Hydrodemolition completes complex silo repair under tight deadline in Spain

The Project

A cement plant in La Robla, Spain needed to repair a 100-meter-tall, 16-meter-diameter concrete silo used to store raw materials. The silo's deteriorating concrete walls were held together with rebar on the outer and inner layers, leading to the need for repair.

Initial Attempt

In 2019, the plant hired a company to repair the lower portion of the silo, but due to limited time, the repair was not completed. When the project resumed two years later, Jose Rodriguez was hired to complete the repair.

Fixen Structural Services Proposal

Fixen Structural Services proposed using Aquajet’s Ergo Hydrodemolition robot to complete the repair on budget and ahead of schedule. The company, based in La Rinconada, Sevilla, Spain, works on projects across the globe and has a team of six, including two executive leaders, who are all skilled and trained in every service they provide.

Challenges and Solutions

• The silo had a total of 32 sections to repair, each 45 meters long. Fixen connected the Ergo to an electrical hoist to reach the areas of repair.

• To achieve the required 1,000 newtons of reaction force, Fixen used a 2,500 bar Hammelman pump with a flow rate of 24 liters per minute. The pump, situated on the ground, extended a 120 meter long, 3,000 bar pressure hose up the structure to the Ergo.

• The Ergo controller was placed on a hanging platform, following the Ergo climber on each 4 meter vertical section.

Results

The Ergo proved to be a powerful replacement for hand lancing, offering four times the power and precision to complete repairs with limited work space. The team achieved a production rate of one meter per minute, removing two 45-meter vertical sections of concrete each day. They finished the job with two days to spare.

Partnership

Fixen has a direct relationship with Aquajet, the manufacturer of the Ergo, through Hammelmann SL. The company has received training, consultations, machine parts, and customer service from Aquajet distributors located in their region.

Impact

Fixen successfully repaired and completed a job that was once thought to be impossible, demonstrating the effectiveness of Hydrodemolition with the Ergo. The company remains motivated to tackle challenging projects using innovative equipment.