our Historic Buildings Inspectors and Engineers have provided expert advice throughout the rebuild process so that the new chimneys match the originals as closely as possible. This demonstrates BPSDC’s commitment to the redevelopment of the Power Station which will safeguard its distinctive profile for the enjoyment of future generations of Londoners.”

For more information, visit

www.batterseapowerstation. co.uk/chimneys

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painting and decorating

The changing

landscape Jamie Barber discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the UK painting and decorating sector

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he first ever Skills Spending Index released this year confirmed that British consumers are collectively spending more than £72bn each year on skilled tradespeople. A major proportion of that spend includes residential decorating jobs that are serviced

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by the professional painter and decorator sector. However visit any DIY multiple around the nation on a weekend and chances are you will see that Britons’ penchant for DIY has not quite resulted in the slow death of DIY that some analysts have suggested. The tills are still very much ringing in the DIY sector.

But while the DIY market continues to be fairly static, trade has become increasingly brisk over 2015 in the ‘do it for me’ (DFM) market. Evidence suggests that time-poor individuals will certainly look to professionals for larger scale residential jobs or for specific projects that require professional application

and a high standard of finish.

Getting professional painters and decorators in to do a job is often seen as quicker and hassle-free.

Consumers are also keen to follow interior design, colour and painting trends such as the ombré inspired paint effect, which Dulux Trade forecast as a key look for 2016. Consequently, the trends indicate that Brits are leaving complex specialist interior paint techniques to a professional.

The professional paint market has seen significant growth in 2015 - driven by both domestic and commercial markets and growing to an output of 174.9 million litres. The commercial market in particular has benefited from sales in the house building industry, for which a broad breadth of colour and superior opacity is crucial within the paint ranges specified. Similarly, growth in the commercial market has also been fuelled by the education sector as specifiers for schools, colleges and universities tend

to choose high performance durable products to cope with the demands of high traffic. But rather interestingly, we have also seen an increasing blurring of lines between the domestic and trade paint markets as consumers who would traditionally purchase from retail channels are purchasing trade paints from specialist merchants. This is due in part to the quality of trade products, increased consumer decorating knowledge as well as a much better in-store customer experience and service, provided by merchants. Post-recession, the commercial paints market has cautiously regained its sense of confidence, reflected by activity in the construction industry rising for the tenth consecutive quarter in Q3, 2015 . Vigour in the housebuilding market has also fuelled double digit growth of ‘2nd quality emulsion’ segment, which in our case represents our lower quality paints that offer less durability, cover and opacity.

The painting and decorating industry is also seeing an increasing demand for value add services, which is reflected by a general trend throughout the construction industry and other sectors. Manufacturers are incentivising their customers with services that not only help their customers but ultimately the end user. Services increasingly being offered by brands such as Dulux Trade range from design services for both commercial and residential customers, project

management and consultancy to the creation of digital platforms that connect an approved decorator to consumer or commercial customers. These value added services offer efficient methods that not only help to further professionalise the industry and add weight to our customers’ businesses but enable our customers whether commercial or retail to transform their environments into beautiful living spaces.

All of this good news however does not hide the fact that the painting and decorating industry, like other critical sectors including the housebuilding industry, is facing a profound skills shortage with a lack of

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painting and decorating

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newly skilled trainees coming into the decorating profession. A growing number of large suppliers to the construction industry are vocalising their alarm at the shortage and depletion of skills - recent analysis of the situation suggests a shortage of 33,000 tradesmen in London and the south-east alone, while two thirds of construction firms claim they have turned down work because of a lack of resources. We are one of a few large companies who are taking the initiative to help prevent a situation where demand outstrips supply. We recognise

contractors and professional decorators who have traditionally used solvent-based paints to water-based products. There are encouraging signs that the nontraditionalists are bought into environmentally friendlier high performance products, reflecting consumers’ increasingly green consciousness. Lack of odour, the speed at which waterbased products dries and their durability are key attributes of water based products. The finished results from using water based products are as good as solvent based products including

that a shortage of skilled and professional decorators could exacerbate the UK’s housing shortage. So, we have opened a new academy in Slough, which will not only train those new to the industry but also develop and enhance the skills of established painters and decorators, in an attempt to reverse the reduction in the number of quality tradesmen in Britain.

One of the painting and decorating industry’s challenges is to transition building

the high level of gloss that can be achieved without the brush marks symptomatic of some solvent-based paints. We are hopeful that the painting and decorating industry will embrace the trend for water-based products, reflecting our desire to push the sustainability agenda even further forward.

Growing professionalisation and the development of new technologies that enable painters, decorators and building contractors to meet customer

demand quickly, cost-effectively without compromising quality mean that this group are reviewing their jobs through a more commercial lens. It is up to the industry to pull together and the responsibility of individual manufacturers to help the industry along, particularly to meet the challenges of a skills shortage. We are optimistic however that the challenges can be met head on and remain absolutely committed to doing our bit to help the industry continue to be fit for the future.

Jamie Barber is Senior Marketing Manager at Dulux Trade. One of the UK’s leading paint brands in the professional market and a champion of colour, Dulux Trade offers a comprehensive range of premium quality decorative finishes, exterior and specialist products. The company is committed to delivering brighter futures for its customers and industry by offering a range of innovative products and integrated design and specification services.

For more information, visit

www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk

construction disputes

In

agreement Common causes of construction disputes and how to resolve them By Lorna Carter and Umran Kadir

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he construction industry is well known for its fair share of disagreements and disputes. There are some common types of construction disputes and this article highlights them, as well as the methods that can be adopted to resolve these with minimal fuss.

Types of construction dispute Payments The most typical construction dispute is about money; in particular not being paid. Payment terms relating to commercial construction contracts are subject to the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration

Act 1996 as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2011 (known as the Construction Act). The Construction Act creates an entitlement to staged payments and prohibits pay-when-paid clauses. Non-payers must carefully follow the Construction Act’s requirements to provide formal notices known as ‘pay less’ notices allowing them to hold back payment on valid grounds. Failing to provide these notices on time gives the party requiring payment a relatively straightforward case in adjudication.

delays are not the fault of any party, such as inclement weather, but, in principle, damages would be recoverable from parties responsible for non-excusable delays. Sometimes these are preestimated and agreed in advance - these are known as liquidated and ascertained damages (LADs).

However, there are often disputes about the cause of the delay and who is responsible. Complex legal analysis and establishing what, if any, damages are payable will be required for concurrent delays.

These are delays, which run sideby-side for whom different parties are responsible.

Delays

Extensions of time

Delays are relatively common in construction projects. Some

Where there is a delay for which the Employer is responsible a

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construction disputes

contractor is entitled to apply for an extension of time avoiding LADs, subject to the terms of the contract. Care must be taken to comply with the contract terms in providing notice of the delaying event and such information is required by the contract in order to obtain the required extension.

later. Most construction contracts allow a contractor to return on site and rectify any defects during an agreed rectification period. Failure to allow the contractor to return during the rectification period could result in the Employer’s right to recover damages being significantly reduced.

