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PLANT & CIVIL
July - Aug 2012
10 A look back at Hillhead 2012
15 Breezemount new
Auger Torque dealer
16 Revolution in Power
Tool technology
17 Waste & Recycling in
construction sector
26 Finlay impressed by
ALLU buckets
28 CIHT annual tour
of Netherlands
32 View from the cab:
CAT 980K
34 Historic Inchgreen
at Stormont
38 From the desk of
Gordon Best, QPANI
40 JCB launch new machines at
Hirers Day, by Nick Johnson
42 Komatsu's Dash 10 excavator
44 McCormack Drilling
completes river crossing
46 Manitou outlines future plans
50 The latest from local
Hire sector
54 News from QPANI
58 Renault's construction range
60 From the desk of
PJ O'Donnell, IMQS
61 Agri-Plant & Equipment
63 Plant Sales
66 Buyers Guide
Cathie Blackwood General Manager/Editor David Stokes Group Editor
Yvonne Best Sales & Marketing Executive Darryl Magee Publishing Consultant
Brian McCrum Art Director Eleanor Blane Accounts Manager Helen Beggs, Garfield Harrison Publishers
Plant & Civil Engineer is Published by:
4 square media, The Old Coach House, 12 Main Street, Hillsborough BT26 6AE
TEL: 028 9268 8888 FAX: 028 9268 8866 Email: info@4squaremedia.net
contents
Comment
While this is perhaps traditionally the quietest period across our industry, here
at Plant & Civil Engineer we have been as busy as ever, and we take that as an
encouraging sign because in many ways the magazine acts as a barometer as to the
‘health’ of the various sectors we cover – and it seems most are in good shape!
Of course, there are areas where the trading environment remains challenging,
but more and more businesses are beginning to look to the future with a sense
of optimism, hence news of some major investments in both plant and people.
The hire sector, in particular, is pretty buoyant, with some of our leading players
spending big amounts to replace or expand their rental fleets, as you’ll read in
this bumper ‘summer’ edition. Machinery manufacturers, too, are pressing ahead
with new product upgrades and even government agencies are getting in on the
act – an example being news that the Stormont Executive has allocated significant
additional capital spending of over £30 million to roads and hospitals plus
additional resource spending for schools maintenance and public realm contracts.
The Regional Development Minister has also given the green light to the
£100million A8, Belfast to Larne, dual carriageway scheme, work on which is already
underway – all of which is good news for our beleaguered construction industry.
At the Hillhead Show, on which we carry a comprehensive report in words and
pictures, there was also an air of optimism among the almost 500 exhibiters,
many of whom report doing ‘good business’ over the three days, while the
organisers tell us there was a 10% increase in visitor numbers. We also report on
the Balmoral Show, held for the very last time at the Kings Hall; the annual event
will have a new home from next May at the site of the former Maze Prison.
Our special feature this issue looks at waste and recycling activities within the
construction sector, and we’ve spent a few days at Manitou’s ‘Festival Village’
in Spain to find out what the manufacturer is planning for the next few years.
Closer to home, Stormont provided the background for the re-emergence of an FP
McCann digger from the past – an Inchgreem IG-5 which has been meticulously
restored to its former glory; we have a full report with pictures on page 34.
And our view from the cab this month saw us travelling to Kilsaran’s
Gallstown Quarry in County Louth to find out what they thought of
their newly acquired Cat 980K wheel loader from Finning Ireland.
That’s it for now – do have a good summer break (if the rain stays away!) – and we’ll
see you again with our Autumn edition in September. In the meantime, keep up to
date with all the latest news by logging on to www.plantandcivilengineer.com
Cathie Blackwood
General Manager/Editor
Email: Cathie@4squaremedia.net
Plant & Civil Engineer is the journal
for plant, quarrying, municipal and civil
engineering management. It is circulated
on a controlled basis to managers
in the following industries; access
equipment, agricultural contracting,
building, civil engineering and highways
contractors, civil engineering practices,
commercial vehicle distributors,
concrete production, municipal and
government authorities, plant dealers
and operators, plant hire companies,
plant manufacturers, quarrying, scrap
processors, spare parts suppliers. For
those outside the terms of control, Plant
& Civil Engineer is available this year at
£30 per annum subscription.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
© Plant & Civil Engineer 2012. All material in this publication is copyright, including
advertisements which have been prepared for advertisers. No part of it may be
reproduced in any way whatever or stored in electronic retrieval systems without the
written permission of the publishers. We are a completely independent voice and are
not connected to any Institutes or Associations within the industry. Our aim is to publish
accurate, specific and dedicated information, targeting each sector of the industry,
throughout Ireland. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies
supplied by the contributors. All rights reserved.
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