Construction WorX - Issue 1 - October 2012

The Voice of the UK Construction Equipment Industry

ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012

FROM THE PRESIDENT

THE INTERVIEW

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8-9

PLANTWORX

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HARD DATA

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www.coneq.org.uk

CONTENTS 3

F ROM TH E PRE SID E NT The latest thinking from CEA president Nick Ground

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I N T H E L O BBY How the CEA and CECE are making your voice heard at the EU

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I N N OVAT IONS New solutions from our members

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T E C H N I C A L B RIE F Our tech team explore visibility requirement and answer some FAQs

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T H E I N T E RV IE W We find out what frustrates CECE secretary general Ralf Wezel

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P L A N TWO RX 1 Education takes centre stage at your show

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P L A N TWO RX 2 Security Village aims to foil plant thieves

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P L A N TWO RX 3 The Pavilion offers an easy and cheap way to exhibit, and new Awards for Innovation boost your new products and services

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13 October

05 - 08 February

Reports from the latest exhibitions, conferences and trade missions

bCIndia Mumbai, India

C OM I N G UP

18 October

Trade mission to India India

H ARD DATA We have gathered some of the latest data and opinions on where the construction equipment market goes next

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M E M B E R S ’ NE W S A ND NE W M E M B E RS

CECE Congress Berlin, Germany

07 - 10 November

F ORT H C O M ING LE GISLATION

27 - 30 November

M E M B E R S ’ TE STIM ONIA LS S U PPLY S I D E How Tata Steel helps customers optimise product designs

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24 - 24 October

SITP Exhibition Algiers, Algeria

The services CEA members find most useful

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CEA International Business Group meeting Perkins, Peterborough

A roundup from our membership What’s on the horizon from Brussels and beyond

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2013

CESAR Review Committee Meeting AEA Peterborough

ROUN D U P

Forthcoming events and what happens if it all goes wrong abroad – Joanna Oliver finds out the hard way

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2012

YOUR S H OUT Nick Ground feels directors are letting their side down if they don’t explore export potential

Bauma China Shanghai, China

02 - 04 December Trade mission to China Shandong, China

05 - 06 December

11 - 13 February 15 - 21 April Bauma Munich, Germany

14 - 16 May PLANTWORX Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

18 - 21 September Bauma Africa Johannesburg, S Africa

19 - 22 June Future Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

15 - 18 October BICES Beijing, China

CEA General Technical Committee Meeting TBA

D AT E S F O R YO U R D I A RY

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

C E A M A N AG E M E N T COUNCIL Welcome to the first issue of our new look Construction Equipment Association magazine – Construction WorX. I hope you are as excited by the revamp of our old Newsline format as I am.

President

Our first front page is graced by an image of the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper – just one of the UK’s recent construction feats which also include the site and venues for the Olympics and Paralympics we enjoyed over the summer.

With the last medals now awarded it’s time to look ahead to the support the Government has promised our industry – measures to improve credit for business, the pledge to relax planning conditions and more infrastructure funding all need to work to get construction moving again.

1st vice president

New within these pages you will find relevant industry articles, heads up on innovation, supplier profiles, market information plus the established articles on our European work at CECE, the tireless efforts in the technical domain and our overseas promotion and trade fair work. Our editor has also added technical topics and interviews to the mix to bring you a broad overview of our construction equipment industry.

Needless to say if you have a story or topic we should feature please let us know.

Since the last “from the president” we have had some changes on the CEA Management Council saying goodbye and thanks to Colin Wakeham, Peter Howe, Gerald Pratt and Brian Heathcote as they move on to new posts. Accordingly, I welcome Faiz Ahmad (Terex) and James Venerus (Komatsu) on to the team to help steer your CEA into the future.

president.cea@admin.co.uk ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

Nick Ground GKD Technik Ltd

Yvette Henshall-Bell JCB Sales Ltd

2nd vice president Nigel Baseley Perkins Engine Co Ltd David Redhead BSP International Foundations Ltd Robert Droogleever Caterpillar (UK) Ltd Faiz Ahmad Terex Construction James Venerus Komatsu UK Ltd Keith Dolbear TriMark Europe Ltd Mike Hawkins Consultant Paul Ross Ricardo Plc Rory Keogh Gomaco International Ltd Val Ledden Volvo Construction Equipment Ltd

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IN THE LOBBY / CECE NEWS THE LATEST ON HOW CECE AND THE CEA ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS. European manufacturers account for around a quarter of the world’s output of construction equipment. The industry is made up of some 1,200 companies scattered throughout 14 European countries. And although many of those companies are small or medium sized, they have a have a combined turnover of €23 billion and directly employ 130,000 people.

Representing the interests of this diverse and scattered industry at a European level is the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE). It aims to contribute to the regulatory process and influence policy makers by responding to proposals and face-to-face meetings. Individual manufacturers’ views are fed into CECE through organisations in each country - in the UK that organisation is the CEA. In response to the European Commission’s ongoing review of Industrial Policy, CECE is highlighting three main areas where change is needed: improving the Single Market; better understanding behind emissions and noise legislation, and improved international market access.

need for harmonisation of configurations for EU countries within what should be a ‘Single’ market,” says Stephan Belaen, technical manager at CECE. CECE is also taking the opportunity to restate the case for better market surveillance to keep machines that don’t conform to the EU’s high standards off the market. “There are companies who seek to gain a commercial advantage through the sale and use of non-compliant machinery,” says Valentina Mauri, who is responsible for public affairs in CECE. She cites the RAPEX report which found that half of noncompliant consumer products came from China. “We are convinced similar statistics might apply to construction machines and we are bringing that to the Commission’s attention,” she says.

CECE is campaigning to get market surveillance properly funded and to be carried out at the points of entry into the EU (see page 17).

CECE says: “We are highlighting to policymakers inconsistencies in the legislation where, for instance, manufacturers can self-certify some types of machines but not others.” While CECE admits this may be a small point for the regulators, plant manufacturers say it is a big cost for them.

With poor air quality in some European cities CECE doesn’t argue against emissions regulations. However, it says regulators need a clearer idea of the correlation between poor air quality and exhaust emissions from non-road machinery. “The point we are making is that without a precise knowledge of the impact of non-road mobile machinery on air quality, emissions regulations are unlikely to achieve their intended objectives,” says Mr Belaen.

Harmonisation is another theme with, for instance, the differing regulations from one EU country to another for using non-road mobile machinery on public roads. “We bring to the Commission’s attention the

It is a similar situation with noise regulations.

According to CECE, proposals to reduce noise limits are “assessed on technical feasibility or assumptions.” But every new regulation requires large investments in

“We bring to the Commission’s attention the need for harmonisation of configurations for EU countries within what should be a ‘Single’ market” Stephan Belaen, technical manager, CECE.

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“There are companies who seek to gain a commercial advantage through the sale and use of non-compliant machinery.”

Valentina Mauri, public affairs, CECE. R&D and increases the price of the end product.

Again CECE is asking the Commission to base its policies on noise nuisance on a scientific understanding of the causes. Mr Belaen says: “We are saying there should be a detailed study to find out what sources of noise nuisance are of concern to the citizens and this will allow the development of suitable policies on noise reduction - if that is needed.”

Miss Mauri says: “With international matters, such as market access and global competition, CECE needs the Commission’s help to overcome tariff or technical barriers faced by EU manufacturers’ when exporting to certain countries. These include the fastgrowing BRIC and ASEAN economies.”

Of particular concern are countries introducing emission controls for the first time as the limits may not conform to the previous rounds in the EU, Japan or North America and would require manufacturers to develop new variants of old engines.

