Displaying items by tag: UK

UK: Researchers at Newcastle University have developed a new mortar using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles and silica aerogel. The team says that the mortar conforms to construction standards 413-1:2011, ASTM C270-10, and AS 1012/AS 3700. They added that it additionally reduces heat loss in the spaces between blocks or bricks by 55%.

Team leader Lidija Šiller said “For the next step, we wish to find collaborators such as a construction company to apply for funding and build the house with our ‘recipe’ for mortar. This will allow us to provide the direct evidence of potential energy savings and assess the economics for masonry buildings applications.”

UK: A&L McCrae has commissioned its second ready-mix concrete batching plant at Barrachander quarry in Argyll, Scotland. West Coast Today News has reported that the producer already operates five aggregates sites. It employs 21 people in its ready-mix concrete business, and is seeking to hire 15 more.

A&L McCrae says that its next move will be to establish a third ready-mix concrete plant at Achnaba quarry in Lochgilphead.

UK: Scotland-based Akela Ground Engineering has inaugurated a new plant in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Irish Construction News has reported that the plant will produce its ABeam precast concrete beam systems. The move purportedly aims to help overcome a local shortage of housing, thanks to Abeam systems’ rapid installation capabilities.

UK: Moore Concrete Products is building three new precast concrete plants at Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Business Eye News has reported that the producer secured financing from Denmark-based Danske Bank. Alongside the expansion, Moore Concrete Products is developing a new enterprise resource planning system to digitally integrate its operations.

UK: FP McCann Group has acquired Country Antrim-based precast concrete producer Macrete Ireland. The Irish News has reported that Macrete Ireland's Ballymaguigan plant has integrated into FP McCann's network of 10 other precast concrete plants in Northern Ireland.

FP McCann reportedly says that it is the largest precast concrete producer in the UK, with nine further plants operating in Great Britain. It announced a €107m investment in capacity expansion across its operations in August 2024.

UK: Utranazz has secured a contract to become exclusive UK distributor for IMER Group, an Italy-based concrete plant equipment supplier. Construction Index News has reported that IMER Group’s offering includes ready-mix and precast concrete plants, vibroforming machines and concrete mixer trucks.

UK: Construction firm Skanska is using 3000 planks of precast concrete made with 50% ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) for the upcoming 105 Victoria Street commercial development in Westminster, dubbed ‘London’s most sustainable office building.’ Engineering firm Laing O’Rourke will design and produce the planks at its Worksop, Nottinghamshire, concrete plant. Construction Management Magazine News has reported that the 105 Victoria Street building will include 2000m² of green space and terraces.

UK: Breedon Group has acquired County Durham-based Micromix (Northern). InsiderMedia News has reported that Micromix (Northern)’s 25-ready-mix concrete truck fleet supplies small-batch deliveries to private and commercial customers in the North of England and parts of Scotland.

UK: The planning committee of North Lincolnshire Council has refused planning permission for Welton Aggregates’ proposed 250t/day ready-mix concrete batching plant at Slate House quarry in Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire. Local press has reported that the decision followed a site visit by councillors, who discovered a breach of traffic conditions for existing permissions. The new concrete plant would have employed three people.

UK: A team at Northumbria University in Newcastle has launched new research into 3D printing using a new Platypus 3D concrete printer supplied by ChangeMaker 3D and Australia-based Luyten 3D. The university received funding for the equipment from national scientific academy the Royal Society.