THE QUEEN’S AWARDSFOR ENTERPRISE:INNOVATION 2011IN
NO
VATE #8
SPRING 2014
THE C
HECK
MATE
NEW
SLE
TTER
CHECKMATE
CHECKUSOUTwww.checkmateuk.com
The Tor:
The UK’s tallest training towerBy George:
Custom Solutions go round in circles
Oliver Steps Up:
LEEA appoints new vice-chairmanINN
OVATE
The Knight After the Night Before:The Knights of Checkmate
take Düsseldorf by storm
Xcalibre
THE MIGHTY ATOM-X - originally launched in 2012 to critical acclaim - has some new family members for 2014. The ATOM-XTREME series features a revolutionary triple pawl lockout system and a full internal breaking mechanism for
even greater levels of safety. The ATOM-XTREME TB is a tie-back version of the same block. The ATOM-X2 is a variant of the ATOM-X with an increased shock absorbing capability allowing the user to anchor at foot level.
CHECKMATE UNVEIL NEW ATOM-X FAMILY MEMBERS
ATOM-XTREME ATOM-X2ATOM-XTREMETB
THE QUEEN’S Award-winning Xcalibre Fall Arrest Block family has grown. Literally. We’ve scaled the Xcalibre up to now accommodate up to 40m of cable and Dyneema rope. With a 40m steel cable device weighing less than 15kg it is almost 50% lighter than its nearest rival. Tough, durable and with the addition of a recovery winch module, the FABXL and FABXLR devices bridge the gap in our arsenal.
XCALIBRE - THE LEGEND GROWS AND GROWS
XXcalibreFABXL
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CHECKMATE
Xcalibre
newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
DOT COMCheckmate’s new website launched in time for A+A 2013 and features the complete product range from the entire Checkmate family: Safety, Lifting, Flexible Engineering, and Custom Solutions.
We’ve made it easier to find products, read the latest news and get in touch with the right division. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out now.
www.checkmateuk.com
CUSTOM SOLUTION’S LATEST PROJECT THE TOWER, on the South side of Vauxhall Bridge in London, is part of the St George Wharf development.
At 181 metres (594 feet) tall it will be the tallest solely residential building in the UK. The building is designed into three distinct parts - a base that will house the communal facilities including a lobby, business lounge, gym, spa and swimming pool, a middle section where the apartments are located, and the top where the
façade reduces in diameter to provide spectacular 360° terraces which lead the eye to a wind turbine that crowns the structure.
The BriefCustom Solutions was asked to design and install safe maintenance areas for the wind turbine. We were also asked to provide a solution for access to the window cleaning machinery.
The SolutionCustom Solutions installed a Checkline horizontal life line system around the 52nd floor circular tower where the wind turbine is installed. A second Checkline system was installed on the 51st floor roof to provide safe access to the window cleaning machinery.
To contact Custom Solutions call +44 (0)1795 580 333
St George Wharf Tower
Water WorksFlexible Engineering has re-engineered the ecoAnchor water filled mobile anchor, adding a load of new features to make this one of the best temporary anchors on the marketTHE SECOND generation ecoAnchor mobile man anchor has all the key benefits of the original but with many new features and innovations.
Due to the new manufacturing techniques of hot bonding with stitched and autoclave cured seams there are now no side walls, allowing the empty bag
to go completely flat. This also makes it stronger, tougher and more durable and includes a combined drain and fill with one way valve which prevents water escaping when the hose is pulled out. Also new is an optional lifting net for moving position on site when full.
INNOVATE SPRING 2014 3
CHECKMATE
CHECKMATE SLINGS LIFT A SUPER YACHT ONE OF the disciplines we pride ourselves on here at Checkmate is our ability to provide custom solutions to clients. Our can-do attitude is what sets us apart form the rest of the industry, and one of the main reasons clients come back time and time again.
Case in point: our lifting division was given a tight deadline to manufacture and deliver webslings capable of lifting a 51-metre-long, 400 tonne Trinity yacht which was to be loaded in Florida to be transported to the Middle East.
The solution was turned around in no time at all: 8 x 26m, 32 tonne and 8 x 24m, 24-tonne quadplex side-by-side polyester webslings were delivered to the customer and designer of the lift, Delphini Ltd. of the Port of Tilbury who also designed and manufactured the equalising plates, spreaders and cradling system..
To contact Checkmate Lifting call +44 (0)1795 580 333
We Have Lift Off
Managing your Expectations THE LONG term plan for Checkmate was always to continuously improve through extensive investment in design and development. Today, Checkmate now boasts an innovative and extensive range of products that sits among the very best in the world.
Throughout this journey Checkmate has supported its product portfolio with a plethora of support services such as; installation, servicing, maintenance and training. These complementary businesses have grown in their own right surpassing all expectations and delivering world class service.
Not known for resting on our laurels, in April we launched our internal MANAGED SERVICES reorganisation - which will combine all the skills, experience and resources of the Checkmate Group support businesses into one homogeneous entity, which will deliver a more comprehensive offering to the customer. Which, after all, is what Checkmate is all about.
