Prefabrication for Advanced Manufacturing: Client Solution

When an advanced manufacturing project is announced, people immediately start thinking about the new jobs that will be created and the positive impact it will have on the local economy. Here at Unistrut Midwest, however, we think of just one thing when that sort of project is announced: prefabrication. With advanced manufacturing projects, pipe support solutions are always a concern, and the size of the builds and repeatable components make them a perfect candidate for prefabrication.

This is true of our client’s current project, an advanced manufacturing facility in Michigan, where we are using Sikla products and prefabrication to help the client meet their tight deadline.

Advanced Manufacturing Project Challenges

This client knew they needed a space-saving support system for their 18-inch water lines, and their initial conceptual designs designated welded structural steel for the job. However, the client wanted to avoid cutting and rewelding throughout the project and was on an accelerated schedule, a challenge that is becoming more and more prevalent. They quickly realized that using structural steel would not allow them to meet their deadline.

A mutual industry contact who was advising on the project suggested using a modular material like Sikla for the pipe supports and pointed out that Unistrut Midwest has the most extensive inventory in the United States. Because we carry both standard and specialty Sikla parts in-house, we could start the project faster than competitors who would have to put necessary parts on order and tackle jobs of any size as a turn-key solutions provider.

With the partnership established, our team designed economical, 2D Sikla racks that clamp to the support beams above and began prefabrication.

Prefabricating Solutions for Advanced Manufacturing

With the designs completed and approved, our team has moved on to prefabricating the supports.

Both the repeatable nature of pipe systems and leveraging Sikla make this project perfect for prefabrication. The Unistrut Midwest team is assembling the supports in our warehouse before shipping them to the client site. In order to meet the accelerated timeline, our team is providing significant output; prefabricating and shipping 1/9th of the project scope per week. The flat supports make shipping economical as opposed to larger volumetric racks, and the client simply lifts and snaps them into place upon arrival.

The supports arrive onsite already built, so the only responsibility of the client team is to attach the completed supports to their primary structure and then load the necessary pipe. This process is significantly quicker than stick building on-site or welding structural steel.

Because Sikla siFramo only requires hand tools for assembly, anyone on the client team can become an installer with minimal training. More team members involved means runs can be installed faster, and no one is assembling in the air on a lift, maximizing team member safety. And with no welding or painting on site, additional work can be happening around the pipe support installation, keeping the overall build on schedule.

As this project continues, our team will work closely with the client to deliver not only the necessary products but hands-on customer service as well. We have already helped the client fix a support that they had incorrectly assembled, which was a quick fix thanks to Sikla's ability to be adjusted in the field. Until the project is complete, we will provide technical support and work through any unforeseen field issues with the client.

With exciting projects like these, our team loves to problem solve and figure out ideal solutions for client challenges. Contact our team to find out how we can help with your next design, engineering, or installation project.