CECE is urging the Commission to encourage these countries to adopt previous emissions limits used in the EU, Japan and North America which would allow the use of existing (and therefore cheaper) type-approved designs.

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I N N O VAT I O N S S I T E Z O N E I M P RO V E S S I T E S A F E T Y OnGrade’s new Site Zone is designed to reduce the risk of plant and workers colliding - especially in applications where people and plant work in close proximity.

Site Zone is a proximity warning system which uses advanced RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology to surround a machine or vehicle with an invisible 360° detection zone. If this zone is breached by personnel wearing a Site Zone transponder, the operator is alerted to the risk via an audible and visual alarm, there is also an optional warning for pedestrians. One of the main benefits of Site Zone is that it is not dependent on line of sight and can detect transponders behind or to the side of machines and even around corners.

The system’s detection zones range can be adjusted up to 10m and can also be customised. It can be deployed on almost any type of plant from forklift trucks and mini excavators through to wheel loaders, tracked excavators, bulldozers and ADTs. Not only can it prevent accidents, Site Zone can bring about behavioural change due to its data logging feature. Each breach is recorded in the system’s memory and can be downloaded to identify individual training needs or areas requiring operational improvement.

There is also the option to fit a telemetry module which allows data to be accessed via a customer dedicated website removing the need to visit individual machines.

For further information contact OnGrade or go to www.proximitywarning.com

AV I D ’ S C O O L H Y B R I D C A N CUT FUEL CONSUMPTION Avid Technology says its new eFan micro hybrid system can cut the fuel consumption of construction plant by up to a 15%.

The company originally developed the eFan for the bus industry as a way of reducing both fuel consumption and emissions. Subsequently it has found that the low speed and high load duty cycle of construction and mining machinery are similar to that of busses.

The eFan micro hybrid system replaces the standard cooling module. It has a modular cooling pack which uses an array of ultrahigh performance electric fans and an electronic control system to reduce the power wasted by the standard cooling system.

This reduces the parasitic losses and also improves the engine’s temperature control.

As well as improving fuel consumption, the system also helps to increase uptime of the vehicle by reducing maintenance and breakdowns related to overheating. The eFan has a fan reversal feature that can be used to clean the debris out of the cooling pack either on a push button command or on a pre-set time cycle.

Avid is already working with customers in the mining equipment and construction equipment industry to apply the same technology to heavy plant and machinery to help reduce fuel consumption. The company is also looking for operators who run fleets of vehicles for pilot trials. For more information contact Ryan Maughan, MD, Avid Technology Group or go to www.avidgr.com.

NEWS IN BRIEF Prolec’s “Prolec Machine Engine” (PME) is a modular electronic system that works as a platform from which a variety of machine applications can be run.

The system can be configured to optimise machine safety while enabling the operator to work more efficiently and profitably.

Perkins has introduced its latest EU Stage IV/U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final compliant six cylinder engine range. The new models incorporate specially optimised Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.

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Powerscreen has reduced engine running speed and enhanced the hydraulics on its new Warrior 1400X screen which has helped reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% in comparison to its predecessor.

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TECHNIC AL BRIEF In 1998 the incidence of “struck by” accidents prompted the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to launch a campaign to improve the visibility from the operator’s position on construction machinery. At the time the HSE was under powerful political pressure to reduce accidents at work but unfortunately there was no data on how bystanders had been struck by machines, or even what kind of machine was involved, whether it was a 300t dump truck or a mini excavator.

However, that lack of detailed knowledge about the cause of the problem did not prevent the HSE from deciding that the solution would be to demand that all machines should be equipped with visibility aids so the operator could be aware of any object or person 1.5m tall 1m from the footprint surrounding the machine.

In a somewhat heavy-handed manner the HSE threatened to shut UK distributors down if their products were not rapidly brought into compliance with this new requirement.

Many suppliers achieved short-term compliance with a combination of additional mirrors and other aids, such as CCTV, radar or ultrasonic detectors. The 1.5m/1m requirement was subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of the ISO Standard for visibility for earth-moving machinery: ISO 5006.

Much testing and investigation of various technologies was done during the development of that standard, but, most importantly, at that time it was decided that CCTV technology was not sufficiently developed for the Standard to require the level of visibility only camera systems could provide. Problems were found with the robustness of the cameras themselves, with dust, vibration and changing light. So although there was consideration of extending the range of visibility which the standard would require, in the end the ISO regulations did not go beyond the level of visibility which the HSE had demanded.

VISIBILITY

Six years on and solutions to the challenge of meeting this requirement still vary as there is no reason why all manufacturers should settle on the same solution – some rely heavily on mirrors, others use cameras (sometimes with multiple monitors).

However, all these devices bring with them questions about human factors: can the machine operator really keep track of what all these mirrors, monitors (and windows) are showing them? There was a report that one machine at the Intermat show in Paris in April of this year sported 11 mirrors!

In 2010 ISO decided that the standard should be reviewed, including looking at how technology has moved forward since the last revision and what opportunities that offers. There had also been some formal complaints about the standard within Europe, pointing out that it still allows blind spots around a machine.

While this is true, it should also be remembered that there are regulations regarding the separation of machines and ground workers which should be adhered to in addition to building machines to safe standards.

One of the most exciting developments in the technology, apart from making individual cameras more robust, is the ability to make a joined-up image from several cameras, like a panoramic picture or a birds-eye view. This technology has the potential benefit of reducing the number of screens and mirrors the operator is required to monitor and to reduce the risk of overloading an operator with information.

There is a long way to go before a new visibility standard is published, but we can already be sure that it will be very different to the current one, and should make a real difference to the safe operation of machines.

Combined image

Image from RH camera Motion detection box

Edge of table

Cameras

From Spillard Safety Systems, a screen image showing a birds-eye view around a dump truck from the combined images from four cameras.

From a display at Intermat, (see CEA-T-855) a mock-up of a system showing another birds-eye view, the monitor on the roof of the toy car showing the table on which the car is sitting.

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TECHNIC AL BRIEF

Q & A

For more information on the services the CEA offers please contact Rob Oliver, chief executive of the CEA on 020 8253 4502 or by email at rob.oliver@admin.co.uk.

Q. What constitutes a lifting operation for earthmoving machinery?

A. A good question and one which is being debated in Brussels at the moment. The European association for construction equipment, CECE, believes that operations not involving a ground worker are not ‘lifting operations’ and that machines used in this way do not need to be equipped for lifting.

The HSE, among others, believe that some operations meet the legal definition of lifting even if no ground worker is involved and that therefore machines undertaking those operations should be equipped for lifting duties.

Furthermore, certain member states are firmly of the opinion that some types of earthmoving machinery are used for lifting operations at some stage in their working lives. This is regardless of whether or not they were equipped for such operations at the time they were placed on the market. That being the case, the use of such machines for lifting would be considered as reasonably foreseeable misuse and machines in those categories should be designed and constructed appropriately.

There is no final outcome yet so (unless a formal objection is raised) as far as machine suppliers are concerned, compliance with harmonised standards gives a legal presumption of conformity with the Machinery Directive.

Q. I have heard that there is to be a future Stage V of the European Directive covering exhaust emissions from construction equipment. Is this true and what does the CEA think about it?

A. This was first openly discussed at a European meeting in September 2010.

It appears likely that a proposal of some description will be inserted into the main amendment to Directive 97/68/ EC. Details are not yet clear, but the introduction of Particulate Number limits for some engine power classes, four to five years after stage IV, would be a likely first step (see page 17).

