Elite Precast Supplement 2022

SPECIAL EDITION Built on experience The story of Elite Precast Innovation to the railway Products that can be used by virtually any industry A solid platform for major rail projects Approved suppliers to Crossrail and HS2

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ELITE PRECAST CONCRETE LTD Workforce protection barriers avoiding all line closures with adjacent line open

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From humble beginnings into a multi-million-pound organisation Large ballast bays with walls constructed from our Legato interlocking blocks

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KM 642263 BS EN 1917 & BS 5911-3

KM 6581 BS 5911

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The story of Elite Precast Concrete A company that has evolved rapidly from humble beginnings into a multi-million-pound organisation

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lite Precast Concrete is one of the UK’s leading precast concrete manufacturers.

It was founded by Richard Doody and Alan Johnson in 2008, two men with a combined total of more than 40 years’ industry experience behind them, who saw an opportunity to build a business with a fresh approach and an ethos different to that of more traditional concrete manufacturers.

“The business has gone from strength to strength by combining the highest levels of customer service with a passion to ensure that we are always the best value option,” said commercial director Richard.

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‘Every client is cherished and each one receives the highest possible level of personal and professional service’ “Our focus is on driving down the cost base and then passing these savings onto our customers. This enables us to provide constant

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and predictable price structures which in turn underpins our ethos of developing customer relationships over the long term.”

It is a focus that has service the business well, with more than 65 per cent of its clients having done business with them on at least two previous occasions.

Sales director Owen Bathan said: “We have a huge range of ‘semi-dry’ and ‘wet-cast’ products which we supply to every sector of UK industry imaginable, including the railway.

“We have clients including small start-ups, private individuals and international bluechip businesses. Every client is cherished and each one receives the highest possible level of personal and professional service.”

A state-of-the-art headquarters, featuring manufacturing, workshop and office space opened in 2013, and by retaining its original building nearby, enabled Elite to expand total capacity to around 50,000 sq ft. The business has enjoyed growth of between 10 and 15 per cent every year since it was first established – with a most recent turnover of more than £19 million.

Richard added: “We are market leaders in the manufacture and supply of interlocking concrete blocks – and, having made significant investment to develop our range of products, have seen substantial expansion in both our customer base and the sectors in which we work.” eliteprecast.co.uk

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Richard added: “We employ more than 90 people across our two sites and have ambitious plans for further sustainable growth over the next few years, and beyond.

“The aim is to consolidate and further enhance our market position in the UK, particularly in the railways, expand our presence in international markets and break into additional sectors.”

Customer solutions Elite Precast Concrete prides itself on its strong reputation for excellent customer service coupled with a flexibility and desire to find solutions to the most challenging of customer requests.

Its customer services and technical departments are renowned for the ability to modify and adapt its existing ‘off the shelf’ products to suit the most specific and exacting of requirements.

This approach ensures the customer doesn’t just receive a cost saving, from that of a totally bespoke product, but also a production and turn-around time that can be greatly reduced.

However, if this is not achievable, Elite has the facilities necessary to produce completely custom-designed products to individual specifications.

Designed and manufactured The organisation’s in-house technical support and design team is always on hand to offer advice, provide estimates and help with project planning.

Working with customers is at the heart of the solution in ensuring the most cost-effective solution can be achieved.

All Elite’s units are made to the highest standards at its two extensive modern

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manufacturing plants in Telford, Shropshire, which cover 50,000 sq ft of production area and three and a half acres of stocking space.

Rigorously applied procedures and

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the latest production techniques ensure consistency and efficiency, which enables high-quality products at the most economic prices.

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A platform for success Elite Precast Concrete manufacture a wide variety of precast concrete products for a huge number of purposes and supply almost every sector of UK industry

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ts biggest market remains domestic and commercial construction, supplying to a lot of waste recycling and waste-to-energy operations as well as temporary on-site works, and working closely with several major companies in the rail sector.

The company invests heavily to develop its portfolio and always holds an extensive catalogue of ‘semi-dry’ and ‘wet-cast’ items in stock. Its extensive portfolio also includes high strength, interlocking concrete blocks, ballast blocks and safety/security barriers as well as service protection and drainage products.

The benefits of interlocking blocks Elite Precast Concrete’s interlocking blocks provide all the benefits of a permanent solution with the ability to reconfigure or relocate the lay-out as the needs of your business change.

The flexible nature of the products therefore creates major advantages and the quality of the mix – which does not contain any recycled aggregates – offers the durability that ensures those advantages will continue to deliver for many years to come.

Competitor products have been proven to contain recycled and even waste materials unsuitable for making concrete. Far from an asset, blocks made from such materials can quickly become a liability.

The blocks are cast from 50N/mm2 concrete and are therefore suitable for structural

Legato®

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applications – with a design life of 120 years –and all fully traceable raw materials are monitored for dimensional accuracy, density and strength.

Each block has its own lifting point which means they can be moved easily and quickly into different configurations without the need for specialist equipment.

Because the products are made from 100 per cent natural materials, they’re 100 per cent recyclable at their end of their life – the most environmentally-sustainable solution available.

The lack of steel reinforcement or recycled

aggregates also gives the concrete classleading fire-retardant qualities. The blocks are recommended by many insurance companies as fire breaks and Elite boast a number of tyre and wood recycling companies among its continually expanding customer base.

Spotlight on Elite’s interlocking blocks Legato® Elite is proud to present the ultimate interlocking block Legato®, the name coming from the Italian for ‘tied together’.

Legato®

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Duo™

The company is the only in Europe to manufacture interlocking blocks using high strength (50N/mm2) concrete.

