Richter Associates acquires leading scaffold designers 48.3

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Richter Associates acquires leading scaffold designers 48.3

48.3, a market leader in the design and management of scaffolding, has proudly announced today that it is to move forward as part of the Richter Associates group.

The acquisition is a strategic development in 48.3’s drive to transform the scaffolding industry with fully-integrated service offerings in temporary and permanent works. 

Founded in 2010, the Surrey-based company has long maintained its vision of driving the evolution of scaffolding – something which is to be accelerated with this latest development. To date, the focus of 48.3’s service offering has specifically been on the design, planning and management of scaffolding; providing commercially viable, efficient and risk reduced scaffolding solutions across the UK. 

Now incorporating the wider experience, expertise and resources of Richter Associates, the business will further support client projects with a fully-integrated approach to design, including both temporary and permanent works. Included in this is the management of multiple interfaces between temporary and permanent works, which will create a working environment which is safer, more time and cost efficient, and, ultimately, more effective for construction projects across the country. The extensive and versatile service offering that 48.3 will be able to provide as a Richter Associates Company promises to add significant value to clients’ projects.

“This is a really exciting time for 48.3 – it’s the start of a new chapter in our development and growth. I believe this is the future of scaffold design – bringing it in line with other aspects of temporary works,” comments Ben Beaumont, Founder of 48.3. “48.3 and Richter Associates share many common views on the development of the industry. Our companies offer complementary temporary works, permanent works and geotechnical services that, when combined, create a unique service offering available nowhere else in the industry.”

Not only do the services and expertise from each company seamlessly complement the other, but the values in which each company commits to are also of a complementary nature. Absolute quality, commitment to promises and exceeding expectations are all non-negotiables in both 48.3 and Richter Associates’ approach to clients and their projects – something that will be even more intensified with 48.3 as a Richter Associates Company.

“There’s no doubt in our minds that 48.3 is the most reputable scaffolding design firm in the country,” comments Abouzar Jahanshahi, Richter Associates Director. “Combined with Richter Associates’ decades of experience in temporary works design, structural and geotechnical engineering, 48.3 is now able to provide a full set of services that includes all aspects of scaffolding design and assessments of any interface with permanent works or supporting ground as well as any impact on nearby buried services, voids, basements, vaults, open excavations and more.

Roger Tice, Richter Associates Managing Director further adds: “Richter Associates remain ‘contractor’ friendly and continue to provide consultancy services throughout the whole life of a project, from conception, pre-construction, construction, maintenance, demolition and re-enable. Our company provides collaborative design services throughout all these stages, and with the unrivalled level of scaffolding design and installation expertise that 48.3 provides, it strengthens the specialist technical services offered to our clients, old and new. It is an exciting time for the scaffolding market, which now has a consultancy offering a ‘one stop shop’ solution to all scaffolding contractors.”

This exciting acquisition and the extended, versatile services which 48.3, a Richter Associates Company, can provide clients moving forward, will hugely add value to construction projects and shape the construction design industry as it is known today. 

Turner Access scales down aluminium tower business

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Turner Access scales down aluminium tower business

Turner Access has announced its winding down the manufacture and supply of aluminium towers and low-level access ranges.

The Glasgow based firm has said ‘as part of a wider strategic decision they intend to cease manufacture later in the year’. This includes the OCTO and BETA Aluminium Towers, BetaGuard, Alphastep, Sigmadeck and Omegadeck. In addition to scaling down aluminium manufacturing, the business has closed its Training Centre and Aluminium Tower Rental Division. Turner Access has however signed an agreement with Pop Up Products Ltd to take over its Deltadeck business. The Deltadeck will now be available through Pop Up Products, which specialises in aluminium access equipment and low-level powered access.

The Future Of Turner Access

ScaffMag understands that Turner Access aims to grow its Contract Scaffolding operation and Steel System Scaffolding Sales. It’s been said that their factory will continue to manufacture Turner OCTO® and ancillary scaffolding products.

