The Newcaflex VHAM Tower, commissioned by Brastec Technologies for Technip/DUCO is currently being erected in New Castle, UK. It is an engineering feat, that during operation, requires an un-opposed cantilever design nearly 165′ tall and is scheduled to be in production Fall 2013. The tower consists of 10 levels, each with unique requirements; from dynamic vibration of packaging machinery, to the large vertical force of the pulling mechanisms which draws the raw material up through the tower, to welding machinery and appurtenances needed to sustain the product during production and finally the weight of the machinery and equipment itself, with 2 pieces weighing over 50T. The product is pulled up through the center of the tower initially by a 15T winch located above the 10th level and during production by large moving clamps on the 7th and 8th levels. Lower levels add value to the product through welding, clamping and wrapping. Once above the 10th level, the product is diverted around one of the arches thru a series of rollers and then back down to the out rigged safety tubes and eventually to the ground where it is stored in large magazines. Due to the large caliber of forces within the structure, size, scope and complexity of the project, the use of Tekla enabled this project to be successful. The Tekla BIM software allowed Steele Solutions to collaborate with our peers around the globe in order to share ideas, concepts and designs. Allowing all partners to proceed with their design, mitigate clashes and refine the final product.
The stakeholders within the project were global. Brastec Technologies, a Brazilian based company with offices in Canada and the UK, along with DUCO a UK based company which was later acquired by Technip, a French based company. The various time zones as well as language barriers presented unique challenges that Tekla enabled us to overcome.
The model allowed us to present concept, images and design data in a universal format that we could share through BIMSight or import easily into their native design software.
T Bolt SS, From Ningbo S&D Metalwork Co ,ltd, www.sendingmetalwork.com