Skip to main content

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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Wirtgen’s SP 25i paver not just for barriers
    November 7, 2017
    Wirtgen says that its compact SP 25i slipform paver is a versatile multipurpose machine. In addition to concrete safety barriers up to 2m high and 2.5m wide, the SP 25i produces profiles of diverse geometries, such as drainage gutters, canals and curbs. The SP 25 - as well as the SP 15 - can be pre-installed with a 3D kit to support 3D control systems. Wirtgen says that compatibility with the systems of leading suppliers ensures a high degree of operational reliability.
  • Advanced asphalt plant innovations
    November 30, 2022
    Key advances are being seen in the asphalt plant market, with leading manufacturers developing new systems to produce materials more efficiently and with lower emissions, while using more recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and also offering greater mobility
  • Adding road shoulders efficiently
    April 1, 2022
    Road Widener is now offering its patented FH-R shouldering and side paver attachment.
  • Vögele's global paving vision
    January 4, 2013
    German paver specialist Vögele is taking a global view of the construction equipment market, with machines developed for very different markets. A prime example of this is with the Dash 3 models now coming to market. The new SUPER 2100-3 paver is also available as the SUPER 2100-3i, a highly sophisticated machine that meets the European emissions requirements while offering high productivity and performance. At the same time, the company is also offering a heavy duty (HD) version of its proven SUPER 1800-2