Harsco Infrastructure has swept aside the competition to win the Access Project of the Year Award at the recent International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA) in Amsterdam. Harsco received the award in recognition of its work on the Heron Tower project in London, which included the development and installation of Europe’s tallest ‘double-decker,’ and the UK’s highest ever, Mast Climbing Work Platform.

The IAPA awards are given to mark examples of best practice and excellence in the powered access industry, with judges selecting the winners on their imaginative, unusual or technically demanding solutions to access problems. In Harsco’s case this revolved around creating a bespoke, 180-metre high mast climbing work platform which enabled large-format, blast-proof cladding to be installed on the outside of Heron Tower. According to cladding contractor Scheldebouw, this was something that ‘just wasn’t possible’ with standard access equipment.

The project highlighted Harsco’s ability to offer engineered access solutions which go beyond the normal equipment hire parameters. It also underlined Harsco’s skills in enabling the customer to speed up the schedule of cladding work while still ensuring complete safety for the workforce.

“We’re delighted to win this award,” comments Harsco Infrastructure’s European Managing Director, Paul O’Kelly. “This is one of many projects that illustrate our innovative approach and commitment to the continuous development of the powered access market and the Award shows that our efforts and our successes are being recognised and acknowledged.”