NEWS - Training for excellence Dry air system for stays Bandra Worli Sea Link STRATEGY
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T H E V S L N E W S
NEWS
M A G A Z I N E • I S S U E T W O 2 0 0 8
S T R AT E GY
Training for
excellence
Dry air system
for stays
Bandra Worli
Sea Link
highlights BONDTECH 7
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT 4
Changing the way we do business 4
FACTS&TRENDS 6
New Markets: Capital projects for VSL 6
Stay Cables: Brazil’s widest 7
COVER STORY 8
Human resources development:
Training for Excellence
VSL is implementing new actions to properly
TRAINING 8
train and to keep competent and expert staff.
SITE INSIGHTS 16
Spain: Embalse de Contreras Viaduct 16
UK: Ageless anchors 21
Singapore: Expansion in ground engineering 22
Australia: Gateway upgrade 24
BRIDGES 20
SPECIAL REPORT 26
System Development:
The VSL SSI 2000-D system
SSI 2000-D
TECH SHOW 28
26
VSL is playing a key role as a bridge
construction partner for Hindustan
Construction Company (HCC)
BANDRA
in the Bandra Worli Sea Link
across Mumbai’s Mahim Bay, India,
WORLI 28
scheduled for completion in 2009.
NEWS, magazine published by VSL International Ltd. • Bern, Switzerland Director of Publication: Jean-Philippe Trin • jeanphilippe.trin@vsl.com Editor in chief: Jane Rousseau •
jane.rousseau@vsl.com Editor : Elisabeth Lichter-Rodriguez • elisabeth.lichterrodriguez@vsl.com Co-ordinators: Carlos Such, Renata Kunz-Tamburrino, Doris Tong.
Distribution: Sandra Puel • sandra.puel@vsl.com Design: Red Line Photos: Derek Allan, Philippe Guignard, Laurent Zylberman, others Copyright: VSL •
Cover photo : Training on safety
ISSUE TWO • 2008
EDITORIAL
Well-trained staff:
our greatest asset
In VSL’s business, technologies and regulations are
constantly evolving. Thus, continuous training of our
staff is a must for us as a leading company. Over the
years, VSL has undertaken considerable efforts in
structuring and formalising training at all levels of the
company to maintain our expertise at the highest level.
3
Our massive recruitment of staff in recent years has led us to implement new training
initiatives, including a great new tool, the VSL Academy. VSL’s training centre is a
unique in-house university dedicated to post-tensioning techniques. The aim is to
ensure that best practices are covered and applied, and that all members of staff adopt
the same high standards of quality. Whatever technical improvements – large or small -
are achieved in any of VSL’s many locations, they are immediately spread by the
VSL Academy to allow our entire network to benefit.
Technical excellence is vital for both the staff and the project. A strong training policy is
of strategic importance to increase the overall performance of the company by
contributing to ever-enhanced quality improvement – and productivity. Our training policy
also addresses a key issue: striking a balance in our development plan between the
economic profitability of our businesses and its social and environmental impact.
We believe that a well-trained staff is our most valuable investment in better service to
our clients.
Jean-Philippe Trin, CEO
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ACTITUDES
Changing the way we do business
For VSL, sustainable development means ergonomics and expanding our
road safety action. We also want to
striking a balance in its development model further improve the health of our
employees, particularly by raising
between the economic profitability of its awareness of the dangers of
businesses and their social and environmental alcohol, smoking and drug abuse.
impact. Decisions at every level must take Develop our employees’
account of all three facets of sustainable skills and promote equal
opportunity.
development: economic, social and We will make VSL a more attractive
company by fostering the personal
environmental, not merely economic. development of our employees,
encouraging cultural diversity,
A
ccording to the United Foster a trusting relationship increasing the numbers of female
Nations, development is with our clients, based on and disabled employees and giving
sustainable if it "meets the consideration, transparency and all employees the opportunity to be
needs of the present without innovation. responsible citizens.
compromising the ability of future Building a genuine trust-based
generations to meet their own relationship with our clients Establish balanced,
4
needs". Sustainable development means willing to listen, acting in long-term relationships
does not mean giving up on growth. complete transparency and with partners, suppliers and
Rather, it means developing in offering performance guarantees subcontractors.
ways that can be sustained by the in terms of quality, safety and the We intend to build genuine
planet over the long term. environment. Client trust is also partnerships with our
determined by our capacity for subcontractors by involving them
Sustainable development has innovation with a view to meeting in our progress plans for quality,
three facets: their expectations, especially in safety and environmental protection
Economic: promote economic terms of environmental protection. and in combating illegal labour.
growth to create wealth for all by With respect to our suppliers,
fostering sustainable patterns of Incorporate risk into the especially in emerging countries,
production and consumption. This day-to-day management of this means being stringent on
implies rational use of natural the company. quality and labour standards.
resources, sound corporate In addition to clearly identified
governance and professional ethics. technical and financial risks, we Ensure that our businesses
Environmental: preserve, improve want to step up vigilance on the respect the environment.
and develop the environment and environmental, social and Integrating environmental
natural resources over the long reputation risks arising from our concerns at VSL first means
term. Resource preservation operations. Heightened vigilance in designing facilities that consume
involves reducing environmental these areas implies enhancing less energy and resources and that
impacts and managing and existing procedures and improving blend better into their
recycling waste. employees’ risk-management skills. surroundings. It also means
Social: uphold social equity and reducing energy and natural
fundamental human rights (as set Lead our business sectors resource consumption
forth in the Universal Declaration in terms of occupational on our work sites as well as
of Human Rights). For companies, health and safety. minimising the disturbance for
this includes anti-discrimination We are determined to lead our local residents. Lastly, it means
measures, combating child labour, sector in terms of safety, by encouraging environmentally-
enhancing welfare policies and continuously upgrading prevention, friendly habits in every employee,
protecting workers' rights. The involving our partners and because 2,900 small efforts to help
sustainable development approach subcontractors in our approach to the environment on a daily basis
of VSL is based on seven aims: safety, increasing workplace have a big impact.
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
Energy Audit at VSL Singapore
V
SL Singapore recently existing workshops is worthwhile;
conducted their first energy a similar study into alternative energy
Participate in the economic audit. The audit was carried sources (e.g. solar, wind) to partially
and social life of the regions out at the main office, workshops power the new workshop are
where we operate. and store, and initially covered warranted; and, that arranging an
We want to play an active role in electricity consumption. The main energy audit by an external expert
the economic and social life of the finding from the audit was that would likely bring significantly more
regions where we operate, by 2.3t of CO2 emissions could be savings. Step by step progress will
supporting associations and eliminated per year simply by lead to substantial savings. ■
organisations that help reintegrate turning off electrical appliances at
people in difficulty and by providing night, or when not in use, and that
financial assistance for actions in several hundreds of Euro could be
education, health and heritage saved. While this may seem small,
preservation. ■ on the back of this it has been
decided that a comprehensive study
(including cost-benefit analysis) into
energy saving devices and
Milestones in sustainable equipment for the office and
development
1972: Limits to Growth, a report
Hard hats VSL and the
commissioned by the Club of Rome
that models the impact of finite
resources on economic growth. 5
1987: The concept of "sustainable
development" appears officially in a
protect smart Lighthouse Club
report by the United Nations' World
heads
T
Commission on Environment and he Lighthouse Club is a non-
Development. Drafted by Gro Harlem political organisation that
Brundtland, then prime minister of
raises money, through
Norway, the report defines the
concept as development that "meets
social activities, to assist less
the needs of the present without fortunate persons who are
compromising the ability of future associated with the construction
generations to meet their own needs". industry. VSL has been involved
1992: The Earth Summit in Rio de
with the Club for many years in
Janeiro (the second UN Conference on Hong Kong as a corporate
Environment and Development), member, and a number of staff
173 heads of state sign "Agenda 21", have individual memberships. In
a programme of action for the 2008 the increased level of
twenty-first century to foster commitment has resulted in the
sustainable development.
company being invited to join the
1997: 11 December in Kyoto, Japan, Lighthouse Club Asia-Pacific
the countries that signed the UN committee. VSL was also invited to
Framework Convention on Climate join the Club’s Hong Kong Safety
A
Change adopt the Kyoto Protocol to
total of about 110 staff Committee. In this role VSL will
reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(including carbon dioxide, methane
members, including work on the preventive measures
and nitrous oxide) after the year 2000. labour, foremen, that will help avoiding accidents in
supervisors and engineers from the future. The Lighthouse Club
2007: The conference of Bali
different projects celebrated the and VSL’s objectives align closely
culminated in the adoption of the Bali
Road Map, which consists of a
37th National Safety Day in the in many areas, assisting accident
number of forward-looking decisions North Region, Delhi. The senior victims, education, safety
that represent the various tracks that staff supported the day and standards, encouraging women to
are essential to reaching a secure insisted on the importance of work in the industry, and simply
climate future. quality, safety and environment being involved in the communities
to all the attendees. ■ where VSL operates. ■
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
FACTS&TRENDS
Kazakhstan Bondtech
Capital projects for VSL Spanish
Mega Yapi Construction. A very
innovative method, proposed by hospital
success
Wiecon of Taiwan, is being used to
erect Ramstore Bridge's 180m-
span arch. The arch is temporarily
hinged on one abutment and is > VSL Bondtech® PT slab
lifted using a relatively small technology has enabled a
gantry to allow the addition of each significant development in the
segment in turn. The bridge's structural design of Spanish
hangers are from the VSL SSI 2000 hospital buildings. In the last four
system and the longest is 60m. years, CTT Stronghold (VSL in
The scheme will be finished in Spain) has used the Bondtech®
October and will be followed by a system to provide solutions for
second contract, called M3 Arch. four major new hospitals together
A spectacular project involves with other smaller medical
the erection of the 130m-high centres. A total of more than
central mast of the Khan Shatyr 180,000m2 of PT Slabs has been
Entertainment Center. installed, with spans of up to 18m.
> VSL has opened up business A temporary mast uses The VSL Bondtech® bonded
opportunities in Kazakhstan and 16 SLU-330 strand lifting units to monostrand post-tensioning
is busy on key projects for the new provide the required 2000t pulling system is ideally suited to the way
6
capital, Astana. VSL Heavy Lifting and tie-back forces. The same that layouts often change to
is currently executing three equipment will lift five roof trusses
projects for Turkish contractor of up to 500t for a new Indoor
Samko and VSL Special Projects is Stadium. ■ Contact:
working on two arch bridges for christophe.petrel@vsl.com
Network
Peruvian license
Perú's experience in post-
tensioning dates back to 1995 and
the licence extends its scope of
work to include the full range of
VSL construction solutions. The accommodate new equipment and
two companies are assessing new uses while the hospitals remain in
projects being tendered in Peru service by allowing easy openings
with the aim of expanding the in the concrete slabs. Specialist
scope of work and becoming the architects are taking advantage of
Right: Francisco Capurro
(Director of SEC Perú), left: Carlos Ibargüen
leader in specialist construction the technology to introduce open,
(General Manager of SEC Perú) techniques there. The new column-free areas in order to
arrangement allows VSL to offer an create flexible buildings without
> VSL has announced that SEC enhanced service to its clients in any major extra costs. VSL bonded
Perú (Sistemas Especiales de Peru. VSL had already worked on post tensioning is also allowing the
Construcción Perú) is its newly some major projects there in the implementation of free cantilevers
appointed licensee for the past, including ground anchors for or transfer slabs. Specialised
promising Peruvian market. the 1980s Machu Pichu Dam, heavy architects in Healthcare buildings
The agreement with Lima-based lifts on the Camisea gas project are using bonded PT slabs in projects
SEC Perú will allow VSL to offer its between 2003 and 2007 and recent such as the new Lugo, Burgos or
services more efficiently to local interchanges in Lima. ■ Contact: San Sebastian de los Reyes hospitals.