Turner Access’ Contract Scaffolding business has seen significant growth over the last 18 months; a trend in which the Company aims to continue. An additional £2million has been invested since the start of the 2019/2020 budget year to support its continued expansion throughout the Central Belt, Fife and Angus areas. This recent investment has been necessary to support some recent major project wins, worth approximately £4million, as well as the development and improvement of existing depots and establishment of a Small Works division.

Turner Access Managing Director, Knud Højland Pedersen, spoke about the changes happening in Turner Access. He said: “We are delighted to announce that Pop Up Products are taking on the Deltadeck. It is an innovative product that will sit well with its access solution range. This new direction signals an exciting new chapter for Turner Access as we grow Contracts and Turner OCTO sales, and provides us an opportunity to focus on this as the core of our business moving forward.”

Scaffolders Personal Everest Will Help Others

Grahame Anderson
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Scaffolders Personal Everest Will Help Others

As a Northamptonshire based scaffolder Steve Wood is the epitome of courage and determination.

Still running his business despite a major series of setbacks from an injury sustained more than eight years ago, he’s in final preparations for his own personal Everest – to climb, summit and descend the UK’s three highest peaks in consecutive days – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. 

Asking For Support

Steve is asking for support in helping to raise £10,000 for the Oxford bone infection unit at the NHS Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. In February 2011 Consultants specialising in treating life threatening infections of the bone and in major limb re-construction, saved both his life and a leg, ravaged by an infection not diagnosed and treated early enough. He takes up the story: “It all started back in November 2010 when, a running and exercise ‘junkie’ like me was training hard for my next half marathon in Spain. Apart from a ‘jock rash’ where the seam of my training trousers had been rubbing against my right thigh, I was race fit and raring to go in the Benidorm half marathon, having had a steroid injection the week before to help protect my knee during the race. Unbeknown to anyone the jock rash was infected and the surgeon who injected me managed to pick up the infection and inject it, along with the steroid, into my knee! I then became poorly during the race and felt very ‘flu like’, ending up with a very poor time. I flew back home urgently to urgently consult the surgeon with my extremely painful and swollen knee. 

Tough days Ahead

“Catastrophically my infection was not picked up and with my health deteriorating rapidly, I was admitted as an emergency five days later. The surgeon then got me on the correct treatment and sought to clear the infection but by this time I now also had a blood clot (DVT) behind the same knee, meaning the treatment had to proceed with caution. Things continued to deteriorate and by now I was fighting for my life! At one point the hospitals pastor came and asked me if I wanted him to give me my last rites? You can perhaps imagine my response …. the second word of which was a polite but firm no thank you.”

Steve fought on in his usual determined way, but was still acutely ill over the next couple of months. By Valentine’s day 2011 his leg had deteriorated to such an extent he again had to be admitted on an emergency basis and put back on IV anti-biotics. In fact, the infection had now gone into his bones, ravaging both his knee and lower leg.

Out Of the Darkness

He added: “Eight years and more than 20 operations including four right knee replacements and revisions later, my leg is as good as it will ever be. I can at last bend my knee sufficiently so that, with a special short pedal crank I can ride a bike again and, whilst trekking up and down steep hills and mountains remains a huge challenge for me with the constant pain I am in, it is that big challenge that I have set myself and need your help with.” 

At one point Steve had 75 staples holding his leg together, whilst it took months to heal and settle. That was 18 months ago and it has taken him until now to be fit enough to attempt this big challenge.  

Saying Thanks

“I have a huge debt of gratitude I am desperate to repay to the Bone infection unit – to Oliver Byren, Roger Gundle, Alex Ramsden and Ashok Handa at the JR, for saving my life and my leg and starting me on my very very long road to recovery.  Also helping me on this long road was Mark Booth and his team of therapists at Body Limits. I also owe a massive debt of gratitude to a very special and talented revision surgeon in Wales – Rhidian Morgan-Jones, for taking on the challenge of re-building me with the support of his colleagues at The Spire Hospital Cardiff…. between 2012 and now.”

The upcoming challenge will be particularly tough for Stephen as his leg swells up after any significant walking as he explained: “The constant pain affects my ability to push through and carry on without icing, and resting my leg between periods of activity. You could honestly say that this is my own ‘Everest summit’! 

