EES Installs A Landmark New Fibre Sort Facility

Posted on by June 3, 2019

The Ebbsfleet Engineering Services team were extremely proud to be selected by Bollegraaf to undertake the complete mechanical installation of their landmark fibre sort facility as commissioned by Ward Recycling Ltd, Hartlepool.

To ensure that we had a full understanding of their requirements and the equipment to be installed our Project Manager, Steve Allsop, spent a week in the Netherlands with the Bollegraaf manufacturing and project teams.

The time lapse video below shows the installation of the plant which includes seven Pellenc optical sorters, a drum feeder and bunker along with an OCC screen and recovery line

 

The installation project commenced on 10 September 2018 and completed 09 November 2018 with a small team returning to site towards the end of November to assist with warm commissioning.

Nigel Booth, General Manager for Ward Recycling says of Ebbsfleet :

“ …..this is 2 jobs you have completed now, the first was good, the second was perfect in extremely difficult circumstances.  I am more than happy to recommend you guys, and believe me I don’t do that often!!"

 

The installation has recently been featured in industry magazine Letsrecycle and you can read more about it here: https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/working-in-partnership-for-paper-quality/

Dismantling and Decommissioning of MBT Plant and Associated Building Works

Posted on by January 19, 2017

What Happened?

A serious fire in August 2014 damaged the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant to the extent that one of the three lines at the plant was non-operational.

What We Did:

Ebbsfleet Engineering Services’ involvement began in October 2014 to carry out some important safety works in order to permit an in depth survey of the plant and building.

Following the conclusion of the survey Ebbsfleet Engineering Services were invited to tender for the removal of all plant items from line one and stripping off the damaged roofing and external cladding.

Ebbsfleet Engineering Services were successfully awarded the contract under a NEC Engineering and Construction short form contract.

Additionally Ebbsfleet Engineering Services also carried out the role of Principal Contractor and were responsible for the removal and safe disposal of all scrap plant items, utilities infra structure and damaged building fabric.

All works were completed on time including the sub contract packages.

Following completion of the initial contract, Ebbsfleet Engineering Services were requested to supply personnel and plant for a further 12 months to support the rebuild of the MBT plant; undertaking works such as contract lifts for new trommels and filter plant, overhauling and balancing of fans, installing new wheel guides and relocating A-frames.

Aerial view of MBT plant:MBT Plant Shanks Frog Island

More Information Required?

A PDF version of this case study as well as many others is available by clicking here

Please feel free to contact us to discuss any similar requirements you may have

Who can be a Principal Designer? (CDM Regs 2015)

Posted on by January 19, 2017

The CDM Regulations 2015 have generated a good deal of discussion and debate over who might legitimately be appointed CDM 2015 Principal Designer, particularly on larger construction projects.

Questions exercising minds have included:

> > Can a design organisation which is not a member of the project design team be appointed PD?
> > Must the lead designer automatically be appointed Principal Designer?
> > Can an organisation previously offering CDM Coordinator services be appointed Principal Designer?

These questions are not addressed directly in the Regulations nor in the HSE or Industry Guidance and there has so far been no published clarification provided by HSE.

Principal Designer must measure up to template.

In the absence of further HSE guidance it is suggested that project clients must check that the appointee can (and does) take the actions and demonstrates the behaviour required of the Principal Designer as set out in the CDM Regulations 2015 and the HSE / Industry Guidance.

The central requirement is that the Principal Designer must be a designer appointed by the client with control over the project pre-construction phase (PCP) in order to plan, manage and monitor the PCP and coordinate matters relating to H&S during the PCP.

The Principal Designer must have the skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability, necessary to fulfil the role.

It is also essential that the client project management arrangements include the allocation of sufficient resources for the appointee to undertake these extensive and new Principal Designer duties.

bEESafe : Fire Extinguishers

Posted on by August 4, 2015

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe .

Fires are classed into 5 different categories:

  • Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like paper, wood, etc
  • Class B fires – are fires involving flammable liquids.
  • Class C fires – are fires involving flammable gasses
  • Class D fires - are fires involving metals
  • Class F fires - are fires involving cooking oils and fat

Electrical fires are not included, as they can fall into any of the classifications

The different categories of fire require different types of fire extinguisher.  

 

Fire Extinguisher Chart

 

Usually Coloured: Red / Contains: Water  (Category A Fires)
Should be used for materials such as wood and paper. They MUST NOT be used on fires involving electrical equipment or oil.

