News Issue 1: Winter 2009
SYSTEMS GEOTECHNIQUE FLYING HIGH! PAGE 12
INSIDE
WINNING WORK 3 KELLER REWARDS 4 PLUS: CYCLE TO WORK 17 AND MORE
COLCRETE EURODRILL
JIM DE WAELE
PAGE 2
PAGE 8
Miles of smiles!
Interview
News From the editor I hope you all enjoy reading this first edition of Keller News and would like to thank all those who have contributed. I very much look forward to your comments, and to receiving contributions from you all for inclusion in future editions. Drop me a line at: e: patrick.mcgowan@keller.co.uk Or call m: 07836 246097 Patrick McGowan, Marketing Director, Keller UK.
Contents KELLER NEWS.......................................... 2 KELLER REWARDS ................................... 4 HELLO, GOODBYE & CONGRATULATIONS ..... 6 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT ................................ 7 INTERVIEW .............................................. 8 ASK THE EXPERT .....................................11 BLUE & YELLOW MAKE GREEN .................11 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT ...............................12 SITE WATCH ............................................14 IT FOCUS ................................................17 CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME ........................17 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT ...............................18 INTERMESH ............................................18 HSEQ REVIEW 09 ....................................19 Keller News is published 3 times a year in Spring, Summer and Winter.
Colcrete Eurodrill saddle up! On Saturday 1st August the staff of Colcrete Eurodrill set off from their base at Clay Cross in an attempt to cycle ninety miles to Skegness to raise funds for the charity NORSACA (Nottingham Regional Society for Adults and Children with Autism). The ride was a huge success with all thirteen riders who started managing to finish, despite a few punctures and minor mechanical problems. In total the event managed to raise £1700 for the charity. Paul Jones Machine Shop Supervisor, Colcrete Eurodrill 2 Keller News Winter 2009
Dream of a job for Systems Geotechnique Dream, the £1.9m statue created by artist Jaume Plensa, has been dubbed the north-west’s answer to the Angel of the North. Systems Geotechnique constructed 7No. x 324mm diameter x 34 metre long grouted minipiles reinforced with a full length 50mm diameter ‘Gewi’ bar to carry a working load of 1000kN per pile. The “Symmetrix” proprietary overburden drilling system was used to penetrate approximately 30 metres of made ground comprising colliery spoil and to found the piles 8 metres into the underlying stiff clay stratum.
Best Practice in Winning Work Event September saw the Marketing Department at Keller organise a two day conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry focusing on Best Practice in Winning Work. The event was hosted by Jim DeWaele and Patrick McGowan working with Philip Collard of consultancy, Marketing Works.
Throughout the two days there were company specific and cross divisional team working activities which were crucial as these highlighted areas of understanding which needed to be addressed. Cross and joint selling was a major study area.
Along with the bid workshop activities there was also an introduction by Patrick to the new Keller CRM system which will be implemented in the new year. Seminar topics across the two days included selling Keller Solutions, selling using Branding Values, Bid and Presentation Documentation and Key Client Management. We invited some guest speakers from outside agencies including Mark Ramessa from BAM Construction; this gave depth and insight into the industry from a client’s perspective.
A full set of notes from the conference along with PowerPoint presentations is available please contact Eleni Willmott in the Marketing department: eleni. willmott@keller.co.uk for more information.
Winter 2009 Keller News 3
Rewards
Save up to 10% on your shopping with Keller Rewards Lindsey Moffitt, HR Director said “following a tough year for us all, we wanted to introduce a benefit that everyone would gain from”. This was a tall order and Lindsey needed to find something that would be of interest to a wide and diverse group of employees, but at the same time be inexpensive to the company.
Lindsey believes she has found such a benefit in Keller Rewards. The benefits range from grocery shopping to extreme sports days out. There is something of interest for everyone, and Lindsey encourages all to log on or use the phone line to register and start claiming some incredible savings.
Snip your shopping budget and save £’s with Keller Rewards. Keller Rewards is the new employee benefits scheme designed to reward employees by cutting costs of normal spending.
