CASE STUDIES
PROJECT - HAYDN / B2-3 STRENGTHENING
In October 2022, we were approached by one of our blue chip clients, for a rapid reaction Health & Safety project, for the immediate rectification of 200 towers that had reached end of life. Given an instruction for 230 sites, TEC was tasked with the survey, solution installation and hand over of all the sites.
The proposal was to install a new over-plating solution to the existing tower flanges, each leg was made up of 3 plates (1 back and 2 wing). They were to have new M30 anchors installed, requiring us to drill 4 x M35 holes per leg to a depth of 600mm, install the plates and subsequently resin the anchors into the ground using Hilti Approved methods and materials. Allowing for curing and further site visit occurred the following week to install 60kn grout within the tower sub structure and under the newly installed supporting plates. This solution transfer the weight and stress of the tower, from the deteriorating stubs, onto the new support steelwork.
TEC was tasked with completing the 230 site surveys by Christmas, which was a huge success with all survey documentation completed with 48 hours of the site visit and referred back to the client for the purposes of design.
The installation requirements were that we had to complete 15 sites per week until project completion. Within 5 weeks of project notification TEC had a group of 18 engineers, working in 8 teams on the ground and progressing.
As with all projects logistics is key, and this one was the biggest challenge yet, with 330kg of steelwork per site, and over 500kg of grout and water. We had to build a logistical framework to support the project and engineers, in rapid form. Creating a program of works that allowed engineers to progress regionally, we identified and secure key storage locations for all the required materials, and placed an additional engineer within each team to allow the collection of materials whilst works were continuing.
At the time of writing this, we are progressing our last 5 sites, approximately 1 month ahead of schedule. I will pop back with an update!
With a big thanks to our partners:
Mark @ Jewsons Tunbridge Wells
Melissa @ Hilti Manchester
Steve @ Resapol Manchester
Chris @ Craws Ltd.
And our engineers for working through the winter months, out in the elements.
PROJECT - 3UK BUY IN / XIA
Following the governments instruction for the removal of Huawei branded equipment from telecoms networks by 2027, and from sites integral to national security by Jan 2023. Networks have opted for other vendors, whilst utilising the opportunity for network upgrades, providing additional technologies and bandwidth upgrades across the board.
This project saw our engineers visit and upgrade sites from Penzance to the Highlands and Northern Ireland. The scope being to provide and install a unilateral solution, whilst deploying bandwidths, 700/800/1400/2100 & 3500. This upgrade provided the end client with a high capacity, high speed cell. Giving coverage to the local area, all technologies were key to the deployment, allowing for greater aggregation between technologies.
Typically, the build would consist of a new antenna array, usually on new supporting steelwork. Radio units would be mounted remotely and as close as possible to the antenna, this would reduce overall losses, and mitigate the requirements for mast head amplifiers. Therefore a fibre and dc solution cable solution would be installed, providing power and data connectivity from the base band to the radio units. A new vendor specific cabinet would be installed, usually at the tower base or within the equipment room, to house and facilitate the deployment of services.
