Relocation of ENGEL Injection Moulding Machinery from Dubai to UK

Company Profile: Polypipe are the UK market leader in the design, development and manufacture of thermoplastic piping systems for civil and infrastructure projects. The company provides water management, surface water drainage, sewer and cable protection systems.

Project Outline: Merritts were engaged by Polypipe Civils to decommission and relocate 4 ENGEL injection moulding machines over a 3 week period from their plant in Dubai, UAE, to their production facility in Horncastle, UK where they were installed and recommissioned.

Planning Phase:

• Merritts project managers carried out a site visit in Jebel Ali, Dubai, to fully understand the requirements involved and to create a detailed scope of works for the project.
• When the scope of works were finalised; method statements, risk assessments and lifting diagrams were issued to the customer for approval.
• Once the RAMS and lifting methods had been approved, Merritts arranged for their mechanical, electrical and rigging personnel to fly out to Dubai.
• UAE temporary permits to work were obtained for all members of staff involved in the project.

On Site, Dubai:

• Merritts ensured machinery was disconnected from mains services and oils were drained.
• Moving parts on the machinery were locked off with OEM transit brackets.
• Merritts used the facility’s overhead crane to lift the Viper robots from the machinery and place onto bearers within pre-manufactured timber cases. This process was also used for the machinery’s tie bar pullers.
• Merritts mechanical and electrical engineers then separated the clamp and injection units on each machine.
• The clamp and injection units were then skated to an outside position and craned from a specially designed level steel platform and lowered onto pre-manufactured steel and timber packing bases.

Dismantling and loading

• The items were fully vacuum packed in foil bags and cases formed around them.
• Cases were loaded to flat racks and lashing inspection certificates received.
• The cargo was shipped ex Jebel Ali, Dubai, to Felixstowe, UK.