THE latest innovations to benefit road and transport projects were highlighted at the recent Road Expo Scotland event at Glasgow’s SEC.
Over 85 exhibitors were in attendance at the show, co-located with Bridges Scotland, which attracted speakers from organisations including Transport Scotland, Transport for London, Kier, Amey, AECOM, WSP, and a host of local authorities.
Project Scotland was given a look at Re-flow’s digital field management system. The technology aims to replace the traditional pen and paper way of tracking projects, allowing for real-time job progress and data updates, as well as instant communication across site and the elimination of paperwork.
Currently being utilised by 12 firms in Scotland, Ashley Wing, head of sales and marketing at the Exeter-based company, revealed the Scottish market has embraced the tech, with Breedon’s Scottish department having already adopted it and found it to be ‘absolutely brilliant’.
With a well kitted out stand at the front of the hall, Re-Flow was keen to make an impression. “It’s really important to forge strong relationships and truly understand what (customer) pains are and what they’re trying to solve,” Ashley stated. “We can adapt our technology to make sure it’s as finely tuned as possible to deliver on what they want.”
A particularly busy stand was Concrete Canvas, manned by Ryan McKeever and Anton Booth from the firm’s technical sales team. A regular Road Expo Scotland exhibitor, the company said it was the busiest show it has had post-pandemic.
“During Covid we became experts at meeting clients over Teams and Zoom, but I think it’s very important to connect in person – especially with our end clients,” Ryan said. “We’ve had a big focus over the past few years in getting to as many shows as we can, meeting people in person, and getting into offices to meet with our clients – and that’s been getting really good feedback.”
The firm was highlighting a three-dimensional fibre matrix material which is completely waterproof, allowing for erosion control, containment, and shelter on projects – with it commonly used in applications such as stormwater drainage, ditch lining, and slope protection. “An important thing is allowing customers to see and feel the material for themselves,” Anton added. “That allows them to get a bit more understanding of it – it’s one of these products that you need to see to believe it.”
The duo revealed the use of the material is growing ‘exponentially’ in Scotland, with drainage requirements seeing it utilised as an interceptor channel on the side of roadways and rail tracks – with Network Rail being the firm’s biggest client.
“We did a really big scheme in Abernethy six months ago,” Ryan said, explaining how it involved re-lining critical infrastructure close to the railway, which was experiencing flooding and potential for landslips.
“We know Network Rail Scotland and QTS Group are really happy with the results, so for us that’s been a highlight project.”
Both anticipate a ‘huge focus’ on earthworks and drainage in the year ahead, with many attendees visiting the stand and citing the need for a solution to mitigate things such as flooding and landslips as a result of increasing severe weather.
Next up was the Leca stand. Part of the Saint-Gobain group, the firm is behind the Leca Lightweight Aggregate, which has been used on a host of Scottish projects including the Edinburgh Trams, Queensferry Crossing, The Kelpies, and most recently the Winchburgh Junction. “Scotland has been a big market for us inherently,” Robert Branford, technical director at Leca, told Project Scotland.
Leca was promoting the product’s lightweight and sustainability benefits, with its quick install time reducing carbon, while its lightweight nature means it can be delivered to site in one large truck as opposed to several smaller tippers.
A Road Expo Scotland debutant was scaffolding specialist Access Solutions. The firm recently switched its colours from yellow and black to a distinctive black and pink offering, with the idea being that it will make its work more easily identifiable across the country. One recent contract was the Uig Ferry Terminal repair project, with the firm providing access for concrete to be shot blasted away, the repainting of steel work, and then re-concreted. “We’re aiming to be the go-to contractor, and projects like that will help with that,” commercial director Chris Lyon revealed.
“The goal is to deliver a good product hassle-free and get that repeat business – and we do seem to do that; we’re just trying to keep the momentum going.”
Road Expo Scotland will return to Glasgow’s SEC on November 27-28, 2024.
