Precision dust control wall for British shipbuilding & fabrication company
Location: Arnish Fabrication Yard, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Overview: Fabric partition wall to separate processes for dust contamination control
Solution: Flexiwall incorporating Flexicurtain
“Westgate Global were good to deal with on all aspects of the project and their installation team were very efficient and professional with a high standard of finish in a timely manner” - Kevin Murray, Project Engineer at the Arnish Fabrication Site
Westgate Global engineered a wind load calculated fabric partition wall to provide defined segregation between two processes for a shipbuilding company. The partition, which incorporated a retractable curtain, provided defined segregation between shot-blasting and coating processes in order to prevent contamination from air borne shot blast debris. Additionally, the partition and curtain solution offers a seal which assists in maintaining climate and temperature regulation to aid the coating curing process.
One of the UK’s most iconic shipbuilding companies needed to create a protected indoor preparation and coating environment for vessels/structures, with segregation between processes. This project was at one of their northernmost sites in the UK, located on the picturesque and remote Isle of Lewis.
The blast and coating facility faced the sea, and given the extreme coastal conditions, the goal was to design a partitioning solution that would segregate the shot-blasting process (a common method used to clean or prepare metal surfaces prior to coating) and the painting lines, to ensure no dust transfer or damage to the painted finish on the vessels/structures. With a long-standing reputation for precision engineering, the client required a secure and flexible internal partitioning system for their coating operations.
To meet their specific needs, Westgate Global designed and installed a two-part partitioning system. A 30-metre long reinforced PVC Flexiwall fabric partition wall that offers 99% dust containment was securely hung and fixed to the facility’s steel floor. To further compartmentalise the space and protect the vessels from shot-blasting operations, a 15-metre long industrial Flexicurtain was also installed. The Flexiwall was installed in an extremely durable, reinforced material to ensure longevity, given the fact the wall was being installed near to the shotblasting area.
The Flexiwall acted as a barrier to protect the vessels/structures with wet paint from the shot blasting, dust and debris, and potentially even the strong winds and moisture from the nearby sea! This partition was essential in ensuring that vessels/structures remained unaffected by the other processes.
The Flexicurtain, supported by its own custom-built steel box frame and wind load calculations, was incorporated within the Flexiwall partition. The Flexicurtain allowed the client to get their vessels or offshore structures between the two areas for shot-blasting and painting with ease.
The advantage of both the Flexiwall and Flexicurtain systems, is they can be demounted easily, allowing for flexibility to disassemble the wall, should they receive a contract for a particularly large ship that requires more floorspace, and then reinstall the wall.
This combination of using both the Flexiwall and Flexicurtain provided a highly adaptable workspace, to maintain protection for their vessels and safe working conditions without compromising efficiency or safety.
Despite the logistical complexities of transporting materials to an area as remote as the Isle of Lewis and devising a dust containment system that exceeds other methods in a high wind environment, Westgate Global were able to assist with their exceptional technical ability, structural knowledge and experienced installation team.