We are used to seeing countless jobs carried out by mini-excavators, but a novel application in the construction industry involving a new Develon DX20Z-7 model demonstrates a new way of working for many companies in the sector. The two tonne Develon DX20Z-7 mini-excavator was recently purchased by Ciment iEstructures Costa Brava, a company located in Garrigàs (Girona) in Spain. With the DX20Z-7, the companymet their need for a mini-excavator that is very compact, powerful and above all versatile. Ismael Cabrera, Manager of Ciment iEstructuresCosta Brava, commented: “In the latest work we carri ..read more

Wirtgen slipform pavers can be used for paving monolithic concrete structures with the offset method. Curbs, gutter profiles, concrete safety barriers, cycleways, and many other profiles can be paved in one piece with wet concrete. Each individual project requires the right slipform mold and process parameters precisely matched to the specific application. Wirtgen slipform pavers offer the paving crew the extreme flexibility and adaptability they need to deliver optimal results in a broad spectrum of applications. Here, AutoPilot 2.0 makes paving even more precise and cost-efficient. In offset ..read more

The comfort of excavator operators and the positive impact comfort can have on their wellbeing and output, was to the fore at Komatsu UK as designers set out to plan a new Operator Cab for crawler excavators, details of which have just been revealed. Said by McHale Plant Sales director, Denis McGrath to be “the product of detailed research and close contacts with customers, the new cab builds upon Komatsu’s well-established reputation for exceptional operator protection”. The result of extensive research and consultations with customers, it is viewed as ‘a significant upgrade’, engineered to d ..read more

BauWatch, who provide of construction site security solutions across Europe, has opened a new office in County Antrim to service both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Spun out of Dutch construction group Visser Assen over a decade ago, BauWatch has played a lead role in shaping the global market for temporary outdoor security solutions within the construction sector. Following its expansion into Germany in 2016, the brand soon attracted the attention of global investor Haniel in 2021, who helped to fund a strategic move to the UK in 2023. This next venture into Ireland marks a significant mi ..read more

AGGREGATE Industries UK (AIUK), part of the global Holcim group, have appointed Lee Sleight as their new chief executive officer. He will take up his position on 1 August 2024, taking over from current CEO Dragan Maksimovic. Earlier this year it was announced that Mr Maksimovic had been appointed as region head for West Europe overseeing the leadership of the Holcim businesses in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Lee Sleight has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry holding various senior leadership positions. He joined Aggregate Industries in 2021 as managing ..read more

NBS and Glenigan (both part of Byggfakta Group) have released their latest findings from a poll of construction professionals on the state of the country, showing they are feeling pessimistic about the economy (39%) and skills shortages (35%), and almost a quarter are worried about regulatory volumes and the fast pace of rollout (24%). Around one in five were anxious about building quality (21%), frustrated with planning complexity (23%), and generating enough business (21%). There is concern about delivering to existing procurement models and tightening margins (17%), as well as frustration w ..read more

Construction-to-agri-to-forestry equipment distributor, McHale Plant Sales of Birdhill and Rathcoole, has been feted with the presentation of a major award to the company by the Swedish-based Komatsu Forest organisation The award ‘Dealer of the Year’ was presented to them by the Komatsu forestry equipment division in acknowledgement of what their Dr. Jurgen Munz said, “was their successful cooperation, loyalty, and best knowledge on the forest machine sector” and of the contribution McHale has made towards the marketing and sale of their timber harvesting equipment, in Ireland and Northern Ire ..read more

The production line for the new electric compact wheel loader has been inaugurated at the CNH plant in Lecce, Italy. The model, conceived and designed in thePuglia plant’s R&D centre, will be produced in CASE and New Holland liveries with the 12EV and W40X models respectively. From here, it will reach markets around the world, meeting the growing need for zero-emission machinery in the construction and agricultural sectors. The ceremony was held in the presence of institutions from the Puglia Region,including Alessandro Delli Noci, Councillor for Economic Development, and Loredana Capone ..read more

Kilwaughter Minerals has enhanced its portfolio of industry-leading products with the launch of its K Rend Eco Range which offer a suite of reduced cement render and mortar products. Designed with innovative cement replacement technology, the range represents a significant investment from Kilwaughter and boasts re-engineered formulas for three existing products – K Post, GP Mix andMineral TC – significantly reducingembodied carbon in the manufacturing process by up to 56%. Developed by K Rend’s research and development team, the launch of  the K Rend Eco Range underscores Kilwaughter Mine ..read more

JCB has expanded its popular XSeries range of crawler excavators with the launch of the brand new 145XR – a second reduced tailswing model that delivers exceptional performance and productivity with compact dimensions and a full-size operator cab. The 145XR reduced tailswing model builds upon the success of JCB’s larger 245XR, delivering impressive performance in a compact design with a minimal counterweight swing. The 145XR has a 27% shorter counterweight overhang than a conventional 140X, making it an ideal machine for working within a highway carriageway, or on confined urban job sites. The ..read more