MACHINE CONTROL HALVES SUDS POND COMPLETION TIME

Working with connected site specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland, Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) has been able to complete a sustainable drainage pond for Scottish Water in half the time using Trimble® machine control systems.

The British Metals Recycling AsThe project near Glasgow is the first SUDs system the team at CWA has worked on, and forms part of a six-year infrastructure investment program by Scottish Water to alleviate flooding and carry out upgrades throughout Scotland. It is also the firsttime CWA has used machine technology, trialling it on this project to assess how it could improve efficiency, productivity, and site safety.

SITECH, who provide tailored hardware, software, and training in Trimble technology, provided on-site calibration, base station set up and ongoing project support to CWA.

CWA Construction Manager Robert Borland said: “The increased safety and efficiency the Trimble technology brings has opened people’s eyes within the business to the benefits of using machine control.

“As a former machine operator, I’ve used GPS on projects before, so I knew it was the right choice for this site where we needed to dig a big hole in a very tight space that was also on a slope. Any overcut or requirement to re-dig would be challenging to remedy and have a big impact on extending the timescale of the project.

“This area in Glasgow was on the flood register as being a combined sewer stormwater run through.

However, the sewer didn’t have capacity to cope with anymore water, which was coming up from the manholes. Our job was to split the pipelines and channel the stormwater into this holding pond before it can be discharged into the canal.

“Our relationship with SITECH has been great throughout the scheme and the feedback from our leadership team and operators has been extremely positive.”

While it was originally estimated that digging the pond would take around four weeks, with machine technology the team from CWA were able to complete it in just two weeks minimising disruption to the local area and nearby residents.

Robert adds: “We hired two different sized excavators from Blackwood Plant Hire and the team from SITECH ensured the kit was calibrated correctly for both. If we had dug this pond out without the assistance of machine technology, it would have required three men on site working with the machine. Using the Trimble GPS system therefore has radically improved the efficiency of carrying out this part of the project, and has the advantage of improved site safety, with no engineers required near the heavy equipment during operation.

“We had a banksman, but he was 20 metres away reversing wagons to the excavator. There was no one in the excavation itself putting string lines on batter rails because the machine was digging to the model on the Trimble® Earthworks system so that was a big positive from our team.”

The site will be further enhanced with aquatic plants and tree planting around the area by Scottish water to help improve the local environment.

SITECH regional sales consultant Liam Payne explained: “We’re delighted this project has gone so well with CWA, as while initially there can be concerns about the cost of renting machine control systems, this SUDs system shows how much it can deliver in terms of increased efficiency and safety.

“Our team ensured we provided support to get CWA up and running from the moment their machines arrived and continued to assist them, so everything ran as smoothly as possible. Now they’ve experienced the efficiency, safety and reduced carbon footprint Trimble technology can offer we’re confident we’ll be working with them again very soon.”

Last year marked the first ever NFB Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards. It was the start of real change for the industry, showcasing women in the sector to make female and nonbinary role models more visible and accessible. Its purpose was to make the change and build construction as more inclusive together with plugging the skills gap.

For the second year running, Balfour BFollowing on from the success of the first awards in 2022, the NFB have brought the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards back for 2023. The categories for this year include Local Heroes, Influential List, Allies, One to Watch, and Woman on the Tools.

Bethany Holroyd, UK Health and Safety Business Partner at WSP in the UK and North East Unsung Hero winner of 2022, comments; “Following the awards last year, I have made so many new connections, of which several have become not only business connections but great friends too. Everyone I met was genuinely inspiring - and we all regularly connect with each other almost a year later!”

The NFB also offers the Top 100 Legacy Programme, a year-long programme of training and support available to those that have nominated or been nominated which includes mentoring, virtual and in-person networking events, master classes, pathway support, and much more.

This program offers guidance in cultivating a personal brand, utilising expert social media advice and training. It helps people to define clear goals, strategise actionable steps to achieve them, overcome imposter syndrome and self-limiting beliefs, and builds confidence in conversations with others.

“Since this programme I have done TV, radio, podcasts, internal TV and photographed more times than ever before! Which, as someone who is always behind the camera by choice, is a massive step!” Gail Farley, Head of Customer Experience at HMS Works and nominee of the 2023 Awards.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) represents builders, contractors and house builders across England and Wales. As one of the UK’s longest standing trade bodies, it was created to represent the building profession and to promote conditions its members need to thrive and contribute to the economic success of the UK.

Positive representation can motivate and inspire the next generation of female workers to pursue construction-related careers. When young girls and women see successful female role models in construction, they’ll be more likely to consider careers in the industry. Awards like these contribute to the advancement of the industry by recognising diverse talent and encouraging new perspectives.

