April

Hidromek launches mini backhoe

Turkish manufacturer Hidromek, has added the HMK62 mini backhoe loader, to its existing range of the traditional 8.9t HMK102B and the 9.1t HMK102S backhoes. It will become available after Bauma in Munich at the end of this month.

2010 elections to shape civil construction

2010 is already shaping as an important year for the civil construction industry, with state and federal elections and the looming budget, set to determine our sector’s short-to-mid-term future.

CCF member survey predicts severe skills shortages

Last month the CCF President outlined the work we have been doing with SkillsDMC, under the auspices of Skills Australia, in understanding more about skills issues in our industry.

Australia gets first look at Hyundai’s backhoe

Australian backhoe buyers became the first in the world to experience Hyundai’s expansion into this market segment, when the company unveiled its HB100 backhoe to its dealers, at the company’s national conference in Perth in mid March.

LiuGong Australia puts its backhoes to work

LiuGong Australia, has launched its side shift 777III backhoe on the Australian market, with stock immediately available ex Sydney.

New Holland backhoes among top 100 for innovation

New Holland’s B series B backhoes, were among the top 100 most innovative construction products of 2009, according to a list compiled by US-based industry magazine, Construction Equipment.

Mackay Dig Day a hit with industry

To mark the local release of its 3CX APC backhoe, JCB Construction Equipment Australia’s Mackay, Queensland branch, recently staged two Dig Days.

Disciplined growth, targeted tendering forges success

Board member of the Queensland CCF and managing director of Beilby Holdings p/l, Terry Cogill is full of praise for public infrastructure contracting in his home state of Queensland and the role of the CCF, but condemns stop/go policies.

Monash tests living rooftop soak up ability

The City of Monash is cooperating with Melbourne Water and Monash and Melbourne universities, to research the benefits of an innovative rooftop garden, that will be installed on the top of the council’s chambers.

Spaniards turn smouldering mountain into pleasure dome

It is 100m high, weighs more than six million tonnes, is composed of coal ash and waste from a nearby power station, and it is still burning inside.

New destroyers require a seriously big crane

Australia’s biggest crane, a Manitowoc Model 21000 crawler crane with a capacity of 907t will arrive at ASC’s Osborne shipyard north of Adelaide in October.

ABCC does not ‘persecute’ workers: Lloyd

ABC Commissioner John Lloyd has emphatically rejected claims that ABCC inspectors are biased and target workers when conducting investigations.

Malaysia hosts quarry event

Those who receive Earthmover’s weekly Newswire, may have noticed that I wrote about a long weekend I spend in late March in Kuala Lumpur, courtesy of Sandvik Mining and Construction.

From the CCF President

Safety must be a shared responsibility