NEC BIRMINGHAM - WED 16TH TO THURS 17TH OCTOBER Our last but one exhibition for the year (bringing the total to 8 for 2024!) will be  Highways UK  on Wednesday 16th – Thursday 17th October at the NEC, Birmingham. You can find us on Stand 329B, where we will be showcasing our steel, concrete and FRP product range designed for various highway applications.   Our experienced and knowledgeable product sales team  David Mason  and  Graham Carson  will be on hand for the two days, so if you’re in attendance, be sure to pop along to stand 329B for a full product demonstration!

TORRE STATION - TORQUAY PROJECT OVERVIEW The project was based near Torre Station, Torquay, a Great Western Railway-managed and Grade II-listed station. We were initially contacted to look at the suitability of utilising our asset BaFix & Sleeve-It system, a proprietary system designed to stabilise railway tracks, for a 200m run of track along the edge of a retaining wall to a small stream. The driver for this work was that ballast was falling into the stream, restricting flow and increasing the risk of flooding. Clearing of the stream was also becoming a regular occurrence, which took considerable time and resources to undertake. PROBLEM SOLVED 220m of asset BaFix 70 and 147 Sleeve-It units, along with handrails, were installed along the edge of the track, increasing track resilience. Once the installation was complete, the ballast was replaced, and cable troughs were reinstated. The associated handrailing was an additional feature of the project, establishing an essential position of safety. ESG The project not only provided an environmental benefit by mitigating the flood risk, but also had a significant social impact. By preventing the loss of ballast into the stream, the project ensured that the train operating companies, commuters, and tourists using the line into Devon and beyond were not negatively affected. This, in turn, contributed to the local economy by maintaining the smooth operation of businesses in the area, thereby reinforcing the project's value and importance.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS THROUGH RIA We are delighted to announce that we have recently joined the  Railway Industry Association ! RIA champions a dynamic rail supply sector, helping to grow a sustainable and high-performing industry for all.   It is great to be associated with a membership organisation as comprehensive as RIA, and we look forward to connecting and engaging with industry leaders both within the UK and internationally.   Our Rail Supplier Directory listing can be found  HERE

MACROOM BYPASS - IRELAND PROJECT OVERVIEW The N22 Macroom Bypass project features the construction of a 22km dual carriageway, constructed offline of the existing N22. The project has 130 structures including river crossings, road underbridges, culverting and underpasses. Asset International Structures Ltd secured 29 asset VSoL wall structures totalling approximately 10,000sqm of cross panel, along with 12 asset BEBO arch culverts with precast head and wing walls. The asset BEBO arch structures form flood relief culverts for flood balancing on either side of the main highway. PROBLEM SOLVED The asset BEBO arch provided cost savings to the project as a result of less precast material being needed. The asset BEBO bottomless culvert reduced the requirement for in-situ concrete, and provided a fully modular precast culvert system to benefit program and plant requirements. To help improve health and safety onsite, AIS offered the asset BEBO arch units with waterproofing already applied to concrete surfaces prior to delivery to site. This ensured that the process could be carried out efficiently in a controlled factory environment. It eliminated the need for working at height, as well as the associated health and safety risks. ESG The asset BEBO solution offered carbon savings for the project due to the reduced number of culvert crossings, leading to less material requirements. The environmental benefit (compared to the alternative solution) was a key factor in the adoption of asset BEBO for this project. The asset VSoL walls also reduced the site program and added social benefit to the scheme by reducing the environmental impact on the local community. The solution eliminated the need for onsite activities such as concrete pours which would have increased site traffic and noise pollution to the surrounding community. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for both our asset BEBO Arches (GWP Total: 435kg CO2 per 1m3) and VSoL Retained Earth Wall Systems (GWP Total: 278kg CO2 per 1m3) enable us to demonstrate our commitment to carbon reduction within our concrete products.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW OUR PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPS WITH THE PWI The Permanent Way Institution (PWI) enhances the practice of railway engineering along with the industry as a whole. As a corporate member, we very much look forward to joining a community of rail professionals with the aim to influence real change within the industry.   Our rail infrastructure products perfectly align with the PWI and their mission, and we can’t wait to see how our partnership develops.     Our Corporate Member listing can be found  HERE

WE HAVE CHOSEN FIVE CHARITIES TO SUPPORT IN DECEMBER In line with our ESG Matters initiatives for 2024, we are delighted to be supporting the following five charities in the form of upcoming donations: 🧡  Able 🤲  City Hospice 🍏  Eastern Valley Foodbank ❤️  The Salvation Army 🚁  Air Ambulances UK For more information about these amazing organisations, simply swipe through the carousel below.

FLEET - HAMPSHIRE PROJECT OVERVIEW The picturesque Hartland Village based in Fleet, Hampshire, utilises a triple span asset BEBO E24 structure, to provide an attractive access road to a housing development. Differing sized asset BEBO Arches have been used to create an aesthetic humpback feature bridge, which has been brick clad to a contemporary finish.   The bridge is situated over a man-made lake at the lakeside area entrance, and features built-in lighting columns that blend in perfectly with the new residential environment. The aim was to create a showpiece bridge structure as a gateway to this prestigious housing development. The original concept for this project was to mimic a contemporary masonry arch viaduct crossing a watercourse. PROBLEM SOLVED This structure is a perfect example of the benefits of replacing an in-situ solution with a modular precast system. AIS facilitated a design change to the modular asset BEBO system that improved programme compared to the in-situ solution. Another challenge we overcame by installing a precast system during winter was weather and temperature issues, which would have caused curing problems, had the concrete been mixed and poured on site. ESG From an ESG perspective, the off-site manufactured solution improved health and safety on the project by removing the risk of labour-intensive activities next to a watercourse. AIS are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our products and investigating innovative ways of producing asset BEBO arches.

SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY SCHOOL ISSUES SILVER AWARD TO AIS We are so proud to announce that we have recently achieved a Silver award from the Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi award winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains. Backed by the UK’s top organisations for the built environment, the School helps to meet the challenging sustainability targets set out by the UK Construction Strategy 2025. The School provides practical support in the form of CPD-accredited e-learning modules and training workshops, tailored assessments and action plans. At asset, our goal is to minimise embodied carbon as well as closely monitor our impact on the environment. It is more important than ever to establish goals for a greener future, and as a company that focuses on sustainable engineered solutions built for future and designed for life, we couldn’t be happier with the recognition.

GLENMORISTON ESTATE - SCOTLAND PROJECT OVERVIEW Our client's designers proposed using an asset MultiPlate arch for a water crossing, which forms part of the main access route to Bhlaraidh Wind Farm (located on the Glenmoriston Estate, Scotland). asset International Structures Ltd were responsible for the design and supply of the steel arch, and made our proposal to the framework contractor.   The chosen solution was an asset MutliPlate MP200 corrugated arch (approx 9m span) which has a 50-year design life. PROBLEM SOLVED The corrugated steel structure allowed for further construction traffic to facilitate the building of a new substation, which enabled construction to continue without disruption or delay. Utilising over 65 years' experience in offering flexible steel designs in a variety of applications, the asset MultiPlate arch acts as the main route access to the site. ESG The lightweight structure didn't require heavy lifting on site, improving health and safety. The open-bottomed arch helped to retain the natural watercourse and protected the stream bed. The lack of an enclosed structure meant that work was carried out to SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines.