{"id":25256,"date":"2013-11-11T16:05:49","date_gmt":"2013-11-11T14:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/11\/a-record-construction-feat-for-dcd-wind-tower-factory\/"},"modified":"2013-11-11T16:05:49","modified_gmt":"2013-11-11T14:05:49","slug":"a-record-construction-feat-for-dcd-wind-tower-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/a-record-construction-feat-for-dcd-wind-tower-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"A record construction feat for DCD Wind Tower factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Six months after breaking ground, the construction of the Coega Industrial Development Zone\u2019s (IDZ) first wind turbine manufacturing facility is on track to be completed in record time thanks to innovative and advanced engineering techniques used to fast track the process.<\/p>\n

The wind turbine factory is more than 60% complete and the ambitious task undertaken by lead construction firm NMC to build the 23 000m\u00b2 facility is nearing realisation, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) said today.<\/p>\n

The project is joint initiative between the DCD Group, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the CDC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe aim is to have the facility up-and-running in under 11 months after construction started in March, so that the DCD Group is able to supply its first two customers by February 2014,\u201d said Bruno Ponzo, CDC infrastructure project manager.<\/p>\n

The facility is located in Zone 3 of the Coega IDZ and will be a first of its kind for the Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n

According to Frans Namuhuya of WorleyParsons \u2013 provider of professional services to the resources and energy sectors and complex process industries \u2013 the next few months will \u201cbe tight\u201d as they review the timeline to gain ground on time lost due to the construction industry strike.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had to revise our schedule and increase the man hours and labour force to achieve our targets. We faced some challenges, but we also realised some noteworthy engineering feats that allowed us to fast track the project \u2013 such as the design, creation of shop drawings and manufacturing of steel that was cardinal to the successful delivery of the factory,\u201d said Namuhuya.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe galvanised steel lattice column design used also allowed for a quick construction time considering the high speed nature of the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

While work on site is moving at a rapid pace, the economic injection into the regional economy has also been escalating.<\/p>\n

So far, the materials used in the construction process amount to 236 tonnes of reinforcement, 1 896 tonnes of structural steel and 8 440 m3 of concrete. The project has also created 250 temporary jobs, with more than 90% of the workers coming from the Nelson Mandela Bay region, the CDC said.<\/p>\n

Coega is responsible for the construction of the facility.<\/p>\n

\u201cInvestors are given a choice whether or not to use Coega\u2019s infrastructure and construction services when they decide to set up shop in the Coega IDZ,\u201d said Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC head of marketing and communications.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pace at which DCD is going up is an indication of the quality and speed of Coega\u2019s expert team. In addition, we are able to ensure that on projects such as these that small construction firms also gain a share of the work. The aim is for SMMEs to benefit from 35% of CDC\u2019s procurement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although construction is moving rapidly safety, health, environmental and quality standards remain a top priority, with a number of successes achieved, namely:<\/strong><\/p>\n