HOW TO SAVE YOUR MONEY 1. Visit www.kellerrewards.co.uk and register your free account, then login. You Can... Apply for a reloadable card at (for example) ASDA or Sainsbury’s and top it up through Keller Rewards. You’ll get a 5% discount every time you top up, which means you save 5% on every item in store; Or.. You can order a Comet Gift Card from Keller Rewards. You’ll get a 10% discount every time you top up, which means you save 10% on every item in store;
By shopping at Keller Rewards you can save money on your every day shopping bill, be it fuel, food, utility bills or something special. With Christmas shortly arriving, it is an expensive time of the year so visit www. kellerewards.co.uk and see the fantastic range of discounts – this year it might not be as costly as you feared! Keller Rewards offers exclusive discounts and savings on items you already buy. If you don’t shop through Keller Rewards, you’re paying over the odds – imagine how much you could save this Christmas, and beyond, if you used the scheme! 4 Keller News Winter 2009
Or simply visit the website and shop online at Keller Rewards - you will make huge savings at over 1000 retailers, including, Currys, Sky, Thomas Cook, Marks & Spencer, Argos, Next, Boots, Homebase, Car Phone Warehouse, HMV, JJB Sports, WH Smith, Halfords, etc. Login to www.kellerrewards.co.uk and see how much you could save.
Winter 2009 Keller News 5
Hello, Goodbye & Congratulations
Hello
1 Kieran Houghton (1) joined the company in June as IT Manager based in Ryton Other new starters included in August Margaret Jacques-Brodie as Purchase Ledger Clerk (Ryton office) and in September, Clare Tubman as Assistant Buyer/AutoCAD Operator and Julie Hunt as Credit Controller (both in Ryton).
30 years service with Colcrete Eurodrill
4 Jackie Nollett (2) has joined as HR Co-ordinator in Ryton Sonia Gordon (3) has joined as Payroll Clerk in Ryton Eleni Willmott (4) (Marketing Assistant) is providing temporary cover for Helena Birt who is on maternity leave from the Marketing Department.
Goodbye
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Sue Foster (5) (pictured below left) has retired after 10 years in the Payroll Department Derek Powell and Ewan Thomson have both retired. Derek on 2nd Oct after 20 years service and Ewan on 5th November after 34 years of service.
Paddy McEntee, supervisor of the welding fabrication shop, celebrated 30 years service with the company on 3rd October. He started work in 1979 when Colcrete Eurodrill was based at Thorp Arch in Wetherby. After two and a half years in the stores department he decided to put his welding apprenticeship to good use and became a welder for 17 years until being promoted to supervisor in 1999. In 2001 Paddy moved with Colcrete to Clay Cross where the company is now based. Commenting on his long service he said “Colcrete Eurodrill has been a good firm to work for. They have always looked after me and I hope to be here until I retire.” Mark Rex (pictured right) presented a cheque to him that he will put towards a Yamaha R1 motorbike he is hoping to buy in 2011. Congratulations and safe riding Paddy!
Congratulations On behalf of the company, Keller News would like to congratulate Katie Bates HR Advisor, for successfully completing her Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development degree. Katie is now a fully qualified HR practitioner. We also congratulate, David Baxter
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for gaining his Doctor of Engineering degree from Loughborough University.
