PRODUCTIVITY GAINS IN CONCRETE FORMING
In 2002, Riley Construction, of Kenosha - WI, decided to purchase M-Series mast-climbing work platforms for its Masonry division.
A year later, the company was contracted to build four
100'-high concrete elevator shafts for St-Luke Hospital. Riley Construction turned to their Hydro Mobile dealer, Bracing Systems, to find out if Hydro Mobile equipments could also be used for concrete forming. Steve Wyderka, of Bracing Systems, sat down with Hydro Mobile's engineering department and figured out a method that would considerably boost productivity, efficiency, and security on this jobsite.
Two M-Series work platforms were used for each elevator. Both mast-climbers were connected with deck extensions so that the setup would embrace the entire lift shaft’s shape.
Once in place, this access equipment proved that it could increase the productivity in many ways. Firstly, Riley Construction found out that they needed to rent far less concrete forms than they normally did. Secondly, the form cleaning process took less time as instead of stripping the forms, bringing them to the ground, cleaning them and raising them back up; concrete forms were simply stripped and cleaned directly on the decks of the Hydro Mobile equipment.
Another benefit was that the 7’-wide, 24’-long decks provided enough capacity and enough space to stock the steel rebar.
Other challenges had to be overcome on this project like installing an M-Series work platform in a restrained area. Indeed, a 30’-high retaining wall located behind one of the elevator shafts left only 5’-wide to set the mast climber. The platform’s base had to be turned 90 degrees, additional jacks were installed onto the base and 30’-high assembled towers were set and anchored to the concrete wall. A crane was then used to lift the M-Series and insert it onto the towers, which extended above the retaining wall.
Bottom line, Riley Construction saved several days of labour costs for each elevator shaft!
Contrator: Riley Construction
Hydro Mobile Distributor: Bracing Systems |
