Fears German dam could collapse as severe flooding hits Europe

A reservoir dam near Cologne, Germany is at risk of collapse as the region is hit by severe flooding.

Authorities in the Rhine-Sieg county south of Cologne have ordered the evacuation of several villages below the Steinbach reservoir amid fears the dam there could suffer a catastrophic failure.

Flooding in Germany and Belgium has so far claimed the lives of 92 people with hundreds more unaccounted for.

The Steinbach valley drinking water dam was built from 1934 to 1936, and thoroughly renovated between 1988 and 1990.

The reservoir covers 14.6ha and is 17.4m deep at its deepest point. It has a total capacity of 1M.m3

A major renovation was carried out to dam in the 1940s after two cracks appeared in the dam’s crown and erosion was detected in its the clay core.

Further work was carried out between August 1988 to June 1990 due to fears of further erosion.

The German regions of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia have been worst hit, but the Netherlands and Belgium is also badly affected.

Landslips have been recorded in all three countries with many rail lines and roads closed.

More heavy rain is forecast across Europe on Friday.

Officials have blamed climate change.

Armin Laschet, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, blamed the extreme weather on global warming.

“We will be faced with such events over and over, and that means we need to speed up climate protection measures […] because climate change isn’t confined to one state,” he said.

 

Source: Civil Engineer

 

 


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Schüco UK will broadcast the third in its popular Innovation Now (i.NOW) series live from its Milton Keynes showroom on 29th July. The company will unveil its latest aluminium and steel product innovations designed to protect people and property. The virtual event will also include live polls and a live question and answer session for viewers with a panel of Schüco experts.

Successful building design demands innovative products and systems that meet all the safety requirements without compromising on aesthetics. This is where Schüco excels and will be the main focus for i.NOW Secure.

The international building envelope specialist will reveal its range of door and façade systems designed to stop the spread of fire and smoke. These include the Schüco Jansen non-rebated steel fire door developed specifically for the British and Irish markets. For high rise buildings, the Schüco fire-resistant façade is designed to prevent fire from spreading vertically over several floors.

The Schüco team will also discuss how everyday security is an integral part of product design ensuring windows and doors are burglar-resistant. i.NOW Secure will also explore the high-security Schüco solutions available for making buildings safe in extreme situations such as gunfire or explosions.

Sean Butler, Commercial Director, Schüco UK says, “At Schüco we believe that safety and security are the responsibility of everyone involved in a building project. We pride ourselves on leading the way in our field of specialisation: curtain walling and fenestration systems. We are also committed to the training we give our partners on the fabrication and installation of Schüco systems.

“Schüco specialises in facilitating maximum design freedom without compromising on performance. We look forward to unveiling the latest Schüco innovations combining high security with attractive design at i.NOW Secure.”

 

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TES Closes Deal On 10,000 sqm Battery Recycling Facility With Europe’s Largest Seaport – The deal between TES and the Port of Rotterdam will bolster Europe’s capacity to recycle lithium batteries

TES, one of the world’s largest providers of sustainable technology lifecycle services, has announced it has agreed to a deal that secures the future of a 10,000 square metre (approx. 110,000 sq. feet) recycling facility in the Port Of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport.

The facility, strategically located adjacent to the waterways of the port of Rotterdam and with an option to extend onto a neighbouring plot that will increase the site to over 40,000 square metres (approx. 430,000 sq. ft), already has a basic waste license to receive, store and forward lithium batteries and to manage electric vehicle batteries and battery production scrap as well as a license to shred alkaline batteries.

The site extension is planned to be fully operational by late 2022 and will be the first lithium battery recycling plant in the Netherlands, complimenting the two other TES lithium battery recycling facilities in Grenoble (France) and Singapore.

The TES site in Grenoble was one of the first recycling sites to use an inert shredding process that safely crushes lithium batteries and developed a number of key patents for hydrometallurgical processes.

The expertise gained in France played a key role in TES opening Southeast Asia’s first lithium battery recycling facility in Singapore in March 2021. This state-of-the-art facility has the daily capacity to recycle up to 14 tonnes of lithium batteries — the equivalent of 280,000 smartphone batteries.