and foreign contractors. SEC ealonso@vslsp.com ■ Contact: posso@vslsp.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
Ground Investigation Department Stay cables
Unlimited growth Brazil’s widest
> Success in a stringent technical contractors. The first project > VSL SSI 2000 stay cables are
assessment means that Intrafor carried out under the licence is a being installed on the Cidade de
Hong Kong can now tender for major ground investigation sub- Guarulhos Bridge over Brazil's
government ground investigation contract awarded by the Dragages – main highway from São Paulo and
projects of unlimited contract Nishimatsu JV on the Hong Kong Rio de Janeiro. This is the first
value. The assessment, which West Drainage Tunnel scheme. cable-stayed bridge in Brazil to be
was carried out by the HK Research and development in equipped with VSL Stays and, at
Government's Geotechnical ground investigation is also going 23.1m wide, features Brazil's
Engineering Office, has resulted in strong with the development of widest stay-supported deck. The
Intrafor’s Ground Investigation Intrafor’s own directional coring bridge has been designed by Outec
Department being upgraded to system, which is being fine-tuned Engenharia and is being built by
Group II in the list of approved using in-situ tests. ■ Contact: Construções e Comércio Camargo
suppliers and specialist mp.chan@vsl-intrafor.com Corrêa. It has a main span of 100m
and a side span of 70m and involves
a total of 123t of replaceable stays.
Stay cables Cable-stayed The 27 stays that support the
concrete deck are galvanised,
bridges
Vilnius debut waxed monostrands placed
ungrouted in an external PE pipe.
> The Karoliniskes Footbridge First for ■ Contact: diretor@rudloff.com.br
7
Turkey
in Vilnius is VSL's first project
in Lithuania. VSL is supplying its
SSI 2000 stay cable system for the
Awards
bridge, which was initially designed
as a suspended structure using
steel rods. Bridge contractor is
UAB ViaCon Baltic. The bridge has
two steel pylons, each with a pair of
> Miravelle Tower, a project
back stay cables of SSI 2000 6-19
completely designed by VSL
with 14 strands. The main span is
Mexico (21,000 m² including
supported from two pairs of cables,
foundations) has taken the first
which are made up of SSI 2000 6-12
national place and the second
with seven and five strands. The total > Turkey's first cable-stayed
international place in the OBRAS
tonnage of the plastic-coated strands road bridge is being fitted with
CEMEX Award in recognition of its
is just 1,700kg as the maximum stay VSL SSI 2000 Stay Cables.
construction and structural design.
length is 22m. The cables were fully Manavgat Bridge's steel deck and
prefabricated prior to erection instead pylon have been erected by
> At the 20th edition of the
of using the strand by strand method. Mega Yapi, which is VSL's licensee
Argentina's Structural Engineering
Because of this, the DS anchors in Turkey. The bridge has been
congress held in Buenos Aires in
inside the pylon trumpets were designed by Pöyry Infra Asia and is
October 2008, the Pastaza cable-
modified to use a compression owned by the Municipality of
stayed bridge built in Ecuador was
fitting instead of wedges. ■ Manavgat/Antalya. It has a single
recognized as Remarkable Sructure
Contact: mstrachota@vsl.cz pylon and two spans of 102m.
of the years 2007/2008 and their
Steelwork has been manufactured
designers (H. Cabjolky, C. Amura y
by Aykon. A total of 28 stays, sized
M. Ameijeiras) together with the
from 6-19 to 6-31, will support a
main contractor JCCC from
14m-wide composite steel deck.
Argentina received the prestigious
The 50t of replaceable stays are
José Luis Delpini prize. ■
galvanised, waxed monostrands
placed in an external PE pipe with
no grouting. ■ Contact:
byildirim@megayapi.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
COVER STORY
8
VSL Academy’s facilities
in Bangkok provide a strategic
tool for staff training
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
9
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
Training for
Excellence
Technically demanding projects and the
highest requirements in terms of quality of
service reflect themselves in a resolutely
proactive training organisation within VSL.
Given the massive hiring of staff in the last
years, new actions are implemented to
properly train and to keep competent and
expert staff.
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8
TRAINING FOR EXCELLENCE
COVER STORY
The VSL Academy experience
also creates group cohesion
10
T
raining is the keystone faces highly competitive markets.
within a human resources Technically demanding projects
department and within VSL, and the highest requirements in
staff training has become a terms of quality of service reflect
strategic topic. In a business themselves in a resolutely
where technical excellence is vital proactive training organisation
both for the staff and the project within VSL. It is furthermore of
and where technologies and great interest for the company to
systems are constantly evolving, address the motivations and
it is of utmost importance to ambitions of the staff, to have a
properly train and to keep permanent exchange concerning
competent staff. VSL is ambitions and requirements in
undertaking considerable efforts order to fulfil the needs of both,
in structuring and formalising the company and the staff.
training efforts at all levels of the
company. Back to basics:
VSL Academy
The continuous development of The transfer of knowledge and
VSL’s staff is a key factor for an acquired experience by senior staff
excellent performance. It is thus to new staff members is one of the
becoming vital to properly manage possibilities to pass on not only the
competences internally and technical details but also the
structure training accordingly. company culture and values. Given
For the permanent development the evolution in recent years, the
of the asset “competence” in massive hiring of staff in new
organisations, professional regions, such as India, Vietnam,
training and qualification the Middle East and Mexico, on the
measures are adapted to one hand and the retirement of
organisational and personal experienced staff on the other, this Hands-on training
is an essential part
needs. VSL is increasingly intergenerational transfer is no
of the certification course
specialised in their activities and longer guaranteed throughout the
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8ever growing network. It has
thus been decided to create the
VSL Academy, a unique Post-
Tensioning training centre in
Bangkok. VSL Academy on stage
VSL Academy officially launched The Certification scheme has been designed and structured into 3 stages.
its first certification class on Stage 1 brings participants to Foreman level, Stage 2 to Supervisor level
February 11, 2008. To ensure that and Stage 3 to Site Manager level.
best practices are covered and Upon successful training, students return to the work sites and start
applied, the training sessions are implementing procedures and tools they have learned about at the
given by experienced staff and are Academy. During the next months, VSL will be carrying out operational
based on the latest updated VSL audits on these implementations and on the “effects” of the training
Field Manual. Access to the courses in the day-to-day business. Efforts will be extended in 2009.
various levels is stringent: a
written exam has to be
successfully passed to fulfil the
requirements in stage certification. commented and approved by their The Academy presently schedules
Before being admitted to the next respective Project/Site Managers. one Certification class per month
level, the participants have to be with 20 participants each. VSL
involved in Post-Tensioning works Groups are small and participants Academy does not intend to limit
for a minimum of one year. This is come from all regions of the its scope and Certification courses
recorded in a Project Log Book network to foster company values. to Post-Tensioning works, other
11
training sessions will be introduced
on an on-going basis, new tools,
new equipment, maintenance and
cover other activities such as stay
cable, heavy lifting.
