CantiDeck: How it started vs. How it’s going

In the summer of 2006, construction in London was at an all-time high (literally) with skyscrapers popping up across the Capital. An answer to expensive scaffold systems was sorely needed. It was time to leave unsafe and inefficient methodologies behind and get with the times. Introducing: CantiDeck.

How it Started...

The industry needed an answer to efficient vertical movements, so we quickly got to work. Our key considerations for the design process included: quick installation and relocation; minimal stress / loading on the structure; feasible to work alongside other equipment (e.g. mast climbers and hoists); easy to use and simple health and safety procedures.

The Early Years

2006

Manufacturing began in early 2006. In fact, some of our earliest decks are still in use today. Which goes to show the high standards of quality manufacturing we follow.

Soon, CantiDeck became a regular (albeit temporary) fixture amongst building structures and underground applications throughout the UK.

multiple cantideck platforms in Southampton 2010

Battersea Power Station

One of the most notable projects was Battersea Phase 1, where a staggering (or should we say stacking) 24 decks were on one project!

New Opportunities

2012

CantiDeck opened a lot of doors for the company. It was fundamental for the continued success of Conquip following the global financial crisis of 2007 – 2008. The 2012 London Olympics saw extensive development in East London for regeneration, Olympian housing and new sports facilities. CantiDeck was specified and used extensively throughout that project, keeping our team busy at a challenging time for the business.

Crossrail

Super Roller was used extensively across the Europe's biggest construction project - Crossrail. The rolling platform was installed in a service or ventilation shaft, extended out to horizontally intercept the main tunnel shaft part-way down.

Our engineering team rose to the challenge, providing bespoke propping systems or using resin anchors to bolt the platforms down onto the shaft floor. Crossrail was a real highlight for CantiDeck and our team of specialists, supervising installs, carrying out training, visiting the site multiple times to ensure the platforms used over 15 shafts were getting the job done the right way.

Global Projects

Globe-trotting across the continents is a regular occurrence for CantiDeck and it’s building quite an international following. First stop: Cayman Islands for a hotel project. Since then, our loading platforms have been spotted in Moscow, Sweden, Kosovo, France – and we’re not stopping there!

One Mission, One Brand

2018

Originally founded as a separate company, in 2018 CantiDeck made the move under Conquip Engineering Group as a sub-brand. This made it easier for customers and as a company, it felt right to streamline brands and our offering to customers across the entire business.

Newfoundland Tower

A complex challenge provided by Laing O’Rourke meant giving CantiDeck a new look: side bolted configurations. With the concrete lift core being constructed first, and the installation of the steel structure to follow, our Fixed Flush had to slim down for the job. We designed a bespoke narrow platform to suit the narrow opening into the concrete core. Installed to bring in formwork, it made its way up the structure as the lift shaft was formed. Later in the project, standard decks assisted with completing the façade. The rest of the building could be enclosed, whilst our versatile platform carried on assisting in building loadout.

22 Bishopsgate

Our platforms were made for working at height – and they certainly did on this project. The ‘vertical village’ boasts a whopping 62 storeys, standing at 278m tall. Our team supported Multiplex throughout the project, regularly installing or moving platforms around the building during the early hours of the morning, when we could get hold of crane time. It’s fortunate our engineers weren’t afraid of heights!

The CantiDeck Legacy

Two words: Super Roller.

We didn’t just want to provide a loading platform, we wanted to deliver the only fully retractable loading platform in the world. Contractors needed materials and equipment moved between floors quickly and safely. So, we developed the Super Roller to be installed in a stacked configuration and retracted flush to the edge of the building.

This innovative design also meant work platforms such as mast climbers could still be used in conjunction with CantiDeck as the Super Roller could simply be rolled back in to allow them to travel up and down the outside of the building.

Whether it was the Fixed Flush or Super Roller, CantiDeck became the best practice solution for a variety of projects.

How it's Going

Problem solving through innovation has always been important to us, which is why increasing configurations and bespoke designs for projects was a no-brainer. CantiDeck has evolved throughout the years to include more accessories and supporting products as we’ve come across different applications. For example, at award-winning Bloomberg HQ, not only did we deliver bridges to resolve logistic and access efficiency issues between the buildings, but we also designed loading platforms for the roofs of the building to create more set-down and storage area on the space-restricted site, vastly benefiting their logistics planning and building loadout.

cantideck roof platform at bloomberg project

What's Next?

Looking ahead, we are constantly exploring new ideas and have some extremely exciting CantiDeck related products in the pipeline. Watch this space…

Have you got any more questions about CantiDeck? Read our Top 15 FAQs.

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