The CEA has worked with CECE and other European associations to produce a joint industry position, along with an industry position paper in relation to local air quality action plans. In summary, we are in favour of measures to improve air quality that are cost effective to all sectors of society.

As such, we recommend the consideration of an incentive based replacement of older machines from the legacy fleet as a quicker way of improving air quality. Also, we are urging that a scientific study be conducted in order to demonstrate, on a proper scientific basis, a cost benefit to society of any recommendation that is made for a Stage V. Of course, industry will insist on global alignment for any further stage.

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Q. Can safe load indicators, and related devices, for construction machinery which include logic units be selfcertified by the manufacturer under the requirements of the Machinery Directive?

A. It is a question of whether they fall under Annex IV of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC or not, and the implications that has in terms of routes to conformity assessment. A CEA discussion paper was prepared and reviewed by the CEA Technical Committee in June 2011 but no firm conclusion could be made. This matter was also debated in February by the European Commission’s Machinery Working Group (made up of representatives from most EU member states) but without a conclusion. CECE has also submitted a document on the subject to the European Union and the matter was again discussed at a Commission meeting in April. The conclusion was that the Commission will take legal advice.

Further information on these and other technical and legal issues is available from Tim Faithfull, CEA director of member services – tim.faithfull@admin.co.uk

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CECE is not a big organisation to head up the European construction industry’s campaign for recognition among Brussels’ politicians and policymakers. It has the equivalent of only 2.3 full time staff and 16 members but each member is a national association in its own right (such as the UK’s CEA) representing 14 different countries (Italy has three members).

the right people together and allowing them to network as it is disseminating information from the platform. In particular he highlights the CECE hosting or facilitating a large number of working meetings, where experts from various manufacturing companies get together to agree a common position on topics ranging from exhaust emissions to free trade agreements.

For the past 10 years Ralf Wezel, a German-born economist, has headed up CECE and he and his team in Brussels will soon get new impetus as they devote more time to the crusade and recruit new staff. Mr Wezel sees CECE’s role in three distinct areas: providing practical services, representing members’ interest in the legislative process and as a platform for those within the industry to meet, discuss and debate topics of interest.

However, it is in representing the industry’s interest at the EU and elsewhere that the CECE comes into its own because politicians and policymakers can’t listen to the views of hundreds of individual manufacturers – many of which can be contradictory. “What they want to talk with is a representative body like CECE and to be given an industry consensus.”

He says: “Our biggest area of practical service is collating European and global market data from information supplied by the manufacturers. Interpreting legislation is also a big part of what we do.” He also sees the value of functions like CECE’s annual congress being as much about gathering

However as CECE currently only has very limited staff resources, the task of arriving at that consensus often has to be delegated.

“We are only a small group so very often we ask our members, who are national associations, to take over certain tasks like running a specific working group.”

Top of the agenda over the past few years is exhaust emissions legislation. “It’s the biggest single piece of legislation when it comes to costs for industry,” says Mr Wezel.

Here CECE is not only active in trying to prevent unrealistic and not necessarily useful legislation getting onto the statute book; it is also looking ahead at what may be coming down the line even further ahead. “We are already working on how we as an industry could reduce CO2 emissions from the machines we produce so when the EC decides it wants to act, we have an agreed plan of action to put forward.”

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“We are already working on how we as an industry could reduce CO2 emissions from our machines so when the EC decides it wants to act, we have an agreed plan of action to put forward.”

Ralf Wezel, secretary general, CECE. Currently though the battle is more in preventing unrealistic requirements in a fifth round of emissions legislation. Here CECE is battling on many fronts: “We have to get the point across that setting tighter limits on new machines will only have a very minor benefit to the air quality as they are vastly outnumbered by older machines which produce higher levels of emissions. Far greater benefit can be achieved by ensuring that machines are used correctly,” he says adding, “what’s the point of having a low emitting machines if the operator sits in the cab with the engine idling for long periods because they want to listen to the radio?”

He highlights the complexity of the subject by saying: “Nobody knows what proportion of the particulate emissions in the atmosphere come from the engines of off-highway machines. However, the city authorities for Berlin have already concluded that because emissions from on-highways vehicles have been reduced, by 2020 the largest share of particulate matter from mobile sources in the city’s atmosphere will

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I N T E RV I E W - R A L F W E Z E L CONSTRUCTION WORX TALKS TO RALF WEZEL, SECRETARY GENERAL OF CECE WHO IS LEADING THE FIGHT TO GET CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS’VIEWS KNOWN AMONG THE EU’S POLITICIANS AND POLICY MAKERS.

“You crush stone, you get dust,” he says with more than a little frustration.

from the member states and this is often where problems can occur. “Both of these institutions can completely change the legislation and the Commission has no power to stop that. With emissions topics a lot of problems are caused by member states like Denmark as they don’t have a lot of industry or Germany with very powerful “green” environmental ministries. They modify the proposal and often create a lot more trouble for us than the Commission.”

Despite this lack of knowledge there are those wanting to impose requirements to retrofit diesel particulate filters to in-service machines - a suggestion actively supported by other lobbying groups. “This doesn’t help sales or employment or even help reduce CO2 production – on the contrary this will motivate customers to prolong the useperiod of older, less safe and more polluting machines. But in the exhaust emissions debate the filter manufacturers always look like the good guys,” he says ruefully.

He highlights the industry’s proposal to increase in the flexibility for the phase-in of Stage 3B machines from 20% to 50% as a case-in-point. “The Commission accepted the figure and included it in the proposal but some in the Parliament argued that all flexibility should be withdrawn instead of increased. “If they find a majority in the Parliament they can change the legislation and the Commission cannot stop it. So that achieving the final result of 37.5% was quite a challenge.”

A more fundamental problem faces CECE and others who seek to influence the EU’s legislative process; the structure of the legislative framework.

YOU C AN HELP

be emitted by construction machinery.”

While he doesn’t contend the fact that the air on construction and demolition sites may contain high levels of particulate matter, he stresses: “What we don’t know is the proportion of those particulates coming from the exhaust pipe and that from the activities being undertaken on site.”

The Commission is not a big institution and generally legislation, like that on exhaust emissions, is drafted by one or two individuals. “These are intelligent people but they cannot know everything about emissions from machines ranging from locomotives to backhoe loaders and dump trucks to recreational river boats.

So it is quite a challenge for them and they depend on organisations like CECE to provide informed and accurate input.

Some of the individuals may be influenced by more radical people as there is a huge environmental lobby here, but in general the legislation is well reasoned.”

Once the draft regulations are ready, they are sent to the European Parliament and the Council which is made up of representatives

“But if asked the local MEP will usually visit factories in their constituencies and I would urge all manufacturers to make that request.

Once the MEP is on the premises, that’s the time to inform them of the problems EU legislation can or is causing.”

He finishes with a plea for manufacturers and suppliers to do more to scrutinise forthcoming legislation and calculate how it will affect their products and prospects.

“Most manufacturers only look at the ramifications of legislation once it is on the statute books – and that’s too late.

“The best, and sometimes only, chance we have of influencing legislation is before the regulations are approved. For us to do that, manufacturers must look at proposed legislation, calculate what it will mean for their company and give us the ammunition we need to defend the interest of the construction equipment industry.”

This is where the campaigning side of his nature becomes apparent as he seeks help from individual manufacturers.

“At last September’s CEA conference I asked who in the audience could name their local MEP. Hardly a hand went up.

So is it surprising that MEP’s don’t get ‘our side’ of the story; that they don’t know the problems they can cause the people who voted them into office?