Food For Thought

So the next time you may be feeling a bit down, just think of what Steve Wood has endured in the past decade, and how he’ll be breaking the pain barrier to help others. So far, more than £1,000 has been raised.

For more information on how to donate click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/steve-woods-3-peaks-challenge

Colchester United partner with TEXO Scaffolding

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Colchester United partner with TEXO Scaffolding

Colchester United are delighted to have joined up with Essex based company TEXO Scaffolding as they begin to build a successful future partnership together.

TEXO Scaffolding, who have a strong history of sports sponsorships, have penned a three year deal with the League Two side to appear on the front of their home shirts from the 2019/20 campaign onwards.

They have in the past sponsored World Champion Boxers, Anthony Joshua, Anthony Crolla, Tony Bellew and Kell Brook, and also have previous experience of sponsorship in football with Bostik North side Heybridge Swifts, as well as supporting numerous local good causes.

And Managing Director Robert Hayward is looking forward to getting started, saying: “We as a company are always looking to get involved and support local sports teams and individuals, and are delighted to be part of what is no doubt going to be an exciting few years.

“As we respect and appreciate the drive and dedication it takes to succeed, be it in a sporting or business capacity,  we are very much looking forward to an exciting future in association with Colchester United, growing together both on and off of the pitch.”

TEXO Scaffolding, who were founded in 2010, work on a wide range of building projects across the UK and has built a hugely successful business in supporting construction across the country.

With over 200 years of combined experience in the scaffolding industry, the Texo team has the know-how and skills to deliver the highest quality work every time.

The TEXO Scaffolding logo will be on the new look 2019/20 home shirt produced once again by Macron, which is due to be released soon and on sale on the club’s Open Day on Sunday 14th July.

U’s General Manager Tim Waddington is excited to be working with a new club partner and added: “TEXO Scaffolding are an excellent local business and have been involved in sports sponsorships at varying levels for a number of years. We’re delighted that they have made this commitment to the club.

We look forward to seeing the TEXO Scaffolding logo on Colchester United home shirts and developing our mutually beneficial partnership over the term of the sponsorship.”

Army veteran starts new scaffolding company

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Army veteran starts new scaffolding company

A former soldier has launched a new scaffolding firm in North Yorkshire.

Dan Smith, 32, from Richmond joined the Royal Irish Regiment aged 16 he served for four years with a tour in Iraq. In 2010, he started training as a scaffolder after leaving the military and qualified in 2012.

Dan established his new firm UK Scaffold in April this year.

The veteran has worked across the UK and abroad, as well as offshore. He moved to London in 2016 but returned to Richmondshire two years later to be closer to his daughter.

Speaking to Richmondshire Today Dan said: “After going from job to job I decided to set up my own company in April.

“The company is growing at a good rate and we are hoping to take on apprentice at the back end of this year.

“I will be actively looking to give something back to the community and looking for veterans who want to learn a good trade in civvy street..

“Moving forward my aim is for UK Scaffold to be a leading scaffolding contractor in the North Yorkshire and North-East area.”

NASC aims to help members bring hundreds of new operatives into the industry

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NASC aims to help members bring hundreds of new operatives into the industry

The NASC has created a £50,000 funding pot to help its members bring 400 new recruits into the scaffolding industry.

The training fund will enable NASC full contracting members to apply for £125 funding for each new employee that completes the CISRS Operatives Training Scheme (COTS). 

This initiative, which will help bring 400 operatives into the industry, complements a similar CISRS CPD funding scheme launched by the NASC in 2017. To date, NASC members have claimed more than 500 payments of £125 to help cover the costs of their operatives undertaking mandatory CPD training – a total of £64K.  

The new COTS funding initiative is the first scheme to be launched from a dedicated £500k training fund set up by the NASC in 2018 to assist its members with recruitment and training. A range of training initiatives are due to follow in the coming months.  

David Mosley, NASC Training Director, said: “Through the £500k training fund, the NASC is giving tangible, bottom-line benefits to its members. This starts with the COTS funding scheme, which bookends existing NASC funding for CISRS CPD training.

