INNOVATION EDGE™: DUCT LAYING TRAILER
The duct laying trailer developed by Murphy provides a safer working environment, enhances production and generates significant time and cost savings.
Description
The conventional cable duct laying method involves stringing cable ducts alongside the trench, laying them into the trench and then jointing them to create a continuous duct. This requires several passes along the trench. Building upon experience gained on previous cable installation projects, Murphy developed the duct laying trailer to enable the stringing, jointing and laying to be achieved in one pass along the trench.
The duct laying trailer includes an extendable platform mounted on its side, which can be raised and lowered hydraulically. Two operatives join each duct on the platform and then guide it into the trench as the trailer moves forward. The slope of the platform enables the ducts to smoothly enter the trench, minimising stresses on the duct lengths and avoiding damage to the materials. The trailer has the capacity to carry a supply of ducts up to 1000m in length.
The trailer won the first place at the 2014 Murphy Bright Ideas™ awards.
The Benefits
- Saves up to 70% on duct installation time due to increased production rate compared to traditional methods.
- Saves substantial costs resulting from the increased productivity.
- Lowers carbon footprint by reducing the amount of plant movements needed to complete the ducting works compared to traditional methods.
- Improves health & safety performance due to eliminating the requirement for operatives to enter the trench.
Application
Murphy used the duct laying trailer on the £4m Westermost Rough onshore cable installation project for client Dong Energy. The project involved the construction of a 15km 150kV onshore cross-country cable to connect to the Westermost Rough offshore wind farm.
The innovation was developed by Murphy’s project team and cost £10,000 to manufacture.
The duct laying trailer reduced the labour requirements by 6 people for the duration of the duct laying works, resulting in a cost saving of £37,000. The project team was able to complete the duct laying works 9.5 weeks ahead of programme, saving site establishment costs in the region of £17,000 a week. This equates to a total saving of £200,000 over traditional construction methods.
The health & safety benefits of the duct laying trailer allowed the project team to achieve zero lost time incidents from a total of 261,000 man-hours worked.
End User Feedback
The duct laying trailer innovation generated positive feedback from client Dong Energy. In addition, it won the Murphy Bright Ideas™ Award in 2014.
The duct laying trailer was enthusiastically supported by Murphy’s site operatives who found the installation technique to be superior to traditional construction methods.
"The culture at Murphy gave me the support and backing to develop the idea and progress it. My approach to working is if you can make life easier and safer on site, then why not give it a go" – Martin Husband, Murphy project manager and inventor of the duct laying trailer.
Market Potential
The duct laying trailer can be used at cross-country cable laying projects for a single circuit and can also be adapted to suit a double circuit cable laying project.
Learn More
For more information, please contact Murphy marketing & communications department at communications@murphygroup.co.uk