To enable hands-on practical
training, post-tensioning mock-
ups have been built on the
Academy’s premises and further
mock-ups are being designed to
cover other appropriate
operational procedures.
The VSL Academy is teaching
people a lot. Courses are
appreciated by the trainees as
shown in the ratings. Pelle
Gustavsson, VSL Academy’s
headmaster, says: “In stage 1, we
basically teach them how to walk.
Stage 2 teaches them how to run,
and in stage three they will run the
obstacle course.”
Whereas stage 1 is the training on
PT basics and fundamentals, stage
2 really goes into problem solving
and some into other P-T techniques
like external P-T. Finally stage
three will cover more the
theoretical part of the certification,
where participants will have some
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8TRAINING FOR EXCELLENCE
COVER STORY
external lectures from our Transfer of experience to
Technical centres adding to our maintain highest standards
student’s knowledge.
Better understanding
Students’ feedback underlines the
better understanding that VSL
Academy provides. Yuttana
Mekruerod, project manager on
the Bankuwat project in Bangkok
says: “VSL Academy trains us on
how to work safely and properly.
The course enables me to find
solutions for difficulties I may
encounter on a worksite. It gave
me a better understanding of VSL
techniques.” John Dan, project
manager in Hong Kong,
comments: “VSL Academy was a
VSL Academy very useful experience for me. It
We all speak the same language can help to refresh your knowledge.
I have already started to implement
Fredy Schwab, a senior engineer who is with VSL for more than 30 years, techniques and tools on the site
comments on the VSL Academy: “The Academy is not good, it is excellent. I am working on…”
12 It teaches us to speak the same language throughout VSL. This kind of
training session could also be good for people that do not actually work on The VSL Academy premises are
site, but also for office staff, quality control, purchasers… so that also quite inviting for potential
everybody uses the same words for the same tools. These training clients willing to witness the post-
courses are very useful. The headmaster opens every session with: what tensioning market leader’s strong
is the best thing VSL has? The answer is: it is the Field Manual. And the points in terms of in-house policy
second best: the telephone list. Whatever the question will be, you will be for quality of service, safety, and
able to find someone within the VSL network who has already approach of proven or new
encountered the same or similar situations and he will be able to help technologies.
you. The VSL Academy will help to bring everybody to a same level of
knowledge, and it will of course create a group cohesion that is so Enhance Safety
important in our operations. Even experienced staff could come here, VSL’s bridge and structure
learn something and fresh up their memories…” construction projects involve the
operation of major items of
Participants come from all regions of the network
and learn to speak one common language.
machinery, which are usually
designed or adapted to meet the
specific conditions and constraints
of the particular project. This
means that VSL’s equipment is
usually one-of-a-kind, complex
and controlled by multiple
operators. It therefore requires
a high level of engineering,
coordination and skill in order to
ensure safe and efficient
operation. VSL has recently
launched the permit system
MEOP (Major Equipment Operation
Permit) which has become
compulsory for the operation of all
major equipment on VSL projects
to improve safety and efficiency.
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8The permit requires project staff to
assemble and operate major
equipment in accordance with
strict requirements. A permit is
granted only if a panel of expert
auditors approve that all aspects of
the equipment have been checked
so that it can be operated safely,
properly and effectively. Areas
covered include design,
fabrication, assembly and
commissioning, as well as the on-
site preparations. A permit is valid
for a period of 6 months and has
then to be renewed.
Managing Excellence
The continuous individual
professional development is not
only of strategic importance for the
company but also for the staff
member who has the chance to
move on in his professional career.
Originally initiated by the
management of the Asia-Pacific
region in 2006, the PMX – Project
13
Management Excellence - training
sessions have been created to
train a new generation of Project
Back to basics and continuous
Best practices are acquired at the VSL Academy
training on safety
and implemented on the worksites
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8TRAINING FOR EXCELLENCE
COVER STORY
fundamental values and Other training programs are also
E-learning motivations. The sessions will also organised at Group level to develop
be extended to other staff in competence. The international
E-learning is easy to be management positions. Ulysses and Marco Polo programs
distributed and can be provided are for junior executives headed
on many different supports. No space or time for senior management status.
There is no limitation in time limitations Participants take a good look at
and space, no limitation in the E-learning or electronic learning is the world at large, business
number of persons to be a training method that provides conditions and business
trained. VSL is providing pedagogic contents on an organisations, which improves
throughout the network CDs electronic support (CD, Internet, their perspective on the position,
showing VSL techniques and intranet, extranet, interactive role and duties of the individual
methods. Furthermore, over television, etc). It allows flexibility within the corporate environment.
150 training videos concerning of the training, i.e. self-training Another axis of training is bench
8 activities, a total of 45 hours upon demand, according to the marking in transverse functions,
of VSL-specific training are individual rhythm. It is less cost- such as financial controlling,
available. Updates and new intensive, easy to be distributed accounting and others.
videos are continuously and thus well adapted to VSL’s Experiences, potentially repeatable
prepared and are available network organisation. VSL successes, best practices as well
online for internal use only. provides and distributes such as new tools and procedures are
individual training online with shared between the different
specific videos and presentations. business units for the best
14
Managers, with a forecasted need
of 25 new Project Managers per
year in the Asia-Pacific region.
The objective of these sessions is
twofold: the main objective is to
improve the knowledge and
objective management capabilities
and to prepare the personal and
career development of managers
with an identified potential. At the
moment, the third training session
is ongoing.
As of 2009, the principle of PMX
will evolve and be upgraded taking
into account the experiences of the
last three years of training
sessions and in order to further Well trained staff is VSL’s
reinforce the acquisition of VSL’s most valuable stake
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8Major Equipment Operation Permit
The MEOP includes the review of the following items: the site
documentation, the inspection of the equipment assembled as well as
possible use. Last but not least,
the site organisation and staff experience and skills. Finally, a special
such sessions with middle and top
emphasis is put on the enforcement of the rules and procedures related
management enhance a personal
to the operations.
network within a multi-national
and multi-cultural company.
