As 2009 comes to a close andthose ‘green shoots of recovery’we were hearing about maynot have sprouted quite soquickly, what’s the reality whenit comes to construction?

According to Emap Glenigan,the number of civil engineeringproject starts was up by 39%*compared to last year,although they did qualify thisby adding that this was duemainly to several road andenergy sub-sector projects. Onthe ground engineering side,our involvement in some ofthe larger construction projects,especially power stations,confirms this and hasunsurprisingly helped usthrough a period of continuedgrowth. We have to beoptimistic for the future too;with a so-called ‘energy gap’

projected in the UK due to anumber of large coal-firedpower plants having to close(European directive limitingemission levels), as well as allbut three of the UK’s nuclearpower plants due to reach theend of their operating life in2020, then constructing theirreplacements will be anecessity for energy security.

In fact the government hasa l ready ind ica ted i t scommitment to a mixedprogramme of power generationto meet our future needs, andthis will include nuclear, andgas and coal-fired powerstations; all areas of expertisefor BAUER.

Large-scale constructionprojects outside the energysector are also holding up well

despite the economic troublesas these projects are typicallyfinanced from money alreadyset-aside and committed overmuch longer time-scales. As aresult, these projects appearmore able to ride out the highsand lows of the economiccycle.

Along with most othercontractors, we have noticed amarked increase in enquiries,particularly for major projects,and as a result we have had toincrease our estimating resourcesaccordingly. Although it’s tooe a r l y t o m a k e c o n c r e t e

predictions for the constructionsector as a whole, and it isundoubtedly a difficult period,it does give grounds for someoptimism. There are signs thatsome of the recently bidprojects may be ready to moveand that the decline hasbottomed out so if fundingstarts to flow once again andthe government’s support for‘building our way out ofrecession’ continues, thenperhaps there is something forus all to be positive about.

*March 2009 Glenigan Index

WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THOSE

Green shoots ofrecoveryBUT WHAT’S THE REALITY WHEN ITCOMES TO CONSTRUCTION?

Welcome to the first issue of

GROUNDbreaker, BAUER

Technologies’ newsletter that will

bring you up-to-date with some

of the more recent and exciting

projects we’re involved with as

well as (over the coming issues)

other news, stories and industry

information, that I hope will be

of use to you. It is our aim to

encourage dialogue with you,

to build a communications

channel that lets you know

what’s happening with us in a

short, light format. Equally we

would welcome your feedback,

comments and suggestions so

we can make this newsletter as

informative as possible so don’t

hold back.

Michael JonesManaging DirectorBAUER Technologies

w w w . b a u e r t e c h . c o . u k

Email me directly on: michael.jones@bauertech.co.uk

Inside:PAGE 2:

Palm Paper’s New Factory inKings Lynn

•Supporting Green Energy

in Newhaven

PAGE 3:Severn Power for Siemens

•Piling in at Pembroke

BACK PAGE:And the Winners are...

Champagne Success forVolker Highways Division, Jacobs UK

and The Mace Group

Issue 1: 01/2010

Schrobenhausen Equipment Exhibition 2009

Last year saw BAUERTechnologies complete thefoundation work for PalmPaper’s new paper factory ona brown field site in KingsLynn.

The factory, which is one ofthe largest in Europe, has thecapacity to produce over400,000 tonnes of newsprint

per year utilising 100% recycledfibres, using environmentallyfriendly processes.

The key part of the projectwas the secant pile wall sectionsthat would ultimately supportthe paper manufacturingmachine, and which BAUERconstructed together withsome 829no., 880mm diameterbore piles and secant piles.

In addition to the piling,BAUER also performed jet

grouting works to assist theclient in solving problemscaused by existing piles in theline of the secant wall.

Site problems were alsoencountered on the workingplatform, which caused thestart date to be delayed by amonth, but BAUER rose tothe challenge by mobilisingan additional third BG28drilling rig, as well as pullingt o g e t h e r a t e a m o f

experienced engineers sourcedfrom our global operations.These additional resourceshelped recover the lost timeand the project was completedon schedule, highlighting thestrength of BAUER’s globalresource pool to assist inaccelerating UK projectswhen required.

A PAPER WEIGHTY

Solution

BAUER Technologies hascomple ted i t s g roundengineering and constructionworks for the Energy RecoveryFacility in Newhaven, a projectcommissioned by VeoliaEnvironmental Services, whichwhen completed will generateelectricity from the 210,000tonnes of residual householdwaste produced in East Sussexand Brighton & Hove.

The project commenced inAugust 2008, after BAUERTechnologies was awarded thecontract by main contractorHochtief, in a joint venture

with VonRoll (Switzerland),after a successful tender thatincluded the submission of avariety of options and technicalsolutions to address on-siteissues.