Defects

Professional Negligence

Defective works can range in severity from pure snagging items to undetected structural issues that may only be discovered years

Professional negligence claims usually arise where an Employer is alleging that a consultant or contractor involved in a project

has carried out their design without due skill and care. In contracts for services where the professional is acting in the course of a business, if not expressly dealt with in the contract, it will be implied by the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 that their services will be carried out with reasonable skill and care, within a reasonable time and for a reasonable fee. It is possible to exclude or limit these duties, for example through net contribution clauses. We acted for the consumers in the first case on the enforceability of such clauses against consumers West v Ian Finlay & Associates (2014).

How to resolve?

Meetings It is often useful for the parties to meet in order to talk frankly about the dispute. It is important that those with sufficient knowledge and the necessary authority

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settle the dispute attend and, if a settlement is reached, the terms of agreement should be recorded in writing and signed by the parties to try to avoid misunderstandings. It is helpful for such meetings to be held on a ‘without prejudice’ basis so that the parties are free to make comments that may not be referred to in Court if a deal is not struck.

Mediation This is a confidential and nonadversarial form of dispute resolution. The mediator attempts to facilitate negotiation of the dispute to reach a resolution.

Parties will generally bear their own costs and share the mediator’s fees. Again, it is important that those with sufficient knowledge and the necessary authority to settle the dispute attend. If settlement is reached, the terms of agreement will be recorded in writing and the decision will be binding. Even

where a settlement is not reached, mediations tend to narrow the issues and the parties may well achieve a settlement later.

Adjudication Adjudication is a quick and confidential process. It is automatically available at any time for disputes where there is a ‘construction contract’ as defined by the Construction Act. The adjudicator must issue his decision in 28 days although this may be extended by agreement.

The successful party can seek a Court order to enforce the decision. In relation to costs, the parties pay their own but the adjudicator decides who is to pay his fees. Due to the fast nature of adjudication it is important to seek legal advice early on.

Court Action Court action can be a long and expensive process and, if not managed properly, the costs

can end up dwarfing the sum in dispute. There is a Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering disputes which means that the parties should exchange correspondence in a specified format and also meet on a without prejudice basis before issuing Court proceedings.

Court action is commenced once a claim form is served on the defendant. The dispute is then classified according to the sum claimed. For small claims (under £10,000), legal costs are not recoverable from the other side so parties tend to represent themselves. Reasonable legal costs are recoverable on fast and multi track claims but the Court will not usually award more than 70 per cent of costs to the successful party. Court action is a last resort.

Arbitration Sometimes the nominated dispute resolution procedure in a contract is arbitration. In our opinion this is best employed on large complex disputes where the parties intend to continue with their commercial relationship, as it provides a confidential procedure with an arbitrator who is generally a construction specialist. Again this should be seen as a last resort.

Lorna Carter and Umran Kadir work at law firm Hewitsons LLP. Hewitsons is an ambitious law firm that advises businesses, individuals, and institutions such as charities, educational bodies and parts of the public sector.

For more information about Hewitsons and its range of legal services for the construction sector visit:

www.hewitsons.com

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news

Project award winners

Award winning bridge

The ‘Allerton’ shed building project on the Loddington Estate in Leicestershire and the extensive building works at the Holkham Estate in Norfolk were handed first and second prizes for Best Rural Construction Project at the inaugural awards, held at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire. The Allerton Project won the category, while Holkham was named runner-up.

At Loddington, building works involved the transformation of a redundant brick-built cattle shed into a carbon-neutral visitor, training and community centre using a wide range of innovative renewable materials, with the aim of increasing visitor and training capacity at the estate, run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Runners-up The Holkham Estate showed a different string to its bow with a range of different construction projects showing commitment and respect for both the traditional and contemporary.

The estate’s redevelopment of a 50,000 square foot listed building was one of the projects which impressed judges, along with its commitment to renewable energy by saving 8786 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually through its 100 acre

The Second Penang Bridge in Malaysia has been awarded the 2015 Brunel Medal from The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in recognition of excellence in civil engineering.

At 24km, the Second Penang Bridge is the longest sea crossing in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and is one of the largest sea crossing projects in the recent history of bridge construction around the world.

The bridge is seismic resilient and tsunami resistant, and it will save lives in the future.

The project overcame a number of design and construction challenges, and used many innovative methods.

Durability planning, life cycle costing and carbon footprint minimisation underpinned all aspects of the project. ICE judges hailed the bridge a ‘vivid example of how civil engineering can overcome the merciless forces of nature and direct its resources to sustainable use.’

solar park. The panels produce enough power for more than 6000 homes but are well shielded so as to prevent visual impact on the North Norfolk countryside.

Meanwhile, extensive refurbishments on the estate’s property have been undertaken with the aim of allowing it to develop a non-farming income into the 21st century. London gilder Rupert Coke has overseen the restoration of the Green State Bedroom among other areas of the historic hall.

Multi-million pound innovation quarter The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) ambitious plan to develop a Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter in the city’s SA1 development has taken a major step forward following outline planning permission approval from the City and County of Swansea.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The plans put forward by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David are hugely impressive.

Together with Swansea University’s bay campus and plans for the world’s first tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, these plans have the potential to help transform the Fabian Way and SA1 area into a knowledge economy cluster that will complement the city centre’s regeneration, create new jobs and boost Swansea’s profile as a city of academic expertise that’s at the forefront of new research, development and technology. Projects of this nature will help raise economic prosperity across the Swansea Bay City Region as a whole and develop spin-off benefits for local residents and visitors through the introduction of new facilities and improved infrastructure.”

As a major part of the University’s multi-million pound investment in Swansea, UWTSD has acquired sizable areas of the remaining development land in the SA1 Waterfront area. The master plan includes proposals to develop purpose-built facilities for learning, teaching and applied research as well as social, leisure and wider recreational spaces.

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Hit the spot Charles Ellis, 35, from Sheffield, has created Plasterspot - a pack of coin-sized indicator stickers which are placed individually onto a plasterboard surface to mark drill points and hidden fixtures and use a dye which bleeds through the drying plaster once covered. A clear, welldefined spot is then left on the surface, indicating exactly where the drill point, joists or water and electrical feeds are.

Charles stated: “The idea is very simple but potentially revolutionary. The product is something tradespeople can carry with them very easily, but that will make a real difference when they’re working.”

Smart bins The Droitwich based Egbert Taylor Group, which includes prominent brands Taylor and Sellers, has united with Bigbelly Inc, the architect of the world’s leading smart waste and recycling system, in a strategic partnership.

The move combines Egbert Taylor Group’s heritage with Bigbelly’s approach to innovation in public space waste systems.

The move, which will see the Bigbelly UK sales and operations teams transfer across to the

Egbert Taylor Group, will drive growth for both brands.

Bigbelly’s smart waste and recycling system, which has been widely referred to as the ‘world’s most hi-tech bin’, gathers, consolidates and analyses data from its smart collection stations. It provides real-time fleet status, alerts and reports that help optimise operations while ensuring total waste containment.

