ALSINA TODAYALSINA GROUP NOWADAYS

October, 2005

06Inconveniences of

the re-propping

systems

04Alsipercha: the

professionals’

opinion

14Alsina works:

Washers

construction

02Advantages

of concrete

structures

02 ALSINA TODAY

EDITORIALHELP US TO IMPROVE

Greetings to everyone,

After a long experience of more than 55 years in the formworking business wecuriously continue to be “hooked on”, hopeful and really motivated. We wish togo on assuming more and more important challenges, demanding ourselvesmore promptness, improving our processes, sharing our difficulties, summing up,to continue working for and to you, “clients”, but above all: WORKING FORPEOPLE.One of the biggest satisfactions the whole Alsina team has is to be able to enjoy,vibrate and share your successes, which in a way we feel also as ours. The tech-nical solutions, the “on site” meetings in search of alternatives, trying sometimesto get the “impossible”, recommending cycles, changes in the planning, unders-tanding necessities… the Commercial Technician assisting the client, the OfficeStaff, Logistics Team, and Technicians constant dedication, work after work, orderafter order, that is what we really love!!!Let us ask you to continue demanding us, putting us to the test. We enjoy cha-llenges… and positively think that only in that way we will be able to be moreand more useful every time!!! We would also like to thank you for the complaints,ideas, opinions and suggestions you send to our e-mail address: direccion@alsina.es, which we dealwith the maximum interest and consideration.We would like to approach you a little more with thisissue titled “Alsina TODAY”, so you can know us bet-ter and continue trusting in Alsina.

Best regards,

Alsina Team promises not to disappoint you!

AAllssiinnaa BBrrootthheerrss

summary

Alsina Oliva Brothers: Mr Joan,

Josep and Jaume Alsina Oliva

(from left to right), Encofrados

J. Alsina S.A managing directors.

Photograph of some member of the wide Alsina Team

· Editorial p.02

· Advantages of concrete structures p.03

· Concrete: a grandiose material p.03

· Alsipercha: prevention is better than… p.04

· Inconveniences of the Re-propping systems p.06

· Interview: Jaume Alsina Oliva p.08

· Alumecano and Alucubetas DIT Certificate p.10

· Alsina under the Quality Certification ISO 9001:2000 p.10

· Alsina works: international p.11

· Alsina works: Alsina’s new contribution to slabs p.12

· Alsina works: the construction of Sewage Treatment Plants p.14

ALSINA HOYALSINA GROUP NOWADAYS

Issue: October 2005

© Encofrados J. Alsina, S.A.Pol. Ind. Pla d'en Coll

Camí de la Font Freda, 1

08110 - Montcada i Reixac

(Barcelona) SPAIN

Tel. +34 935 753 000

Fax. +34 935 647 059

E-mail: alsina@alsina.es

www.alsina.com

*

* Download the Catalan and English versions of “Alsina Hoy” from our web.

OCTOBER’05 03

WINDSOR SKYSCRAPER FIRE

Concrete is made up of

cement, sand, gravel and

water and it has been used

in Spain since 1940s. This

material has increased its

resistance 8 to 10 times

during the last 50 years due

to the use of additives like

plasticizers or retarders that

are applied “à la carte” and

multiply its resistance. If we

add a steel heart its resis-

tance and durability increa-

se, as was clearly checked

during the Windsor fire on

12th February in Madrid.

The Windsor tower was built

between 1974 and 1979.

It consisted of a concrete and

iron mixed structure 106 m

THE ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

“The structure fulfilled a basic function: to resist the fire and stay up time enough to allow

a possible evacuation”La Vanguardia, 15th de February, 2005

high. The building was a

solid construction with a

resistant reinforced concrete

nucleus and 3,40 m high gir-

ders supporting the weight

of façades and floors made

of lighter sections.

It is outstanding that

although temperatures

during the fire exceeded

100º C, the structure did not

collapse.

As per the experts’ opinion,

the key point avoiding the

Windsor skyscraper to

collapse was that the whole

internal area was built with

reinforced concrete and the

internal nucleus was a box

“binding the whole building”.

BUILDING AT HEIGHT

There is a veiled competition

in the world to get the highest

skyscraper. Misfortunes like

11-S in the Twin Towers in

New York or the Windsor buil-

ding in Madrid have brought

up the subject of the neces-

sity of this kind of buildings;

nevertheless, there is a gene-

ral accord in the increasing

tendency to build the mentio-

ned buildings with structures

mainly made of concrete,

more resistant to fire and the-

refore, safer.

CONCRETE: A GRANDIOSE MATERIAL

Up to a few years ago it was thought that to make

the skyscrapers structures stable they should be

made of steel. But technology goes forward and

the resistance of concrete has greatly increased

along these years. As a result, concrete is more

and more frequently present at the skeleton of

high buildings.

