Hinkley Point C is the UK's first new nuclear power station in a generation, being built on the Somerset coast under a level of regulatory scrutiny that few construction programmes in this country come close to. ALIMATS has been named on it — and being attached to a project of that significance, in any capacity, is something we take seriously.
The programme is being delivered by EDF Energy through NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd, and it stands as one of the largest and most heavily engineered civil projects anywhere in Europe right now. Every supplier on it is working to standards set by a site that has to answer to the nuclear regulator, which is exactly the environment our system was built for.
What a nuclear new-build asks of ground protection
Ground protection needs vary enormously from one type of project to the next, and a nuclear new-build sits at the demanding end of that spectrum. The plant involved is often exceptionally heavy — well beyond the outrigger loadings you see on a typical commercial build — the temporary works sign-off culture is correspondingly strict, and the programme runs for years rather than months, so ground protection has to keep performing lift after lift rather than earn its keep once and be forgotten. We explain how those demands shift across the range of project types we supply into in more detail elsewhere.
ALIMATS answers that brief by design: verified capacity that holds up under exceptionally heavy plant, paired with sections light enough for a two-person team to lift, place and reposition without any heavy plant of its own. On a site where load spread and load transfer have to be right every single time, that combination is why programmes like this one specify it.
Talk to us either way
If you are planning ground protection for Hinkley Point C or a similar nuclear or energy programme, talk to us directly about your actual plant, ground conditions and sign-off requirements — that conversation will get you further than anything general we can write here. We deliver ALIMATS across the UK, 24/7, and we are used to working to the kind of temporary works scrutiny these projects demand.
Frequently asked questions
What has ALIMATS done at Hinkley Point C?
ALIMATS has been named on the Hinkley Point C programme. Our modular aluminium crane mat system spreads and transfers crane and plant loads into the ground so that lifts can be carried out safely on prepared and unprepared ground alike, lift after lift, across a programme that runs for years.
Who is building Hinkley Point C?
Hinkley Point C is being delivered by EDF Energy through NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd on the Somerset coast. It is the first new nuclear power station built in the UK in a generation and one of the largest civil engineering programmes in Europe.
What is ALIMATS?
ALIMATS is our patented, modular aluminium crane mat system, made from certified recycled extruded 6005A alloy in configurations from 1.34m² to 8.07m². It carries a safe working load of up to 80 tonnes, independently verified alongside a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and comfortably supports cranes up to 150 tonnes. Sections are handleable by two people without heavy plant, and mats are available to hire or buy with 24/7 UK delivery.
Do you supply crane mats for nuclear and energy projects?
Yes. ALIMATS is well suited to nuclear and energy infrastructure, where plant is heavy, temporary works sign-off is strict and programmes run for years. Talk to us about your crane loads, ground conditions and timescales and we will spec the right configuration for the job.