In today’s article, you will learn more about Bechtel’s support for education, which will increase as part of the celebration of the company’s 70th anniversary in the UK. Which organization did Bechtel give it to as a donation? Additionally, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) in the United Kingdom has proposed removing anti-dumping measures placed on imports of Chinese HFP Rebar. In addition, the amount of construction work done grew in May. How much did it go up, exactly? Also, the modular rubber railway platform technology developed by Arcadis promises to reduce carbon emissions and speed up construction.

Bechtel expands education support to mark 70 years in the UK

Original Source: Bechtel boosts education support to celebrate 70 years in the UK

Bechtel has donated £50,000 to the Institution of Engineering and Technology for its Launch Scholarship program. The Launch Scholarship helps engineering students, degree apprentices, and apprentices with financial or personal issues. Bechtel’s donation will fund 11 kids’ educations annually. Bechtel has given the IET £680,000 (US$970,000) for STEM education over the past decade.

Sir Julian Young, IET president, said Bechtel has been a trusted partner for almost a decade and a founding sponsor for FIRST® LEGO® League. “This year’s additional donation will help more students or apprentices pursue engineering. Bechtel continues to support the next generation’s goals.”

“Engineering helps tackle some of the world’s largest challenges, like diversifying our energy supply and achieving net zero. Diverse perspectives help us find the best solutions “Bechtel’s UK and Ireland MD, John Williams. “We hope this funding removes some impediments for talented persons to join our sector.”

Bechtel has supported the IET since 2013, notably as a founding sponsor of FIRST® LEGO® League, which helps 4-16-year-olds develop STEM skills through hands-on learning. 100,000 children have participated in the UK program, with 15,500 in 2020-21. Bechtel supports FIRST® in Australia, Chile, and the US. More on UK FLL here.

Bechtel’s 70th year in the UK coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and this year it opened the Elizabeth Line through central London. The company’s global infrastructure business is located in the UK, where it has supported projects across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, accelerating development, enabling access and opportunity, and developing a road to net zero.

Editorially

IET scholarships support people like Sellafield Degree Apprentice Simone.

BECHEL

Industry and government trust Bechtel for engineering, construction, and project management. We generate a lasting beneficial impact by aligning our strengths with our customers’ goals and the quality of our employees. Since 1898, we’ve helped customers execute more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents, creating employment, growing economies, improving the world’s infrastructure, and increasing access to energy, resources, and important services.

IET

We inspire, enlighten, and impact the global engineering community.

We house global engineering and technological intelligence. We have the breadth and depth to help the industry advance society.

We seek to challenge outdated conceptions of engineering and technology and close the skills gap. This involves recruiting more women engineers and engineering apprentices.

Our spokespeople cover cyber-security, energy, engineering skills, innovation, manufacturing, technology, transport, and diversity in engineering.

UK TRA suggests removing anti-dumping rules on Chinese HFP Rebar.

Original Source: UK TRA proposes anti-dumping measures on HFP Rebar from China be removed

In its early findings, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has proposed rescinding anti-dumping sanctions on Chinese HFP Rebar imports.

The TRA decided in the Statement of Essential Facts (SEF) that keeping the limits in place since 2016 would not be in the UK’s economic interests because the UK construction sector has a high need for affordable imported HFP Rebar.

Findings

All of the TRA’s transition studies include an Economic Interest Test to assess the positive and negative economic implications of a trade remedy.

In this case, the TRA decided that continuing anti-dumping duties on HFP Rebar from China would be severe, especially for the £108 billion UK construction sector.

HFP Rebar, also called reinforcement steel or reinforcing steel, is used to reinforce concrete and masonry structures in the construction industry, which employs 1.4 to 2.2 million people.

Since the COVID-19 epidemic, the sector has rebounded, and the TRA predicts substantial demand for HFP Rebar. In 2020-21, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine imported 27% of rebar. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions will undoubtedly reduce these shipments. Continuing the approach would raise domestic prices due to high demand and a supply shortfall.

This impact on the UK economy outweighs the possible harm to the lone UK producer. The UK government’s steel safeguard measure applies to HFP rebar. This safeguard limits Chinese imports and protects a UK producer.

While the TRA ruled that HFP Rebar dumping is likely to continue if the measures are withdrawn and that UK manufacturing will be harmed, keeping the measures is not in the UK’s economic interests.

Oliver Griffiths, TRA CEO:

We must assess the impact of dumping on UK producers against the economic effects of tariffs. High domestic demand and worldwide supply limitations mean that keeping tariffs on HFP Rebar from China would raise prices for essential UK industries, such construction. Higher costs would have a larger impact on the British economy than lifting tariffs on Chinese imports would have on the lone UK rebar producer.