Project Spotlight
Stadium on Track Phi Group is nearing the completion of our first bridge structure (H01) at the Olympic Park with Skanska, and a further three bridges with BAM Nuttall to follow towards the end of this year. We have also started the second phase of works with Balfour Beatty at the L03 site, which links the South and North Parks, the first phase having started in November 2008. Phi Group is constructing 9 metre high approach ramps up to and between the L03 Bridges which span over Rail & Road transport links and utilises circa 60,000m3 of site won “soil washed” fill to help the park to meet their sustainability criteria. The approach ramps are being retained by Phi’s Textomur II gabion faced reinforced soil slope system with many variations from what would be deemed a standard simple design to cater for poor ground conditions, manhole shafts, drainage runs, utility corridors, temporary bridge foundations, and parapet support structures. Due to the soft ground conditions at the L03 site, Keller Foundations have preceded our works installing Vibro Concrete Columns on a 2m grid to depths of 6 to 7 metres toeing into the River Terrace Gravels with typical specified working loads of 600kN. Phi have then installed a Load Transfer Platform and a high strength Basal Reinforcement geogrid
to address Overall Stability concerns, before continuing above to install the 9m high, 70° reinforced soil slopes. Design of the L03 structures have had to take account of the legacy & games requirements which involves the installation of a 35m wide temporary games bridge alongside the 25m wide legacy bridge. The temporary bridge which spans a distance of 25m, will be founding on 7m high, 85° Temporary reinforced soil structures located in front of the legacy curved Textomur alignments. The face of the curved alignment has therefore not been finished with gabions at the present time, as this area will be buried under 8,000m3 of site fill to enable the construction of the temporary reinforced soil structures which are designed to support bankseat loads of 370kN load in addition to point loads of 160kPa from a 250 tonne Liebherr crane, which will be
Above: H17 Bridge Approach Ramp for BAM Nuttall. Inset: The Phi Olympic design and construct team Stuart Mortimore, Lee Church and Glyn Evans.
positioned 5m from the embankment crest to lift the Temporary bridge into place. Post games the bridge will be lifted out and the temporary walls removed revealing the curved legacy alignment which will then be overclad with the Textomur gabion finish. The 6,700m2 walls constructed so far, form part of a significant architectural requirement across the park and attention to detail remains a high priority despite the pressures to construct the walls to ever changing and tight site programmes. Phi has had up to 36 men on site led by our senior site supervisor John Matthews. Stuart Mortimore Design Manager, Phi Group
Improving the A421 Phi Group is currently installing modular block reinforced earth retaining walls for Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering on the road improvements along the A421. The project is for the Highways Agency whose Engineers are Scott Wilson.
A new dual carriageway between Junction 13 of the M1 motorway and Bedford is being created and there are numerous bridleways, footpaths, and roads that cross the new route, each one requiring a bridge to be constructed. The block walls are creating the bankseat for the bridges and the ramps up to them. 13 bridges are being constructed, each with typically two retaining walls each side of the new road. Phi were initially promised half of the 5500m2 walling available, the rest going to another company to spread the risk/resources. As always with highways contracts, programme has been key, which has resulted in
working extended hours and weekend shifts. Upon completion of our works the bankseats have been created and then the bridges lifted in on night closures of the road. At present our competitor has built two of the structures and we have built nine, totalling over 4000m2. We are in discussions regarding the last two structures (another 1050m2) which are anticipated to start in January 2010. We started the contract in May this year and as the Keller magazine went to press were still on site. Julian Fletcher Regional Director, Phi Group Winter 2009 Keller News 7
Interview
Jim De Waele It has been a difficult year for many in the civil engineering world and the geotechnical industry was among the first to feel the full weight of the economic downturn. Keller UK’s managing director Jim De Waele tells Alexandra Wynne why now is the right time for a change of direction. THIS RECESSION has hurt many firms throughout the construction industry, but few harder than those dependent on the housing and commercial property markets. To them, the effect on incomes has been devastating. The geotechnical world was right at the forefront of this, as a collapse in the number new developments caused site investigation and piling contracts to dry up almost overnight. Even the giants of the industry have not escaped unscathed − including independent contractor Keller UK. Rollercoaster ride It has been something of a rollercoaster ride for managing director Jim De Waele and he has yet to celebrate his first anniversary with the firm. “The drop off was so sudden,” he says. “It was like someone turned a tap off overnight in terms of orders. The truth is − if you’re in housing, it’s been tough.” Keller UK is one of those firms that traditionally has had a keen interest in housing along with many of the smaller schemes offered to the industry and which have also taken the brunt of the recession’s impact. To illustrate, Keller Group - the global operation − reported a drop of 22% in orders for the six months to 30 June. And the global picture has been reflected in the UK business − revenue 8 Keller News Winter 2009
