vegetables

Can vegetables make concrete stronger?

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Engineers at Lancaster University are working with industrial partners at Cellucomp Ltd UK to research how concrete mixtures can be strengthened and made more environmentally friendly by adding ‘nano platelets’ extracted from the fibres of root vegetables.

The work, which is being supported with £195,000 by the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding, will strengthen findings from early tests that have demonstrated that concrete mixtures including nano platelets from sugar beet or carrot significantly improve the mechanical properties of concrete.

These vegetable-composite concretes were also found to out-perform all commercially available cement additives, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes and at a much lower cost.

The root vegetable nano platelets work to increase the amount of calcium silicate hydrate – the main substance that controls the performance of concrete, and stop any cracks that appear in the concrete.

By increasing the performance of concrete, smaller quantities are needed in construction.

The construction industry is urgently seeking ways in which to curb its carbon emissions. The production of ordinary Portland cement, one of the main ingredients for concrete, is very carbon intensive – its production accounts for 8% of total global co2 emissions. This is forecast to double in the next 30 years due to rising demand.

The proof-of-concept studies highlighted that adding the root vegetable nano platelets resulted in a saving of 40kg of ordinary Portland cement per cubic metre of concrete – which gives a saving of 40kg of CO2 for the same volume. This is because the greater strength of the root vegetable mixture means smaller sections of concrete are required in buildings.

Professor Mohamed Saafi from Lancaster University’s Engineering Department and lead researcher believes root vegetable concrete could go a long way to reducing construction carbon emissions.

Saafi said: “These novel cement nanocomposites are made by combining ordinary Portland cement with nano platelets extracted from waste root vegetables taken from the food industry.

“The composites are not only superior to current cement products in terms of mechanical and microstructure properties, but also use smaller amounts of cement. This significantly reduces both the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with cement manufacturing.”

The vegetable-based cementitious composites were also found to have a denser microstructure, which is important to prevent corrosion and increasing the lifespan of the materials.

The research project is also looking at adding very thin sheets made from vegetable nano platelets to existing concrete structures to reinforce their strength.

The two-year research project will investigate the science behind the results of the proof-of-concept studies to gain a fuller understanding of how the vegetable nano platelet fibres enhance the concrete mix. The researchers will also seek to optimise the concrete performance to help produce a mixture that can be used in the construction industry.

Cellucomp Ltd already uses fibres from root vegetables to manufacture more durable paints.

Dr Eric Whale from Cellucomp Ltd said: “We are excited to be continuing our collaboration with Professor Saafi and developing new applications for our materials, where we can bring environmental and performance benefits.”

Source: PBCtoday.co.uk

22 million

£22 million cash injection to address skills shortage

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The government has attempted to address the construction industry skills shortage with a £22m cash injection which will bring training to construction sites and therefore allowing learners to apply their knowledge in a real-world environment.

The multi-million-pound Construction Skills Fund has been announced by skills minister Anne Milton with 158,000 new construction jobs expected to be created in the UK over the next five years after first being unveiled by the chancellor Philip Hammond in his Spring Statement.

Money will go towards 20 on-site hubs to train more people to help deliver 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s. The 18-month scheme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and will be administered by the Construct.on Industry Training Board.

Commenting on the announcement, Milton said: “For our economy to thrive we need everyone, regardless of their age or background, to be able to get the training and the skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. The government has committed to building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s and we want to make sure that we are investing in the UK skills base to deliver this. A career in construction offers the chance for many people to establish and grow their own business. On-site training will be hugely beneficial for employers and trainees, as it will help bridge the gap between training and working in the industry, meaning trainees are site-ready sooner.”

The fund forms a vital part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy – a long-term plan to build a Britain fit for the future by helping businesses create jobs in every part of the UK.

It underlines the Government’s commitment to improving education standards for everyone, so they can gain the skills they need to succeed and can secure good jobs.

The fund aims to support:

  • 20 on-site training hubs
  • Work experience and placements for people working to join the industry
  • Entry pathways for those currently unemployed
  • Pathways for career switchers.

CITB is now calling on employers, housing associations and other interested bodies such as LEPs and local authorities to submit expressions of interest. These can be from both existing and prospective on-site learning hubs.

The funding will only support on-site training provision, and access to live construction projects is essential to qualify.