William Neale, the Cabinet member of the Environmental Commissioner

CECE campaigns for fair and open competition across the world and Mr Wezel says it has successfully lobbied the EU on behalf of a (non-UK) manufacturer to put pressure on other governments to end restrictive practices that discriminated against it in public tenders. CECE is also an avid defender of intellectual property rights.While it does not have the resources to take up individual cases, it can tap into the EU’s facilities such as intellectual property desks in several Chinese (and other) cities and comprehensive listings of IP lawyers in countries outside Europe.

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PLANTWORX TRAINING AND E D U C AT I O N Z O N E ‘STARS OF THE FUTURE’ AT PLANTWORX TRAINING AND EDUCATION ZONE The CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association) is organising the Training and Education Zone at PLANTWORX 14-16 May Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. The new zone is dedicated to raising the awareness of the skills shortage in the construction sector and promoting colleges offering construction plant courses.

Also at the show the CPA will present its ‘Stars of the Future’ awards for plant mechanic apprenticeship which is being run in conjunction with 15 colleges.

The Training and Education Zone was an idea borne out of a lack of apprentices within the construction sector and aims to encourage new blood into the industry. It is designed to inform companies about the courses on offer across the UK and what grants are available to help fund apprentices.

“The colleges we have approached have all been very positive about the Training and Education Zone... Every college offering plant maintenance courses has committed to exhibit and support the zone and also our ‘Stars of the Future’ scheme”

The CPA’s annual Stars of the Future competition recognises talented youngsters on plant mechanic apprentice schemes.

Colleges throughout the UK monitor their construction students and identify their Level 2 and Level 3 ‘Stars of the Future’ apprentices and name their regional winners. Those regional winners will then be further assessed to identify the one National Winner at each level and the first prize giving will take place at PLANTWORX on Thursday 16th May 2013. In the future the CPA plans to extend this award scheme to other training and apprenticeship routes.

The judges will not just be looking for academic excellence but those showing the most potential, with a range of skills and attributes. “These youths are our future and with the support from the CPA and other companies we can give these apprentices the recognition and confidence to tackle the ever changing technologies involved in our industry.” Mr Steele says.

If you are interested in getting involved in the ‘Stars of the Future’ award scheme or in offering sponsorship call Haydn Steele or Kevin Minton at the CPA.

Haydn Steele, safety and training manager, CPA. Many construction companies still believe the only college offering construction courses is the National Construction College at Bircham Newton. In fact there are 17 colleges nationwide offering courses and qualifications in plant maintenance and management, including the Hire Desk Operative Apprenticeship Scheme.

“If apprentices were able to ‘commute’ to college rather than having to move hundreds of miles away to attend a course, it would encourage more young people into our industry and companies to take on trainees.” says Haydn Steele, safety and training manager at the CPA. “At PLANTWORX we aim to spread the word to get today’s youth interested in construction.

“The colleges we have approached have all been very positive about the Training and Education Zone,” says Mr Steele.

“Every college offering plant maintenance courses has committed to exhibit and support the zone and also our ‘Stars of the Future’ scheme”.

Verbal commitment has already come from a number of the top colleges in the country – these include Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Myerscough College in Preston, The National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Lackham College in Wiltshire, Bridgwater College in Somerset and Llysfasi College in North Wales. The Construction Skills Award Alliance (CAA) has also confirmed its stand in the Zone.

Plant mechanic apprentice Chanel Littleton is first female apprentice with Clee Hill Plant Hire and the second female Apprentice for Reaseheath College. The 19 year old is in her element servicing rollers or resolving problems on excavators and more than a match for the boys when it comes to dismantling an engine.

After attending Endon High School and the City of Stokeon-Trent Sixth Form College, she was advised by Reaseheath Engineering to apply to local plant hire firms. Impressed by her enthusiasm and despite being a very male dominated company Clee Hill offered her a position and she now attends college in three week blocks three times a year.

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P L A N T W O R X S E C U R I T Y V I L L AG E H E L P S B E AT P L A N T T H E F T SECURITY, TRACKING AND MARKING TECHNOLOGY TO FEATURE IN NEW ZONE Official UK Government figures state that plant to the value of £70m is stolen each year while those within the UK’s plant industry believe the actual figure is much higher. Research by the insurance industry indicates the total could reach £1billion per year while across Europe the overall costs could be £3.5billion.

Against this background, and the industry’s demands for action, PLANTWORX is hosting a dedicated Security Village. The Village will be organised in conjunction with Datatag, which delivers the CESAR security scheme, and the Combined Industries Theft Solution action-group (CITS).

The Security Village will encapsulate a variety of security solutions in one area – a ‘one-stop shop’ where visitors can see methods for either preventing theft or tracking and identifying machines that have been stolen. On display will be a cross section of products including tracking systems, fencing and barriers, chains and locks, CCTV manufacturers and companies supplying security personnel. All exhibitors and products will be accredited and approved to a recognised security standard.

Mike Revell, director of utility contractor Clancy Docwra and CITS chairman, says: “The village is situated in one of the best locations at the show and we are anticipating being very busy. Already 12 companies have expressed their commitment to support the Security Village, and the PLANTWORX organisers have assured us that more stands can be accommodated if required.”

The Village will play host to a large number of police officers after they have attended major training and security courses at Stoneleigh Park. Demonstrations and presentations of new technology will take place daily and specialist police officers will also be on hand to offer advice and guidance to plant owners and users. Local authorities, plant hire, utility, contractors finance, security and agricultural companies will be encouraged to visit the area.

Another plan, although in its infancy, is to host a ‘manufacturers’ afternoon’, within the Village hospitality area, where exhibitors can talk to OEMs about their products and services.

“Another distinct benefit is it’s an exhibition within an exhibition, therefore exhibiting companies are not ‘stand-alone’ and visitors can be confident that all exhibitors are approved and accredited companies,” says Mr Revell.

Datatag/CESAR will be promoting the CESAR security identification scheme which already covers almost 100,000 machines. Kevin Howells, managing director of Datatag and organiser of the Village says: “By exhibiting at PLANTWORX and supporting the Security Village we aim to raise awareness of how prevalent plant theft is in the UK and how by working together we can greatly reduce theft which costs our industry tens of millions of pounds each year.”

Also in the Security Village will be TriMark Europe. It is planning to show its ‘KeyOnePlus’ system, which is a mechanical lock and key combination, where the OEM or end user can choose a key or keys from a range more than 1000 key codes. A particularly timely development as one of the key security issues (no pun intended) with construction machinery is the traditional ‘one key fits all’ philosophy which makes construction plant a prime and easy target for thieves.

OnGarde will present its Rapid Deployment CCTV tower. The ‘highly visible’ tower is automatically connected to the company’s approved monitoring service and now has a live audio option. On its first deployment (a prestigious site located near a London airport) an intruder was challenged via the live audio system and left the site immediately. As a result the site remains theft and vandalism free.

Companies interested in exhibiting in the Security Village at PLANTWORX should contact sales manager Angela Spink on 020 8253 4517 or email angela.spink@plantworx.co.uk

Artists impression of the Security Village at PLANTWORX ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

12

P L A N T W O R X PAV I L I O N & AWA R D S

B I G O P P O RT U N I T Y, S M A L L O U T L AY PLANTWORX PAVILION IS THE IDEAL AREA TO ‘DIP YOUR TOES’ IN THE WATER OF EXHIBITING

PICK OF THE BUNCH PLANTWORX ANNOUNCE THE AWARDS FOR INNOVATION Nothing can set a company up for exhibiting its new products or services at a show better than winning an award that recognises the latest introduction as being a ‘cut above the rest’.The PLANTWORX Awards for Innovation will allow winning exhibitors to push their products up above their competitors’ having convinced the independent panel of judges that their entry is worthy of the accolade. Extensive preshow publicity will ensure the winners’ news reaches the widest possible audience.

