Service Body Flip-Hatch Built By Highway Products


The Flip-Hatch gives you six more inches of entry space in the back of Highway Products service bodies.

Call West Coast Truck Equipment at 916-376-0690 for all of your Highway Products needs.

Types of Construction Equipment Available For Sale in UK


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Distinct is required for different infrastructure purposes and also for the construction of buildings, malls, shops and apartment complexes, etc. These equipment and tools serve lots of alternatives according to their requirement. This post essentially throws light on all the several equipment and tools that are offered for sale in the UK. Apart from equipment and tools, even heavy machinery is mentioned in the post. All the technical details of the equipment and machinery are given.

Excavator
An excavator is utilised for digging of trenches, holes, foundations, material handling, forestry work, demolition, landscaping, heavy lifting, mining, river dredging, etc. Excavators run with the help of hydraulic fluids and are provided in compact form. The excavator is driven by wheels or tracks. They consist of a cab, bucket and boom on a rotating platform. These are available all over UK at the most reasonable costs.

Bulldozer
A bulldozer is also recognized as a crawler. It is usually utilised for pushing significant quantities of soil, dirt, rubble, sand, etc. throughout construction of buildings, etc. The bulldozer is equipped with a ripper at the rear utilised for loosening densely compacted materials. A bulldozer has immense strength and is utilised for lifting other tools as well. Bulldozers are use on construction web sites, military bases, mines, quarries and heavy business factories. Bulldozers are on the market in all the leading machinery stores in UK.

Crane
A crane is a multipurpose machine that is used extensively in construction industries for lifting purposes. A crane is equipped with wire ropes or chains, sheaves and winder. It is useful for lifting and lowering supplies at internet site of construction and in mines, quarries, military bases etc.

Road Roller
A is fundamentally used for compacting soil, gravel, asphalt, concrete, etc. in the construction of roads. Road rollers are extensively used in construction industries. Road rollers can be found at all equipment and machinery stores in UK.

Loader
A loader is utilized to load materials like rock, sand, wood chips, dirt, feed, gravel, raw minerals, logs, asphalt, debris, etc. into other machinery like dump truck, feed-hopper, etc. Loaders are many different sorts- bucket loader, front loader, scoop loader and front-end loader. Loaders are accessible for sale in most of the leading equipment stores in UK.

Drilling Machines
Drilling machines are used exclusively for drilling holes in the ground. They are also utilised for drilling water and oils from the earth. These machines are used extensively in oil industries, mining activities and construction industries. Some of the leading machinery and equipment stores in UK offer you drilling machines at cost-successful rates.

The above mentioned are some of the most favorite machinery and equipment that are utilized extensively for construction purposes. Now that you have read a brief introduction about these machinery items, it would be easier for you to choose which equipment you demand and for what purpose. All these machines are obtainable in various stores in UK and are sold by manufacturers directly or by means of retailers.

AIT offers Professional Master in Project Management in Construction in Vietnam (HCM, HANOI, CANTHO and VUNGTAU)


In Vietnam, Asian Institute of Technology ( http://www.set.ait.ac.th/ceim or http://www.aitcv.ac.vn ) is offering a very innovative program called Professional Master in Project Management in Construction (in short, MPM). MPM program is innovative because the curriculum is designed by combining modern theories and best practice (practical) applications of project management in construction projects. The program aims to train and develop project engineers and project managers to be able to grasp the important theories of project management and be able to apply in construction projects.

What will you learn?
- project planning and scheduling management
- organization management in construction
- project cost and financial management
- communication and negotiation skills for project managers
- occupational safety and health management in construction
- quality management in construction
- project financing
- legal and contractual risk management
- applied project management in petrochemical project
- applied project management in highrise building project
- applied project management in housing and real estate project
- applied project management in public infrastructure project
- applied project management in commercial project
- construction business and project simulation

How long does it take to complete the master program? the program is design as a one year master degree. with your hardwork, you will be able to complete in one year.