This fully integrated system delivers a concise, up-to-theminute view of the entire waste and recycling footprint, helping to beautify space, streamline operations and contain costs.

The waste and recycling stations are the smart, solar-powered, street-tough hardware component of the Bigbelly system. The unique station compaction technology captures eight times more waste and recycling than traditional bins. Compaction, coupled with cloud connection, dramatically decreases collection frequency and enables customers to maintain its fleet with real-time updates.

One tonne fatberg Some retailers along Regent Street in London’s West End had reported drain problems, prompting Thames Water to send an emergency team from Lanes Utilities, part of Lanes Group, to investigate. They found that a block of fat and other debris weighing more than a tonne had built up at a critical point in the sewer that runs under Regent Street. This then caused wastewater to back up into some connecting drains.

In a three-hour operation, the team removed the fatberg and cleared the sewer, allowing it to run freely again, which cured drainage problems experienced by the retail businesses above.

Field Manager Craig May, who led Lanes Utilities’ fatberg-busting team, said: “This was a relatively small fatberg by the stands of some that we’ve discovered. But it was causing a nuisance, and had to be removed. We had to dig it out with shovels, and take the debris back to the manhole, where some of it could be vacuumed up to the surface using one of our jet vacuumation tankers. Larger lumps were lifted out in buckets.”

As Thames Water’s sole wastewater maintenance contractor, Lanes Utilities is regularly tasked with tackling fatbergs where, in London, specimens have been found weighing more than 15 tonnes and more than 100 metres in length.

Fatbergs are at the extreme end of a constant battle to keep drains and sewers running freely, with Lanes Group engineers clearing more than 300,000 blocked pipes for Thames Water every year.

New York noise A construction product designed and built in the UK has been credited with reducing noise in the world’s noisiest city. Echo Barrier, based in Sudbury, Suffolk, was commissioned

by The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and Judlau Construction to provide noise barriers to help reduce noise and disruption caused by construction of New York City’s Second Avenue Subway.

The Subway project aims to reduce congestion on the East Side Subway system, which currently lacks capacity to keep up with high demand.

Construction of the subway tunnels, which are located in Manhattan’s densely populated East side has been disruptive to neighbouring residents and businesses, and the team involved in project managing the development knew that noise reduction solutions were necessary.

Having seen the barriers in action in the World Trade Centre, they did not hesitate in bringing in Echo Barrier.

Peter Wilson who designed the barriers and who heads up the Echo Barrier technical team here in the UK is pleased that the barriers have been able to help reduce the noise coming from this significant transport development.

He said: “This is a really significant build in the heart of New York City. We know the barriers can do the job and they won’t let New Yorkers down. They are lightweight, easy to handle, sturdy in bad weather and very cost effective – perfect for this kind of noise problem.”

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heavy plant

Equipped for

success

With an encouraging pattern of growth in the European construction market during 2015 so far, IronPlanet has been capitalising on an increasing demand for used heavy equipment through a number of initiatives. We spoke to IronPlanet’s Vice President of European Sales, Felipe Fernández-Urrutia Massó, to find out more

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A

wave of strategic developments in 2015 so far mean that IronPlanet, the world’s leading auction marketplace for the buying and selling of used heavy equipment and trucks, has seen a significant rise in its European activity – a pattern that is set to continue throughout the rest of

the year and into 2016.

The combination of an increased demand for both the buying and selling of used heavy equipment, as well as the pursuit of new business opportunities as part of a carefully crafted global expansion strategy, means that there are exciting times ahead for both the company and its customers in Europe and beyond.

“The strongest markets in Europe are still Germany, the United Kingdom – which is flying at the moment – and France,” explained Felipe FernándezUrrutia Massó, Vice President of European Sales at IronPlanet.

“The Netherlands has picked up and has now surpassed Spain and Italy, and Belgium and Poland are showing promising signs too. The reality is that these economies are not yet close to a level experienced before the global economic crisis, but there has been a definite improvement.

“The performance of Europe’s construction industry in these key economic regions means that there is currently a strong demand for a number of machine types,” he continued. “For example, medium and small sized construction machines are working particularly well, such as mini excavators, wheel loaders, telehandlers and backhoe loaders.”

The nature of the construction industry means it is often an excellent means of gauging the state of a country’s economy.

As such, IronPlanet is in a prime position to monitor how and where to focus its attention, which ultimately benefits its huge volume of buying and selling customers. “We are a used marketplace selling used equipment. We have a 1.3 millionstrong user database and that is what drives the participation that drives the prices,” he continued.

“But if we feel that specific countries have a strong market at any given time – for example Poland, where we have a lot of

17

heavy plant

good buyers at the moment – we invest our resources into these countries accordingly. It means we can help our sellers to find the right buyers from the right locations.”

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But whilst fluctuating market trends dictate how IronPlanet’s core marketplace business operates, the organisation has spent 2015 implementing innovative strategies to take advantage of new demand opportunities: “Our most important strategic developments in 2015 have been IronPlanet’s merger with Caterpillar Auction Services and our activity as the equipment disposition partner for the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) here in Europe.” explained Felipe.

“Caterpillar Auction Services (CAS) was an independent company in the United States set up by a number of large Caterpillar dealers,” he added.

“IronPlanet has merged with CAS and we will be using that brand to help our user-base participate in high-scale, onsite Caterpillar auctions via our own online auction facilities.

Many international Caterpillar dealers have already decided to participate, and it is now something that we are confident of replicating here in Europe.”

The partnership puts IronPlanet in the unique position of being directly and deeply integrated with one of the most renowned construction equipment manufacturers in the world.

In addition to the CAS merger, IronPlanet forged an agreement with the United States Department of Defense and its Defense Logistics Agency to act as its equipment disposition partner both in the U.S and Europe. The partnership means that IronPlanet will offer registered auction participants

with the opportunity to purchase used U.S. equipment from an American military base in Germany. “We hosted the inaugural DLA auction in Europe in July and the audience has been huge – over 40,000 attendees, from military equipment enthusiasts to construction companies. It was extremely impressive and obviously the DLA is very happy. That is why we will soon be selling equipment out of more U.S. bases across Europe, including in the UK and additional bases across Germany.”

Felipe is confident that the early promise of this first auction will help IronPlanet to attain similar partnerships in Europe in the near future: “The success at this early stage will be very helpful for us because organisations will begin to appreciate just how big an audience we can attract and how much demand there is for this kind of equipment,” he said.

“It means the operation will not just be limited to the U.S. military – other militaries will be motivated to work with us as a disposition partner, but also organisations like the U.N and even from the public sector. That is what we are working on in the coming months and we are looking forward to achieving some great results.”

In addition to these latest developments, Felipe is keen to emphasise that a strong focus will continue to be placed on the development of IronPlanet’s relationships with some of the largest contracting and rental companies that operate on the continent, including Vinci and Bouygues: “The services we can offer are fantastic for these types of seller,” he said. “We have different platforms and different routes to the market, be it through our monthly feature auctions or our reserve-auction Daily Marketplace. This combined with the special marketing campaigns we can offer makes IronPlanet

The partnership puts IronPlanet in the unique position of being directly and deeply integrated with one of the most renowned construction equipment manufacturers in the world

an extremely attractive equipment disposition option for these larger companies.”

