Three 3.8m-deep
trusses create
internal column-free
space
NSC 13
April 19
with minimal internal columns. Due to
the complexity of the internal equipment
layout the steelwork had to be effectively
designed around this restriction. Based
on this, the only material that could fit the
criteria was steel,” adds Mr Trundley.
The food production part of the facility
accounts for 189m of the overall length,
while the rest is occupied by a two-storey
office area and an 11m-long entrance pod.
The majority of the production area
is 78m wide and consists of a twin portal
frame with two 39m-wide spans. For
approximately one third of the production
area’s length there are attached mono-pitch
structures on either side that provide extra
workspace and bring the structure up to its
maximum 116m width.
“To form the roof of the structure we
delivered most of the rafters to site in
18.5m lengths, spliced them together on
the ground to form 39m-long sections
and then lifted the complete pieces into
place,” explains A C Bacon Engineering
Commercial Manager Ryan Bailey.
A C Bacon Engineering used two of its
own 60t-capacity mobile cranes for the
steel erection programme, one positioned
in each portal span. They then both worked
their way down the entire frame erecting
the two sides simultaneously.
Adding some more floor space
to the production area, there is
approximately
6,000m2 of mezzanine flooring within both
portals. Based around a 6.7m column grid
pattern, the mezzanine levels as well as the
two-storey office block, are formed by steel
beams supporting precast slabs.
Creating more column-free space, two
26m-long × 3.8m-deep trusses have been
installed along the structure’s valley line.
By installing these two 8t trusses, a total
of eight central columns were able to be
omitted.
The two trusses were the heaviest lifts
on the job. For ease of transportation
they were brought to site in three pieces,
which were then assembled into 26m-long
sections and lifted into place.
“There are always challenges on a
project of this size,” sums up Mr Bailey.
“Careful planning was needed
to make sure
enough steelwork was fabricated to ensure
the initial 14-week build programme was
achieved.”
Cranswick Country Foods Group
Engineering Director Graeme Watson
adds: “We have forged a close working
relationship with all of our contractors and
suppliers.
“While A C Bacon are new additions to
the contract supply base, they are definitely
keepers. We have very tight time lines to
adhere to and the team, including A C
Bacon, have delivered on every front.
“Since acquiring Crown Chicken in
April 2016, Cranswick has committed to
ensuring work on the site is carried out
by local companies wherever possible.
We are all looking forward to our existing
colleagues joining together with new
additions to the workforce in the Autumn
of this year.”
Agriculture
The roof cladding
commenced once
steelwork was complete
/Portal_frames
/Portal_frames
/Construction#Mobile_cranes
/Construction#Steel_erection
/Single_storey_industrial_buildings#Mezzanines
/Floor_systems#Precast_units
/Trusses
/Fabrication#Handling_and_transportation
/Fabrication