The structure of a building is

the system/material in charge

of transferring all the dead

loads, service loads and acci-

dental loads actions from the

different areas of the building

to the foundations, guarante-

eing appropriately its three

basic aspects: Resistance,

Rigidity and Stability.

Although the skeletons of old

buildings like the Empire

State Building (448,7 m) were

already made of reinforced

concrete, the use of this

material is going further. As

an example we can mention

the Freedom Tower (541

metres) to be built in the

ground zero in New York

and the Spanish Santiago

Calatrava’s Fordham Spire

(610 metres) that is going to

be built in Chicago and will

become the highest building

in the world.

In Spain the height ranking is

led by the Bali Hotel in

Benidorm. With 52 storeys

and 210 m height is also the

highest hotel in Europe. Its

proportion of concrete is very

high. The building was inau-

gurated short after the Twin

Towers outrage and its struc-

ture allowed the architect to

say that in a similar case the

Bali would have not collapse.

Other examples: Agbar Tower in

Barcelona, l’Eix Macià Milleniu

Tower in Sabadell (PHOTO-

GRAPH), Hesperia Hotel, etc.

“What is clear is

that a concrete buil-

ding like this one

supports much

more than what

legislation requires.

We have checked it

now and in other

cases”*

* Cited by Manuel García Cabrera(Indus Cálculo company Industrial Engineer).La Vanguardia, 15th February 2005.

04 ALSINA TODAY

ALSIPERCHA, prevention is better than…

A FALL ARREST SYSTEM FOR THE FORMWORK

DECKING PHASE

There are people who say, “winning awards will not

feed you”...and it is true. But obtaining rewards

from technical collectives of the maximum prestige,

when an arduous task of investigation and develop-

ment lies beneath, is an important shot in the arm:

Mention of Honour to the best fall arrest

system. Competition summoned by the Official

Chamber of Contractors of Catalonia (CCOC),

November 2002.

1st Award to the International Creativity.

Competition summoned by the College of

Industrial Engineers of Catalonia. Variety: adop-

tion of innovating solutions and models in cons-

truction. May 2003.

1st Award Construmat 2003. Variety: Product

for construction, May 2003.

Award to Security in the Construction.

Granted by the Official Chamber of Contractors of

Catalonia, October 2003.

Caupolican Award. European Award to

Security in Construction. Competition summoned

by the General Board of Technical Architecture of

Spain, February 2004.

ALSIPERCHA ALREADY WORKS

IN OTHER MARKETS:

The alliance with the company

Combisafe for the United Kingdom is

the first step in the Alsipercha system

expansion. The safety system has

gone through the British market and

interest has also arisen in other coun-

tries. Agreements for its commerciali-

sation are being drafted in Germany,

Sweden, France, Netherlands and

Denmark.

And in the Alsina branches abroad like

the ones in the United States, Chile

and Portugal.

CCOOMMBBIISSAAFFEESAFETY BY SYSTEMS

WHY ALSIPERCHA?

· Because it is PREVENTIVE, that is to

say, that the accident does not

happen...there is no fall, the retractable

belt works within milliseconds.

· Because it is the ONLY SYSTEM THAT

PROTECTS during the perimetric opera-

tions on site – the most risky ones: can-

tilever decking placing, handrails installa-

tion, movement of the gallow type pro-

tections or placing of the side shutters.

· Because it is an EASY AND QUICK

SYSTEM TO USE.

· Because it is certified by the company

BVQI and Applus compliying with the

regulation UNE EN-795.

and if all above was not

enough....

· BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST ECONO-

MICAL SYSTEM IN THE MARKET: the

repercussion by m2 of structure is

less than half the ones born by other

solutions.

AlsitecAlsina Technical Department

AWARDS

Manuel José Gundín Garrote,

Partner of the company Encofrados Lena S.L.

“The operator slipped... fortunately he wasanchored to theAlsipercha”

“The operator slipped... fortunately

he was anchored to the Alsipercha”

Manolo Gundín’s opinion, partner of

the company Encofrados Lena S.L.,

located in Mieres, Asturias, is spe-

cially relevant as he has used the

Alsipercha in different works since

the beginning of the project. Besides

his wide experience in the construc-

tion business, particularly in the

formwork field, his critical and cons-

tructive spirit confers even more

value on the interview he granted us.

We include a brief extract of it.

Mr Gundín states:

(...) “it is the only system truly

effective and reliable for

domes and waffle slabs or all

decking, and very useful for

girders”

(...) “the truth is that right now

the system has avoided us two

accidents.”