Who should study this subject? if your work is related with project management in construction, this program is very useful for your career and company.

who will teach this course? the courses will be taught by professors from AIT, Japan, USA, Europe and Professional Project Managers from large construction companies and projects.

what is the teaching schedule? the classes will be delivered on evening and weekend.

Where will we open this program? we will open in Hanoi, HoChiMinh , Vung Tau and Cantho.

Where can you get more detail information?
- For Hanoi, please contact Ms Luong phone 01 285 687 168 email luongtth@aitcv.ac.vn
- For HCM, Vung Tau and Cantho, pleasse contat Ms Tuong phone 01 285 687 168 email ngletuong@aitcv.ac.vn

Many thanks
Dr BHW Hadikusumo
Associate Professor
CEIM and MPM Coordinators

CEIM open applications for August 2011 intake

We open the application for August 2011 intake for AIT Thailand campus. Limited numbers of scholarships are available for talented applicants. Some of the scholarships are Royal Thai Government scholarship, The King of Thailand scholarship, The Queen of Thailand Scholarship, Asian Development Bank scholarship etc.

What is CEIM? CEIM master and doctoral programs aim to prepare engineers to manage large construction projects starting from planning, design, tendering, construction and commissioning.

What will you learn? you will learn important knowledge and skills in project management in construction such as project planning/scheduling, project cost and financial management, organizational management, project contract, project risk, project quality management, project performance management and project financing.

Where will you work after graduation? You can work in strategic industries that highly need project management such as:
- Contractors (highway, building, oil/gas and energy)
- Consultants
- Property and real estate developers
- Bank and Invesment companies
- Public Private Partnership Consortium
- Financial and Banking institutions that lend fundings for construction projects
- hotel and apartment development
- oil and gas construction

What else will you learn during your study with us in AIT?
AIT is a very multicultural insitute. Our students and faculty members come from different parts of the world such as Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Taiwan, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, Korea, European Union. Aside from studying knowledge, you will also learn different cultures and different ways of thinking from your friends; and develop your global international networking.


Please contact CEIM Secretary (Ms. Woranuch, phone 025246060 or email woranuch@ait.ac.th) for further information.

Visit CEIM: http://www.set.ait.ac.th/ceim
How to apply? http://www.ait.ac.th/AIT/admissions/admissions


Regards
Dr. BHW Hadikusumo
Associate Professor
CEIM Coordinator
MPM Coordinator

Project Schedule Internal Risk Management in EPC Gas Pipeline Project: A Case Study

Oil and gas sector is considered as a backbone of any country’s economy. In Viet Nam, the promotion of gas industry development since the early 1990s has significantly contributed to the economic development of the country.
The demand of domestic gas consumption is being increased in a very short time. Therefore, Petro Vietnam has cooperated with national and international petroleum companies to speed up the plan of developing and building of the new gas fields in the southeast sea and southwest sea of Vietnam. As a result, lot of new pipelines will be installed to transport gas from field to shore of Vietnam, and this process involves many risks. Due to the unique characteristic of this project, the risk management during project execution became very important activity because the risks may have effect on cost, schedule and quality of the project. Risk management is a key to successful project implementation.

For most effective and efficient risk management, it is recommend to plan, analyze and manage risk in all phases of project life cycle specifically from design to construction phase.

Mr. Pham Binh Lam made a case study which objectives were to: (1) describe key activities in EPC gas pipeline project ; (2) identify risk factor in implement the EPC gas pipeline project which may affect the project schedule; and (3) propose risk solution that can be used to manage in the EPC gas pipeline project

Conclusion

Based on the data collected mainly from Bloc B&52-Omon gas pipeline project of Petro VietNam Gas Corporation, the author has clarified that EPC gas pipeline project contains high risk during project execution. The very important stages are from engineering stage to construction stage because these stages influence the quality of gas pipeline project. There are a lot of risk factor impacts on the project schedule in these periods such as experience, knowledge and skill of owner, contractor, subcontractors, design change, and environment impact. Pipeline construction in the offshore environment as well as onshore environment which across many rivers and canals are difficult and dangerous activity which lead to accidents and incidents frequencies happen especially if this project have a long distance from offshore to onshore pipeline route. It will not only cause project delays but also directly and indirectly cause very high project cost.
Major risk factors which may affect EPC gas pipeline project schedule has been identified by and facilitated during the brainstorming session of key experience stakeholders in this project such as top management, project manager, site manager, HSE manager, office personnel and the author.

