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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
NOVEMBER
2015
PROJECT PROFILE
2015 WINNERS
Steel Awards 2015 has come and gone
and according to Awards Convenor,
the Southern African Institute of Steel
Construction’s (SAISC) Spencer Erling,
the quality of the entries easily matched
the outstanding quality of previous
years. “We are going through very tough
times in the steel construction industry
yet, in spite of this, we are able to
produce world class work – an indication
that the future is a bright one,” he said.
STEEL AWARDS
The SKA Africa Radio Antenna Positioner was
the overall winner at Steel Awards 2015.
It was also the winner of the of the Asso-
ciation of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers
Overall winner and tubular category winner: SKA Africa Radio Antenna Positioner
The judges said that this project “radiates
excellence not only in the use of structural
steel but in every aspect of its structure
and purpose.”
Part of South Africa’s technical capability
displayed in the bid for the SKA was backed
up by the design and build of the seven
dishes for the SKA Africa Telescope. This
‘mini-SKA’ has in itself displayed excellence
delivering images of the galaxy Centaurus A,
13-million light years away.
The SKA Africa programme is for 64
antenna positioners to be completed by late
2016, on a site 90 kilometres from Carnarvon,
Northern Cape without mobile phone
contact, far from engineering resources,
so that by mid-2017 the SKA will be doing
scientific work.
Each receptor consists of three main
components: The antenna positioner,which
is described as a steerable dish on a pedestal
– the judges thought this in itself was superb
use of steelwork; a set of radio receivers and
the associated digitisers.
The antennae positioner allows for
a vertical (tilt)range of 15° to 88°, and an
azimuth range of 360° degrees to an accuracy
of within 1,4 thousandths of a degree under
optimal conditions and 7 thousandths of a
degree during normal operational conditions.
(ASTPM) Tubular category. This is the second
year in a row that the overall winner comes
from this category.
I