(...) “compared with other

security systems it is much

quicker and economical and

its productivity is higher.”

OCTOBER’05 05

What do you think about

Alsipercha? Do you think

that with this Alsina’s con-

tribution the construction

field casualtiness will dimi-

nish?

(...) as per the Alsipercha

system, analysed from a

technical point of view, I

understand that it is more

complete than the nets

under the slab system due

to two main causes: first,

because it is a preventive

system and second, because

it covers all the risky situa-

tions during the decking

assembly, while the nets

under the slab do not cover

the risk in the perimetric

decks. Besides, in ICS

Ingeniería y Seguridad we

have checked its efficiency

for different work phases, like

for example the one-way slab

assembly and roof works. To

all this we should add a basic

factor: its economy. The

use of Alsipercha reduces

in an important way the

security labour costs.

From your point of view,

what should be done to

encourage formwork ope-

rators to use Alsipercha?

The use of Alsipercha is not

different from the use of the

security harness or the hel-

met in, for example, hanging

scaffoldings. Therefore the

correspondent information

and training to formwork ope-

rators, on the one hand, and

the vigilance of the site res-

ponsible on the other should

be enough.

Since the Gaudí Prevention

Service knew about the

Alsina Fall Arrest System

they have incorporated it as a

reliable prevention device for

daily work in some of the

more dangerous tasks in

construction works: falls from

height during the formwork

decking works phase.

If there is no a decided crite-

rion, during the drafting of

Health and Safety Studies

and Schemes our Technical

Office informs the contractors

and subcontractors about the

advantages this system pro-

vides opposite to other

systems, as it avoids the

inconveniences and limita-

tions of horizontal nets, nets

under the slab and lifelines

between columns. In the

implementation of works our

Health and Safety

Coordinators value:

· The guarantee offered by

the system due to its assem-

bling and use simplicity, mea-

ning that no external fitters

are needed.

· The wide accessible area

(100 m2) with no interferences

from an only anchoring point

making its use more comfor-

table to formwork operators.

· The possibility of being used

for the placing of collective

protections near the openings

or perimeters of the formwork

(security handrails, gallow

type nets), eluding in this way

the installation of lifelines, the

urgency of placing and the

temporality of application, all

of them factors against their

reliability.

Xavier Barberà

Gaudí P.S. Technical Office

Responsible

Servei de Prevenció Gaudí,

Technical Office Dep.

Coordination Dep.

The Gaudí Prevention Service hasincorporated Alsipercha as reliableprevention device.

ICS Ingeniería y Seguridad valuesthe importance of the Alsiperchasecurity system.

Do you think that

Alsipercha is a good solu-

tion for the works to be

made in the perimeter of

works?

The Alsipercha system is the

substitutive solution for the

nets under the slab in the

waffle slabs and is comple-

mentary to the rest of the

collective protections during

the structure phase. The hig-

her the security is in a work,

the lower the probability of an

accident happening will be

and the consequences of the

same in case it happened.

Do you think that the

assembly of Alsipercha is

compatible with the form-

work assembly tempo?

If a work is well planned and

organised, no problems of

any kind should appear bet-

ween the different trades. If

we decide to use Alsipercha

we have to calculate the

structure performance and

design the system in relation

to it. In this way the work

tempo will not be held up by

the Alsipercha system.

Germán del Valle Pérez

Technical Director

ICS Ingeniería y Seguridad

ALSIPERCHA: Fall Arrest System

THE EXPERTS’ OPINION

The Gaudí Prevention Service, company founded in

Barcelona in 1997, is specialized in the prevention of

occupational risks, with presence in the construction

sector. Its aims are to satisfy requirements and to give

adequate answers to the clients’ necessities in the occu-

pational health and security areas of their companies or

works. Nowadays its prestige is rising, so as its presen-

ce in the market, and little by little this company has

become a national reference.

The company ICS Ingeniería y Seguridad is dedicated to

the integral security in the construction field. This com-

pany, leader in reliance generation among the biggest con-

tracting companies in the Spanish east, offers security

coordination services, so as supply, placing and mainte-

nance of the necessary security elements.

servei de prevenció gaudíconstrucció

06 ALSINA TODAY

INCONVENIENCES OF THE RE-PROPPINGThe successive shoring systems offer optimum results both in construction tem-

pos and in structural performances.

The Construction Engineering professors of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, carried out a study about the slabs

formwork systems more commonly used in construction, falling especially upon the periods and ways of down-striking.

The study, made together with Encofrados Alsina, compares the recoverable formwork systems with the re-propping

systems.

The main conclusions, from a tech-

nical point of view, highlight the

following re-propping systems

inconveniences:

PARTIAL DOWN-STRIKING AFTER 6

DAYS INSTEAD OF 3.

