The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008 | U.K. Edition
Engineers Develop The World’s First On-Site Scaffolding Robot
Boffins in Germany have developed a robot that climbs, carries and feeds scaffolding materials to scaffolders.
Munich based start-up Kewazo in collaboration with robotics expert Infineon Technologies has created the robot that they say can reduce on-site labour costs for scaffolding by 33%. The developers say during the erecting or dismantling of scaffolding more than 80% of scaffolders time is spent moving components from one part of the scaffolding structure to another. The robot aims to make assembly more efficient by delivering the materials to the workers where and when they need them. According to Kewazo this ability to deliver components by robot saves 33% on labour costs and knocks 42% off the time required to erect the scaffold. The use of a robot would also reduce the risk of an accident and avoid the effect of continual lifting on workers’ long-term musculoskeletal health.CITB launches new Training Model
A transformative new system to access training and grant from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has been launched.
The new Training Model and Grants Scheme is a central feature of CITB’s Vision 2020 programme, delivered on time and on budget as the training body becomes more responsive and accountable to the industry it serves. The Training Model is broken down into three parts: Construction Training Directory – where employers can find the right training, in the right place, at the right time. This is supported by Grant from CITB quality assured training providers. Construction Training Register – an online database which allows employers to search records of employees to check skills and manage their training needs. The scale of this is huge, recording millions of individual training achievements by our construction workforce. One of the key benefits is that there will be less duplication of training, as employers can rely on the training a new employee has gained elsewhere. New Grant Scheme – more flexible and focussed on supporting construction-related training, allowing CITB to support the areas of greatest training need. On successful completion of a course, a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) will confirm the learner’s achievement, upload the details onto the Construction Training Register, triggering the automated grant process. This process will massively cut red tape for employers. The new Construction Training Directory and Construction Training Register are both in early-stage use. CITB does not expect them to operate at their full potential, nor hold all courses and records, until early 2019. Braden Connolly, Director of Products and Services at CITB, said: “We are delighted to launch CITB’s new Training Model and Grants Scheme today, on time and on budget. It is a major step towards CITB becoming the modern, responsive, accountable organisation industry wants us to be. “The new Construction Training Directory will make it much easier for employers to get the training they need, where they need it, when they need it. “By tracking achievements and making employee qualifications accessible to employers, the new Construction Training Register will have a transformative effect on the ability of employers not only to train employees, but also to hire people with the right skills on day one.” The Construction Training Directory will take time to fully populate as more and more training providers are approved. While the process begins the current grant system will run alongside the new Training Model and automated grant system. This will allow time for people to get familiar with the new system and for the directory to be populated. Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB said: “This is a new chapter for us as an organisation and for the industry as a whole. The new automated Grants process will make it much easier for employers of all sizes to receive funding for the training they need. “In addition, the new Construction Training Register will give us a much better understanding about the skills issues we have across the country, allowing us to take a more informed, strategic approach. “We are still in the early stages but I feel confident that this work will make a real and lasting difference to construction employers across England, Scotland and Wales.”Godiva becomes first scaffolding contractor to join The 5% Club
Coventry-based Godiva Access & Scaffolding has become the first specialist scaffolding contractor to join the 5% Club, an industry-led initiative focussed on driving momentum into the recruitment of apprentices, graduates and sponsored students.
The 5% Club, initiated by Leo Quinn CEO of Balfour Beatty in 2013, is a movement of more than 280 employers providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities to develop the skills and talents people need to become more employable and create meaningful careers.
Colin Taylor, managing director at Godiva Access & Scaffolding, said: “By joining The 5% Club Godiva is committing to raising the number of apprentices, and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of our total workforce within five years.
“A skilled workforce is our biggest asset and is a business critical component that means we can deliver the safest and highest standard of service for our customers. The move is a natural extension of our strategy to become the scaffolding contractor of choice in our chosen markets.”