For IronPlanet so far in 2015, ambitious expectations have been met with exceptional application and the business looks certain to continue its evolution in Europe and beyond. “As a business we have been working extremely hard, but all of these developments and initiatives mean that IronPlanet is an exciting company to be involved with right now,” concluded Felipe. “However the real winners here will be our customers. They are the ones who will be able to experience an unrivalled level of all round opportunity and service in both the buying and disposition of used equipment.”

IronPlanet is the leading online marketplace for used heavy equipment and an innovative participant in the multi-billion dollar heavy equipment auction market. Since 2000, IronPlanet has sold over $4 billion of used equipment online and has built a database of more than 1.3 million registered users worldwide.

For more information please visit:

www.ironplanet.com

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news

© the York Rizzani De Eccher joint venture

Tunnel refurbishment completed

Spanning the Swan Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the York Rizzani De Eccher joint venture to verify the design of the structural, waterway and drainage elements of a new pedestrian bridge over the Swan River in Perth, Australia.

The AU$54.1M steel footbridge will connect East Perth with the Perth Stadium at Burswood, providing year round access across the river for residents and visitors. The new bridge will

comprise three bowstring arches, the largest standing 65m tall, and will be 400m long, with a central span of 165m. It is expected that 700 tonnes of steel and 1.5km of cables will be used during its construction.

More than 14,000 people are expected to cross the bridge on capacity event days when the new 60,000seat stadium opens in 2018.

The footbridge will be operational in early 2017.

Self-healing concrete The first major trial of self-healing concrete in the UK, led by a team of researchers from Cardiff University, is being undertaken at a site in the South Wales Valleys. The project, entitled Materials for Life (M4L), is piloting three separate concrete-healing technologies for the first time in real-world settings, with a view to incorporating them into a single system that could be used to automatically repair concrete in the built environment.

The first technique uses shape-shifting materials, known as shape-memory polymers, to repair large cracks in concrete, in the second technique, researchers will pump both organic and inorganic healing agents through a network of thin tunnels in the concrete to help repair damage, and in the third technique, the team will embed tiny capsules, or lightweight aggregates, containing both bacteria and healing agents into the concrete. It is anticipated that once cracks occur, these capsules will release their cargos and, in the case of the bacteria, the nutrients that will enable them to function and produce calcium carbonate, which the researchers envisage will heal the cracks in the concrete.

The overall aim of the Cardiff-led project is to develop a single system that can be embedded into concrete when it is initially set, and then automatically sense when damage occurs. Once damage is detected, the system will be able to repair itself autonomously without the need for human intervention.

The trial is being undertaken in collaboration with one of the major industrial partners on the project, Costain, and is taking place at one of their construction sites on the Heads of the Valleys road improvement scheme in South Wales – the A465.

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Transport for London (TfL) has completed a major refurbishment of the Fore Street Tunnel, in north London. Since April 2015, TfL and its contractors, BAM Nuttall, have been working overnight to carry out a range of improvements to the tunnel, ensuring it can remain usable for decades to come. The work included installing new waterproofing within the tunnel - with more than 30 tonnes of pre-cast concrete wall slabs and 70 tonnes of poured concrete used to help put an end to the on-going problem of leaking water within the structure. Repairs were also made to equipment damaged by leaking water.

The existing lighting within the tunnel was upgraded to long-life LEDs, lowering energy consumption by 40 per cent and reducing future maintenance costs.

Nick Fairholme, Director of Projects & Programmes for Surface Transport at TfL, said: “Safety for all road users is a top priority for us and the water issues within the structure, which have been present since the tunnel was built in the 1990s, posed a real threat to the long-term operation of the tunnel. Thanks to the great work and effort put in by the engineers, we’ve now modernised this tunnel in a timely manner, with minimal disruption to journeys.”

The project team also worked closely with Brettenham Primary School in Edmonton, repairing and re-paving the playground so it can be enjoyed by its pupils for years to come.

profile: Machine Mart

The unmatched With one of the widest ranges of equipment available in one place, Machine Mart founds its success on the robust service it provides to customers

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prominent player on the UK market for over 30 years now, Machine Mart is arguably Britain’s biggest specialist supplier of tools and machinery. With over 7000 products on display and a further 10,000 available online, the company prides itself on the extensive range and depth of its offering, which remains unmatched by any competitor.

“We are considered the Aladdin’s Cave of tools and machinery,” says Advertising Manager, David Barnes. “We have a huge range of items out on display, not just in a storeroom or listed in a catalogue.

So when a customer comes into one of our superstores they can see everything in front of them.”

Headquartered in Nottingham, Machine Mart currently has stores in over 65 locations across the country, serving markets relating to everything from construction all the way through to the automotive sector, targeted to both the DIY enthusiast and industrial user alike. Mainstream brands supplied from the company include Clarke, DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi and Bosch amongst many more. “Unlike many of

our competitors, who may only stock a selection of models from a particular category, we will have up to 10 or 20 models on display for the customer to select from,” continues David. “We then have a very knowledgeable and dedicated workforce on hand to discuss the particular requirements of each individual and advise on the best and most appropriate product accordingly.”

With such an extensive range on offer, well-trained and experienced staff are key to delivering the strong service Machine Mart has become known for. “We recruit on the basis that the person has experience and a particular interest in the products that we are providing,” adds David. “Many of them will come from the industries we serve, or will be running their own DIY projects at home, so understand the types of challenges faced by customers and have developed a specialist knowledge of the best solutions available to them.

Underlying all of this is a passion for the products and the industry, and this goes a long way in

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profile: Machine Mart

serving our customers.”

With this in mind, it is clear that having such a large and widereaching product offering is not the sole focus of Machine Mart and that service is just as highly ranked. “We of course ensure that we provide this technical and support service during the sales process, but we also make sure to continue these well into the aftersales service,” explains David.

“We have a full range of spares and additional equipment in stock to support the products that we sell, something that is particularly celebrated considering some of the highly specialist and unique tools that we provide. We then have a team of fully trained engineers who can provide repairs and service products to prolong operational lifetimes on equipment that sees heavy use day-in and day-out.”

Keen to offer as wide a range as possible, Machine Mart has established strong channels beyond its physical stores with a widely distributed and wellreceived catalogue, a thriving mail order department and successful website. “Our catalogue is updated and published twice a year with each product selection and page design crafted to suit the needs of our customers in the best way possible,” explains David.

“This is a valued and well received part of our business and is a great way to engage with the customer base – we become very busy over these catalogue launch periods.”