At VSL it is considered the
manager’s task to discuss
expectations and needs in terms of
training and to provide appropriate
measures. These actions are
measured to fit VSL’s priorities:
“Well trained staff is our most
valuable stake to better service
our clients, says Thierry Serres,
Human Resources Manager of
VSL. Staff members who enjoy
their job increase the overall
performance of the company.
They contribute to VSL’s success
and ever enhanced quality
improvement.” ■
Project management
excellence training 15
PMX sessions
are organized in
4 courses of 3 to
4 days, in
January, May,
September and December. The
place of the sessions changes
depending on ongoing
worksites and interesting
projects, the availability
of guest speakers or any other
relevant event.
The program’s content
combines technical topics,
planning, organization, risk
management, result orientation
with communication topics,
leadership and management of
change. VSL’s managers thus
transfer the fundamentals and
culture of the company,
promotes exchanges and useful
networking throughout the group.
The courses are also completed
by external keynote speakers
and information on the latest
requirements.
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8SITE INSIGHTS
Spain
Expertise in action
> CTT Stronghold (VSL in Spain) cantilever method and is supported
is working on the construction of temporarily by stay cables, which
the Embalse de Contreras are anchored to an auxiliary steel Spain
Viaduct, which is one of the main structure built on temporary and
structures on the Madrid – Valencia
high speed railway. Upon completion,
permanent piles. The stay system
has been designed to ease the Talavera Y
its arch will be the biggest concrete stressing and destressing operations
16
arch of a railway bridge in Spain. through a combination of anchorage
The project involves the installation design, transfer beams and an
of temporary stays, post-tensioning arrangement of jacks. Main contractor
works using CS Anchorages and is a joint venture, AZVI – San José,
Couplers, as well as the supply of and the specialist subcontractor for
30 pot bearings with capacities from the bridge is Estructuras y Montajes
900t to 1,900t. The 587.25m-long (Grupo Puentes). The project
viaduct's main span takes the form engineers are from designer Carlos
of a concrete arch. The 261m-long Fernandez Casado and EIPSA. ■
arch is built by the incremental Contact: gislas@vslsp.com
> CTT Stronghold (VSL in Spain)
Portugal has won a package of work for a
318m-span landmark cable-stayed
Parallel success bridge at Talavera de la Reina.
The 183m-high pylon inclines
backwards and carries two parallel
> Portugal's west coast highway 18.1m-wide parallel decks has two layers of stays for the main span
crosses the River Mondego 135m main spans, two spans of as well as two sets of backstays.
through a 610.6m-long bridge 100m and side spans of 56.6m and The backstays end at massive
designed by Armando Rito Lda. 84m. Main contractor Somague anchorages situated off to the
Each of the two independent Engenharia SA built the box girder sides, giving the stay cables a
decks using the cast-in-situ Y shape when viewed in plan.
balanced cantilever method with VSL's work includes the supply
seven pairs of form travellers. and installation of 152 SSI 2000 stays
A fast cycle of two castings a week (90 m to 410m long), totalling 2,200t.
meant that cables had to be VSL also supplies and installs
tensioned just 16 hours after each dampers, both Gensui elastomeric
segment was cast. VSL Portugal and friction units. Another VSL role
supplied and installed 1,000t of on the project is the supply and
post tensioning cables. installation of 890t of PT. ■
■ Contact: ralmeida@vslsistemas.pt Contact: pferrer@vslsp.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8Colombia
Coastal cables
> VSL has been awarded a
contract on a cable-stayed bridge
with a 150m-long main span in
Buenaventura, on Colombia's
pacific coast. VSL's licensee in
Colombia, Sistemas Especiales de
Construcción will be responsible
Spain
for the installation of stay cables
for the Piñal Bridge, which is
scheduled to begin in March 2009. are from the VSL SSI 2000 range.
Complex lifts
Consorcio Puentes CF-C-116 is the
main contractor for the bridge,
There will be 80 replaceable stays
equipped with saddles at the top of for Cortegada
which has been designed by the pylon, ranging in size from
Pedelta and is being built for client 6-12 to 6-31. The project will use > Two dramatic and complex
Instituto Nacional de Vías. Germán galvanised, waxed monostrands lifting operations have been
Escobar Ingenieros is responsible placed ungrouted in an external carried out by CTT Stronghold (VSL
for the construction methodology. HDPE stay cable pipe. ■ Contact: in Spain) for the new Cortegada
The 80t of replaceable stay cables agonzalez@vslsp.com Viaduct over the Miño River in
north-west Spain. The 250m-long
viaduct has a main span of 182m,
with two 2,700t triangular concrete
17
cells forming the abutments. CTT
Stronghold was awarded the post-
tensioning works, the design and
supply of pot bearings, as well as
the design and execution of the
heavy lifting operations. One of the
cells was cast in situ while the
other – 20m high by 72m long -
Spain was constructed perpendicular to
its final position on a temporary
Accurate arch bearing. The first operation
involved rotating it. CTT Stronghold
designed and fabricated a special
> Post-tensioning by CTT central arch was constructed 4.8m-diameter rotation system on
Stronghold (VSL in Spain) was vertically in two 1,100t halves. The which the whole concrete structure
successfully completed in June on arches were then lowered, rather was built. Once the load was
one of the main structures of the than lifted, in order to minimise balanced, the controlled rotation
high speed railway in north-west the forces involved. VSL was took less than an hour. The
Spain, following a spectacular awarded the contract to lower structure was lifted onto jacks once
heavy lifting operation at the end them into position ready for the it had been rotated by 85º to enable
of last year. The Eixo Viaduct, close closing pour, with the lowering demolition of the rotation table and
to Santiago de Compostela, has a works carried out by VSL installation of the permanent
total length of 1,224m, with 24 piers Switzerland and CTT. It took just bearings. The second heavy lifting
and typical spans of 50m. Use of one day to lower each half arch. operation involved the erection of
a 100m arch for the central span The jacking system allowed the 86m central part of the main
provides the required structural precise adjustment prior to the steel span, delivered to site by river
response to one of the main final closing pour. Deflections and and raised 25m on lifting cables in
constraints of this kind of structure: forces were closely monitored just six hours. Client for the project
the braking forces generated by throughout the operation. The was Xunta de Galicia, the main
trains. A similar solution was main contractor was Estructuras contractor was Arias Hermanos
adopted for the Miraflores Viaduct, and the consultant was Pondio. ■ and the consultant was Pondio. ■
completed by VSL in 2005. The Contact: jmartinez@vslsp.com Contact: jmartinez@vslsp.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8SITE INSIGHTS
UAE
PT on the beach
> VSL has started work on tensioning design has enabled a
Al Zeina, one of several precincts
of Abu Dhabi's Al Raha Beach
significant reduction in the
reinforcement required, leading to
UAE
development. The 7km waterfront
scheme is being undertaken by
developer Aldar, which has formed
cost savings for the Client and
improved cycle times for the
installation. The peak of the works
Marine ties
18
a joint venture with Laing O'Rourke will see the installation of more
for the construction work. than 250t of post-tensioning per
The precinct consists mainly month and the total works
of residential accommodation represent in excess of 400,000m2
across 14 low-rise buildings of post-tensioned slabs.
