VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 24/10/11 10:31 Page1 NEWS THE VSL NEWS MAGAZINE • ISSUE TWO 2011 DESIGN Graceful silhouette BALUARTE BRIDGE, MEXICO Don’t look down! SPECIAL ISSUE: INNOVATION VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 28/10/11 16:22 Page2 BUSINESS 4 STAY CABLES 7 IMPROVEMENT VSL Academy – Triple Certification 4 FACTS&TRENDS 6 INNOVATIONS Cable-stayed bridges: Rapid cycles 6 8 Ground engineering: Deepest shaft 7 SPECIAL ISSUE: INNOVATION 8 SITE INSIGHTS 28 STRANDS Australia: Jacking the boxes 28 28 Taiwan: Crossing the Keelung River 30 UAE: Record breaking link 32 Portugal: Regua refurb 36 SPECIAL REPORT 38 Margaret Hunt Hill bridge: How to address highlights aesthetics on a showcase bridge TECH SHOW 41 Don’t look down! VSL Mexico is part of the consortium that has been awarded the overall construction BRIDGES 41 contract for the Baluarte Bridge. Enjoy the challenges of the site. PEFC/10-31-1238 PROMOUVOIR LA GESTION DURABLE DE LA FORÊT NEWS, magazine published by VSL International Ltd. • Köniz, Switzerland Director of Publication: VSL communications • Jane Rousseau • [email protected] Editor in chief: Elisabeth Lichter-Rodriguez • [email protected] Co-ordinators: Christine Mueller-Sinz, Carlos Such, Doris Tong. Distribution: Myriam Doré • [email protected] Design: Red Line Photos: VSL staff, others Copyright: VSL 2011 • Cover photo: Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, USA VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 24/10/11 10:31 Page3 ISSUE TWO • 2011 EDITORIAL Leadership in innovation VSL’s success is founded on the ability of its people to think outside the box to provide optimum solutions for clients and partners in all circumstances. Innovation is a core element of these solutions: the capacity to take a step back, to question if there is another way - a better way - of working. This is our driving force. Innovation comes when new business lines are created that stay in constant touch with the ever-changing market and focus on clients’ needs in increasingly important sectors, such as nuclear power, offshore structures and infrastructure protection. Innovation also applies to products, by constantly improving existing ones or creating even better ones. New or improved products strengthen VSL’s lead in post-tensioning technologies, increase quality and productivity, and open up new paths for designers when creating imaginative structures. VSL’s SSI 2000 Saddle and the new VSlab anchorage are shining examples of our engineering strength and innovation. Innovation is also at the heart of our relationship with the client and this means a lot to us: efficient partnering allows us to take on more responsibility and to share more risk on important infrastructure projects, for the benefit of all parties. This issue of our VSL News Magazine presents some of these innovative ideas, tools, products and solutions. We strive to introduce them every one of our clients’ projects. We want to make sure that we provide what’s best for the project. Daniel Rigout, Chairman and CEO VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 24/10/11 10:31 Page4 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT VSL ACADEMY Triple certification The VSL Academy in Bangkok passed its latest milestone in June when it achieved triple certification in ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and OHSAS 18001 (Health & Safety Management Systems). ndependent accreditation body In addition, the changes in SGS Thailand carried out the approach provide a safer and more I initial assessment at the environmentally friendly working Academy, which has now been in environment for trainees. The operation for more than three and Academy has become a centre of a half years. As part of the audit of excellence for VSL core activities, the Academy’s management with quality, environmental and systems, the assessors observed health & safety issues the training activities, verified the incorporated into classes and training documentation and looked training areas. Regular feedback at the management processes and reviews from attendees lead to used to drive continual continual improvement. 4 improvement. In its certification the start and seek certification to report, SGS highlighted that the the three standards simultaneously On a practical level, the standards VSL Academy had demonstrated to reduce duplication and to speed of learning are verified through that it provides a structured up the process. site visits and audits. Senior framework together with the Academy staff members have all systems for the management More time and effort was needed been trained as internal auditors of training. The assessors initially to design, develop and put and carry out regular site audits commented on the high into place the framework but this across VSL. The Academy qualifications of the trainers, was soon outweighed by the contributes to improving VSL’s who all have a good knowledge of benefits: operations by trialling and testing VSL technologies, and concluded • There was an integrated system new ideas, products