Spanning 3,500 m² with 102 stands, the PLANTWORX Pavilion will accommodate a diverse range of triedand-trusted products alongside brand new goods and services that span a wide range of subject areas.These include hydraulics and pneumatics, surveying equipment, ratchets and widgets and plenty of one-offgadgets. The Pavilion is where the PLANTWORX visitor might find the product, service or information they’ve been searching for making it a ‘must visit’ part of the show.

The Pavilion also provides the perfect opportunity for exhibitors to engage with visitors as they arrive at the show and the ideal low-cost location for first time exhibitors.

The visitors’ Registration Marquee is attached to the Pavilion and will serve as the entrance and exit to the main showground ensuring each visitor has to pass through on arrival and departure.

There will also be a small seminar facility in the Registration Marquee which, with prior arrangement with the

PLANTWORX team, will be available for exhibitors.

After consultation with several exhibitors the organising team devised a layout that maximises the exposure of the stands by avoiding the traditional straight lines.

The result is an excellent working layout which gives the visitor a clear view of the stands together with an impression of space.

The Pavilion will benefit from free Wi-Fi access to encourage visitors to stay longer. In the centre of the Pavilion will be the PLANTWORX Press Office where exhibitors can deposit press releases for visiting journalists to collect. Adjacent to the Press Office will be a CEA Hospitality Room which will be available for informal meetings and will serve as a welcoming point for VIPs and international visitors.

Companies interested in more information or looking to book exhibition space in the Pavilion should contact Angela Spink, sales manager on Tel: 020 8253 4517 or email angela.spink@plantworx.co.uk.

WWW.CONEQ.ORG.UK

Entries are invited from all PLANTWORX exhibitors with new (post Hillhead 2012) products or services.Your entry should be no more than 500 words (Word document), describing the product and why it should win an award. Accompanying images should be between 1MB and 2MB. Spec sheets may also be submitted. Entries should be emailed to louise.murphy@plantworx.co.uk by 15 February 2013.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 14th March 2013 - presentations will be made at a celebratory lunch in central London.There are sponsorship opportunities surrounding the awards contact Angela Spink on 020 8253 4517. For more details on the Awards please contact the editor, Colin Sowman on 020 8090 5002 or Louise Murphy on 020 8661 0511.

There will also be ‘Onsite’ Awards – news of these to follow in the January issue of Construction WorX CATEGORIES FOR THE PLANTWORX AWARDS FOR INNOVATION: • Green Innovation • Safety Innovation • Security Innovation • Efficiency Innovation • Engineering Solution

13

ROUND UP A ROUND UP OF THE CEA’S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES For more than 30 years the CEA has helped UK manufacturers to export with UK Pavilions (cost effective shell scheme stands) at the major exhibitions – Bauma, Conexpo-Con/Agg, Intermat and Bauma China.There is also representation at regional shows like bCIndia and M&T Expo (see below). More recently the CEA has started running pathfinder groups to emerging markets such as the UK group at Future Mongolia exhibition..

M&T EXPO 2012 Four UK companies exhibited in the UK Pavilion at M&T Expo 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and another ten used the CEA Information Centre to display graphics and distribute literature. Several other exhibitors were interested in attending but the deadline to hand back un-booked space came before the UKTI was able to confirm funding.

Other UK companies exhibited independently and in total the show had 494 exhibitors, of which 224 were international. Around 30% of the exhibition space was occupied by Chinese manufacturers. The show attracted 54,600 visitors including 2,000 from overseas.

The CEA ran a pre-event media campaign to promote the UK group at M&T Expo resulting in excellent press coverage. The British Deputy Consul hosted a networking reception for UK exhibitors and Erika Azevedo, the advanced engineering sector manager with UKTI, spent four days at the exhibition based in the UK Information Centre.

TRADE MISSION TO MONGOLIA Late last year the CEA, helped by Julian Pearson, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, secured funding to run a mini-trade mission and information stand at the Future Mongolia exhibition.

Mongolia was identified as a high growth market for the construction and mining equipment sectors during a CEA scoping visit.The Mongolian government plans to build 100,000 apartment in Ulaanbaatar and there is huge potential in the development of roads, railway, airports and new towns.

Forty five delegates attended a briefing day in Peterborough and seven UK companies participated in the full mission programme with another company joining for some of the meetings.The missioners were able to meet with most of the key players in the Mongolian construction and mining sectors and some leading service providers.The CEA negotiated free space at the Future Mongolia exhibition in Ulaanbaatar and ran a UK Information stand.

Unfortunately strong cross winds can close Ulaanbaatar airport for long periods so the group was 17 hours late arriving and up to 42 hours departing. However all those making the trip said there was business to be had in Mongolia and they were interested in returning although some were reticent because of the travel delays.

ARE YOU INSURED?

UK exhibitors reported an average of 40 plus serious leads and there were also high level meetings to introduce UK exhibitors to senior Brazilian purchasers. These included the supply chain director for one of Brazil’s largest contractors, the Brazilian Army and Brazil’s largest equipment rental company.

The majority of exhibitors said they had serious enquiries and 90% said they would exhibit at M&T Expo again.

At the end of the Mongolian trip, mission leader Joanna Oliver MBE was struck down with viral meningitis – particularly scary in Ulaanbaatar with no family within 6,000 miles. She spent six days in hospital in Mongolia before being airlifted home by air ambulance.

Groupama, the CEA’s insurance company, and medical insurer CEGA kept in daily contact with the hospital and Joanna’s

ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

husband back in the UK. Neither company quibbled about cost but put the patient’s best interest at heart and even suggested Medevac back to the UK. The claim totalled around £100,000.

The hospital said many insurers refused repatriation in all but life-threatening cases.

So, like all insurance policies you hope they are never needed, but in case they are, it pays to have the best.

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COMING UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAP INTO EXPORT MARKETS HELP FOR EXPORTERS FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government’s agency to assist and promote UK companies to export and has staff in the UK and in British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates around the world. The UK export assistance available has seen a steady improvement in services and delivery, making UKTI a valuable asset to UK exporters.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS WITH UK PAVILIONS AND UKTI GRANT SUPPORT AND TRADE MISSIONS Exhibitions Bauma China, Shanghai

Since becoming Foreign Secretary, William Hague has promoted “Commercial Diplomacy”. This is designed to make British Ambassadors and representatives overseas more commercially minded and provide additional assistance for UK companies visiting their markets.

The CEA works closely with UKTI to deliver its global programme of exhibitions and missions. Part of UKTI’s remit is the Trade Show Access (TAP) programme of grants for new and developing exporters and those wanting to access new markets.

The CEA delivers TAP grants of between £1,000 and £1,800 at most of its global exhibitions.

The CEA is also part of the UKTI’s Advanced Engineering Sector which encompasses construction and mining equipment, automotive, engineering and aerospace. Joanna Oliver MBE, director of global programmes at the CEA, sits on the UKTI Trade Association Liaison Group and fights to ensure the CEA gets its fair share of export support. CEA director Paul Ross sits on the Sector Advisory Group to ensure the needs of construction equipment industry are represented to government.

Every UK company has access to an International Trade Advisor, giving them assistance on how to unlock benefit from UKTI schemes such as ‘Passport to Export’, ‘Gateway to Global Growth’ and ‘Market Visit Grants’.