These existing facilities will support the development of the new, larger-scale site in the Port of Rotterdam. The combined capacities of the three facilities will make TES one of the largest service providers of lithium battery recycling globally as well as one of the largest generators of commodity materials produced from the battery recycling process.

This deal is part of an ongoing commitment from TES to improve the collection and recycling of portable and industrial batteries in Europe and supports the European Union’s goals laid out in the European Green Deal.

It is also a strategic move in preparation for the huge rise in global demand for lithium batteries as car manufacturers increase their electric vehicle outputs — which are predicted to increase 14-fold by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels).

A report from Circular Energy Storage in December 2020 explained that Europe is currently under capacity for sustainable lithium battery recycling, and more capacity is needed to meet waste generation by 2030.

According to figures from the European Commission2, the EU could account for 17% of the global demand for lithium batteries by 2030, the second highest share worldwide.

Thomas Holberg, Global Vice President of Battery Operations at TES commented, “We have a vision to be a global sustainability innovator, and our unwavering ambition to turn the Port of Rotterdam site into a state-of-the-art European battery recycling facility is key in delivering that strategy. Once up and running, we will have up to 10,000 tonnes of shredding capacity per year and a subsequent hydrometallurgical process which focuses on the recovery of nickel, cobalt, and lithium as a precursor feedstock for the battery industry.”

In response to rising demand, the European Commission has proposed modernising EU legislation on batteries as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan3. This includes goals for batteries that are more sustainable throughout their entire life cycle — which is key for the European Green Deal and will contribute to the EU’s zero pollution ambition.

Jean-Christophe Marti, Senior Partner and CEO at Navis Capital Partners, added, “With this investment, TES deepens its commitment to a global network of sustainable battery recycling offerings that addresses the challenges around the lifecycle while positioning TES as a trusted partner in closing the loop for our customer’s battery supply chain.”

Securing the future of this facility is welcomed by the Port of Rotterdam and is another example of their continued focus on supporting the development of circular industries within the port.

Allard Castelein, CEO at the Port of Rotterdam, commented, “We are working not only towards a net zero CO2 emission port and industry in 2050 but also looking at ways to make the industry more circular. Therefore, besides working on projects regarding, for instance, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, it is important to take significant steps to establish circular production processes. The TES project in Rotterdam is exactly that. This could very well become the largest European facility for recycling batteries from electric cars.”

Holberg concludes, “Our mission at TES is to ‘close the loop’ on lithium battery production by encouraging reuse and improving the collection and recycling of the scarce metals and materials they contain. Our commitment to this facility in the Port of Rotterdam is a clear indication that we are choosing to invest in our future now and to increase capacity in the European battery recycling supply chain.”

www.tes-amm.com

 

 

 

 

Construction output growth hit a 24-year high in June but, despite cautious industry optimism and concerns remain about labour and material shortages driving high inflationary pressures, according to the latest monthly PMI data for June.

At 66.3 in June, up from 64.2 in May, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI Total Activity Index signalled the strongest rate of output growth since June 1997.

Housebuilding was the strongest sector, reaching 68.2 in June, the fastest pace of growth since November 2003.

There has been a rapid turnaround in demand for new construction work, especially residential building and commercial projects thanks to the reopening of the UK economy.

Gareth Belsham, director of the national property consultancy and surveyors Naismiths, noted: “On a quarterly basis the direction of travel is firmly upwards – up 6.3% compared to the previous three months – and total output is still above its pre-pandemic level.  “Within the industry the star performers are infrastructure – now up a fifth on its pre-pandemic level – and private sector housebuilding, both of which continued to expand in May despite days lost to tropical downpours.”

 Tim Moore, economics director at IHS Markit, said: “June data signalled another rapid increase in UK construction output as housing, commercial and civil engineering activity all expanded at a brisk pace.

“The headline index signalled the fastest rise in business activity across the construction sector for 24 years. Total new orders expanded at one of the strongest rates since the summer of 2007, mostly reflecting robust demand for residential projects and a boost to commercial work from the reopening UK economy.”

