Location: UK
Client: Mermaid Construction
The construction of what is destined to be Europe's most modern cement plant is now well underway, and is making extensive use of RMD Kwikform's formwork and falsework expertise and systems. The new plant is being built in Buxton, Derbyshire and is due to come on stream just eight months after work started on site.
RMD Kwikform was chosen as the key/major supplier of all of the formwork and falsework solutions because of its comprehensive range of systems and ability to keep pace with the extreme demands of the project. The challenges include the provision of climbing formwork to the kilns, single-sided formwork for the coal store, wall and column formwork for all of the structures and shoring for in-situ soffits..
The project calls for the construction of around 30 separate buildings. These range from kiln stacks, administration buildings, sub-stations and a host of ancillary process buildings.
The principal contractor is F L Smidth, and the bulk of the construction work, including the civils, structural steelwork and mechanical and electrical work is being undertaken by Mermaid, a joint venture between Gleeson and Danish firm, Monberg & Thorsen. RMD Kwikform has a full time site supervisor, who is responsible for liaison between the site and RMD Kwikform UK's head office in Aldridge. According to the company's Chief Engineer, Ian Fryer, the project is turning into an excellent example of how, when the permanent and temporary works designers work together in a spirit of partnership, complex projects can be completed with very tight construction schedules.î
Ultraframe, RMD Kwikform's recently launched, single-sided formwork system, is one of many being used at Buxton. Indeed, this is the first major project in the UK on which Ultraframe has been utilised. It is being employed in the construction of single-sided walls up to 6.5m high, where the concrete is being cast against an excavation that is up to 14 metres high.
Elsewhere on the site, the walls to kiln stacks are being constructed using Rapidclimb, the company's crane-handled climbing system. This incorporates a retractable system for the striking of the forms, and a 'klik-klak' bracket arrangement inside the core for ease of access. RMD Kwikform Alform beams and Super Slim Soldiers are also being used as wall forms, while Kwikstage Shoring is providing in-situ soffit support and Maxima, the company's large modular panel system, is being brought into play for the construction of walls for a number of the process structures.
