'We custom produce every element'

Since 1888, Waco has been a precast concrete specialist within civil engineering. Each element is produced quickly and under conditioned conditions in its own factory. A logical choice for Aannemingscombinatie De Poel to have Waco produce the two stream channels of 40 meters each.

The pumping station is equipped with two identical pumps and two flow channels of about 40 meters on a concrete foundation. Waco produced, delivered and coupled both flow channels, which were constructed from precast concrete elements. Ron van Boven, director at Waco, followed the project closely and says, "Producing power gutters is a standard product for us that we can deliver quickly. The prefab elements have the advantage that work on the construction site is kept to a minimum and we can build quickly. For pumping station De Poel, we produced 26 and 27 elements, respectively, that make up the two stream channels."

Various types of elements

The power gutters consist of individual prefabricated elements and come in sizes of 2 by 1 meter internally. Van Boven: "The length of each power channel is about 40 meters, together that makes 80 meters. In it, we delivered different types of elements. These range from 'standard' elements, special coupling elements, elements with consoles and elements equipped with protruding reinforcement for connection to the inflow and outflow within the pumping station."

The challenge for Waco within this project was the limited space in the sheet pile pit with the many outriggers in between. "We were able to solve this by first building the stream channel on one side and then constructing the second phase. In the final situation, of course, both stream channels had to form one unit. Thanks to special coupling elements, this was possible. We installed additional brackets to support the higher traffic load. This is how Waco works, we produce a customized element for every detail (if required). Completely under conditioned conditions in our factory," says Van Boven.