Category Archives: Construction News

Appointments, Business, Construction, Construction News

Fabricator welcomes next generation with new appointments

FABRICATOR Dudley’s Aluminium has made three new appointments to its team in Cardiff.

Taran Bhullar, an experienced Estimator, has joined Dudley’s from aluminium product manufacturer Smart Systems. Using his expertise, Taran will assist with cost estimation for new projects and will take an active, leading role within the department.

Joining Taran in the estimating team will be Estimator Apprentice Miles Neizer. Miles has an NVQ Level 3 in Construction in the Built Environment from Cardiff and Vale College and through his apprenticeship, he will learn to review detailed drawings, elevations, floor plans and specifications to assist the team and calculate the required costs for construction projects.

Project Design Apprentice Evan Robertson completes the trio of appointments. Evan joins the team fresh from completing his A-Levels at Newport High School and, in his apprenticeship, will be undertaking CAD training to develop his skills in project design to create detailed drawings and designs across a range of projects.

Pablo Shorney, Finance Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are delighted to welcome Taran, Evan and Miles to our team and look forward to seeing them progress in their roles with our support.

“It’s exciting to see our team grow as our company has enjoyed a successful year with an increasing number of projects live and in the pipeline. We’re also continuing to expand with more apprentices set to join us in the coming months.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.

Construction News, Education, News

Developer sparks interest in construction careers at Norfolk school

Construction experts from Barratt and David Wilson Homes Anglia have recently participated in a careers fair at Watton Junior School in Watton, aiming to inspire and educate pupils about the diverse range of professions within the housebuilding industry.

During the afternoon, around 135 children from Years 5 and 6 explored the various career options available to them in the future.

The event, held in the school hall, provided students with first-hand experiences and insightful presentations from a group of professionals.

Three representatives from Norwich-based Barratt and David Wilson Homes Anglia – Sharon Hilburn (Construction Secretary), Simeon Nelson (Technical Director), and Tommy Luxton (Site Manager) – shared their industry knowledge and experiences, igniting enthusiasm and curiosity among the young audience.

Kyle Beeson, Year 5 and 6 Teacher at Watton Junior School, said: “It was wonderful to have the continued support of Barratt and David Wilson Homes for a second year in helping us to inspire our pupils.

“Our aim is to broaden our pupil’s horizons and open their minds to future possibilities, and thanks to Barratt and David Wilson Homes, our pupils benefited from engaging conversations as they learnt more about the construction industry.

“The buzz in the room, and when talking to the pupils in the days following, was a testament to both the children and those giving up their time to connect and inspire our pupils.”

The students attending the careers fair engaged actively with the professionals, asking insightful questions and demonstrating a keen interest in learning about the construction industry.

Impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, the Barratt and David Wilson Homes representatives offered valuable advice and guidance on pursuing careers within the housebuilding sector.

They brought interactive displays and engaging tasks to illustrate the dynamic nature of their work, further capturing the children’s imaginations.

Simon Wood, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Anglia, said: “It’s wonderful to see primary schools providing students with career-related learning opportunities.

“Connecting education with the world of work helps students see the relevance of their learning. Our team was delighted to contribute to such a valuable and well-organised careers fair.”

To learn more about the career opportunities available, visit the website at Barratt Careers.

To view the range of properties that the housebuilder is building across the county, visit Barratt Homes in Norfolk or David Wilson Homes in Norfolk.

Construction, Construction News, HR, HR News

Construction Software Platform and Ethical Consultancy firm partner to deliver onsite ‘Lived Experience’ Modern Slavery Assessments

Construction software platform Compliance Chain and ethical consultancy firm Align Ltd, have partnered to improve ethical labour practices by offering onsite ‘Lived Experience’ Modern Slavery assessments.

Align Ltd specialises in ensuring ethical practices and a transparent supply chain for social impact-driven businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and public entities; whilst Compliance Chain supports public and private sector clients to track, monitor and deliver effective social value plans.

 

‘Lived Experience’ assessments, provided by Align, are conducted by lived experience consultants who have been exploited previously. Lived experience consultants are vital to the assessments, providing an important perspective and experience in what could be a challenging and delicate situation for workers.

The partnership offers a unique take on Modern Slavery assessments, by harnessing digital tools that enhance transparency and active prevention within construction projects. Clients who use this service through the Compliance Chain platform will also gain access to the Just Good Work app, ensuring organisations have an ongoing picture of what is happening onsite.

