Zinc spares Stonehenge blushes + is R&D the key to profitable building?

Zinc spares Stonehenge blushes + is R&D the key to profitable building?

Last week I visited Stonehenge, once voted Britain’s most embarrassing tourist attraction. This iconic pre-historic archaeological site used to be surrounded by car traffic and one million mostly overseas visitors were serviced with a couple of old portacabins and loos. Now one road has been grassed over and ‘world-class’ Visitor Centre, sporting a VM Zinc canopy, spares our blushes. A great reminder too that zinc is one of our most ancient and sustainable building materials.

Didier Roux was at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre recently explaining how Saint-Gobain spend €400m a year on R&D and that 1 in 5 of the products they manufacture didn’t exist five years ago. We have link to a video of him waxing lyrical about how some of the biggest challenges in construction are being met by R&D and collaboration. Is R&D the key to a profitable and sustainable building industry.

The Guardian highlighted growing concerns about safety with a headline that more builders have died on UK sites than soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.  We have included details below on a tagging product for forklifts and last week we featured a scaffold visual tagging system – both help reduce on-site accidents. Buildingtalk is keen to include features and products that would support site safety, so do be in touch on this.

And finally, an invitation from Buildingtalk to Grand Designs Live, 3-11 May 2014 at Excel, London: click here to claim your free weekday ticket valid on one day from 6-9 May* quoting ‘BTLK14′. *t&cs apply.

TOP 10 STORIES

How the future of construction is built on innovation through R&D and collaboration

Steel construction has lower environmental impact according to study

Tagging product for forklift vehicles ensures optimum safety on site

Insulation and drywall contractors gain help with ECO and Green Deal

Roof refurbishment programme ensures correct installation on site

Traditional brickmaking supported by the Guild of Master Craftsmen

Building Show aims to provide training and support to contractors

Part L Documents require new properties to meet energy standards

Isolating ball valve range relaunched with new products incorporated

Tool Hire customers receive a free BBQ as part of new promotion

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

How to install Everedge easy lawn and landscaping edging

LATEST PROJECTS & OTHER STORIES

Zinc highlights new world-class visitor centre for Stonehenge

IKO primary waterproofing for roof terrace at the ‘Baby Shard’

New vocational teaching centre benefits from Wrightsyle doors and screens

BIM library launched featuring window and door range from Reynaer

House builders & developers welcome easy access to new-­build fibre optic networks

Electrical heating systems showcasing at CIH Housing 2014 exhibition

Partition and door system installed to create light working space

Brick marketing campaign aims to promote the material to architects 

110% increase in construction job vacancies – new JOBsearch here

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Londoners love The Shard but not the ‘Walkie Talkie’

Construction activity to grow 18% by 2017 – big growth private house building, infrastructure & commercial

Launch of UK’s first public carbon database for buildings

118% increase in construction jobs posted compared to Q1 13 

100% of homeowners would request an Energy Rating Certificate

Huge support for construction apprenticeships in Saint-Gobain online debate

UK’s top brickies are earning £100k because of the ‘serious’ shortage of skilled labourers