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CONFRONTATIONAL CONSTRUCTION?
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Towards the end of last year I went to Paris (I know; it’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it) to attend a contractors’ event. The event was interesting and while I, of course, knew that conflict was part of a contractor’s life I hadn’t quite realised the extent. From fighting for a fair contract to begin with, dealing with subcontractors and various regulations, to potentially fighting after the project has been completed for full payment, contractors face numerous challenges.
Of course, not all projects are like this but when those in attendance said they were increasingly picking their projects based on who the customer was, rather than the project itself, it made perfect sense. Construction is an industry with low profit margins – we all need to be working more collaboratively to ensure the best outcome for everyone. You can read my piece on the event in this issue.
There’s a new person in the White House in the US, and Trump has wasted no time in issuing a raft of executive orders to implement his policy decisions. These include a significant investment in AI-related infrastructure and a pull back on some renewable energy projects. In this issue, the country report and economic outlook are both on the US to give you an overview of conditions, and how they might change.
With other articles on drilling and foundations equipment, BIM and digital twins, mergers and acquisitions, earthmoving equipment, the raising of a dam, and the growing internationalisation of Chinese OEMs, there should be something here for you of interest.
Here’s to a great 2025 for all of construction and one in which we all work together to make the industry more technologically advanced, more profitable, safer, and more harmonious.
The paper in this magazine originates from timber that is sourced from sustainable forests, managed to strict environmental, social, and economic standards. The manufacturing mill has both FSC & PEFC certification, and also ISO9001 and ISO14001 accreditation.