and that the Academy had also right from the start, with no need equipment and by acting as a hub demonstrated the implementation for any later changes to to receive operational feedback and effectiveness of the training incorporate environmental and (both good and bad) as well as provision process. H&S elements. communicating best practices (and • The integrated approach helps to those to be avoided). For several years, it has been VSL cultivate a culture where policy that all parts of the Group environmental and H&S elements Whilst certification represents the should seek and achieve QSE are incorporated into everyday end of a development phase, it is (Quality-Safety-Environment) triple thinking and ways of working. also the beginning of a certification to the three • Internal audits look at all three consolidation and improvement internationally recognised QSE elements at the same time. phase. It is essential that the high standards. Many individual • In the same way, integrated standards achieved are maintained subsidiaries were already certified management reviews now and that the management system to ISO 9001 and they were the first include all QSE aspects. drives constant improvements in to extend their QSE management the effectiveness of our services systems to include the Working under these management and how we deliver them. environmental and health & safety systems defines a framework that Everyone involved can be proud of (H&S) elements. provides a real focus on the their achievements, which we are essentials, an effective risk sure will be the springboard for The VSL Academy team decided to approach and better operational further developments and set up an integrated system from controls for Academy activities. improvements. ■ NEWS N°2-2011 VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 24/10/11 10:31 Page5 PT IN BUILDING COMMUNITY ACTION HEALTH AND SAFETY Green way Engineers Drive takes the lead for the day carefully dozen school students in SL has issued a new vehicle Dallas became engineers use and safety policy which A for the day when they V applies to all VSL activities toured the Santiago Calatrava- around the world. Road traffic designed Margaret Hunt Hill accidents are one of the biggest Bridge project and built a scale risks that many of us face while at model. The students were work (or getting to/from work), yet enthusiastic about what they had we rarely think about them and we learnt from the tour. ■ often overlook them during risk assessment exercises. The aim of this instruction is to promote good HEALTH & SAFETY practices as a means to reduce the risks and to reduce the number of road accidents suffered by VSL New employees and/or partners. This instruction defines the minimum alaysia’s first LEED gold- management safety requirements for VSL certified building has been personnel using vehicles on the built using an alternative tools road. ■ M 5 design that was proposed by VSL. SL has passed the Australian The Shell SSC building in Cyberjaya government’s accreditation was developed under the EMKAY V process for occupational Group banner and was completed health and safety (OHS). Maintaining at the end of 2010. Almost 80% of accreditation requires stringent the 61,000m2 ‘green’ building reporting and monitoring and so incorporates the VSL post- new tools have been added to the tensioning system, with VSL Australia Information approximately 230t installed. The Management System. The system building houses five levels of office captures and records OHS activities space and three sub-basement as well as tracking actions. As a levels of parking. It is designed to result, personnel are now more save energy and natural resources proactive in implementing OHS. and provide for a healthier and Centralising information has safer environment. Construction of improved efficiency and QSE the entire structure took just six (Quality, Safety, Environment) teams months. ■ spend less time managing data. ■ COMMUNITY ACTION Continued SPONSORSHIP support VSL on top of the world SL has continued to support the Long Hai Community he VSL logo has been V Center in Vietnam through displayed on the top of the various initiatives.. The donation of T world as part of an VSL’s nine boxes of gifts was expedition to climb Mount Everest. welcomed and received by the VSL Switzerland sponsored a centre’s vice-director Mrs Huyen and member of the team supported by pupils. The VSL team was pleased to specialist construction company see that construction of the centre’s Gasser Felstechnik. ■ extension is making good progress. ■ NEWS N°2-2011 VSLNews2-2011_VSLNews2-2007 24/10/11 10:31 Page6 FACTS&TRENDS Cable-stayed bridges Stay cables Rapid cycles Korean first > South Korea’s first three-way cable system is currently being installed on the Mokpo Grand Bridge, which has a 500m main span. Main span cables are anchored at the outer rails while side spans cables terminate within the median strip. VSL’s scope includes supply and installation of 1,345t of stay cables, as well as pylon construction and precast segment erection for the 4,129m-long bridge.