The author has proposed appropriate strategies to reduce major risks schedule in EPC gas pipeline project by conducting a Framework on EPC Schedule Risk Management through a real gas pipline project case study -Block B – Omon gas pipeline project.The results are shown in the table below.


Recommendation

In order to obtain efficient schedule risk management in EPC gas pipeline project this study proposes a number of recommendations:
- Experience project management team should be appointed to the selection EPC contractor

- The EPC contractor has to contribute audit procedure for detailed designer to select qualified designer effectively. In addition, review and approval by Project Management team (PMT) of both selection of detailed designer and approval of designed document

- The EPC contractor and subcontractor should contribute an effective and efficient safety management system

- An effective communication and coordination system between lower stake holder (e.g. EPC contractor, subcontractor, vendor, etc) should be set up

- The owners should have high commitment of all people involved especially top management commitment in all stage of project and hand over authority to make decision.

- The Risk Management Plan should be reviewed during the EPC phase as specified in the Project Management Plan to ensure that appropriate actions have been taken and followed up. Reviews should also occur at the commencement of a new project phase or if there are significant changes to the project scope or operating environment.
His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

Abstract

In order to adapt the demand of domestic gas consumption is being increased in very short time PetroVietnam has cooperated together with national and international petroleum companies to speed up the plan of developing and building new gas fields in the southeast sea and southwest sea of Vietnam. Therefore a lot of new pipelines will be installed to transport gas from field to shore of Vietnam. In oil and gas project specify gas pipeline project contains high risk during project execution because of interacting activities of many event in condition of limited time, human resource and budget and the participation of many different parties in the project with the role, responsibilities as well as different objectives make the project more complex. Additional, only four gas pipelines project that built in Vietnam. Due to the unique characteristic of these project, the risk management during project execution is became very importance activity because the risks effect on cost, schedule and quality of the project. Risk management is a key to successful project implementation The author has identified mayor significant risks which impact project schedule and has proposed appropriate strategies to reduce major risks schedule in EPC gas pipeline project by conducting a Framework on EPC Schedule Risk Management through a real gas pipeline project case study -Block B – Omon gas pipeline project.

Knapheide Reinforced Crane Bodies To Withstand Tough Working Conditions


Crane Bodies from Knapheide are versatile enough to work in almost any industry. From one application to the next, the Knapheide Crane Body continues to exceed the expectations of our customers.

Knapheide's Crane Body line is versatile enough to withstand everything from light to heavy duty working environments.  Our 30,000 ft.-lb., 38,000 ft.-lb. and 60,000 ft.-lb. Crane Bodies are designed to provide enough storage while boasting the capacity to lift your maximum sized loads.  Whatever your application may be, municipal, construction, heavy equipment maintenance, Knapheide has the right Crane Body for you.


Here's an example of the major features of the 30,000 ft.-lb 30J Knapheide Crane Body:

Rugged 14 gauge two-sided A-40 galvanneal steel body shell


  • Crane compartment is reinforced to support up to a 30,000 ft-lb. crane
  • Torsion box understructure design strengthens floor to resist flexing
  • Compartment tops and backs (cargo area) have 1/8” tread plate overlays to withstand jobsite abuse
  • Knapheide’s exclusive “return flange” floor design provides support for side compartments, adds floor strength and eliminates a rust-prone exposed seam between floor and side compartments
  • Double shell, 20 gauge two-sided A-40 galvanneal steel hat section reinforced doors for durability and long life
  • Thick automotive bulb-type neoprene door seals protect compartment contents from the outside elements
  • All stainless steel continuous hinges for security and paddle-activated, rotary style latches for durability
  • Interior light guards to protect your lights from cargo abuse
  • 250lb. capacity adjustable divider shelves
  • Complete immersion in Knapheide’s electrodeposition prime paint system for superior corrosion resistance
And. . . don't forget the options that make it work better:

Outrigger Package

Master Locking System
and Codeable lock

DLH Crane Bumper

Cable Steps

7-Drawer Cabinet

DL Crane Bumper

LED Light Kit

And that's just to name a few of the more popular options. We can have a custom body built for you if you need. Give West Coast Truck Equipment a call at 916-376-0690 and let us tailor the perfect body at the perfect price for you.

