NEWS

PASS IN REVIEW

THERE’S POSITIVE NEWS IN THE GLENIGAN CONSTRUCTION REVIEW.

A significant takeaway from the most recent figures is the value of approved major planning consents, which has increased 89 per cent on the same time period (three months to September) in 2019, creating a firm development pipeline for the foreseeable future. Main contracts awards are also 13 per cent up against the previous three months of this year whilst underlying contract awards of less than £100m in value strengthened, rising 6 per cent (SA) on the previous three months to stand 35 per cent up on a year ago.

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WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA001

STOP THIEF!

AMI GROUP IS URGING PLANT OWNERS AND OPERATORS TO PREVENT THEFT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

With theft on construction sites a growing problem, AMI Group is calling on the industry to implement a multi-layered system of protection. The security specialist recommends taking site security to the next level using GPS tracking, geofencing technologies, and locking down assets using immobilisers, such as Keypads or Dallas Keys. The company has also had great success recovering stolen machines with its Nexis self-managed system. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA002

HIGH FINANCE

THERE’S A WIDER CHOICE OF FOUR FINANCE SCHEMES FOR BUYING NEW BOBCAT EQUIPMENT

Under a special promotion, Bobcat is offering an expanded choice of hire purchase financing options for its new loaders, miniexcavators and telehandlers. It includes a new Seasonal Payments Plan, which adds to the Buy Now, Pay Later; 50 per cent Half Price Rentals and 0 per cent Over 3 Years plans also available in the promotion period. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA003

AIMING ‘HIRE’

HIRE ASSOCIATION EUROPE (HAE) AND THE EVENT HIRE ASSOCIATION (EHA) HAS LAUNCHED HIRESECURE

The new and improved Short-Term Hired Insurance product replaces HireGuard and will be available to all members to cover accidental loss or damage, fraudulent hire, theft, vandalism and malicious damage on owned or cross-hired equipment. This follows the announcement that Towergate Insurance Brokers will take over responsibility for the trade association’s insurance services as its new, sole broker. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA004

FUND TIMES AHEAD

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY UK APPOINTS NEW FINANCE PARTNER

Walbrook Asset Finance is now the preferred finance provider for Hitachi Construction Machinery UK (HCMUK) customers. The partnership will be branded as ZAXIS Finance, which shares its name with Hitachi’s 1-90 tonne excavator line-up, with the ambition to help companies fund their business-critical assets.

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FUEL FOR THOUGHT

ALTERNATIVE FUELS TRIAL BOOSTS HS2 DRIVE TO CUT CARBON

The trial, part of HS2’s Innovation programme, measured tail-pipe emissions to determine the potential emission benefits of using alternative fuels when compared to red diesel. The ‘realworld’ emission measurements tests were carried out on two 20-tonne excavators – a Liebherr R920 compact excavator (Stage IIIB) and a Komatsu PC210 excavator (Stage IV). The fuels tested included standard red diesel (EN590) to provide a baseline for comparative purposes, red diesel with F18 fuel additive and two biofuels – hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and Enhanced HVO. While the results showed limited air quality benefits when compared to red diesel, the trial demonstrated the potential carbon reduction opportunities through the sustainable sourcing of alternative fuels. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA006

THE LOW DOWN

With the aim of helping to lower contractors’ environmental impact, Speedy’s new low carbon innovation and hire centre will promote the use of the latest electric, solar and hydrogen powered solutions. The Milton Keynes facility showcases tools and equipment that feature carbon-zero technology and will supply a range of zero-emission construction equipment delivered by a fleet of electric vehicles or vehicles run on biofuel.

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WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA007

HAT-TRICK FOR JCB

At a ceremony in London, JCB Chairman Lord Bamford was presented with the Royal Automobile Club’s Dewar Trophy for the company’s development of a hydrogen fuel motor. It is the third time that JCB’s innovations have been honoured with the Dewar Trophy. The company is investing £100 million in the project and has two prototype hydrogen fuelled machines on test – a backhoe loader and a Loadall telescopic handler. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA008

ROK STAR

ROKBAK ARTICULATED HAULERS MAKE FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

Following the launch of the Rokbak brand, the new RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers have made their UK debut, catching the eyes of visitors to the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland and Molson Group’s open days in England. “The feedback from our customers and dealers so far has been absolutely incredible – we couldn’t be happier with the support we’ve received from them,” said Jacqueline Reid, Director for Marketing, Communications and Product Management at Rokbak. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA009

TRAIN REACTION

VR AND ELEARNING EXTEND OPTIONS TO RENEW IPAF TRAINING

New ways to renew and extend MEWP operator training have been made available by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), giving operators renewing their PAL Card and training certification or taking their advanced operator PAL+ training further options to use virtual reality simulators (VR sims) and eLearning. Candidates can choose to take their theory test in either eLearning or instructor-led virtual sessions, in addition to the usual classroom-based module. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA010

OFFICE SPACE

LIEBHERR’S BIGGLESWADE HOME JUST GOT BIGGER

The machinery giant’s state-of-theart HQ will include preparation workshops for earthmoving, mobile crane and concrete divisions, a customer centre as well as welfare for engineering teams. The facility will adjoin its existing 9-acre complex in its Bedfordshire home. There has been an initial capital investment of £8 million with a projected completion pencilled in for end of Q1 2022. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA011

SHOW TIME!

THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW IS BACK IN BUSINESS

The EHS team is delighted to confirm that the UK’s premier hire event is back and will be taking place between 9th and 10th February 2022, at its established home (and newly rebranded) Coventry Building Society Arena (CBS Arena), formerly known as the Ricoh Arena. The organisers have promised that the event will be ‘bigger and better’, with 130 exhibitors already signed up. i WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA012

BRIDGING THE ENERGY GAP

As of 1st April 2022, many sectors and applications will lose their entitlement to use red diesel/gas oil and rebated biodiesel. These regulatory changes are intended to reduce the commercial use of gas oil, as part of the government’s mandate to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

While this is great news for the environment, many businesses are still unsure as to what the changes mean and how to navigate the shifting regulatory landscape. So, how can you demonstrate compliance and successfully transition your energy mix?

What is changing for the construction industry?

While various sectors are affected construction will feel the impact more than most. Heavy plant and equipment of all kinds will no longer be permitted to run on gas oil when used for construction purposes. Using gas oil for heating and power generation onsite in a construction environment will also be prohibited.

Red diesel permissions apply only to the way in which equipment is used, not to the type of equipment itself. For contractors with equipment that can be used in both an agricultural and construction setting, red diesel can still be used only in the agricultural setting – with no traces present when a tank is refilled for use on a construction site.

With gas oil rule changes scheduled to be in place next year, Niki Holt, Head of Commercial, at Certas Energy, is asking if you and your plant are ready?

What is the impact?

Gas oil currently receives a rebate of 46.81 pence per litre (ppl) and has an effective duty rate of 11.14ppl. Unmarked white diesel/DERV, however, has a duty rate of 57.95ppl. Making a direct switch from red diesel to its undyed equivalent incurs an additional cost of 46.81 pence per litre, or five times as much duty as before. This is a major financial impact, with potentially significant consequences.

Additional activities must also be considered to ensure compliance, each with

potential costs. These include removing or running down red diesel, purchasing additional fuel storage tanks, vehicles or equipment, sourcing reliable alternative fuels and more.

What can you do?

To avoid heavy fines, construction professionals are recommended to plan their actions and consider their options now. Understanding government guidelines on red diesel tax rebate changes, and regularly checking for further updates, is a good place to start.

Existing stocks need to be run down in advance of 1st April 2022. Removing every trace through tank flushing is unnecessary, but you must be able to prove that gas oil has not been purchased after the deadline, or shortly before it in higher than usual volumes for stocking up. All purchasing and delivery documentation should be retained, enabling a clear audit trail for HMRC inspections.

Furthermore, considering the high numbers of vehicles and large stores of fuel at construction sites, the construction industry overall is particularly vulnerable to fuel theft. Exploring smart tanks and fuel management systems, as well as improved site security, should also be considered. A tank telemetry system monitors fuel levels in real time and detects any unusual fuel usage pattern, signalling both potential leaks or theft.

Fuelling your construction plant, the right way

The range of drop-in, cleaner burning alternative fuels available continues to grow, so transitioning your energy mix does not have to be a complex process. Accessible alternatives include:

GTL Fuel (Gas-to-Liquid)

Helping to reduce local emissions of pollutants like nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, this cleaner-burning FAME-free solution also works to improve cold starts and reduce clogged filters. It offers a long shelf life for use in back-up power generators, and for final fill before winter begins.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)

Produced from vegetable fats and oils, HVO offers improved burn efficiency and a reduced carbon emissions count. Its hydrogen catalyst means that HVO is cleaner-burning, with a longer shelf life than standard biodiesel. The HVO supply chain is currently under close scrutiny, with the aim of ensuring consistent high-quality and ethically produced, sustainable supply.

Industrial heating oil – Therma35

Industrial heating oil, like Therma35, is ideal for use in commercial boilers, heaters, driers and furnaces, as well as temporary heating applications such as cabins and drying rooms on construction sites. It not only burns more slowly than gas oil or kerosene but also offers long-term storage stability, reducing risk of spoilage, interruption or waxing.

Kerosene

Also referred to as paraffin, kero or 28-second oil, kerosene is a low viscosity oil which is suitable for the same heating applications as industrial heating oil, although it burns more quickly. It offers a lower freezing point and higher flash point than gas oil.

We’re ready – are you?

On the journey to net-zero emissions, Certas Energy is fuelling futures the right way, from red diesel and beyond. Our construction industry experts are here to help you face any challenges as you transition to a new energy mix.

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For more information on the range of cleaner burning alternative fuels from Certas Energy visit WWW.RDR.LINK/CAA013