After publishing, interested parties will have 30 days to comment. Interested parties can comment on the TRA’s website.

The TRA will next evaluate and produce a Final Recommendation, which the Secretary of State for International Trade will decide whether to uphold. The government can ‘call in’ a case at any point in the investigation to request extra or different analysis.

Construction production increases in May

Original Source: Construction output up again in May

Britain’s monthly construction output climbed by 1.5 percent in volume terms in May 2022, the seventh consecutive monthly improvement and a record high in monthly level terms since records began in 2010.

The latest increase in monthly construction output came from a 2.8% increase in new work, while repair and maintenance fell 0.4%.

Private commercial new work and private new dwellings grew by 12.1% and 7.2%, respectively.

ONS reported May construction production was 4.1% (£598 million) above the pre-pandemic February 2020 level. Repair and maintenance work was over (£601 million) the level before COVID-19 (£3 million).

Infrastructure is 19% (£356 million) over its February 2020 level, while private commercial is 21.2% (£524 million) lower, according to the latest figures.

Along with the monthly rise, construction output rose by 3% in the three months to May 2022, with increases in both new work and repair and maintenance. This is the greatest three-month-on-three-month gain since June 2021, when it hit 4%.

Stuart Law, CEO of Assetz Group, stated that while these data show a record boost for the construction industry, the price of crucial materials and workforce shortages make business unfeasible for many SMEs.

“A record number of UK construction companies went bankrupt last year,� Law said.

Smaller builders face rising expenses from inflation, Brexit, and supply shortages. As product costs rise, more companies are stockpiling resources, but many SMEs lack the cash to buy supplies in advance or pass on rising expenses.

Law noted that as a result, what should be a profitable period for SMEs is actually a loss, and many are failing.

The government has demonstrated little readiness to help or revitalize the SME construction sector. Large construction businesses can only handle a percentage of the problems, the executive said.

“We need swift change that allows SMEs more access to alternative funding, such as peer-to-peer lending, and simplifies planning.” This will help SMEs expand.”

Law said investors are eager to back SMEs and that “if we want to reinvigorate the construction industry and stimulate growth, we must find new means to fund it.”

Rubber replaces concrete rail platforms

Original Source: Rubber rail platform design replaces concrete

Footprint Modular Platform walls are made from 100 percent recycled rubber blocks, replacing concrete and brick.

These correctly sized and weighted bricks simplify construction by reducing the need for on-track plants.

Through this novel strategy, a typical 36-meter platform extension can save over 25,000 kg of CO2 compared to traditional construction methods.

Rosehill Rail’s cold cure compression molding method ensures low lead times.

The Footprint Modular Platform will be distributed through civil merchant Scott Parnell’s network.

The system is part of Scot Parnell’s unique product range, which offers creative solutions to the UK rail sector.

Ben King, principal engineer, said, “We’re happy to be the design partner of this unique, low-carbon solution, which embodies our company’ objective of producing sustainable infrastructure.”

The platform system is easy to build, which reduces health and safety concerns on the rail network.

Summary of today’s construction news

For the most part, you now probably know about Bechtel’s 70th anniversary scholarship program at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Bechtel gave the IET £50,000. This scholarship program helps financially struggling students. Engineering students and degree apprentices were supported. Bechtel’s donation will fund 11 kids’ educations annually. 

Trade Remedies Authority proposes anti-dumping remedies on Chinese HFP imports. The UK building sector should abolish its restriction on rebar steel. According to the Statement of Essential Facts (SEF), the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) concluded that continuing the 2016 sanctions would not be in the UK’s economic interests. This is because the UK construction sector needs affordable imported HFP Rebar. The TRA found that continuing anti-dumping regulations on HFP Rebar from China would have a significant economic impact, especially on the £108 billion UK construction sector.

British construction output rose 1.5% in May 2022. This is the eighth straight monthly improvement since records began in 2010. Private commercial and residential construction expanded by 12.1% and 7.2%, respectively. Along with the monthly rise, construction output grew 3 percent in the three months to May 2022. This is the biggest three-month-on-three-month improvement since June 2021. 

Rubber train platforms reduce carbon emissions and speed construction. The Footprint Modular Platform’s walls are made from 100 percent recycled rubber blocks, thus fewer on-track machinery is needed for construction. This new method can save over 25,000 kg of CO2 for a normal 36-meter platform expansion.