| | The Unimog U500 with insulated access platform is able to operate in remote, difficult to reach sites, as well as in residential and industrial areas – the key for EDF Energy is knowing that the ‘package’ is right for every situation. |
EDF Energy operates the ‘Live Line’ system and ‘Hot Glove’ technique, where maintenance is not only safe, but also allows engineers to work directly on the overhead lines without switching the current off. It is based on highly mobile insulated platforms, which not only carry the engineers and their equipment to site, but also carry two engineers safely and directly to the overhead lines.
The new Unimog U500 is the first to have a lengthened wheelbase of 4.5 metres to ensure maximum stability of the Versalift boom and platform. Its GVW of about 15 tonnes allows up to three tonnes for additional equipment and storage space, as well as the boom and platform.
Each of the U400s is also fitted with a 2.5 tonne, front-mounted winch, which can be used for erecting and tightening cables, as well as others tasks.
EDF Energy’s power distribution networks in the East of England and South East are largely rural and serve over 5.5million customers through a mixture of overhead and underground network. The company pioneered the ‘Live Line Short Stick’ maintenance method in the 1970s and moved away from this in the early 1990s to adopt Live Line Hot Glove methods.
Clive Witherly EDF Energy’s Head of Customer Operations in the East of England, says that the key benefit of Live Line working is safety.
“EDF Energy is committed to high standards of health and safety for all our employees. Using the Hot Glove technique enables our linesmen to complete their work safely without the need to interrupt power supplies to customers. This enables us to offer a higher standard of service to our customers and helps us meet the challenging targets, which are set by our regulator.
“Furthermore, it also allows us to be pro-active. If, for example, we see that tree overgrowth could create a potential problem we are able to cut back the branches straight away, without having to go through a lengthy process of shutting down the power network.
“This method of working is also easier for our linesmen. The short stick method of maintenance meant that the engineers were working two metres away from the power lines, which proved physically difficult. The Hot Glove method improves ergonomics and allows our operators to get close to the task, so that they can do a better, higher quality job, in a safe and efficient way.
“Live Line working with the Unimogs and access platforms is very visual and customers know that we are working for their benefit without interrupting their power supply.”
The Unimog not only has all-terrain ability – so that the working site can be reached quickly on and off roads – but a variety of Power Take-Off points enable attachments, such as the access platform, to be powered hydraulically direct from the Unimog’s diesel engine. Power cables often cross valuable agricultural land and the Unimog has the ability to lower its tyre pressures on the move – doubling the tyre’s ‘footprint’ and spreading the load over a much larger area. The effect is that the vehicle can cross even growing crops without damaging them: and thereby saving on compensation costs to landowners and farmers.
EDF Energy’s Unimogs spend 90% of their travelling time on roads, but the 10% off-road is vital: without the Unimog’s all-terrain ability specialist equipment would be required, involving additional personnel and time, to reach the working site.
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For Richard Hembling, Operational Coordinator, Hot Glove Engineer with EDF Energy, peace of mind is a vital factor. This is achieved by sending out a team of engineers in the knowledge that, whatever the conditions or terrain, they will be able to reach the site and complete the task.
“Height, in itself, is not the most important factor, but reliability, resilience, flexibility and ease of use are. The Unimog is able to handle all sorts of off-road conditions, but in some cases any vehicle is unwelcome, for instance on a garden lawn or where vegetables are growing. What is needed is a platform with a long reach so that engineers can go over and round hedges and trees, and carry out maintenance work secure in the knowledge that the hoist vehicle and the access platform are stable and secure,” he says.
Live Line working, combined with the all-terrain ability and on-road speeds of the Unimogs, plays a major role in EDF Energy’s target to improve customer satisfaction. With a broad spread of power users in an area which extends from The Wash in the East to the River Arun on the South Coast, the aim is to strike a balance that places safety as paramount, but also includes financial considerations and working efficiencies. Clive Witherly, Richard Hembling and their teams believe that they are achieving this balance.
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Model ranges