Steve Radley, Policy Director at CITB, said: The Construction Skills Fund is a milestone scheme for the sector and provides a significant investment in skills and training. It will help attract new talent and bridge the gap between training and working in the industry. Having training on or near to major projects will reveal what an exciting sector this can be, while also putting new talent in the shop window. We want all interested organisations to submit Expressions of Interest that are innovative, collaborative and with training at their heart. We will support applicants through the process and provide expert guidance to apply to the fund. We are pleased to help deliver this major new project and we are confident that, with industry support, it can help meet construction’s skills needs now and in the future.

Managing director Graham Ratcliffe said: “It is great seeing funds being made available to support on-site training through hubs similar to the Construction Skills Villages in Scarborough and Barnsley. We hope to secure funds to expand our unique and successful model in turn helping support the construction industry overcome a skills gap.”

Funds provided by the DfE will also be provided for work experience placements for people working to join the industry, entry pathways for those currently unemployed and pathways for career switchers.

The CITB is now calling on employers, housing associations and other interested bodies such as LEPs and local authorities to submit expressions of interest. These can be from both existing and prospective on-site learning hubs.

Radley continued: “Having training on or near to major projects will reveal what an exciting sector this can be, while also putting new talent in the shop window. We want all interested organisations to submit Expressions of Interest that are innovative, collaborative and with training at their heart. We will support applicants through the process and provide expert guidance to apply to the fund.”

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has released new research investigating how to tackle the skills crisis.

With Brexit on the horizon, the research points to the need for greater skills transferability, with a key goal to attracting talent from other sectors and trades.

The new report, ‘Construction and Built Environment: Skills Transferability in the UK’, surveying 500 employers across the UK, found that with a smaller construction talent pool post-Brexit, the sector needs to look at encouraging people from different industries to look at construction as a good career progression.

The industry is not noted for its diversity of talent, with researchers finding that 62% of employers took no action to encourage employees to transfer between trades. This is despite approximately one in five (19%) of construction sector workers having previously worked in another sector.

The report highlighted manual occupations, such as steel erectors and bricklayers, as the roles with the best potential to transfer skills.

The survey pointed to a number of challenges in increasing skills transferability, including:

  • Improving the image of the industry
  • Changing the way training is delivered to it promotes multi-skilling
  • Concerns from employees and unions around multi-skilling

Radley continued: “Our research shows that transferability of skills is a growing issue, particularly with Brexit looming.

“While many employers are not yet looking at it, it could become a significant way to meet our skills needs in the coming years.

“CITB clearly has a role to play in this. Our forecasts can help prioritise support for upskilling and ensure training providers are well placed to respond. In addition, we will collaborate with industry to develop top-up courses to enable transition for people with relevant transferable skills.”

 

Source: Infrastructure Intelligence / UK Construction Media

uk construction

Is Brexit going to create a skills shortage?

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Constructionnews.co.uk, as part of their week long industry skills challenge, have discovered how fresh data and political investigations are shedding more and more light on the impact Brexit is having and will have on workforces.

Brexit negotiations have moved forward yet at the same time seem to have produced little real progress.

Despite Theresa May’s ‘deal’ announced in December last year, uncertainty still hangs in the air for the UK’s 3.2m EU nationals.

Under the current agreement, EU citizens who have been in the UK for five years continuously will be able to apply for ‘settled status’. The online system is being developed from scratch, but the government promises it will be “user-friendly” and draw on existing data to “minimise the burden on applicants to provide evidence”.

The EU workforce’s contribution to the UK construction sector cannot be underestimated – particularly in London. As the Construction Industry Council pointed out in its evidence to the MAC: “Nearly 200,000 people working in construction are from the EU, which is the equivalent workforce for building 16 Crossrails.”

Only one more Crossrail is planned, for now, but that’s part of a £500bn pipeline of major infrastructure projects – including HS2, Hinkley and Heathrow. In addition, housebuilding is expected to ramp up as the government aims to tackle the UK’s shortage of homes.

In the scaffolding sector alone, thousands of employees will be needed for major nuclear power stations at Hinkley and Wylfa, leaving workers in short supply up and down the country.

Infrastructure plans are concentrated on the South-east, where the EU labour issue could become particularly acute. According to the MAC, 26.8 per cent of London’s construction workforce is from the EU.

Two years on from the EU referendum, how worried should the industry be about a ‘Brexodus’ and what are the current trends around labour?

