BESIX Infra and Van den Berg are working on the redevelopment of the Terbekehof industrial estate in Wilrijk, a project initiated by the Antwerp Provincial Development Agency and water-link in partnership with Aquafin, ISVAG, the City of Antwerp and the District of Wilrijk. Sweco Belgium has been appointed as the consultancy firm for this complex renovation work, with BESIX Group selected as the contractor for the project, which involves specialisms of both BESIX Infra (construction of roads, sewers and a heat network, as well as water buffering) and Van den Berg (construction and technical execution of the heat network).
The outdated industrial site will be given a complete makeover, which will include seriously addressing the flooding problem by constructing a separate sewage network and providing collective water buffering for a number of businesses. BESIX Infra will support this phase of the project with its long-standing expertise.
Alongside efficient insulation techniques for the transport pipes, the ‘thermal prestressing’ method will also be used on the pipes for the first time. This is a technique that involves preheating the pipes when they are laid and allows installation to be carried out flexibly, while guaranteeing quality and a reduced risk of leaks over the long term.
Combined with the approach adopted by BESIX Infra for the work on the sewers and roads, this technique will help to minimise disruption while the project is in progress. BESIX Infra has extensive experience of keeping businesses accessible when it is performing work on sewers. How this can be achieved when constructing a heat network is less obvious. The thermal prestressing method is a solution that allows us to follow the phases of the work on the sewage network, ensuring that businesses remain accessible during this work too.
The Terbekehof industrial estate is being equipped with a 1.6-kilometre heat network, which will be fed by sustainable residual heat from ISVAG’s.waste-to-energy plant. Businesses connected to the network will no longer have to rely solely on fossil fuels. The resulting reduction in emissions will undoubtedly have a positive impact on CO2 emissions and air quality in the local area
This project is drawing on the combined expertise of BESIX Infra and Van den Berg. The first step in the process is to discuss the working method. Van den Berg will develop the heat network and make this ready above ground, while BESIX Infra will provide the additional guidance needed for the combined construction of the heat network and sewers. The excellent collaboration that BESIX Infra and Van den Berg have enjoyed over many years makes these companies a successful team!
Project name
BESIX Infra and Van den Berg join forces
Category
Road works, Sewerage and drainage
Location
Wilrijk, Belgium
Building Period
2019 - 2021