 

Just Good Work is an interactive mobile platform ​- powered by FiftyEight, a certified B-Corp that helps individuals make ​good choices for better work abroad.

The platform is free for workers and enables them to understand their rights and responsibilities throughout the process alongside good advice on safe recruitment, migration, and employment in their new workplace.

 

As modern slavery remains a serious global issue infiltrating the construction industry, Compliance Chain, Align and FiftyEight offer a unique partnership in combating unethical practices and exploitation.

Whilst Align conducts Lived Experience, honest assessments of the activities on site, Compliance Chain can provide practical advice to companies on the steps they should take to protect workers, and a digital tool that allows them to track their social value delivery.

Before, during and after the assessment has concluded, companies can access the Just Good Work app, which offers workers protection and advice whilst providing companies with live worker feedback, giving real-time insights across their supply chains that fill in the gaps between audits.

 

This offering is exclusive to clients who use Compliance Chain to track their social value delivery and can be requested through the platform.

 

Adam Cochrane, Head of Operations at Compliance Chain commented:

“We are honoured to be working in partnership with Align and FiftyEight to deliver practical and meaningful modern slavery assessments to our clients.

“Our Modern Slavery assessments protect workers at its core. Through lived experience assessors and ongoing monitoring through digital solutions, ensures that companies can access practical advice and detailed steps they should implement to protect workers.”

“Companies that currently track and measure their social value using Compliance Chain can easily request a modern slavery assessment through the platform, with the added reassurance that they will be able to access real-time insights between audits.”

 

Phillip Clayton, Chief Executive Officer at Align Ltd added:

“We are proud to partner with Compliance Chain and FiftyEight to offer this innovative approach to the construction sector.

“We believe that any approach that does not include those with lived experience will lack robust outcomes. The most effective prevention methods come from the meaningful inclusion of those with lived experience. They are uniquely placed to assess risks on site; having experienced exploitation, they know what the signs and symptoms are and can bring unique insight to prevention and risk mitigation.

“With companies looking to go ‘beyond audit’ this method alloys prevention technology and lived experience insight in an end-to-end site risk management process delivering tangible results and evaluation side by side.

We hope this will set a new standard in the construction space.”

 

Quintin Lake, Executive Director at FiftyEight added:

“Our aim with Just Good Work is to get it into the hands of as many workers who can benefit from it as possible and this partnership helps accelerate that for the construction sector. As workers better understand what is okay and what isn’t through information in their own language, real-time insights about their experience can help shine a light on both good practices and where improvements are needed to proactively prevent modern slavery for workers and companies alike.”

 

Construction, Construction News

Sound solution from Premier Forest Products as they launch new acoustic fence panels

LEADING UK timber specialist Premier Forest Products has further expanded its product offering with the launch of a new range of acoustic fence panels.

 

Manufactured in the UK, the fence panels, which have been tested and rated to achieve a noise reduction of 26 decibels (dB), are suitable for residential, commercial and public sector properties.

 

The panels have been designed and engineered to reflect sound from motorways, roads, railways and other noisy environments, significantly reducing the impact of noise pollution.

 

Measuring from 1.8m high, the panels are anti-climb to deter intruders and provide an extra level of privacy for properties. The robust panels feature horizontal tongue and groove ‘V’ joint boards, which are machined from premium quality, joinery grade Scandinavian redwood.  The boards are interlocked and then bonded with an acoustic sealant for enhanced acoustic performance.

 

For versatility, Premier offers two types of acoustic panel, for different applications and project sizes. These are the Duchy Acoustic Fence for homeowners looking for an acoustic solution, and the Premier Reflect Acoustic Barrier for large-scale projects where flexibility with installation is needed.

 

The wider Premier Reflect panels cover a greater area for a faster fit and can be mixed and matched by size, stackable up to a height of 5m.

 

Dave Say, UK Softwood Products Commercial Manager, said: “Made from responsibly sourced certified timber, these barriers are the ideal solution in a wide range of scenarios ranging from houses near railway lines, to schools hoping to minimise their impact on the local community.

 

“Naturally, our solutions meet the specifications required for acoustic barrier, but we very much listened to our customers when developing the range, which offers a choice of sizes for versatility when it comes installation. It is our hope that these barriers will become the go-to solution for our customers looking to prioritise noise reduction.”

 

Premier Forest’s acoustic fence solutions are manufactured in accordance with BS1793 and are fully pressure treated to NHSS4 (National Highways Treatment Specification).  The robust panels have a desired service life of 15 years, out of ground contact.

 

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its multiple sites in the UK.