plus townhouses and villas. Completion is scheduled for June
Optimisation of the post- 2009. ■ Contact: Ismail@vslme.ae
UAE > Dutco Balfour Beatty has
awarded VSL Middle East a supply
Pinnacle of success order for 242t of marine ties for a
new floating, production, storage
and off-loading quay facility in
project's overall construction Dubai. The quay is being
schedule. A 50m pinnacle tops the constructed for Drydocks World -
225m-high hotel tower. VSL Heavy Dubai. The 50-year design life and
Lifting proposed the erection marine environment dictate the
method to the main contractor, need for enhanced corrosion
CSHK Dubai Branch. VSL’s scope protection. The surface is prepared
of work encompassed the lifting of to a St2 finish in accordance with
the pinnacle as well as the design ISO 8501-1. A primer is then
of the lifting platform and guide applied and a bituminous tape is
system. Wind was a critical factor wound onto the bars. The
for the lift. The pinnacle followed corrosion protection is being
guides installed by VSL on the carried out in the new VSL Bar
> An efficient and safe solution building façade in order to avoid Facility in Dubai. Bars are supplied
proposed by VSL Heavy Lifting has any contact between the spire and in lengths of 11.8m and coupled on
enabled the complete and accurate the hotel's glass cladding. The site to a total length of 31.5m. Two
prefabrication at ground level of pinnacle reached its final position diameters of grade S670 bars are
the Dubai Mall Hotel's 35t smoothly within two days. ■ used – 57.5mm and 63.5mm.■
pinnacle, thus reducing the Contact: david.gratteau@vsl.com Contact: shemi@vslme.ae
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8Côte d’Ivoire N O T E P A D
Super bowl for Abidjan Alexandrovskaya Ferma. VSL
installed 34 stays up to 105m
in less than a fortnight on an
incrementally-launched curved
cable-stayed bridge in
St Petersburg, Russia. Work took
place above 21 railway tracks
without disruption to the rail
services. The main contractor
was Mostootriad 19, with design
by Guiprostroymost St Petersburg.
Colour fast. Blue stay cables
are being installed on the
2nd Bolshoya Okhta Bridge in
St Petersburg designed by
Guiprostroymost St Petersburg.
VSL's work with main contractor
Mostotrest follows the success
of the 1st Bolshoya Okhta Bridge
in 2005. The aim is to install
30 of the 6-19 cables, ranging
from 5m to 27m, in less than two
weeks to support the 160m-long
19
main span.
> VSL has lifted and secured a compacted strands. Every element,
5,000m3 water tank as part of a including PT and grouting, had Czech innovation. VSL has
project to pump drinking water to be installed and embedded at completed its first Czech
from underground to new water ground level prior to the lift. Once Republic project featuring
towers for distribution to the ever- in the final position, 18 PT cables electrically-isolated prestressed
growing population in the upper were stressed to fix the bowl. tendons. The Nove Spojeni project
part of the capital Abidjan. Twelve Then, the 12 lifting cables were is a 325m-long railway bridge.
SLU 330 lifting units were equally released and converted to serve The special requirements were
distributed around the shaft to lift as further PT cables, so that a total to use internal and external
the 2,700t tank to a height of 35m of 30 vertical tendons Edy 6-31 electrically-isolated tendons and
before it was fixed into position support the tank. ■ Contact: external PT cables allowing
using post-tensioning with david.gratteau@vsl.com additional stressing in future.
VSL developed a modified
external anchor to meet the
project's needs and installed
Tunisia sensors to measure long-term
stresses.
Twin for Tunis Parallel award. Bilfinger Berger
has awarded the stay cable work
> Construction work has just reserved for vehicles entering the for the Smaalenene Bru to VSL
started on the new Z4 interchange city. VSL Tunisia will provide the Norge A/S. The bridge near Oslo
at the Avenue de la République 400t of post-tensioning, as well as is VSL's first parallel-strand
and Rue d’ Italie in Tunis. The new the elastomeric and pot bearings cable-stayed bridge in Norway.
825m-long viaduct will be adjacent as a subcontractor to the Tunisian The scope of work for the single
to the existing one, and will ease contractor Chaabane. This is pylon bridge includes the supply
traffic congestion by increasing VSL Tunisia’s second project and installation of 28 VSL SSI
access capacity into and out of the there, following the soon-to-be- 2000 stays, ranging in size from
city. Following completion in completed Radés La Goulette 6-55 through to 6-85 and to be
October 2010, the new viaduct will Bridge. ■ Contact: equipped with VSL's Gensui
be used for vehicles leaving Tunis k.doghri@bouygues- vibration damping system.
while the original one will be construction.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8SITE INSIGHTS
Estonia
United Kingdom
Talinn premier VSL at the
> Post-tensioning works for the three parts in typical construction
slabs in the new Väike Paala office
building in Tallinn marks VSL's
first real step into the Estonian
cycle of two weeks per level. VSL is
using the unbonded slab system,
with the stressing S-6 and passive
BBC
market. A leading local company, SF-6 anchorages at each level.