Whilst listing all equipment available in store, Machine Mart’s website makes available a much wider range of highly specialised, and sometimes exclusive, products through its Machine Mart Xtra section. Displaying everything from material handling solutions and protective clothing, to industrial furniture and 3D printing systems, this website is an essential source of equipment for any construction or industrial need. The company’s excellent reputation for service successfully crosses the bridge into this sphere as well, with a 24-hour order service and the ability to export worldwide. Illustrating this level of service, Machine Mart currently

holds an independent Trust Pilot rating of 9.2 from a total of nearly 10,000 reviews.

“Combining all of these elements is where our core strength comes from,” David says.

“It’s the vast range and depth of our products, including the specialist items, combined with an unrivalled service across all our channels that gives us an edge in the market.” With such a solid foundation beneath it, Machine Mart is currently enjoying continued success from the UK’s buoyant housing market, and is also experiencing positive trends in other markets such as classic car restoration.

Supported by strong and long-standing supplier relationships with many of the industry leaders and specialists, Machine Mart has successfully built up a robust and reputable position within the market over the last four decades. By continuing to remain committed to the core values of product range and customer service that have been key to earning such success, the company looks forward to a long future of further expansion and growth.

Machine Mart www.machinemart.co.uk Services: Leading UK supplier of power tools, machinery and workshop equipment 23

profile: Construction Materials Online

A new

venture Construction Materials Online, has in a relatively short period of time, shown the success that can be achieved by presenting their business online rather than taking the traditional route to market

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ounded in 2008, Construction Materials Online (CMO) was the concept of the four directors whose combined experience in the roofing sector stretches back over 30 years. Having established strong partnerships through traditional routes to market, both in their own ventures and prior to this working for major

national companies, the team established the first solely onlinebased merchant targeting the construction sector. Its first foray into e-commerce was Roofing Superstore™, the company’s leading brand. Since its launch Roofing Superstore™ has grown to provide an unrivalled offering of materials and is now the UK’s largest online roofing merchant. Still adapting to the unique mechanics of online trade, CMO has since launched Drainage Superstore™ in 2014 and Insulation Superstore™ in 2015.

“The initial concept was to give trade and DIY customers the same sort of experience that they got if they went to a specialist traditional merchant, whilst reaching out to them through new channels,” begins Rob Kavanagh, MD of CMO. “We were the first to do this in the construction industry and we are quite unique in that most of our competitors still have a traditional base. We have a large customer service team and hold a minimal amount

of stock, very different from traditional setups.”

With their experience in the traditional merchant industry, the management at CMO immediately saw the advantages of online commerce. “Because of our unique business model we are able to offer a far broader range of products to the customer than a traditional merchant,” Rob explains. “We don’t have access to any products that other merchants are unable to buy, but without the constraints of imposed stock levels (we only stock items that the manufacturers are unwilling to split, the rest being delivered direct) we are able to offer 100 per cent of any manufacturers product range rather than just five to ten per cent. This offers a far great choice to the consumer depending on their own preference and drivers rather than what is in the warehouse.”

Rob also points out that the suppliers, who were previously looking to join the online market

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profile: Construction Materials Online

but couldn’t gain access directly without affecting relationships with its merchant suppliers, have generally welcomed this model. “It’s more stable for them, as traditional merchants show no brand loyalty. For them it all comes down to price. The customer led environment of the online platform offers a level playing field for manufacturers,” he highlights. “Some manufacturers have really grasped the opportunity that we present and with their partnership our business has grown phenomenally.

Some have even adapted their own business to suit our model.”

At the top of CMO’s priorities lies customer service and Rob

is keen to point out that this is key not only to a merchant in the construction industry, but also key for any internet business. “In an e-commerce environment, customers don’t always expect to be able to pick up the phone and get solid technical advice but here at CMO they can. Our customer service team all undergo training and can deal with any enquiry.

Customers are always impressed by this,” he says. “Whilst pricing is important to customers, it is not the most important thing. It is often the hook to get people in, but it’s the service that keeps them coming back. Our unique business model allows us to keep our overheads low, thereby retaining a competitive edge whilst still providing a quality service.”

Exemplifying this level of service, at the time of writing Roofing Superstore™ has a rating of 9.3/10 from of over 4000

reviews on the independent Trust Pilot platform. “We were very nervous about using this service at first as we were unsure about how it would be utilised, but it is used in a very positive way,” Rob comments. “Nobody is infallible and we do of course get negative comments on there from time to time. We always react to these with the appropriate response, making sure we resolve any issues arising. We want to show people that we care and we believe this will secure our success in the future, more than aggressive pricing strategies.”

As Rob explains there are an abundance of opportunities online, to the point where CMO has to carefully prioritise which ones to pursue. New brands such as Drainage Superstore™ and Insulation Superstore™ are born out of new synergies with existing suppliers keen to broaden their online presence with the company.

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profile: Construction Materials Online

“The challenge is convincing new suppliers of the opportunities presented by e-commerce, and how we manage those opportunities in partnership,” explains Rob. “There is an element of trust that goes both ways; they have to trust that we deliver what we promise, and we have to trust that they will deliver the service that we require. As this trust grows, so too does our business and our relationships with those suppliers.”

opportunities facing us and lots of ideas to make the most of them.”

Exciting times lie ahead for CMO and by being pioneers in the construction market as far as e-commerce is concerned; the company has proven its

viability through the success it has achieved. With a particular focus on improving the customer experience and accelerating growth; something that will be helped by the recent acquisition of digital media agency DV8 Media; the company has a positive outlook as it plans to expand its online presence over the coming years. CMO is also currently investing in a major expansion and re-modelling of its offices in order to accommodate its growing customer service team and maintain its high levels of customer satisfaction.

Construction Materials Online Ltd www.constructionmaterialsonline. co.uk Services: Online builder’s merchant

CMO is always looking at new opportunities in the construction sector. “Our vision looking ahead is to continue developing our existing brands as much as possible, as well as building the relationships and gaining the support to launch new brands,” concludes Rob. “We have lots of

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profile: Spencer Group

High

climbers

Already well established as an engineering specialist with a number of high profile bridge projects under its belt, Spencer Group continues to deliver quality, world-class solutions to compliment its robust reputation

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s one of the UK’s biggest privately owned multidisciplinary engineering businesses, Spencer Group has established itself a robust reputation for providing innovative engineering solutions for the transport, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors.

With a history of repeat work and collaborative relationships, the group has become renowned for its open and honest policy as well as its ability to drive innovation and high-quality into any project.

From this history comes a unique expertise and breadth of experience that means Spencer’s team of industry leaders can provide solutions to clients at any stage of the project life cycle, always looking for the best and most cost effective way to carry out a job.

What really gives Spencer a competitive edge in the market is its wide-reaching, in-house design skill set, which covers civil, structural, mechanical, electrical,

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control, instrumentation and rail systems competence. This offering is particularly strengthened when the company is able to mobilise multiple disciplines in one project and over the last year alone the company has successfully demonstrated its world leading ability to deliver complex projects on two of the most prestigious suspension bridges in the world.

Earlier this year Spencer successfully completed a critical project to maintain the structural integrity of the Humber Bridge, which was the longest of its kind when opened 34 years ago. The £4 million project, which was vital to the long-term safety of the bridge, was a highly complex challenge to replace the four A-frames that connect the main span of the bridge to the towers at either end. Alongside design partners, Arup, the team first installed temporary load-bearing arms before transferring the load to a permanent pendel and wind shoe system, which is designed to protect the new installation from challenging wind pressures.

Significantly, all work was carried out whilst the bridge remained fully operational and its successful completion helps further cement Spencer’s reputation for delivering complex high-level bridge works.

“The delivery of this project gives the Humber Bridge security in its support bearing systems for many years to come,” explains Nick Cooper, Technical Director at Spencer. “It also highlighted the multi-disciplinary expertise within the business, as it required the ability to integrate different disciplines, from hydraulics, to mechanics, to structure, while working in a very confined space.”

Contract Project Manager, Daniel Smith, added: “It’s been very much a team effort, with lots of ideas coming forward from within the Spencer team and Arup colleagues to address the many complex issues this project posed.

People within the team have come up with ways to work efficiently and cost-effectively to deliver the best possible results.”

The importance of this project on the Humber Bridge has been widely recognised throughout the industry. As such the programme was awarded the Smeaton Award for projects between £500,000 and £5m at the Institution of Civil Engineer’s annual Yorkshire and Humber awards. It was also short-listed for the highly coveted UK Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award at the British Construction Industry Awards 2015.

Further illustrating Spencer’s unrivalled abilities when it comes to highly complex bridge works, in October 2015 the company successfully completed the world’s largest bridge cables anticorrosion project on Denmark’s East Bridge. Part of the giant Great Belt network, which links the east and west parts of the country, the Eastern Bridge is currently the third largest suspension bridge in the world with a span of 1.6km. The 18month, £8 million project required

RBC Lubron Bearings

Spencer to once again deploy its broad expertise to install 105,000 metres of protective wrap to six kilometres of cable, each 83cm wide in diameter.

To achieve the project, Spencer had to mobilise its own innovative and trademarked Cable Crawler gantry platforms, a traversing system that enables the negotiation of the cable infrastructure without returning the gantries to the bridge deck, therefore eliminating the need for lane closures after initial installation and the subsequent removal. As such, the entire project was successfully delivered with zero accidents and without disruption to the bridge’s 31,000 daily vehicle crossings.

“Every bridge project has its own unique set of challenges,” highlights Project Manager,

RBC Lubron Bearings designed and manufactured custom LUBRON TF spherical plain bearings and supplied them to Spencer Group for installation in the Humber Bridge. The bearings are self-lubricating and maintenance free. They allow for rotation and misalignment of the main span replacement A-frame’s. The LUBRON TF material within each bearing is able to withstand an extremely high load whilst providing a low coefficient of friction that allows the bearings to move easily, minimising the forces induced into the structure. RBC Lubron Bearings also tested the bearings to ensure the enhanced performance and quality that will provide for extended design life.

Andy Macdonald. “However, this was a major step up and on a different scale from any of those we have previously undertaken. Throughout the project we worked very closely and collaboratively with the client, who was highly supportive and understanding of the complexities and challenges involved.

Ultimately, it was a brilliant team effort, which demonstrated the technical capability within the Spencer business and our commitment to deliver a painstaking project to exceptional levels of quality.” Lars Fuhr Pederson, Technical Director for A/S Storebælt, the client for the project, commended Spencer’s competence saying: “We have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Spencer because of their diligent and committed

approach and the high standard of their work.”

The complexities and challenges posed by such high level and safety critical projects only serves to demonstrate the world-class expertise Spencer retains within its business. Crucially, successful and safe completion of both helps the company secure its position amongst some of the world’s leading and most specialist engineering groups. With these two projects, plus a range of other high-level bridge works, behind it the company is now actively pursuing further bridge maintenance projects in the UK and across Europe.

Spencer Group www.thespencergroup.co.uk Services: Leading engineering specialist

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Traffic Safety Officer Services Ltd 12a Westpoint Enterprise Park Clarence Avenue Trafford Park Manchester M17 1QS Mobile: 0771 4015821 Phone: 08456 801 802 Fax: 0161 848 9299 Email: info@tsoservices.uk.com

Traffic Safety Services Ltd was established in March 2012. Since its inception, we have grown our client base on a foundation of reliable service and highly experienced operatives of all grades.

These range from Traffic Safety and Control Officers to LANTRA qualified one day operatives.

The company has grown year on year to be one of the most recognised traffic management recruitment companies in the industry. We have been striving to bring on board new clients each year and currently provide operatives on a national scale from Southampton to Newcastle.

Our comany has been working on its new induction and vetting process for the labour provided to the industry. This will ensure full compliance is achieved with all new health and safety requirements requested, from some of the leading traffic management companies we support. The new process will be implemented in the New Year with all current workforce completed as part of their annual review.

We have been working over the past two years on a bespoke automated online booking system called TOAST. TOAST was rolled out in october 2014 and has received excellent reviews from all our clients that use the system. There have been a number of of developments with the system in the first year to keep it well ahead of its competition. The system holds all of the workers qualifications which can be accessed by any supervisor or auditor, at any time, from any smart device or via the TOAST App. It holds all shifts worked on a calender, so the working patterns of the operatives can be interrogated, assessed and monitored. The system searches for the best qualified operatives for the roles uploaded to the system, highlights them to the operators in seconds, and with thier availability already preloaded into the system by each candidate, positions can be filled in seconds rather than hours. The TOAST system has all the business rules built into the search parameters, so it will not allow any double shifting across clients, contracts or shifts (days & nights). The system also has a very clever “Flag� system which can archive any operative and remove them from the search parameters for a variety of reasons and timescales for such things as failing to attend site on a regular basis, Bad working attitude, Expired qualifications or failed drug and alcohol test, which will enroll the operative in our rehabilitation programme. We also have a number of new developments that will be released in the New Year to agian keep the system far out in front.

We are now also developing our fully accredited Lantra training centre. Our growing number of assessors have been busy looking at all of the operatives assiciated with our company for development prospects. This is allowing us to assist people to move up through the grades, and assist in supplying a larger number of the higher skill grades required in the industry as it expands, thus assisting with our client’s ever growing needs. In the coming year we hope that we will be able to assist our clients with the training of their own employees as the demand for more qualified and versatile workforce presents itself.

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profile: TMCA

Safety

first The TMCA continues to play a leading role as the traffic management industry looks towards a future of zero accidents

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ormed in 1989 with the encouragement and support of the DfT, the Traffic Management Contractors Association (TMCA) has spent the last two decades working closely with its industry to overcome the challenges of maintaining high safety standards for workers and the general public at major traffic management sites. Sharing Highways England’s ‘zero accidents’ goal, health and safety informs the main activities of the TMCA and over the years the organisation has been instrumental in driving improved safety throughout the industry.

Whilst the organisation only has 13 members, they account for 90 per cent of the major works carried out on the Highways England

Above This no longer happens on the carriageways

network.