Construction Consultants Help Against Construction Claims


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On the construction web page, the waste of time and supplies, and even damage to property is a frequent, often daily occurrence.

Nobody can prevent natural forces that destroy the site, but construction delays caused by the contractors' negligence, or even individual injury and loss of materials can be avoided or resolved. Rarely is a webpage maintained perfectly with out any difficulties, so you have to have an individual on your side fighting for your rights, ensuring that all the other parties are working as agreed.

When you are working with many contractors and sub-contractors such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other individuals to total a project, it is not uncommon to encounter problems that could form the basis of construction claims. This indicates that a prudent provider must seek construction claims consulting to protect their interests.

A consultant can represent your interests in case you need to have to file a claim against another person or yet another party files a lawsuit against your provider. Consultants in this field function to establish the strength of claims, give consideration to the selections, defend your business or assert your claims. Here are just some of the items a construction solicitor or construction consultant can do for you

Analyze delays

A construction claims consultant evaluates the cause of delays in projects to figure out legal responsibility and carries out monetary analysis to estimate the amount the delay will cost. Clearly, the consultant should certainly be familiar with project management within the construction industry, with planning technique, and the nuances of distinct experts who participate in the project.

Assess damages

Consultants also evaluate and estimate damages involved due to project delays, injuries, errors on the job and much more. A delay, injury or even lost or delayed delivery of materials creates a ripple effect in any project. These can mean far more delays and additional expenses. The consultant can help decide the extent of any such losses which will form the basis of a claim for damages.

Decide Breakdown and Suggest Corrective Action

A consultant with construction claims experience need to be able to identify why a delay or breakdown happened and then produce a workable solution to remedy the situation. The consultant need to be familiar with the present construction laws such as creating codes and standards, and capable of recognizing deficiencies in design and supplies. They may well also provide project management experience to oversee the completion of a project.

Arbitration and Litigation

A consultant with construction claims experience could possibly also supply a professional, unbiased viewpoint should their expertise be required for arbitration and litigation. Engineering and architectural firms may possibly benefit from this type of consultant as can governmental agencies, contractors and construction firms. Having an individual like a construction claims consultant represent your interests is a smart move, in particular if you are not well-versed in the a lot of problems that can arise during construction projects.

Quality Management System for Construction Material Testing: A case study of Jupiter Inspection J/S Company

In recent years, there are many modern infrastructure which have been constructed with high-technology in Vietnam. However, the technical management is not caught up with the development of actual construction. Many serious accidents are still taken place causing numbers of deaths. Therefore, the management of construction work has been more and more taken into account. One of the solution for enhancement of construction work quality is to strengthen the inspection of construction quality by expanding the network of laboratory and auditing centers in all regions and industries in the country.

The activities of these laboratories have positively contributed to the construction quality and timely being into operation for the planning, design, construction and acceptance of such works as bridge and road, infrastructure, industrial and civil works. The development of civil industry, in general, and the activities of laboratories, in particular, are the reasons for the establishment of Quality Management System (QMS).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vui made a case study, which objectives were to: (1) study QMS of company; and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the QMS

Conclusions

Based on the result of the study, the quality management system in Jupiter Company was based on the ISO 9001:2008 requirement system. These are:

a) an organization structure, responsibility and authority in QMS which are regulated under the applied Law,

b) procedures of QMS (Operating procedure, Supporting procedure, and system management procedures),

c) resources for performing all activities in QMS,

d) document system, and

e) leadership representative of quality management system.

In general, although, there are some difficulties in the implementation of QMS, but still it has some remarkable effect such as follows:

1. Making the company manage the quality and operation of production line and trading activities systematically and in a planned method, in order to minimize and exclude all cost arising after inspection, as well as cost of maintenance and repeating of work.