Matthew Farrow, director of policy for the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, commented: “The figures reflect growing confidence in the UK economy and the construction industry which is, of course, welcome. However, it is clear that the severe shortage of products and materials, as well as issues around transportation, are now having an adverse effect on lead times and putting inflationary pressure on prices.

“There is no easy fix to this problem, other than medium to long-term changes in our approach – I would hope that this leads to smarter design through the use of alternative materials, which could also have the added benefit of creating less carbon intensive buildings and structures and accelerating our path to net zero.”

 

Source: Property Industry Eye

 

 

Self-healing concrete set to save Britain billions

An exclusive deal makes JP Concrete the first UK company to offer self-healing concrete. This revolutionary product could help save both the environment and the economy.

It’s no stretch to say that concrete is central to human society. It’s at the heart of pretty much every structure, from roads and bridges to homes, workplaces, civic buildings…you name it. It’s sturdy, versatile, and popular – so popular that the global construction industry pours 7.3 billion cubic metres of concrete every single year.

All this new concrete obviously costs a lot of money. But what many people don’t realise is that maintenance costs for concrete are also enormous.

Every piece of concrete poured will crack eventually. Those cracks need to be filled, or structures will come crashing down.

We spend a whopping £2 trillion every year on maintaining global infrastructure. 2 trillion. Imagine what we could do with that kind of money if we weren’t spending it on old concrete?

Just 20% less maintenance for our concrete structures would save 200 billion pounds annually. To put that into perspective, £200bn is enough to plant a rainforest as big as the Amazon.

But how can we get these savings without compromising our concrete structures? If concrete starts to break down, millions of lives will be at risk. That’s why we spend so much maintaining it in the first place.

If only concrete could automatically repair itself, we could save hundreds of billions every year without compromising any structural integrity.

It sounds like a dream solution – but it’s very real. Dutch microbiologist Henk Jonkers has spent years developing a form of living concrete which automatically seals its own cracks.

Recently, Jonkers’ company Basilisk has signed an exclusive deal with British precast firm – JP Concrete. Their new product, Sensicrete, will be the first self-healing concrete in the UK. It’s set to revolutionise the British construction industry.

With Sensicrete, we can finally produce more sustainable structures while saving businesses, the government, and private individuals a huge amount of money.

How does self-healing concrete work?

Put very simply, self-healing concrete acts as a habitat for limestone-producing bacteria. The bacteria sleep in the concrete until woken by air and water, which get in through cracks. They then busily begin producing limestone until the crack is sealed – at which point the bacteria go back to sleep.

Despite being microscopically tiny, these bacteria (called ‘Bascilis’) can produce an astonishing amount of limestone in a short amount of time.

Henk Jonkers, the inventor of self-healing concrete, explains:

“Concrete becomes unsafe when its reinforcements break down. Concrete is usually reinforced with steel rebar, and this corrodes when water gets to it. By making sure that the concrete seals up any cracks before water reaches the rebar, we can keep the steel safe for longer and prolong the life of the structure”.

This is done by adding a special bacterial ingredient to the concrete as it’s being mixed. “The bacteria only become active when the concrete cracks and water gets in”, says Jonkers, “When the bacteria activates, it starts to produce limestone. The limestone fills and seals the crack, and the water is driven back. This makes the concrete much more durable and extends the structure’s lifetime. It’s as simple as that”.

 

“A new age of bio-structures”

Jonkers sees his self-healing bio-concrete as the first step towards a new, sustainable future of bio-structures. “It’s combining nature with construction materials”, he says, “it’s asking nature to help us, rather than fighting against nature. It’s very sustainable.”

Sensicrete is helping to achieve this vision in the UK – and will make a huge difference to UK infrastructure and economy into the bargain. For example, as an island nation we spend £800 million every year on coastal defences. If concrete sea defences could protect themselves against the sea, we’d be (literally) high and dry.

To find out more about how this revolutionary new concrete will change construction, save billions, and help build a more sustainable future, visit the JP Concrete website.

Kentec Electronics, a leading manufacturer of life-critical control systems, has promoted Sammy Steel to the role of Head of UK Sales to further strengthen the company’s UK growth and footprint.

