7 July 2015, 13:22
Barriers to protect the coast from waves and provide security for ships in port, expansion and renovation of the container terminal, artificial embankments and piers ... for some years now work is continuing for the modernization of the port of Civitavecchia, to improve reception both as a tourist port and a commercial port. The contracting company is the Port Authority of the same name, while the large cell caissons made in reinforced concrete have been entrusted to the firm Grandi Lavori Fincosit S.p.A. and Impresa Pietro Cidonio S.p.A. Such an important construction site could not do without quality machinery, and in fact, more impressive than ever with its long arm and 4 open stabilizers, we see a pump truck Cifa K48 at work, a recent purchase of Carmine Filogamo, specializing in the transport and pumping of concrete. We arrive just in time to see the machine casting concrete to make cell caissons, reinforced concrete structures comprising a bottom slab that serves as the foundations, and an integral shaft, consisting of perimeter walls and internal sections that divide it into an adequate number of cells. "The caissons, explains Engineer Vittorio Serio (Impresa Pietro Cidonio S.p.A.), assistant to the Site Director Engineer Marco Rinaldo, are used in continuous port or coastal defense works and in supports such as docks and piers”. If we climb the scaffolding of the floating system, from above we see the formwork made of double metal formwork and a work surface. First, the metal reinforcement for the slab is laid down with a rebar for the external walls and internal partitions for the trunk of the caisson, then the base slab is cast, delimited by special formwork perimeters. When the sliding formwork is lowered (SLIPFORM technique) the caisson shaft is built by casting the concrete into the formwork and simultaneously installing the metal warping. After the shaft is cast, the formwork is suspended above the upper mobile frame and raised so as not to hinder the launching of the caisson. Lastly, the box, suitably ballasted, is extracted from the system and towed to the point of temporary storage in flotation, where installation is completed and the prefabricated cover slab is sealed. The pumped concrete that will come in contact with the water presents special features: a RCK 45 with class XS3 exposure, strong resistance and additives, which must promptly "withdraw" to allow the formwork to be raised to continue the production until the end of the day. "Each parterre casted, says Filogamo, corresponds to 400 cubic meters of concrete, and the pumped material, because of the additives, clings to the walls of the pipes making the operation more difficult." But the K48 is proving perfect for this job and furthermore the company Pietro Cidonio, which specializes in the field of maritime works and construction of reinforced concrete cell caissons, is satisfied. The HPG pumping unit of the K48 makes it possible to obtain excellent results right where a substantial boost is needed to pump at a distance, and the 48 m arm easily bypasses the floating scaffolding reaching over the formworks where the workers steer the boat in complete safety. The relationship between Filogamo and Cifa dates back to the beginning of its activities, when it was assisted by the "old guard" Cifa in Caserta. It then moved to construction sites in Tuscany and Lazio, where Filogamo leaned on the Cifa Centro branch located in Umbertide (PG), which became for him a reference point for repairs, extraordinary maintenance on machines and purchase of spare parts. Thanks to the structure based on know-how, professionalism and rapid interventions, and an environment of friendship and mutual esteem, an excellent personal relationship was consolidated between Filogamo and components of the subsidiary. "Both at Cifa and at Cifa Center, concludes Filogamo, I found helpful, fast and effective realities: requirements that are difficult to find in other brands".
Source: CIFA SpA