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of EU nationals working in the UK has fallen 28,000 in a year to 2.29m.

ONS data published in February revealed that the number of Eastern European nationals working in the UK last year slid by 5 per cent.

Meanwhile its latest employment survey, published in May, showed that in Q1 2018, 80 per cent of main contractors were reporting difficulties with recruiting bricklayers, 76 per cent were having trouble finding carpenters and 56 per cent were struggling to find plasterers.

These issues can partly be attributed to the long-running skills crisis in construction. But they also emphasise the need to address the status of EU nationals.

Anecdotally, Mr Radley says the CITB is hearing that the number of EU workers in construction is remaining generally stable, but there is some concern about the quality of workers arriving.

“A lot of workers here currently are from Poland and are generally regarded as being technically some of the best – multi-skilled and with good language skills,” he says. “But it may be that immigrants from some other countries don’t score as highly on those fronts.”

As contractors work out how to fill the gaps, others are still concerned about how government views the construction industry in the context of Brexit. A leaked document last year revealed that construction was rated as a ‘low priority’ by government.

However, Liberal Democrat peer and former coalition government minister Lord Stunell believes this is the wrong approach.

“Everything about growth in the economy is dependent on construction, but the government seems completely transfixed with getting its immigration figures down,” he says. “The industry needs to expand its workforce by 30 per cent to get these big infrastructure projects done, but could lose 10 per cent of its workforce.”

It is not just the lack of EU workers that is weighing on the minds of construction bosses. The industry’s ageing workforce – with 30 per cent of workers over 50 – remains a deep-seated concern. The added sting in the tail is that there is a higher proportion of young migrant workers compared with their UK counterparts.

Brexit and an ageing workforce combined could prove a big stumbling block in the future, however figures generally are encouraging in terms of output at the moment, and that is something that can be built upon.  Brexit was always going to bring uncertainty, but being prepared and working towards solutions now means that once change comes the construction industry as a whole will be ready.

Source: Construction News

construction output

Construction output increased 8% in 2017

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Recently revised data from AMA Research indicates that total construction output increased by 8% in 2017 compared with 2016, to reach a total value of £163.5bn. In terms of value, new work accounts for the largest share, with output growth having been particularly strong in the residential new work segment, which saw growth of 14% in the year. RMI output has also been stronger in the residential than in the non-residential sector. Overall RMI output increased by 7% in 2017.

In H1 2018, the construction sector remains uncertain to moderately optimistic. Indications are that new orders remained positive into Q4 2017 and this should lead to some growth in terms of output into 2018 and beyond for certain key sub-sectors, and as a result, the outlook for the UK construction market remains mildly positive into the medium-term, although with lower rates of overall growth than previously forecast.

The outlook for the housing sector remains positive, if modest, with 17% overall growth in residential output currently forecast between 2017 and 2022. The imbalance between demand and supply for new housing will remain one of the key drivers for continued output growth for the residential sector, and the number of new programmes designed to address shortage in housing stocks should motivate output into the medium-term.

However, predicted growth in the newbuild sector is set against lower growth levels for completions, and also takes into account an element of materials inflation – in particular for the finishing of new housing, such as sanitaryware, tiles and electrical wiring products. RMI in the residential sector is currently forecast to remain relatively steady, with low annual growth rates reflecting consumer confidence levels.

The non-residential sector is facing more subdued growth into the medium-term with output currently forecast to reduce to 1-2% 2018-19, followed by annual growth of around 3% to 2022. The issue of business confidence and investment levels and the “wait and see” approach regarding the commitment to future funding and capital commitments are all likely to act as a brake on output levels into the medium-term.

Infrastructure will remain the largest sub-sector with growth underpinned by HS2 which has the potential to deliver £3-4bn pa of output to 2022. However, the HS2 works also bring into question the issue of capacities both in terms of materials but also workforce which could result in skills shortages for other sub-sectors into the medium-term.

The entertainment & leisure sector output is forecast to see good overall growth to 2022, when output is forecast to be around £10.9bn. Following growth of around 33% in 2017, annual growth rates are currently forecast to fall back to around 3-5% from 2018 to 2022.