 “It means members will be able to apply for funding to help bring new people into the industry as well as defraying the costs of mandatory CPD training for their experienced operatives. 

“This is just the beginning. It is envisaged that the £500k training fund will also provide members with the opportunity to apply for funding for a range of wider training, such as first aid and mental health training.

“It will also support ongoing NASC efforts to improve recruitment and careers opportunities in the scaffolding industry by producing a scaffolding careers website, working regionally with pre-employment training programmes, linking potential trainees with local approved providers and employers offering work experience placements and employment.  

“The NASC has ringfenced a substantial sum of money in order to fund incoming NASC President Lynn Way’s initiative to work with the armed forces and provide career pathways for those coming out of the services”

The COTS funding scheme goes live on 1 July 2019. Members may also claim retrospectively for employees that have completed the COTS course and gained either the CISRS Labourer or Initial Trainee card since 1 January 2019. Members may claim funding for up to 10 operatives. 

Protecting a Construction Site From the Increasing Number of Thefts

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Protecting a Construction Site From the Increasing Number of Thefts

The Construction Index reports that more than half of builders in the UK have been victims of theft, with more than 50% having had their vans damaged and tools stolen.

In an interview, FMB chief executive Brian Berry stated that tools were being stolen from vans and directly from construction sites. “Some builders have even been assaulted by would-be thieves. The impact of this on the nation’s smaller building firms is particularly disruptive. Not only is there a high cost in terms of both time and money spent replacing these expensive tools, and to fix the damage caused, but without the right tools, firms are simply unable to work,” he explained.

Builders are currently adopting a range of measures to limit tool theft. This can range from bringing tools inside after work, installing extra locks on vans and parking against a wall. Apart from these simple solutions, here are some other ways to protect a construction site from thieves: 

Remove temptations

Leaving tools, no matter how big or small, lying around a construction site after work hours is like leaving out an invitation for thieves. Professional Builder suggests locking everything away in safe storage or taking the tools and equipment off-site. If the tools are too big, marking each with indelible ink or an identification mark can help in the recovery, especially if the equipment is listed on a police-approved national tool register. 

Invest in high-quality sheds

If you do leave the tools on-site it pays to invest in a good quality shed to store them in. T3’s guide to choosing the best shed details how metal designs are more resilient than wooden sheds. This means that they will last longer on a construction site. In terms of security, a metal shed would be much harder to break into. Of course, it is up to the builders to make sure the shed is secure with good locks. Screwfix has a number of metal sheds that now come with two padlock points, which will allow builders to have an extra level of protection. It is also best to purchase a shed without a window, which would be an easy access point for thieves. A metal shed can also be constructed and broken down much quicker than a regular wooden shed, meaning it could be transported easily from site to site. 

Go digital

Electrical Contractor Magazine notes that digital advancements like mobile technology and artificial intelligence have made it easier for contractors to monitor multiple locations at a time. Security cameras can now be controlled through mobile phones by simply downloading an app; these allow contractors to view the site 24/7. Not only that, installing tracking devices on tools is now an option. Cloud-based software can help track tools that have been fitted with a tracking device. This means a contractor can now monitor when the tools are being used and in some cases where they are.

Create a multilayer approach

Start at the site boundary by incorporating physical deterrents like strong walls and perimeter fences. Intruder alarms, high-quality locks, and controlled entry points are also great deterrents. Even installing signs that advertise the site’s security measures could make thieves think twice about entering the construction site. If it is a large site, then controlled entry points and patrols can also help make sure no one is on the site during the hours when it is closed. Keeping the construction site illuminated even when it’s closed will also help deter thieves.

It is a sad fact that scaffolding and tool theft happen across the UK. The rising demand for construction equipment is currently growing, which is one of the reasons why the number of cases is increasing, as well as the equipment being sold at metal collection sites. But like any other industry, prevention and constant vigilance are the best solutions. The above steps may not seem like much, but they could make all the difference.

