Suspension specialist invests in quality

Konstrukom supplies a wide range of bearings, from unreinforced to the most 'luxurious' sphere segment bearings, and has invested heavily in testing capacity in recent years. This means that the specialist can also demonstrate that the bearings meet the set requirements, such as EN1337, RTD1012 (Rijkswaterstaat) and RIB0084 (ProRail).

"Established in 2009, we supply a wide range of steel-reinforced elastomer bearings and mechanical bearings," says Jan Schoonbeek of Konstrukom. "The products are custom-made in Spain at one of the leading manufacturers in the field of rubber products. Our supplier has almost fifty years of experience in the design and production of bearings, vibration dampers and fenders for civil engineering as well as utility, industrial and offshore construction. The products comply with the latest European standards. In recent years, we have further expanded our range to include technical plastics for cold-bridge interruption of steel structures, for example, as well as plastic parts for the purpose of locks."

Testing, testing, testing...

Konstrukom goes a step further when it comes to quality and reliability. "Four years ago on project IXAS, Rijkswaterstaat started enforcing RTD1012 even more strictly," Schoonbeek knows. "We supplied all the bearings there and put full effort into the quality and testing of the bearings. We invested heavily in this so that we can demonstrate even better that our products meet the requirements. Like the RDB0084, the RTD1012 complements the European standard for elastomeric bearings, EN1337-3, for example, but goes a step further. Where RTD1012 or RIB0084 applies, the bearings supplied must be tested for compression and shear. In addition, we also provide, for example, ozone tests. These efforts have not been in vain. It has resulted in obtaining many small and large orders, such as the bridge over the Drongelens Canal in Waalwijk, the Noorderbrug in Maastricht, SAA and IXAS in Amsterdam, but also for the Port of Rotterdam Authority, which has even higher requirements. For example, we are closely involved in the Theemsweg route and the Container Exchange Route. We also recently delivered the bearings for the new bridge over the port in Wanssum, Limburg, with the longest prefabricated pre-stressed girders in the world (69 meters)."

Quality assurance

Based on the question, Konstrukom or an engineering firm makes the design and drawings of the bearings. "We always look along with the engineering," Schoonbeek says. "Then the customized products are produced in Spain. This is also where the extensive test tests take place. Once in the Netherlands, we perform another final check on, among other things, any transport damage, dimensions and layer thickness of the coating of the bearing. Incidentally, we maintain a very close relationship with the factory and are also involved in product optimizations. As a member of the Platform Voegovergangen en Opleggingen (Joint Crossings and Bearings Platform), we participate in cooperation with KIWA in the study of "walking bearings. It is a problem we would like to eliminate. This requires cooperation, also with the contractor who expertly installs the bearings. The investigation is still in full swing. Together we are striving for the highest possible quality, both in terms of product technical
as well as executionally."