Partner Article

Tasty contract wins for NE high-fliers  

Darlington-based Stone Technical Services’ steeplejacks’ division has secured a number of new contracts totalling around £50,000 for the company

The specialist high level and general repair, restoration, renovation and safety experts have been working for Walker Snack Foods in Suffolk, Ineos Nitriles on Teesside and Holy Trinity Church near Barnard Castle in County Durham.

Stone’s steeplejacks division has carried out a full re-paint of two 20 metre high chimney stacks at Copella Fruit Juices, for Walker Snack Foods in Boxford, Surrey. In addition, Stone has replaced all the guy ropes which are used for stabilisation during inclement weather.

Thanks to Stone’s specialist access capabilities, there was no disruption to the factory’s operations as access is via a 55 tonne crane with a suspended man-basket.

At Ineos Nitriles at Seal Sands, Stone’s experts returned to the plant to re-paint the start-up heater and chimney using rope access and mobile elevated work platforms. In addition, remedial welding repairs took place to the cover on top of the chimney stack with access via a man-basket.

Stones’ CITB-accredited steeplejacks have a relationship spanning over two decades with the Ineos site, having worked there for previous owners BASF in the 80s and 90s.

And at Startforth, near Barnard Castle, Stone completed remedial works- including stone and woodwork- to the church spire at Holy Trinity Church. Rope access was used to ensure the church’s normal activities could continue without disruption.

MD of Stone Technical Services, Dave Stone, said: “Stone has a wealth of time-served conservators, steeplejacks and specialist access engineers. These projects illustrate how all our divisions work together to save our clients time and money by preventing down-time. Our comprehensive service provides access, safety systems and conservation and our specially-trained team has expert knowledge of these sites and a wealth of on-site experience.”

Stone Technical Service is one of the UK’s most experienced safety, high-level, restoration and repair companies working on everything from small, community churches to prominent landmarks such as Windsor Castle, Hexham Abbey, Lumley Castle and Selfridges in London

In 2012, Stone’s growth surpassed managers’ expectations with turnover peaking at around £2 million with this predicted to reach in the region of £2.5 million in 2013. The company opened a new Edinburgh office to add to its sites in London, Middlesex and Cheshire and its HQ on Kellaw Road in Darlington. Already in 2013 Stone has created five new jobs, taking staff numbers to 35, and is on target to increase its workforce in 2014.

As well as specialist safety systems, Stone Technical Services works in the fields of historic restoration, repairs to churches and ancient buildings, facilities maintenance, lightning protection and high-level repairs, working with a variety of organisations such as local authorities and housing associations counting organisations such as English Heritage, the National Trust, the NHS, Teesside Power Station and British Waterways amongst its clients.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .