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Bridges and overpasses are an important part of our infrastructure. We often don't think about it, but even these civil engineering structures sometimes need a little love. And that is exactly what Freyssinet does. Freyssinet has proven itself in the Netherlands and abroad as a specialist in strengthening, moving and repairing all kinds of structures. Christian Carlie, Business Development Manager for Freyssinet, talks all about the company, innovations and highlights of the past year.
In 1943, Eugène Freyssinet, the inventor of prestressing, founded the innovative company. "We are not only an expert in prestressing techniques and guy ropes, but also an advisory and executive contractor mainly in the civil engineering construction sector. We also have all the knowledge in-house to perform life-extending maintenance, for example concrete repairs, structural reinforcement, cathodic protection and injections. It is precisely this combination of different techniques and projects that makes us unique!"
"If you look at the market, you see that more and more civil engineering structures need reinforcement. And we have many proven solutions for that," Carlie said. One of these solutions is external prestressing. This preload has proven to be a reliable method for reinforcing larger bridges in particular.
But in the case of smaller viaducts or more complex structures in commercial and industrial construction, for example, there is often insufficient space for the insertion of heavy anchor blocks or deviation points to allow the preload to engage at the desired points. "Freyssinet has therefore developed two alternative prestressing systems in addition to the standard prestressing systems. Here, adaptation of the structure to be reinforced is not necessary, or is kept to a minimum. These are our R-system and the X-system. The most important feature of both systems is that the prestressing cables consist of a single strand and are therefore easily fitted into the existing structure. These systems have already ensured great success in several worldwide renovation projects."
Freyssinet provides solutions to uncommon construction and infrastructure issues. This is evidenced by a number of challenging projects over the past year. Carlie explains, "We are involved in the launch of the KW52A at Terbregseplein: two viaducts across the square. We are responsible for all pre-tensioning, all temporary supports, bearings and launching the viaduct. An extensive and unique new construction project commissioned by De Groene Boog."
In addition to these types of major new construction projects, Freyssinet's expertise lies in replacement, reinforcement and renovation projects. "For example, in 2023 we will start replacing the stay cables of the Galecopper Bridge. And in the Ring South Groningen project, we developed and installed a tailor-made external prestressing system on a structure that has been expanded in number of lanes. As part of this expansion and earthquake-resistant construction, the existing pillar beams of the northern and southern decks need to be connected by means of transverse prestressing. And we are starting work on the external reinforcement of a viaduct in Gouda for the province of South Holland. In short: these are all beautiful and leading projects, in which we combine local knowledge with international expertise. Thus, in cooperation with clients, we design solutions for maintenance and repair issues in which safety, sustainable solutions and nuisance minimization are central."
