MABEY BRIDGE SECURES GHANA CONTRACT FOR EMERGENCY BRIDGES

A Gloucestershire manufacturer has secured a contract to provide 87 emergency bridges for use in flood-hit areas across Ghana following a £42 million guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF).

Mabey Bridge will design, manufacture and export the essential infrastructure from its factory in Lydney to Ghana. It will also provide training to the Ghanaian government and local engineers on how to install them, providing the expertise to enable future construction.

UKEF’s financing for projects in Africa has significantly increased from around £600 million in 2018-2019 to more than £2.3 billion in 2020-21 – the highest amount since 2000.

Mabey Bridge has supplied modular steel bridges to rural and urban areas in more than 150 countries worldwide and has often responded to natural disasters, with its bridges rapidly deployed within days or weeks. Working with national governments and NGOs, It has undertaken projects in North and South America, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Michael Treacy, CEO, Mabey Bridge, said: “Sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure is critical to post-disaster recovery and development. The UK Export Financing will enable us to successfully deliver this ambitious programme in partnership with the Ghanaian government.”

Ghana’s coastline spans approximately 340 miles, with a quarter of its population living by the sea, and the country is badly affected by coastal erosion. High levels of rainfall have also destroyed bridges in its towns, cutting off access.

The new bridge programme has been developed by the Government of Ghana’s Ministry of Roads and Highways as part of its strategy to improve connectivity for rural communities post-disaster.

Safetyflex’s bollards secure new global patents

A Coventry manufacturer of anti-terrorism bollards and barriers has had new patents granted in Australia and America.

Safetyflex Barriers has been awarded new patents for its surface-mounted crash planter, following on from the granting of a UK patent last year.

The surface-mounted barriers don’t need foundations or ground

Oxford Instruments signs South Korean trade contract

UK exporters to South Korea have landed deals estimated to be worth more than £70 million following support from the Department for International Trade.

Technology company Oxford Instruments signed a contract with a local automotive research institute to accelerate research and development.

UK-made products ranging from hydrogen fuel cells and o shore wind technology to lifejackets will be supplied to the South Korean market through deals made at DIT-supported trade shows in South Korea.

South Korea is the tenth largest economy in the world and a growing market for exports of British products. The country forms a key part of UK’s strategic tilt to the Indo-Pacific region as the country looks for new opportunities to trade.

Trade between the two nations increased by six per cent to £13 billion in the year to June 2021, and the UK exported £2 billion more to South Korea than it imported.

fixings so can provide instant protection on a permanent or temporary basis and are supplied with a bespoke cladding that means they can also be used as functional street furniture and attractive planters.

Marcus Gerrard, director at Safetyflex, said “We believe this is real game changer because of the flexibility and functionality they offer as planters or seating benches, while still providing industry-leading security protection.