Construction World February 2017

CRANAGE AND HEAVY LIFTING

BUILDING on a FOUNDATION OF QUALITY Currently tackling the upmarket Capital on the Park development

is something of a pioneer in bringing this international residential hotel concept to South Africa. Apartment buyers can either buy the properties to live in them, or lease them back to the Capital Group and earn a return from rental. Probuild started work on the contract in February 2016 and is scheduled to hand over to its client in August 2017. The 40 000 m 2 structure will have three basements and 11 floors above ground. “We’ve developed substantial expertise in residential buildings, and have recently finished a contract for another high rise building in Rosebank with 165 units,” Buck says. Quality focus Perhaps Probuild’s biggest differentiator, though, is its unique quality management The erection of the Potain flat top MCT85F5 tower crane was achieved in a most unique manner; the existing Potain tower crane on site was used to lift and position the various sections of the smaller tower crane into position. This was a deft and unique piece of engineering undertaken by local Potain distributor, SA French. Most importantly the operation did not require temporary closure of lanes on the busy adjacent street, Katherine Street. The jib of a Potain flat-top crane has the ability to be erected in 5 metre and 10 metre sections, allowing the 45 metre jib to be delivered to site in smaller segments and assembled in the air using the taller Potain already on site.

system. “Over the years we have developed a proprietary database that we now use in all our projects, to ensure that our quality standards are linked to subcontractors’ performance,” says Buck. The system is based on ‘electronic tickets’ that are generated on a tablet computer as each parcel of work is completed. “When a bricklayer completes a piece of work, a foreman will inspect with an iPad and tick off the items against which the quality of the job is measured,” he says. “This puts in place a culture of self- management and self-regulation; a sub- contractor understands that if he doesn’t build the unit correctly first time around, and within the timeframe in which he expects to get paid, he will have to wait another payment cycle before payment can be made.” The system ensures that everyone is very clear about what is required before payments can be authorised. “For projects to run smoothly and on time, it is vital to eradicate the need for ‘rework’, so we need to cascade this awareness down through all the sub- contractors,” Buck says. “This requires careful alignment of work outcomes with the payments agreed, so that everyone is working to achieve a set level of quality within the deadlines.” It’s a simple system but very effective, and ensures that site work can progress on an organised, speedy and cost effective basis without anyone needing to come back after deadline to redo or fix a shoddy job. The work is done well the first time, and that keeps everything coordinated and streamlined. “Our quality system is also fully auditable, providing a clear paper trail for stakeholders to go back into the system and check for any latent defects, should there be a matter that requires investigation,” says Buck. “This allows us to present a transparent business model to our clients, which makes for a very open and authentic relationship for the full duration of the project planning and implementation.” Working in close quarters Residential developments in cities remain an active segment of the market for contractors, as urban growth continues to bring demand for accommodation close to the business hubs and strategic transportation facilities such as the Gautrain. Working in these relatively confined spaces, however, poses particular

Active in the housing segment since day one, Probuild has diversified into building, civils and plant and currently employs about 350 staff members across five operational divisions. “With the shareholders still working everything that happens on site, and that keeps levels of accountability very high,” says managing director Nicholas Buck. This means a lean and mean business in which there is ready access to management and direct communication with clients at all times. There are no cumbersome reporting structures and no expensive head office overheads, according to Buck. Capital on the Park – a 240 unit residential and hotel mix – is reportedly the flagship of the Capital Hotel Group, and in Sandton, Gauteng-based contractor Probuild has built its business on quality over the past quarter-century and is now applying its high standards through proprietary quality management software. in the business, we have a very flat management structure, so we see

The counter jib being prepared for lifting onto the top of the tower crane. This photograph shows the constrained space in which the contractor has to work.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2017