NI Water and its partners are marking the end of a long-standing contract that outsourced the operation of wastewater treatment facilities at Kinnegar, Holywood, County Down for the past 25 years, under the UK government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The contract, awarded back in April 1999 when sewage services were provided by the Department of Environment, concludes on 30 April 2024, when the current operator Lagan MEICA Ltd, part of the Lagan Specialist Construction Group (SCG) hands the keys over to NI Water’s Head of Public Private Partnerships, Ciaran Crozier. The original Kinnegar ..read more

Construction materials giant Breedon has slashed the amount of time it spends on tachograph administration by 1,300 hours a year –thanks to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution. With 450 HGVs operating across more than 300 sites, the group provides asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and surfacing solutions within the UK and Ireland. Webfleet’s Tachoshare Plus has helped Breedon re-coup the admin time by facilitating automatic daily remote downloads of both driver and vehicle tachograph data. Drivers and transport managers no longer need to travel to depots to complete ..read more

With the 20 t and 25 t HC 200i C VA and HC 250i C VA models, Hamm is now offering a range of compactors that enable automatic compaction to a specified target value in earthworks. The models are initially available in markets with EU Stage V / EPA Tier 4f exhaust emission standards, further markets will follow in due course. The abbreviation ‘VA’ stands for Variable Amplitude. An essential element of this technology from Hamm is the equally new, parameter-independent Smart Compaction Value (SCV). With the Smart Compaction product family, Hamm has developed a range of solutions for smart and si ..read more

Topcon Positioning Systems has announced a new manufacturing facility will be built in Geisenheim, Germany, near Frankfurt, for the company’s Topcon Electronics operation. The announcement was made during a groundbreaking ceremony that coincided with the production milestone of the one-millionth product to come off the line at the company’s current Geisenheim facility, where in-cab displays are made for Topcon’s agriculture and construction solutions portfolios as well as for global OEM customers. The new facility represents a substantial investment by Topcon, signalling the company’s dedicati ..read more

Leading Design & Build Contractor McAleer & Rushe are partnering with Ulster University to launch their new 2024 Degree Apprenticeship Programme, in time for the 2024/25 academic year. The programme offers an alternative to the traditional degree route, providing students aged 18 and older with the opportunity to gain fully paid employment in the construction industry while studying for a fully funded University accredited degree. This partnership signifies an entrance into the apprenticeship space for McAleer & Rushe, which the Cookstown-based company has strategically targeted to ..read more

HD Hyundai will launch its biggest Stage V crawler excavators so far, in the 80-tonne HX800A L and the 100-tonne HX1000A L at this year’s Hillhead quarry show. Both of these heavy-duty machines have been designed for quarry and bulk earthmoving duties. The HX800A L is powered by a 403kW (548hp) Stage V diesel engine, driving two 504lpm hydraulic pumps, while the HX1000A L uses a 469kW (629hp) diesel engine, powering three 523lpm pumps. These heavyweight excavators will take HD Hyundai into a new sector of the market in the UK and across Europe, providing a highly productive digging and loading ..read more

Leading quarry and mineral processor Kilwaughter Minerals Limited has appointed Kevin Mangan as Technical Director of its K Systems brand. Kevin joins Kilwaughter, which is headquartered in Larne in County Antrim, from global construction solutions company Sika Ltd and enters the role with over 30 years’ experience in the ETICS industry. Kevin will play a lead role in strategy development, innovation and product development, quality assurance and compliance.  Kevin said: “It is a privilege to be joining an organisation with such a great reputation for providing quality, reliable solutions ..read more

JCB will showcase its biggest and most powerful X Series tracked excavator yet – the 370X – at Hillhead 2024. The 370X is a heavy-duty earthmover that brings its industry leading levels of productivity, durability, and reliability to the 35-40 tonne sector. Powered by a stage V/T4F 240kW (322hp) diesel engine delivering 14% more power, the 370X can move 4.5 tonnes more material per litre of fuel than competitive models. It features the new JCB UX user interface, with 10” colour touchscreen display and controls, increased hydraulic pressures boost performance in hard digging, and extended servi ..read more

Latest addition to Komatsu’s extensive product range – and that of their distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales – is their new HD605-10 rigid dump truck whose many improved features include enhanced engine power and torque, and what Komatsu says is ‘cutting-edge fuel-reduction technologies’. Drawing on over a century of Komatsu expertise in quarry and mining operations, the HD605-10 sets ‘new benchmarks in safety, productivity, durability, and environmental responsibility,’ with a focus on meeting customer demands in quarry applications. Added benefits described by Komatsu include ‘increas ..read more

New generation loaders have evolved, with a significant increase in load capacity, speed, and transmission torque. In order to adapt to the more powerful and sturdy vehicles that operate in quarries, Michelin is offering a tyre suited to these changes: the MICHELIN XTRA DEFEND E4 L4. Thanks to a new casing, this new range has a load capacity up to 25,400 kg per tyre, and a speed ranging up to 14 kph for loaders, allowing high productivity. The MICHELIN XTRA DEFEND E4 L4 tyre has been developed to adapt to intensive cycles on both hard and muddy ground. It also offers great mobility under diffi ..read more