in the same period was down to £30.7M from £44.8M and it reported an operating loss of £400,000 against a profit of £2.2M in 2008. The drop off has had consequences for the firm − most notably with its recent decision to cut costs partly through job cuts of around 20%. But for De Waele, now is not the time to be complacent. Although Keller has witnessed signs of house movers returning to the market in the past three months, De Waele says recovery is still some way off. “Any recovery [in the housing and commercial sector] will be a slow and gradual one. We can do nothing about that,” he says. Instead he is playing a big role in repositioning the firm as a major player in bidding for the bigger schemes. It is a move that is long overdue, he says. Keller has for some time been one
JIM DE WAELE CV
• October 2008 Joins Keller UK as managing director • 2007 Appointed managing director at Stent • 1994 Joins Stent as a senior contracts engineer • 1990 Becomes area engineer at Cementation Piling and Foundations • 1990 Graduates from Aston University with a BEng in Civil Engineering
of leading independent contractors in the UK, is a FTSE 250 company and the 13th largest construction firm in the UK. “But what we don’t really do is punch our weight. In the past we tended to be happy to wait in the wings,” says De Waele. “Right now, for us, the challenge is to hook into some of the major projects.” Making headway Historically the firm has had little exposure to larger schemes. The upshot is that it has been involved with a high volume of smaller jobs − with £87M turnover generated from 850 jobs, for example. It has already begun to make headway. Growth in the years before the recession through acquisitions such as Phi Group and Systems Geotechnique has certainly helped broaden its appeal. Keller now employs 450 across the UK. As a result Keller totalled an impressive £12M worth of contracts on the Olympic Park and has worked on the M1 widening in Nottinghamshire and the M74 extension in Glasgow. All of which has given it a taste for more major projects. There are three targets in De Waele’s sights in the immediate future − the £695M Victoria Tube station upgrade, the new nuclear build programme and, of course, the £15.9bn Crossrail mega-project. Each will require a proactive approach
“We’ve started to make more time for one another within the Keller Group.”
Winter 2009 Keller News 9
to targeting clients and creating a close alliance with contractors early on − a strategy Keller found lucrative on the Olympic Park. Early discussions with Team Stadium, the Sir Robert McAlpine/Populous/Buro Happold consortium building the main stadium, led to every one of Keller UK’s companies working there. De Waele says prime Crossrail targets include Tottenham Court Road station, where he has already nominated a project director, and Bond Street. Chances of winning big Keen to improve his chances of winning big, De Waele says his firm is partnering up with German contractor and plant manufacturing giant Bauer (News, last week). The two have worked together before internationally, but by coming together here in the UK he sees them being able to offer a comprehensive range of Crossrail-focused services such as diaphragm walling, multiple piling methods, ground anchors and grouting. However, he is conscious that the future is far from certain for such a bigmoney project − although hopeful that it will not be mothballed, he is wary that the programme may slip a little. This cautious optimism is an attitude that prevails when talking about the future of other projects too. “My belief is that infrastructure and public spending will suffer post-
election regardless of the hue of the government,” he says. “But we will see privately financed projects continue − it’s clearly one way to stimulate the economy without the high risks.” And there is still the company’s traditional core business to think about. “We still want to do the 800 small projects − we’re not talking about getting rid of Phi, for example. We want to retain those relationships [with our subsidiaries] to keep being able to do the £10k projects.” Which brings him neatly to Keller’s internal strategy. In the past, its different companies have acted independently, often doubling up on work and bidding for the same contracts − De Waele intends to change that. “Keller globally − particularly in the United States - acquires firms, helps them grow and lets them compete. “But UK clients don’t like group companies competing with each other for the same work,” he says. “In growth periods it’s been easier to let Phi Group and Systems Geotechnique carry on as they are. Now there’s a downturn, we’re trying to create one price and one solution, rather than many.” Clarifying the brand Part of the plan has involved a recent re-branding exercise so that all firms now have the familiar Keller colours of
Photos: Dave Selwyn
“My belief is that infrastructure and public spending will suffer post-election regardless of the hue of the government.”