Cardiff, Construction, Construction News

Dudley’s Aluminium secures another project in the heart of Cardiff

Dudley’s Aluminium, a leading Welsh fabricator, has secured another key project in Cardiff’s city centre, working on the multistorey car park in Central Quay.

Working with Goldbeck Construction, for Rightacres Property and Network Rail, Dudley’s will be installing curtain walling and doors on the build of the car park in the centre of Cardiff, as part of the Central Quay project which also features residential, office, leisure and retail opportunities.

This is not the first time the Welsh fabricator has taken on a city centre project. Dudley’s has played an instrumental role in the regeneration of the city centre with its work on many of the buildings in Central Square including Buildings One and Two, the BBC, HMRC and The Interchange all at Central Square.

Steve Muir, Commercial Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are honoured to be working on such an empowering project for Cardiff’s city centre. The Central Quay project is set to create an incredible number of opportunities, and we are delighted to be able to offer our services to the car park aspect of the build.

“With one of our most recent projects being the Fairwater education campus in Cardiff, we are passionate about projects that will bring positive benefits and impacts to the Cardiff community.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.

Construction, Construction News, News

Relaunch of Rock-Tite capitalises on key landscaping trend

Liverpool based Palace Chemicals has relaunched a landscaping favourite – the new improved Rock-Tite 3-part system.    

The Rock-Tite Exterior Porcelain and Stone System comprises a primer, a mortar and a choice of brush-in or flow grout. The mortar is available either as a pre-blend or a concentrate that requires the addition of sand, as the user prefers.  

Designed specifically for use by landscapers and garden designers, as well as tile fixers and keen DIY’ers, the three-step system capitalises on a key garden trend to extend an internal tiled space to an exterior terrace or patio area.  

The seamless design effect is part of a long-term lifestyle trend to enhance living areas by making better use of external space effectively bringing the inside out.  

Traditionally, such external areas might be covered with outdated concrete pavers or timber decking, which can look tired quite quickly. However, the latest generation of 20mm porcelain and stone tiles brings a number of advantages. 

The key benefit is that they allow a smooth transition from internal to external space, which is totally in accordance with the leading fashion trend of the moment and helps to open up additional living space either in the home or in higher traffic commercial spaces.  

Most porcelain tiles are also moisture, rot, frost and UV resistant, are easier to clean and offer good slip resistance, provided they are kept clean.  

The first component of the system is the Rock-Tite Porcelain Primer, which is supplied in three 5kg bags, complete with a 15kg mixing bucket. This is a fibre-reinforced, polymer- modified, cement-based primer, designed to improve adhesion when used with porcelain, stone and other low absorption types of paving.  

Secondly there is high strength fibre-reinforced Rock-Tite Mortar. There are two mortars available – either a pre-blend 20kg version, that very easily just mixes with water or a more traditional version, which is supplied in a 15kg bag that mixes in a 1:6 ratio with sharp sand to create the ideal bedding mortar for all external patio projects.  

Finally, the system includes a choice of a 15kg cement-free brush-in grout/jointing compound or a flow grout, the latter being preferable for areas which will be subject to early and sustained traffic. The grouts come in three 5kg bags supplied in a 15kg bucket. Each one is available in a choice of three different colours.  

Steve Ball, Commercial Director, said: “The Rock-Tite System has been made very straightforward to use – in fact it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.  

“It allows home designers to come up with a durable and effective solution for working with the new generation of 20mm porcelain and stone tiles, so that they can complete projects which accord with current fashions and are entirely on-trend.”  

Rock-Tite from Palace Chemicals is supported by a range of promotional material, including a new brochure and a video, easily explaining all the benefits of the system and its ease of use – details of which can be found at www.palacechemicals.co.uk 

Awards, Construction, Construction News, News

Use of geopolymer injection treatment earns shortlist

Geobear’s first use of technology on clay soil under a road asset wins nomination

The Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has shortlisted global ground engineering contractor Geobear for the CIHT Technology and Innovation award. Geobear’s entry presented its work with Ringway Jacob for Surrey County Council to stabilise deep, shrinkable clay soil beneath the A323 road in the South East of England, using its tried and tested geopolymer injection treatment. The awards will be presented at 8 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London on June 13, 2024.

Surrey County Council faced regular costly and disruptive road resurfacing due to the frequent shrink-swell cycle of clay soils. The apparent alternative was excavation and removal of hundreds of tonnes of clay, and replacement with a gravel sub-base. This too would have been expensive, carbon-intensive and would have caused closure of a main road for several weeks, disrupting the local community and likely forcing a school to shut.