Lady Cobham, Director General of The 5% Club said, “We’re delighted to welcome Godiva Access & Scaffolding into membership. The 5% Club provides a fantastic network of HR professionals, sharing and learning from each other. All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”
Godiva has recently started work as the access and scaffolding contractor for Winvic Construction on the new student accommodation complex in Fairfax Street, Coventry, and it has been appointed as the scaffolding framework contractor at the University of Warwick.
SGB provide access system for major Manchester development
An integrated access system from one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access system providers has been used on a major new residential development in Manchester.
A total of 71 mastclimbers have been provided by SGB, for the creation of the Clipper’s Quay project which has been built by Sir Robert McAlpine in Salford Quays. The Clipper’s Quay project includes five blocks of between nine and 11 storeys, incorporating various commercial spaces and over 600 residential units, and it is believed to be one of the largest private rented sector developments outside London. “Scaffolding access was originally considered for this project, but a mastclimber solution proved to be much more cost-effective,” explains SGB’s Business Development Manager, Karl Hancock “We have worked with Sir Robert McAlpine on previous projects, so they were aware of our capabilities in servicing a large project such as this. They also knew that we could supply a range of different mastclimber solutions and associated equipment to suit the different requirements which a project such as this creates.” SGB worked closely with their client over an 18-month period, right from the design stage right through to delivery. “Being involved from a very early stage helps us to design an access solution which meets the client’s specific needs right from the outset, and which is also sufficiently flexible to accommodate any changes or unexpected requirements which arise over time,” adds Karl. “In this instance, we created a system which included a combination of single and twin mastclimbers, and this proved to be an extremely practical and cost-effective solution.”NASC appoints new in-house Marketing Manager
The NASC has bolstered their team and strengthened its communications capabilities through the appointment of a new in-house marketing manager.
New Marketing Manager, Simon Robinson brings a wealth of construction marketing and copywriting expertise to the NASC team, the 34-year-old has previously held various marketing agency and news desk positions in his career.
The confederation says their new Marketing Manager will work to strengthen ties and increase engagement with both NASC members and the wider construction industry.
Robinson said: “I am delighted to join the NASC and am looking forward to developing and implementing a communications strategy that will help increase awareness of the Confederation’s primary objectives; to help our members grow safer businesses and contribute to a safer construction industry.”
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “I am pleased to welcome Simon to the team. Through his appointment, we will be able to engage more closely with our 250+ members and communicate more effectively with the wider scaffolding and construction industries.”
This will enable us to increase understanding and appreciation of a number of key messages, including the various benefits available directly to businesses through attaining NASC membership or indirectly through utilising the services of NASC members, as well as our ongoing commitment to raising and maintaining the highest standards for access and scaffolding throughout the UK and beyond.”
Record growth reported by Altrad
The Altrad group has reported strong growth in revenue and earnings from the Group’s expanded and diversified platform for the last fiscal half year.
Up to February 28th, they achieved record group revenue of €1,678 million with a full half-year contribution from Cape Altrad. A successful strategic focus on services contributed to 82 percent of turnover. Their Integration of the Cape business is progressing well and delivering expected synergies.Positive Figures
Impressive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of €205million – a margin of 12 percent, offers a popular indicator of the company’s financial performance. The management expects to deliver a sustainably higher EBITDA margin going forward. Other highlights include a total backlog of €2,782 million providing good visibility on future revenue and diversification of geographic revenue with more than 30 percent coming out of Europe. Altrad has consolidated its position as a multi-disciplinary, industrial leader in key markets around the world, with a focus on Europe, Australia, Middle East, Africa and Asia.Securing Contracts
During the period, the Group was pleased to secure a number of material contracts, including an offshore maintenance contract in Angola awarded by BP for more than €30 million over three years and £25 million annual maintenance contracts, across the Grangemouth petrochemical facility in the UK. The strategic focus on Services provides strong visibility on future revenue, with more than 70 percent of the Group’s reported services revenue coming from recurring maintenance contracts.Setting Down A Marker
Commenting on the Results, CEO Louis Huetz said: “These results showcase the strength and breadth of our expanded business, highlighting the considerable progress we have made along our strategic growth path in the last few years. Our business is underpinned by strong cash flow and profitability, and our strategic focus on Services now provides good visibility on future revenue, with a secured order book of nearly €3 billion for delivery over the next few years.” The completion of the Cape acquisition has enabled the creation of a stronger and more balanced business, capable of delivering multi-disciplinary services to industry leaders throughout our chosen markets. The organic growth opportunities for the business remain compelling as we leverage our industry-leading platform to achieve better synergies, and demonstrate to our client base the benefits of our greater geographic footprint and diversified services.”
