Identifying challenges early on to support customer needs ahead of competition
Contractor
Ferrovial Agroman, OHL
Processes
Sprayed ConcreteLocation
Chile
The Project
Two additional underground lines to extend the vast Santiago Metro network of Chile’s capital city. The total amount of sprayed concrete for both lines is approximately 500,000 m3, placed until mid-2016.
Line 3 consists of 19 stations and 21.7 kilometres of running tunnel, that requires highly demanding sprayed concrete strength development and permeability specifications. Line 6 consists of 11 stations and 15.3 km of running tunnel, with sprayed concrete strength requirements beginning at 12 hours.
Line 3 was split into six sections. Four contracts were awarded: Sections 1 and 2 to OHL, Section 3 to Ferrovial Agroman, Section 4 to Isolux/ICA and Sections 5 and 6 to OHL.
The awarded contracts were led by large Spanish companies accustomed to working with traditional European admixture and accelerator suppliers.
The Challenge
The technical specifications for the sprayed concrete for Santiago Metro Line 3 required the strength development to fall within the J2 and J3 classes, with a four-hour slump retention time and a 25% strength drop over the control sample without accelerator.
This presented a particularly difficult challenge considering that all local cements are blended cements, which generally do not help early strength development.
Quick Facts
- Challenging strength requirements of the project identified early on
- Normet Chile’s solution allowed the contractor to avoid further delays
- Technical advice and field service by Normet sealed the deal
The Solution
Normet Chile identified the challenge early on and provided the contractor with trial support and technical advice ahead of the competitors. Intensive worksite training with contract personnel was also provided, and on-site troubleshooting strengthened our position with the customer, placing Normet to a leading role in the project.
Extensive field trials were conducted to compare three brands of accelerators using three brands of cement. Based on the strength results and intensive Normet field service and technical advice provided during the trials, OHL and Ferrovial selected Normet’s TamShot 70 AFC and our package of knowledge and support. Our accelerator supply accounts for 80% to 100% of demand for Line 3.
Most of the sprayed concrete mixes were supplied by ready-mix companies, who use Normet competitors’ products.
Normet Chile’s strong position with the Metro contractors and our sprayed concrete know-how and good contacts with the ready-mix industry allowed us to negotiate with one of them as a strategic partner for different contracts.
Project Outcome
When Ferrovial Agroman was awarded the contract for Section 3 of the Santiago Metro project, the supply of concrete spraying equipment was being negotiated in Spain by its purchasing department. Ferrovial Agroman had not worked with Normet equipment in other parts of the world, so the local contract management was not interested in an equipment quotation.
As the project developed in its early stages and Normet TamShot 70 AFC accelerator was showing good performance, the companies forged a closer relationship, and the contractor came to see Normet Chile as a problem-solving company.
When the equipment supply negotiations from Spain dragged on and a commitment on delivery date could not be achieved, Ferrovial approached Normet Chile for a solution. We offered two Spraymec Alpha 1430 PCs in a package with TamShot 70 AFC, allowing the contractor to avoid any project delay and use the product that was the best performer on-site.
In addition, large volumes of Normet’s TamCem 65C, TamCem HCA and TamCrete silica fume admixtures were extensively used in readymix as well as shotcrete mix supply site plant.
The technical knowledge of Normet’s product managers, their ability to serve as contractor advisors to meet the demanding Metro specifications, the good product performance and long working hours helped to position Normet Chile’s Chemicals division as specialist market leaders in the Santiago Metro project.