To find out more about Checkmate’s new Managed Services Division call +44 (0)1795 580 333
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CHECKMATE
CHECKMATE FLEXIBLE ENGINEERING
UNDERTAKES MANY PROJECTS FOR ALL BRANCHES OF ENGINEERINGRECENT WORK saw the team at Melksham design, build and develop high integrity duct seals for the Atomic Weapons Establishment for safety critical use. The seals were required for emergency purposes in a materials handling system to permit dismantling, cleaning and refurbishment.
www.checkmateuk.com/news
newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
Hover StoryCheckmate hover barge skirts go where the Ice Truckers can’t!
Checkmate Flexible Engineering has been commissioned to design and build a bespoke hover barge skirt system for use in the Arctic region during warmer periods when the ice has melted. Many areas are accessible all the year round which wheeled vehicles can never reach.
www.checkmateuk.com
Nuclear Fusion
INNOVATE SPRING 2014 5
The Knight After
The Night BeforeThe Night Before
THE KNIGHTS OF CHECKMATE MADE A STAND AT THE A+A
INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN DÜSSLEDORF LAST NOVEMBER
2013, UNVEILING NEW PRODUCTS INCLUDING THE MAX
CONSTANT RATE DESCENDER, AND A NEW AND
IMPROVED SUPINE HARNESS
A+A is internationally recognised as one of the most important
shows for professionals with an interest in safety, security and
health at work and was the perfect place to announce the new
product lines. By all accounts the stand was a big success sparking
much interest from both competitors and end-users alike.
In true Checkmate style, a pre-launch party held at the top of
the iconic Rhine Tower was one to remember. Guests at the
event were given exclusive access to the new products before
the exhibition opened its doors, as well as a first screening of
Agent-X’s latest escapade.
As one guest announced, “Fantastic location, excellent choice
of people, great movie, superb products – it was that good,
everyone will be wondering what Checkmate plan to do for the
A+A 2015!”
Speaking about the event, Oliver Auston said: “The new products
released and relaunched at A+A this year represent Checkmate’s
continued dedication to saving lives through innovation. We’re
constantly looking at ways of improving our offering, and by
listening to our customers’ feedback, we are able to make better,
stronger, more versatile products each year.”
More information on Checkmate’s latest innovative height
safety products can be found on pages 2 and 7.
The Supine is the only harness on the market that automatically eliminates suspension trauma by keeping the wearer in an upright, seated position after falling from height.
MAD MAXAfter two years of design, research and testing, we bring you the MAX, the most versatile Constant Rate Descender on the market. Packed full of innovative features and advanced rescue functionality, the MAX is set to change the way we think about rescue.
JUST SIT BACK
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newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
Agent X ReturnsTHE SUPINE Harness and the MAX CRD feature in Agent X’s latest video.
Watch it online now. Visit www.checkmateuk.com/news/agent-x-returns
Missed us at A+A? COME AND check us out here:
BreakBulk Europe 2014 Antwerp Expo, Belgium 12-15 May 2014
Safety & Health Expo 2014 ExCeL London 17-19 June 2014
INNOVATE SPRING 2014 7
newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
KEEP THE PRESSURE ONTHE AIR Pressure Maintenance System is fast becoming the industry standard.
This handy piece of kit monitors the pressure of up to 20 dunnage bags at once, keeping them inflated to optimum pressure on long voyages and reducing the chances of damaged cargo. Features such as Rapid Fill Mode and Top Up mode ensure dunnage bags are kept at a safe working pressure - in the event of small air leaks or if bags burst. Variations in ambient pressure and temperature have a major effect and these are compensated for as well.
Find out more about Checkmate Cargo Protection on our website:
www.checkmateuk.com/cargo-protection
Checkmate Flexible Engineering had a record year in 2013, selling more products than ever before, thanks largely to the latest innovations from the team at Melksham 2013 SAW the introduction of the Green Label Corner Fill Dunnage Bag: a new and improved version of the Queen’s Award-Winning Dunnage Bag that was originally introduced in 2006. Advances in valve design and strength have been incorporated into the Green Label Bag, which further reinforces its position in the global market.
The advanced corner-fill bag can be fully inserted into smaller gaps in the stow and inflated with nothing protruding - something that was previously not possible with
the conventionally positioned valve. Higher pressures and more force are therefore possible and the risk of bursts in heavy seas is reduced.
The rapid fill ergonomic coupling is stronger than ever before and is compatible with both the Checkmate Air Bag Pressure Maintenance System and the Checkmate Filling Pistol.
The result is a stronger, more durable bag that has a longer life expectancy and better value for money long-term. Checkmate dunnage bags carry American Bureau of Shipping Type Approval for standards of air loss, build quality and design.
To contact Flexible Engineering call +44 (0)1225 705 465
...And in the Green Corner
before, thanks
Green Corner
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CHECKMATE
BUILDING ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS NO MEAN FEATTHE NEW icon of New York’s City’s skyline has been some eight years in the making, cost more than $4bn and undergone numerous design changes along the way.
Now nearing completion, One World Trade Center is almost open for business.
