Tunnel boring can be hard work, but it doesn’t come much harder than on this Maryland project by Oscar Renda Contracting, as Alan Swaby learns.

There are gophers busy under the suburbs of Silver Spring, Maryland, but they’re not doing any harm. Instead, they’re busy nibbling away the rock, ready to construct a vital link in the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) water system.

First Majestic Silver Corp. is committed to building a senior silver-producing mining company based on an aggressive development and acquisition plan with a focus on Mexico. COO Ramon Davila takes David Hendricks on a virtual tour of the company’s three producing silver mines.

First Majestic Silver Corp. was established in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2002 as a silver mining company focused on Mexico. The company currently has three underground mines in production and is nurturing two other projects for future production.

Engman-Taylor Company underwent some restructuring as a result of the economic slowdown. But as Keith Regan learns, the hard times have been put to good use by expanding internal capabilities and strengthening a sales force to pave the way for future growth.

April Terreri learns a few secrets about the success of Shepard Development Corporation, including its philosophy not to build on spec, but to have value-added tenants ready to occupy new office and commercial buildings.

Bridor is thriving by adapting European breads, croissants and pastries to North American tastes, as Pam Derringer learns from company marketing vice president Pierre Martella.

Louis Le Duff arrived in North America from France some 30 years ago with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for food, looking for opportunity. He found it. More accurately, perhaps, he made it.

The history of the iron ore deposits at Mary River is a tale of politics, perseverance and hope, as Richard “Bo” McCloskey, chairman and interim CEO and president of Baffinland Iron Mines, reveals to Andrew Pelis.

The story of the Mary River iron ore deposits is a compelling tale of national pride, split opinions and fluctuating prices, with a splash of political intrigue. For these reasons, the high-grade iron ore reserves remain undeveloped, nearly a half century after they were first discovered by Murray Watts and Ron Sheardown.

The Lodi Energy Center Project is scheduled for completion by mid-2012, which means that contractors will be racing the clock—and awaiting final design—even after the shovels hit the dirt this summer. Keith Regan learns how the project will help augment existing energy production capabilities with greener power and how the lead general contractor plans to leverage its extensive experience to bring the work in on time.

Aecon, Canada's largest public construction and infrastructure development company, has signed a letter of intent to purchase oil sands mining contractor Cow Harbour Construction for $180 million.

French power giant GDF Suez is expected to announce it has taken over its UK rival International Power (IP) as early as tomorrow.

The two companies had resumed talks after failing to agree a deal earlier this year, with GDF now believed to be offering a special dividend of £1.3 billion to sweeten the agreement for IP investors.

A deal with GDF would create one of the world’s biggest independent power generators, with estimated sales of €13.5 billion. The enlarged group would keep the name International Power.

When Dubai dramatically fell victim to the global economic recession, the construction industry was hit harder than most. Electromechanical construction specialist Trans Gulf has come through it remarkably unscathed. General manager Sekhar Reddy explains to Gay Sutton how the company’s partnership policy and pragmatic approach to growth have stood it in good stead.