Industrial manhole base production makes ergonomic work possible

First Perfect manhole base production line commissioned in Scandinavia

Fig. 1 The hot-wire saws ensure that the EPS mold parts required for the negative drain are accurately cut to size.

Fig. 2 The molds consisting of spherical steel shells accommodate the negative drains for casting with SCC.

Fig. 3 Following the curing process, the monolithic manhole bases are removed from the molds and turned into their installation position.

Fig. 4 The label containing all relevant element data, including construction site information, is attached to the outside of the manhole base in a clearly visible position.

Fig. 5 The samples presented at the trade show in Stockholm in September 2009 demonstrate the design freedom and customized layout of the Perfect system.

Fig. 6 The Alfa Rör Group stand at VA Mässan Water Fair 2009.

In Hallsberg, Sweden, Meag VA-System AB set up its Perfect manhole base production line in summer 2009. Apart from the excellent product quality, the resulting improvement in the working conditions at the production facility, which had not been achieved at any other plant before, was met with great attention both within the group and beyond. At the same time, this investment enables the group to expand its product range to master the challenges of the future. As the first producer of Perfect manhole bases in Scandinavia, the company, which is a member of the Alfa Rör group, demonstrates its technological leadership in the production of precast elements for pipeline construction whilst improving the working conditions in its own production in the long term.

In Sweden, concrete manhole bases had previously been manufactured mainly from prefabricated shaft elements into which the required inlets were drilled by expensive diamond-tipped tools whilst the drain was produced manually using tamped concrete. Although this method was appropriate to prefabricate a series of standard products at a low cost, the cost per unit often increased due to subsequent adjustments to the requirements of the sewer project. In this setting, the quality of the products suffered at each additional work step, both in terms of the tightness of inlets and drains and the...