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2009-01-28 Fast & efficient access solution for steelworks refurbishment

Harsco Infrastructure (SGB) has supplied 11 of its Mastclimbers™ to help contractors refurbish a 100m high gas holder at Corus’ Redcar Steelworks in Cleveland. Corus produces 3.5 million tonnes of steel at the 3,000 acre Redcar site every year and in the process, consumes prodigious quantities of gas to fuel its furnaces. The gas holder is therefore a crucial link in the production cycle.

As part of ongoing structural repairs being carried out by German gas holder specialists Leffer, SBV Fabrications and Site Services Ltd have been contracted to offer mechanical support using Harsco Infrastructure’s Mastclimbers™. The refurbishment programme includes grit blasting and replacing cladding panels, along with the re-painting of the steel clad gas holder which is being carried out by Universal Coatings. To ensure minimal disruption to the production levels at the site, Corus developed a detailed schedule that required contractors to work together to meet the tight deadline.

Harsco Infrastructure Mastclimbers™ were specified for this large-scale industrial maintenance project due to their fast installation and flexibility of use. Corus commented: “The combined abilities and experience of Harsco Infrastructure and SBV were demonstrated several years ago when the two companies carried out a similar project on one of our 60m high gas holders. We chose Harsco Infrastructure on the strength of its previous performance and its reputation for site safety. The company has proven its reliability in meeting our tight deadlines and has a strong track record in the use of Mastclimbers™”.

The gas holder comprises 22 flat faces and to access these efficiently, Harsco Infrastructure designed a solution where 11 Mastclimbers™ were erected against every alternate face and then removed and re-erected on the other 11 faces to complete the refurbishment.

Installation of the platforms was complicated by the presence of a large amount of pipework, tanks and other obstacles at the base of the gas holder. To overcome this, Corus designed a 7m steel bridging structure to transfer the weight of the masts to the ground, based on information provided by Harsco Infrastructure. Harsco Infrastructure also collaborated with SBV to design and make a special H-bracket with which to tie the Mastclimbers™ onto the gas holder without damaging the structure.

A team of six Harsco Infrastructure installers and one manager began erection of the platforms in June before. SBV took possession of them to carry out the repair work to the faces of the gas holder. In mid-October, Harsco Infrastructure returned to site for three weeks to dismantle the platforms and re-erect them against the other 11 faces.

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