2. Making company increase the efficiency and reduce cost of supply of means and facilities for people doing the job according to correct procedures from the beginning. As well as having close control, then the quantity of repeated work and cost for corrective actions carried out for defective products are limited, due to lack of control and reduction of consuming for time, material, human resource and money.

3. Increase the competition with other company due to the proper QMS. The company is now well qualified for bidding and might take part in many large and important projects such as Project for Expressway of HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay; Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway; Trung Luong Can Tho Expressway. At the same time, it creates jobs for foreign countries such as TOA (Japan), BCOM (France), Hyder (UK), SMEC (Australia) Hanshin (Korea) Wilbur Smith (USA), and Nipon Koei (Japan).

The company’s prestige has improved in terms of quality security from the professional level of staff, document system, accuracy of equipments, making the test results with high accuracy. Besides, the progress of the project is always satisfactory with planned handing over schedule and then meeting the customer’s requirements as well.

In short, QMS is a correct solution, a unique way for the development and stability of the company. When QMS is supplied, internal force (organization) and external force (customer) will have mutual link in terms of benefits and responsibility, a solution for the benefits of many parties.

Her thesis abstract is copied and posted.

Abstract

The report expresses the key issues in Quality Management System (QMS) that known as the critical factor for organizations wants to develop and survive in the construction work.

This study, which refers to the theories and the standards system, has expressed the concept of quality in construction, the QMS in organization, requirements for QMS in construction materials testing and its benefits.

The study based on theoretical considerations as well as practical experience gained in the materials testing process. To ensure the correct identification of substances, to ensure that the processes undertaken.

Report the findings of a research study, which was undertaken to examine the underlying factors affecting the quality of a construction project. It also aims to identify factors that show a strong correlation to good quality performance. The aim of this report is to improve the quality of materials testing services and to define common quality assurance criteria.

For Sale HITACHI EX1200-5D,HITACHI EX870LCH-3,HITACHI ZX450LC-3F


Package price $950,000 FOB Singapore main port
HITACHI EX1200-5D Long Arm Hours 8082
HITACHI EX870LCH-3 Super Long arm/boom Hours 7943
HITACHI Base:ZX450LC-3F Boom: ZX470-3 (L=7m) + Arm ZX470LCH-3 (L=2.5m) Hours 9582


Contact msloane@msloaneconsulting.com for more details.






Insurance and Surety Bonds: A Case Study of Petrochemical, Oil and Gas Projects in Myanmar and Thailand

Human beings, business firm, organization, government and society want security but everybody and property cannot be fixed and established because risk is generally underlying those. Risks can be easily understood among the projects, but they are difficult to describe. Construction projects require many resources such as financial capital, human resources and material resources. It is very important to mitigate the construction risks, and complete the project with target time and necessary quality. Analyses of the various risks and understanding of these risks are very important to mitigate these risks. The insurance company is of primary significant of the risk management. It shows that insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to avoid against the risk of a contingent loss (Tsanakas and Desli, 2005 cited in El-adaway and Kandil, 2009). Insurance is determined as the equitable risk transferring. The insured need to pay equitable insurance rates called premium to insurance company (Harrington and Niehaus, 2004 cited in El-adaway and Kandil, 2009).

The insurance premium payment is a major cost of project. If insurance is used, the premium must be paid in advance. If any losses happen in project, the project can get indemnification. However, the using of insurance can get loss of premiums. Therefore, the contract manager and risk manager need to consider about insurable risks. All kinds of insurable risks are not insured. Bunni (2003) mentioned that classification of risks on the basic insurability is shown in figure below.


There are many risks in the construction project. Each project activity may be its own risks such as occurrence of physical damages, accidents, materials delivery delays, unforeseeable problems, unforeseeable site conditions, natural hazards, political affects, etc. These risks will affect to the client, contractor, design professional, employees, third party and public. For instance, the contractor cannot be able to finish the project with contract price because of the economic situation and changes, the site condition changes, the difficulties of resources and others. Therefore, contractor’s default is one of the most important risks in construction projects (Arditi et al. 2000 cited in Al-Sobiei et al. 2005).

