TPT September 2017

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T E CHNOLOG Y
SEPTEMBER 2017 41
Barnshaws section benders used on stadia
THE stadia that host English premier-
ship football matches are often seen
as the physical representations of the
sporting and financial battles in one of
the world’s most competitive leagues.
Etihad Stadium, The Emirates
Stadium, Selhurst Park and Old Trafford
all incorporate curved structural steel
from metal bending and fabrication
expert Barnshaws Section Benders.
Supplying steelwork for stadia is one
of the most demanding applications for
structural steel.
The high safety requirements place
stadia at CE Execution Class 3, one
of the highest quality certifications
for structural steel. Due to their size,
a large capacity is required to deliver
typically hundreds of tonnes of sections
to what are often exacting deadlines on
each project.
Stadia builds and upgrades are
usually required to be finished before
major events or at the beginning of a
season, so that the investment made
by clubs can be quickly recouped.
Barnshaws Section Benders offers both
high capacity and extensive production
expertise, which has enabled the
business to service a wide range of
stadium requirements.
Greg North, commercial director at
Barnshaws Section Benders, explained
how the demands are managed: “Most
building projects are managed to strict
timescales; new builds have investors to
satisfy, refurbishments have shutdowns
and redirects contributing to the cost
and time pressure. Stadia, however,
are a little different; if the ground isn’t
finished, the game won’t be played
there, as football fixtures won’t wait. Our
focus on precision and on-time delivery
means that, like a top player, we can
add value to a team effort and ensure a
good result is delivered.”
Projects for Premier League sides
have included developing the roof
over what is now known as the Sir
Alex Ferguson stand at Manchester
United’s Old Trafford; fabricating the
cones for Manchester City’s Etihad
Stadium; and supplying roof tees for
Arsenal’s Emirates – all in conjunction
with contractor Severfield. Barnshaws
also aided in the redevelopment of
Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park roof with
contractor Archbell Greenwood.
Recent projects include the relocation
of West Ham to the ex-Olympic London
Stadium, including its 6,000-tonne
roof, and elements for the new Spurs
ground adjacent to the original White
Hart Lane.
Barnshaws has also been involved
with a number of renovations for
Championship and Football League
sides. Barnshaws specialises in
precision curving of ferrous and non-
ferrous products. Established in 1969,
the company supplies market sectors
such as construction, power generation,
mining, transport and general manu-
facturing with shaped beams, tubes,
plate and other profile section materials.
Barnshaw Section Benders Ltd – UK
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