The council approached Geobear to find a third way that would allow it to avoid these high costs and inconvenience. Shrinkable clay soil has a high plasticity index, expanding with water then compacting when dry. This expansion and contraction cycle underground sees the ground’s surface shift and damages overlying infrastructure or buildings.

Geobear, a ground settlement expert, uses an array of injectable geopolymers that expand underground to fill gaps and compress soil, in this case clay. This stabilises the asset long-term, significantly reducing the clay’s shrink-swell capacity and protecting the road surface.

“We developed this solution specifically for Surrey County Council,” explained Richard Holmes, infrastructure director at Geobear UK. “Our engineers assessed the site, specified the key points at which injection holes should be drilled and calculated the quantity of geopolymer needed. We stabilised the clay in situ by injecting our geopolymer at three metres depth. No excavation was needed and the daily lives of people in the area were virtually unaffected: the road reopened 30 minutes after treatment.

“The environmental impact of our projects is a big planning consideration for Geobear too. Not only do we avoid the physical disruption to the local ecosystem of digging up three metres of pavement for miles, our solution produces 62 per cent lower emissions than traditional excavation methods, as verified by Carbon Footprint Ltd.”

“Our priority is delivering cost-effective solutions for the travelling public in Surrey that cause as little disruption as possible, which the Geobear solution provides,” said Amanda Richards, assistant director of highways at Surrey County Council and chair of the UK Roads Boards’ Road Condition Management Group.

“We approached Geobear because it ticked many boxes for us: its solution is swift, economical, low carbon, enhances workplace safety and preserves access to surrounding utilities.”

Other local authorities are now considering this innovative approach for similar applications across the UK. To find out how Geobear could solve your road stabilisation issues, read its technical report on lifecycle extension of concrete roads here: https://www.geobear.co.uk/technical-report-lifecycle-extension-of-concrete-roads-using-geopolymer/

Cardiff, Construction, Construction News

Dudley’s Aluminium secures pioneering education campus project

WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has secured a new project for a joint education campus in Fairwater.

Dudley’s is working in collaboration with ISG Construction Ltd on the multimillion-pound project which will facilitate the construction of three new build schools for Cantonian High School, Riverbank School and Woodlands High School, all situated on a single site.

The development will be Net Zero Carbon in line with Welsh Government standards and will set the standard for future Cardiff school projects. Each of the three schools will be highly energy efficient buildings powered by renewable energy sources.

The fabricator will install Metal Technology System doors, windows and capped curtain walling on the build.

Neil Jones, Contracts Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are delighted to be taking on such an important project that will have such a positive impact on the local community, and to be working with ISG once again. The development of these schools will provide incredible benefits for its pupils, creating a positive environment for children to learn, develop and achieve their potential, and it is an honour to be involved.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.

Construction News, News, Robotics, Technology, Utilities

Harrogate robot firm wins £5.8m in water contracts.

The fourth round of Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge has awarded two contracts worth £5.8m to Synthotech and its innovation division, Synovate.

Harrogate-based, utilities engineering company Synthotech, will use its latest robot technology to identify and repair links from within live water mains without requiring extensive excavations and minimising interruptions to water supplies.

Project partners include Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Affinity Water, SES Water, Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Uisce Éireann Irish Water, and Southern Water, alongside the University of Sheffield, WRc, ALH Systems, and Arcadis.

Robots equipped with advanced sensors will also be deployed in rising mains to predict failures and make repairs before they burst to prevent environmental pollution. The water industry already uses human-controlled robots to assess its partially filled sewer tunnels and sewers, which use gravity to move sewage.

The project will pave the way for autonomous robotics technology to be used in fully pressurised sewer pipes. Project partners include Thames Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Wessex, and the University of Sheffield.

Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge will make approximately £40 million available for highly collaborative water-sector innovations to benefit customers, society, and the environment. The previous round, Water Breakthrough Challenge 3, concluded in 2023, with 16 finalists awarded a total of £38 million.

Commenting on the award, Mark Tindley, managing director of Synthotech, said: “Our team has worked hard to advance this technology to create a more efficient and sustainable way to identify and repair leaks. We look forward to working with Ofwat, water companies and partners across the industry to roll out the robots.”

Synthotech’s technology allows for high-definition images to be relayed to the operator. It allows for the accurate assessment of the issue and the selection of the most appropriate fix. The robots can be deployed remotely for long distances, which speeds up the investigation process to improve health and safety and reduce environmental impact.