The retail sector is currently forecast to perform less well, due to a combination of structural changes within the sector and also potential reduction in consumer confidence and spending levels, and the public sector is likely to see less investment in capital projects into the medium-term, particularly given the focus on the collapse of Carillion and their extensive involvement in PFI contracts.Pa

“Overall growth in construction output is forecast to reduce to around 2% for 2017-18, but improving to 3% for 2019-22” said Jane Tarver of AMA Research. “This more modest forecast takes into account the continuing uncertainty surrounding the Brexit process affecting the timing of business investment decisions.”

AMA Research publish the Construction and Housing Forecast Bulletin – GB 4 times a year – the bulletin provides analysis of the overall construction market in current prices, in terms of new work and RMI activity, also public and private sectors and detailed reviews of the two main sectors with sub-sector analysis for quarterly output and new orders, housing starts and completions, as well as forecasts to 2022.

The recent issue of the bulletin includes revised data for 2016 as well as preliminary data for the full year 2017 for output and new orders for total GB construction, as well as the residential and non-residential sectors, though this may be subject to revision in the medium term.

Source: UK Construction Week / AMA Research

 

cladding

Combustible cladding could be banned in the wake of Glenfell

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Prime minister Theresa May has given another indication that the government is set to ban combustible cladding on high-rise buildings.

The government has already placed the possibility of such a ban under review, with housing secretary James Brokenshire announcing the move just hours after the publication last week of the Hackitt

Review, which stopped short of recommending a ban.

Brokenshire had already said in Parliament that the government was likely to agree a ban.

Now May has also admitted that she is “minded” to put a ban into action.

At prime minister’s questions yesterday, she confirmed that a ban was the government’s intention.

She said: “We are minded to go further, by banning combustible materials in cladding on high-rise buildings.

“We are meeting our legal duties to consult on these proposals and we will not delay any necessary action.”

She was responding to a question by Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, who urged the prime minister to take tougher action to ban flammable cladding to avoid another tragedy like Grenfell Tower.

Following the publication last week of Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report into her review of Building Regulations and fire safety, the report’s eight key recommendations are as follows:

1) New regulatory framework

A new regulatory framework for buildings more than ten storeys high. This includes the creation of a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA), made up of Local Authority Building Standards, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive. The JCA will hold a database of all high-risk residential buildings (HHRBs), whether in construction or already occupied. It will oversee the sign-off of HHRBs with dutyholders having to show that their plans are “detailed and robust”.

2) Clear responsibilities

Hackitt warned that a lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities when it comes to building safety was one of the circumstances that left to the Grenfell Tower disaster. She is recommending a clear and identifiable “dutyholder” with responsibility for building safety for the whole building. That dutyholder will have to present a safety case to the JCA at regular intervals. The key roles that are most important initiating, overseeing and influencing activity throughout the procurement, design and construction of a building should also be identified. The key roles for prioritising building safety will be the same as those identified in the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2015 to avoid confusion.

3) Three ‘gateways’

There should be three “gateway” points where those responsible for a building’s safety will have to prove to the new JCA that they are complying with regulations. The first gateway point is to satisfy the JCA that the building is accessible by the fire service, which must be determined before the building gets planning permission. Secondly, the dutyholder must satisfy the JCA that key building safety risks are understood and will be managed and that “robust” processes are in place, before building work can start. Thirdly, the JCA must be satisfied that the signed-off design has been followed before occupation can start.

4) More rigorous enforcement

More rigorous enforcement powers. A wider and more flexible range of powers will be created to focus incentives on the creation of reliably safe buildings from the outset. Stronger enforcement powers should align with the Health and Safety at Work Act. The JCA/Local Authority Building Standards should have additional powers to issue improvement and prohibition notices, as well as clear powers to require changes to work that meet Building Regulations. Time limits for bringing prosecutions should be increased to five or six years for “major deficiencies”.

5) Higher competence levels

The construction sector and fire safety sector will have to demonstrate more effective leadership for ensuring building safety among key roles including an overarching body to provide oversight of competence requirements. The aim is to move towards a system where ownership of technical guidance rests with the industry as the intelligent lead in delivering building safety and providing it with the flexibility to ensure that guidance keeps pace with changing practices.

6) More effective product testing

A clearer, more transparent and more effective specification and testing regime of construction products must be developed, including products as they are put together as part of a system. There should be clear statements on what systems products can and cannot be used for, with their use made essential. The scope of testing, the application of products in systems, and the resulting implications must be more clearly communicated in plan, consistent and non-technical information. Additional test houses should be established and certified, while test methods and standards should be maintained under a periodic review process.

