TSL has come a long way since the quarrying company was founded in 1979, steadily and organically expanding by diversifying its activities and establishing offices in four locations - Mull, Oban, Fort William and Arrochar.
The firm now offers individuals, businesses and organisations a range of integrated services which include building and civil engineering - as well as a varied range of construction services on top of road haulage and port facilities. All of these integrated services sustain and support each other and means the company offers a truly unique service.
The target market is constantly evolving and involves a broad customer base, with emphasis placed upon the renewables market as well as larger clients in both public and private sector - although TSL also caters for smaller individual clients.
Although confidently performing as a highly successful, professional and capable company, TSL don't want to forget their roots as a family-built firm still committed to the community from which they grew.
Hydro Schemes
Over the last few years, the civil engineering side of company has embraced the renewables market, with one of its current main focuses being Hydro Schemes. TSL has now completed six of these projects - both private and community funded - with another six currently underway.
Many of these Hydro Schemes are in environmentally-sensitive areas and TSL has worked closely with Lead Environmental Auditor & Auditor Trainer Dr Phill Radcliffe, who commented: "I have been commissioned by several owners and their agents as the Ecological Clerk of Works to oversee and monitor the delivery of planning conditions on the construction of a number of Hydro Electric Power Schemes in Scotland.
"TSL has been the contractor on many of these schemes and I have been very impressed by their commitment to detail in achieving high environmental standards during construction works and especially during the re-instatement and restoration of semi-natural habitats. Employees and sub-contractors have always responded quickly to any concerns, demonstrating a sound environmental ethos and a high standard of excellence throughout the company. TSL is thoroughly deserving of their recent ISO 14001:2004 certification."
Ben Mor (Isle of Mull): A 500kw run-off river for client Ben Mor Estates. The powerhouse is being constructed at present, intakes are complete, penstock is underway with plans to complete the project for turbine end of summer. A helicopter has been essential in this as due to environmentally sensitive nature of the site, TSL were unable to make access tracks.
Keltie(Callander Area): Work commenced in January and is environmentally sensitive due to its location in Stirling and Loch Lomond National Park.
Annet Burn (Doune area)- Work commenced on March 16 for a 500kw run of river scheme for client Moray Estates.
TSL's other three Hydros are all for Green Highland Renewables and include Allt Phocachain and Allt Larairdh in Lochaber. These are both run side by side as they are only three miles apart. The fact they were so close meant very competitive tendering, and require efficient management by utilising site managers, workers and plant throughout construction.
Chaorach (Crianlarich) is the company's latest contract - also for GHR - with a proposed on-site start date on May 11 and at 2MW it is TSL's largest to date - a run of river, with a primary and four secondary intakes, powerhouse. A skyhook will be involved as secondary intakes are inaccessible so concrete and materials will be flown in.
Building
On several public and community contracts, TSL's construction team has worked closely with the design team in respect of working towards eco standards to introduce renewable energy sources into the properties - including air source heat pumps, biomass boilers, solar and photovoltaic panels and heat recovery systems.
TSL also encourages implementation of renewable energy sources, as well as sustainable building methods private contracts. These contracts, along with TSL's own offices and property development side of the business, has also benefited from renewable features.
Skyhook
Operating out of Oban, Skyhook Helicopters is the latest division of TSL. We specialise in underslung load-lifting operations and have carried a variety of products such as concrete, gravel, rock, sand, timber, fencing, plant and machinery. The company supply a turnkey solution that includes a helicopter (AS350 B3 that can lift 1200 kg per lift), an experienced pilot and ground crew, skips (gravel & concrete), Heli bags (1000kg max), straps, chains, Jet A1 fuel bowser for the helicopter, all necessary permissions and air to ground radios for communications between helicopter and ground crew.
TSL are experienced at operating from sensitive environmental sites in extremely remote locations and have worked closely on a number of projects with the Ecological Clerk of Works to ensure minimum disruption to the landscape. Such operations have included the Ben More Hydro Electric Project on the Isle of Mull where the company was required to transport all materials, plant and equipment by helicopter - and also a number of projects supporting Geo Rope from Ballachulish.
Mobile Concrete Solutions
In 2011, TSL identified a potential niche in the mobile concrete batching market and commissioned a mobile concrete batching facility which was the first of its kind in Scotland. In 2012, TSL teamed up with the UK's largest independent aggregate supplier, Breedon Aggregates, to form Mobile Concrete Solutions - a 50/50 joint venture.
The growth of the renewable energy industry has seen an increase in construction and civil engineering works in isolated areas and Mobile Concrete Solutions provides on-demand concrete anywhere in the country, no matter how remote the project. MCS has successfully completed seven projects ranging from windfarms through to coastal operations to a road rail transfers point for Graham Constructions - all in remote and challenging locations. One of their current jobs, subcontracting for Raymond Brown Construction, is for a new wet dock in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Local suppliers could not commit to the daily volumes required and the mobile batching facility was the most viable option for mass fill concrete. The plant is currently pricing various other windfarm and coastal projects, one of which TSL hope to secure ready for its return to Scotland.
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