Conquering the challenges

Aggregate Industries had to meet complex specification requirements in its work at Harburnhead Windfarm. Tasked with providing 480m3 of ready-mixed concrete for each of the 22 turbines bases at the site, Aggregate Industries had to overcome road restrictions and meet strict requirements for the composition of the concrete.

After careful consideration and extensive trials, the Aggregate Industries Technical team designed a bespoke concrete mix incorporating BASF’s MasterGlenium 126 admixture. This guaranteed the concrete was supplied within specification even with journey times.

Adding further pressures, Aggregate Industries was granted access to the site in December 2015, with an extremely tight programme, which called for turbines to be erected by August 2016 ready for the energisation date of September 2016.

In response, the team came up with a swift plan of action; 12 truckmixers and two plants were used to complete the turbine base pours in an allocated 12-hour window, whereby, for the bulk of the contract, one to two turbine bases were poured per week. In total, the team supplied over 10,500m3 of concrete in a project worth over £1 million.

Jamie McMeekin, commercial director Scotland, said: “The Harburnhead windfarm project was an extremely tight programme, with a number of significant challenges caused by the location and weather.

“Despite these challenges, the contract was a great success. Together, the team was able to deliver the necessary roads, foundations for the turbines, substation and control building, allowing the contractors to finish the job ahead of schedule.”