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New technologies are profoundly transforming the construction industry, revolutionizing the way projects are designed, planned, and executed. Here are some key ways in which new technologies are impacting the construction industry:

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM): BIM is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building or infrastructure project. It enables architects, engineers, and contractors to collaborate more effectively, visualize designs in 3D, detect clashes or errors before construction, and optimize project schedules and costs.
2. Prefabrication and Modular Construction: Advanced prefabrication techniques and modular construction methods are gaining popularity. Off-site fabrication allows for greater precision, quality control, and faster assembly, reducing on-site labor and construction time. This approach also promotes sustainability by minimizing waste.
3. Drones and UAVs: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones are being utilized for surveying, site inspections, and monitoring construction progress. Drones can quickly capture high-resolution images, aerial maps, and 3D models of construction sites, improving project planning, site management, and safety.
4. Robotics and Automation: Robots are increasingly used in construction tasks such as bricklaying, concrete pouring, and demolition. Automation reduces labor-intensive work, increases efficiency, and enhances worker safety. Robotic exoskeletons and augmented reality (AR) tools are also employed to assist workers in heavy lifting and provide real-time information on-site.
5. Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices and sensors are embedded into construction equipment, tools, and materials, allowing real-time data collection and analysis. This data provides insights into equipment performance, resource utilization, and worker safety, leading to better decision-making and proactive maintenance.
6. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR): AR/VR technologies are transforming the design and visualization process. Architects, engineers, and clients can experience virtual walkthroughs of buildings before they are constructed, make real-time design changes, and assess spatial relationships, improving design accuracy and stakeholder communication.
7. 3D Printing: 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is making its way into construction. Large-scale 3D printers can create complex architectural components and even entire buildings using a variety of materials, reducing waste, cost, and construction time.
8. Sustainable Construction Practices: New technologies are promoting sustainability in construction. Energy-efficient building systems, smart controls, renewable energy integration, and green materials are being incorporated to reduce environmental impact and improve energy performance.

These advancements are enabling greater efficiency, accuracy, safety, and sustainability in the construction industry. However, it is important to note that the adoption and implementation of these technologies may vary across different regions and project types.

Great Britain’s construction activity fell last month at its steepest rate since May 2020, as new orders dried up in the face of rising interest rates and broader cost pressures, a survey showed at the beginning of 2023.

The S&P Global/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the construction sector dropped to 48.8 in December from 50.4 in November, well below the average forecast of 49.6 in a Reuters poll of economists and beneath the 50 level that separates growth from contraction.

“The UK’s construction sector registered a relatively poor finish to 2022, with business activity falling into decline following a three-month growth sequence amid the fastest contraction in new work since the initial pandemic period in May 2020,” S&P economist Lewis Cooper said.

Britain’s construction sector had been performing strongly earlier in 2022, with output up 7.4% in the year to October according to official data.

However, Bank of England interest rates have been rising steeply – hitting a 14-year high of 3.5% in December – and house prices have recently started to fall. Major mortgage lender Halifax last month forecast an 8% house price fall for 2023.

The construction PMI showed falls in both house building and civil engineering work. The former dropped at the fastest pace since May 2020 while the latter has been declining since July.

Commercial projects increased slightly, but overall employment fell for the first time since January 2021, when there were widespread COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The Bank of England estimates that Britain has entered what is likely to be a shallow but potentially lengthy recession, as surging inflation and the higher interest rates needed to combat it sap consumer demand.

The construction PMI’s measure of input cost inflation dropped to a two-year low in December but is still well above pre-pandemic levels. Friday’s all-sector PMI – which includes services and manufacturing data released earlier this week, as well as the construction number – edged up to 49.0 in December from 48.4 in November, but has been below 50 since August.

• Article Source – Reuters.com, published date – January 6, 2023

Wishing you joy at Christmas and prosperity in the coming new year.

Thank you for being such an important part of what we do.

October will be the crisis point as fixed price deals come to an end.

Businesses across the UK are preparing for record energy costs to hit this winter. Many deals are due to be renewed next month, ahead of a crux point in October when thousands of companies of all sizes will have to switch to new contracts.

UK households are sheltered from sudden swings in the wholesale cost of energy by a price cap, although that is also going to be rising sharply. Unfortunately there is no such shield for companies.