The floor form release has to be made

6 days after concreting instead of after

3 like in the recoverable system of par-

tial down-striking.

RECOVERABLE FORMWORK SYSTEM

(ALUMECANO TYPE)

With no need of re-propping

Housing block built with Alumecano (St. Quirze del V., Barcelona)

On formworking an upper floor the props

keep the same vertical centre lines, avoiding

the punching of the structure.

On releasing partially the forms, the structu-

re is propped at every moment. In normal

conditions it can be done the third day after

concreting.

OK!

On form releasing on the third day the main

girders, which are kept at every moment,

avoid an excessive deflection of the floor, as

specified by the regulations.

OCTOBER’05 07

The study also concludes that:

1st - In the RE-PROPPING systems,

the recovery is generally made after 6

days instead of 3. In order to recover

material after 3 days a double amount

of props has to be placed or else very

special down striking precautions have

to be taken. This process has to be

planned and supervised by efficient

technical personnel. See conditions

included in the technical report.

2nd - Incorrect transmission of loads:

The cross distribution of props on the

supports of the PROPPED floors sup-

ports the load in the opposite way

(long) of the props of the floor being

concreted, which highlights the

recommendations made in the pre-

vious paragraph.

(*) As per the Technical Report drawn up by Mr Juan José Moragues – Professor of Edification and

Prefabrication -and Mr Pedro Calderón – Titular Professor of Edification and Prefabrication –of the

Polytechnic University of Valencia; this technical report is at our clients’ disposal for any consultation.

PROP SYSTEMS WITH RE-PROPPING

SUPPORTS

1.- It requires MORE LABOUR as the

props have to be placed TWICE.

2.- This system requires MORE

REFERENCES, (END MAIN GIR-

DER, INTERMEDIATE MAIN GIR-

DER, SUPPORT AND SUPPORT

GIRDER) instead of 3 (MAIN GIR-

DER, DROPHEAD and SUPPORT

GIRDER).

There is no coincidence in the location of

the upper floor props and the lower floor

ones, which could produce punching on

the slab.

On releasing forms, the structure supports

important stresses, as it is unloaded

during the re-propping.

3.- SECURITY: There are more risks

as the PANEL HAS A SMALLER SUP-

PORT on the main girders wings and

even smaller when these are covered

with concrete.

4.- FINISHES: due to the accumula-

tion of concrete on the wings, the

panel does not always rest at the

same height; the panel –timber– and

the prop –metal– buckle in different

ways, producing BIGGER MARKS ON

THE CONCRETE.

Encofrados J. Alsina, S.A.

Alsitec – Technical Office

September 2003

THE ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS OF THE RE-PROPPING SYSTEMS OFFER

BESIDES INCONVENIENCES THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED:

NO!If the form release is made before the sixth

day, deflections higher than the ones in the

systems with no re-propping could be pro-

duced, not complying with the regulations.

08 ALSINA TODAY

used to it he feels comfortable, works

safely, knows positively that he will not

fall and therefore works quicker. Up to

now there are more than 200 works

built in Spain with the use of the

Alsipercha System and it seems to be

that people who get used to work in

this way, always held, cannot work in

any other way afterwards. We are

especially excited knowing that this

product has had a very good acceptan-

ce in markets as demanding in security

subjects as the British one.”

Is there any similar fall arrest

system in the market?

“There are not at this moment.

Alsipercha is a new product which

advantage is that it avoids the fall.

There are systems, like the nets, which

work after the fall. Ours is a preventive

system.”

Do you have an own investigation

team?

“Yes, we do have a very strong I+D

team, because constant investigation

and security are our major challenges.

Along our fifty years’ history and

around twenty with formworks we have

been the most revolutionary ones in

many aspects. Alsipercha is a world

novelty, but we also were, for example,

the first ones in manufacturing the two

usable sides formwork panel. We were

the first ones to make a recoverable

formwork system in the country, which

allows recovering up to an 80% of the

material after three days, in front of the

traditional twenty-eight days. We were

also the first ones in manufacturing a

possibility was to make a column

extension and to search a supporting

point in the sky, that is to say, up.

As the first element to be built is the

column we worked on the idea of

making it the supporting element; the

gallow idea arose when trying to take

in up to 125m2”

Does the Alsipercha need of any

prevision from the contractor or

designer?

“No, it does not require any calculation

and it can actually be fitted in any

work. Only a slight work plan has to be

made at the moment of building. But

we –that carry out the formwork calcu-

lations and design for the clients who

require it- can also attach the

Alsipercha placing proposal. These are

placed in a cast-in tube in one column

out of every two or three.”

