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News Archives - November 2008, Invincible eNews Edition.
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| Related Topics: - Lateral thinking helps Northern Gateway Alliance overcome environmental challenges - Want to know more about our products and systems? - Wind, water and grain make for an interesting challenge |
Lateral thinking helps Northern Gateway Alliance overcome environmental challenges
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The Northern Gateway Alliance (NGA) recently constructed five bridges as part of the extension to the northern motorway system out of Auckland. The largest of the five bridges, the Waiwera Viaduct, posed some interesting challenges for the NGA.
The bridge, consisting of a pre-stressed concrete box girder, was constructed using the pre-cast segmental balanced cantilever method. It is 537 metres long and 76 metres wide and is one of the largest of its type in New Zealand. The design was chosen to minimise the impact on the environmentally sensitive estuary below the bridge.
Construction of the piers for the bridge began in the middle of winter, with the original plan for casting to ‘jump' the form-work several times without recoating it with a release agent. However, due to the wintry conditions and the saline environment, the NGA found that the standard form release oils weren't sticking to the form-work and surface rust was appearing on the forms.
Sven Thiele, Structures Foreman from NGA, contacted us at Fraser Brown & Stratmore explaining his predicament, and thanks to work we had undertaken on another project, we knew exactly how to solve his problem. Hynds Pipes in Hamilton were constructing stock watering troughs and were finding that the main body of the trough would release with standard oils, but the ball-cock mount area would often crack when lifted from the mould.
Our Managing Director, John Stratmore, is always up for a challenge and is well known for creating innovative solutions to unique concrete problems. John altered one of our existing products to create a form release agent with a gel-like viscosity. We've called it FRE-FORM CW (Fre-Form with wax). Hynds Pipes applied the FRE-FORM CW to the ball-cock area and found they had a clean release every time with no cracks or failures. John suspected that this could be the solution NGA were looking for.
"After trying out the new product (in a 20L carboy), we were delighted to see that it did the trick and soon started ordering FRE-FORM CW in 210L drums," says Sven. "One benefit we didn't expect was that we didn't have to sand-blast the forms to remove rust, saving us several thousand dollars. A great result," explains Sven.
"We've been working with FBS for three years now and are always impressed by their innovative approach. We are always happy to share their solutions with others in the industry."
"For example, after the success of FRE-FORM CW, I was talking to a Tunnel Engineer with a similar problem at the southern end of the Johnstone's Hill twin tunnels," recalls Sven, "so I told him to contact FBS and now they're using FRE-FORM CW too."
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Want to know more about our products and systems?
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Gabi has been busy making presentations to our customers around the Wellington region promoting Volclay bentonite waterproofing, fibre reinforcing, joint sealants and crystalline water proofing systems.
In addition to discussing our products and systems, Gabi also covers issues such as Building Consent requirements. We understand what your local council will need from you regarding specifications and warranty requirements, and Gabi is qualified to review your plans and technical drawings and provide you with the specifications and product data to help you get all the paperwork in order.
The presentations are half an hour long, with time for questions and discussion at the end. Gabi is happy to present to individuals or groups, depending on your needs.
Of course, these presentations just scratch the surface of the huge product range we have available, but we know that it’s these products you want to know the most about. Don’t forget that we also have the flexibility to develop new products and systems to meet your specific requirements.
To find out more, or to book a presentation for your organisation, email Gabi at gabi@fbsltd.co.nz or call us on 0800 FIBRES (342 737).
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Wind, water and grain make for an interesting challenge
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Everyone knows that grain storage and water should never mix, and when Colton Bros Limited from Martinborough in the Wairarapa discovered water was seeping into their new grain silos, they were justifiably alarmed. So they came to us for help.
Colton Bros’s problem was caused by the Wairarapa’s notorious strong winds, which buffeted their grain silos, causing them to flex and move on their concrete bases. This movement effectively “pumped” the water inside, which began contaminating the grain. Over time, the entire contents of the silo could become unusable.
Colton Bros had tried various silicone products to seal the base without any success, so they contacted FBS to see if we had any products that would sort our their problem permanently.
We had previously supplied an experimental product, Plasticast LQB Rubber Crumb, to seal a moving joint on a car ramp between buildings, and thought it might be just the solution for Colton Bros. Plasticast LQB is a pourable epoxy which, once cured, is flexible and has the ability to move in concrete, asphalt and steel. When mixed with rubber crumb it creates a rigid, flexible rubber material.
Colton Bros were keen to try out this new product, so they cleaned all the old silicone from the silos and created a joint using formwork. The Plasticast LQB Rubber Crumb was applied to the joint and bonded successfully to the concrete and metal of the silo.
Colton Bros are pleased to advise that after a number of months, the Plasticast LQB Rubber Crumb is performing perfectly and there is no sign of water seeping into the silos.
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