20
OÜ Mapri Projekt, awarded the The total amount of monostrands
work to VSL. The building consists is more than 30t. VSL's work began
of five floors with a maximum span in June and the last strand was
of 7m by 7.5m and slab thicknesses stressed in September. ■ Contact:
of 200mm. Each floor is cast in pvanek@vsl.cz
Ireland > Slabs and transfer beams for
Bridge in full swing the extension of the BBC's
Broadcasting House in the heart of
London feature post-tensioning by
improve access to the northern part VSL. VSL’s scope of work includes
of the region. VSL is installing the the supply and installation of all
150t of post-tensioning and post-tensioning materials and
monitoring the bridge’s geometry, equipment, together with
having completed the construction supervision. The frame contractor is
engineering. Main contractor Ascon - Byrne Brothers, working for general
a key player in civil engineering in contractor Bovis Lend Lease. This
Ireland and a staunch VSL partner - building consists of eight levels of
is now taking less than a week to post-tensioned flat slabs as well as
construct two cantilevered transfer beams with multi-strand
segments. Two pairs of form tendons, located at the second floor.
travellers - one on each pier – are Construction of the 6,700m2 of slabs
being used to build the main spans requires VSL to install 53t of 0.6”
as cantilevered segments cast in (15.7mm)-diameter strand. The
situ. Construction is going well and is tendons are stressed with 624 SO
on target to bridge the central 100m and H6-4 slab anchorages with
span before the end of the year. The PT-PLUS® plastic ducts. More than
> The construction of Ireland’s adjacent abutment spans were cast 20t of strand and 60 anchors CS 6-37
340m-long five-span Mulroy Bay in situ on scaffolding. ■ Contact: will be used for the transfer beams.
Bridge is now in full swing and will bruno.thierry@vsl.com ■ Contact: julien.bazin@vsl.ch
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8Switzerland
High speed
hangar
> The complete steel roof
structure for a new hangar at
Basel Euroairport was lifted into
place in a single day. The choice of
roof erection method was a
deciding factor in completing Jet
Aviation's hangar in record time.
The roof, including cladding and Switzerland
Rail upgrade
insulation, was lifted to its final
level. Construction began at the
end of 2007, with the first plane
rolling into the hangar on 20 April.
Losinger was the contractor and > VSL is installing pre-grouted permanent soil nails. Due to stray
VSL was involved from the early electrically-isolated bar anchors currents all permanent bar anchors
design stages to ensure successful as part of a major project to enhance must be electrically isolated and
and timely completion. ■ Contact: Swiss rail capacity. Zurich’s main meet stringent code requirements.
daniel.junker@vsl.com rail station is a terminus, which The project involves the installation
creates a bottleneck as use expands. of a total of 7,567 anchor heads
A double rail lane will bypass with 72.5km of pre-grouted
UAE Zürich to link Altstetten and electrically-isolated passive B500
21
Island
Oerlikon in a large bow, providing bar anchors and 178 prestressed
more and better connections. VSL permanent and electrically-
Switzerland is working in a joint isolated strand anchors. ■ Contact:
platforms venture, providing temporary and christophe.candolfi@vsl.com
> Taisei Corporation has
awarded VSL Middle East a
United Kingdom
contract for precasting of
walkways and housing platforms
for a major new residential area
Ageless anchors
within Dubai's prestigious artificial > VSL (UK) has just completed delighted. The results are a tribute to
island projects. Palm Jebel Ali is the first stage of a contract to test, the VSL Ground Anchor System and
the second of three Palm Island adjust and monitor some VSL ground demonstrate its quality, reliability
projects under development by anchors installed more than 30 years and durability in withstanding the
Nakheel in Dubai. There are ago and has found them to be in test of time in such a hostile and
504 'waterhome' platforms, each remarkable condition. The anchors corrosive environment. ■ Contact:
consisting of a 26m-long and form part of London’s River Thames christophe.petrel@vsl.com
13m-wide slab which is supported Flood Defence Scheme and had not
monolithically on two longitudinal been maintained or tested since
post-tensioned beams and five installation. Large numbers are
secondary, transverse reinforced submerged twice daily with the tide
beams. The weight of each and some have been under water
platform is about 285t. The 134 since the mid 1970s. Many were
T-shaped post-tensioned walkway found to be ‘as new’ and over 60% of
beams vary in length from 20m to the 123 tested to date were close to
34m and are 1,100mm high and the load at which they had originally
850mm wide on top. VSL’s contract been locked. The remainder were
covers the precasting as well reloaded back to original values with
as supply and installation of all no failures, resulting in 100%
PT components. ■ Contact: success. The client, the Environment
patrick.arnold@vsl-intrafor.com Agency, is both impressed and
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8SITE INSIGHTS
Korea
Business extension
> VSL Korea has diversified its 3,800t of rebar, 24,000m3 of concrete
business with a contract with Posco and 1,100t of 0.6" (15mm) strand.
Construction for structural and Post-tensioning involved 88 horizontal
post-tensioning works on a tank as tendons and 132 vertical tendons
part of the extension to the Gwang
Yang LNG Terminal. The 200,000m3
using GC6-27 anchorages.
Prefabricated bundles of 27 strands
Hong Kong
above-ground full containment tank
has an 86.4m outer diameter and
height of 52.8m. The tank consists
with lugs in their ends are inserted
into steel pipes for the vertical
tendons, while corrugated steel
Flood alert!
of a base, nine wall sections, a sheaths are used horizontally. ■ > Hong Kong's Water Supplies
ring-beam and roof. It requires Contact: hansshin@vslkorea.co.kr Department adopted the VSL
22
Climbform system for the
construction of a 40m-high draw-
Singapore off tower at the Lower Shing Mun
Reservoir on a site that was at
Core expansion constant risk from flooding.