Have you designed any other secu-

rity elements?

“We have security platforms and han-

drails for concreting walls, security

handrails, tripods... We provide secu-

rity as a complement to our formworks,

which we demand to have all the

correspondent security elements. We

want to avoid any accident when wor-

king with our products.”

What is the users’ answer?

“The Alsipercha is a system that, as

any other security system, requires a

user’s effort. It has a certain initial diffi-

culty as the user has to be hooked on

it, but the truth is that experience has

proved us that once the operator gets

INTERVIEW - Jaume Alsina Oliva

The company was founded as a timber

store at Garrotxa Street in Barcelona

and was even also a small sawmill.

Some twenty years ago the company

began to sell formwork panels and

nowadays it is one of the main Spanish

formwork companies, designing,

manufacturing, selling and hiring with

the ISO 9001:2000 certificate for all its

processes.

Innovation is one of Alsina’s philo-

sophy items, currently having more

than fifty own patents. The other impor-

tant item is people, both the ones wor-

king in the company and the ones wor-

king with their products. “We could talk

about an Alsina spirit of simplicity,

honesty, laboriousness, efficiency,

competitiveness...”, explains the

Managing Director, as he shows us

their own design and calculation form-

work programmes at their headquar-

ters in Montcada i Reixac. The

Alsipercha Fall Arrest System was cre-

ated from the combination of these two

elements, an apparently simple pro-

duct that contains forty-five compo-

nents. The system was designed to

prevent falls from height during the

risky formwork decking processes. Our

Professional College awarded us with

a special mention at the first Catalonia

Construction Awards, in the category

of Construction Process Innovation.

Which was the Alsipercha creation

process?

“We began investigating in 2001 but it

was not commercialised until 2003,

although we already had the precau-

tion that our systems were safe a long

time ago, as we are a technical com-

pany that likes to be very close to our

clients. When building a roof at height

the problem is the operator’s ancho-

ring point. The idea came from a wor-

king team that noticed that the only

“(...) CONSTANT INNOVATION AND SECURITY ARE

OUR MAJOR CHALLENGES (...)”

“We are especially excited knowing that the Alsipercha

has had a very good acceptance in markets as deman-

ding in security subjects as the British one”

Interview published by the magazine “L’Informatiu” (no. 248), of the

College of Aparejadores and Technical Architects of Barcelona.

(Industrial Engineer)

OCTOBER’05 09

wall system with a sliding staple and

the first ones to introduce aluminium in

horizontal and vertical formworks. We

were pioneers in the formworks for

curve walls, in which it is no necessary

to move the panel to produce different

radiuses. Therefore, we can say that

we have a tradition in innovation. We

have signed collaboration agreements

with the UPC, Valencia University,

ITEC, the Structures Consultants

Association and the Gaudí Institute

among others.”

Does the sector evolve as well?

“Yes, this is a sector that is evolving. I

have been working in it for forty years.

I began when I was studying Industrial

Engineering and, at the same time, my

father visited clients. The way of using

formwork has greatly changed since

then, when timber props, screws and

formwork deckings were still used and

sold to contractors.

“We are the ones to make the structu-

re construction process and I feel that

we have helped to mechanised the

whole system and made it very quick:

we save an hour of formworking labour

per m2 of structure. But there is still a

long way to run in the field of innova-

ting the structures construction,

making them with elements of the 21st

century, optimising the steel and con-

crete used in them, and making them

quick, cheap, safe and environment

friendly.”

What you are stating is taking us to

a paradox. Formwork is every time

easier and quicker, and so it requi-

res less training from operators.

Therefore, there are more security

risks.

“You are right. Old formworking ope-

rators were professionals, veterans,

but nowadays there is no workmans-

hip like that. Basically what we have is

scarcely trained personnel that comes

from abroad. Due to this situation

what we try is to elaborate easy

systems, mechanised, very automa-

ted and really safe at the same time.

We are very happy about all of our

formwork systems having the maxi-

mum security elements for operators,

who can be not as well trained as

before.”

Does the designer ask you for

solutions?

“Yes. There are many engineering

companies and architecture offices

that come to visit us and we work

together in the design in order to

dimension the modules and their

shape. Above all, they come to see us

when they have singular works and

together we prepare the whole

design. For example, we work with

architects like Moneo. We are right

now designing the L´Illa Hotel in the

Diagonal in Barcelona with him. Or

with Brullet and de Pineda preparing

their new Quirón Clinic project.”

Which is the position of the Spanish

formwork sector in relation to the

world?

“I would say that we- and the Spanish

companies in general- have a very

good level. The important rise of the

construction in these last years has

allowed us to invest part of the money

in investigation and, therefore, we

have nothing to envy from the foreign

companies. The German companies

are the bench mark in this field but we,

Alsina, have some products even bet-

ter than theirs.”

