Australia's leading equipment hire and solutions provider, Coates, has collaborated with Monash University to develop an innovative temporary works product that will boost efficiency and safety on construction sites and reduce costs.
The company has been working with PhD students from Monash University's Civil Engineering Department since 2018 to develop innovative solutions to problems faced by the construction industry and help transfer research into the real world.
The focus was on creating lightweight propping and shoring systems for temporary works, a vital stage of construction. The result is Quadshore, the first of three expected projects set to deliver a diverse range of benefits for the industry.
The structural support system has been rated the lightest, heavy-duty system in the world. It features lightweight, highly durable structural steel and boltless connections, which mean consumables like nuts and bolts are not required to connect the modules.
It's a research collaboration that's proven very successful, with Quadshore named a state finalist in the Engineers Australia's Excellence Awards 2022.
Associate Professor Amin Heidarpour, Head of Structural Engineering at Monash University, says Quadshore is a "strong example of how collaboration between academia and industry can result in tangible outcomes for the benefit of society and economy".
Practical Advantages
When planning infrastructure and construction projects, temporary propping is more than likely required at some point. Often, work sites are congested or have limited space and limited access for heavy machinery or lifting equipment to install temporary propping systems. Quadshore’s lighter weight means it is easily handled and positioned on site, while its more compact assembly reduces the overall footprint required to install it.
Quadshore is a cost-effective solution where lightness doesn't sacrifice strength. Its steel support system delivers a lighter weight but also a higher capacity. The heavy-duty Quadshore 150 has a working load limit (WLL) of up to 170 tonnes. The WLL-to-weight ratio is at least 1.7 times higher than conventional propping systems. Meanwhile, its medium-duty counterpart, Quadshore 50, has a WLL of up to 60 tonnes and a WLL-to-weight that is at least 1.4 times higher than conventional systems.
"A higher working load limit-to-weight ratio reduces the number of workers needed on a site," says Heidarpour. Less labour is good news for many employers in the ongoing labour crisis. The boltless twistlock connectivity means assembly and disassembly of Quadshore 150 is at least 60% faster than conventional systems, while Coates estimates that it will reduce transport costs by 150-200%. For Quadshore 50, assembly and disassembly time is at least 40% faster.
Quadshore’s patented boltless connectivity means assembly and disassembly time is at least 40 per cent faster than conventional systems.
A Safer Solution
According to research cited in a recent white paper about Quadshore produced by Coates and Monash University, 38% of infrastructure incidents are related to the construction phase where temporary works are utilised. Thus, developing safer temporary propping solutions was a key focus of the R&D project.
Quadshore’s boltless connectivity eliminates the lifting, repetitive tightening and awkward movements associated with bolted assembly, while its smaller site footprint prevents site clutter that can easily lead to trips and falls. For those reasons, Coates predicts Quadshore will help to decrease Lost Time Injuries (LTI).
Sudhir Raina, Engineering Product Manager at Coates, says Quadshore would have been hugely beneficial on a recent bridge project for Sydney Metro. “We designed and installed the temporary works safely, ticking all the boxes. When this product becomes available, I will only need half the stock.
"It would have taken half the time and required zero consumables, while construction time would have been cut by eight weeks. Imagine the cost savings on consumables alone and then on entire project costs. The Quadshore solution has real, tangible benefits. That's why we're so excited about it," Raina says.
For more information, contact the Coates Engineering Solutions team.
