Circular scaffolding a repairer cost cutter

A FORM of circular scaffolding designed by Western Australia-based scaffolding and framework services company PCH is leading to savings for mineral processors and refiners.

PCH Group director of major projects Jim Anderson said the company’s circular scaffolding was saving up to 300 per cent in erection and dismantling times in maintenance work in key components of operations such as reactors and feed bins and also providing a much safer means of access.

The company designed and built its original circular scaffolding for maintenance operations at BHP’s hot briquetted iron plant in Port Hedland.

Its success there led to the Orinoco Iron Company of Venezuela flying two of PCH’s representatives to the South American country to help with its maintenance operations at a similar plant to the one in Port Hedland.

As a result PCH designed and built a 50 tonne colour-coded package of circular scaffolding that will soon be shipped to the Venezuelan plant.

"Getting the scaffolding in and out of confined circular spaces is a very awkward and time consuming task and takes up a major part of the time in maintenance operations in plants," Mr Anderson said.

"We came up with the idea of building a circular frame and platforms using modular system scaffold that can be quickly installed in these awkward spaces and the savings in man hours using this new equipment is dramatic."

PCH specialises in the hire and installation of scaffolding and formwork and is experiencing growth in all of the sectors it operates in.

The company started in 1995 with the $1.5 million purchase of a residential scaffolding hire business and has grown through leveraging itself to the Australian and international resources and oil and gas industries.

It is also expanding into the construction industry in the eastern States and overseas.