RMD Kwikform for hydro-electric power station

Set to generate 38 mega watts of power from water stored in the 50 hectare reservoir, the Laja power station project required a diverse range of formwork and shoring equipment to help construct the 3 metre thick, 32 metre high retaining walls and accompanying slabs.

In addition to the challenge faced by the heavy duty RMD Kwikform Maxima panel wall formwork, in supporting the large thickness and height of the walls, a shoring solution was needed to support the up to seventeen metres off the base height slabs.

With slab thicknesses of 0.80 metres a combination of lightweight Alshor Plus shoring with up to 120kN leg load and heavy-duty Megashor was used, with Superslim soldier steel primary and Alform secondary beams also supplied.

Due to an increased focus on safety and numerous tasks required to be carried out at height, contractor J J Camet- Mas Ezuriz opted to use the RMD Kwikform lightweight Ultraguard edge protection system, to ensure the safety of the workforce.

Commenting on the project RMD Kwikform project manager, Rodrigo Pantoja said: ’Thanks to our global experience in the energy sector, we were able to use numerous reference projects to demonstrate our expertise and the capabilities of our product range, which helped to secure the job.

The scale of the Laja power station itself required a great deal of support from our engineering team and project co-ordinators, with a very large amount of our equipment being onsite for over two years’.

Construction of the Laja Power Station is due to complete in December 2012 when it is expected to deliver an estimated annual generation of 130 GW/hrs from the 50 hectare reservoir, supplied by the Laja river.