FLI Structures: Turning the screw

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FLI Structures, part of the Haley Group, specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of steel structures and foundations including towers, screw piles and steel grillages. Recently its first LOC platform has been installed at Great Chesterford as part of a joint rail project with Signalling Solutions and Balfour Beatty.

FLI has a strong relationship with both companies and was asked by them to provide two LOC platforms – a challenge it was delighted to take on. An innovative product was developed that could be easily installed either on FLI’s screw piles or pre-cast concrete pads.

The contract involved designing, manufacturing and fitting the two platforms, each with four screw piles. The firm’s in-house team can complete one installation – both the piles and the platform – in four hours, much faster than is possible for an in situ concrete solution.

Design benefits

The platform is designed so that each piece can be carried by hand whilst the piles can be installed using a handheld motor, eliminating any need for significant plant. This means that the product is ideal for sites with poor access and possessions for the installation works are unnecessary. FLI has applied similar principles to other rail structures such as refuges.

Modular in form, the LOC platform can be converted for two, three or four bays simply by adding extra sections. The design minimises the number of piles needed, with a four-LOC solution using just six piles instead of the usual ten.

The benefit of FLI screw piles on a site is that they are quick and easy to install. No excavations are needed – there is therefore no spoil to carry away. This is particularly helpful if the ground is contaminated or soft, resulting in a concrete pad footing being unsuitable. Screw piles offer a sustainable all-steel foundation solution, making them fully recyclable – they can be easily removed and reused if needed. Overall, they offer a far more time and cost effective solution for foundations.

FLI Structures screw
FLI's LOC platform can be carried by hand and its piles installed using a handheld motor

Award winner

FLI has successfully designed and manufactured screw pile foundations for a vast array of structures – now including its own LOC platforms. They have been widely adopted by both Network Rail and The Highways Agency.

“Our success is based on understanding and solving site problems efficiently”, comments FLI’s Sales Manager Tony Parker, “and providing safe solutions for our installers. With a strong focus on innovation, we are able to supply foundation solutions to support a wide range of structures in telecoms, rail, highways and renewable markets. We take experience from each site and use this knowledge to lead the way in the screw pile foundations sector.”

FLI’s success on rail sites has been recognised by Network Rail and Birse Rail who have both presented the company with Innovation awards for its products.F

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