“We’ve been going now for 26 years and over that time we have built up a level of trust and encouragement with the industry and have always been at the forefront of the practices that have been introduced,” begins long-serving Chairman and now Secretary of the TMCA, Richard Pearson. “Just over a decade ago the ‘roadworks’ industry was going through a very bad time and there were 11 deaths in one year. This resulted in an industrywide crackdown from the HSE, and since then a number of safety forums have been set up, many of which have covered traffic, to which we have had a major input, with a goal to improve these figures.”

As such, the general trend for these figures has been positive and in 2014 only two worker fatalities occurred on UK’s roads, neither of which involved traffic management operatives. In fact in 2007 and 2011, no deaths were reported. “The introduction of these new safety forums changed the industry beyond

recognition,” continues Richard.

“The IPVs (Impact Protection Vehicles) that you see on the roads now, for instance, weren’t in existence back then. It is a fact that working on the highways is dangerous and some things are easier to safeguard than others when operators are working within a few feet of live traffic.

The slightest thing can go wrong to put workers at risk and we continue to do everything we can to minimise these risks as much as possible through various initiatives.”

One such initiative that Richard points out as being highly effective is the removal of central reservation traffic management signage for overnight ‘relaxed’ works. “It was only very recently that operatives were still crossing carriageways on foot to put out signs on the central reservations,” he says. “We have now helped implement a change in procedure that eliminates the need for anybody to cross. This is part of the wider strategy that no operative is to be on the carriageway on foot at all, unless

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profile: TMCA

protected by an IPV. We are also now in the process of removing road danger lamps so that workers don’t have to be placing lamps right next to the traffic.

There are initiatives like this being trialled by various TMCA member contractors at present.”

One other area where the TMCA has been keenly focused at present is on labour. “We have been setting up a system to record the testing and results of drug and alcohol tests,” outlines Richard.

“Unfortunately, we identified a steady rate of failures month on month so this is a problem we are working to improve.” One solution currently being supported by the association is the introduction of a worker’s passport, similar to the type of system operated in the rail industry, whereby a worker’s training, testing and work is recorded.

As Richard points out: “At present an operative can fail a drugs test one day and then go to work on the roads for another company the next. However with this system if they fail a test, it is recorded and that keeps them from going back on the road. This

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isn’t in our hands as it is ultimately the decision of Highways England, but we are keen to support it as it will be a big step forward for the industry as a whole.”

Another initiative being managed by the TMCA to protect the safety and rights of labour is its Labour Agency Charter, which came into affect on 1st October 2015, and requires all members to use only the approved agencies that have signed the charter.

The charter lays out 11 points to be followed by a labour agency covering everything from training, development and employee rights, to equal opportunities, drug use and disciplinary procedures. So far, the TMCA has 39 agencies signed up to the charter and Richard is keen to bring more on board in order to provide a wide network of support and protection for both employees and employers.

Over its time in the industry TMCA has consistently proven itself to play a prominent role in representing its members and ensuring safety is continually driven throughout the country, and its vision for the future is

unfaltering in this approach.

“It’s about making sure there is a better, well-trained workforce out there, and ensuring the procedures are there to protect them whilst working on the roads,” says Richard. “Safety and best practice in the industry are what the TMCA is all about and this will continue well into the future.” Highways England currently aims to achieve a target of a 40 per cent reduction in the number of KSIs (those killed or seriously injured) on its network by 2020 with a vision to cut this to as close to zero as possible by 2040. In such an unpredictable and risk-laden working environment this is a big challenge, and the dedication of the industry, illustrated by the TMCAs commitments, will be key to achieving this.

Traffic Management Contractors Association www.tmca.org.uk Services: Association supporting safety and best practice within the traffic management industry

profile: A1 Flue Systems

Road to

success Occupying a leading position in the commercial and industrial segments, A1 Flue Systems has amassed a portfolio of iconic projects and now sets its sights on the domestic market

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ith 42 years of successful trading behind it, familyowned, multiaward winning A1 Flue Systems has grown to become a true leader in its field.

Employing a dedicated team of 134 people, the company specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of tailor made flue systems, and has established an unrivalled project portfolio of high profile projects across the UK. “We cover a wide range of projects from small, local projects of values as little as £6000 and supply right up to the top end at about £250,000,” highlights Contract and Manufacturing Director, John Hamnett. “In 2014 alone we completed just over 5000 projects, with up to 400 live contracts running at any one time.”

Predominantly a manufacturing business, the company employs a team of 45 manufacturing and 20 engineering staff to cope with this demand, and deploys 16 of its own install teams across the company to deliver the systems to a high specification. “With this team behind us our strength is in the fact that we only offer bespoke solutions,” John continues. “We manufacture and tailor make every system to meet every client’s needs and the specific site requirements. Whilst many of our European competitors try to fit standard systems into buildings, we have established a reputation for doing the opposite – designing around the buildings.”

Amongst its growing list of projects, A1 has supplied systems to many of the iconic London structures including the Shard, where the company successfully installed a fleet of seven flue structures serving three boilers, two generators and two CHP systems, whilst ensuring longevity and ease of access. The Leadenhall building, 20 Fenchurch Street, most buildings on the Canary Wharf

complex, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament also feature, as well as a number of ongoing developments across the capital. Elsewhere, the company has supplied to the recently completed Birmingham New Street Station redevelopment and Glasgow Law Courts projects.

Presently, the company is involved in the ongoing development of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station. “We have been linked to this project since 2008 and whilst the programme has been knocked back a number of times, we have continued to maintain our involvement,” explains John.

“As a result we were recently awarded a contract to provide some temporary flues whilst the

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profile: A1 Flue Systems

chimneys are being rebuilt as well as designing and putting a specification together for the permanent system.”

Complementing A1’s offering is its specialism in flue dilution systems, for which it has demonstrated a leading capability to deliver across Europe. “We have successfully won and completed a number of large projects that are of a scale and design complexity that our competitors haven’t been able to rival,” notes John. “For example, we worked on a very big fan dilution system on Twickenham stadium, which we were awarded because we were the only company that put forward a compatible quotation.

Likewise, we have just completed a large dilution system in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt. Again, despite tendering across Europe, we came out as the only compliant tenderer that put forward a suitable and viable option for them to go with.”

In its bid to diversify and maintain its position at the top of the industry, A1 Flue Systems has recently made some significant strategic moves to expand and enhance its offering to the market. Firstly is a partnership with natural ventilation providers, Monodraught. John explains: “We worked as a supplier to Monodraught a number of years ago when they offered flue systems as well as natural ventilation but as they moved away from flues the relationship

Monodraught Monodraught and A1 Flue Systems have signed a partnership agreement in a bid to increase the use of natural daylight and natural ventilation systems in schools, offices, hotels and public buildings across England and Wales.

Both A1 Flue Systems and Monodraught have high hopes for the partnership and have identified opportunities that could result in more than £500,000 of orders in the coming months.

fizzled out. Then, recently they approached us because they could see an opportunity where we could open up each other’s channels and offer a complete heating and ventilation package to the market by working together.

