Howard Chapman, Buildingtalk Editor, reports on ending up behind bars on the opening day of Batimat, Europe’s biggest building industry trade show, plus your views invited for the Governement consultation on cash retention contracts and a preview of the Futurebuild districts planned for Ecobuild
I am currently visiting Batimat in Paris. Speaking at the opening of the event, Guillaume Loizeaud, Director of Le Mondial du Bâtiment said “BATIMAT once again brings together the world’s most comprehensive range of building sector’s solutions, innovations, demonstrations and seminars. It is a unique opportunity for professionals to come together in a business-friendly atmosphere in order to respond to the new challenges facing the construction sector.”
Over 360,000 visitors are expected with 2,400 exhibitors at the exhibitions.
The size and reach of Batimat is awesome but also somewhat daunting. However, each industry sector is grouped together in a logical way, and the signage is good making it easier to navigate.
Products from around the world are on show but my first encounter at Batimat was with an Englishman, Mark Wardle who was promoting D&D Technologies, an Australian company established in the late 1980’s, winning several design awards for ground-breaking MagnaLatch magnetic latch for pool and other child safety gates. He demonstrated the product by promptly locking me behind bars.
Many of the major exhibitors are regularly featured on Buildingtalk, including Brett Martin, SFS Intec, Velux, Saint-Gobain, AkzoNobel, Catnic, Schuco, Fakro, Geze, Knauf, Technal and others, so it is a great opportunity for me to see their new offerings at close quarters. I will have more feedback about the event when I return to the UK.
Exploiting the language….. I also noticed that there was a whole section at Batimat dedicated to 84 countries or regions where French is the common language, including exhibitors and specific conferences to help these companies develop business. It is a great source of growth. It was a reminder to me that the UK is well placed to do the same for the English speaking world which is an enormous market place for construction products and services. Great post-Brexit opportunity!
Buildingtalk is pleased to be promoting Ecobuild, not least because it is potentially the most significant UK construction event in 2018, taking place from 6th to 8th March at ExCel in London.
With input from their industry advisory groups, plus feedback from visitors and exhibitors, Ecobuild are creating futurebuild districts to provide distinct curated areas to group exhibitors together, giving key industry buyers easy access to relevant products and services.
You can follow this link for more details.
The UK Government have announced a consultation on cash retention under construction contracts. The purpose of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy consultation is to seek information on the practice of cash retention under construction contracts and gather views on the findings of the supporting documentation.
The consultation is relevant to any party to a commercial construction contract as defined by the construction contracts legislation. It is also relevant to adjudicators, arbitrators and lawyers. While this consultation concerns construction specific legislation it may also be relevant for those with an interest in prompt payment more generally and to insolvency practitioners. The legislation does not apply to residential occupiers. The research report and Consultation Stage Impact Assessment are published alongside this consultation.
Sign up for the free Buildingtalk newsletter for the latest construction news and product updates plus your opportunity to comment.
You can also follow Buildingtalk via Twitter
Two new visual technical guides from Glidevale Protect have been released to help specifiers and roofing contractors determine the correct roof space ventilation requirements depending on the type of pitched roofing underlay used.
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Damp & Waterproofing, Facility Management & Building Services, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Innovations & New Products, Membranes, Posts, Publications, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Roofs, VentilationThe popular Ali VU range of slimline aluminium windows and doors from Senior Architectural Systems has been extended with the addition of a new heritage style door option
Posted in Aluminium Products, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Systems, Doors, Innovations & New Products, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, WindowsAbloy UK is urging ports to ensure facilities are equipped with effective access control systems to minimise any further disruption and ensure smooth operations.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Case Studies, Facility Management & Building Services, Health & Safety, Innovations & New Products, Posts, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire ProtectionWood wool acoustic panelling with a black finish from Troldtekt has been specified throughout 6 Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms in London.
Posted in Acoustics, Noise & Vibration Control, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Building Systems, Case Studies, Ceilings, Facility Management & Building Services, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, Walls