Articles by Date : September 26 1994 - October 02 1994

œ40m job to start
Trade contractors can look forward to some œ40 million of work at the Imperial College of Science in South Kensington, London, next year. .... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

House prices stunt builders' profits
Sluggish house-price inflation is set to wipe 15% to 20% off housebuilder's profits over the next two years, according to a leading city broker. .... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Prisons unlock opportunities
The Home Office is said to be extending its design, build, finance and operate prisons programme from six private jails to 10, according to a.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Higgs and Hill wins contract
Higgs and Hill Southern has been confirmed as the winner of the contract to refurbish 100 Park Lane in London. The deal to refurbish the 1820.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Gleeson's digs project
MJ Gleeson is to build an œ11.3m student accommodation block at St George's Circus in Southwark, London, for South Bank University. The.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Row over CBI's late-pay stance
Small firms that struggle to get paid on time should look to their own management and administration for the cause rather than blame customers for.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Welsh rare-bid
Did someone mention a housing recovery? Don't expect Graham Bellow from Balenavon, Gwent, to believe it: he put a bid of œ850 in for a.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Agent Plant Group makes a swoop
Somerset plant hire company R&S Biddiscombe has been bought by Agent Plant Group, part of Trafalgar House Construction. Agent Plant.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Costain still flirting
The 'hot' rumour a few days ago was that German tractor giant Hochtief might emerge as a knight errant to the rescue of distressed Costain. .... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Anneka's behind the construction industry
Love her or hate her, Anneka Rice is doing her best to revitalise the construction industry. Every week, her BBC show Challenge Anneka features a.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

A dressing down
Sympathy for the recession-hit, poverty-stricken, well-nigh emasculated construction industry hit a low last week as Achille Mazzotta - a.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Over troubled water
War is set to break out in the West Country over who should cross the Second Severn Crossing first when it opens in 1996. The nearby villagers.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Maroof etc
A change of tactics rather than a dramatic turnaround in form seem to have done the trick for Maroof in last Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Contracting strong at Tilbury Douglas
A strong performance from equipment hire helped Tilbury Douglas lift first-half profits on its continuing operations by 11%. Contracting was.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Contractors demand 15% return
The Government will need to allow for a margin of at least 15% for contractors building privately funded schemes according to Alfred McAlpine chief.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Tarmac batching plant sets record
Tarmac has set up one of the UK's largest ever batching plants. It will produce concrete for the new Canary Wharf station in London Docklands,.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Legislation and bad training cramp job prospects
Job creation in construction is being held back by poorly trained workers and onerous employment legislation, according to a new survey of.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Housing profits double
Operating profit margin in Alfred McAlpine's homes division doubled to 10%, one of several factors behind the welcome upturn in operating profit to.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Buyers keep house in order
If there is one area where the buyer is king it is in volume house-building. In such firms, architects tend to work in-house, usually liaising.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

A. McAlpine plans œ100m spree
Alfred McAlpine has more than œ100 million available to invest, and after the successful purchase of Budge last year, it would be no surprise.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Wimpey faces œ6m writ
Wimpey Construction has been hit by a œ6 million writ by scaffolder Westminster Scaffolding over a long-running dispute concerning the.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Liverpool Yacht Harbour Ltd to sue
In last week's issue of CJ, we mistakenly stated that Merseyside Development Corporation was being sued by Liverpool Marina Yacht Club. This should.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

BR sets a cracking pace
All five of British Rail's civil engineering design offices have been put up for sale along with BR's business plant engineering.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Appeal Court denies clause 30 has link with arbitration
Crown Estates Commissioners v John Mowlem & Co Ltd (1994): judgment clarifies case law conflict over JCT 80 more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Daily insolvency update launched
A daily fax publication on asset salvage and company insolvency has been launched. The Compton Report offers subscribers a 24-hour update on all.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

ESCAPING THE TRENCHES
More than 70 exhibitors will reveal the latest developments in trenchless technology at this year's No-Dig Live exhibition. CJ previews the.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

THE PURCHASING SQUEEZE
Brand names or big discounts? Is it quality or expediency that rules the purchasing decisions of construction buyers in today's pressurised.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

