CAS low profile hoist tower streamlines London’s St George’s Tower construction

Cambridge-based Construction Access Systems (CAS) working in conjunction with the University of Southampton Research Institute for Industry (RIFI) has developed an innovative low profile, common tower system designed to speed up construction and save costs on high rise construction projects up to 70 storeys or 300 metres. The first system is now in use at London’s 51 storey St George’s Tower project.

Manufactured from aluminium alloy to minimise weight, and fully stress tested by RIFI, the CAS common tower has a mere 5 x 5 metre footprint yet is capable of running multiple hoists simultaneously. This allows all material and personnel hoists to be concentrated in one area, which streamlines loading efficiency at ground level. With all hoists operating simultaneously it minimises waiting times for men and materials, especially at peak times.

Using the latest Alimak Scando 650 FCS 100mtr/min high speed hoists will reduce full height transit time on St George’s Tower to just 90 seconds compared to over 4 minutes using standard hoists. The common tower also accommodates a 3mtr x 4.6 mtr ‘Mammoth’ hoist with a payload of 5500kg

As only the common tower, and not the hoists, are tied directly into the building, it means external cladding can be applied to the whole building during construction with the exception of the 4.5 metre access openings at each level. As a result there are far fewer panels to replace at the end of the project, which dramatically speeds up de-rigging.

CAS’s managing director Tony Faulkner commented, “The savings in time that our common tower creates are a real boost to efficiency during the construction phase. In addition, our common towers are far quicker to install and remove than conventional hoist systems, so there are major savings at the start and end of the project as well. High rise developments are becoming more common in city centres throughout Europe, and with construction costs continually rising, using our common tower in conjunction with high speed high capacity hoists makes so much sense for these major projects.”

More about Construction Access Systems Ltd

Construction Access Systems Ltd provides a complete service for the specification, supply and installation of a range of high capacity goods and passenger hoists for all forms of high rise structure. The St George’s Tower contract uses Alimak Scando 650 FCS high speed hoists, but the common tower system is modular, and can be adapted to work with any standard construction hoists and in diverse site conditions.

CAS Aluminium Hoist Towers allow comprehensive hoisting facilities to be installed on new build and renovation projects with minimum interference to the construction programme. Hoists of all types can be grouped in centralised areas permitting the maximum utilisation of pallet and forklift trucks in the off loading and distribution of materials on a floor by floor basis. The towers can be installed up to a working height of 300m with cantilevered run backs and platforms into the building under construction.

The system is based on a wealth of technical knowledge gained by Tony Faulkner on projects such as the Canary Wharf development, Skanska Swiss Re Tower, Manchester’s 47 storey Beetham Tower and the 43 storey Strata Tower at Elephant and Castle.

For further information
CAS
Tony Faulkner, managing director Tel: 01223 393560 e-mail: tony@casl.uk.com

Colin Caldicott,
Ultimedia PR
29a Market Square
Biggleswade
Beds
SG18 8AQ
Tel: 01767 601470
e-mail: colin@ultimediapr.co.uk

This release was published on openPR.