Contractor’s risks cannot be eliminated by the client, but it can be partly or totally transferred to the bonds (Al-Sobiei et al. 2005). When the project meets the unforeseeable contractor’s failure, it is very difficult to finish on time because the projects may have financial difficulties, delays and others. However, the surety bonds can provide to the client as a guarantee to complete the project and defaulting financial payment from the contractor (Russell, 1990; Mills, 2001).

Ms. Kyawt Phyu Phyu made a case study which objectives were to : (1) study insurable risks which can be managed using insurance and surety bonds; (2) study the insurance and surety bonds in oil & gas and petrochemical projects; and (3) develop a framework on risk and insurance

Conclusions

Objective 1

It was found out that there are many kinds of risks in oil and gas and petrochemical projects. Their risk management (risk transfer) approaches are the insurance, surety bonds and other approaches. However, most of the appropriate risk transfer approaches are the insurance and surety bonds and the detailed conclusion for objective-2 are described in table below.


Objective 2

it was found out that most of the projects don’t have the same insurances and surety bonds because of their project nature, project types, different project parties, different risks management system. The insurance premiums are also different relating with risks, project types, company background and others. If the risks are high, insurance premiums are also high. There are eleven (11) kinds of insurance and four (4) kinds of bonds on petrochemical and oil & gas project in this research according to case study.

(i) Recommendation Insurances for offshore pipeline project

The recommendation insurances for offshore oil and gas projects according to case study are:
1. Construction All Risk Insurance
2. General Third Party Liability Insurance
3. Marine Hull and Machinery Insurance
4. Protection and Indemnity Insurance
5. Worker’s Compensation Insurance
6. Transportation Insurance

(ii) Recommendations Insurances for Transportation and Installation Offshore
Facilities Projects

The recommendation insurances for transportation and installation offshore facilities projects according to case study are:
1. Construction All Risk Insurance/ Erection All Risk Insurance
2. General Third Party Liability Insurance3. Worker’s Compensation Insurance
4. Marine Hull and Machinery Insurance
5. Protection and Indemnity Insurance
6. Transportation (Marine Cargo) Insurance
7. Builder All Risk Insurance

(iii) Recommendation Insurances for Urea Fertilizer Factory Projects

The recommendation insurances for Urea Fertilizer Projects according to case study are:
1. Construction All Risk Insurance/ Erection All Risk Insurance
2. Transportation Insurance
3. Fire and Exploration Insurance
4. Worker’s Compensation Insurance
5. General Third Party Liability Insurance

(iv) Recommendation Insurances for Refinery Projects

The recommendation insurances for refinery projects according to case study are:
1. Construction All Risk Insurance/ Erection All Risk Insurance
2. General Third Party Liability Insurance
3. Worker’s Compensation Insurance
4. Construction Plant and Equipment Insurances
5. Business Interruption Insurance

(v) Recommendation Surety Bonds for Petrochemical and Oil and Gas Projects

In petrochemical and oil and gas projects, bid bond is needed in the bidding stage. In the construction and operation phases, performance bond (bank guarantee) and advance payment bond are important according to case study.

Objective 3

Main types of insurable risks in petrochemical and oil and gas projects are loss of life and personnel injury, material damage, material in transit and contractor’s risks. The insurable risks for oil and gas projects are collusion, oil pollution related with marine property. The researcher shows the detailed level of respective insurable risks in below figure. The project’s participants transfer these kinds of insurable risks to insurance and surety bonds, and the detailed descriptions are mentioned in figure below.




Her thesis abstract is copied and posted.
Abstract

There are many uncertainties, risks and probability and possibility of loss of chance in every firm, business, projects and human beings. The oil and gas project and petrochemical projects have many uncertainties and risks because these projects are related with geological risks, probability of existing oil, oceanography, and others. Insurance and surety bond are very important in projects because they can protect the risks, contractor’s default, and the project can get the financial and performance security. This study is emphasizing on insurable risks with appropriate types insurance and surety bonds.

