KM LONG TUNNEL
TO BE LINED
The SKW Swietelsky/Jäger Bau consortium has built a production plant for concrete invert segments more than 2000 m above sea level. Fully hydraulic moulds and robots from Herrenknecht Formwork handle this challenging job.
"A highly automated precast concrete element production facility more than 2000 m above sea level in the middle of a popular ski resort, is that possible?" Swietelsky and Jäger Bau discussed this question together with the experts from Herrenknecht Formwork and successfully made it a reality.
TIWAG is building an underground pumped storage power plant in Kühtai. To this end, mechanized tunnelling is being used to excavate an approx. 25 km long water diversion tunnel that calls for a precast concrete element in the invert.
Fully hydraulic opening of the moulds
When leaving the curing tunnel on the cross transfer cart, the mould is automatically connected to the hydraulic unit by a quick-coupling system and pressurized. On the way back to the production line, first the clamps, then the covers and finally the side moulds are already being opened hydraulically. Thus, the mould is already completely opened by the time it reaches the production line.
Manual demoulding with segment clamps: The crane operator lifts the segment out of the mould with a mechanical segment clamp.
Although the use of a vacuum suction plate was technically possible under the requirements at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level, a mechanical solution appeared to be a safe alternative.