Articles by Date : July 15 1996 - July 21 1996

PFI: time to operate?
The future of the Private Finance Initiative hangs in the balance, particularly in the health sector. David Nunn surveys industry reactions to.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Scottish Widows clad new HQ in concrete
The œ61.5 million project for the new Scottish Widows headquarters at Port Hamilton, Edinburgh, is using a structural concrete frame and.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Bright spark
Electrical apprentice Gary Scott has won the œ1,000 first prize in the JTL Apprentice of the Year competition after competing against 3,000.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Steel wrapped .
Structural Sections has supplied 250 tonnes of steel UltraZED purlin for the roof on Cadbury's first chocolate manufacturing plant in Russia more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

INBRIEF
housing Recovery fears A shortage of fresh properties for sale could put the brakes on the recovery in the housing market, said the Royal.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

INBRIEF
AMECPROCESS Roddy Grant has been appointed managing director of Amec Process and Energy, a subsidiary of Amec. He joins Amec from GEC.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Clarke's cost pledge
Chancellor Kenneth Clarke has pledged to cut the time and costs involved for contractors tendering for Private Finanace Initiative work - but has.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

œ140m overcharging claim
Banks may be overcharging construction companies to the tune of œ140 million a year. John Moran, director of Bank Charge Auditing &.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

INBRIEF
Two left for a13 Amey and Amec are thought to be the only contractors still in contention for the œ78 million contract to construct.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Costain plan in doubt
Costain's future was still unclear this week as its two major shareholders, who hold 38% of the company's shares between them, refused to say.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Bonds leave federation shaken but not stirred
Steelwork subcontractors hope to save œ10 million in the next year by introducing a bond system in September to replace cash retentions. .... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Christiani back to school
Christiani & Neilsen is expected to be shortlisted for the œ30 million Pimlico School in Westminster, London - the first project of eight.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

œ70m blow for PFI health plans
The Government's plans to develop new hospitals through the Private Finance Initiative took a hammering yet again this week as another private.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Court clears VHE's œ40m claim
A High Court judge has ruled that VHE Holdings, the Yorkshire-based land reclamation contractor, can take its œ40 million claim against the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

UK output improves
Construction output improved during the second quarter of the year, with only Wales and Scotland reporting a further downturn, according to the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Four to fight for œ71m infirmary
Four consortia have been selected to submit initial tenders for a œ71 million PFI healthcare project for the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford. At.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Safety blitz on London sites
A spate of major accidents involving lifting operations has prompted the Health and Safety Executive to issue a special warning on the hazards.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Trafalgar the same in all but its name
Trafalgar House Construction remains intact following a reorganisation by new owner Kvaerner. The only change is a new name - Kvaerner.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Council fury as massive gap in transport funding is revealed
Research by the British Road Federation, unveiled on Tuesday, has revealed a huge gap between the amounts local authorities say they need to spend.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Unions battle at M5 site
A union recognition row has hit Costain's œ50 million M5 widening contract at Avonmouth, prompting fears of an imminent break up of the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Students seek backing for Kenya school plan
Nine undergraduates engineers are looking for financial backing for a plan to fund and construct new school buildings in Kenya. The third year.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Clugston selected
Clugston has been selected as the preferred private sector partner on two PFI projects. The first is a œ10 million PFI project to redevelop.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

New MD leads to restructuring
Morrison Construction has been restructured following the appointment of Norman MacLennan as managing director. The structure of four divisions.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

First trial for new surface
ARC South Wales is laying its new "Tuffgrip" wearing course on the M4 in the first public road trials of the thin layer surfacing. The new.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Tarmac pushes for prison dominance
Tarmac is experimenting with fully fitted-out prison cells for easier site asembly as the next step in its bid to dominate the privately-financed.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Truck facelift
Leyland-Daf has given its 6-11 tonne 45 truck range a facelift. The vehicles now feature an uprated cab design, which incorporates a steel.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Massive survey planned
Commercial vehicle hire giant Ryder is to carry out a massive truck operator's survey and expects 20 per cent of its respondents will be from the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Mercedes promise a huge drop in cost
German commercial vehicle maker Mercedes-Benz has launched an all-new range of heavy duty trucks. Its Actros range is set to arrive in the UK.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Hydrex Group invests in 12 new excavators
Hydrex Group - which in recent months has invested heavily in PSE Machinery and strengthened its sales team - is now investing in plant. The.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Beacon Plant Sales acts for Montabert
Beacon Plant Sales of Exeter has been appointed Montabert's distributor for Devon and Cornwall. Montabert's hydraulic breakers complement Beacon's.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Minister announces first PFI road schemes
The first PFI road schemes for Wales have been announced by the Minister for Transport in Wales, Gwilym Jones. Three projects have been selected to.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Liverpool students land Leica award
Land surveying students from the City of Liverpool Community College have won the Leica North West Regional Land Surveying Competition for the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Beaver to head BMF
The Builders Merchants Federation announced the appointment of a new president last week, to replace outgoing president John Footman. Bob.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

'Underhand' OEM accused
Generator manufacturers are experiencing corrupt times in the market place claim key industry sources working within the business. Pressed by.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Lenses disposed with an eye to profit
Pilkington has announced the disposal of the last business within its Visioncare division reducing the company to its core concern of supplying.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

SPA team applauds Euro workers' attitude
A visit to Belgium and the Netherlands by members of the UK Structural Precast Association found a widespread lack of innovation and forward.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Komatsu increases share in German firm
Persistent heavy losses at German wheel loader manufacturer Komatsu-Hanomag AG (KOHAG) - despite recent rationalisation efforts - have led to the.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

Fair play cuts tender prices
London contractor Haymills said this week that it has been able to cut tender prices by abolishing pay-when-paid contract clauses and treating.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)

BSE scare hits agencies
Labour agencies are likely to be in for a nasty shock later this year when the employment status of the operatives they supply is expected to come.... more
(18 July 1996 00:00)