Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) first for Maccaferri
17/08/2011
Fibre reinforced concrete [FRC] first for Maccaferri
International concrete fibre-reinforcement specialists, Maccaferri, has taken an important first step into the UK market with the installation of one of its dedicated fibre reinforced concrete dosing [DOSO] plants at the F P McCann precast factory in Leicestershire.
At the F P McCann site, Maccaferri steel fibre reinforcement will be used in the casting of concrete tunnel-lining segments where its ease of incorporation and high performance characteristics will save time and production costs in this competitive industry sector.
Concrete fibre reinforcement is a modern replacement for traditional and costly, steel-cage reinforcement in large, precast-concrete components.
The reinforcement fibres - steel filaments about the size of a small paperclip - are mixed with a cementitious hydrated paste to create a highly ductile concrete which is able to maintain a residual capacity in the post cracking phase.
The steel fibres redistribute the forces within the concrete, restraining the mechanism of formation and extension ofcracks - literally ‘stitching’ the sides of a forming crack together.
In Europe, Maccaferri occupies a leading position in fibre reinforcement technology. Their materials have been used extensively in high profile projects including the new Barcelona Metro extension, where Maccaferri FRC has been used to fabricate the 7.0m diameter lining segments for the underground tunnels.
In the UK, Maccaferri sees this DOSO plant installation as an important first step into the market, where precast companies are increasingly turning away from costly and labour hungry steel cage reinforcement, so that they can squeeze ever better value from their concrete production facilities.
Commenting on the new installation, Mark Jennings, Quality and Engineering Manager for FP McCann said “Fibres will help reduce the overall weight of reinforcement and will make the casting process quicker and smoother”
According to Maccaferri Fibres Specialist Bernard Berge, the DOSO plant installation at FPMcCann represents an important strategic alliance for the two companies. “Maccaferri’s fibres expertise and FP McCann’s leading position in the precast market makes this a golden opportunity to cement a strong working relationship” said Mr Berge.
The DOSO machine, which delivers accurately batched quantities of steel reinforcement fibres into the concrete batching plant, was supplied and installed by Maccaferri’s own engineers, who are based at the company’s Bologna headquarters in Italy.
FRC production began at the F P McCann plant in early May with delivery of casting to a major infrastructure project in London commencing in June 2011.