7) Better information

The review has identified four “key information products” integral to oversight on building safety. They are: the digital record, the fire and emergency file, full plans, and the construction control plan. Hackitt recommends that the creation, maintenance and handover of relevant information should be an “integral part” of the legal responsibilities of clients, principal designers, and principal contractors undertaking works on HRRBs.

8) Better procurement

Principal contractors and clients for HHRBs should devise contracts that specifically state that safety requirements must not be compromised for cost reduction. Tenders should set out how the proposed solution will produce safe building outcomes. Contracting documentation relating to the safety aspects of the building should be included in the digital record.

MPs are set to explore how systemic and cultural changes recommended as part of the Hackitt Review can be applied to the the construction industry as a whole.

The exercise comes as part of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s decision to follow up its work on the recent independent review of Building regulations and fire safety by holding further evidence sessions.

The sessions will examine the immediate changes needed to improve the safety of high-rise residential tower blocks, as well as some of the longer-term implications for the construction industry as a whole.

The Committee will call representatives including figures from the construction industry and fire safety experts, as well as the government, before Parliament breaks up for the summer recess.

It said it wanted to explore immediate, specific changes to regulations needed to make tower blocks safe, as well as how the longer-term systemic and cultural changes the Hackitt Review proposes can be implemented and how they apply to the construction industry more widely.

Clive Betts, chair of the Committee, said: “While we agree with the Review that there needs to be a shift in culture in the building industry, it is vital that the Government moves quickly to implement immediate changes to improve the safety of tower blocks.

“We want to find out what needs to be done now, such as the banning of combustible cladding, as well as ways of changing the long-term approach of the industry.

“By taking evidence before the summer we hope the government will consider our findings as part of the commitments made by the secretary of state last week to consult on banning cladding and the implementation of wider reform of the regulatory system.”

Source: Construction Manager Magazine / UK Construction Week

BMF

Builders Merchants sales growth continues upward trend

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While no one would deny that the building and construction sector faced a challenging first quarter, figures just released in the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) show continued growth, albeit at a slower rate. Sales value growth in Q 1 2018 was up +0.4% in absolute terms and up +2.0% per trading day on the same period last year.  

Growth would have been stronger had it not been for the “Beast from the East” hammering the external product categories and Good Friday falling into March removing a trading day from Q1 2018. March, with two fewer trading days than 2017, was down -8.6% year on year, but January and February’s sales compensated, at +8.4% and +4.0% respectively delivering growth for the quarter.

Quarterly growth was driven by Timber, up +2.3%, alongside multiple internal product categories, notably Plumbing and Heating (+8.0%), Kitchens and Bathrooms (+3.6%), Ironmongery (+2.1%), and Decorating (+1.2%), all suggesting that work stayed inside due to the poor weather.

External categories fared less well including Landscaping (-4.9%) – where garden walling and paving were particularly badly affected – and the major category of Heavy Building Materials down -0.8% with Cement and Blocks feeling the freeze.

The BMBI uses GfK’s point of sale tracking data drawn from over 80% of builders merchants’ sales throughout the country, making it the most reliable source of data for the sector.

Commenting on the results, John Newcomb CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation said: “Sitting in the spring sunshine we have all but forgotten the artic blasts that swept the country in the first three months of the year, but they certainly impacted construction performance.  Under these conditions it must be seen as a positive that merchant sales growth is continuing.  While we may not see the market grow at the same levels as 2017, we remain confident that the trend will continue throughout 2018.”

Richard Frankcom, Client Insight Director at GfK compared the quarter’s figures to a diamond in the rough, saying: “Merchant sales have outperformed the revised construction figures from the ONS, which fell -2.7% on the previous quarter.  They also appear to be bucking the UK consumer’s negative outlook as seen in GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index, which was still in the doldrums.  However, before we polish these diamonds, we need to see the delayed external work shift into April and then continued growth year on year in May and June. Value growth is great, but price inflation is a factor we cannot ignore and only this continued growth will really give us clarity.”

 

Source: BMF.org.uk

reusable water bottles

Reusable bottles used in a pilot scheme to reduce plastics on site

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A pilot scheme is underway at the mixed-use Abbey Area redevelopment in Camden to use reusable water bottles instead of plastic cups, where Wates is building 141 homes as well as additional retail and commercial spaces.