While Conde Nasté, Vantone Industrial and other tenants are setting up shop inside the building, Checkmate is proud to announce that we are already at work on the exterior.
The VRS Vertical Rail System is now officially the highest mounted VRS in the western hemisphere, installed by Checkmate distributor Rigid Lifelines, to provide safety to maintenance engineers who need access to the exterior of the building and the 408-ft-tall antenna at the summit.
To find out what it looks like from the top, check out the video The Making of an Image From 1,776 Feet on our website.
www.checkmateuk.com/news
On Top of the World
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TORTOR
THINK BIGMOBILE SAFETY TRAINING
WITH A DIFFERENCE
HART’s Big Rigs are a collection of purpose-
built mobile demonstration and training
units designed to bring a range of accredited
safety courses to a location near you.
The vehicles feature modular towers that
extend to over 10 metres tall and a set of
tunnels and chambers specifically designed to
recreate real-life confined spaces situations.
Combine this with a full complement of
Checkmate lifting gear and personal protection
equipment and you have a mobile training
unit that is capable of open days, events,
product demonstrations and much more.
Get in touch today and discover how you
can hire the Big Rigs for your business.
www.h-a-r-t.co.uk
Accredited and audited by Renewables UK, GWO,
SGS and Siemens The Tor’s platform is accessed
by one of three ladder systems or via a specially
designed davit mounted over the main access hatch.
The platform can accommodate up to four users
and is equipped with over 40 different connection
points for rigging, abseiling and training. Two
escape hatches, matching the exact arc profile
and dimensions of an actual wind turbine, have
been built into the platform allowing realistic and
challenging evacuations to be performed.
Costing in excess of £65,000 and designed to allow
a multitude of disciplines ranging from telecoms
rigging and tower crane rescue, through to lattice
climbing; The Tor is testament to our commitment to
provide the very best training facilities possible.
For details of our height safety training
courses, visit www.h-a-r-t.co.uk
At an imposing 22 meters, The Tor is one of the largest
training towers of its type in Europe
A View from the TOR
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A View from the TORTHE LATEST tripod from Checkmate has a host of new features and benefits for the user. Weighing less than 15kg, the TR3 is superlight making it easy to carry, but thanks to a new crown and feet design, it is even stronger and more durable than ever. The TR3 can be used with an
array of other Checkmate equipment allowing for safe anchorage while carrying out work tasks and rescue in confined spaces.
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
TR3
THE VANTAGE Riggers’ five-point fall arrest harness features a rear, front and sternum ‘D’ and waist belt with two side attachment points. Our top of the range harness is comfortable to wear, versatile in its use and suitable for working in suspension. Ideal for rigging, abseil and specialist work and available in four models.
NEW FOR 2013, the AXIS range of body harnesses has been specifically designed for linesmen and provides exceptional comfort and manoeuvrability. Available in traditional leather or totally synthetic, the waist belt has been designed to offer the user both a high-rider position on the waist, or low-rider position on the hips.
ADD VANTAGE
AXIS POINT
PBH05
AXIS - PBH20
THE XPLORER range of body harnesses is aimed at the adventure leisure market. More comfortable than a conventional harness for short periods of suspension and frequent loadings as common in adventure activities, it is available in both male and female models. The XPLORER range is also suitable for working at heights.
GREAT XPLORER
XPLORER-PBH30
THE T-LINE is a fall arrest and retrieval device with a difference. With two separate lines running from the same block the system provides fall protection when the user traverses both horizontally and vertically. When configured correctly it can eliminate pendulum swing.
MAKE A T-LINE
T-LINE
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CHECKMATE
Owzat?ALL WORK and no play makes the Checkmate Knight a dull boy. So late in
2013 The Checkmate Knights took to the cricket pitch to claim a six-a-side
victory in an annual tournament in Minster.
Eight teams competed in the tournament, which was organised
as a fundraiser for the local club. After battling their
way through the playoffs, The Checkmate
Knights beat the Queen’s Head Aches
in the final.
The event raised £2,000 for the
club and the Knights are already
preparing to defend the title
later this year.
LEEA (the Lifting Equipment and Engineers Association) is established worldwide as the leading representative body for all those involved in the lifting industry worldwide. Earlier this year, Checkmate Managing Director Oliver Auston was invited to step up his involvement from board member to Vice Chairman.
On appointing Oliver, past LEEA chairman Phil White said: “Oliver is one of today’s leading young entrepreneurs, who after two years as a member of the LEEA board accepted the position of Vice Chairman… His enthusiasm, commitment and passion are un-questionable. LEEA will benefit from Oliver’s all-encompassing business knowledge along with his wealth of industry expertise and the acknowledgement from his peers of the respect he commands within the lifting and fall protection industries.”
Oliver’s appointment further demonstrates both his - and the Association’s - dedication to the industry.
Checkmate, Xcalibre, the Knight’s Helmet logo, ATOM-X and HART are all registered trademarks of Checkmate Lifting & Safety Limited, a
company registered in England & Wales. All rights reserved. © 2014
Oliver Auston is named LEEA Vice Chairman
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