There are a lot of synergies to be had here and we hope to see some positive development as we move forward.”

In addition to this, in October 2015, A1 announced the launch of its new, standalone business, A1 Expo Ltd, in partnership with Italian stainless steel giant, Expo Inox. Specialising in flue systems from 125mm to 200mm for installers of small-scale chimney systems and wood-burning stove retailers, A1 Expo is the company’s first foray into the domestic market.

“A1 Flue Systems is firmly established as the UK market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of commercial and industrial chimney, flue and exhaust systems – but we have long harboured ambitions of being equally dominant in the domestic market,” highlights A1 Director, TJ Duncan-Moir. “To make a success of it, we needed to partner with an industry heavyweight, and Expo Inox fitted the bill perfectly.” Supplying a range of products from twin and single-wall flue systems, cowls and chimney fans, to core vents, stove fans and carbon monoxide detectors, the venture has ambitions of joining its parent

companies as a market leader.

The market for A1 has been challenging over the past 18 months as the economy still recovers from a long recession and John notes that during this period the company faced tough competition from cheaper, European suppliers. “This appears to be bouncing back now,” he comments. “Whilst we never really dropped the amount of work during the period, we were facing more cost pressure, which has alleviated now that we are winning more quotedvalue contracts.” Securing the company’s continued success is its ability to stand apart from the competition and offer highly technical, cutting edge solutions, which appear to be favoured in a market that is recovering from a period of cost-sensitivity.

With new market opportunities opening up as a result of careful strategic planning, allowing A1 Flue Systems to make inroads to new customer bases, and recovering market conditions, John is clear that the company is still as focused as ever on its core industries. “Looking ahead we are keen to carry on with more of the same,” he says. “We know where we come from and we know what we’re good at. We have established a reputation for the large, bespoke projects so we will be securing more of these, but at the same time we will continue with our smaller jobs, as these are vital to the business’s continued success on a day-to-day basis.

We believe that we are leaders in what we do, but being leaders and staying leaders are two different things so we have to focus on maintaining this position.”

A1 Flue Systems www.a1flues.co.uk Services: Leading specialists in the design and manufacture of bespoke flue systems 37

profile: Marshall Construction

Relationships

that last With a long history of successful projects behind it, Marshall Construction has positioned itself at the front of the Scottish construction industry by paying close attention to both the diversity of its offering and commitment to its clients and partners

F

ounded in 1983, Marshall Construction has quickly developed into one of Scotland’s leading independent building contractors. With a diverse customer base and wide reaching service offering, the company delivers jobs ranging from just £50 right up to £20 million. With every key trade represented within its staff force, the experience and competence of Marshall, combined with its unique commitment to employment and apprenticeships, provides the company its core strength. As such, the contractor has amassed an impressive

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project portfolio over its history in the industrial, commercial, retail, healthcare, education, sport and residential sectors. In order to cope with such a diverse offering, the company is split into a number of separate divisions: contracts, general building, plant and fleet, scaffolding and homes.

At the heart of Marshall is its desire to deliver client satisfaction and quality throughout all aspects of the construction process from general advice to hand over. Developing strong relationships with its clients is key to the company’s success, both in terms of understanding and delivering to the precise needs of a client and also its own growth aspirations. This has been realised recently with the awarding of the company’s biggest win to date.

In October 2015 and at a value of £17.8 million, Marshall was awarded the contract from Chivas Brothers Ltd to build 14 warehouses on its site in Willowyard, Beith – a site the company is familiar with having delivered work there

for more than a decade. Due to be expedited over a period of 120 weeks, the construction programme has been uniquely designed to suit the client’s needs.

“We demonstrated an impressive approach to the projects, as we had a clear ability to address the challenges of the current site, resulting in the best cost and programme outcomes,” explains Contracts Manager, Stephen Walker. “Above all, we are excited about continuing our relationship with Chivas Brothers and Charles Scott and Partners.”

Robert Marshall, Managing Director at Marshall goes on to add: “We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work at Willowyard again.

When we started talking to Charles Scott and Partners following our tender submission it was clear that they shared the same belief that partnership working is the way forward in selecting the best skills for the job – this is what differentiates us in the marketplace. Marshall Construction continues to deliver first class projects even when up against stiff competition and we are delighted that this is our largest contract win to date.”

Another significant moment in the company’s growth was reached in September with the signing of a National Framework Agreement with Whitbread plc, owners of Premier Inn across the UK and Ireland. Initially allocated three extension projects for Premier Inn properties in Cambuslang, Stepps and East Kilbride, the opportunity of the framework for Marshall is tremendous. “The sheer scale and volume of work required by this framework means that a dedicated contract management team has been formed to ensure that each project is delivered to the agreed standard and programme of the client.”

Whilst demonstrating the company’s flexibility to deliver

Thornbridge Sawmills Ltd large-scale programmes, the framework once again reflects Marshall’s strength of forming successful working relationships with its clients. As Business Development Manager, Gareth Bland, explains: “We are very proud to have been selected as a trusted construction partner

by Whitbread and look forward to furthering our relationship over the next few years. As a business we always strive to achieve consistency in the service delivery and administration of our contracts, across all our operating divisions and we are confident that Whitbread will be happy with our work ethic and finished product.”

In July 2015, Marshall commenced work on another project that aptly demonstrates its diverse competencies and

Thornbridge Sawmills Ltd is an independent Scottish company, established over 23 years ago and has been supplying Marshall Construction throughout this time. With a seven acre site based in Grangemouth and eight Trade Centres situated throughout Scotland, the business has grown and developed to become a major player in the Scottish Timber industry.

It is a first hand importer of sawn softwood and panel products from all corners of the globe and its on-site facilities include a Sawmill and Timber Treatment Plant which allows the company to provide a comprehensive service to the construction industry.

commitment to local communities.

The Dens Road development in Dundee, for client Hillcrest Housing Association, is for 21 one and two bedroom affordable (social and mid-market rent) apartments in the Hilltown regeneration area, close to the city centre. The project is expected to take 12 months, and is not the first time Marshall has worked with the client, therefore illustrating the strong reputation for quality and service, on which the company prides itself. “This is an exciting new housing scheme, with a well thought out mix of homes that will cater to a wide range of needs.

The new homes are a further demonstration of our commitment to building neighbourhoods and creating thriving, empowered communities,” says Robert.

The success and growth

gained by Marshall throughout 2015 only serves to confirm the reputation that it has earned over its three-decade establishment within the Scottish market. Years of delivering to all sectors with high quality product and service have culminated in a successful year of significant contracts that represent not only the company’s growth but also the commitment to its core values. Looking ahead, forging more of these long-lasting relationships and integrating its brand into local communities will undoubtedly play a major role and as such the success of Marshall looks set to continue.

Marshall Construction www.marshallconstruction.co.uk Services: One of Scotland’s foremost independent building contractors

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Editor Libbie Hammond libbie@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Sales Team

+44 (0) 1603 274130 Schofield Publishing 10 Cringleford Business Centre Intwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6AU

www.ccemagazine.com