Catalyst For Success
In effect, the acquisition of Cape represents a truly transformative catalyst for the Altrad Group and continues the strategic development achieved by the acquisitions of Prezioso Linjebygg and Hertel in previous years. This delivery of record revenue and earnings surpasses internal budgets and supports the Group’s Full Year expectations. Such an outstanding performance was achieved within the first six-month contribution of the Cape business. The near-term outlook for the Group is positive, underpinned by improving market conditions in core sectors and geographies. Their strong order book comprises of diverse, recurring maintenance services contracts. Altrad’s business is now underpinned by diverse and steady revenue streams, from an international footprint and a balanced sales mix between its core sectors: Construction, Oil & Gas, Process Industries and Power Generation. During the period, the construction market has seen a recovery in activity, especially in continental Europe. As a result, the equipment business has seen an improved like-for-like performance, and the Group won a number of key services contracts including in France, where the Group was selected for the renovation of the Austerlitz railway station. This award follows the successful work delivered on Bordeaux Railway station last year, leaving Altrad well placed to benefit from the broader renovation program of the main French railway stations. Other key contract awards included the Acetylene project for BASF, a greenfield development of a new plant and the second largest project for German chemicals industry over the last decade.Looking Forward
Altrad’s strategic objectives remain to build a worldwide leader in industrial services, with market leading positions in key geographies and a diverse range of services.ScaffMag Issue 2 goes live
Our Spring 2018 Digital Issue has been published.
Following on from our successful launch issue back in the winter of 2017 – that was seen by more than 11,000 industry personnel, we now have the pleasure of letting you know our free Spring issue is now available to read and download now.
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What’s inside this issue?
Packed into this 52 paged exciting issue of ScaffMag’s digital magazine offering features an exclusive interview with Lyndon Scaffolding’s CEO Rob Lynch as the firm turns 50 years-old. Additionally, we find out how the legendary firm that is SGB are well and truly back in business after reverting back to their well-known brand.
We also speak to the Starwars scaffolder Eddie Gallen as he tells us what it was like to build the scaffold for the Millennium Falcon in the box office hit film ‘The Last Jedi’.
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The Regulars
Returning to this issue is our regular sections covering the latest industry news roundup, in our Opinion section Robin James from the NASC contributes by giving his perspective on the collapse of Carillion. And we find out that change is coming with the aid of Virtual Reality in our Innovations section. Plus much more. Happy reading!Submit News / Advertise In The Next Issue
Got some interesting industry news you would like to be featured in our next issue? Or do you have a product or service you want to showcase to thousands of industry eyeballs? We have a variety of advertising spaces available in our next issue. Drop us an Email »Wood awarded five year contract with Lucite International
Industrial services provider Wood has been awarded a new five-year contract by Lucite International UK Ltd.
Wood will be providing industrial services at the Cassel site in Billingham, Teesside, UK. Onshore fabrication, steelwork, electrical and rigging support services will be deployed under the new contract, which is effective immediately and includes a two-year extension option. Cassel is the largest methyl methacrylate (MMA) facility in Lucite International’s portfolio. It has been manufacturing chemicals at Billingham since 1930 with an annual capacity of 250 kilo-tonnes per year (kte). Dave Stewart, CEO of Wood’s Asset Solutions business in Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia, said: “This long-term contract builds on our relationship with Lucite International, developed following our recent work to support the refurbishment of the Cassel site. “We look forward to leveraging our broad industrial service capabilities to successfully deliver this contract, which further strengthens Wood’s onshore footprint within the chemical and manufacturing sector in the UK.”Tower crane drops pallet of bricks on pedestrian
