reidsteel, Author at Reidsteel Structural Engineering

29 09, 2014

Southampton Container Port Visit

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00September 29th, 2014|Categories: Reidsteel|Tags: Export, Shipping|

Employees of REIDsteel recently visited Southampton docks for a tour of the container terminal hosted by DP World, who run the container port operations with its partner Associated British Ports (ABP) – They saw the continuing development of facilities at Southampton, including the new recently completed No 5 Berth, which can take the very largest container vessels in service anywhere in the world.

Between 70% and 80% of REIDsteel structures are exported through ports in the UK, such as Southampton.

The visitors from REIDsteel are all involved in the export of REIDsteel structures: despatch and shipping manager Ana Monti and despatch administrator Catherine Carey, who make the arrangements for export shipments and prepare export documentation; Ali Titcombe and Tim Cook from the commercial team; yard foreman Ian Hibbard, crane drivers Steve Marshall and Steve Frampton, who lead the loading of materials into the shipping containers at our factory in Christchurch; Luke Armes who travels to supervise off site loading activities.

REIDsteel’s shipping agents, Meachers Global Logistics were represented by Rob Lewis, Director for Freight Forwarding.

The group received a briefing on the activities of the port by DP World Southampton’s Commercial Manager […]

22 07, 2014

Main Contractors getting too busy to co-ordinate all the trades?

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00July 22nd, 2014|Categories: Reidsteel|Tags: steel building construction|

Many are reporting that the construction industry is beginning to show signs of growth with more projects moving through planning and onto UK construction sites.

bbc.co.uk constructionenquirer.com

The downturn had caused a reduction in managerial construction staff with main contractors stream-lining the number of directly employed quantity surveyors, estimators, project and contracts managers to ensure they stayed afloat in the recent tough times.

Inevitably, with experienced staff retiring and others looking outside of the construction industry to find stable employment, the industry as a whole will struggle to meet the demands of rising workloads.

This is increasingly leading to quantity surveyors and projects managers overseeing a number of projects at once, making it even more important that they choose sub-contractors who can provide not only quality on site but also in their management and off site work.

At Reidsteel our clients have seen the benefits of working with us and have entrusted us with the design, supply and erection of steelwork and cladding and glazing time after time.

All projects undertaken by Reidsteel have a team of no fewer than 10 staff managing the project from […]

14 07, 2014

CE Marking and the Construction Industry – It’s the LAW

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00July 14th, 2014|Categories: Reidsteel|Tags: CE marking, Compliance|

What does it mean?

The CE mark originally stood for ‘Communauté Européenne’ which is French for ‘European Community’ and gives you the confidence that the product complies with the relevant manufacturing standard for that product.

Seen it before?

We all take for granted, the CE marking symbol on our electrical goods around our home, the kettle in our kitchen, the TV in our lounge. We can still remember Trading Standards appearing on consumer programmes warning us to check for the CE mark on the toys we bought for our children.

Trading Standards now have a new regulation to enforce, the Construction Product Regulation (CPR).

What does the CPR say?

It states that if a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard (hEN) or European Technical Assessment (ETA) and forms part of a permanent structure within the European Union then that product MUST be CE marked.

It is not voluntary but a legal requirement throughout the construction supply chain.

Failure to comply could result in suspension notices, prohibition notices, fines or even imprisonment.

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28 05, 2014

A Visit from Nigeria

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00May 28th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: Export, Nigeria, steel bridges|

nigeriavisit-news REIDsteel were pleased to host a tour of our five acre site for the Director of Bridge Design of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Aniete O. Effiony.

He was accompanied by our the Managing Director, Mr. Charles Orie of our Nigerian partners, Johnsons Construction Co. We welcomed the group with Mr. Graham Crouch, consultant at Crouch Waterfall and Partners.

For yet another wonderful talk about the unique steel design engineering we complete at REIDsteel, we thank our staff; Tim Cook, Commercial Manager; John Harrison, Structural Engineer; Roger Bennett, Design Engineer and Andy Davies, Production Manager.

22 05, 2014

REIDsteel Success at British Expertise Awards

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00May 22nd, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff, Steel Bridges|Tags: Bridges, British Expertise Awards, DFID, Nepal|

By Tim Stiff, Senior Technical Director at Management Services

Components of the DFID-funded Rural Access Programme (RAP) in Nepal have been shortlisted for three major awards from British Expertise in recognition of the programme’s wide-reaching and sustainable impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Meanwhile, the consulting firm behind the programme’s design and implementation, IMC Worldwide, has itself been nominated in the category of Outstanding International Business (SME) for its work on RAP and other DFID-funded development programmes.

The UK has supported the development and construction of two bridges linking thousands of isolated communities in Eastern Nepal under the successful decade long Rural Access Programme. In July 2008, the GoN approached DFID for funding for the construction of the two bridges.

