An innovative 'Steel Manipulator' has been developed to help deliver projects with benefits for safety, efficiency and the environment.


Costain and Thomson Engineering developed the solution for landing steel structures working on the Stirling, Dunblane & Alloa (SDA) electrification project.

The SDA project is a major extension to the wider Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, electrifying the major commuter routes to the north. The programme has reduced journey times and increased capacity alongside the significant environmental benefits of switching to overhead line electrification (OLE).


The 'Steel Manipulator' was developed to deliver 1,800 steel structures and their associated supports on the project. The manipulator installs the multiple pre-dressed, pieces of steel that make up the OLE efficiently and safely without the need for additional plant.

The innovation eliminates significant safety, health and environmental harm, while also reducing track time with off-site manufacture and a single piece of plant.

(CM/MH)