Turbine monitoring offers energy cost savings
31 October 2008
The UK’s largest producer of electricity is making considerable savings on scaffolding costs when maintaining its nuclear power stations from a revolutionary British designed and made access system. British Energy purchased the Lobo for maintenance of its turbines during periods of outage at its nuclear power plant at Sizewell B in Suffolk.
Bob Bryson, Project Manager at Sizewell said: “We chose the Lobo after we viewed the computer generated drawing showing the proposed access system.”
The Lobo system is an innovative work platform that can be configured to meet any access application. “It can be erected in a couple of days, which is considerably shorter than the scaffolding we were previously using,” said Bryson.
It is put together without any tools and its patented clamp provides a safe and secure working facility up to a maximum height of 10m. “We have seen considerable cost savings since purchasing the Lobo and this is particularly in relation to scaffolding versus the Lobo,” Bryson added.
Since purchasing Lobo, Bryson and his team have found that it has cut time in erecting the Lobo access system in comparison to scaffolding. It has also meant that one contractor can erect the Lobo quickly and safely whilst still working on the turbine, which in turn has cut down time co-ordinating people. Personnel can reconfigure the system, adapting it from one project to another, with ease.
“We are currently looking at other Lobo proposals for similar access issues on the plant,” Bryson added.
British Energy is just one of many satisfied customers. Evidence from users on both sides of the Atlantic includes incredible cuts in scaffolding costs, reduced downtime and less reliance on outside contractors. Lobo can be safely and securely erected with a minimum of training.
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