Øresund project protected by International Protective Coatings
Øresund project protected by International Protective Coatings
Keywords Bridges, Coatings, International Protective Coatings
When the Øresund crossing, linking Denmark and Sweden, is opened in the year 2000, the steelwork on the bridges will be protected by products from International Protective Coatings.
This historic project combines bridges, a tunnel and an artificial island to cross one of Europe's busiest waterways. Construction began in 1996, after more than a century of interest in ways of linking the two Scandinavian neighbours. The spectacular crossing stretches from Limhamn near Malmö, across the Øresund,which links the Baltic with the Kattegat, to a point just south of Copenhagen(Plate 2).
Plate 2 The Øresund Bridge, linking Sweden and Denmark, is coated with products from International Protective Coatings
The bridges are being built by an international consortium, Sundlink Contractors, led by Swedish company, Skanska. The other partners are Hojgaard and Schultz and Monberg and Thorsen from Denmark, and Hochtief from Germany. These companies have previously co-operated in the construction of major bridges such as the Great Belt Link in Denmark and the Höga Kusten Bridge in northern Sweden.
The Øresund bridges are 7,844m long and consist of an elevated bridge and two approach bridges. Around 82,000 tonnes of steel are being used on the structure. The high-level sections are being constructed in Karlskrona, Sweden, by Karlskronavarvet, and the low sections in Cadiz, Spain, by Dragados Offshore SA. Coatings are being applied on both sites.
Altogether about 350,000 litres of coatings have been specified Interzinc, an epoxy zinc-rich primer, followed by one of the Intercure range of rapid-recoat epoxies and finished with Interthane, a high-gloss polyurethane, in Traffic Black.
International Protective Coatings was included in discussions about the project from its inception,involving sales and technical personnel from offices in Angared, Sweden, under the direction of Ralph Halldin, who managed International's contribution to discussions lasting over two years. Throughout, International had to demonstrate that its products would meet the tough standards laid down by Sweden's bridges authorities. This early co-operation resulted in unanimous agreement amongst the contractors to use International's products.
In order to respond more efficiently to the needs of major projects such as Øresund, where contractors are often based in different countries and continents, International has just completed the globalisation of its business.
This has involved standardising its range of products and services, producing new technical manuals in a choice of languages and developing an Internet site and e-mail information systems.
"We have always been international, but now we can truly claim to be a global business offering the same products, standards of service and support wherever in the world our customers happen to be. Øresund is a prime example of the success of this strategy", said market director, Ian Walker.
Further details from International Protective Coatings. Tel: +44 (0)171 479 6423; Fax: +44 (0)171 479 6555; E-mail: jim.kavanagh@uk.akzonobel.com