In her new role Sammy will lead, manage, and support the UK BDM sales team to achieve Kentec’s strategic sales plan. She will be working directly with installers, distributors and end-users while strengthening the current UK customer base. A key part of the strategy includes focusing on both of Kentec’s partnering programmes; one for installers and one for distributors.  The Kentec Installer Partner (KIP) programme provides Kentec’s registered customers with a wide-ranging bespoke training and best-in-class technical support, as well as dedicated software and enhanced product functionality; while the Kentec Authorised Distributors (KAD) programme offers customers access to off-the-shelf service, local to them.

Sammy has 15 years’ experience in the fire industry. Prior to becoming Head of UK Sales, Sammy was a Strategic Partner, focusing on Kentec’s sister company, Hochiki Corporation. She first joined Kentec three years ago.

“I am very pleased to welcome Sammy in her new role,” says Derrick Hall, Director of Sales at Kentec Electronics. “Her dedication to our customers, as well as her wealth of experience and knowledge of Kentec and our values make her the perfect choice for this role.”

Sammy says she is excited to get started: “Initially, my focus will be building successful working relationships with the UK sales team – and ultimately, my goal is for the UK to reach their full potential and for us to help our customers meet the needs of their life safety projects. I am passionate about this industry and really looking forward to getting back on the road and meeting with our UK customers.”

 

kentec.co.uk

From Yard Operative to Chief Executive, Jonathan has worked his way through many roles within the Wernick Group. Initially joining as a Yard Operative at the Wickford Hire depot for the summer of 2006 before moving on to do seasonal work with Wernick Events between 2009 and 2011.

 

It was in January 2012 when Jonathan stepped into his first full-time role as Depot Manager for Wernick Events. Just over a year later in September 2013, he became General Manager for Wernick Events (Seating & Infrastructure), before eventually joining Wernick Hire as Regional Manager for the South East in 2015 where he had responsibility for six depots.

 

Continuing his path through Wernick Hire, Jonathan was promoted to the position of Deputy Managing Director in January 2017 assuming responsibility for all three southern regions which comprised of a total of 12 depots. At the same time, he also joined the Wernick Group Executive Team as Group Marketing Director.

 

Jonathan believes that it is the people that make his job enjoyable: “We have the privilege of employing the best people in our sector who bring with them an abundance of skills, experience, and more importantly, personality to make every day a pleasure.”

 

Jonathan’s latest promotion came about following the announcement from the former Chief Executive of the Wernick Group, Simon Doran, who stated that he would be retiring from the company in 2021. As a result, Jonathan stepped into his new role as Chief Executive from the 1st July 2021 following Simon’s departure on the 30th June.

 

When questioned on his feelings about becoming Chief Executive Jonathan commented: “It’s exciting to be the 4th generation of the family to be leading the company and I look forward to the challenge of continuing its success.”

 

Speaking on his retirement, former Chief Executive, Simon Doran, commented: “I’m delighted that Jonathan will be taking over from me as Chief Executive and I wish him every success in the new role”

 

www.wernick.co.uk

A brochure to explain the diversity of a product with massive capabilities has been published by Strand Technologies.

iContact uses GSM/GPRS to enable real-time reporting across a range of security critical applications and access control systems for global remote monitoring, alerting, diagnostics and remote control.

It can be fitted to a range of electro-mechanical equipment – making it a versatile option. It works by collecting data which ‘talks’ to its parent – a specially developed software package produced with Python programming.  This is accessed via a user gateway that allows the client to remotely manage the assets.

The brochure highlights how the system works, where it can be used and provides technical details for specifiers and technologists. It can be downloaded via www.strandtech.co.uk

iContact has a proven track record of being used in many types of environs including commercial, retail, manufacturing and warehousing premises – providing facilities managers with the tools for rapid diagnostics, performance reporting and essential remote locking/unlocking.

It is ideal for schools, universities, hospitals, care homes and other buildings accessed by the public to deliver safeguarding requirements, improved accessibility and alert systems linked to entrances, gates and barriers.

iContact can be used for access control in facilities which operate entry tags, PIN numbers and card management – providing access history and alerts for unauthorised access attempts and to manage systems within specialised markets.

