Allthread Industries‘ wind turbine anchor cages were awarded gold in the engineering category of the 2022 Australian Good Design Awards on September 16, 2022.
The awards are the highest honour for design and innovation in the country, recognising projects that demonstrate excellence in design and highlight the impacts of a design-led approach on business success, social and environmental outcomes.
Related article: Specialist anchor cages slash wind turbine installation time
Allthread’s low-impact anchor cages are revolutionising costs, environmental impacts and productivity in the local wind farm industry, significantly reducing the time, labour and safety challenges involved in installation. This is especially important in an increasingly carbon-constrained, renewable energy-powered economy.
In announcing the award, the awards jury commented, “Great to see this safe and environmentally-conscious innovation contribute to such an important area of our economy and society. Congratulations on this way to improve productivity and strengthen local industries!”
Allthread is an Australian manufacturer, prioritising not only the environment, but local manufacturing as well. This results in improved quality and products, reduced environmental impacts, and benefits to the local economy and industries. Its anchor cages are designed, manufactured and preassembled in the Allthread factory in Sydney, then delivered for onsite installation (most anchor cages are made in China and imported as flatpacks). Local, sustainable solutions are prioritised: all steel and 98% of each cage’s total content is Australian, with 50% also recycled.
“We are thrilled to have our achievements recognised,” Allthread Industries group general manager Simon Preston said.
“This accolade is an acknowledgement of the innovative design solutions we use to produce better, safer, cheaper and more reliable anchor cages, at the same time slashing environmental impacts and supporting the local economy.”
Wind turbine anchor cages are an important component of wind power developments. These enormous steel cages are installed below ground and filled with concrete, their weight keeping the massive turbine towers stable, even under huge wind forces. Designs vary, but thick steel baseplates with hundreds of bolts attached (4m long, weighing 50kg) are put in pits and buried in concrete, the bolts then attached to the turbine’s base.
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This award comes in what has already been a great year for the company. A recent Independent Life-Cycle Assessment study showed Allthread’s anchor cages have a far lower overall environmental impact than similar overseas products, including a 47% lower carbon footprint.
Since beginning to supply the Australian market, Allthread has shipped more than 1,200 anchor cages, with current contracts for 332 anchor cages across MacIntyre, Clarke Creek and Goyder wind farms.
