Prestigious global experts in planning and executing underground constructions filled the Bella Center Copenhagen on the occasion of the World Tunnel Congress. Between various items and seminars on the agenda, participants had the opportunity to attend the accompanying exhibition with a total of 180 exhibitors. The fixing expert fischer attended with its own booth to present a selection of its tunnel construction innovations to a large audience of experts.
“The World Tunnel Congress was highly successful for us”, summarises Dr Oliver Geibig, Managing Director Business Units & Engineering at the fischer Group of Companies. “We seized the opportunity to speak to visitors about our current range of products and services and also discussed specific project and application solutions in addition to current industry trends to get inspiration for potential new developments”. Popular topics included sustainability and carbon footprints, both of which are becoming increasingly important in planning, procurement and processing. But solutions such as digital tunnel monitoring during construction and renovation were also on the agenda. “Megatrends such as these have long been prevalent at our company and will continue to be developed”, Dr Oliver Geibig emphasises.
The exhibitor showcased fixing, installation, cast-in channel and FireStop systems designated for tunnel construction at its booth. The products have been tested in accordance with European and international standards and in most cases have an ETA (European Technical Assessment) as well as UL and ICC approvals for the USA and countries in the Far East. Construction products have to fulfil specific requirements in tunnel construction. fischer’s fixing and system solutions made of stainless and highly corrosion-resistant steel are resistant to highly corrosive atmospheres often or temporarily found in road and rail tunnels. They are also safe in the event of fire as well as in case of fatigue, seismic and impact influences.
fischer also presented its installation systems made of hot-dip galvanised or stainless steel for light to heavy loads which cover almost every application in tunnel construction and other projects. The modular components can be combined to suit the construction situation. The showcased fischer cast-in channel systems consisting of anchor channels and special t-head bolts guarantee high load-bearing capacity and are adaptable and flexible while making construction projects quicker and simpler. fischer’s FireStop range for structural fire protection was also exhibited and is suitable for almost all simple and complex applications in tunnel construction.
In addition to this, fischer showcased solutions for almost all kinds of fastening applications in tunnel construction, such as the fischer nail anchors FNA II for permanent and temporary fastenings. FNA II can be placed with a hammer or by using the time-saving push-through method of installation with a hammer drill and automatically expands under load.
Another key topic at fischer’s booth included fischer’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) services. The fixing specialist offers smart, digital twins of relevant products, system components and predefined components as well as custom BIM engineering services to optimise almost every planning, construction and operational phase of buildings.
At the World Tunnel Congress, the fixing specialist also demonstrated that it not only provides suitable products for tunnel construction projects around the globe but also a range of helpful services. The options cover every construction phase – ranging from consultation and design services, approval procedures and training all the way to on-site briefing and installation support.