The robots serve as a platform for sensors and repair technology that can adapt to each situation. Several spray liners, structural lining and sealants can be used to make repairs. The robot can operate in a pressurised environment, which boosts efficiency in the repair process.

A team of two can be deployed to investigate and repair. The robots are small enough to access a pipe through an access point, reducing the need for excavation.

Synthotech is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and operates internationally. It is a leader in robotics-as-a-service and works with utility companies to deploy the latest technology in pipeline maintenance.

Simon Langdale, engineering director at Synovate, concluded:  “Over the next decade, robots will play an increasingly important role in the economy and society. The water industry is taking significant strides to ensure that it benefits from opportunities that robots can play in maintaining infrastructure with the next generation of trenchless technology.”

 

—

About Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge.

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is part of a series of competitions from Ofwat, run by Challenge Works with Arup and Isle Utilities, designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the sector to benefit individuals, society and the environment.

It supports initiatives that help to tackle the biggest challenges facing the water sector, such as achieving net zero, protecting natural ecosystems and reducing leakage, as well as delivering value to society.

 

About Synthotech.

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is part of a series of competitions from Ofwat, run by Challenge Works with Arup and Isle Utilities, designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the sector to benefit individuals, society and the environment.

It supports initiatives that help to tackle the biggest challenges facing the water sector, such as achieving net zero, protecting natural ecosystems and reducing leakage, as well as delivering value to society.

Synthotech has worked closely with the University of Sheffield to develop the next generation of industrial robots. As part of the Pipebots initiative, Synthotech worked with leading UK water companies to conduct a research and feasibility study into using robots for mains inspection.

The Pipebots team worked with Synthotech to test the robots on iron pipework using accelerometers, ultrasonic probes and electromagnetic (EM) induction sensors. The sensors are attached the Synthotech’s LeakVISION robots to help gather data.

Professor Kirill Horoshenkov, programme director at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Pipebots partnership brings together leading innovators from industry and academia to accelerate the development and adoption of the latest robot technology in the UK’s pipeline networks. The benefits of pipeline robots include fewer roadworks for motorists and communities, alongside significant efficiency improvements for utility companies.”

Visit: https://synthotech.com/ and https://www.syno-vate.co.uk/

Construction News, Health, Healthcare, London, London News

Amethyst Radiotherapy achieves high-rise Gamma Knife source loader crane installation feat at Queen Square Centre, Central London

Amethyst Radiotherapy a leader in cutting-edge cancer treatment, specifically Stereotactic Radiosurgery, is proud to announce the successful upgrade of its Gamma Knife machine at its prestigious Queen Square centre in central London.

Specialised cranage equipment was used, lifting over 15 tonnes of equipment between the two high-rise buildings located in Central London. The Source Loader weighed approximately nine tonnes, with the radiation vault at roughly five tonnes – a variety of other equipment also required specialist transportation.

The Gamma Knife source loader is a sophisticated device used to precisely position radioactive sources, specifically cobalt-60, within the Gamma Knife machine.

This technology is critical for targeting and treating brain tumours with high doses of radiation, whilst minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The precision of the source loader is vital for the effectiveness and safety of Gamma Knife radiotherapy, offering non-invasive treatment options for patients with various neurological conditions and metastatic brain tumours.

Issues were faced – including an unrelated protest march which prevented the access and delivery of equipment, vehicles not following the temporary parking restrictions and more.

The complicated installation process underscores the intricate logistics undertaken by the Amethyst team to ensure a safe and efficient installation, reducing disruption to the surrounding area, whilst continuing to strive to deliver world class treatment.

Following the successful installation, the equipment will soon be resuming treatment of NHS and private patients.

 

Daniel Lumley, Director of Clinical Operations, Amethyst UK commented:

“The logistical challenges of transporting and installing the source loader and radiation vault were formidable, particularly given the dense urban environment of central London.”

”The use of a crane was essential for positioning these heavy and sensitive components with precision. Our team’s expertise in navigating these complexities was critical to the successful upgrade of our facilities – I’d like to thank all involved, from within Amethyst and the outside contractors who contributed to the project’s success.”

Mr Neil Kitchen, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Medical Director for the Queen Square Gamma Knife Unit commented:

“The reloading of our state of the art gamma knife treatment platform with brand new cobalt radiation sources will halve treatment times for our patients making their therapy less onerous and allowing us to treat many more patients efficiently thus reducing waiting times. As Clinical Director, on behalf of the clinical team, I would like to thank Amethyst UK and UCLH for completing this complicated task.”