Your fall arrest system has already

been awarded by engineers and

contractors and has also received

the Caupolican and the Construmat

awards. What did the Cataluña

Construcció recognition mean?

“Yes, it has been awarded several

times which means that we have

brought forward something. It is a new

idea...But the Cataluña Construcció

Award was special for us because it is

Catalan. We have branches along

Spain, we work in the United States,

Chile and Portugal and now we are in

the middle of an internationalisation

project- we would like to be between

the first ten formwork companies of the

world in ten years’ time and to be at

least in ten countries-. But at the same

time we consider ourselves as a very

Catalan company and obviously we

appreciate the local professionals’

recognition.”

Alsina contributes with their Alsipercha system to the security in the forming works of the edification structures.

010 ALSINA TODAY

ALUMECANO DIT CERTIFICATE

Since May 2005 Encofrados

J. Alsina have a new certifi-

cation for two of their hori-

zontal formwork systems:

the Technical Suitability

Document (DIT), granted by

the prestigious Construction

Sciences Institute “Eduardo

Torroja” of the CSIC.

The document, dated on 30th

May, 2005 and titled “ALU-

MECANO - ALUCUBETAS

FORMWORKS SYSTEMS”,

was granted with conces-

sion number 466.

The Alsina Group, formed by

the companies Encofrados

J. Alsina, S.A. and Servicio

de Encofrados Alisan, S.A.,

has obtained the ISO

9001:2000 Certification for

all its branches. These are

located in Aragon and

Navarre, Alicante, Valencia,

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las

Palmas, Madrid, Malaga,

Asturias, Seville, Sentmenat

and Montcada, and are

dedicated to the sale and

hire of equipments to form-

work concrete.

Certificate granted by BVQI,

an entity of renowned presti-

ge and worldwide experien-

ce, under the UKAS accredi-

tation.

The reach of this certifica-

tion confirms the maturity

and efficiency of the Quality

Management System in the

design, manufacturing, com-

mercialisation (sale and

hire) and maintenance of the

equipments to formwork

concrete, and also ratifies its

compromise with a conti-

nuous improvement.

The ISO 9001:2000

Certification for the sale, hire

and maintenance of form-

work equipments, both in

the headquarters and the

national branches, recogni-

ses worldwide the effort and

dedication of the whole

Alsina team in offering effi-

cient answers to their

clients’ necessities and reaf-

firms their steady orientation

towards the managerial

excellency.

NEW CERTIFICATION FOR THE ALSINA SLABS SYSTEMS

Since May 2005 Encofrados J. Alsina S.A. have a new

certification for two of their horizontal formwork

systems.

ISO 9001:2000ALSINA GROUP CERTIFIES ITS QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Nowadays we are the only company in the sector that

has normalised the activities of: design, manufacturing,

commercialisation, and maintenance of products to

formwork concrete. This Certification applies to all of

our national branches.

This new certification corro-

borates the line followed by

Encofrados Alsina of having

a range of products of the

highest technical level.

These certificate and logo are the

representation of what distinguis-

hes us with the ISO 9001:2000 qua-

lity management standard.

Nº 466

Alumecano system assembly on site.

Alucubetas System, a lighten slab that allows a great concrete save.

OCTOBER’05 011

ALSINAWORKS INTERNATIONALA WORLD UNDER CONSTRUCTIONEncofrados Alsina, with more than fifty five years of expe-

rience in the national market, faces now the challenge of its

internationalisation under the “10-10-10 plan”: being pre-

sent at ten countries in ten years’ time and being one of the

ten first companies of the world in the formwork sector.

Alta Miramar Building

Viña del Mar, V Región, CHILE

Washer Plant

Burley, Idaho, USA

Falcon Wharf

London- UK

Placed at the feet of the Rocky Mountain, the Burley was-

her plant has a 3.000 m2 structure, implemented thanks to

the Alisply Circular curve wall formwork system patented by

Alsina.

Alisply Circular has amazed in its use due to its versatility

and time and labour saving compared with the heavy tradi-

tional American systems.

The innovating fall arrest

system Alsipercha, created

by Alsina in 2003, contribu-

ted to the security in the

construction of one of the

singular luxury apartment

buildings in Falcon Wharf, in

London’s heart.

Residential building with a high finishes quality demand.

The site supervisor was highly satisfied with the results

thanks to the complete Alsina products range, specially

designed for edification.

· Vistaform Slabs: for the implementation of slabs with the

local typical concrete finish.

· Steel-ply and Alisply Walls: for the implementation of res

pectively, the inner and perimetric walls.