27-30 November 2012

bCIndia, Mumbai 5-8 February 2013

Bauma, Munich 15-21 April 2013

BAUMA Africa, Johannesburg 18-21 September 2013

BICES, Beijing October 2013

Conexpo, Las Vegas 4-8 March 2014

Seminar & Trade Missions to: China Shantui and Shandong Machinery Group December 2012

India Pune and Mumbai CE manufacturers February 2013

THE CEA INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP: ‘NOT EXPORTING – WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?’ The government wants the UK to export its way back to prosperity and with CEA members exporting an average of 70% of their output, the construction equipment sector has a better story to tell than many others. But there are still many companies yet to take the first step on the exporting ladder. The CEA is waiting to take potential exporters on missions and to exhibitions – and the International Business Group (IBG) is the forum to help companies discover where they should be going and what the CEA can do to help. Held quarterly, the IBG is a friendly and informal meeting of CEA members involved, or wanting to be involved, in exporting and all are keen to share experiences and give advice.

The next IBG meeting is on 18 October 2012 from 10.00 – 15.30 at Perkins, Peterborough and includes a networking buffet lunch.The keynote speaker is Patrick Crawford, chief executive of the WWW.CONEQ.ORG.UK

government’s UK Export Finance (the relaunched ECGD department). Topics include UK Government export assistance, new market development and what to expect on a CEA mission. There will also be a round table discussion on where’s hot ... or not.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Patrick Crawford, chief executive, UK Export Finance Nigel Baseley, marketing director, Perkins Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and Rory Keogh, MD Gomaco International Ltd Foreign Office Support for Business, Commercial Diplomacy Team The meeting is free to CEA members but places are limited and demand will be high so book your place by e-mail at gill.stirk@ admin.co.uk, as soon as possible.

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H A R D DATA Each issue Construction Worx will be looking at factors and statistics affecting plant sales in the UK, Europe and worldwide. But predicting plant sales has never been harder than it is at the moment as banking problems, sovereign debt, currency instability and a changing world order all serve to muddy the waters.

This year’s downturn in China will wipe off around 55,000 wheel loader sales and hydraulic excavators will be close behind.

Compaction equipment and dozers sales in China are expected to halve while mini excavators will see a 14.5% fall. According to OHR, it may take to 2016 and beyond for the Chinese market to regain 2011 levels.

Falls in UK construction output have helped drag us back into recession although economists at the Construction Products Association always believed the initial estimate of a 5.2% fall in second quarter output was over pessimistic. Its experts expected the finalised figure to be around -3% rather than -3.9%.

There will be smaller falls in Japan, Western Europe and the Rest of the World with the net result that global machine volumes will be slightly lower although worldwide sales of earthmoving and paving equipment should still top a million units.

The Association is expecting construction output to fall again in the second half of 2012 followed by a 1.3% decline in 2013.

According to the Treasury the UK’s GDP should improve from virtually growth zero this year to +1.4% in 2013 – and even those figures now look optimistic.

Off-Highway Research (OHR) evaluates what such factors mean for the sale of earthmoving and paving equipment and it predicts a 3% decline in the UK market volume this year and a sharper, 9%, drop in 2013.

Next year OHR expects declines in big markets like Germany, the UK and France will be partially offset by rises in other countries leaving plant sales in Western Europe down by around 5%. Norway is expected to be hit the hardest (-12%) although that will follow an expected 30% increase this year.

Denmark’s plant market is expected to experience double digit growth in 2013 and there are hopes that previously stricken markets such as Ireland and Italy might start making up ground.

Many of the plant manufacturers’ buoyant first half results have been fuelled by sales in the BRIC countries (Brazil, India, China and Russia) but even these areas are not immuned from problems in the world economy. This has lead OHR to predict a 30% decline in the Chinese market this year while a steady recovery continues in North America and India should consolidate last year’s increases.

Western Europe is the only area where OHR is not predicting a growth in plant sales for 2013. China and India are expected to clock up double digit growth while North America, Japan and the Rest of the World will increase by around 6%.

India is predicted to experience a 16% jump in sales volumes in 2013 followed by double digit growth through to 2016.

Backhoe loaders remain India’s tool of choice although crawler excavators are expected to be equally as popular by 2016.

Sales of compaction equipment should

double over the next four years and India will continue to be a major market for mobile cranes.

In 2011 the Western European market for earthmoving, compaction and paving equipment increased by almost a quarter.

But as governments across Europe are cutting infrastructure spending and private sector construction projects are short of funding, OHR expects a small downturn in the region this year and further falls in 2013.

Within Western Europe the sales of mini excavators and telehandlers are likely to suffer the biggest falls both this year and next (see table). ADTs and masted rough terrain forklifts should show growth both this year and next while sales of crawler excavator are expected to grow this year before falling back in 2013.

In the UK the plant-hirer lead recovery has fizzled out and OHR expects a decline in machine sales that reflect predicted trends across Western Europe.

The conclusion is that manufacturers may have to look beyond Europe if they want to find real growth.

Western Europe Construction Equipment Sales by Type 2011-2013 (Units) Forecast Articulated Dump Trucks

% Change

2011

2012

2013

2011-2012 2012-2013

1,106

1,224

1,265

+11

+2

Asphalt Finishers

937

924

923

-1

-

Backhoe Loaders

4,477

4,422

4,663

+1

+5

Crawler Dozers

946

1,013

945

+7

-7

Crawler Excavators

18,824

18,985

18,370

+1

-3

Crawler Loaders

129

122

141

-5

+16

Mini Excavators

41,735

40,027

36,185

-4

-10

Motor Graders

235

252

247

+7

-2

Motor Scrapers

-

1

2

-

+100

Rigid Dump Trucks

321

351

299

+9

-15

RTLTs – Masted

581

612

671

+5

+10

RTLTs –Telescopic

21,746

19,610

18,968

-10

-3

Skid-Steer Loaders

3,699

3,290

3,275

-11

-

Wheeled Excavators

7,775

7,970

7,750

+3

-3

Wheeled Loaders <80 Hp

11,551

11,055

10,145

-4

-8

Wheeled Loaders >80 Hp Total % Change

9,393

9,380

8,945

-

-5

123,455

119,253

113,589

-3

-5

23

-3

-5

-3

-5

Source: Off-Highway Research ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

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NEW MEMBERS ACE PLANT

RED RHINO CRUSHERS

ACE Plant is best known as a plant hire company but it also designs and manufacturers specialist and equipment such as bunded bowsers, dust suppression equipment and bespoke trailers. “Our customers often ask us for special versions of our machines to do specific jobs or to come up with a tailored design to fulfil a particular function,” says director Frank Cundell. The company has supplied the defence and atomic energy industries and its purpose-built products were used on the construction of the QE2 Bridge. www.ace-parts.co.uk

ARMCON Specialist manufacturer Armcon is one of the CEA’s newest members. The company is best known for manufacturing volumetric concrete mixers which can either be static installations or mobile truck-mounted units. However, it also manufacturers other concrete processing items including a special volumetric mixer for producing cement-bonded backfill material for utility contractors. It is also active in soil stabilisation and contamination clean-up, and processing water from washing plants. www.armconprecast.com

Another recent recruit is Red Rhino Crushers, manufacturer of the distinctive mini crushers. Now based in Grantham, Lincolnshire the company produces a range of tracked, skidmounted and PTO driven crushers with throughputs ranging from six tonnes per hour with the 2000 series to the 7000 series which can process 45 tonnes per hour.

