Hendriks has been synonymous with innovation in formwork technology and formwork processes for many years. Or, more precisely, in formwork that speeds up construction processes and makes them more flexible. The company provides excellent proof of this with its Wide Tunnel, a tunnel formwork system that allows span widths of up to 11 metres.
Response to construction assignment
With the National Housing Agenda aiming for 75,000 new homes per year, the Dutch construction industry is facing an enormous challenge. A challenge that can only be met by investing heavily in innovation. And where could that innovation best be focused, considering that many of the new homes are being built in high-rise buildings? Exactly: tunnel formwork technology! Add to this the demand from property owners for more freedom in layout during the lifetime of a building, and the answer seems obvious: a wide tunnel formwork system that allows more homes to be built in less time and offers unprecedented freedom in layout. This freedom applies from the start of construction right through to completion. After all, larger bay dimensions make it possible to take into account the diverse wishes of residents during construction!
Wide Tunnel
Hendriks recently introduced the answer during the construction of the President apartment complex in The Hague, where Red Betonbouw is responsible for all structural work on behalf of Heembouw. The Brede Tunnel is being used here. This latest addition to Hendriks' programme is no less than 11 m wide, giving it a clear span of 10.20 m. With a single formwork, around 170 m2 of floor can be poured in one go per day. At the President, an entire floor with two full tunnels can be completed in three days. You could call it an innovative 1-2-3 process.
Innovative solution
The Wide Tunnel fits seamlessly into Hendriks' programme. The width can be varied from 7.80 m to 11 m using fitting pieces; the length can be up to 18 m. The basic formwork is no different from existing tunnel formwork, but the necessary structural work has been done to enable the large span. For example, large steel beams have been provided at the top to relieve the floor during formwork removal. For the stripping itself, the formwork is equipped with an intelligent hinge system that ensures that the two halves of the formwork move evenly towards each other by approx. 6 cm during unloading. The familiar pulling-out technique with movable wheels is used for pulling out. A crane then transports the formwork to the adjacent section.
A number of innovations were also implemented from an ergonomic and construction speed perspective. Take, for example, the new tapered centre pins (the single-sided MAXIMO centre pin from Peri BeNeLux) that can be inserted from one side. Thanks to their conical design, they not only find their way along the reinforcement, but are also self-locking. This eliminates the need for plastic cones and speeds up centring. Special holders on the tunnel box trusses provide space for the centre pins. This ensures that they are always easily accessible and ergonomic for the tunnel crew.
Flexibility and freedom
The Brede Tunnel brings many new developments. Not only does the box contain smart solutions that speed up the construction process, it also opens up a whole new world for property developers and owners. A developer who wants to offer more variety in housing or an architect who wants to try a different floor plan suddenly has much more flexibility and freedom with the Brede Tunnel. Incidentally, the freedom of layout is not limited to the design and construction phase. In a society where living at home for longer is becoming the norm and diversity within housing complexes is increasing, freedom of layout is of great importance. The Brede Tunnel now offers that freedom.
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