Siu Mun Li from Multiplex Construction Europe, who has been an Awards nominee both years, has some advice for anyone thinking about getting involved in the programme; “Don’t just consider it, go ahead, take the plunge and get involved. It’s an opportunity to develop both professionally and personally whilst meeting amazing, inspirational and very supportive people along the way. Be part of something bigger, get involved and help steer the construction industry to where it needs to be. The NFB and the legacy programme don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk so

be part of the change you want to see.”

The NFB also hosts Construction Awards of Excellence which are highly prized awards, recognising individual and team excellence. The awards are truly independent, owned by the sector for the sector, across all of the British Isles, designed to recognise those individuals and companies that set the gold standard in the construction sector.

Danny Clarke, Commercial Director for the National Federation of Builders comments; “We launched the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards last year in order to celebrate the amazing women and their allies that are doing wonderful things throughout the Industry. Whilst it’s undeniable that we need to bring more females into the industry, we also need to recognise the amazing people we have already working within it.

Unlike many influential lists that focus purely on senior individuals, the NFB’s Top 100 Women in Construction is fully inclusive and crucially showcases all the role models in our industry from Trainees and Apprentices right the way through to the boardroom.

Our Legacy programme also helps to support individuals to develop skills necessary to make the change and lead our industry in the years to come, showcasing what’s possible for people within our wonderful industry.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information about NFB, please visit: www.www.builders.org.uk

Gem Plant Sales Supplies

A Very Specialist Wacker

Neuson Ew65 Wheeled Excavator To The Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board

GEM Plant Sales, a long-established construction plant and equipment supplier based in Kent, has delivered a very specialist Wacker Neuson wheeled excavator to The Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board. This customised EW65 will be involved in some pioneering works on watercourses this summer.

The Upper Medway IDB is a statutory body set out under the Land Drainage Act to ensure adequate drainage and water management within set districts around the country’s main river catchments. The Board, comprising elected landowners and appointed councillors, is tasked with the oversight and control of ordinary watercourses that lead to the main rivers which are then controlled on their behalf by the Environment Agency.

While conventional tooling is used for maintenance work across its network, a specialist machine is required by The Upper Medway IDB to carry out tasks such as weed clearance and desilting operations, while also being suitable for both on and offroad use, given that travelling can be involved as well as roadside working operations.

Typically, a large, tracked machine would be used to carry out these tasks. While they represent a vital and effective tool, they are naturally confined to site and often can’t provide high efficiency, especially given the Board’s geographical spread of watercourses. The decision was taken to seek a more flexible tool for its major excavator works, which led to the use of a wheeled excavator.

The requirement was for a smaller profile machine, with large reach, and a double- jointed boom section, which while being more compact in size, did not compromise the ability to reach far sides of the banks.

In 2022 the Board’s Works Supervisor, John Davis, began speaking with GEM Plant Sales about what Wacker Neuson could offer and was immediately impressed with the build quality, backup support, technological and technical scope, and the attention to detail from both the manufacturer and Graham Mortimore, the founder of GEM Plant Sales.

After several site visits to the see both the larger wheeled offerings and the tracked variants, it was decided on the 6.5 tonne wheeled excavator with a double boom, extended dipper, and additional STEELWRIST omni-hitch.

For Further Information

For more information on the Wacker Neuson Product Range including this machine please contact: Tel: 01622-910074 email: sales@gemplant.co.uk

To compliment the bespoke machine, the Board also requested several unusual implements which led it to conversations with West Country attachment specialist, EXAC-ONE. They were able to provide a menu of specialist arborist and pioneering equipment to suit the Wacker Neuson. After demonstrations at their site in Swindon, the Board also opted for the tree shear and the mulcher head.

The tree sheer can cut up to 300mm and retain cuttings using a unique gripping arm. The mulcher head features a fixed teeth drum that activates on the use of the rotational circuit, allowing for high impact debris and brash clearance and excellent control during minor tree grinding.

Completing the order was a 2m Bradshaw type bucket from FLAILS DIRECT to allow for weed and reed clearance works to be carried out. Due to the system requirements of the bucket however, additional low flow circuits had to be installed, representing a technical challenge to the build as it required multiple settings, hook-ups, and limiters.

With the knowledgeable support of the team at GEM, they were able to install a system that allows this vital piece of equipment to not only be used but to be easily swapped out and changed depending on the tasks at hand.

Commenting on behalf of the Board, Oliver Pantrey said: “The machine will see its first outing on the watercourses this summer and the Board would like to thank John, Graham, the staff at GEM PLANT SALES, WACKER NEUSON, Andrew and Doug at EXAC-One, FLAILS DIRECT, and the team at STEELWRIST for their expertise, patience, and quality service to deliver this incredibly diverse product.”