Sales and marketing director Jason Purllant says: “Our business has grown threefold over the past year and the CEA can offer us guidance and advice to help us get into overseas markets.” www.redrhinocrushers.com

ECHO BARRIER

TAKEUCHI

As the name suggests, Echo Barrier specialises in the design and use of acoustic barriers, acoustic fencing and noise reduction curtains across a wide range of applications in both occupational and environmental applications. It has more than 30 years of practical acoustic barrier product design experience and an intimate knowledge of acoustic materials. www.echobarrier.com

Takeuchi MFG (UK), the UK arm of Japanese manufacturer, has also joined the CEA. The UK arm opened in Rochdale in 1996 and it has a southern depot in Thatcham, Berkshire. In addition to mini excavators, the company also manufacturers an extensive range of tracked loaders, tracked carriers and hydraulic breakers. www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk

MEMBERS’ NEWS MOBA

Webtec

CEA members GKD Technik, MOBA and OnGrade will be joining forces with Halomec to stage this month’s CETA (Construction Equipment Technology Alliance) Technology Showcase.

Webtec Products is holding a ‘Hydraulic fault prevention and diagnostics’ technical seminar at the National Fluid Power Centre (NFPC) in Worksop on 9 October.

The event at Newbury Racecourse on 3 and 4 October will not only feature the members’ equipment but also the buckets and quick hitches from fellow member Miller UK, and a new security system from Kosran.

The free-of-charge event explores the theory of hydraulic fault prevention and diagnostics and the tools and underlying technology available to assist there process. There will be a chance to see and use products in the lab area.

CETA aims to promote the adoption of advanced products and services to increase safety and productivity while reducing the running costs and environmental impact of construction equipment. As well as staging its own event CETA will be exhibiting at next year’s PLANTWORX exhibition.

Speakers will include technical specialists from the industry as well as from Webtec and the NFPC. Attendees will require overalls and safety shoes to participate in the laboratory based seminars.

For further information and to book a place please visit webtec.co.uk

WWW.CONEQ.ORG.UK

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F O RT H C O M I N G L E G I S L AT I O N

OV E R T H E H O R I Z O N WHAT THE LEGISLATORS HAVE IN MIND AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT OUR INDUSTRY. M A R K E T S U RV E I L L A N C E By the end of this year the European Commission will propose a new Market Surveillance Package (or Safety Package) to prevent the sale of non-compliant goods within the EU. New regulations are likely to establish a market surveillance and safeguard mechanism encouraging member states to ensure coherent EU-wide actions against non-compliant products. It may also require the setting up of an information exchange about steps taken by market surveillance authorities around Europe.

There is already a duty on Member States to carry out checks and withdraw non-compliant products, as provided by regulation 765/2008. However this tends to be applied mainly to consumer products.

Several industries, including construction plant, are now calling for additional checks to be carried out at external borders before imported products are released for circulation.

the material handling machinery, to increase the pressure on the European institutions. In a joint position paper the organisations are urging the EU to fully integrate some crucial principles in the forthcoming legislative package in order to help ensure product safety in capital goods industries and to ensure a level playing field for European machinery manufacturers.

The request from industry, which EU institutions are now evaluating, is that the market surveillance will be focused on targeted areas beyond consumer goods.

These areas should be identified by an assessment process and consultation with industry sectors - particularly those which are affected by non-compliant products.

Responsibility for the first checks on the likes of construction machinery is expected to fall to customs staff as they already carry out border checks. If the customs officials are suspicious that a product may not conform to the relevant standards they will be able to call in the market surveillance authorities.

The move follows years of lobbying

by CECE and other organisations. This culminated in a major conference at the European Commission in November 2011 which lead to the setting up of a web platform to help the authorities identify non-compliant machines (www.machinery-surveillance.eu).

To mitigate the cost of the service the person or company importing the noncompliant product(s) should be liable for the cost of corrective actions undertaken by authorities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at least what the industry suggest. The group of four are campaigning for an obligation for market surveillance authorities to follow up and submit an action report when alerted about individual cases.

CECE has joined forces with three other organisations representing manufacturers of machine tools, agricultural machinery and

CEA will back CECE efforts by conveying the same massages at national level.

N O N - RO A D E M I S S I O N S L E G I S L AT I O N The Commission is currently working on amendments to the non-road mobile machinery engines directive.

It plans to include new categories and new limits for engines less than 19kW and beyond 560kW, and also limits for spark ignition engines.

New limits for constant speed engines and the inclusion of stationary engines are also likely to be announced at the same time.

Most likely is that the Commission also will announce a potential fifth round of emissions limits for 56560kW variable speed engines. It is expected that an amendment will contain only the scope and timing of a potential Stage V allowing it to limit the emission of fine particles, but will not include the actual particle number limit value. It is anticipated that a decision on the implementation of Stage V and the applicable particle number limit would be the result of a future Commission study.

In the 4th quarter of 2012 the Commission will issue a consultation document providing all details of the amendment. After consultation the Commission will take note of the comments by the stakeholders and will carry out an impact assessment.

It will then launch a proposal to the Parliament and Council, most probably by the beginning of 2013.

ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

18

MEMBERS’ TESTIMONIALS GATE 7 STICKS WITH CEA Specialist UK component manufacturer Gate 7 produces decals and vehicle livery for construction machinery.The company is run by UK CEO Keith Wickham, a former world championship level white water canoeist and his daughter, Kate Wickham, who is managing director, Overseas, and has been with Gate 7 since 2005.

When the company began trading twelve years ago it had three clients, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Manitowoc (formerly Grove Cranes) and all of its business was UK based.

In 2001 the company joined the CEA with a view to reaching the wider construction equipment industry and to raise its profile world-wide.

“Joining the CEA really was a turning point for us,” says Miss Wickham. “The networking events organised by Joanna Oliver are a who’s who in construction equipment and opened up many doors for us. It was the CEA that first gave us the confidence to export and today 72% of our production is exported to customers in Europe, the USA, South America, Asia and beyond.”

Gate 7 soon realised through its dealings with the CEA that overseas exhibitions were the way forward. Under the umbrella of the CEA and the UK Trade & Investment, which provided financial support in the form

“Joining the CEA really was a turning point for us...

Kate Wickham Gate 7’s managing director, Overseas of a grant towards the cost of exhibiting overseas, the company embarked on a quest to take Gate 7 world-wide. “If you want to address the French market, you’ve got to go there and get in front of the people you want to do business with,” says Miss Wickham. “The CEA ‘held our hand’ throughout the whole process of exhibiting abroad which can be daunting.

We have been to shows in Shanghai, the US, Germany and India and have had the experience of meeting the people in their own country. The CEA really know their stuff when it comes to emerging markets.”

Business for Gate 7 continues to grow world-wide and having weathered the recession, where the company saw a down-turn, its customer base has grown from three to 35 – including big names like JCB, Hitachi, Volvo, Bobcat, Doosan and Manitou. And when you learn that a single machine might have up to 200 decals, from branding and safety information to operating instructions, which the company can produce in 34 different languages, it’s not difficult to understand how the market is worth almost £12m to the Gateshead -based business.

So what does the future hold for Gate 7?

“Our next overseas exhibition is Bauma in Germany – we are in the CEA’s UK Pavilion,” says Miss Wickham. “It’s so easy to get lost in an exhibition of that size, so being in a dedicated UK pavilion is the perfect solution.

“We are also interested in Brazil with its powerful economy, standing at 6th in the world.

“We will of course be continuing our long association with the CEA and its team.

We find that the technical help and information on legislation and the Machinery Directives is another a very useful service the CEA offers.”