Masons celebrates 25 years in the industry with web revamp

Grahame Anderson
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Masons celebrates 25 years in the industry with web revamp

London based Masons Scaffolding is celebrating 25 years of success by launching a new dynamic website to further enhance their presence in the digital sphere.

Making safety a priority has certainly helped the Scaffolding specialists enjoy an impressive reputation for the past quarter of a century. When combined with a quality personal service, overall confidence across the industry is always enhanced. In the highly competitive 21st century however, no company can afford to stand still. Which is why a fresh online presence seemed to be a positive way of marking the milestone.

It was the perfect time for us to launch a new website as we continue to grow and celebrate 25 years in the industry,” says Managing Director, Grant Mason.

Masons Scaffold New Website

Simple Structure

“It was really important the website had a simple structure so customers could find what they wanted quickly and easily. The site has a fresh contemporary design and can be viewed across a range of devices, but most importantly it is a true representation of what we are about and provides customers with what they are looking for. We are very happy with the finished results.”

Customers At The Heart

With customers at the heart of the company, the website has been designed with user-friendly navigation very much in mind. To illustrate the company’s vision and personality, a vibrant video takes pride of place on the homepage featuring an interview with Grant, offering a real insight into Masons overall approach to their work and services. Customers can also enjoy a news and blog section focussed on fresh projects and topical industry stories. You can also see testimonials from clients on the home page which is always a welcome sight.

Successful Blueprint

The secret of their successful blueprint seems to lie in the fact they’ve continually invested in state of the art equipment as the industry has changed across the years. In putting together a dedicated team of people and offering a quality service, they’ve met all challenges along the way. And importantly – Masons Scaffolding have made safety a priority in delivering its service, with regular training for the team in compliance with the newest scaffolding safety legislation.

masons scaffolding

The Wonders Of the Web

As we all know in the modern world, potential clients and supporters always relate to a fascinating but easy to use website. This is certainly the case for Masons as they fully embrace the digital age.

The message is while the company website may have changed, their ethos remains the same with the goal of serving London, the South East and the Home Counties a key focus on setting a conssietntly high benchmark.

For more information visit www.masonsscaffolding.com

Removal of scaffolding to start on Notre-Dame after fire

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Removal of scaffolding to start on Notre-Dame after fire

A charity has said workers in Paris will begin the painstaking task of removing scaffolding from the Notre-Dame cathedral in the coming weeks after a devastating fire in April.

The 850-year-old church and spire were covered in scaffolding when it came crashing down during the huge blaze on April 15. The cathedral’s roof was also destroyed in the inferno, although the vast majority of artifacts and valuable items inside were saved.

After the fire that stunned a nation, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to complete a painstaking renovation of the gothic Paris landmark within five years. But according to the Notre-Dame Foundation charity, that cannot begin until essential work takes place to secure the structure.

Charity head Christophe-Charles Rousselot told the french press, “One of the most complex aspects of the work at the moment is removing the scaffolding, which includes 50,000 tubes which reached over 800 degrees Celcius (1472 degrees Fahrenheit)” during the fire.

It has been suggested that another large scaffold structure will be erected, as well as cranes installed, in order to start cutting down the damaged scaffold in very “delicate conditions.”

The dismantling of the scaffolding is expected to take four months.

Wealthy donors have handed over millions of euros to restore the church, including Altrad group’s president Mohed Altrad. The billionaire businessman publicly pledged to materially support the reconstruction of Notre-Dame soon after the fire.

Scaffolder rides horse to work

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Scaffolder rides horse to work

A scaffolder who has had enough of the congestion charge and emissions zone in London came to work on the back of a horse.

Emmanuel Buttigieg and his brother rode their horse Polo into work at a construction site in London on Friday after becoming fed up with the congestion charge.

Speaking to the Islington Tribune Emmanuel said: “I think a lot of residents were worried because they saw a horse and thought there was going to be a caravan or something next.

“I am fed up with the congestion charge and emission zone and it was a beautiful morning and I thought it would be a good day to come on a horse.”

The duo gained permission and left the three-year-old horse to graze on a small patch of land in the Redbrick estate while they worked on a nearby construction site.

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