Batch Plant Design and Installation

First published in the December 2023 issue of Quarry Management

How utilizing a turnkey provider delivers significant savings 

Geoff Chatterley of specialist engineering firm D&C Engineers discusses the benefits of working with a turnkey provider to control costs and ensure a smooth delivery, on time and in full

Executing a major project takes years, substantial budget and intense project management. Projects, whether public or private, rely heavily on investment and it is vital that they are delivered on time, in full and within budget.

At specification stage there can be the temptation to utilize several suppliers along the supply chain to keep costs low. However, when factoring in the increased project-management man hours to manage multiple suppliers, many of these perceived cost savings are lost or, worse still, eradicated completely and end up costing more in the long run.

In addition, any unplanned challenges, hold-ups or errors have a knock-on effect across each supplier and can have a catastrophic impact on both the timescales, and the budget.

Using a turnkey provider – one that manages and delivers the project from start to finish – has multiple benefits that can take the pressure off clients. Using a specialist in both the design and installation of concrete batching plants means they have expertise in all stages as well as a deep-rooted understanding of the complexities involved. 

Whilst in the proposal stage, it is best practice for turnkey providers to include consultations regarding the proposed site and best positions for all equipment, including traffic flow, which allows for the most efficient use of the site layout. Concrete batching plants should be bespoke built for each site, meaning no two plants will be identical; each design is adapted to suit a particular site. 

Streamlining the project

Using the same business to design and implement the solution makes the whole process smoother and less likely to encounter problems. The turnkey provider is responsible for the whole project and so if there is a problem with the design, the onus is on them to solve it. 

If a client is asking multiple trades to install or implement a project designed by a third party, any bumps in the road become the client’s problem to solve, which is the last thing they need during a major infrastructure project. 

Cost efficiencies

Scheduling phases to work one after another without timing or personnel issues is hard when sourcing skillsets from different businesses. One phase may be completed early, but if the next team is not scheduled in until the following week, the client can lose precious time with project standing idle, potentially costing them money and putting unnecessary pressure on their timescales.

Having a turnkey solution typically saves money on the project in the long run. It can be tempting for clients to try to save money by dividing the project into phases or layers, but this not only puts a lot of pressure on them to project manage but can also prove costlier in the long run. 

Miscommunication about what contractor is completing what element can leave gaping holes in the build plan, potentially costing tens of thousands of pounds – that have not been factored into the budget – to rectify.

Utilizing expertise

Turnkey providers experienced in designing solutions also have an inherent idea of what is and is not possible. Through their experience of implementing their own designs, they know what their own team is capable of, and how they have overcome challenges in the past. 

Since the turnkey provider takes on full responsibility for the project, they also take on the associated risks. This can prove invaluable for clients who want experts in a specific field to undertake the project but have limited in-depth knowledge of the area themselves. Rather than trying to tackle a project they are not specialists in, utilizing a turnkey provider reduces the risk entirely for the client.

Quality assurance

Having a streamlined process cannot be underestimated. Dealing with a single provider simplifies communication and increases accountability for the turnkey provider. This negates the need for a project manager (or several) client side. Instead, co-ordinating with one business makes the whole process more efficient.

Turnkey providers often have strict quality-control measures in place. Their reputation is on the line for the entire project, which is also often high value, and so they are invested in delivering a successful project. There is no fall back or other party on whom to lay the blame, so turnkey providers take quality assurance very seriously.

D&C Engineers are specialists in designing, manufacturing, and installing new concrete, quarry and asphalt plants across the UK. Over the past five decades they have evolved from working on installations to delivering the whole, turnkey solution from design through to delivery. This was a natural evolution over time, from bringing in electrical services to ensure a smoother, more complete solution, to designing the plants that they are going to be responsible for delivering.

Offering an end-to-end solution for clients gives D&C Engineers a better overview and more control over the project delivery and gives clients the reassurance and cost savings of working with a sole supplier. 

For more information visit: www.dandcengineers.co.uk

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