Significance of The Flying Machine

Online, August 17, 2012 (Newswire.com) - A lightweight movable access system, designed, manufactured and installed by Aluminium Structures, has given Kier Construction a five-fold increase in the rate of progress on the installation of new roof glazing at Kings Cross Station.

The Chester-based fabricator has now supplied an access system - known on site as the 'flying carpet' - that comprises independently movable work platforms at seven different levels of the roof at Kings Cross.

While working on a contract to install permanent walkways and gantries on the refurbished roof, Aluminium Structures saw how the need to constantly erect and dismantle steel scaffolding and access towers was slowing down the glazing work.

The innovative work platforms allows the installers of the new roof glass and photovoltaic solar power panels to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, twice as fast as previously and with double the work faces available, resulting in a rapid acceleration in the construction programme.

The access platforms also allow multiple teams to work at the same time, the workplace is more accessible and the site is tidier and safer because there is no need to store and move steel scaffolding tubes.
To reach each section of the roof the glaziers had to erect steel scaffolding and access towers on top of the suspended access deck. There are seven levels of glass and for each level they were building steel scaffolding, stripping it down during the night shift, moving down a level, rebuilding it, stripping it down, rebuilding it again and so on.

The glaziers stand on the movable platforms to install the glass, and as soon they have finished one section the platforms can be rolled out of the way and they can start on the next section. Glazing work also includes the installation of a permanent walkways and gantries- the contract that Aluminium Structures is carrying out. These permanent works consist of around 2km of walkways - as well as 16 movable gantries that will be used for cleaning and maintenance of the finished roof.

Using the 'flying carpet' resulted in a tidier and safer site. It has also significantly reduced a minor but costly irritant - the need to go back and touch up the paint where the steel scaffolding had been clamped to the roof.

Says Paul Butt: "Now the glaziers can not only work 24/7 without interruption but they have access to a much larger area of roof to work on. What's more, they can have two or more gangs of men working at the same time. The improvement in productivity and work flow has been massive - it is now around five times as fast."

"Having our own design and manufacturing facilities means we can be very responsive, creative and flexible when it comes to creating bespoke systems for customers. We literally designed, built and installed this system in just six weeks." Says Paul Butt.

They also manufacture Aviation systems for a variety of aircraft including Hawker, Gulf Stream and Lear private Jets. Aviation systems are used for the maintenance painting and cleaning aircraft. We can provide specific access systems for the Tail dock, fuselage, engine cowling, and cargo and wing areas.

For more information please visit: http://allystructures.co.uk/