Usually Coloured: Cream / Contains: Foam (Category A and B Fires)
Should be used on fires involving burning liquids such as paint and asphalt. They MUST NOT be used on fires involving electrical equipment or flammable liquids.

Usually Coloured: Black / Contains: Carbon Dioxide (Category B and Electrical Fires)
and 
Usually Coloured: Blue / Contains: Dry Powder (Category A, B, C and Electrical Fires)
Are both normally used on burning liquids. They are safe for use on fires involving electrical equipment. Neither of these extinguishers have a cooling effect, consequently they are not recommended for use where there is a high risk of re-ignition. Use carbon dioxide extinguishers in well ventilated areas because they reduce the amount of oxygen in the air.

Usually Coloured: Blue / Contains: SPECIALIST Powder (Category D Fires)
Used on metals fires.

Usually Coloured: Yellow / Contains: Wet Chemical (Category A and F Fires)
Can be used on wood, paper, textiles and cooking oil fires

Usually Coloured: Green / Contains: Halon  (Category A Fires)
Less Frequently seen, but possibly still in circulation.  Can be used in most instances including use on electrical equipment. They are recommended for use in the open air or in well ventilated areas because of their toxic properties, so do not use in confined spaces. 

Because fire extinguishers cannot always be identified by their colour, do not use them without first reading the label.

! ! R E M E M B E R !!

If you discover a fire:

-  Get everyone out as quickly as possible and call the fire brigade.
-  If the fire in its very early stages, and you feel confident to do so, attempt to extinguish it with the appropriate extinguisher. 
-  Always ensure that you have a clear exit path available.   
-  Fire spreads very quickly. Even a small, contained fire can quickly spread, producing smoke and fumes which can kill in seconds.
- If you are in any doubt do not tackle the fire, no matter how small. You can put yourself at risk by fighting the fire.

If in doubt, get out, stay out and call the Fire Service.

 More information of fire safety can be found here

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe .

Satisfaction….. Are you getting enough??

Posted on by January 19, 2017

Providing an excellent, safe, value for money service is, and has always been, a priority to us, but it's not something that we've formally monitored.... until now! 

Historically, we have used indicators such as the number of return clients, word of mouth recommendations, testimonials, project progress monitoring, and obviously speaking with our customers throughout their project(s) to let us know how we were doing.

So, to further improve these measures we have this week  introduced a customer satisfaction survey which will be sent to each customer following the completion of their works.  

Keeping in mind that time is always at a premium we have kept it brief.  Just 10 quick, tick box questions, covering aspects such as quality of works, safety,  how well we met expectations and our personnel.  All questions are optional, and can be submitted anonymously if preferred.

Responses once received will be analysed and used to identify where we can make tweaks, improvements or changes in order to ensure that we are, or continue to be your first choice supplier.

EES 5Star

 

Counterweight Removal Project, SGN

Posted on by August 4, 2015

SGN Project Manager Nathan Clarke enthused:

"SGN has used Ebbsfleet Engineering on many occasions, including for the removal of large counterweights on four of our mothballed gasholders in some demanding conditions. I found Ebbsfleet Engineering to have good company values, an innovative approach to problem solving and above all, a safe, competent and professional workforce."

The gas holders to which he refers were located in Canterbury, Oxted, Burgess Hill and Ashford. Each of the 4 gas holders had 8 off, 3t counterweights.

The removal was necessary due to SGN's concerns that the counterweight system was slowly degrading and for safety reasons should take place prior to further decisions being made as to the future of the gas holders.

In order to achieve the safe removal of the counterweights, we designed and manufactured a special 5t hydraulic winch with breaking system. 

Each counterweight was individually lowered from a height of approximately 40m to ground level before being loaded and transported to a licensed waste management company.

Additional safety measures were also required due to inclement snowy winter weather.

Works were carried out by our own SC01 & SC02 qualified engineers, with each gas holder taking 3 to 4 days to complete during the clients 6 month program.

 

 More projects undertaken for SGN and others can be found here

Gas holder

 

 

Counterweight

bEESafe: Safety Signs

Posted on by August 4, 2015

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe .

 

Do you know your safety signs?

There are four main types of safety sign in the UK, each of which has a basic colour:  RED, YELLOW, BLUE OR GREEN.

