When you build your feed mill plant, one of the most crucial parts of the entire engineering and construction process is the steel structure erection and installation. Though this may seem like a job for the typical construction firm, the need for a team highly experienced in feed mill tower execution is critical in aspects unforeseen by many. There are a lot of grey areas to consider when establishing your feed mill in the Philippines and without proper experience, the quality, timeline, and cost (above all) will be affected significantly.
DEFINITION AND PROCESS
Steel structure erection and installation is the process by which all steel components (columns, beam, cross beams, floor plates, joists, etc.) are lifted, stabilized, temporarily supported, installed (either welded or bolted), infused to another set of steel components, rectified, and then finished by complete tightening/full welding, touch up, and lastly painted.
Assuming all steel structure members are perfectly in place based on the steel structure analysis and design, the process starts and ends with the proper engineering protocols on how all the “mechanical” and “non-steel” components are incorporated together with the steel structure members – before, during, and post erection stages.
TIP 1: ALL-IN-ONE STEP INFUSING COMPONENTS
Do an all-in-one step infusing components that can be done on the ground and then lifting them up all at once instead of infusing on a piece-by-piece and then lifting it from ground to above location every time. Example, a complete section of a steel structure is welded/bolted together on the ground instead of lifting 1 beam/column going up to connect to another beam/column making the infusion works done on top faster and highly efficient. The only disadvantage is that you utilize a bigger capacity lifting crane, however the major advantage is it lessens the overall cost in all other aspects of the installation.
TIP 2: COORDINATION
During actual erection and installation process, modifications and “on the spot” rectifications are done to minimize further complications and delays. You need to involve a lot of coordination from both engineering design and erection teams in order to perfectly erect, install, and secure the complete tower structure. For example, a service deck area flooring for your bucket elevator head, the plans will always differ 10/10 on actual. The steel flooring should be modified right away during this time where it will be convenient operations, cost, and maintenance wise. Modifying this on latter stage will not be timely and will cause delay once all other mechanical and electrical components are already set. This simple yet highly efficient idea of on the spot process greatly diminishes delays and added cost in the end.
TIP 3: FOCUS ON QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS ON FINISHING STAGES
At the latter stages of the process, all the components erected and installed should have been placed perfectly with errors close to zero based on the engineering design. The finishing stages should not be focused only on touch ups and paint works, but also in proper quality control checks from all points of reference. The quality control team should focus on a per quadrant area on each section of each floor scheduled on a per hour/day/week timeline followed by proper audit behind every step to ensure not only a double but a triple checking approach on the finished works – faster and better.
Why VSM?
Our team’s experience widely covers all aspects of this process. The key for a proper execution of this field is mostly on proper design anticipation from start to finish with spot on coordination on all areas to avoid delays. Please mind that the delay on this part shoots up the overall client’s cost in all areas covered (i.e. crane usage, labor, and a lot more) – if not anticipated, checked, and eventually reconciled.
If you need a trusted team to handle steel structure erection and installation for your feed mill plant in the Philippines, you may contact us through the following: Phone WhatsApp and Viber.