Features

Block paving has become a popular alternative to concrete or asphalt surfacing and innovative new designs can also help reduce flooding Whether it is attributable to global warming and changing weather patterns or more surface run-off, flooding seems to be a growing problem in Europe. It is estimated that around two thirds of home insurance claims for flood damage are now caused by surface water, rather than from rivers bursting their banks. The rate of development in some areas means that further surfacing

Michelin launched the first radial earthmover tyre 50 years ago. Claire Symes takes a look at the development The shortage of earthmover tyres has been regularly reported in the news recently, but 50 years ago such tyres were hitting the headlines for very different reasons. It was in 1959 that Michelin introduced the XR tyre - the first radial tyres for earthmoving equipment - and took tyres for construction equipment into a new era. Michelin's XR concept was tried and tested as it was based on the radial

Ten years ago, the UK produced 222 million tonnes of primary aggregates, and last year that figure was 33.3% down at 148 million tonnes. Interestingly, production of recycled materials stayed exactly the same at 60 million tonnes, which meant that the drop in total production was also exactly one-third from 2001 to 2011 (282 million tonnes down to 208 million tonnes).
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, lime, mortar and silica sand

nvestment in new equipment has led to an increase in productivity at an aggregates quarry in Cyprus Asignificant investment in new equipment has resulted in increased productivity say the operators of the largest aggregates quarry in Cyprus. The 40hectare quarry is situated beside the Stavrovouni Monastery, located on the mountain peak of the same name, near the villages of Kornos and Pyrga. It was initiated in 1960 and bought by Skyra Lima Public 14 years later.
Skyra Lima was taken over by the Iacovou Gr

EU policy on water: From the water framework directive to the blueprint to safeguard Europe's water resources. The European Commission (EC) rationalised and enhanced the various measures previously undertaken in the water conservation field with its adoption of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in 2000. It followed great concern coming from the European Union (EU), citizens and Member States on the management of the most precious natural resource. The WFD’s main aim is embedding pre-existing measures (the

In an historic and sensitive area of Germany, drill and blast in a local quarry became a no-go. A new system had to be found as Patrick Smith reports Quarry operator Rainer Krings faced a stark choice: change his operation or face possible closure of part of his business. For a man whose creed is “if there is a problem find a solution” the option was simple, and now his operation is in harmony with near neighbours and environmental rules.
To win basalt for aggregates his quarry in Mendig, near Cologne, Ger

Various weighing systems, static and mobile, are available to quarry and recycling operators as Patrick Smith reports Accurate weighing and measurement is vital for improving quarry productivity. For example, prior to billing a customer it is essential to know the weight of each load, and a variety of specialist systems are available to calculate this and to make sure trucks leaving a quarry are not too heavy for the roads they will travel on. Static or dynamic weighing systems are often used to measure the

When it was discovered Scotland’s thin road surfacings were wearing thin, it was decided to develop a new specification A new surface course specification for roads has been developed by Transport Scotland and TRL for the Scottish trunk road network. This, it is claimed, should help deliver significant improvements in material durability, which ultimately will result in less disruption to road users generated by road construction and maintenance. Following on from European developments in asphalt technology

Quarry operators looking to buy new equipment this year may well come away from a dealer or an exhibition stand in some confusion. The reason for this understandable bafflement is exhaust emissions, or possibly the lack of them.
Many will be familiar with the European Union’s Stage IIIB and US Tier 4 Interim emissions standards that affect most off-highway equipment, and manufacturers have been falling over each other to launch new kit equipped with these engines for some time now. But things are not as si

Lakshmi Stones is the first company in Bangalore, India, to buy an Atlas Copco XAHS 186 portable compressor, and it has been added to the company’s existing fleet of six XAHS units The company, which quarries pink granite at the site 60km from the city, has invested in the newly-launched Atlas Copco XAHS 186 oil-injected rotary screw portable compressor and has ordered a second. Lakshmi Stones has an existing fleet of Atlas Copco XA 176 compressors, which it has been using for the past few years. Bangalore