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Derby-based Allied Steel Frame Structures chopped 50 percent off the installation cost of the cladding for the new Euroline vehicle maintenance department building at Daventry, thanks to a decision by Senior Contracts Manager, Tony Green, to use Nationwide's PowerClad hydraulically operated panel placing system.
The award-winning PowerClad enabled the Euroline building's ten-metre long Kingspan RW composite panels, each weighing approximately 120kgs, to be positioned by Allied Steel Frame Structure's installation team without any manual lifting. This resulted in the company being able to reduce its installation team from four to two men, cutting the installation cost by 50 percent.
The decision to use PowerClad also overcame another problem that plagues the cladding industry - the damaging of panels while they are being lifted or positioned. According to industry estimates, around ten percent of cladding panels are damaged during installation. With the Euroline panels costing between £250 and £300 each, Allied Steel Frame Structures found the argument for PowerClad even more compelling.
To enable the safe positioning of each panel, a panel support track was first laid, before the PowerClad-adapted Nationwide scissor lift was moved into position. A 26mm hole - that would eventually be concealed by a metal flashing - was drilled in the leading edge of the Kingspan RW composite panel to accommodate the PowerClad lifting eyelet. The panel was then loaded onto the support track.
Once this was completed, PowerClad's belt was attached to the lifting eye and the panel was winched to the connecting pin on the PowerClad beam, using an integral 110V winch pulley system. The eyelet was then located on the pin, close to the winch support, and the belt was disconnected. The scissor lift was then moved to the desired fixing height. At this point PowerClad carried all of the panel's weight, allowing the panel to be installed without any lifting or "dropping". Finally, each panel was fixed using PowerClad's unique panel placement technique that allows for minute adjustment, with millimetre accuracy.
Commenting on his company's decision to use PowerClad, Tony Green said; "This was the first time we had used PowerClad vertical, although we had previously used the original horizontal version and had seen for ourselves the benefits". He continued; "With PowerClad's substantial cost
savings and its ability to overcome the manual handling problems associated with heavy composite panels, it is the only way to go."
PowerClad is today, endorsed by all of the leading panel suppliers in the UK and many of the system's benefits are shown on a new PowerClad CD. This includes extensive video footage that demonstrates, step by step, how both the horizontal and vertical PowerClad systems operate. Copies of the CD are available online from Nationwide's website at www.nationwideaccess.com, from any of the company's 50 depots, or by telephoning 0845 745 0000.
Nationwide is the UK's leading powered access rental company and is part of the publicly quoted Lavendon Group Plc. The company is headquartered in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The Group is also the European market leader in the powered access rental business, trading under the name Zooom in Germany, France, Spain and Austria.
END
December
2003 Nat3.112
For further information please contact
your local Nationwide Access Depot on:
0845 745 0000
or e-mail sales@nationwideaccess.co.uk.
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