Simon Bowden, Sales and Business Development Director for Strand Technologies said that iContact was a small product with big capabilities.

“If you are managing buildings remotely or oversee a large estate with multiple assets, iContact can help you do so remotely with improved connectivity,” he said.

“It provides a cost-effective solution that is compatible with wider building management control but can also be used as a stand-alone system – making it ideal for both new and retrofit developments.

“In minimising site attendance and emergency visits from service engineers, it can help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce energy costs by ensuring that your assets are working to their optimum,” added Simon.

iContact has been fitted to a diverse range of equipment including fire and smoke protection, temperature monitoring equipment, road safety signs and lights, threat protection and alert systems and specialist aquatics operations.

For more information contact: info@strandtech.co.uk

or visit: www.strandtech.co.uk/icontact

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Vicki Hawkes knows what it’s like to operate in a man’s world. The new Area Sales Manager at Strand Hardware has worked in the construction and building products sector for 23 years and is delighted to be joining a company with a woman at the helm.

“It was one of the things that most interested me about the job,” she says referring to Strand’s Managing Director Catherine Franks. “Although there are now many more women working in the industry, there are relatively few who are in leadership roles.”

Appointed in November 2019, Vicki was just starting her sales activity, covering the southern/eastern half of the Midlands, South Wales, East Anglia and the South of the UK, when the UK went into its first COVID lockdown.

Following furlough and a part-time return, Vicki is now back in her full-time role and is keen to highlight the benefits of Strand Hardware’s quality products to distribution, architectural ironmongers and locksmiths.

Having worked for Carillion and Assa Abloy UK, she is experienced in many areas of the industry including fleet management, customer services and sales.

Most recently Vicki worked for Alpro Hardware Ltd, where she was Area Sales Manager and Technical Support Advisor for the Midlands and South West, selling manual and electrical hardware to distribution and aluminium manufacturers and fabricators.

Her experience in this field will hopefully open new doors for Strand Hardware which offers an extensive range of panic hardware, finger protection devices and window openers.

“I can see great possibilities working with the aluminium industry. Over the past three or four years, aluminium has become so popular as a versatile and durable alternative to wood and PVC fittings.

It also presents great aesthetics which would be an ideal blend with the products that we offer,” she adds.

Strand Hardware recently became a member of the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) and the company is already starting to work with a number of key distribution partners to help with this new venture.

Vicki’s work achievements include the awarding of an Excellence Certificate during her time at Carillion, an employee of the year award from Yale which she received following her first year in sales out on the road and two years’ qualifications from the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers – one of which she passed with distinction.

“I have had some interesting times in the industry, working long hours and travelling many miles,” she said.

This has included some ‘awkward’ social occasions including a visit to an exotic dance club.

“My male colleagues wanted to go there and clearly, I had no interest in what was happening on stage, so I ended up behind the scenes, having a cup of coffee with the girls,” she laughs.

Outside of work, Vicki, who lives in Alcester, Worcestershire, enjoys gardening and spending time with her “crazy” chocolate sprocker spaniel, Samuel, “who my life revolves around”.

For more information about Strand Hardware’ extensive range of products visit: www. strandhardware.co.uk or email: info@strandhardware.co.uk

 

 

A stunning new academy for training engineers and leaders of today and tomorrow has been delivered using cutting-edge modular building methods.

Integra Buildings, one of the UK’s leading modular construction specialists, has completed the development for Severn Trent Water, which serves eight million people across the Midlands.

Staff from both companies came together for a celebratory event to mark the launch of the Severn Trent Academy, which was officially opened by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month.

It provides a purpose-built centre of excellence for technical training on a new flagship campus in Coventry, as part of Severn Trent’s wider £10m investment in skills and training.

The versatile facilities provide a variety of traditional and experimental training environments, from hands-on areas designed to replicate Severn Trent’s working environments, to use of the latest technologies in virtual reality and “network simulation” computer modelling.

