Changing the game in remediation and access
Adaptability is increasingly becoming the defining trait of modern asset remediation. Across Australia’s heavy industries, where operations rely on infrastructure that must perform in some of the harshest environments on earth, this trait is becomingly increasingly important.
Many operations are hindered by ageing infrastructure, corroding steel and deteriorating concrete structures. Full replacement is often expensive and disruptive. As a result, asset rejuvenation has become a strategic priority rather than a maintenance afterthought.
Itero Australia is a specialist operator tackling one of the industry’s most difficult challenges — extending the life of critical infrastructure while reducing risk, downtime and cost.
While most contractors provide either access or remediation, Itero is a complete solutions provider delivering expertise on both fronts.
Based in Perth and working nationally across the commercial, industrial, infrastructure, marine and resources sectors, Itero delivers innovative solutions that allow critical works to be completed safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to operations.
The company specialises in complex asset remediation and maintenance, backed by highly skilled teams trained across many access methods and trade-qualified in blasting, coatings, concrete remediation and structural repairs.
With a reputation built on innovation, technical expertise and proven delivery across some of Australia’s most demanding environments, Itero is trusted by major contractors, asset owners and industry leaders to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions where traditional methods fall short.
Delivering results for Rio Tinto
Itero was engaged to provide a complex review and evaluation of access options required to facilitate remedial works for Rio Tinto across four marine export wharves in WA. The aim of this feasibility study was to identify opportunities to increase efficiency in cost, safety, reduction of weight loadings and minimise disruption to export operations and the reliance on shutdowns.
As busy operational ports, access for remediation works — such as defect identification, welding, structural repairs, coatings, quality inspections — all needed to be made while working above water and without interrupting daily operations and export demands.
Marine infrastructure remediation is complicated by daily operational requirements of being a working port, access limitations, conditions of the asset, weight limitations, large tidal movements and significant weather events.
For Rio, Itero delivered a detailed analysis of access requirements, methodology and efficiencies for the remediation of the ageing infrastructure. The study identified opportunities for cost savings, programme efficiencies and safety improvements — including access solutions that minimised load on structures compromised by corrosion and recommendations covering recovery systems, emergency response procedures and working-over-water protocols.
Through this process, V-Deck™ was identified as the most efficient solution for many areas of these marine structures and has since been specified by Rio Tinto as the preferred access system across the majority of the project.
The company’s V-Deck™ system, a lightweight modular suspended work platform designed for industrial, marine and infrastructure environments, provides safe and efficient access beneath bridges, wharves, offshore facilities and fixed plant infrastructure while significantly reducing installation time and scaffold loadings applied to operational structure compared to traditional scaffolding systems.
Following the study, Itero Australia has been engaged by Rio Tinto’s service providers to provide access works at Cape Lambert and Parker Point.
Itero designed a custom, multi-level, fully encapsulated working platform utilising V-Deck™, purpose-built for Rio Tinto’s marine assets in the Pilbara. The multi-level platform was engineered to be retractable in response to splash zones, high tide and storm swell and surge conditions. This retractable, multi-level work platform, developed by Itero Australia Founding Director Patrick McCormack, is a first-of-its-kind access solution.
Itero is now supporting access requirements on site, implementing many aspects of the findings it identified which have in turn delivered extensive savings and project efficiencies to the client across these projects.
This major remediation program commenced in July last year and will span across the next eight to ten years.
Innovation with V-Deck™
V-Deck™ is one of the few systems that are rated for water interaction and up to category 5 cyclones with minimal pre-cyclone preparation. This has allowed Itero to continue projects, like the ones conducted with Rio, during cyclone season — a time where projects of this size are typically put on pause or are greatly reduced to a smaller footprint that can be made cyclone ready in a very short time frame.
The installation speeds the team at Itero has been able to achieve has been from 50 – up to 145sqm of completed decking being installed in a single shift with a relatively small team.
Weighing just 22–30kg/m², V-Deck™ is significantly lighter than traditional scaffolding systems, substantially reducing the load placed on ageing structures and preserving weight allowances for daily operations. Despite this, the system delivers load ratings of 150–500kg/m² depending on bay configuration.
The use of high-quality winching systems and minimal componentry significantly reduce the manual handling exposure to project teams.
V-Deck™ allows rope access technicians to install anchors from below and construct a cantilevered landing bay extending beyond the wharf’s footprint. From this point, the installation team can use a minimal amount of scaffolding to establish an access ladder bay up to the main wharf level – with virtually no scaffolding impact at wharf level, ensuring little to no disruption to ship loader and other wharf operations.
V-Deck™ has proven strength, speed and reliability in harsh conditions and is becoming the access system of choice across critical infrastructure sites nationwide, especially marine environments.
As industrial infrastructure continues to age, the importance of specialist remediation providers capable of combining engineering innovation, technical access expertise and high-level trade capability will only continue to grow.
Itero Australia and its innovative systems are transforming how remediation is delivered on ageing infrastructure across the country. The company has consistently demonstrated its reliability under some of the most demanding conditions at critical infrastructure sites, earning the trust of the biggest industry leaders and earning a reputation for delivering innovation to complex works safely and efficiently.
