Conquip Engineering Group has revolutionised construction safety with new improvements on their concrete skips, ensuring no operatives stand beneath suspended loads.
- After extensive development, these innovative attachments eliminate the last manual operation requiring operatives beneath loads.
- Partnerships with Balfour Beatty and Select Plant Hire facilitated design and rigorous testing since mid-2023.
- Key advancements include distance-controlled flow and seamless hose transitions.
- Widespread adoption is expected as Tier 1 contractors are increasingly specifying the updated skip model.
Conquip Engineering Group’s recent advancements in concrete skip technology signify a major leap forward in construction safety standards. After more than a year of development and testing, Conquip has introduced new attachments designed to eliminate the need for operatives to stand beneath suspended loads during concrete pouring operations. This marks the removal of the final manual operation of its kind, underscoring a significant improvement in worker safety.
The innovative attachments, developed in collaboration with major industry partners Balfour Beatty and Select Plant Hire, include an extended flow gate handle, allowing operatives to control the pour from a safe distance. This feature ensures that personnel can operate without standing directly below the suspended skip, thereby minimising risk.
An additional advancement is the hose guide and insert, which facilitates precise hose positioning during the pour. This enhancement allows for accurate concrete placement without manual intervention, enhancing both safety and efficiency on the construction site. Furthermore, a Bauer connection enables seamless transition between various hose lengths, eliminating the need for manual refitting and further reducing potential hazards associated with suspended load operations.
Since its introduction in 2017, the concrete skip without a bale arm has garnered preference among Tier 1 contractors, offering both a bale arm equipped and a bale arm-free version for varied operational needs. Over the last 18 months, an increasing number of constructions have specified the sans-bale-arm model, indicating robust industry support for these safety-centric innovations.
Daniel Critchley, Chief Operating Officer of Conquip, stated that the company remains committed to enhancing safety and efficiency through close collaboration with leading contractors. Critchley noted, “Our development partnership with Balfour Beatty, and Select Plant Hire, part of Laing O’Rourke, has led to the best outcome to improve the safe use of concrete pouring equipment.”
The advancements introduced by Conquip represent a meaningful shift in operational safety standards in the construction industry.
