Beneath the surface – Hellman Electric leads with underground projects
Queens, NY Hellman Electric, a subsidiary of Electra USA, completed a project working on the rehabilitation of airport runways and associated taxiways at the JFK International Airport in Queens, New York. The goal of this project was to install new in-pavement runway and taxiway lighting structures, guidance signs, series lighting circuits and power duct banks to power reconstructed runways. The scope of this project was 1,163 30 inch deep in-pavement light base case, 80,000 LF lighting conduits, 711,798 LF lighting cable and 5,824 LF of FAA power duct bank conduits.
There were many challenges that came with this project. There were limited runway closures across all project phases and strict management of prior activities to ensure restored runway usage at the end of closures. Full coordination with the survey team to ensure accurate placement of runway and taxiway fixture alignments was required, which is critical for aeronautical lighting. Daily Port Authority access permits from electrical shop personnel were also required to ensure safe access to high voltage systems that power airfield lighting and to minimize service outages and disruptions.
The project deployed custom-designed coring equipment to bore 24 inch diameter by 30 inch deep in-pavement holes for installing base cans. Also in use were wire pulling trucks with onboard capstan winches for carrying out long-distance cable pulls. Lastly, custom fabricated mounting jigs were required for installing base cans in concrete pours, as well as precast concrete structures for installation of guidance sign foundations.
Design aspects included the assessment and conducting of loop outs on existing lighting circuits to isolate work zones while maintaining service in surrounding areas . Additionally, there was a requirement of +/- ⅛ inch to grade fixture tolerances necessitating extreme accuracy when setting light structures to ensure not-too-high or not-to-low finished product. There were also training and refresher classes for all field personnel, regardless of experience, prior to installation and termination of specialized equipment.
About The Electra Group
The Electra Group was founded in 1945. It is traded on the TASE and included in the TA-35 Index, and specializes in four core fields: construction, infrastructure, and electromechanical contracting; operation & maintenance of industrial, infrastructural, commercial, and real estate projects and facilities; initiation & development of real estate projects; concessions relating to infrastructure & national projects. Turnover: Approx. US$3 billion. Backlog: Approx. US$8 billion. Employees: Approx. 14,000.
Electra’s constant growth and diversification are driven by its dedicated lifecycle approach – a unique business model that encompasses every stage of the construction and development process. The Group currently operates in 4 continents and 17 countries, and has recently taken several major strategic steps into new fields and territories. Electra’s new subsidiary Electra USA has acquired three well-established New York companies, positioning the Electra Group at the forefront of a major electromechanical contracting market with projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, Electra has entered the world of transportation by acquiring control of three prominent companies – Afikim, Amnon Mesilot, and Egged-Taavura – and uniting them under the new Electra Afikim brand, which will operate public, private, and institutional transport services throughout Israel.
Electra manages thousands of large-scale turnkey construction and infrastructure projects from concept to completion, including electromechanical system installation, as well as long-term management and operational services. By harnessing the strategic synergy between its comprehensive, complementary areas of activity, the Group is able to deliver an optimal service portfolio customized to each customer’s precise needs, with complete quality control, budgetary, and scheduling oversight.
As traditional construction enters a groundbreaking new era, Electra reliably rises to the challenge and thrives in competitive markets thanks to its unique activity matrix, alongside the Group’s firm commitment to continual reinvention. Building on extensive M&A experience, coupled with a creative, outside-the-box perspective, Electra pushes the boundaries of innovation by investing in promising new sectors, such as smart technology. This bold approach has defined Electra’s industry-leading position for over 75 years.
Beneath the surface – Hellman Electric leads with underground projects https://hellmanelectric.com/
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