Visinor: Over the course of two years, 149 foundations have been completely cast
Source: forskningsrådet.no. Read the entire article here
Visinor Narvik is among the companies that have implemented Heatwork’s entire concrete concept
The company has spent two winters preparing the foundations for the 55 kilometer long stretch of road from Skjomen to Kvanndal.
“We have five HeatWork machines running at any time. We aren’t allowed to drive in machines here during the summer, which is why we have to prepare foundations during the winter.” Says Terje Feragen, CEO of Visinor Rehab AS.
Up until now, the crew has cast, reinforced, and prepared formwork for 149 masts x 4 foundations. There is a year remaining before they are done.
“These machines permit us to continue working during the winter without laying off our employees. We use the machines to heat up the ground before laying foundations, as well to maintain correct temperatures during and after the foundations are laid. We bring in the machines by air transport, assemble them, and let them work for approximately two days. Then the area is ice-free and ready for foundations to be laid,” says Feragen.
The machines have excellent sensors. This is absolutely necessary when they stand alone on the mountain plains for up to two days: at any irregularities, the sensors will react, and Feragen’s people can go and check on the machines.
“The machines are reliable and more environmentally friendly than other methods – and they work. That is really the most important part,” says Feragen.
The trick is to not let the concrete freeze.
“With this new method, we have complete control over the concrete, both before and during the process, so that the concrete hardens and does not freeze. Other methods have given us difficulties with overheating or underheating, but with hydronic heating our concrete has the correct temperature throughout the process, and throughout the construction,” says Feragen.