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yellow and blue incorporated into their logos. This has also led to the creation of two separate divisions − Keller Foundations and Keller Geotechnical − to more clearly define the services the company has on offer. It is a significant move, says De Waele, because clients in the past have misunderstood what Keller can offer. “I’ve been in meetings where clients have told me they’ve not given us the contract because it’s gone to Systems Geotechnique. I’ve had to tell them, well thanks but ‘yes you have’.” In the early days of this transition it means he is keen to send along more than one person to client meetings to ensure they give the right technical offering. The aim is that it will help crossfertilisation by bringing expertise from different parts of the business to the right job. “We’ve started to make more time for one another within the Keller Group. “Probably it’s because we’ve got time to do it, we’re not all out inventing techniques, we’re more interested in sharing information with one another.” The other internal change has come in the form of centralising the business. Non-operational teams such as human resources, accounts and marketing have been brought together from Keller Ground Engineering, Phi Group, Systems Geotechnique and Colcrete Eurodrill − a move that has accounted for some redundancies, but one that De Waele hopes creates a better structure and increases Keller’s attractiveness. Looking ahead De Waele does not rule out the possibility of further acquisitions. “We want to build our portfolio. But any acquisitions would have to fit our strategy. We’re into cross-selling with one technical department that will lead.” The state of the economy, the company’s recent fortunes, and a change of strategy all make for a sizeable challenge. But De Waele is not phased by this. “Yes, the line between success and failure becomes much thinner [in an economic downturn], and it is a challenge. But you grow with challenges and it’s what makes you earn your money as a manager. “And if we structure the business correctly − and we will − along with backing of Keller Plc, major projects in the future are a big opportunity for us.”
Ask the expert
What is Jet Grouting? Jet Grouting is a Ground Modification system used to create in situ, cemented formations of soil called Soilcrete®. Jet Grouting is an alternative to traditional grouting systems, deep slurry trenching, propriety underpinning systems, minipiling, or the use of compressed air or freezing in tunnelling. Applications of the jet grouting system fall into three broad categories: Underpinning and/or excavation support. Temporary or permanent stabilisation of soft and/or liquefiable soils. Groundwater or pollution control. The ability to construct Soilcrete® in constricted access situations and around subsurface obstructions such as utilities, provides a unique degree of design flexibility. Indeed, in any situation requiring control of groundwater or excavation of unstable soil (water-bearing or otherwise), jet grouting should be considered. Jet grouting is effective across the widest
BLUE & YELLOW MAKE GREEN Sustainability and reduction in CO2 emissions are constantly working their way up the agenda for both our clients, be they housebuilders or main contractors, and also the end client, especially when public works are involved such as schools or hospitals.
range of soil types of any grouting system, including silts and some clays. Since the geometry and physical properties of the Soilcrete® are engineered, the degree of improvement is readily predictable. The process involves the drilling of a small diameter 150 to 200 mm borehole though the soil and if required, through existing foundations. Once down to the base of the treatment zone, the cutting medium (grout slurry for the single and double system, water for the triple system) is pumped at high pressure though the erosion nozzle. The drill rod is then rotated and extracted at predetermined rates to erode the soil and mix it with grout slurry, to form a Soilcrete® column. Most underpin solutions use column diameters of 1 to 2 metres. For base slabs, highly specialised SuperJet systems can achieve even larger diameter columns. One great advantage of jet grouting is that relatively large columns can be formed from small diameter boreholes. This allows gravity retaining walls to be constructed directly beneath existing structures, maximising the size of the excavation and minimising propping requirements. Keller offer a full design service and are happy to engage at an early stage with main contractors to develop the best solution from it’s wide range of foundation and geotechnical processes. Paul Marsden: Senior Contracts Manager & Manager Specialist Grouting, Keller Geotechnical
Over the past year we have pushed our own sustainability practices forward, trialling techniques such as crushed glass in stone columns and producing carbon calculators for our works. However, if we are appointed to install products using concrete, steel, etc. we have little choice but to do so, resulting in a carbon footprint which we can strive to reduce but cannot get rid of completely. Through our in-house carbon calculators and a scheme through JP Morgan Climate Care, we can offer our clients the opportunity to offset the remaining CO2 footprint from our work for as little as £7.50/tonneCO2 (for an average £30k Vibro scheme this can be only £140!). This money then goes towards supporting low carbon sustainable developments, mainly in the third-world, such as hydroelectric power, improving farming techniques to reduce deforestation, etc. Our first contract to be offset was a Vibro scheme to a school in Coventry for
Wates Construction in October. When mentioned to Wates we could offset our emissions the offer was snapped up straight away as this was a great help to their BREEAM rating and also looks good in the eyes of their client. With other measures of sustainable living such as the Code for Sustainable Homes, we have an opportunity to provide a unique selling point to our clients. A guidance note and inclusions to our tender documents are currently being produced on the offsetting scheme and carbon calculators are gradually being produced for more and more of our products. More information can be found at www.jpmorganclimatecare.com and feel free to give me a call if you want to know more. James Spears, Keller Foundations Winter 2009 Keller News 11
Project Spotlight
Up, up and away... This was the scene in central London in September 2009 when Systems Geotechnique achieved mission impossible by lifting their drilling rigs out of a restricted access location. 12 Keller News Winter 2009
Inside the hotel courtyard the lift begins.
