Kleemann

Algeria, the largest country in North Africa, is currently investing huge sums of money in its infrastructure. A new, 1,216 km long and almost entirely three-lane motorway was built in the country in just three and a half years. It is the Algerian section of the “Transmaghrébine” that will link Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. In the construction process, Algerian authorities applied the highest safety standards in accordance with European safety levels: all stretches of the motorway were provided with concrete safety barriers. Contractors relied on quality made in Germany, deciding to use Wirtgen slipform pavers type SP 150 and SP 250 to complete this job.

Algeria is presently enjoying a tremendous economic boom as a result of the high prices of oil and gas. Part of the money is used for an ambitious development programme aiming at modernizing the country’s infrastructure. In the construction of the Transmaghrébine, the Algerian authorities placed the highest value on the motorway complying with European standards. The most stringent requirements were also applied in terms of safety, and for a good reason, as the thriving economy also means continuously increasing volumes of traffic.

1,000 km plus of concrete safety barriers

Concrete safety barriers to be built along the edges and the centre were tendered for all of the new motorway sections – totalling more than 1,000 km – and were produced using the slipform paving technology. This technology was entirely unknown in Algeria just a few years ago. Arezki Hamia, owner of TPS and dealer of Wirtgen products, has introduced the efficient process in Algeria by way of numerous demonstrations and expert talks. “At first, customers couldn‘t believe that the concrete walls would keep upright and achieve such a high degree of stability”, says the Managing Director, looking back at the early stages. Today, customers are quite sure: the technology works perfectly well.

SP 150 guarantees simple handling

The SP 150, the smallest in the range of Wirtgen slipform pavers, is especially popular. The three-tracked machine is the ideal candidate for the construction of safety barriers and small concrete profiles. Ali Belamine from TPS states one of the major reasons: “Operation of the concrete paver is extremely simple and can be learned in no time at all. Just one day after commissioning and training by our team, customers are able to operate the slipform paver all on their own.”

Yet another reason for the success of the SP 150 – not only in Algeria but on a global scale – is that transport is extremely easy. The machine has been designed so that the mould does not have to be dismantled for transport. This saves time twice: during setup and during dismantling.

Top quality right to the finishing touches

When closing the gap to existing objects, the mould needs to be lifted over the then closed safety barrier after completion of the paving operation. The SP 150 offers an intelligent solution to this problem, for the machine frame is adjustable in height hydraulically by a maximum stroke of 900 mm. This enables the concrete safety barriers to be produced in an automated process and at a consistently high quality over the entire length.

Flexibility comes as a standard feature

The SP 150 plays some more trump cards during the paving operation: the pivoting legs and horizontally telescoping rear crawler track enable the slipform paver to be fully adjusted to the paving situation on site. Changing the mould from one machine side to the other quickly is yet another outstanding feature, and can even be performed on the construction site. This can significantly reduce setup times when paving concrete safety barriers.

Zero-clearance side creates opportunities

When paving safety barriers or other concrete profiles, it is sometimes necessary to place the concrete right up close to existing structures without having to adhere to any given clearance gauge. The SP 150 fully meets this requirement. It permits the paving mould to be suspended on the zero-clearance side in such a way that profiles can be produced right along walls or other boundaries.

Forty plus SP 150 pavers in operation in Algeria

Its many application benefits have contributed to the widespread success of the SP 150 in Algeria. To master this truly large-scale job, as many as forty SP 150 slipform pavers have been supplied to around 20 Algerian companies since 2007. These include many small private companies that have recognized the potential inherent in this technology and see many applications beyond the construction of safety barriers.

First, however, the contracting companies built the safety barriers along the edges and the centre of the approx. 1,100 km long stretch of new motorway. Some 4,000,000 linear metres altogether of 80 cm high New Jersey type safety barriers were produced. Now that operations on the Transmaghrébine have almost been completed, the motorway junctions as well as heavily trafficked country roads will gradually also be provided with concrete safety barriers. In addition, the paving crews will replace some of the existing steel crash barriers. The great wealth of experience gained enables the paving crews to achieve notable successes: the paving crew of contractor ETRHB, for instance, produced a remarkable 1,000 m of safety barrier with the Wirtgen slipform paver on a single day.

Canal construction relies on slipform paving with SP 150

In addition to safety barrier construction, slipform paving has inspired yet another sector of Algeria’s building industry: canal construction. While sewer construction involved manual shuttering and concrete placing just a few years ago, contractors owning a Wirtgen slipform paver are now able to produce canals of higher quality in less time and with fewer personnel. “Provided that conditions were right, I used to build 170 m of canal per day in the past and needed 25 workers to do the job. With the SP 150, I need less than half the number of staff to complete 300 m to 500 m on a normal day. The work is less strenuous, and the canals are more accurate and look a lot better,” says M. Gabouz, owner of a SP 150, with great satisfaction. He has meanwhile even purchased a concrete mixing plant in order to be able to produce his own concrete in the required amounts and to the specified quality.

Good service ensures continuous operation

The slipform pavers are functioning smoothly even after several years, producing concrete safety barriers and canals non-stop every day (and sometimes even at night). The supply of spare parts is managed by the Wirtgen dealer TPS, which can repeatedly score top marks with its know-how and short response times. Arezki Hamia explains why: “Customers appreciate our service. Our service technicians have attended many trainings in the German main plant and know the machines from the inside out. In addition to that, we stock sufficient quantities of spare parts, which enables us to supply customers at short notice. We simply feel committed to the value proposition of the Wirtgen Group: Close to our customers.”