Over the past 30 years we’ve developed significant expertise in structural and sliding bearings, writes SDG's head of technical Ciaran Donnelly. It’s one of those crucial areas that comes along infrequently for engineers but is something we see on a regular basis. This specialisation in structural and sliding bearings is something we bring to projects across Ireland.

Every project we work on has a different set of challenges and a particular setting that we need to consider, which means that we create bespoke solutions for every client. 

Ciaran Donnelly, head of technical, SDG

There is no one size fits all approach to structural and sliding bearings, we tailor everything to the application required by our project partners.

On some projects, that means we’re involved from day one. We work with engineers like you to help design and specify a solution. By being involved from the beginning of a project, we bring our experience such as calculating load and rotation factors advising on best product for your specific application, allowing you to focus on all other aspects of the project.

Regularly we’re brought into a project that’s at an advanced stage, which requires technical support, usually within a tight timeframe. With our close partnership with the manufacturers and other experts, we can move at speed, to help hit project deadlines, whilst improving the quality and integrity of the solution.

Applications

There are a wide range of applications for structural and sliding bearings and the team at SDG have been involved in many high profile projects over the last few years.

From sports stadia to bridges and hospitals to headquarters, our team has been providing high quality advice and world-leading products to ensure our clients needs are met. Wherever there is a need for vibration control in a structure, we can provide that solution. 

Microsoft's headquarters, Sandyford, Dublin 

Over the past few years we have been involved in one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects, HS2 in London, supplying structural bearings in partnership with Volker Stevins. In Ireland we have worked on large-scale private sector projects, partnering with engineers on Microsoft’s headquarters and Intel’s building, both in Dublin.

Our public sector portfolio also contains a number of interesting projects, having worked on the rebuild of the National Rehabilitation hospital in Dún Laoghaire and the National Children’s hospital in Dublin.

A personal favourite was working with Sisk on the Curragh in Co Kildare. It was a fascinating project that required a bespoke solution to manage the vibrations in the roof of the main stand structure.

I’ve written before that our mantra at SDG is Stronger Together and this is certainly true with projects involving structural and sliding bearings. Working with engineers and precast companies to design, specify and install solutions to their problems is why the technical team come to work in a morning. If you have a problem that needs a structural or sliding bearing, we’d be more than happy to find a solution with you.

Author: Ciaran Donnelly, head of technical, www.sdg.ie