CEA OPENS THE DOOR TO EXPORTS Big name customers include Caterpillar and JCB and three quarters of the company’s products are exported to countries including Brazil and India.

Component supplier TriMark Europe manufactures door handles, latches, lock systems and electronics for the construction, agricultural and leisure vehicle industries. The American-owned company has operations in China and also two factories in the UK at Coalville in the Midlands and Sutton in Surrey.

TriMark became a member of the CEA in 2002 and in 2008 Trimark Europe’s managing director Keith Dolbear was elected as a council member to represent component suppliers.

“I had previous positive experience of trade associations and the CEA had a good reputation with reasonable subscription rates,” says Mr Dolbear. “In the early years the CEA helped us put a strategy together for China, where we

WWW.CONEQ.ORG.UK

now have a subsidiary. The networking is very fruitful too as is the market support and sharing experiences with the International Business Group. We are also now looking at expanding our business in India, and the strategy will involve exhibiting in the CEA Pavilion at bCIndia in February of next year.”

Mr Dolbear is working with the CEA to develop closer links with other component, accessory and attachment manufacturers and distributors. “The CEA helped us and it can help others expand into new areas and the more component suppliers we have as members, the clearer their voice will be heard” .

19

M AT E R I A L A D VA N TA G E widely used in the plant sector) for lighter and more efficient structures using thinner sections of high-strength steel. EVI has also been adopted during the design of several chassis and by simplifying selective design details, stiffness has been improved by up to 30%, while weight has been reduced by up to a quarter and tooling costs cut by up to £60k.

The advanced engineering group is able to simulate the performance of various steel grades enabling OEMs to assess the durability, fatigue performance and crash behaviour of a component or structure made from a new material.

TATA STEEL HELPS ITS CUSTOMERS MAKE THE MOST OF THE MATERIALS IT SUPPLIES Steel and steel components can account for more than 80% of the weight of any construction equipment, so specifying the right kind of steel is clearly a critical factor in the design and build of any new vehicle.

The UK’s biggest steel supplier, Tata Steel, is constantly researching and developing new materials and designs with, for example, improvements in wear resistance or tensile strength. It has an Early Vendor Involvement (EVI) programme dedicated to assisting OEMs during the design of new components, machines and vehicles.

Through EVI, OEMs can gain access to Tata Steel’s engineering team’s technical material expertise at the very start of the design process where the potential benefits are greatest. For instance, in the automotive sector EVI has been used over many years to reduce weight as a means of lowering emissions. Weight may also become an important factor for manufacturers of mobile plant and equipment striving to

meet the forthcoming rounds of nonhighway emissions legislation.

Derick Smart from Tata Steel says: “Our customers have the in-depth market knowledge and design expertise to produce machines that fulfil user expectations. Through EVI, we can help them select the best material for each task and suggest processes which may be faster and more cost effective to implement.”

Tata Steel’s Coventry-based engineering team has helped customers in the construction equipment sector to refine powertrains and reduce machine weights.

Through using EVI those customers have optimised designs in terms of both manufacturing and materials, to improve the strength-to-weight ratio, lower fatigue levels and to reduce processing cost by product substitution.

A prime example is the substitution of S355 hot-rolled structural steel (which is

“Our customers have the in-depth market knowledge and design expertise to produce machines that fulfil user expectations...”

Derick Smart, Tata Steel.

ISSUE 01 OCTOBER 2012 - VOLUME 21

An example of this is modelling work on a cab design which led to identifying high levels of localised stress in the event of an accident or a roll-over. Small changes to the design and materials led to a 60% increase in rigidity. Another example included the redesign of a long-reach arm to avoid weld constraints which gave additional reach to the equipment.

Optimised designs can include wear resistant steel such as Abrazo which combines high strength, toughness and weldability or Ympress which has excellent formability characteristics and high quality surface finish.

Equipped with an increased understanding of the technical and commercial performance of Tata Steel’s products and any processing/fabrication considerations, OEMs’ designers are able to make fully informed material, design and processing selections.

Tata Steel produces hot rolled steel sheet and plate (including highstrength and wear-resistant grades), a wide range of hot-finished and coldformed steel tubes in circular, square and rectangular sections. It lays claim to the world’s most extensive range of track shoe sections, tailor makes sections to customer’s designs and can supply steel cut and finished to the customer’s exact size, shape and specification. It also produces cuttingedge profiles for wear parts and speciality bar for engine applications.

YO U R S H O U T

F O RT U N E F AV O U R S T H E B R AV E SME OWNER AND CEA PRESIDENT NICK GROUND KNOWS WHERE HIS COMPANY WILL SEE GROWTH So the recession isn’t as bad as we thought – well hallelujah. Try telling that to the sales manager – or the bank manager come to that. While politicians will grasp any nettle to say the recession is over, for anybody in the real world sales have flat-lined and the prospects for next year are possibly even worse.

So perhaps it is not surprising that many businesses leaders feel the future prospects are gloomy and a few years ago I would have felt that way too. But I don’t, because today 25% of our turnover comes from export and we’ve only just started. There are fantastic export opportunities for any company with enough drive and determination to win that business.

Like many reformed ‘sinners’, I have become passionate about my subject: export, export and more export. And the big secret is... that exporting isn’t just for the companies with multi million pound turnovers – it’s for SMEs too.

For instance the CEA runs an international business group and regular attendees have been all over the world and have some great tips for budding exporters - but it is always the same faces at each meeting.

The same applies to the trade missions which are heavily supported by UKTI and are a great way to be chaperoned into a new country, to meet potential clients and distributors and to network with like-minded people. The legal, financial and territory insight that can gleaned over a coffee is invaluable. But where are the newcomers, the first timers, Britain’s next exporters? Isn’t this exactly the type of opportunity that directors and business owners should be evaluating?

The business world is getting smaller with more competitors emerging every day, and if you don’t seize the opportunities they will.

Somewhere in the world someone is looking for your products or services. Out there are buoyant economies which cannot fulfil demand from local sources and therein lies the opportunity not only to restore your balance sheet but also to secure the future of your company.

That being the case, why is it that so many UK business leaders prefer to sit at home with their head in their hands? ‘It’s too scary’, ‘I’ll get ripped off ’, ‘too much paperwork’, ‘I’ve never exported before’ are just some of the excuses – and I do mean excuses. OK the food is different, security isn’t as good as on the Clapham omnibus and in some places you must not write on the back of the clients’ business card. But in such places you will also find customers who need your products and distributors looking for new products to market in their territories.

And why is it always the same people who take advantage of the many sources of help for would-be and established exporters?

The Construction Equipment Association (also trading as CEA) is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04930967.

VAT number 243 3858 54.

Nick Ground is president of the Construction Equipment Association and the owner of GKD Technik which produces load, safe load, moment and rated capacity indicators for construction – and rail-related machinery and. His company employs 14 people in Dorset and over the past four years has appointed distributors in Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia

Registered Office: 1 Bickenhall Mansions, Bickenhall Street, London, W1U 6BP, UK

Although care has been taken in preparing the information supplied in this publication, the CEA does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy of it. The CEA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions and accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising. The views do not necessarily represent those of the CEA.

The secretariat of the CEA, Administration Services Ltd (www.admin.co.uk), has been awarded accreditation by the AMC Institute (www.amcinstitute.org), the global trade association representing the association management industry.

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The Construction Equipment Association Airport House, Purley Way Croydon CR0 0XZ United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 8253 4502 Fax: +44 (0)20 8253 4510 E-mail: cea@admin.co.uk www.coneq.org.uk