Prohibition Signs:

Ban certain actions. They have a white background with a red circular band and crossbar.

e.g. No Smoking

 

Warning Signs:

Have a black triangle on a yellow background, with the symbol or text in black.

e.g. Caution, risk of electric shock

 

Mandatory Signs:

Give instructions. They have a blue background, with the symbol or text in white.

e.g. Head Protection must be worn.

Safe Condition Signs:

Are square or rectangular in shape, with a green background and the symbol or text is in white.

e.g. First Aid or direction signs.

 

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe .

bEESafe: Daily Plant Checks

Posted on by August 4, 2015

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . 

Before you use any plant or equipment on site it is vital that it is inspected and any faults found are reported according to the protocol of the company for whom you are working - usually this would be to your site supervisor or manager. 

There should be daily or weekly inspection reports on which to record the findings.

Your equipment and plant checks should cover the following areas:-

  • The condition of the vehicle must be satisfactory, doors, guards, windows, mirrors, etc.
  • The wheels must be inspected to ensure that they are secured to the machine and the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and are not damaged i.e. bad cuts or nailed.
  • The electrical equipment that has been fitted should all work, i.e. lights, indicators, wipers, horns, reversing warning bleeper, etc. (A flashing amber light must be fitted to any vehicle that is to travel on a dual carriageway if its speed is less than 28 mph).
  • The brakes must be in good working order. The hand brake must work and can be tested by trying to pull away or on an incline. Should brakes fail in any way the machine should be taken out of service until repairs have been carried out.
  • Hydraulics should be tested to ensure that they are working correctly, first check for oil leaks by inspection of the system and pipes. (NB: no steel braid should show on any pipe).  If check valves are fitted to the machine they should be tested regularly.  This should be carried out in a safe area away from the works.  The machine should be extended to the maximum and the engine cut off, the machine must not then move.  Should there be any movement, the valves are not operating correctly and the machine must be taken out of service.
  • Operators of plant should also have access to the machine's Manual / Handbook for information on how to maintain the vehicle.

DO NOT use any plant or equpment that is deemed to be in an unsafe condition

 

 

FLT Checklist Sample

More information can be found here

. bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . bEESafe . 

Removal of 11 Colour Cerrutti Gravure Press, Switzerland

Posted on by March 14, 2015

Karl Augustine AG, Thayngen. Switzerland.

Ebbsfleet Engineering Services were awarded the contract to remove, pack and ship an 11 colour Cerrutti Gravure press from Thayngen, Switzerland to Seuol, South Korea.

Mechanical and electrical engineers were supplied by ourselves along with all required tooling and plant.

Prior to dismantling, a complete survey was performed by both the Mechanical and Electrical teams.

A detailed written and photographic record of was then produced to assist the re-installation in South Korea.

Upon completion of the report all cabling was match marked, labelled, removed and packed for onwards shipping.

Weak floor areas in the press hall were strengthened from below by placing 10t Acro Soldiers in the basement area beneath thus strengthen lifting load point areas.

The press, including slitters, winders, the boiler and all spare parts were then systematically match marked and the dismantling process commenced utilising amongst other plant 2 off 10t forklift trucks with jibs.

All parts removed were loaded to wooden skids, anti rust sprayed and shrunk wrapped for sea container transport.

All items were recorded as to skid number and container number to ease identification of parts in South Korea.

During the 8 week project a total of 48 containers were loaded and shipped on to South Korea.

Removal of Cerrutti Press, SwitzerlandRemoval of Cerrutti Press, SwitzerlandInformation on some of our other completed projects can be found on our website

 

Originally published 15/01/2015 

Who is Rusty?

Posted on by August 4, 2015

Rusty is the affectionate name for our resident recycled robot.

Commissioned in 2012, and created from assorted metal items that were destined for the scrap heap, his components were rescued and cleaned and with a little imagination and a fair few welding rods, Rusty was "born".

Rusty Logo

Standing at 5’ 6” tall with broad cog made shoulders every glance at him spots something different, maybe a teapot or a gardening fork, an assortment of spanners, or a pedal, a plug socket or a lucky horse shoe.

Rusty can usually be found in pride of place, ready to greet visitors at our head office reception, however many of you may have already met him at our exhibition show stands where he always attracts far more attention than the personnel staffing the stands!

Rusty also has his own  Facebook and Google+ profiles, as well as sometimes popping up on the company Twitter and LinkedIn feeds to wish you a happy New Year or pass on the greetings of the season.

Rusty Parts

Feel free to follow or pop in for a visit to see what you can spot!

Originally posted 13/01/2015