News
Teupen Access Platform solves problem within Leeds' tallest building
In order to solve a tricky access problem at a new office and
residential building recently completed in Leeds, a Teupen Leo
36T tracked access platform was specially hired-in from the German
factory prior to the first scheduled delivery of this 35.5 m working
height machine by UK importer, Ranger Equipment of Chesterfield.
With a height of around 100 m, Bridgewater Place is now the
tallest building in Leeds and the problem encountered by main
contractor Bovis was how to undertake high level internal finishing
and cleaning jobs within an atrium area prior to handover to
the client - a joint venture between St. James Securities and
Kevin Lynport.
The only suitable access point into the building for a platform
was via a 1.68 m wide disabled entrance at the top of a sloping
ramp and with some deft work at the remote controls of the Leo
36T, an experienced operator was able to manoeuvre the machine
up and through the door with just 5 mm to spare each side.
The
accuracy required to accomplish this feat without causing any
damage to the building was made possible by Teupen's 'fuzzy logic'
control system which provides very smooth movements and hence
high levels of operator confidence.
Besides its ability to reach up inside the atrium, it was also
important that any work was carried out in the area without damaging
the expensive marble floor covering. Being mounted on rubber
tracks, the Teupen machine was able to travel safely across the
floor and, once in the correct position, deploy its four stabiliser
legs on spreader plates with surface loads of just 2.4 kN/m2.
In addition to its ability to provide a maximum working height of nearly 36 m, the Leo 36T also offers a lateral outreach of up to 15.20 m with one person in the basket which, in turn, can be rotated through 180 degrees for maximum positional versatility.