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Groundforce helps to speed up construction operations at Gothenburg hospital

Groundforce's approved installers undertake their first project in Gothenburg.

Groundforce equipment has created critical time and cost savings on a challenging project on a live healthcare campus in Gothenburg.

Main contractor HTE Produktion is creating a drainage reservoir tank for Sahlgrenska University Hospital in the Swedish capital which is also one of the largest hospitals in Northern Europe.

An excavation of 18m by 13m was required in a strategically important position between the main entrance and emergency department of the city centre health hub.

After sheet piles were driven into place digging could begin but propping was required from a depth of 2m to prevent ground movement.

HTE Produktion specified Groundforce equipment to support the excavation as time was of the essence.

The propping system was installed by specialist groundworks contractor Svensk Spont och Hammarbandstjänst AB, who are also the official installers for Groundforce equipment in Sweden. This was the first project in Gothenburg that Svensk Spont och Hammarbandstjänst AB had worked on using Groundforce‘s modular propping systems.

At the top level, the contractor used Groundforce's Mega Brace, a high-load-capacity modular hydraulic bracing system, with four MP150 Type 1.5 corner props and one MP150 Type 8 cross prop. At a lower depth, a Mega Brace was chosen with four MP250 Type 2 corner props and one MP150 Type 8 cross prop.

The modular format of the Mega Brace allows for easy installation of large frames with light-duty lifting equipment and is designed to support square, rectangular or multi-sided excavations ranging from 3m to 20m in plan.

Joint and corner connections are available for quick assembly on site, while hydraulics with integral mechanical lock off valves are used for ease of installation and removal with zero fluid loss.

With no requirement for welding of props on site, Svensk Spont och Hammarbandstjänst AB, was able to install the equipment in place rapidly on the Gothenburg hospital. This saved time and cost in a critical phase of the project and minimised disruption to the live hospital for patients and staff.

Kigge Nilsson, who worked as project manager for installer Svensk Spont och Hammarbandstjänst AB on the scheme, said: "Because of the technical challenges of the excavation, it was important we finished installing the frame quickly. It could have taken two or three times longer if we had to weld props on site.

"The ground conditions also proved to be challenging. It was assumed to be clay, as most of Gothenburg is, but once digging started unexpected materials were found, including old concrete and steel, and because we were working next to a live hospital environment, vibrations or loud noises had to minimised.

"Using Groundforce's modular equipment was a real benefit as all the shear stops were welded at Svensk Spont och Hammarbandstjänst AB's site prior to delivery."

Mathias Henriksson, director atHTE Produktion, said: "By using Groundforce equipment we saved at least three to four days on each level as opposed to using a traditional steel system. With a very tight build schedule to work to it made an important difference to this project."

In fact, Nilsson enjoyed working with Groundforce equipment so much he has since become sales manager for the company across Scandinavia.

"The Gothenburg hospital project certainly demonstrated the benefits to the contractor and client of how Groundforce equipment can reduce time, costs and increase safety on site. I see many opportunities to use these props on jobs across the region," he said.

Groundforce equipment was off hired in November and the project is due to complete in April 2025.

ENDS