The overall RAP Bridge Component cost for both bridges and the Technical Assistance Consultancy for the project management and construction supervision by UK Consultant IMC Worldwide is approximately £5.9m (approximate because the of the exchange rate as the construction contract is priced in local currency).

The project involved […]

22 05, 2014

A Spot of Golf with HMG Coatings

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00May 22nd, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff|Tags: Day out, Golf, HMG Coatings, Sport, Staff|

By Draughtsman, Lee Stevens

On a glorious sunny morning the ‘Reid Golfers’ embarked on a cross country adventure to get to Test Valley Golf Course, Overton in rural ‘Ampshire!

It hadn’t meant to be cross country jaunt, but due to an oil spill on the motorway the and being stuck in a traffic jam for 25 minutes we decided to take the scenic route through the very narrow country lanes. We arrived safely and just about in time for the ‘meet and greet’ and ‘tee off times’.

HMG Coatings, one of our paint suppliers kindly asked REIDsteel if they could send a ‘crack team’ of golfers to their inaugural golf day to thank us for our custom. Unfortunately, the ‘crack team’ wasn’t available so Draughtsmen; Lee Stevens, Steve Roberts and and Structural Engineers; Richard Callaghan, James Spencer took up the challenge…

On an extremely challenging course the team had mixed fortunes, Lee had managed to purchase some ‘right handed’ golf balls (his words) and spent a great deal of the day exploring the wildlife in the rough, Richard had possibly been supplied ‘left handed’ ones and had similar fortunes. Steve […]

30 04, 2014

Fire Safety Training at REIDsteel

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00April 30th, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff|Tags: Training. REIDsteel Staff|

Established in 1992, Abbey Fire Extinguishers Ltd are a family run business who specialise in all fire extinguisher and safety services across Dorset and Hampshire. John Fosbery a retired Dorset Fireman and owner of Fire Safety Company, Abbey Fire came to visit us to train our new Fire Warden recruits.

John regaled us with his tales of being a Fireman for much of his working life and was an informative and lively demonstrator of the many types of fire extinguishers needed on an expansive site like REIDsteel’s.

Across the office and workshops, the training gave five REIDsteel employees new Fire Warden status and 22 more people can now efficiently operate various fire extinguishers.

Danny Bradshaw from our stores department and now an official REIDsteel Fire Warden said that the course made him think about fire safety in a more focused way and that “sometimes it’s not obvious until you’re told”.

25 04, 2014

A Christmas Treat in Spring

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00April 25th, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff|Tags: Christmas raffle, REIDsteel Staff|

Photo courtesy of The Palace Theatre

Robert Green, fabricator and welder here at REIDsteel won the coveted company Christmas raffle prize of a theatre trip to London.

He and his wife, Vicki finally got the chance to go on their trip this Easter bank holiday. They went up to London by coach and stayed at the Grade II listed Charing Cross Hotel, which Vicki described as “sumptuous and elegant”.

Overlooking The Strand and near Trafalgar Square it was ideally situated for the couple to be proper tourists to the capital.

They roamed around Covent Gardens before attending the matinée showing of The Commitments at The Palace Theatre. The most recent musical to headline at the theatre is based on the book by Roddy Doyle and has been much acclaimed.

The show follows the mishaps and adventurers of a ragtag group of musicians who become “the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced”. Bob and Vicki greatly enjoyed the show especially as their seats gave them a perfect view.

Afterwards, they took a taxi through London to Brick Lane for a traditional British curry! In the morning […]

10 04, 2014

Joseph Ash Galvanizing Ltd

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00April 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: galvanizing, steel finishing|

josephash-news01 Founded in Birmingham in 1857, Joseph Ash is one of Britain’s longest running galvanisers. REIDsteel have worked with Joseph Ash for a number of years and we were pleased to welcome them to our five acre site in Dorset.

Rob Nelson, Technical Manager at Joseph Ash Galvanising gave an illuminating presentation to explain galvanisation to our team of draughtsmen and designers right down to “steel chemistry”.

We were impressed to discover that not only do Joseph Ash galvanise our large and robust steel structures, but also delicate works of art such as sculptures by Sophie Ryder.

Thank you to Rob who improved our knowledge of designing steel fit to be dipped into the molten zinc of the galvanisation bath.

10 04, 2014

A Visit from Ghana

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00April 10th, 2014|Categories: Commercial Buildings|Tags: Ghana, Guests, Hospital|

REIDsteel were privileged to welcome representatives from the Government of Ghana Health Select Committee to tour our five acre site and to view the design and fabrication of the latest hospital for which we are providing the design, fabrication and shipping of the steel frame and roof cladding.

REIDsteel are working as part of the team established by NMSI. This consortium specialises in systems, design and engineering, logistics, procurement and project management. They welcomed the Ghanaian delegation to Britain via London before travelling to Poole and then on to REIDsteel. Working as part of the NMSI team, REIDsteel are designing, fabricating and shipping several district hospitals throughout Ghana for the Ghanaian ministry of health under a $175million contract.

