The importance of details

It is not the buildings that make the covers of architecture magazines, but they are all the more indispensable. They are the precast concrete stations that are the safe housing of transformers, generators, telecom installations or analytical equipment. Ahorn Bouwsystemen from Zutphen has devoted itself to the development, engineering and construction of these types of prefabricated structures. This is done in close consultation with clients and end users such as Tennet, Enexis, the Belgian Infrabel and large concerns in the chemical and oil industries. Demanding customers. Therefore, Ahorn works with partners who think along with us and can deliver the highest quality, such as Schroeder Ankers.

Anne van Velden, sales manager for family-owned Maple Building Systems, has seen the order book become overflowing in recent years. "We are in the middle of the energy transition and we have a lot of involvement in that. Electrification has boomed and that means not only more facilities are needed to house the infrastructure, but electrical equipment like transformers are also getting bigger and heavier. As we speak, an order is just through for the delivery of a first transformer room for Schiphol Airport, which can be used to charge electric vehicles."

A job like this is a step in the process that Ahorn goes through with the client and contractor. Van Velden: "We build almost everything prefabricated in the factory, and this is done based on the customer's specific requirements. For example, what will be in the building? What are the dimensions going to be? What ventilation and grounding will be needed? What connections are needed? And is a recess needed for the air conditioner? Once everyone has approved the design, our draftsman works it out in Revit and production can begin. This takes place in Zutphen, where the floor and walls are made, assembled and finished. Sometimes the building is completely furnished in the factory, which means we are ready even faster at the final building site. This makes most clients and contractors very happy. A single unit is then in place in two to four hours."

Since the bulk of the buildings are delivered ready-made to site, not only do they have to fit on a trailer, but they also have to be hoistable. "Of course, that 100% has to be able to be done safely, which is why we have been working with Schroeder Anchors for some time," Van Velden continues. "They supply not only high-quality anchors and other fasteners, but also technical support and calculations. Simply put, we tell them what the dimensions and weight of a unit are, how it is constructed and how we want to move it in the factory and on site. Schroeder then calculates for us how many lifting anchors we need to pour in, in what location and how they should be collapsed or welded to the rebar, for example. We incorporate that into the design."

For a major oil company, Ahorn recently delivered an analysis station, a unit in which and on which measuring equipment is attached. Van Velden: "This is almost 10 meters long and over 3 meters wide and high and weighs 65 tons fully rigged. Schroeder calculated and supplied all the lifting equipment for this. In order to be able to hang analysis equipment on the outside, mounting profiles were attached to the outer wall. Anchors were cast in at an angle for this purpose so that no water remains in them. It's those little details that you have to include in the design already. We are a demanding company with demanding customers. That's why we work with partners who not only deliver high quality, but also think along for the best solution."