Wirtgen machines at Beijing’s new airport

Slipform pavers from Wirtgen have played important roles for the Beijing New International Airport project. The four Wirtgen slipform pavers have been used for the construction of the apron area for the new Chinese airport.
June 10, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Designed for over one flight movement per minute: the traffic areas need to withstand high loads

The airport is scheduled to start operations on September 30th, 2019 and when it is complete, Beijing New International Airport will become be the world's largest airport. The huge new facility will play a key transport role as Beijing is a major air passenger hub for Asia. The new airport is located 67km from China’s capital city, along the border to Hebei province. It will relieve pressure on the existing airport northeast of Beijing, currently the world’s second-largest in terms of passenger volume. The new airport is expected to handle 45 million passengers at first but will have a total capacity of 100 million.

W_photo_SP500_01227_PR.jpg
A fleet of Wirtgen slipform pavers has been used at Beijing New International Airport in Daxing to construct the apron area, with a parking capacity of 268 aircraft

Low temperatures of around 0°C during the cold winters in Beijing were one of the challenges the Beijing Sino-Aero Construction Engineering Co, team faced during the construction period of the large apron area. A total of four 2395 Wirtgen SP 500 slipform pavers were used for paving single-layer concrete slabs 5m wide and 420mm thick over fixed forms. Levelling and steering parameters were communicated to the Wirtgen machine control system using string-line sensors. To withstand the high aircraft loads, the concrete slabs have been reinforced by means of steel dowels. High productivity and machine availability meant that the strict daily production targets were achieved, allowing the tight timeline to be met.

Cost factors are important for large projects and when choosing an equipment fleet, a contractor has to consider several factors. Minimising manpower was one of the main criteria considered by Sino-Aero Construction Engineering. The firm concluded that the Wirtgen slipform pavers would meet the demands of the automated concrete paving work to be carried out.

The paving work was carried out within the necessary parameters, as scheduled. The paving mold slipformed the concrete, exceeding the required specifications. Electrical vibrators were used to provide the high-frequency vibrations needed for optimum compaction of the concrete during the slipforming work. And the oscillating beam and super-smoother then provided the required finish for the new pavement.

Concrete milling, paving & compaction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Ahmedabad airport roll-out for Dynapac
    September 7, 2022
    Dynapac machines have set production records during the upgrade of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the Indian state of Gujarat.
    Read More
  • Hamm | Self-monitoring in earthworks via Smart Doc
    April 1, 2021
    With Smart Doc, Hamm presents an app with which compaction in earthworks can be transparently documented and the result shared with third parties. The lean app was developed in close coordination with building practitioners. The focus here was on the possibility of self-monitoring when it comes to compaction in earthworks. Smart Doc also fulfils the minimum requirements of continuous compaction control (CCC). With an intuitive user interface, the app also creates added value when training new roller operators, as all relevant compaction parameters are visualised in real time on the smartphone.
    Read More
  • Paving runways at airports in Russia and Cambodia
    June 15, 2021
    Asphalt plants from Lintec are helping with the construction of runways in Russia and Cambodia
    Read More
  • Two German autobahns benefit from new Wirtgen concrete slipforming technology
    November 15, 2013
    Two important routes in Germany, the A9 and A6 autobahn highways, have benefited from the use of the latest Wirtgen slipforming machines. The A9 is a particularly important route in Germany as this 529km link connects capital Berlin with the southern city of Munich, running through Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia and Bavaria.
    Read More

Highlighted Content