HSE International ISSUE 100 | Page 34

ENERGY & UTILITIES: SKYFORM sCOTLAND LTD THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Skyform Scotland Ltd is a multi-disciplined company that provides expertise in many sectors of industry. Skyform specialises in the Statutory Inspection and Maintenance of Wind Turbines, Power Access System hire and multiple construction solutions, working throughout the UK with various customers and markets including Nuclear, Chemical and Offshore. F ounded in 1995 by Managing Director Jim Campbell, the Glasgow based company (with offices in Aberdeen and Grimsby) originally specialised in access provision; the supply, erection, and training of people working with cradle access equipment on multi-storey/high rise buildings/bespoke solutions (for concrete repairs, access to bridges etc.). Over the last 10 years, Skyform has proven to be the recognised industry leader on wind turbines and manriding equipment / Towerhoists, providing commissioning, service and maintenance works. In addition, Skyform offers Statutory Inspection requirements for Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs), providing a one stop shop solution for their clients’ compliance requirements. Skyform has recently expanded into the energy efficiency Green Deal/Eco sectors and partners with many of the recognised energy providers to offset their carbon footprint obligations. Skyform is the only certified service centre for the Skyman International TH250 Towerhoist Systems in the UK and Ireland, both onshore and offshore. The company has gained a reputation as a professional and safety conscious organisation, run by a team of experienced and dedicated staff. Alan McKerns, HSEQ/Operations Manager at Skyform continued: “Essentially, we started off as a cradle access company and between 10 and 15 years ago, Jim Campbell our Managing Director realised that introducing a ‘One Stop Shop’ for cradle supply would allow us to tender for the 34 HSE INTERNATIONAL type of projects that our access systems were being used for. “In 2005, he set up the Skyform Specialist Division, a multi-discipline structural repair and construction company, to provide concrete repairs to multi-storey buildings, bridges, harbours and viaducts; hard to reach locations where it’s difficult to erect scaffolds or is inaccessible for MEWPS (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms). “Approximately 10 years ago, we were approached by Skyman International who produce ‘traction type’ man riding hoists (essentially, the lift inside a wind turbine). “Skyman, the OEM of the Towerhoist, had manufactured a Towerhoist / lift for German wind turbine manufacturers Siemens, and they were looking for competent persons in the UK who could represent Skyman and provide service and maintenance requirements. “The Towerhoist is very similar to an access cradle – the core of the business - in that it operates via steel wire ropes, has an independent safety brake and an electric hoist, but differs by having many additional safety features including four walls and a roof for use in the WTG environment. “The cradle hoist and Towerhoist are specialist equipment that you do have to have a background and pedigree with, and it is recognised, especially in the wind industry, that Skyform has the right experience and competence in working with man riding equipment to ensure safety and operability of these key assets.” “From a service and maintenance perspective, it is essential that we understand exactly how these man riding