The energy-efficient building, which will meet Severn Trent’s present and future training needs, also houses an extensive suite of stylish rooms and breakout areas for hosting conferences and educational events.

It will offer a wide range of development opportunities for Severn Trent’s 7,000 staff, including apprentices, as well as members of the wider community, who will have a chance to gain valuable employability skills and training.

Hands on Training

The facilities will also benefit 500 young people to be employed by Severn Trent over the next year under the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, which creates six-month paid work placements for 16-24-year-olds at risk of long-term unemployment.

East Yorkshire-based Integra completed the development in just 12 months from the design stage to handing over the keys, despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

The building is a prime example of how modern modular techniques are transforming the construction sector by delivering major projects faster and more efficiently than traditional methods, without compromising on quality.

The Prime Minister took a tour of the new building and described Severn Trent’s training programme as “world class”. He added: “This brilliant academy will support thousands of people in the West Midlands to gain the skills they need to secure long-term jobs and to take a step towards brighter futures.”

Integra Managing Director Gary Parker said: “We’re delighted that the Prime Minister has praised the new academy, which looks superb inside and out. Working closely with Severn Trent, our team has delivered a first-class training environment with cutting-edge facilities.

“It’s a great example of how our innovative approach to bespoke modular building allows us to meet even the most challenging design briefs while delivering faster and more cost-effective results for the client.

“To do that while dealing with the challenges of Covid, especially during the uncertainty of the first lockdown, represents an outstanding achievement by our team, partners and suppliers.”

Severn Trent Construction Project Manager Zoe McPhilbin said: “It was great to work with Integra in helping us create our new academy that will be so valuable in providing skills and opportunities for our people and communities.

“The design aspirations for our academy have been met in full, which clearly demonstrates how Integra shared the same values and ambitions as ourselves on delivering such an amazing space in which to learn.”

East Yorkshire-based Integra designed and manufactured the building, which has a floorspace of 22,600 sq ft (2,100 sq m), at its site near Hull. The facility is made up of 45 modular units, which were transported by articulated lorry to Coventry, before being assembled on Severn Trent’s site on the outskirts of the city.

Working alongside Webb Gray Architects, Integra completed the design phase in just eight weeks.

Key aspects pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved with a modular build. The roof would have been too high to be transported by lorry from the production facilities to site, so the team designed an innovative extendable frame that allowed the height to be extended in situ.

Integra, which is renowned for providing bespoke solutions to clients, laid down robust, waterproof floors in rooms designed to replicate the challenges faced by Severn Trent’s engineers, such as working with pressurised pipes.

Incorporating sustainable features, including an air-source heat pump to provide hot water, ensured the building received an “A” rating for energy performance.

Visitors enter the academy through a warm and welcoming reception, while conference, break-out and office areas have been furnished with a stylish, contemporary look.

As the principal contractor, Integra also completed extensive preparatory works, groundworks and landscaping, including the demolition of existing buildings on site, alongside specialists from Dales Contractors. During the work, consideration was given to some of the area’s smaller residents – special lighting and bat boxes were installed to avoid disturbing a colony of bats.

A close and collaborative working relationship between Integra and Severn Trent was a key factor in the success of the development.

Integra’s on-site team worked hand-in-hand with Severn Trent’s project manager, which meant decisions could be made on the ground in real time, while in the conference suite, installing the hi-tech infrastructure involved extensive coordination with Severn Trent’s IT team.

Mr Parker said: “It’s been a pleasure to work alongside Severn Trent’s team, whose support, encouragement and expertise has made a huge difference to the success of the project.

“We enjoyed excellent communication on the ground and at management level, which helped keep the project running smoothly at all times.

“We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with our clients, which helps us to understand their needs and meet and exceed their expectations, so it’s really pleasing to see this approach paying dividends.”

The opening of the academy comes at an exciting time for Integra as it embarks on a major expansion of its base in Paull, near Hull, which is key to the management’s ambitions to double revenues to £60m within three years.

Integra has developed a nationwide reputation for excellence in the design, construction and fit-out of modular buildings for a wide range of uses, including education, sport, leisure, healthcare and commercial operations.

 

www.integrabuildings.co.uk