VSL HK worked as specialist
sub-contractor to Ming Hing
> VSL is continuing the Waterworks Engineering Company
expansion of its Ground from March to June on a contract
Engineering business with new that included the design, supply
operations in Singapore. The and operation of the Climbform
project is for a diaphragm wall at system. The biggest challenge lay
Chinatown Station, part of an in the risk of flooding of the works
extension to the underground area. At times of heavy rain, the
railway network. Work was Water Supplies Department would
awarded to VSL Singapore in open a flood gate adjacent to the
December 2007 and diaphragm draw-off tower to release water.
wall excavation started in April. It This would flood the entire site
involves construction in just eight within an hour. Personnel and
months of 1.25km of diaphragm equipment had to be on standby at
wall, with 25,000m3 of excavation all times ready for emergency
and concrete together with evacuation. Fortunately, there was
installation of 3,000t of only one 'black rain' storm during
reinforcement. The core of the working space limited to a 10m- the project and the Climbform had
diaphragm wall team is from wide strip and 80m of 20m-deep reached a height just above the
Intrafor Hong Kong, but the project diaphragm wall to be built under a flood. VSL HK is expecting further
has provided an opportunity to bridge with a clearance of only 6m. work on the project, to design,
combine other resources from VSL Gammon Construction is main supply and install formwork to
Asia. The constraints which make contractor for the project, which is construct a corbel on top of the
this project a challenge include the due for completion in early 2009.■ tower and replace an existing
site location on a major road in a Contact: xavier.heurtaux@vsl- footbridge. ■
busy commercial and tourist area, intrafor.com Contact : alice.lin@vsl-intrafor.com
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8precast segmental elevated
highway project and is achieving
a four day cycle per span, which is
20% faster than originally envisaged.
The highway is crucial for reducing
congestion. Engineering challenges
India that VSL has solved include the
heavy lifting of the 1,000t launching
Hong Kong
Highway gantries at the start of the project
and the complex erection of spans
completion
over the existing Nandi flyover.
This success has led to a new Steadying the
stock market
contract on the Bangalore
Nelamangala expressway, to be
> VSL India is nearing completion erected with an even faster cycle.
of the 9.5km Bangalore-Hosur ■ Contact: m.phillips@vslindia.com > Intrafor Hong Kong has
successfully avoided shaking the
Hong Kong stock market thanks to
Australia tight vibration control during its
recent project on the extension of
Oversized precast panel the MTRC Airport Express and Tung
Chung Line railway tunnels.
The 40m-long MTRC overrun tunnel
To improve appearance the panel is supported by 11 barrettes and
design incorporated sections of surrounded by a 1.2m-thick
25mm-raised ribs. VSL cast the continuous diaphragm wall, founded
23
panels on site for ease of on granite at an average depth of
transportation. Production involved 35m. The excavation of 7,300m3
stripping, lifting and casting a new of soil and rock was difficult due to
panel out of each of six moulds on the presence of boulders, deep
a daily basis. 170mm slump concrete compacted reclamation fill and a
with a high early strength of 25 MPa variable rock level. The proximity of
was required to allow removal from sensitive structures such as the
> The Bonville Bypass Project in the moulds after just 18 hours. International Finance Centre which
New South Wales, required VSL Shrinkage was controlled by use of houses the HK Stock Exchange,
to detail, cast and supply 6,222m2 saturation curing and by wrapping meant that vibrations induced by
of featured oversized, precast panels in plastic for seven days. the excavation, and particularly
concrete noise wall panels within The scheme’s design is by SMEC the chiselling, required monitoring
just four months. The panels are up Australia and the main contractor to keep vibration velocities under
to 5.4m high by 7.7m wide, 130mm is Abigroup Contractors. ■ Contact: the 15mm/s limit. ■ Contact:
thick and weigh as much as 13t. dtrayner@vsl-australia.com.au Anthony.mak@vsl-intrafor.com
Korea
Immersed debut
> VSL Korea is carrying out immersion of sections of tunnel
Korea's first immersed tunnel has already begun. The tunnel has
project as part of the Busan-Geoje eight elements, each made up of
Fixed Link project, which also eight segments, and its cross
includes bridges. The works cover section measures 9.75m high and
casting of concrete, rebar 26.5m wide. The work will be
fabrication, operation of forms and followed next year by VSL's
installation of some 2,500t of installation of 570t of stay cables
internal PT for the 3,240m-long for one of the project's bridges. ■
tunnel. Construction and Contact: hansshin@vslkorea.co.kr
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8SITE INSIGHTS
Australia
Gateway
milestone
> A milestone had been achieved
recently on Queensland's 1.6km-
long 2nd Gateway Bridge with the
erection of the first set of halving
joint segments on the north side of
the river approach viaduct. VSL
Australia is in an alliance with
Leighton Abigroup to construct the
duplicate bridge for Queensland
Motorways as part of the Gateway
Upgrade project. Each halving joint
is formed from two pairs of lower
and upper L-shaped precast
segments (145t and 185t
respectively), which were erected
using a 600t crawler crane. The
two sets of halving joint segments
will each contain two permanent
sliding bearings and are
24
temporarily held together with
three 400t support jacks, grout
pads and stress bars pending
completion of the cantilevers and
installation of the bearings. To
date, four 71m spans on the lower
end of the approaches have been
erected by crawler crane. A 165m-
long launching gantry is being
assembled for use at the higher
Australia piers. The project's casting facility
achieved a milestone recently with
Growing relationship the cast of its 100,000th tonne of
precast products. The 260m main
span is progressing with the pier
> The award of an additional Brook Bridge involved the post- construction. ■ Contact:
contract on Brisbane's Northern tensioning of 17 headstocks Jonathan.Davies@lajv.com.au
Gateway Upgrade project is each with eight tendons of up to
testament to VSL's relationship 25 strands. Safety was paramount
as an Alliance Partner on the and extra precautions were taken
scheme's main bridge, the when installing and relocating
2nd Gateway Bridge. Queensland platforms, with inspections from
Department of Main Roads VSL and LAJV. Daily tool box talks
awarded Leighton Abigroup Joint helped avoid potential safety risks.
Venture (LAJV) the contracts for Headstock post-tensioning took
Kedron Brook Bridge and the seven to nine working days at
Southern Bifurcation Bridge. the start of the project. By the
VSL was appointed in January to fourth headstock, the cycle time
carry out the post-tensioning of had been reduced to five days and
the bridges and was also to just four days by the sixth. ■
responsible for design and supply Contact: smills@vsl-
of stressing platforms. Kedron australia.com.au
N E W S N ° 2 • 2 0 0 8You can also read