Reusable bottles have been distributed to the entire workforce who can use fresh water stations to fill them up.

Previously, the Abbey Area redevelopment used an estimated 120,000 cups per year, which cost just over £1,300. The company estimates the move could save around £4,350 per site over ten years, while reducing landfill by 5,000kg over the same period.

Over a 10-year period, Wates estimates that swapping to reusable bottles could save approximately £4,350 per site, as well as reducing landfill by around 5,000kg and helping to reduce litter and marine pollution.

Wates is also hoping the change will encourage workers to cut down their use of single-use plastic bottles as the initiative is rolled-out across all of its sites.

Shimz Corp

Shimizu Corporation to introduce construction robots

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Major Japanese contractor Shimizu Corporation is carrying out trials of autonomously controlled construction robots. The trials are run inside the Robot Laboratory at Shimizu’s Institute of Technology in Etchujima Tokyo.

The robots, developed by Shimizu, play various roles, such as conveying materials horizontally, welding steel columns or installing ceiling boards.

They will be deployed to real high-rise building site in Osaka later this year. In the next fiscal year, the robots will work at several large construction sites in Tokyo.

Shimizu said that it was concerned over a large exodus of skilled workers. “A pressing issue for the construction industry is how to find labour while raising productivity. Shimizu believes that the key to raising productivity is better working conditions, higher wages and more off-days,” said the company.

At the beginning of 2016, it began development of the Shimz Smart Site, a production system in which robots and humans will collaborate to move construction projects forward. “After a year and a half investing over 1 billion yen [£6.6bn] on intensive teamwork with universities and partners from other industries, we have completed the basic development and are ready for the next phase,” said the company.

The robots undergoing autonomous control testing at the robot laboratory include: the Robo-Carrier, which conveys materials horizontally; the Robo-Welder, a robot that welds steel columns; and the Robo-Buddy, a multipurpose robot that handles construction work for ceilings and floors.

Each one is a element of the Shimz Smart Site. An operator uses a tablet to send instructions that the robots carry out autonomously. “At the laboratory, we are verifying the robots’ ability to autonomously respond to varying patterns of work instructions, and adjusting the programming governing their operation accordingly,” said Shimizu.

The Robo-Carrier links with a temporary elevator to transport the supplies to the designated spot – entirely unmanned – when the operator selects materials to convey and enters their destination in a tablet. On the way, the robot recognises obstacles and reroutes on its own to avoid them. At the same time, a collision prevention feature will halt the robot if a person comes near. To maintain an awareness of its position, the Robo-Carrier uses lasers to obtain real-time spatial data, which it compares with other spatial data acquired from BIM. At the lab, the robot lifts a pallet on which plaster boards with a combined weight of around 1t are placed, and then carries them inside a temporary elevator. “We are repeatedly checking how the robot sets down each pallet, then lifts them again in the elevator to convey them to a designated location,” said Shimizu.

The Robo-Welder has a robotic arm that uses laser shape measurement to determine the contours of a groove, or channel, on a steel column to be welded. The robot determines how to perform the job, such as the steps for cleanly placing the welding material in the channel. The robotic arm, with freedom of movement along six axes, performs the welding. Usually two Robo-Welders work together on one column. To verify that the Robo-Welder can handle the channels in columns to be used in the construction of a high-rise building in Osaka, Shimizu has been testing the robot’s functions by altering the shape of the welding channels.

The Robo-Buddy has full control over two robotic arms with freedom of movement along six axes. After the sensors recognize the position of the ceiling grid frame material to insert ceiling suspension bolts, one arm lifts up a ceiling board to the correct position, while the other arm screws the board to the base material. 

After the construction work on the foundation is completed at a site, an all-weather cover is installed to provide a lightweight shelter for the building against all kinds of weather. A new Exter crane, which is located beneath the cover, then lowers the columns and beams of the steel frame into position sequentially and Robo-Welder welds the columns to complete the framework. Robo-Buddy executes the final stage of finishing the floors and ceilings from the lower floors upward. After Robo-Carrier and other horizontal and vertical conveyor robots transport the materials that have been delivered to the construction site to their temporary staging areas at night, they then transport them to the location where a Robo-Buddy performs the work.

