A firm of Midlands steel fabricators is looking forward to a year of growth in 2016 after securing orders worth around £500,000 on one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK.
Thanks to its investment in research and development, Fabweld Steel Products, has designed new bespoke access covers for the flagship London Power Tunnels scheme to rewire the capital.
FSP, which is based in Madeley, Telford, is supplying three leading contractors – Costains, Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty - with specialist heavy duty vented grilles to cover high power electric cables.
The duct cover systems are being used as part of the seven-year programme. It is creating a new 32km electricity superhighway deep below London, made up of 12 wide shafts that are up to 60 metres deep. The Fabweld grilles will be used on cable routing sites at Kensal Green, Willesden, St John's Wood and Hackney to meet individual ventilation and loading requirements for each site.
Fabweld has been designing and manufacturing fabricated steel access covers and associated drainage products for more than 25 years but changing markets has seen it introduce an extensive R & D programme to ensure that it stays at the forefront of the industry.
Fabweld managing director Richard Hilton said: “We have invested heavily in developing our staff, manufacturing equipment and computer software, so we can offer our customers the latest in cutting edge resources and create innovative bespoke products.
“The duct cover systems are a prime example of how our investment in R & D has paid dividends. Being able to supply the National Grid with this level of detail for bespoke installations has put Fabweld in a very favourable position for future work of this type, as there are no other manufacturers in the UK capable of producing this.
“We have secured three separate contracts worth up to £500,000 and we believe there will be further orders to come as the project is not due to be completed until 2018.”
Fabweld has developed a reputation for producing bespoke products to resolve complex problems, thanks to its research and development programme.
Richard explained: “In recent years, we have been involved in a number of projects where we have been able to offer cutting edge functional solutions to complex problems in a host of projects throughout the UK and abroad. This has enabled us to further enhance our reputation within the sector for being a solution provider and move into new markets.
“We can provide access covers for challenging environments often working within very restricted access and arduous design constraints – this is what has seen us attract high calibre customers such as those working as part of the National Grid project.”
The Fabweld team is now working on a number of distinctive product ranges with clear growth and product innovation strategies, giving it a solid base to build on in 2016.
“The future is looking very positive,” added Richard. “Our priority for this year is to continue to break new ground and develop an innovative product range that offers quality and bespoke solutions.”
