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The client

Antarctica New Zealand is the government agency responsible for carrying out New Zealand's activities in Antarctica, supporting world leading science and environmental protection.

RT Systems specialises in temporary buildings for use in polar environments. They were sub-contracted by main contractor Portacom to provide technical support and auxiliary systems including sleds for the portable cabins.

The brief

Supplementary accommodation and office space was required to provide temporary facilities for Scott Base. Modular transportable cabins were being supplied, and MHM Automation was engaged to design and fabricate sleds for the transportable cabins to sit on, to allow easy movement of them on the ice and snow.

We have experience producing equipment for Antarctica, including a similar project delivered by SCE several years ago.

Challenges of the job included a short timeframe for delivery, with the deadline being fixed to meet a ship that had been booked for delivery to Antarctica.

Our solution

We provided powder-coated steel sleds for five buildings. These were custom-designed and fabricated to suit the building dimensions and the harsh Antarctic environment.

The sleds were then bolted onto the cabins and delivered to Antarctica New Zealand for shipping to Antarctica in February 2023.

The result

Thanks to our sleds, moving the cabins into position at Scott Base was a straightforward process.

The cabins are now being used to accommodate workers at Scott Base.

From the client

“MHM Automation delivered exactly what they said they would, on time and to spec. We are very happy with the design, finish and coating of the sleds.”

Jim Jeffries, RT Systems