Friday 28 February 2014

Heavy Duty Jacking Specialists - Flat Jacking Works





Hydra-Capsule have become a world leader within design, manufacturing and supplying of flat jacks. By manufacturing our flat jacks within our “in-house” purpose-built workshop. We are able to test all our jacks to British standard legislations, all within our United Kingdom premises.

In addition, Hydra-Capsule, as standard, will incorporate digital monitoring to our flat jacking systems to record movement, displacement and pressure / load data to offer the most professional service throughout the United Kingdom.

Hydra Capsule is a leading subcontractor for manufacturing, supplying and installation of flat jacks. Hydra Capsule originally founded the company, on flat jacks alone, however over 30 years of experience within this market, have grown and development all heavy lifting equipment to suit all lifting applications, making us one of the market leaders for flat jacking.

Description of Flat Jack

The flat jack itself consist of 2 main components; steel moulded capsule and a pair of thrust plates. The standard shape of a flat jack is round, however square and oval shape are available in special circumstances. The jack has an inlet and outlet connections to inject fluid and bled the capsule fully.

“The flat jack is the lowest height jack in the world that can exert forces up to 850 tonnes”

Depending of the application, an range of fluid can be injected into the jack(s) under pressure; water, oil, cementitious grout and resin. With an working pressure of a maximum 150 bars, with a stroke range from 25mm to 35mm dependant of the manufactured jack.

If existing structures have to be held up by means of piles or beams, it is sometimes necessary to preload the supporting section. This preloading can be effected with a flat jack, which is generally left behind in the structure.

Application of Flat Jacks:
  • lifting of structures
  • jacking of structures – pre-loading and inducing a permanent force to foundations, piles, beams, columns, bearings, seismic isolators and steelworks
  • holding of structure – temporary propping / works, new foundations and  etc
  • Weighing and Measure of forces
  • Balance force loadings
Hydra-Capsule can offer a complete contractual installation service throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe. With our vast knowledge and experience within the sector of jacking works we can meet all clients requirements at a professional level based on our 30 years of trading. 

Please find attached technical information on flat jacks at our website: http://www.hydra-capsule.com within our contract services.

Geodetic and Electronic Monitoring Systems



Hydra Capsule have restructured its hydraulic jacking and monitoring division, with additional research, development and investment. Which has allowed our jacking systems, geodetic monitoring and real-time instrumentation to be completely integrated as one complete operating unit. This allow

Hydra Capsule to offer a complete “one-stop” solution for all suitable applications, allowing for complete control and analytics of structures throughout projects.

Hydra Capsule is a leading subcontractor for supplying flat jacks, hydraulic jacks for hire, temporary propping systems, electronic instrumentation, and real-time / long-distance monitoring. With over 30 years of experience within this market, Hydra Capsule has extensively designed and developed systems to suit all applications.

Currently Hydra Capsule monitoring division can offer:
  • Consultancy and Conceptual designs
  • Installation of instrumentation, monitoring equipment, temporary propping works, and hydraulic jacking systems
  • Real-time and long-distance monitoring, with the inclusion of provisional data analysis facilities
  • Complete data-logging and alarm / trigger limits integration; via SMS or email warnings, for complete monitoring control
  • Automated (solenoid control) and / or responsive solutions (manual control)
  • Integration of all electronic instrumentations (ie. Geodetic Monitoring Systems, pressure transducers, movements displacement / LVDTs, stroke sensors, tilt sensors, strain-gauges and load cells) to one control software unit to analysis
Hydra Capsule have carried out numerous projects, previously Kingston Bridge – Glasgow and Guild Hall – London (which is still installed to-date), to current projects utilizing our system:

Birmingham New Street Station Redevelopment – Hydra Capsule have installed a jacking system with ULS to over 9,000 tonnes with load monitoring through pressure transducers, load cells and strain gauges. To relative displacement monitoring of structural movements, attached to the critical elements, to measure up to accuracy of +/- 0.01mm through Geotechnic monitoring devices.

The complete system being data-logged and accessed through our wireless viewing page. The project is approx 18 to 24 months duration, prior to permanent installation works to be carried out.

Tate Modern, London Art Galley – Hydra Capsule were approached to design and install a hydraulic jacking system capable of 4,000 tonnes. The complete system, was designed and manufactured by Hydra Capsule to meet the Engineers specifications.

The hydraulic jacking system was required to be electronically controlled; single, multi-sets and/or all hydraulic jacks activated synchronously, achieved through the use of electronic non-return solenoid-control.

The monitoring element involved “real-time” monitoring during jacking phases and throughout the 12 months construction period. Monitoring the relative movement of the support beam to the structure. This was achieved by installed stroke sensors, deflection boxes, and Hydra Capsule’s relative laser levelling system. With the integration of pressure transducers to distribute loads through the correct load-path throughout the construction phases.


As stated above for each project, all the monitoring information is transferred from our on-site data-loggers to a wireless viewer website page and can be displayed and access 24/7 worldwide. In addition, Hydra Capsule software can introduce numerous specified tolerance limits, which then are exceed, will activate automated trigger alarm and distribute to all key personnel through an email or SMS text alarm indicating the location and description.

This will allow key personnel to review and analysis the information and trend data provided. To carry out the necessary works to the structure. Through change of the construction phase working or introducing of jacking adjustment, giving construction our full support.

Should you require more details for any applications for jacking and monitoring projects, this can be directly found on Hydra Capsule Limited website: www.hydra-capsule.com or contact us for technical support queries.