This study emphasizes on the case study approach on petrochemical and oil and gas projects. The study was conducted to two oil and gas projects from Myanmar, two urea fertilizer projects from Myanmar and two refinery projects from Thailand to study types of insurable risks, insurance and surety bonds.

Tayor Steinberg Talks About The Knapheide CNG Option For Their Service Body Lineup


Taylor Steinberg of Knapheide Manufacturing talks to Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success about the Knapheide CNG option for their service body line.

Recorded on March 9, 2011 at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis using a Flip Video camera.






Some information from the Knapheide website at http://www.knapheide.com/:

Compressed Natural Gas


Knapheide has invested in relationships with the two top CNG fuel system providers in the industry, BAF Technologies (Ford Chassis) and Baytech Corporation (GM Chassis). Because of these relationships, Knapheide has been able to develop work ready CNG fuel vehicles on both Ford and GM chassis. CNG has become a popular choice for large fleets due to the significantly lower operating costs compared to gas or diesel vehicles. CNG fueled vehicles emit 30% less greenhouse gas compared to gas or diesel vehicles. Over 98% of natural gas is produced in North America allowing the United States to rely less on foreign oil as a fuel source.

Direct benefits to fleets/end users that convert to compressed natural gas include:

  • CNG is eligible for the Federal Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle credit
  • On-site CNG fueling stations offer additiional benefits to large fleets with dedicated work routes
  • CNG engines emit 80% less noise compared to diesel engines
  • CNG offers a lower fuel cost and longer vehicle life expectancy for fleet vehicles
  • CNG packages are available for many popular commercial vehicles and retrofits for existing vehicles

Tommy Gate Introduces Its New Cantilever Liftgate












Tommy Gate is proud to announce the launch of its Cantilever Series, the all-new hydraulic lift specifically designed for commercial panel vans, including the Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER, Nissan NV, and Chevy EXPRESS.

Attendees at the 2011 NTEA Work Truck Show saw an early demo of the Tommy Gate Cantilever and a few prototypes have been in various stages of testing around the country for the past several months. However, the factory production lines have just recently been completed at Tommy Gate’s manufacturing plant in Woodbine, Iowa.

Tommy Gate’s engineering team has been developing the new lift for over two years and designed the Cantilever Series with a focus on operator safety and functional reliability. The numerous features included create a hydraulic lift that is not only state-of-the-art and aesthetically pleasing, but also highly functional and surprisingly convenient:

  • bolt-on installation eliminates welding
  • large, aluminum platform is corrosion-resistant and pallet-jack compatible
  • lift controls have been carefully placed to ensure operator safety
  • laterally-folding platform allows access to rear of vehicle when not in use
  • standard cart stops and internal bridge mounts make the lift extremely cart-friendly
Tommy Gate is a 45-year-old, U.S.-based, hydraulic liftgate manufacturer, located in Woodbine, Iowa.

Find a distributor by using Tommy Gate’s Distributor Locator at http://www.tommygate.com/ or email marketing@tommygate.com for more info.

Orientation Risk Management Model for Pre-Bidding Process in Low-Income Housing Projects With Public Private Partnership in Vietnam

Although PPP is not a new approach to access infrastructure capital mobilizing in the world, this model has just applied in Vietnam since 2000s (DPI, 2010). The incompletion framework of PPP is one of the barriers that private sector could not be accessed to low income housing projects. As a result, there are only 6 projects which have been launched until 2009 Ngan Ha (2010, Jan 21), and all of them had an investor collection process without tendering process. This reality is not only “crowding out” private participation but also increasing the overall risk to the GOV in its PPP program (WB, 2008).

In order to improve this situation, in early 2010, GOV issued new 108 Decree to replace 78 Decree which was applied before. Thus, PPP procurement process is now clearer than before. Project partner must be selected through transparent tender bidding & negotiation phase. Hence, with the new regulation, risk evaluation plays a critical role in pre-bidding period.