Businesses often lock in for multiple year contracts, many of which come to an end in September. There is no compulsion on energy suppliers to offer new contracts, and some businesses are under pressure to find alternatives. Meaning that they may soon be dependent on short-term deals or the daily price, which is already around five times higher than this time last year.

Gas prices in Europe jumped up by as much as 10% to over €250 a megawatt hour recently, one of the highest prices on record and more than 10 times the average of the previous ten years.

Britain does not import much gas directly from Russia, approximately 5%, but competes with other buyers on the international market and traditionally relies on pipeline imports from continental Europe during the winter to meet demand, particularly during cold snaps.

Fears are that the UK could be hit harder, with its response to the energy crisis delayed in making a decision until a new prime minister takes power.

So with prices spiking again – at more than ten times the prices being paid a year ago, and twice the prices last month – next winter’s chill is already being felt in energy markets, and by many businesses planning a budget.

Increased fuel prices add to tensions such as worker shortages and more expensive building materials

Soaring fuel costs are adding to pressures on construction companies as energy intensive industries including steel, concrete and cement pass on the impact of higher prices. British Steel, the UK’s second-largest producer, is among several companies to have increased prices in recent months, blaming the impact of wholesale energy and fuel costs. A number of building materials groups, including Tarmac, have recently advertised online energy surcharges on select materials.

At the same time, building demand returned to pre-Covid-19 levels by early 2022, according to trade body the Construction Products Association, which expects activity to rise by another 4.3 per cent this year.

The industry is concerned that sustained high energy costs will add to pressures at a time when it is grappling with a shortage of workers and raised prices for materials such as cement, timber and steel as a result of strong demand, port blockages and high shipping rates over the past year.

Construction insolvencies have risen sharply over the course of the past year and in March 2022 were 22 per cent higher than before Covid. Noble Francis, economics director of the CPA, which represents more than 24,000 manufacturers, said that rising fuel prices were affecting energy-intensive heavy construction products such as bricks, cement, copper and aluminium, where energy accounts for about one-third of costs. “Clearly, manufacturers will not be able to absorb all the costs themselves, so they will be passed on to contractors that are already suffering from sharp price increases despite the high demand,” he said.

Construction plant has also been more expensive to operate after April when the sector’s “red diesel” duty exemption, worth 47p a litre was removed. In addition, about 20 to 25 per cent of the cost of most building projects comes from materials so any increase in prices related to energy costs can have a seriously inflationary effect “This is yet another cost increase and will hit employers and businesses at the same time as a National Insurance hike, the removal of the rebate on red diesel along with the existing rises in costs of materials which are also in short supply,” she said. British Steel, which owns the Scunthorpe plant in north-east England, last month blamed sustained high manufacturing costs for a £50 a ton increase on structural sections for all new orders. The company confirmed the price rise but declined to comment further.

Eynesbury Plant Hire are looking to recruit a Hire Desk Controller / Transport Planner.

Job details

Salary: Competitive

Job type: Full-time

Full Job Description

Eynesbury Plant Hire have been providing Plant Hire, Road Sweeper and Transport services throughout East Anglia and beyond for over 50 years.

We are looking to recruit a Hire Controller/Transport Planner to manage our Hire Fleet, Sweeper and Transport services.

Road Sweepers

Managing the Road Sweepers will include booking in regular site visits and planning the best routes possible for the drivers. Dealing with enquiries by phone & email, quotations and order processing. Processing daily tickets on our Sweeper scheduling system in preparation for invoicing, and issuing daily work schedules for Drivers.

Transport

Planning our transport will include having knowledge of vehicles best suitable for the job including Crane Lorries, Low Loaders, Curtain Siders and Plant Lorries. Dealing with enquiries by phone & email, quotations and order processing on Syrinx. Issuing daily work schedules for Drivers.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills: –

• Geographical Knowledge of the UK
• Vehicle, Driver and equipment planning
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Experience of Hire systems and Microsoft packages (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Competitive

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

For more information or to apply for this role please contact: davidchurch@eynesburygroup.co.uk

It seems to have been a long two years for some commercial sectors, with the government mandated lockdowns causing many businesses to close their doors for good. Others have faired well, and some have just ‘ticked over’ with thanks to the job retention or furlough scheme.

But now that almost all restrictions have been lifted, businesses in the UK are trying to return to the pre-pandemic normal.