WEATHERING THE STORM
Skye's first fixed link with mainland Scotland is taking shape despite a number of weather-induced setbacks. Fiona McWilliam reports more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

VOX POP
You've all heard of BS 5750, now there's BS7750, a new UK standard demonstrating commitment to the environment. Would you invest in it? .... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Key to Ingersoll-Rand's latest drill is flexibility
Ingersoll-Rand's newest arrival is a track-mounted downhole drilling rig. The ECM 375D, suited to rough terrain and project piling applications as.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

CAT puts down its marker
The environmental version of the 966F series II is said to be nine times quieter than the standard model. Lawrie Tootell went to Berlin to listen.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

manufacturer's reply
Atlas has restructured its senior management and the support element of the company. It has also made substantial new investments in plant and.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

CJ 10 years ago:
lIt was decided that every house built after the New Year would have a 'home record card' containing details of the builder's name, date of.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Private sector starts to cash in
Construction firms are preoccupied by the workload generated by the Government's drive for total privatisation. And the momentum in the market.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

LESS POWER, MORE OUTPUT
The name Atlas has been around almost as long as excavators. This Field Test pits the latest 1704HD, now fitted with an electronic engine/pump.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

THE DESIGN
The 1704 was introduced in 1986 and came in 1704, 1704LC and 1704HD versions. The most important point is that these units were designated 174.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

FIELD TEST DATAFILE
Machines (new)1704HD(old)1704LC Operating weight (kg)27,200 22,600 Engine Deutz BF6L 913 turbo 913 turbo Power DIN 6271 (kW) @.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

IN BRIEF
TML to fix tunnel leak Channel Tunnel contractor TML is to fix drainage problems on the scheme under its maintenance agreement with Eurotunnel..... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

MONTHLY ANALYSISSECTOR-BY-SECTOR ANALYSIS(œM) POSITION PositionContractor (prev month)Total Housing Infra-OtherPrivatePrivate awards(exc spec)structurepublicindustrialcommercial
1 (3) John Laing147.400.504.8028.40- 113.70 2 (2) Taylor Woodrow69.211.630.9445.964.9015.78 3 (23)Kier69.002.8047.808.30- 10.10 4.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Events of the week:
The Midland Railway completed St Pancras Station, London (1 October 1868) Earl's Court underground station acquired the first public escalator.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Born this week:
George Westinghouse, US inventor of the airbrake (6 October 1846) Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeannerert), Swiss architect and town planner.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

PLANS TAKE THEIR TOLL
Miller/Dywidag is constructing the Skye Crossing under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer contract funded privately by, among others, the.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

THREE-MONTHLY ANALYSISœm (June 1994 to August 1994) PositionContractorTotal awardsPosition ContractorTotal awards (prev analysis)
1(2) John Laing223.30 2(1) Amec185.50 3(4) Taylor Woodrow178.05 4(5) John Mowlem159.00 5(9) Kier138.80 6(3).... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Died this week:
James Brindley, canal engineer (30 September 1772) John Rennie, civil engineer (4 October 1821) more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

TEST TWO
BOTH MACHINES FITTED WITH 1.3M WIDE, 1.1M3 BUCKET. 372 SERIES OPERATED IN MODE F1 (ECONOMY), THE NO-MODE 174 SERIES OPERATED AT MAXIMUM RPM..... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

spec check and pit stop
Atlas 'borrowed' the 174 series 1704LC from owner Doncaster Minerals and technical director Jerry Good allowed us free rein on the site and more.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

THE PRODUCT
The Atlas range of equipment is larger than many people realise. The seven model line-up of crawler excavators spans the 12 to 40 tonne range,.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

the field test
CJ Field Tests are the most accurate and carefully conducted tests available to the industry. Each machine is checked before the tests begin.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

FCEC works late on Newco report
Leaders of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors met on Tuesday to debate the controversial proposals from PA Consulting on the.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)

Tarmac seeks brave new monde
Tarmac has recruited former Dumez president Jean-Paul Parayre to aid an expansion drive for its Fr1.5bn business in France. The 57-year-old.... more
(29 September 1994 00:00)