Details matter. When it comes to steel fabrications for the rail industry they can mean the difference between a station or section of track reopening on time – or not.
Footbridges, gantries, and other rail infrastructure increasingly feature steel structures that are fabricated offsite. This has significant advantages. It saves money (particularly where designs are standardised) and allows installation within a tight closure window. At least in theory.
For theory to become practice the process has to ensure there are no last-minute decisions, detailing changes or modifications needed on site to make the structure fit into place. That’s not as easy or obvious as it sounds.
Detail and Precision
The ultimate aim is to have a smooth hitch-free installation where everything slides into place and fits perfectly. All of which means that detail, precision and practicality have to be built into the entire process from initial survey and design, right through to installation.
Leaving the details to be sorted out at a later stage is simply inviting cost and schedule overruns.
When Network Rail needed to reconstruct a failing abutment on the Nuneham Viaduct bowstring truss bridge they and their Principal Contractor turned to FTE because of our ability to deploy an in-house survey, design, detailing, fabrication, and installation service.
The intelligent integration approach to design and delivery allowed the work to be completed ahead of schedule:
- FTE’s project manager outlined potential options on site to identify the fastest and most cost-effective way to complete the work.
- Site surveys and inspection information were relayed to the design team directly from the site in real time.
- Our detailer prepared working drawings and relayed them directly into the fabrication workshop for manufacture.
By considering the installation details early in the process it was possible to implement a cost-effective solution ahead of schedule and reopen the viaduct earlier for rail users.
Talk to FTE about how intelligent integration could help you deliver steel fabrication projects on time and within budget. You can find out more about how it works and how it could benefit your projects by accessing our free information hub.