Source: Construction Index / shimz.co.jp

Graphene

Wonder material Graphene could revolutionise the construction industry

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Scientists say a greener, stronger and more durable concrete made using “wonder-material” graphene could revolutionise the construction industry.  

Graphene is a form of carbon first reliably produced at the University of Manchester by researchers in 2004, work which led to two Nobel prizes. It is made up of a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice. Its structure gives it important physical qualities, including efficient conductance of heat and electricity and unusual strength.

A research team at the University of Exeter, which includes Cast Consultancy’s Dimitar Dimov, has developed a technique which uses nanoengineering technology to incorporate graphene into traditional concrete production.

The researchers say the new composite material is more than twice as strong and four times more water resistant than existing concretes, and has been tested using British and European industry standards.

The graphene-reinforced concentre material also reduces the carbon footprint of conventional concrete production methods, according to the University of Exeter scientists. They add that the technique could pave the way for other nanomaterials to be incorporated into concrete.

Dimitar Dimov, lead author, who works at the University of Exeter engineering department and with construction consultancy Cast, said: “This research is important as it can be applied to large-scale manufacturing and construction. The industry has to be modernised by incorporating not only offsite manufacturing, but innovative new materials as well.

“Finding greener ways to build is a crucial step forward in reducing carbon emissions around the world and so help protect our environment as much as possible. It is the first step, but a crucial step in the right direction to make a more sustainable construction industry for the future.”

Professor Monica Craciun, co-author of the paper and also from Exeter’s engineering department, said: “This new composite material is an absolute game-changer in terms of reinforcing traditional concrete to meets these needs. Not only is it stronger and more durable, but it is also more resistant to water, making it uniquely suitable for construction in areas which require maintenance work and are difficult to be accessed.

“Yet perhaps more importantly, by including graphene we can reduce the amount of materials required to make concrete by around 50% – leading to a significant reduction of 446kg per tonne of the carbon emissions.”

The paper, Ultrahigh Performance nanoengineered Graphene-Concrete Composites for Multifunctional Applications, is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The research was supported by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Cement-making accounts for 6% of global carbon emissions, and manufacturers must make sharp reductions if the Paris climate goals are to be met, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project, in a recent study.

 

Source: Construction Manager / The Guardian

uk construction

UK Construction week unveils its Role Models campaign

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UK Construction Week is launching a new initiative for 2018 to help the industry compete for talent and improve recruitment. It will do this by taking role models in the industry and elevating their profile and their story in a nationwide publicity campaign through trade and consumer media.

Nathan Garnett, Event Director for UKCW explains: “There are some amazing people working in the sector and their stories can be inspirational to others. So we are planning for UK Construction Week to act as a platform to do just that, inspire a new generation of construction professionals to join this rewarding and exciting industry.”

Role models will also be asked to take part in an outreach programme, going to colleges and schools in the coming months to talk to students and teachers at key stages of their education to explain what inspired them to choose construction as a career and bust any myths around the image of construction.

UK Construction Week is looking for professionals to apply or to be nominated. This is an opportunity for people to raise their own profile if they feel they deserve it, or for colleagues to nominate professionals they feel deserve recognition. This is a great chance for a company to raise its profile by showcasing its talent, as well as for unsung heroes to gain valuable encouragement, as well as help recruit a whole new generation of construction professionals.

This is aimed at all walks of the sector, whether you are a newly qualified apprentice, or someone who has transferred into the sector from the military or automotive industries. You could be working in facilities management, architecture, energy management, civil engineering, site management, bricklaying, digital construction, electro technical installation, roofing… the list goes on! UKCW want a diverse and representative selection to show the world the myriad of opportunities and talent the sector holds.

Successful UKCW Role Models will be asked to speak at UK Construction Week on the main stage or individual show stages, to take part in the UKCW student initiative, and they will be asked to write for the Construction Matters blog. They will also be invited to selected events in the coming months, as well as being VIPs at the main event in October.

Whilst all those selected in the group will gain significant profile from the campaign, there will be awards presented at the event itself to those who have been selected by the UKCW Advisory Committee to have been deemed the UKCW Role Models of the year. These will be presented at UK Construction Week on Tuesday 9th October in front of the journalists and industry VIPs.

Deadline for Nominations is Friday 27th April.

To enter or nominate, visit https://www.ukconstructionweek.com/news/show-news/2189-role-models and submit a 300 word max biog and short summary (under 300 words) on why you or your nomination should be selected.