International Construction January-February podcast (audio)

In this month's podcast, iC editor Chris Sleight and deputy editor Helen Wright look at some of the key stories in the January-February issue of the magazine.

In the news pages we discuss the banning of three contractors from World Bank-funded projects, following fraud investigations. These debarments follow on from two similar cases from October, and are part of a crack-down on fraud in the development bank community.

Our lead business story this month focuses on the merger of the world's two largest equipment rental companies, United and RSC, to form a clear North American-focused industry leader.

This month's features include a look at the compact equipment sector, where engine emission laws and fierce competition are seeing a vast number of new machines being launched. Engine emission laws will also play their part in the new machines launched later this year at Intermat, as manufacturers focus on the mid-range equipment affected in 2012

Finally, we turn to International Construction itself, which celebrates its 50^th birthday this year. In the first of a series of features throughout 2012, we delve back into the archives and look at the stories that made the headlines in the first few issues of the magazine.