Nevertheless, according to World Bank report (2008), in Vietnam current situation, ‘projects are not very well developed before they are bid out’. This is a key point needed to be thoroughly comprehended by stakeholders if they do not want to be ineffective of PPP program.

Mr. Vu Tuyet Mai made a research to find out the answer for the following questions:
1. What are the risks included in pre-bidding process for every aspect of PPP stakeholders who have difference objectives, functions, risk perception, how to manage those risks properly based on stakeholder’s competence and experience?

2. What is the existing risk management model which is used by stakeholders in the PPP low income housing projects running without bidding process in Vietnam?

3. What are the basic differences and how to capture the new risk management model from existing one?

The objectives of his research were to: (1) investigate risk factors can occur in pre-bidding stage for stakeholders of PPP low-income housing projects when apply the new regulation in Vietnam; (2) find out the existing critical risk factors in pre-bidding stage of low-income housing project in Vietnam; and (3) develop the risk management model in pre-bidding stage to help PPP stakeholders to achieve individual and project objectives under the new regulation.

Conclusion

Even though PPP model is familiar to infrastructure projects in general and low income housing project in particular around the world, it was just piloted in Vietnam recently, and now is in the improvement process. In parallel with gradual correction of policy system is the comprehension of related partners in project structure about risk management orientation. Hence, the goal of this thesis is pursuing this orientation to partly contribute to the completion process.

The result of the first objective is that the risk factors can face stakeholders in LIHPs would be investigated follow bidding process which should be applied in PPP practices. Thus, public sector plays the most important role in pre-bidding process and takes responsibility of social outcome. As a result, they take 19 risk factors in whole pre-bidding process, much higher if it will compare with 7 risk factors of private sector and debt funder.

The result of objective number 2 is that although all LIHPs in Vietnam now have not applied bidding regulation, those were analyzed exposed the real process of investor selection and their risk management related. In other words, those showed the evidences of real risk factors occurring now. Also, the ways stakeholders managed them and their result have been investigated.

For the last objective, the orientation model not only reduces many risk factor sprang from current selection process, but also recommend the solution to solve the risk related with policy and regulation in Vietnam now.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

Abstract

Risk management issue becomes more and more important in low income housing projects in Vietnam, especially in the transitional period of improvement of policy in recent years. Pursuing the suitable risk management model in pre-bidding process which needs to be applied from now as ruled in new regulations is the main propose of this thesis. In order to catch up requirements in pre-bidding, every stakeholder has to face with some determined risks to meet their needs. Moreover, current investment condition in low-income housing projects has contained many existing risk. Therefore, combination between risk simulation in pre-bidding and risk occurring could show the orientation of risk management model for the near future.

The thesis used methodology of case study analysis. After finding out risk factors in pre-bidding and verifying by experts, two most typical projects that run by PPP scheme have been chosen to analyze. The result of study shows that low-income housing project in Vietnam were challenged by many risk factors. They were caused by either current process of investor appointment or existing vague regulation and policy. For this reason, the thesis oriented the risk management model in order to reduce the main risks factor and transfer some risks to the sector enable to manage well. Obviously, this model needs to be perfected gradually through project by project and period by period. At least, the first model of risk management can help stakeholder to optimize their interest in low-income housing project with applying bidding process instead of investor selection before.

Knapheide Service Body Converted For CNG







Here is a Knapheide 9' Service Body w/2' Compartment for CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) conversion. This is shown mounted on a standard 1-ton 84" CA cab chassis and is commonly available from all major light duty chassis manufacturers. This body was on display at the 2011 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Call West Coast Truck Equipment in West Sacramento, CA for all your service body needs. WCTE is a proud distributor of all of Knapheide's equipment. Give us a call at 916-376-0690 and visit our website at http://www.westcoasttruckequipment.com/.

New launch: TIANDI TJ-S2.43 SPMT's

TIANDI TJ-S2.43 SPMT's by Jefflee09
TIANDI TJ-S2.43 SPMT's, a photo by Jefflee09 on Flickr.

THI-FLJ lauched new high loading capacity SPMT's -- TIANDI TJ-S2.43
Max payload 40T/axle line.