29 Aug 2017

Use of Low & Bonar's civil engineering drainage technology, Colbonddrain CX1000, keeps expansion project ahead of schedule.

London, 29 August 2017: Charleston, one of the fastest growing ports on the East Coast, aims to grow container capacity by 50% by 2020 to keep pace with the increase in cargo ships expected through the expanded Panama Canal.

Reclaiming the weak, saturated land at the former Charleston Naval Complex along the Cooper River required rapid soil consolidation - a process that usually takes upto 25 years through traditional civil engineering methods.

Along with ground improvement specialist contractor US Wick Drain, part of Menard Group USA, Low & Bonar used its ColbondDrain CX1000 prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) to help speed up the consolidation process.

The PVD geocomposite performance materials are installed to create shorter drainage pathways for groundwater to dissipate and release water pressure trapped in the soil and accelerate consolidation. Due to the port authority's requirement to keep ahead of schedule, US Wick Drain installed this concurrently in Charleston, thereby creating the largest PVD project to date in the USA.

Ian Brake, Project Manager, US Wick Drain commented: 'Due to the large scale and aggressive schedule, this project required a supplier that could meet our needs supplying upwards of 3.5 million linear feet of material per week, throughout portions of the 7 month installation in order to keep the project operating and on schedule. Though it proved difficult at times, Low & Bonar's team worked tirelessly to ensure that the material supply was constant and that any issues were brought to our attention allowing us make adjustments in the field. This played a large part in our success on the project.'

Brett Simpson, CEO Low & Bonar said: 'Our relationship with US Wick Drain is a longstanding one based on the quality and functional value our performance materials bring to their numerous projects. These include some of the most complex infrastructure projects in the USA such as New Orleans' LPV109 levee project. Part of the Greater New Orleans' Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System in Louisiana, it requires PVDs with exceptional durability and drainage properties.

'This knowledge of the US civil engineering market is underpinned by our global supply chain and manufacturing facilities, which ensure we can scale up and down to meet the challenging demands from our customers, supporting all projects simultaneously and as efficiently as possible.'

ColbondDrain CX1000 is a bonded PVD composite which is known for its consistent quality and durability, leading to less downtime and improving the overall installation rates over the duration of a project. To date US Wick Drain has installed more than 50 million linear feet of Low & Bonar's CX1000 in projects across the US.

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About Low & Bonar:
Low & Bonar is a global leader in high performance materials selling in more than 60 countries worldwide and manufacturing in Europe, North America, the Middle East and China. We design and manufacture components which add value to, and improve the performance of, our customers' products by engineering a wide range of polymers using our own manufacturing technologies to create yarn, fibres, industrial and coated fabrics, geosynthetics and composite materials. Our materials contribute to a more sustainable world and higher quality of life. They help to make construction sites safer, reduce carbon footprint, reduce total cost of ownership, safely manage environmental waste, promote cleaner air and water, support higher crop production and create beautiful working and leisure environments. lowandbonar.com

Low & Bonar is listed on the London Stock Exchange: LWB.

About Menard Group USA:
Menard Group USA is a design-build specialty geotechnical contractor offering expertise in ground improvement for sites with poor soil. By combining value engineering and innovative techniques, Menard Group USA delivers practical, sustainable solutions that can be attractive alternatives to deep (pile) foundations. As part of an international network of geotechnical resources and expertise, our team brings in-depth knowledge and creative problem solving to every project.

For media enquiries:
Sheji Jacob-Brettle, Group Marketing Communications
E: sheji.jacob-brettle@lowandbonar.com
M: +447408868454

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Low & Bonar plc published this content on 29 August 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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