This allows the Legato® blocks to exhibit extreme levels of durability, combined with the flexibility of having their own cast-in lifting pin. As each standard block will build 1.28m2 of wall, they provide an incredibly quick solution in a wide variety of applications.

They are designed to provide a solution for a huge variety of projects, from block wall flood defence, to various temporary works including to create solid barriers between open rail lines and those being replaced.

Because these blocks do not contain anything other than high quality, locally sourced aggregates and Portland Cement, you can be assured that the investment will last a lifetime.

Duo™ Elite is the UK’s only manufacturer of Duo™ interlocking concrete blocks – used throughout

Vee™

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Duo™

the UK in a wide variety of applications. The clever design (which incorporates cast in lifting

‘Because the products are made from 100 per cent natural materials, they’re 100 per cent recyclable at their end of their life’ pin flush with the concrete surface) allows the blocks to be dry laid directly onto a suitable base, creating bay dimensions to suit almost any site.

They are easily relocated or reconfigured as needs dictate. The blocks offer a simple and robust alternative to conventional L or A-shaped thin walled panels.

Its Duo™ blocks are the UK’s fastest selling interlocking block solution. Speed of construction is a key feature – two men can expect to install 228 blocks per day which is more than 123m3. The blocks interlock with each other using ‘lego’ type connectors and are drylaid making them a reusable semi-permanent option.

Vee™ Elite is the UK’s only manufacturer of blocks which lock together both horizontally and vertically, the Vee™ interlocking concrete block.

Originally designed to provide radiation shielding, the Vee™ interlocking block is an incredibly versatile product that will excel in the most demanding of applications. The blocks interlock with each other using a unique ‘v’ system along the base, sides and top giving incredible strength and stability.

All blocks measure 610mm in cross section but vary in length.

Vee™

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Putting major rail projects on the right track The major rail projects turn to Elite Precast Concrete

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he company is Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme and Utilities Vendor Database Service verified and has supplied a large number of major infrastructure projects including HS2, Crossrail, HS2, Tideway and Hinckley Point C. Here is just one example of the work that has taken place: ‘Lego wall’ to avoid an all-line block The engineers delivering the Cardiff Area Signalling Renewals Project used an innovative ‘Lego wall’ to provide a solid barrier between open lines and those lines being replaced.

The idea, which avoided the need for a disruptive all-line block, came from a comment about Lego, which led to conversations about the concept of a real virtual wall and research by Network Rail that proved it was viable.

The Cardiff Area Signalling Renewals project was a £300 million renewal and enhancement scheme – which at the time was the largest signalling project of its kind to be commissioned on the rail network.

Speaking to RTM at the time, Network Rail’s Keith Morey and Christian Irwin, said: “It was clear getting an all-line possession wasn’t possible because of the number of trains that were required to run or to re-plan further with the scarce resource at Easter and Christmas would again impact the signalling programme,

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“The project team came up with the idea of a real virtual wall, from a throw-away comment about Lego” so to meet the commissioning timescales, an alternative was needed.

“By thinking outside the box, the project team

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came up with the idea of a real virtual wall, from a throw-away comment about Lego.

“Network Rail as principal contractor then looked at the viability of the idea of a real virtual wall and carried out further research. The project found that it was possible to have large size ‘blocks’ cast and so the possibility of a real virtual wall was born.

“Measurements were calculated, and stability tested, and all was found to be feasible. The first section was delivered, installed at the depot and tested, passing with flying colours. After that it was ‘all systems go’ and the wall was assembled in the 10-foot over the required distance for the stretch of track to be replaced.”

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Nationwide delivery and beyond Businesses in every sector of industry, particularly the railway, demand a delivery service that’s efficient, reliable, safe, compliant and cost-effective.

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o ensure it meets clients’ needs, Elite Precast Concrete’s created an extensive range of transport options for its entire range of products that ticks all of the boxes and cements its reputation as a business providing the highest level of customer service.

It’s a comprehensive solution tailor-made for the pre-cast concrete sector that covers not only every corner of the UK, but overseas as well.

Elite has teamed up with a specialist provider to ensure it runs like clockwork. Its Euro 6 compliant fleet features flatbed rigid and articulated HGVs with edge protection.

It can also provide crane off-load vehicles, truck-mounted forklifts, telehandlers along with specialised packing services and even worldwide container shipping – having previously provided a service to Australia, Norway, Saudi Arabia and USA. Elite works to the Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS) standard, is fully Chapter 8 compliant and approved for use

by HS2, Crossrail, Thames Tideway schemes, among others.

Its logistics partners are also part of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and can ensure deliveries are carried out within requirements of Bronze, Silver or Gold standard.

Elite Precast Concrete Halesfield 9, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QW Opening hours 7am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Tel 01952 588885 (7am – 4.30pm) Fax 01952 582011 Mobile 07920 147503 (out of hours) Email sales@eliteprecast.co.uk Website www.eliteprecast.co.uk

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Get on track with Elite interlocking blocks and barriers

British made

Workforce protection barriers avoiding all line closures with adjacent line open

Rockfall prevention with our multi-purpose Jersey barriers

Hoarding stabilisation utilising Elite Duo interlocking blocks

Large ballast bays with walls constructed from our Legato interlocking blocks

Large scale embankment retention using the versatile Legato blocks

Workforce safety refuges built from Elite Duo blocks

Everywhere on rail networks Elite products are seen in use For more information phone 01952 588 885 or browse www.eliteprecast.co.uk or email sales@eliteprecast.co.uk

KM 642263 BS EN 1917 & BS 5911-3

KM 658166 BS 5911-6

Suppliers to 2012 London Olympics, 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and approved suppliers to Tideway, Crossrail and HS2 (fully compliant transport)