Under the £12.1m deal, Cementation Skanska will undertake piling and ground engineering works for main contractor, VINCI Building.
Cementation Skanska has been appointed by VINCI Building to undertake piling works for a new facility being built by Sheffield Forgemasters that will support a 13,800 sq. metre building and 13,000-tonne heavy forging press, furnaces, quenching pits and cranes.
The origins of Sheffield Forgemasters date back to the 1750s, when it operated as a small blacksmith forge. Today, Sheffield Forgemasters is capable of producing the largest and most technically challenging cast and forged steel components in the world.
Working closely with VINCI Building, Cementation will construct a 200metre long secant pile wall for the new forge, supporting an 8-10 metre deep excavation. In total, Cementation will install 1300 piles, 300 of which will be rotary bored. The remaining 1000 will be CFA piles, which are quicker and cheaper to install, and will help to reduce carbon for the contract.
“We have developed a really collaborative working relationship with VINCI Building and Sheffield Forgemasters, which has helped us to reduce programme timescales and cost,” said Andy Entwistle, Managing Director, Cementation Skanska.
“We reviewed the initial design assumptions and, through further analysis and testing, reduced the number of rotary bore piles, replacing them with CFA piles. These are quicker and cheaper to install, and also reduce carbon emissions. It really shows the benefits of bringing together design and construction capabilities from the earliest stages of a project.
“We’re delighted to have started work on site alongside our local supply chain, which is helping to provide jobs and opportunities for local people.”
Chris Winspear from VINCI Building, added: “We are delighted that we have now completed the demolition and prepared the first areas of site ready to receive the substructure works for the new building. We are looking forward to the next phase of the project working in collaboration with our supply chain partner, Cementation Skanska, appointed to undertake piling and ground engineering package of works.”
Cementation Skanska is taking a number of steps to reduce carbon emissions on the project, including through the use of Basalt reinforcement in place of conventional steel in guidewalls.
The use of Basalt reinforcement follows a successful trial as part of Cementation’s work on HS2 in London. It is 4.5 times lighter than conventional steel rebar, making it much easier to transport and for operatives to move around on site – reducing manual handling injuries. No sparks are caused when cut, meaning there is no need for a hot works permit, and it does not corrode or rust.