Construction was hit hard during the first lockdown back in 2020. The effects of the pandemic happened rapidly, causing immediate changes across the world, not just in the construction industry. Some changes impacted minimally; some have been more prolonged. So, what impact has the pandemic had across the building trades?

In the Short Term

The first announcements came to us from the government about the spread of a highly infectious virus that was completely new, and from a medical standpoint, a minefield! So, in late March 2020 we were all told to stay at home. The country had come to a standstill, and at that point it looked certain to stay that way for some months. Business owners started to panic about how they would survive with outgoings not met with little or no income.

The construction industry waited for new guidelines to be implemented so that workers could return to their sites. As this took some time the industry declined by over 50% during April 2020. Although workers were allowed to go back to work in May, the knock on effect from this decline meant that not only workers had worries about being paid, but employers too; without completing projects, they couldn’t recoup their losses.

Construction businesses experienced a decrease in demand and many domestic and commercial projects were put on hold.

The Long Term

The future didn’t seem quite as bleak when building sites reopened and welcomed their workers back. Old projects could be finished, and new business started to pick up. Sadly, this came too late for some small businesses which closed for good.

The industry is still littered with issues as the cost of the pandemic is counted. Raw material prices have skyrocketed, partly due to Covid, but also Brexit. Supply chain disruptions have also played a pivotal role in decreasing turnover and halting operations. This has made many projects either unaffordable or way over budget, and lack of cash flow and turnover has sent many building companies out of the black and into the red.

Getting Back on Track

The pandemic has undoubtedly been difficult for almost all construction businesses. However, it’s not all bad news. Business owners seem generally positive about post-COVID operations, businesses are confident about COVID-19 guidelines going forward, and most staff are back at work. This means businesses are aware of how to operate safely while transmission risks remain, despite the vaccine rollout. Projects can once again go ahead without putting workers or site visitors in danger. 

The pandemic has forced many people in the industry to adjust how they conduct business, and thankfully this can be seen as a positive. From outsourcing materials, supplies and equipment, we can all agree that regardless of everything that has happened, the world is getting back on track.

Here at Eynesbury Plant Hire, our service is second to none and we pride ourselves on offering a quality service at a sensible price. Contact us on 01480 215555 for information about our modern fleet of well-maintained plant and machinery.

Construction projects are tied into a lot of time constraints, and so can take a lot of planning to stay on schedule and complete on time. From the management of the site and staff, to complying with building regulations, there is always a lot to consider. So, when it comes to hiring plant, you want it to be as hassle free and seamless as possible.

If you have approached a new plant hire company, there may be many questions you need answers to. Whether you ask the company themselves or do some research about them, there will be important factors to contemplate until you have built a good working relationship and return for repeat business.

Here are some considerations when deciding to use a new plant hire company:

What is their equipment availability?

Ensuring you hire the right equipment at the right point in your project is vitally important. If you don’t have access to the correct equipment, then the project can suffer delays which could mean penalties for the builder. Your plant hire company will advise you on the availability of the equipment and machinery you need when you talk to them, which helps you to plan more accurately.

Who is responsible for maintenance of the plant hire equipment?

The plant hire company will maintain all of its equipment, checking everything before it goes out, as well as everything that is returned. Companies cannot afford not to maintain their machines, as any that go out in a poor state would not be fit for purpose. There are also industry rules and standards that need to be adhered to, and records of service that need to be kept by the supplier.

In the event of equipment breakdown, you should check that the plant hire company will be able to fix it or send a replacement.

What is their range of equipment?

A good plant hire company will stock a wide range of equipment and machinery perfect for any particular job. Machinery will come in a range of sizes, so that you get the right one for your requirements.

What will it cost?

Depending on the type and size of the equipment you need, hire costs will vary. As with pricing any kind of job, it is always sensible to get a few quotes to compare prices and service.

What is their reputation?

A company’s reputation is always a good measure of the service you’re likely to receive. Find out what you can by looking at reviews or asking which accreditations they have. Experience counts for a lot too, so if the company has been established for a long time, then it’s likely you’re in safe hands!

At Eynesbury Plant Hire, we’ve been in business since 1966 and have extensive experience in providing plant hire, road sweepers haulage and Hiab services throughout Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and beyond from our base in St Neots.

Contact us on 01480 215555 for information about our modern hire fleet of well-maintained plant and machinery.