How RPM Hire Supported Fulton Hogan in Delivering a More Efficient SA Water Upgrade

By Ashley Woodcock General

When Fulton Hogan was awarded a significant sewerage pipe upgrade for South Australia Water across the Tea Tree Gully area, the project demanded a traffic management approach that could match the pace and complexity of a continuously relocating worksite. RPM Hire was brought in to support that need, and what began as a project-specific solution has since evolved into a 10-month (and counting) partnership, with an expected project duration of up to four years.

The Project

The SA Water upgrade involved the installation and replacement of sewerage pipes across multiple locations in the Tea Tree Gully area. Given the linear nature of the works, Fulton Hogan’s team was regularly transitioning between sites as new pipe sections were laid. Efficient, reliable traffic management at each location was essential, both for public safety and for maintaining project momentum. RPM Hire supplied 250 lineal metres of Fleyg Road Plate Ramps to provide a consistent, high-quality ramping solution throughout the entire project.

Note: This Fleyg photo is representative only and was not used on this specific job.”

The Opportunity

Like many civil contractors managing fast-moving pipeline works, Fulton Hogan had been utilising cold mix asphalt to ramp the steel road plates, a widely accepted industry practice. As the project progressed across multiple locations, it became clear there was an opportunity to improve efficiency further: reducing the time and materials associated with repeated asphalt applications, and minimising the waste generated each time the team relocated to a new section of works.

The Solution

RPM Hire introduced Fulton Hogan to the Fleyg Road Plate Ramp system, a robust, reusable rubber ramping solution purpose-built for road plate applications. The transition was seamless, and the benefits were evident from the beginning.

Rather than applying and removing cold mix at each new location, the crew could deploy, relocate, and reinstall the Fleyg Ramps quickly and cleanly, with no waste left on site and no need to source additional materials between moves. For a project operating across a live road environment with frequent site transitions, the reduction in labour time and material usage represented a meaningful operational improvement.

The reusable nature of the Fleyg system means the same ramps continue to perform across the life of the project, contributing to a measurable reduction in both cost and environmental impact over time.

The Outcome

The value of the solution was recognised quickly by Fulton Hogan’s on-site team, and that feedback has since reached the national level. Fleyg Ramps are now under active consideration by Fulton Hogan’s head office as a preferred approach for road plate operations across their broader project portfolio.

In response to this growing demand, RPM Hire has procured an additional 250 lineal metres of Fleyg Ramps to support the rollout across further Fulton Hogan projects, reflecting a partnership that has moved well beyond a single trial into a preferred, repeatable way of working.

A Partnership Focused on Better Outcomes

This project demonstrates what’s possible when a contractor of Fulton Hogan’s calibre combines its operational expertise with a supplier committed to delivering practical, innovative solutions. By understanding the specific demands of the works and working closely with the team on the ground, RPM Hire was able to support a more efficient, sustainable, and safer approach to steel road plate management.

We’re proud to be a trusted partner to Fulton Hogan and look forward to supporting their projects across the country.