Manchester Airports Group (MAG) continues to invest in its airport infrastructure, providing an improved passenger experience with better security facilities, an enhanced retail environment and new executive lounges. The £100m investment to redevelop Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is now complete, with enhanced retail and catering services, following a groundbreaking study into how passengers use the terminals.
During the renewal of the primary runway, CSG was appointed by the project’s key contractor, and leading Civil Engineering company GPL to help install the associated infrastructure for Juliet, Alpha and Delta taxiways and extensions for the A380 aircraft.
GPL’s brief was to fit a full ‘pit and duct’ system to Runway 1, including the installation of 330 nr 8.5t pre-cast pits and 7 km of 6 and 8 way ducting. The construction work was limited to seven hours at night with all preparation works carried out during the day, to minimise disruption to the airport.
The CSG team was tasked to provide covers for the runway substations, housing the lighting and drainage systems. The covers were to be F900 loading, tested up to 200,000lbs and able to withstand the weight of the new A380 Airbus.
In addition to being heavy duty enough to support the massive weight of an aircraft, they covers were also required to be ‘one man lift’ so that one individual could operate the cover without sustaining injury.
To meet the brief, CSG ‘designed in’ stainless steel spring struts which carried the entire weight of each lid, so through an ‘assisted life’ mechanism it was able to be opened and closed with one hand and by one operator, even though it weighed several hundred kilogrammes.
They covers were also required to be provided in a variety of sizes ranging, from 750 x 750 mm to 1800mm x 900mm. To deliver the high spec brief, CSG worked with an US based company, East Jordan Iron Works who specialise in the manufacture of iron construction castings and infrastructure access products and, through partnership working, were able to deliver a bespoke range of products that met all specifications.