Sheet Piling UK Deploys Third ‘Giraffe’ on Zoo’s Africa Project

 Preston-headquartered sheet pile specialist, Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd, has carried out a sheet pile installation project close to Chester Zoo’s resident giraffes, using the third example of its own unique ‘giraffe-like’ piece of equipment.

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd has previously carried out other works at the acclaimed North West zoo but this time returned to play its part in the exciting African-themed redevelopment, set to evolve over the next few years.  

On this occasion, the timing was such that the sheet pile expert was able to head back to Upton-by-Chester with the latest addition to its fleet – its second TM20 LR long-reach rig.

This is Sheet Piling UK’s third long-reach rig in total and one of only three such ‘giraffes’ in the UK construction sector. Like its sister rigs, the 2018 TM12/15 LR and the 2021 TM20 LR, it has an extraordinary 8.1-metre horizontal reach and yet total stability, due to considered counterbalancing.

This offers the advantage of allowing for sheet pile installation a full three metres further away from the pile line than any other rig in the UK.  In turn, this removes the need for the building of  temporary access platforms and eliminates the significant cost and delay that facilitating a rig’s close proximity to an installation site can entail.  

Furthermore, it minimises disruption – a huge bonus for biodiversity and local neighbourhoods - and reduces the number of vehicles and site traffic involved in the works.

The long-reach rig concept was developed internally by Sheet Piling UK,  in conjunction with German rig manufacturer ABI.  This was part of Sheet Piling UK’s ongoing commitment to continually finding new solutions and improving the landscape of sheet piling, in its capacity as the UK’s number one sheet pile installation specialist.  

The new TM20 LR has the same functionality as its 2021 counterpart, with a maximum driven and extracted pile length of 20 metres.  This rig has proved its worth on construction and infrastructure projects, from highways to rail and from marine to general construction – across the UK, which made commissioning a second TM20 LR an easy decision, despite the considerable investment involved.

The rig was supplied by ABI Equipment, agents for ABI in the UK, and was delivered just prior to the Chester Zoo project.

At Chester Zoo, the visionary African development will encompass the creation of an immersive rainforest biome sanctuary for animals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.  The Heart of Africa project, as it is known, will create an authentic jungle canopy and have various means through which the public can appreciate the wildlife, such as elevated treetop walkways and interactive water rides through the jungle.  

The African project will also see an authentic African savannah created, along with 62 African-style lodges and two giraffe feeding stations.  The project will showcase habitats from the bush to the rich plains and be home to giraffes, zebras, antelopes and okapis.

As part of the zoo’s Heart of Africa project, Sheet Piling UK has built a permanent sheet pile retaining wall, to facilitate excavation work in front of an existing stone boundary wall at the site of the giraffe habitat.  

In total, 84 pairs of EZ19-700 Emirates Steel Arkan sheet piles were installed using the brand-new TM20 LR.

Sheet Piling UK’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says, “The use of this rig at Chester Zoo could not be more apt.  Back in the 1950s, Chester Zoo’s founder, George Mottershead, adopted a motto of ‘Always Building’.  That motto is equally applicable to Sheet Piling (UK) Limited which, since its foundation in 1996, has never stood still and continually innovated within the sheet piling world.  

“With the third long-reach rig now in its fleet – our very own ‘giraffe’ –  Sheet Piling UK’s reach into the UK construction and infrastructure sectors should continue to be felt.”

Further information about Sheet Piling UK can be found at www.sheetpilinguk.com or by calling 01772 794141.

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Editors notes

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd is the UK's leading national sheet piling contractor and sheet pile installation specialist, with over 25 years' experience of handling a wide variety of land and marine-based projects. It supplies both permanent and temporary sheet pile solutions and has a fleet of cutting-edge equipment, including its unique and specially commissioned long-reach telescopic leader rigs, which have a reach 3m further than any other rig.