Mike Chappell, REIDsteel’s Sales Manager introduced our visitors to REIDsteel’s company history dating back to 1919 and talked about the vast range of technical expertise that we are able to bring to projects. He then went on to show a time-lapse video we recorded of the parts for the building being packed to be shipped to Ghana’s Tema Port.

8002 Ghana Hospitals MP visit - IMG_4028 <a href= […]

24 03, 2014

Sport Relief 2014 at REIDsteel

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00March 24th, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff|Tags: Charity, Fund Raising, Sport Relief, Staff|

While we do have our own successful athletes at REIDsteel, we thought we would take Sport Relief a little easy this year.

Our red themed “non-uniform” day brought out the colourful side to some of our draughtsmen’s personalities and the whole office looked tickled pink or red in this case dressed in their own hues of red.

By spending the day in the red and entering the Sport Relief official “Pick a Sweaty Celebrity” competition we raised £106. Congratulations to the winner, Lee Stevens who wisely chose Pixie Lott as the “sweatiest celebrity”.

Lee commented on the day, “Having a child of my own and watching the poor children of the World living as they do brings tears to my eyes every Sport Relief or Comic Relief Day. The easiest thing I can do is dress up and look daft for a day to help out in a minuscule way. The morning commute to work on my bicycle raised a few chuckles for oncoming drivers, […]

22 03, 2014

REIDsteel on BBC South Today

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:48+00:00March 22nd, 2014|Categories: REIDsteel Staff|Tags: BBC, Chancellor's Budget|

If you were watching BBC South Today yesterday, you might have spotted us!

Alistair Fee, a journalist from the BBC came to visit our five acre site to have a look at what we do and talk to our Contracts Director, Simon Boyd about the shortly-to-be released budget from Chancellor, George Osborne.

Alistair seemed somewhat fascinated by our design, fabricate, ship and erect process that creates a hive of busy workers during the day from cutting to welding to packing. He was impressed at our near 95 year history and ability to build complex steel structures in over 140 countries.

Talking to Fabricator/Welder, Craig Beale from Workshop 6, he was able to hear about REIDsteel’s steady flow of business throughout the economic downturn due to this vast experience. It is evident that we would like more support from the government and local council to take on more young people like Craig who progress through their apprenticeships with a hard-working ethos and desire to learn.

Filming live for the 6.30pm BBC South Today programme, Alistair asked Simon for his comments on the […]

20 03, 2014

Springside Industrial Units, Trinity, Jersey

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:49+00:00March 20th, 2014|Categories: News, Warehouse Buildings|Tags: Export, steel building construction, warehouse building|

springside-news01 REIDsteel have a history of working in the Channel Islands and were delighted to be given the opportunity to design, fabricate and erect 2 new Industrial buildings in Trinity, Jersey.

We had been involved in the planning and pricing of the project for over 5 years before we were chosen to complete the building envelope and worked with the main contractor, F Nicolson and Sons, architects, J Design and consulting engineers, Ross Gower associates.

REIDsteel were also chosen to construct the 2 structures due to the client owning the original units adjacent to the site supplied by REIDsteel in 2000 and being impressed by the lack of repairs and maintenance needed due to the quality of the building provided.

Working with the client’s team enabled us to design the steel structure to allow a specific floor area and clear height as well as detail in the architectural features of the buildings, near 3m overhangs at the eaves with cantilever tubular struts and floor to roof, brick piers which were to be tied back into the structure.

The interface between cladding and steelwork was detailed and ordered in house from leading UK suppliers […]

11 03, 2014

At Home in Antigua and Barbuda

reidsteel2017-01-06T14:31:49+00:00March 11th, 2014|Categories: Commercial Buildings|Tags: Caribbean, News|

REIDsteel have been working in the Caribbean for many years and have gained a reputation for designing buildings that go up quickly and stay stable during turbulent weather.

Back in 1995, we worked with Bencorp to build their new corporate headquarters.

When it was erected, the people in St Johns were amazed by the speed with which the building was erected: “a big hole one week, a magnificent building the next week” was how they described the changing landscape.

Measuring 88’ x 64’ x 8’, the Benjamin building (so named after Bencorp’s chain of Benjies businesses) has been through many a face lift and refurbishment.

When Bencorp ceased trading, the APUA (Antigua Public Utilities Authority) bought the building and renovated it to include new glass curtain walling.

With it looking so good it has been photographed for the front cover of the Antigua and Barbuda telephone directory; A statement that identifies it as a signifier of the island and its people.

reidsteel

About reidsteel

What does it mean?

Seen it before?

What does the CPR say?

It is not voluntary but a legal requirement throughout the construction supply chain.