Skanska
Safer Work Environment with Pre-Assembled Bolt Cages
Skanska was commissioned to construct 22 concrete foundations at a new wind farm in Lyrestad, western Sweden. With pre-assembled bolt cages from Proplate, the international construction company was able to save time and money while simultaneously improving workplace safety and security at the construction site.
Both Material and Design Must Meet Extremely Tough Requirements
The new wind farm was developed on an elevated site in the forests between Mariestad and the Göta Canal, not far from the town of Lyrestad in Västergötland. This carefully selected location is known for its consistent wind conditions, making it nearly ideal for wind turbines.
Rabbalshede Kraft and Ardian Infrastructure were behind the project, where Skanska was tasked with designing and building roads, electrical networks, fiber optic networks, and performing groundwork for a substation. The contract also included casting concrete foundations for the 22 wind turbines, model Vestas V126, with a total height of 200 meters. These structures are subject to extreme loads, which means both the materials and design must meet exceptionally stringent requirements.
Chose Pre-Assembled Bolt Cages to Save Time
"The collaboration between Skanska and Proplate began with a discussion that included Rose Holm, who supplies bolts for the wind turbines. Skanska was primarily looking for a customized solution that guarantees the towers stand securely," explains Christer Bäcklin, District Manager of Road and Construction for the Western Region at Skanska. "But there were also specific requirements regarding how the product should be delivered."
"The most common method is to assemble everything on-site, brace by brace, steel piece by steel piece," he says. "But that approach can be very time-consuming. That's why we wanted the bolt cages to be pre-assembled before delivery."
Proactive with Reliable Delivery
The result was that Proplate delivered the pre-assembled bolt cages in four sections that were then joined together on-site. In the next phase, the bolts were screwed into the base of the foundation. This approach offered several advantages, notes Christer Bäcklin.
"This way of working is safer for our team members on-site. Furthermore, the quality is better. With faster setup, we were able to save time at the construction site, which is extremely important for us. Outdoor work always involves some uncertainty due to weather conditions."
Skanska has also placed tremendous value on Proplate's delivery reliability, he explains.
- Proplate has been proactive throughout the entire collaboration, from working with us on the design of the bolt baskets to the actual deliveries. The materials have arrived exactly when we needed them. It’s just worked really well—high quality and competitive solutions.
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