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ystems Geotechnique recently installed very restricted access piling inside a confined building in London’s Northumberland Avenue. Basement foundations were put in some 6m below outside pavement levels for the £1 million contract, including Pali Radice raked underpinning piles. The main contract, awarded to Ardmore Construction, comprised the complete refurbishment of the eight-storey Victorian former Metropole Hotel and an adjoining office building to develop the proposed Corinthia Hotel and Westminster residences. The work included 180 number 450mm diameter load-bearing bored piles up to 28mm deep in a courtyard area. In addition, more than 140 minipiles, collected in foundation groups within the existing basements, will support new columns, as well as stair and lift bases. Site workers installed these up to 31m deep in several restricted access locations with capacities of up to 600 kN compression. Underpinning load bearing walls for a new concentrated column loading required over 100, 280/235 mm diameter alternatively raked Pali Radice 535 kN minipiles to 25m length. This technique allows the piles to go directly through, and be permanently bounded to, the existing foundations from basement level in limited headroom and without imposing a lateral loading. All piles were founded in London Clay at about 8m below basement level. They were temporarily cased through the overlying existing foundations, made ground and terraced gravels. LUL Thames Water required purely rotary techniques as the Bakerloo Line runs parallel to the building down Northumberland Avenue and a Thames sewer traverses the site. This called for two diesel operated Klemm 709 rigs and four electric Foundedile compact minipiling rigs. More than 420 piles went in during the 13 week contract. Winter 2009 Keller News 13
Our People... Our Jobs
Site watch Images taken by Dave Selwyn, Keller Marketing Department. I am available to come to your ofďŹ ce or site anywhere in the UK. If you know of any interesting or challenging projects that need photographs taken then please contact me at:
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david.selwyn@keller.co.uk or call t: 01242 707609 m: 07917 392761
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Clifton Marsh (1, 2, 4) : Keller Geotechnical. Southend (3, 6): Keller Foundations. Hensol (5): Phi Group.
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Olympic Stadium, London. Main photo (8): Piling by Keller Foundations, with main stadium in background and (7) with media centre. (9) Retaining Wall by Phi. Gabion section is a permanent ďŹ nish, the black ďŹ nish is a temporary face as it will be buried during the games and then faced up with gabions in legacy. Keller Ground Improvement Vibro Concrete Columns can be seen in the foreground. Another All Together Now story!
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Winter 2009 Keller News 15
FLY HIGH WITH GEOTEX 2010
DATE: Wednesday February 3rd. VENUE: The Royal Air Force Museum Hendon, London.
Free Registration at www.geotex.uk.com
THE
BIG GEOTECHNICAL
2010
TICKET THE UKʼS ONLY FREE
GEOTECHNICAL SEMINAR SERIES
16 Keller News Winter 2009
FREE 1/2 DAY GEOTECHNICAL SEMINAR Registration 8.00am Lunch 1.00pm TOPICS THAT WILL BE COVERED INCLUDE: • Ground Improvement Techniques • Foundation Support Systems • Earth Retaining Solutions and Soil Stabilisation
For further information contact Eleni Willmott ☎ 01242 707618 eleni.willmott@geotex.uk.com Exhibitors include
IT Focus It has been a very interesting time since I joined Keller in June. To start with, I took time to look at the various bits of IT around Keller to see how we can better provide a consistent service to staff across the group. Each business unit has tended to find support from different areas and this has been sufficient, however we are now aiming to work together and collaborate in many areas and IT should reflect this. Before coming to Keller, I spent a number of years in IT Management roles for the house-builder and main contractor, David McLean, and prior to that Redrow Homes, supporting several hundred users. I also spent some time IT Contracting, with various projects for a range of companies in financial services, industrial automation and nuclear waste management. My aim here is to make systems accessible, useable and resilient with improvements that have real business benefits. IT is a business tool, not just the latest toy! We have a number of key projects which are underway... New Network Infrastructure First task is to bring all the UK offices on to one single network, which will start coming on stream early December 2009. The aim is to improve connectivity and IT security at all sites, whilst allowing for files and data to be shared more effectively. Any user will be able to login at any office, whilst remote access will be standardised and simplified. We will also be able to add new locations in a flexible way as the business grows and demand increases.
This network will also make connecting to company systems, such as EVison and the new Microsoft CRM package, more seamless. Other benefits will be access to one common Intranet across all companies with no need for additional passwords. PC Upgrades / Re-install / Replacement Over the next six months, we will be visiting each office to re-configure and in some cases re-install the Windows operating system to make things run a little smoother. Windows XP has grown in size from 1st release in 2001 to the latest Service Pack, originally using 128 Mbytes of memory to get underway and around 450 Mbytes now! As with your home PCs, you find things running slower and slower and this is usually down to the amount of memory available. Memory upgrades and removing unnecessary software will often improve a PCs performance dramatically, however in some cases replacement is the best option. Your PC/Laptop should not stop you from doing your job effectively. Much of this work will be done using our new desktop management software. Altiris Deployment Solution will make it possible for IT to look after your PC wherever you are in the country, in major offices, we will be able to reinstall Windows, Microsoft Office and all of your applications at the touch of a button. This is a very powerful tool which will mean the time to resolve your PC problem will be reduced dramatically. Keller CRM – Customer Relationship Management A steering group, made up of people from each of the business units, have been meeting to develop a strategy for moving CRM forward. Existing applications, CustomerFocus for Foundations and Geotechnical, KMS at Phi
and SG’s bespoke system have been suitable platforms for managing opportunities and contacts details. Given the All Together Now philosophy and the need to have a joined up view of what work we might have in the pipeline and a structured approach to winning work, we are now going ahead with implementing the Keller CRM System to replace previous applications. Installation and testing will start in December and January, with full rollout in the New Year. IT Focus for the next 12 months to include: • Review of mobile phone and fixed telephone contracts • IT Helpdesk with Service Level Agreements • A single company directory for contact details and email signatures • A new company Intranet • Disaster recovery and business continuity planning • Email archiving • Printing and copying review • Use of WebEx video-conferencing • Review of all software licensing New IT Support Engineer I’m pleased to welcome Bob Grant into the IT Team. Originally working at Wetherby as a CAD Technician, Bob has showed a keen interest in all things IT and has looked after things at Wetherby for some time. He will be working at Coventry initially, assisting in the setup of our new methods of looking after our systems and hardware. I’m sure you’ll all make Bob feel comfortable in this new role and will enjoy being helped by him in the near future.
Kieran Houghton, IT Manager, Keller UK.
Cycle to Work Scheme In March the Cycle to Work Scheme was launched and has proved to be very successful. In total 30 employees have purchased bikes spending a total of £22,446.74. We hope those of you who have participated in the scheme are enjoying your bikes and keeping fit and healthy. Remember, this scheme enables you to receive tax savings when purchasing a bike through salary sacrifice. The details to the right explain what the benefits are and what to do next. Alternatively you can visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk or contact the Keller HR department for more information.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? 1. Big savings on the cost of a new bike and safety equipment, typically between 30% and 50% 2. Pay monthly and save on your Income Tax & National Insurance deductions 3. Choose from any make & model at over 1100 local bike shops
WHAT DO I DO NEXT? 1. Locate your partner shop at www.cyclescheme.co.uk and visit it 2. Choose your bike and accessories 3. Obtain a written quote from the bike shop 4. Either a) log on to www. cyclescheme.co.uk and process your request using Keller employer code 1B1E01 or b) contact Jackie Nollett at Keller HR to process your request Winter 2009 Keller News 17
Project Spotlight
Down on the beach In Felixstowe Keller Foundations is successfully compacting nearly 750,000m3 of dredged sand to reclaim more land for the Port of Felixstowe.
