The Anonymous Widower

HS2 Tackles Materials Shortfall By Opening A New On-Site Rebar Components Facility

The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from High Speed Two.

These are the three bullet points.

• A new facility on HS2’s Copthall tunnel site addresses materials shortages by making rebar products on site
• A team of 14 will make 92,000 rebar couplers needed for the Copthall tunnel in Hillingdon
• The innovative solution has created jobs, saves time and money, reduces waste and cuts lorry movements

These three paragraphs outline what was done.

HS2 has set up a rebar threading facility to address materials shortages at its Copthall tunnel construction site in Hillingdon – creating jobs, cutting waste and reducing lorry movements. The new facility will make 92,000 rebar couplers, needed to construct the Copthall tunnel.

The Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) team constructing the tunnel were faced with delays due to a shortfall of available prefabricated fatigue rated rebar couplers, after suppliers had exited the market. To address this, the team has constructed a threading facility on site to produce the required quantities of the materials themselves.

As well as addressing supply shortfall, the threading facility has resulted in a significant financial saving on the project by reducing waste, costs and lorry movements, and overall creating a more efficient way of working.

This looks like the sort of solution that could be applied more often.

There’s also an excellent video.

I have definitely been impressed with the project management of High Speed Two.

March 25, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Construction, High Speed Two, Project Management, Tunnels