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In Panama the highway operator ENA is looking for funding for work to key road stretches on the North and South corridors. The work is expected to cost US$260 million. The work will include a new 10km stretch as part of Phase II of the Brisas del Golf - 24 Diciembre road at a cost of $114 million. The construction work will be carried out by Mexican firm Ingenieros Civiles Asociados (ICA), which will receive $52 million from the Fiduciary Fund for Development. The rest is still to be sourced. Various soluti

German firm Wirtgen is retaining its lead in road recycling technologies – Mike Woof writes Tests on cold recycling with a new layer thickness using Wirtgen's sophisticated WR 4200 machine have shown impressive results according to the firm. The road construction and traffic authority Landesbetrieb Mobilität (LBM) Cochem-Koblenz commissioned a pilot project as part of its plan to optimise the cold in-place recycling process (CIR). The aim was to examine the extent to which the layer thickness can be reduced

The consortium made up of Acciona Infraestructuras and Tradeco from Spain and Mexico and the consortium made up of Odebrecht and Hyundai Joint Venture from Brazil and South Korea plus Vinci Construction Grands Projets from France have pre-quali ed in the tender for the construction of a new bridge at the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. The second stage of the selection process will involve the client Panama Canal Authority (ACP) sending the contract terms and conditions to bidders. The 75m high and 4.6k

New stabiliser/reclaimer models are coming to market – Mike Woof reports With road recycling becoming a more widely used approach, several key manufacturers are meeting demands for higher performance. From BOMAG comes the latest version of the MPH 125 soil stabiliser/recycler, which is now available with the new FLEXMIX technology. This package is said to set new standards in mix quality for all applications, with an optional change in the mix function that broadens the range of options available to the

The Handheld Group claim its new rugged notebook with touchscreen is not only faster and easier to use than other similar devices, but also better value for money. Featuring a bright and sunlight-readable display, a 25.6cm widescreen, and weighing in at 1.5kg, the Algiz XRW also comes with Bluetooth, WLAN and GPS, as well as a built in 2 megapixel autofocus camera that allows video conferencing in the field.

The project to install Variable Message Signs (VMS), recently approved by Staffordshire County Council, will provide motorists with important travel and road safety information, and up-to-date warnings of incidents and accidents to help them avoid trouble spots and possible congestion. Michael Smith, the county council’s senior highways project engineer, said: “‘In addition to representing good value for money, the company has a sound track record in this area having already successfully supplied and instal

Topcon has produced a new imaging station which, it claims, will dramatically increase productivity when used in two-man auto-tracking or single operator robotic modes. Using prism auto-tracking scanning interface technology the IS-3, when used with Topcon’s RC-4 remote control system, will track prisms up to 1,000m away.

The latest asphalt testing equipment brought onto the market is both innovative and highly accurate as Kristina Smith reports Advanced pavement design requires advanced test equipment. And advanced test equipment takes time and money to design, engineer and produce. But if your expensive testing machine could perform a few more tricks, buying one would make financial sense to more organisations. This is the thinking behind IPC Global’s new Uniaxial Fatigue Test Kit for its Asphalt Performance Mixer Tes

Boppard-based BOMAG is boosting its production line in China for the second time. At the same time as the expansion of the plant, a newly built training centre has also been opened, with both moves intended to allow the firm continued growth in the region.

Russia will shortly become part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This is a key development for the construction equipment market as all member states of the WTO will benefit economically by having favoured-nation trade status with Russia. The exception to this however will be the US, which is currently prevented from granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia until Congress repeals the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. This 1974 amendment was originally put in place in response to the Soviet Union p

Material transfer vehicles (MTVs) have become more and more popular over the years, particularly for large paving projects. These machines can help reduce materials segregation issues and also allow a more even heat profile in the mat, for more homogenous compaction. Roadtec has long held a strong position in this segment, with its highly successful Shuttle Buggy machine, which continues to be improved. However Roadtec is also now facing increasing competition from rival firms offering their own machines

Demand for construction machinery in China is expected to rise 6.2%/year to 387 billion yuan in 2015. This will be supported by continuing increases in construction spending, especially in infrastructure development. The data comes from a report by US-based research firm Freedonia Group. According to the report, growth in construction activity will be driven by continuing industrialisation but will be more moderate than in the 2005-2010 period. This will impact overall construction expenditures, which are e

Sokkia has combined its SRX robotic total station with a gyroscope which, the company says, makes it even better for tunnelling, pipeline work, mining and shipbuilding. The Gyro X Gyro Station now has auto-pointing capabilities and a newly equipped image sensor. It finds true north and determines the azimuth with 15" precision regardless of work site environment.

Plate Locks is described as a cost effective and reusable road plate securing system said to be an alternative to cold patch asphalting. The system fastens to the road, preventing any sliding and shifting of the plate. Made from a recyclable, safety orange polypropylene thermoplastic, Plate Locks come in 1.52metre lengths and are said to be adjustable to fit any sized plate or configuration of multiple plates. This, coupled with being easily transferable from job to job, is said to allow the product to pay

A diverse array of advanced paver designs is now being offered in the asphalt paving sector – Mike Woof reports With the World of Asphalt and INTERMAT 2012 events having both taken place in recent months, a series of innovations have been introduced for the asphalt paving market. Developments have come to market that widen the array of both US and European asphalt paving systems and all the major manufacturers have developed new pavers and materials feeders to meet the latest emissions requirements. Demand

Dutch surveying company Geomaat says it is taking millimetre accurate measurements in record time to aid a range of highway design, construction and maintenance projects. Using the mobile laser mapping system StreetMapper, and specially developed point cloud software, Geomaat says it can calculate highly accurate cutting, milling and asphalt figures, create as built models and undertake change detection.

Asphalt compaction advances were unveiled from an array of manufacturers at the INTERMAT 2012 event - Mike Woof reports. With new emissions legislation being introduced, manufacturers are rolling out a range of new asphalt compaction models designed to meet the latest requirements. These include both large rollers for high-production highway operations and compact machines designed for the rental market and suited to urban applications, with the latter segment becoming particularly competitive at present.

Taiwan-based Apus Molds and Plastics (AMP) says it has developed a ‘novel’ poly carbonate barrier system. Made from PC and PP materials, the barrier is said to be long lasting and corrosion resistant, as well as being lightweight and quick to install. Impact performance is also said to be good as the material helps absorb shock.

A new development from JCB is an access platform attachment for use with the firm’s 535-140 and 535-128 model telehandlers. This has been developed to meet growing market demand for access platform attachments that can be used on telehandlers in a range of construction duties. Designed for use in finishing work or tunnel construction for example, the platform is offered in three versions with the basic fixed unit, an extending model and one that both slews and extends. The basic fixed unit measures 1.5x2.5m

Brokk AB launched the Brokk 100 Demolition Machine during the recent World of Concrete event in Las Vegas. Said to feature a more compact design, but with 35% greater breaking power, the Brokk 100 replaces Brokk AB‘s bestselling Brokk 90 machine. The Brokk 100 adds to the company’s extensive line of remote controlled demolition machines, designed for use in a variety of industries including cement and metal processing, construction and demolition, mining and tunneling, and nuclear, as well as other specialt