To many Felixstowe is the far east of England, and the last point of the UK seen by travellers to Scandanavia and the various destinations served by the port. However, to Barry Slocombe, Billy Skeen and Gary Bailey of Keller Foundations, Felixstowe is the love of their life and the only place to be. Keller Foundations is successfully compacting nearly 750,000m3 of dredged sand to reclaim more land for the Port of Felixstowe utilising crane operated vibro compaction equipment. These pieces of equipment have allowed compaction spaces to be slightly increased from that expected. Working with two cranes, compaction work which is infrequent in the UK is being undertaken to variable depth to
control movement of the new paving that will ultimately be placed. With treatment to depths of around 22m, we will have two cranes on site until well into 2010 when works are expected to be complete. In addition to a rigorous initial testing programme we also have a significant amount of validation testing being undertaken. Subsequent to the commencement of the vibro compaction works we are also undertaking dynamic compaction to additional areas of site. Keller Geotechnical are involved in grouting works to the new quay wall and further works are expected. So, when you open your presents on Christmas Day in 2010, some may have been loaded at Felixstowe port on our ground treatment. Trevor Snell, MD Keller Foundations.
Introducing Intermesh Intermesh is the supply only trading division of Phi Group that specialises primarily in gabions, mattresses and rockfall netting and also the soon to be rebranded Terraforce landscape retaining wall system. Importing products from around the globe as well as maintaining key supplier relationships in the UK enables us to provide both woven and welded products at the best prices and usually directly from our substantial stocks. 18 Keller News Winter 2009
Intermesh comprises of Angie Curtis and Nick Holliday (left) who are able to assist their colleagues throughout Keller UK with technical information and sales support. Angie will be making visits to Keller offices in order to familiarise the appropriate staff with the Intermesh product range and promote some ‘in house’ trading. T: 01242 702290 E: mail@intermesh.co.uk Our new web-site will be going live in 2010 so watch this space!
Health, Safety, Environment, & Quality
Review 2009 I am struggling to type this. I am touching (no, gripping tightly) a piece of wood, as I always do when I start to write or talk about accidents, which does not make it any easier. I know that I am tempting fate. In 2009, slips, trips and falls remain our biggest cause of serious accidents and it was such an accident that ended a 15month spell for the Foundations Division without a reportable accident. The Geotechnical Division also had a similar period without a reportable accident in 2007 - 8 and followed that up with a year without an accident.
These periods without a serious accident for any division could only have been dreamed about a few years ago. All in the Foundations Division and the Geotechnical Division are to be congratulated. Let’s hope that the divisions can beat their records before the next accident occurs. Can accidents be avoided by the people who are injured as a result? Not always. Sometimes it is not possible to see what is about to happen. However, most slips are caused by a lack of attention, by poor ground conditions or by obscured vision. Slips and trips should not be caused by
Are you taking unnecessary risks?
untidy ground; this can be cleared up before the accident occurs. If you cannot see the ground upon which you are walking because of a load that you are carrying, there is something seriously wrong. 2009 has been a good year. By stopping and thinking before acting, we can make 2010 a better year still.
Bill Gill HSEQ Manager. Keller UK.
N Have you been asked to work in dangerous conditions?
Are you using a safe system of work?
Did you understand the briefing?
Have you got the correct personal protective equipment or the tools to work safely?
IF IT’S NOT SAFE, STOP!
If you find yourself in these circumstances, speak to the contract foreman in the first instance. If the issue cannot be resolved satisfactorily, ask the foreman to speak to the contract manager and the safety officer.
WORK SAFE WITH
Winter 2009 Keller News 19
All Together Now KELLER Foundations KELLER Geotechnical Phi Group Retaining Structures SYSTEMS GEOTECHNIQUE COLCRETE EURODRILL
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