· Alispilar: light and resistant system for columns.

STRUCTURE: 12.000 m2 slabs - 21.200 m2 walls

STRUCTURE: 3.000 m2 curve wall

012 ALSINA TODAY

ALSINAWORKSFORMWORK TABLESNEW ALSINA’S CONTRIBUTION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SLABS

Encofrados J. Alsina has been supplier for the construction of 25.000 m2 of slab in the res-

toration of the old Philips factory placed in the Zona Franca walk in Barcelona

With this new

product Alsina

has widened its

range of solu-

tions for slabs. It is especially

useful for great areas with a

perpendicular and very regu-

lar columns array.

The Alsina Tables are availa-

ble in 4 standard measures,

two length dimensions: 4 and

5 m, and two width dimen-

sions: 2 and 2,45 m. In all the

cases the drophead can be

placed along the whole pri-

mary beam, which enables

the implementation of cantile-

vers. Besides, the drophead

is folded down simplifying the

formwork and form release

operations and allowing its

movement by skipping the

security handrails.

“The Alsina form-

work Table allows

a great agility in

the manipulation

of the system on

site, thanks to its

Hydraulic Trolley

and vertical

Transportation

Hook.”

For the horizontal displace-

ments the Alsina I+D depart-

ment has created a device

easy to manipulate and store,

with an hydraulic system that

makes the rising of tables an

easy and comfortable opera-

tion at the same time, without

requiring heavy mechanisms.

The Hook for vertical displa-

cements self-regulates its

gravity centre even if it is

unloaded. Security is granted

with this device when working

with a crane.

Old Philips factory restoration in Zona Franca, Barcelona. The new structure of the building will hold

modern offices and a shopping centre.

Detail of the rise hydraulic

system of the horizontal trans-

portation Trolley. It allows rising

and lowering the tables for their

placement and transportation to

the floor to be formworked with a

minimum effort.

OCTOBER’05 013

swivel drophead

detail

detail of the

security handrail

hook in its long

direction

TTHHEE PPRROODDUUCCTT:: AALLSSIINNAATTAABBLLEESS

standard measures of the tables:

length - 4 and 5 m; width - 2 and 2,45 m.

The Hook has a gravity centre self-regulation system that moves as per

the weight of the load.Displacement Trolley (with rise and lower hydraulic system) that simpli-

fies the displacement of the tables on the floors.

014 ALSINA TODAY

ALSINAWORKSALSINA WORKS SEWAGE WASHERSALISPLY CIRCULAR AND CLIMBING CONSOLE: THE PERFECT

COMBINATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF S.W.S.

Encofrados Alsina has been the company awarded for the formwork of the S.W.S.

Benquerencia. Washer with 30.000 m2 of walls from which 2/3 are curve.

The curve walls were

built with Alisply

Circular, with a

900 m2 equipment.

This system patented by

Alsina allows the connection

between panels in both, the

horizontal and vertical direc-

tion, by means of the manual

Staple, allowing at the same

time the quick and simple

connection with Alisply Walls

panels.

The 2,40 m Alsina climbing

console was used for higher

heights.

This new console designed

by the I+D Department sim-

plifies the climbing operation

as it allows the movement of

the formwork together with

the platform, with no need of

making it in two phases.

The displacement is easily

made by means of a zip

system that moves the form-

work in a biding way.

The suspension ring allows

to use one-face cast-in

anchorages or crossing

bars. In both cases the con-

sole has a security system

that secures the system

avoiding the console to get

out of the anchorage.

There is an optional auxiliary

platform for the recovery of

the suspension ring. Its fas-

tening system by pins allows

regulating the separation

between both platforms, and

allows at the same time

pivoting on the upper union

what simplifies the placing

and assembly.

All the walls have been built

with Alisply, combining

straight and curve panels.

Besides, the one face wall at

3 m height brackets have

been used. This system has

meant quickness, security

and quality in the finishes.

ON SITE TECHNICAL

SUPPORT

Encofrados Alsina through its

technical Department: Alsitec

produced a detailed study of

the equipments to be used in

order to get the best solution on

site.

“Besides, Alisply and its One Face

Wall accessory sorted out with quick-

ness, security and great finishes qua-

lity the straight walls of the work”

OCTOBER’05 015

This equipment is the per-

fect complement for the

entire construction of

Sewage Washer Stations.

Encofrados J. Alsina has

supplied the formwork

equipments for the Apraitz

S.W.S. at Elgoibar in

Guipúzcua.

