Issue 14 - Winter 2007

Pennine Brings Unique Solution to Gloucester

A Pennine team is using the unique Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC) technique to prepare ground for a new housing development at the St Oswald's Business Park, Gloucester.

In the £74,000 six-week project for developer Persimmon Homes our team of specialists treated 26,000m2 of the former cattle market, making way for construction of 280 new homes.

RIC uses a seven-tonne hammer which rapidly and repeatedly hits a heavy 1500mm diameter steel foot on the ground, creating imprints that are then backfilled with granular material.

The benefits of the method are that as much as 750m2 of ground can be treated per day and, because the vibrations are significantly less than with traditional Dynamic Compaction (DC), the system is more environmentally friendly and can be used within 10m of sound structures.

Gloucester and South West regional manager Graham Ellery said: “This system is unique to Pennine. We have the only specially adapted rig of its kind in the UK.”

RIC at St Oswald's Business Park

Pennine Supports Cardiff City Development

We have recently completed a £300,000 contract paving the way for a large retail development at the new Cardiff City Stadium site.

Over a six week period a nine-man Pennine team inserted a total of 5,700 Vibro Stone Columns (VSC's) to strengthen the ground beneath the floor slabs of 10 units within the 30,000m2 retail park.

Pennine's Graham Ellery said: “Soil conditions comprised granular made ground over clay. This posed no problems for us using our mini Stratacaster rigs to install stone columns to depths of up to 6m, with spacings typically 2 - 2.5m apart. We encountered penetration difficulties in remote areas of the site due to the presence of dense granular made ground, however we overcame this by mobilising a pre-auger rig to site for two weeks to boost production levels.

“We undertook zone tests to check for a bearing capacity of up to 42kN/m2 and were completely satisfied with the results. The project was completed on time and to budget.”

Pennine at work on the
Cardiff City Stadium site

Appointments

Jon Chevin joined Pennine at the beginning of November as overseas contracts manager. Jon, who is 29 and formally of Stent, will grow our European operations. Although Jon will be based at the Bacup head office, he will spend the majority of his time in Europe. His first task is to manage the new Formula 1 street circuit ground preparation works in Valencia. We have 4 rigs inserting a total of 10,000 vibro stone columns (VSCs) on the site. The new Formula 1 track will host the European Grand Prix in 2008.

Chris Gillibrand joined Pennine at the end of September as director of manufacturing. Chris - age 37 - will develop our fleet of rigs and specialist equipment. His background in engineering, working as far a field as Taiwan and his experience as a business coach will be an invaluable asset to Pennine.

Jon Chevin
Contracts Manager

Chris Gillibrand
Director of Manufacturing

This email has been sent by Pennine Vibropiling Ltd, registered in England number: 2878498 at Pavilion C2, Ashwood Park, Ashwood Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 8BG.

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