The construction industry is at a crossroad, with the need to deliver increasing infrastructure, transport and housing projects but in the face of global supply chain disruptions, extreme weather and increasing material and labour costs echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); These challenges are already driving construction company insolvencies in Australia and technology is needed now more than ever to drive productivity in the industry, Autodesk says. Continue →

The largest insolvency-triggered auction of commercial earthmoving and civil construction equipment in New Zealand will take place this month echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); More than 350 items belonging to AH Construction Services, an Auckland-based company specialising in site preparation for commercial builds, will go under the hammer on April 13 to pay creditors. Continue →

In an effort to combat rising construction costs and lengthy project times, applying non-linear workflows would mean different stages of work could be done simultaneously Andy Cunningham, Senior Regional Director Australia and New Zealand at Autodesk echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Non-linear workflows have become part and parcel of the media industry given the nature of the sector. Continue →

The Back 2 Basics health and safety programme is being rolled out across all of Watercare’s construction sites after reducing the number of reported incidents, Watercare major projects engineering manager Craig Matthewson says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); In 2020 Watercare initiated the Back 2 Basics programme to help reduce the number of preventable incidents across its construction sites. Continue →

An Auckland construction site has managed to divert 91 percent of its construction and demolition waste from landfill echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Auckland Council worked with Unitec’s Environmental Solutions Research Centre (ESRC) and developer Benton Ltd on the project, with a focus on recycling plastics as they make up a large volume of the waste that goes to landfill. Continue →

The high calibre of projects presented at the 2022 Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) Excellence in Steel Awards is a reflection of the skills, experience and commitment of our industry’s people, SCNZ chair David Moore says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The winners were announced on 4 November in Nelson, where more than 200 structural steel industry leaders and specialists gathered to celebrate the best of the best at an event that showcases the sector’s commitment to innovation, best practice and collaboration. Continue →

Over 650 people gathered to celebrate the civil construction industry, across all categories including people, technology and innovation, and projects echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); It was a night filled with storytelling and celebration across the Auckland civil construction industry, especially for Marianne Rogers who secured the win for the first ever CCNZ Hynds Construction Supreme Award at the CCNZ Auckland Branch Hynds Construction Awards 2022 Gala Dinner. Continue →

The Commerce Commission is recommending the establishment of a centralised digital national key products registry to increase trust and confidence in residential building supplies echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); A national products register would act as the primary reference source for information about building products, including the information that will be required to be disclosed as a result of the building law reforms, the Commerce Commission says. Continue →

A construction industry survey finds skills and worker shortages, cost escalations, and increasingly complex contract terms are making it difficult to deliver on the country’s vital infrastructure works programme echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Findings from the sixth annual Construction Industry Survey, a partnership between Teletrac Navman and Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ), shed light on the industry outlook. Continue →

Swiss based building industry giant Holcim plans to import and distribute lower carbon cement replacement products from a new Low Carbon Cement Replacement Facility currently under construction in Auckland echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The initiative was started well before the New Zealand government released an Emissions Reduction Plan in mid-May this year. Continue →

While digitalisation in the construction sector helps with the challenges of an increasingly competitive market, a by-product of this is attracting tech-savvy talent, Rob Bryant from InEight says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Historically, the construction industry has been slow to keep up with the pace of an advancing digital world. Continue →

While New Zealand construction companies are more likely to embrace technology and sustainability than their Australian counterparts, they are spending more time on rework or fixing defects, a Procore report reveals echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Procore’s How We Build Now report found that one in every six hours (16% of project time) is spent on rework – a clear sign of lost productivity in an industry facing challenging market conditions. Continue →

The addition of a cycleway to a 177 metre long bridge was the top project among 15 finalists at the SCNZ Excellence in Steel Awards echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The winners of the 2021 Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) Excellence in Steel Awards were announced on 3 June at the Hilton Auckland, after an earlier postponement due to Covid-19. Continue →

Giving construction workers access to technology such as augmented reality (AR) will not only combat soaring resource costs, but help attract young people to construction roles, says GlobalData. Continue →

A revolutionary new plasterboard design incorporating seaweed could reduce the carbon footprint of building materials thanks to the work of a Canterbury student echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 21-year-old Bachelor of Product Design student Andy (Minhong) Park has developed a biocomposite wall panel that uses algae – or seaweed – as a bio-filler to help the building and construction industries become greener. Continue →

A builder walks into a room full of big-name property developers and asks them to stump up millions of dollars so his company can finish their projects. Continue →

Supply chain disruption and rising material costs are putting additional pressure on construction firms already stretched thin, with many now turning to digital solutions, says Payapps Chief Operating Officer Tony Simonsen echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); According to the latest New Zealand Core Logic data, construction costs in New Zealand have increased by 6.2 percent last year, largely due to rising commodity and raw material prices. Continue →

A government-funded initiative aims to create a future where timber is used more widely in mid to high rise buildings and contributes to carbon neutral targets echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service deputy director general Jason Wilson announced the launch at the WoodWorks conference, explaining that the Timber Design Centre aims to increase the use of timber, particularly in structures such as offices, hotels and multi-storey apartments. Continue →

The collapse of Australian construction firm Probuild is unfortunately just one of the many detrimental outcomes we can expect to see unless more is done to effectively manage risks, Felix Chief Executive Mike Davis says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Probuild will likely remain stalled for now, leading to more delays and cost overruns, compounding the adverse outcomes for owners, subcontractors, staff and significant ripple effects throughout the industry and wider community. Continue →

Organisations in construction are operating blindly against an evolving backdrop of supply chain risks and changing business landscape, due to a staggering lack of transparency, procurement platform Felix reveals in its Building in the Dark report echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The report, developed in collaboration with industry consultancy Entwine, uncovers critical industry need for more supply chain transparency and effective risk management. Continue →