The client valued highly the

entire solution brought for-

ward by Alsina. Besides the

Alisply Circular wall, the

climbing console and the

new Multidirectional, the

attention and dedication of

the Alsina Technical-

Commercial Department

contributed in a very

ALSINA MULTIDIRECTIONAL SYSTEMEncofrados J. Alsina has incorporated to their form-

work products, the new Multidirectional; matching so

their range of formwork products for slabs at heights

higher than 6 m.

Detail of the assembly of the Multidirectional shoring system for the

slab support of the deposits roof in the Apraitz S.W.S. in Elgoibar,

(Bilbao).

The Alsina 240 Climbing System

allows making the release and

climbing operations more easily

and safely.

Combined displacement of

Climbing Platform and Panel.

Detail of the security hook: it pre-

vents the movements of the climb.

Detail of the displacement device

of the panel in the 240 Climbing

Platform.

special way. The entire

work was re-planned in

consent with the works

manager and attention was

given on site.

The assembly of the whole

slab was made with a total

amount of 4.400 m3 of

Alsina light shoring system

in two weeks’ time. This

solution did not only mean

quickness but also security

and simplicity in the

assembly.

Its anchorage system and

measures optimisation

grants versatility in the

assembly with a high load

capacity (4.000 kg/support).

Logistical Centre*

Crta. de Caldes (C-1413) Km. 34

08181 Sentmenat (Barcelona)

Tel. 937 153 409 - Fax. 937 150 132

Andalucía Occidental*Polígono Industrial PolivisoHerreros, 61 Parcela 1741520 El Viso del Alcor (Sevilla)Tel. 955 749 870 - Fax. 955 945 087

Andalucía Oriental*Estrabón, 50 (Ctra. de Cádiz a Málaga)29004 MálagaTel. 952 238 281- Fax. 952 242 881

Aragón y Navarra*Ctra. de Zaragoza a Huesca Km. 1250830 Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza)Tel. 976 186 400 - Fax. 976 186 989

Islas Canarias (Tenerife)*Barranco de Jagua - Dársena Pesquera38180 Sta. Cruz de TenerifeTel. 922 591 224 - Fax. 922 591 214

Islas Canarias (Las Palmas)*Pol. Ind. El Cascajo - José Tejera Santana, 1Jinámar - Telde, 35220 Las PalmasTel. 928 717 464 - Fax. 928 717 594

Centro* Paseo del Prado, 5428340 Valdemoro (Madrid)Tel. 918 953 262 - Fax. 918 951 090

Levante (North)*Polígono 6, Parcela 17Camino de la Garrofera s/n Montortal - Guadassuar (Valencia)Tel. 962 440 663 - Fax. 962 441 809Dirección de correo:Apartado de correos 159 46250 L’ Alcudia

Levante (South)*Polígono Industrial Bajo SombraCalle "C", Nave 4603688 Hondón de las Nieves (Alicante)Tel. 965 480 651 - Fax. 965 480 669

Norte y Castilla*Polígono Industrial de Olloniego Parcela B-1533660 Olloniego (Asturias)Tel. 985 463 816 - Fax. 985 453 271

Castilla y León (Occ.) - Tel. 610 760 053Castilla y León (Or.) - Tel. 677 976 209

Galicia Norte - Tel. 677 976 213Galicia Sur - Tel. 610 760 051

Ibiza y Menorca - Tel. 610 760 065

Arlan Enkofratuak, S.L.(País Vasco)Gazanda Bidea, 4 (Barrio Atela)48100 Mungia (Bilbao)Tel. 946 155 080 - Fax. 946 156 309

Balear de Azulejos, S.L.(Palma de Mallorca)Polígono Son Noguera, Camí de Son Fosquet, 25. 07620 Llucmajor (Mallorca)Tel. 971 662 326 - Fax. 971 661 839

PORTUGALSoluções de Cofragem Alisply, Lda. Pct. António Gedeão, 17 Loja 2Paiões -2635-002- Rio de MouroTel. (+351) 219 172 535 - Fax. (+351) 219175 164

Portugal North - Tel. (+351) 914 857 236 Portugal South - Tel. (+351) 914 857 174

U.S.AAlsina Forms Co.200 East Touhy Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60018 - USATel. +1 847-299-7009-Fax. +1 847-299-7027

CHILEMoldajes Alsina Ltda.Nueva Taqueral 369, Panamericana Norte Km. 22, Lampa Santiago - ChileTel: (+56) 2 745 2003-Fax. (+56) 2 745 3023

Encofrados J. Alsina, S.A.

HEADQUARTERS*

Pol. Ind. Pla d'en Coll

Camí de la Font Freda, 1

08110 Montcada i Reixac

(Barcelona) SPAIN

Tel. 935 753 000 - Fax. 935 647 059

E-mail: alsina@alsina.es

www.alsina.com

*(Local branches under certification ISO 9001:2000)