BAUER’s ta sk was toconstruct a circular-shapeddiaphragm wall (800m, depth

29m, pit diameter 52m) andfoundation barrettes for thefacility, with the main buildingbeing constructed outside ofthe excavation pit then floatedinto position and sunk into thepit created within thediaphragm wall. The wall wascircular in shape, so was self-

supporting and eliminated theneed for anchors or horizontalstruts. It was constructed with24 panels, each 6.9m and1.71m in length and despite itscomplexity was actuallycompleted 3 weeks ahead ofschedule.

The circular shape wasachieved by arranging the 24panels in a polygonal layout,with 24 precast stop endelements that created theprecise angles, as well as awatertight connection betweeneach panel. Each panel had 3reinforcement cages installedand these, together with theprecast elements, wereinstalled by connecting theupper and lower parts to reachthe required depth of 29m.

Palm Paper Ltd, Kings Lynn.

Circular Diaphragm Wall Shaft, Newhaven

SUPPORTING

Greenenergy

T e l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 2 7 9 6 5 3 1 0 8

Pembroke CCGT got off togood s tar t a s BAUERcompleted its works - theinstallation of the piledfoundations - that will underpini t s new s ta te -o f - the -a r t

2000MW combined cycle gas

turbine (CCGT) in Pembroke

West Wales.

The project, which wascontracted out from Alstom

was interesting, as preliminaryt r ia l bores ident i f i edvariations of bedrock level,requiring both friction andend-bearing piles to be used.The friction piles wereinstalled within the overburdento an average depth of 22m,whereas the end bearing pileswere installed to a refusalcriterion of 220kNm, toensure embedment in thebedrock.

Ultimately 2307no. 600mmdiameter reinforced CFApiles and 421no. 900mmunreinforced CFA piles wereinstalled, as well as 10no.1,200mm steel liner to a depthof 10m, with 3no BG28 pilingrigs on-site.

Despite the complexity of theproject it was completed tobudget and well ahead ofschedule.

With two power generatingunits, each comprising ofsub-structures and coveringan area of 60,000 m2, WelshPower’s new 850MW gas-fired power station is certainlya large-scale project.

BAUER Technologies wonthe contract for the piledfoundation of the newstructure, which included theconstruction of the pilingplatform, a preliminary piletesting regime, the erectionof an on-site concrete batchingplant, the installation of pilefoundations and all pilingattendances.

Foundation design was carried

out by SIEMENS and thebored piles designed toextend through 8m, of MadeGround, 13m of very softpeaty organic alluvium, 2mof dense river terrace gravelsand into the bearing layer ofvery weak to weak merciamudstone.

There were also a number oftechnical challenges to beovercome, not least thedrilling through existing

obstructions such as brickwalls and reinforced concreteslabs, in addition to the presenceof over 7,000 existing olddriven piles.

The project started in August2008 with BAUER’s threeBG piling rigs working

simultaneously, to be joinedlater by three further rigs atproject peak. The result wascompletion under budgetand on schedule.

SEVERN POWERCCGT FOR

Siemens

Welsh Power’s Gas-fired Power Station, Newport, Wales

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station, Pembroke, West Wales

PILING IN AT

Pembroke

1 2 7 9 6 5 3 1 0 8

Congratulations goes to ourtrio of champagne winners,who took part in BAUER’s‘Foundation Survey Report’prize draw.

First was Rebecca Sims,Proposals Manager forVolker Highways Division,who was presented withflowers and a case ofchampagne.

Rebecca was winner of the‘Foundation Survey Report’prize draw, which was run inconjunction with EmapConstruction Conferencesearlier in the year andmailed out to all readers ofits New Civil Engineeringand Ground Engineeringpublications.

Jacobs UK were the secondof our winners, where thelucky recipient of a case ofChampagne was MartinKnights, President of TheInternational TunnellingAssociation and Director ofOperations for Jacobs UK.

Martin entered the draw atthe London Rail Event in June.

One month later and it wasthe turn of Simon Healey,Operations Director of TheMace Group, who was firstout of the hat for theChampagne, following theNuclear Event held in July inBirmingham.

Pictured above from left to right:

Michael Jones BAUER Technologies, Rebecca Sims for Volker Highways Division, Peter Hyde - MD, Volker Highways Crowley Ltd.

CHAMPAGNE SUCCESS FOR

Volker HighwaysDIVISION

...ALSO FOR

Jacobs UK...AND

The MaceGroup

w w w . b a u e r t e c h . c o . u k

Pictured above from left to right:

Martin Knights Jacobs UKMichael Jones BAUER Technologies

Pictured above from left to right:

Simon Healy The Mace GroupMichael Jones BAUER Technologies

And the winnersare...

BAUER Technologies LtdMillers Three, Southmill Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3DH,United Kingdom.Tel: +44 (0)1279 653108 Fax: +44 (0)1279 653481email: info@bauertech.co.uk Website: www.bauertech.co.ukBAUER’s European Fleet ready for call-off