Investment boost for Porthmadog civil engineering company
24 Jun 2014 03:06 PM
A specialist geotechnical and civil engineering
company founded by one of the most respected explosives engineers in the UK is
planning to scale new heights with support from the Welsh
Government.
Colin Jones (Rock Engineering), which is based in
Porthmadog is investing nearly £200,000 in new state-of-the-art high
access drilling rigs to enable them to carry out geotechnical work at heights
of up to 30 metres.
The
project is supported by the Welsh Government with £99,650 from the Wales
Economic Growth Fund.
The
company was started by the late Colin Jones who was responsible for the design
and explosives blasting of the first cooling tower demolition in the UK in the
late 1960s.
The
business is now run by his son David and employees work all over the UK and
Ireland on rock faces repairs, anchoring and drilling, as well as slope
stability, the installation of rock fall netting and grouting.
The
company also deals with many landslide repair works which have increased
significantly since 2006 as a result of increased rainfall. Much of this work
involves drilling at height.
The
new equipment includes a specialist mobile elevated work platform that can be
remotely controlled by radio. It is capable of lifting 1.5 tonnes at a height
of 30 metres and can support up to three people drilling in a working basket.
It is the only one of its kind in Wales and is unequalled in lift height.
It will enable the company to compete for more contracts across the UK,
creating three new jobs and safeguarding a further five. Colin Jones (Rock
Engineering) currently employ thirteen highly specialised
engineers.
Economy Minister Edwina hart said:
“ The Economic Growth Fund was established
to help businesses become more competitive and grow by investing in new
products or equipment at a time when it is difficult to raise finance from the
more traditional routes.
“It is very good news to hear that funding is
helping Colin Jones (Rock Engineering) extend their services, win new contracts
and create jobs.”
Managing director David Jones said:
“The new platform will save us haulage and hire
charges so we can offer an enhanced, cost effective service to clients. Funding
from the Welsh Government was a great help and enabled us to go ahead with our
plans to take the company to the next level while also creating more local
jobs.”
The
company has considerable experience in the use of explosives in all types of
drilling and blasting work as well as working on various bridge and wall
replacement/repair/reconstruction and strengthening projects
nationwide.
It
was the first company in Wales to use fibreglass or G.R.P soil nails to
strengthen retaining walls. It is also one of the leaders in the region in the
use of remedial applications of pre-mixed grouts injected under pressure into
unstable and dangerous stone and brick walls.
It
has successfully used these techniques on projects such as retaining walls,
harbours and underwater in applications for the strengthening of bridges,
viaducts, general buildings, castles, tunnels and sewers.