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Recent weeks have seen a “first” for HTC with the supply of a Wolff WK320BF crane to work in the middle of the North Sea, 125 miles from Aberdeen.

The crane, on the Apache Forties Alpha platform, has been erected to replace the flare tip as this requires a major overhaul. The crane was shipped out on supply vessels from Aberdeen and placed on the platform using the derrick crane.

HTC Managing Director, Alex Lowe said: “This project is the first of many and, although short in duration, such logistically challenging opportunities are always welcome!”

As P.C. Harrington moves into the fourth year of its Incident & Injury Free (IFF) programme, the company is reinforcing its commitment to IIF with a programme incorporating reviews, refreshers - and a generally reinvigorated programme.

The whole process recently began with a half-day session for around 30 senior managers who reviewed and reflected upon IIF achievements to date, with a special focus on lessons learned. Next, there will be a series of regional events for middle management, IIF trainers, supervisors and foremen to ensure that they are also able to give feedback and remain up-to-speed with the latest developments and issues surrounding our IIF commitment.

The programme also features an introductory session for any new managers who have joined since the launch of the IIF initiative.

Structural Systems is now using an exciting new range of post-tensioning systems which not only has full European Technical Approval, but also brings significant competitive benefits to the industry in terms of time and cost savings.

The new BBR VT CONA CMX range of post-tensioning systems is a wholly new group of products, based on over 60 years of expertise in the field and developed specifically in response to market demands. Instead of adapting an old system to conform to new requirements, the engineers have created totally new systems. The CMX range consists of four systems which cover the entire spectrum of post-tensioning needs.
Specific features and benefits of the new system include:
20-40% less space needed in the anchor zone - thus, less concrete, slimmer structures, less eccentricity in the anchors significantly lower concrete strength prior to stressing - thus, shorter construction cycles less reinforcement in the anchor zone - thus, cost and time savings.

The products are so new that ETA approvals have only so far been completed for the CONA CMI Internal Bonded Post-tensioning System and CONA CMM Unbonded Post-tensioning Systems. We expect soon that ETA will be granted for the new CONA CMF flat slab anchorage range which will also produce benefits from lower concrete transfer strengths and, hence, earlier formwork striking.

Structural Systems is a “BBR PT Specialist” company which means that we have the technical know-how and the capability to put this into practice - as well as the very latest construction technology.

Just months after completing work on a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) project at Moneypoint Power Station in Ireland, Slipform International is set to mobilise on two similar projects for main contractor North Midland Construction.

The two coal-fired power stations - at Ferrybridge in Yorkshire and Fiddler's Ferry in Cheshire - are both owned and operated by Scottish & Southern Energy who are investing some £225m in these projects. The two plants have an output of 2000MW each and together meet about 5% of the UK's annual demand for power.

Slipform International will be slipforming two silos at Ferrybridge Power Station and three silos at Fiddlers Ferry - each will be 15m in diameter and 36m high.
The FGD plant will be designed and operated as a chemical absorption process. Injection of a limestone slurry will remove over 90% of the sulphur dioxide - one of the main causes of acid rain - from the combustion gases and produce desulpho-gypsum which is used widely for the production of plasterboard.

Work is expected to be completed in time for the stations - which would otherwise have been required to close down completely by 2015 - to generate power through the new FGD process in the first half of 2008.

HTC has been extremely busy over recent weeks planning for and mobilising on a massive raft of new projects including a new London landmark building - Richard Rogers' "Cheese Grater". This is a stunning wedge-shaped skyscraper in London's Leadenhall Street and HTC expects to be starting on site in late 2007 with four 500Bs.
In addition, a new Park Plaza Hotel on the south side of Westminster Bridge will be starting in August and will require approximately five cranes.

HTC's excellent working relationship with Bovis continues to flourish and bring in new projects including St Giles Court for five or six cranes, Regents Place for six or seven cranes and several others.

HTC is attracting more-and-more clients - particularly blue chip clients - to its portfolio of regular customers. This comes as a result of the guarantees we give, the quality and professionalism of our people, the equipment and the can-do attitude.

Structural Systems' excellent work for client Bellway Homes on earlier phases of their Prospect Place residential development - a new flagship scheme on the waterfront at Cardiff Bay - has been rewarded with a contract for a further two phases of work.
The team worked initially on the design directly for Bellway Homes and when frame contractor, M J Gallagher, was appointed, Structural Systems were novated to them for the post-tensioning element of the work.

Clients are increasingly turning to post-tensioned (PT) flat slabs as the material of choice for high rise residential buildings. This growing trend is due to PT being recognised as an economical solution.

Using PT creates a thinner, lighter slab as less steel reinforcement is required. Reductions in the storey floor-to-floor height and building weight mean that cladding and foundation costs are cut - a huge saving for clients.

The Structural Systems' team has welcomed Paul Kielty who has joined the company to drive the business forward in the Republic of Ireland. The team has just set up an office on the Galway road in Maynooth, near Dublin. Many promising leads are currently being followed up by Paul, meanwhile, a project for an existing client - main contractor, P Elliott & Co Ltd - has been secured at Herberton.

On an 11-acre site adjacent to the LUAS light rail system, Herberton is a major regeneration project which is being developed through a public private partnership arrangement. The emphasis is on the creation of a sustainable neighbourhood.
When completed, the scheme will comprise 150 social apartments and houses, 70 affordable apartments, over 400 private units, state-of-the-art sports and leisure centre, 2,000m2 community facilities, retail units, complete infrastructure and open spaces, play parks and central square.