Background
Wales & West Utilities work in a fast paced and ever evolving industry. Regulatory changes, a shifting political landscape and the economic climate mean that if they are to thrive as a business, they need to meet today’s challenges and get ready for tomorrow's. Building on their great reputation for safety and customer service, they're focussed on innovation, value and partnerships.
Challenge
When working within the boundary of a customer’s property it is often necessary to replace a patch of concrete, for instance when the network has to gain access to a pipe under the customers driveway. In these instances, it is imperative that the customer still has access to their property. It is preferable to be able to place a barrier around the newly laid concrete, but this isn’t always possible due to the width of the path/driveway or if the excavation is directly in front of a gate.
When barriers cannot be used to surround the newly laid concrete, a wooden baton is put under a board, the board is therefore not touching the concrete and is elevated off the ground by a few inches, ensuring it doesn't imprint or damage the finish of the concrete. Although this allows customers’ access to their property it causes an obvious trip hazard, it also negates the anti-slip properties of the board. A customer is always informed of a possible trip hazard; however the desire is to remove the hazard completely. An additional benefit of using a cover over the patch is that it protects the newly laid concrete from light rain.
Wales & West Utilities are looking for a method to reduce trips from boards that are placed above newly laid concrete, while still protecting the concrete from imprints and other damage. Ideally the output should be a market ready product or a product that requires minimal adaptation.
Specification
The solution must:
- Be lightweight
- Be a one-man lift
- Be suitable for weather conditions typical to the British Isles
- Mitigate customer trip hazard
- Not damage the newly laid concrete
The solution should:
- Be a market ready solution or a product with minimal development.
What's in it for you?
A successful collaboration could mean, for individuals, becoming part of the wider Wales & West Utilities group, while for organisations, forming a partnership/joint venture to co-develop and co-launch the idea to market.
These are global challenges and Wales & West Utilities are willing to collaborate with both individuals/freelancers and other industry participants/universities etc. and solutions can be at any stage of development.
If you have or are developing solutions, or if you have expertise in the above, please click "Apply" to submit your solution/expertise to the Network.