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design
mag
The humble shipping container has
revolutionised international trade, lowering
costs and simplifying handling and transport.
Ports across the world are taking this to the
next level by automating the movement of
containers off ships, and into and out of
the port.
Patrick’s Container Terminal at Sydney’s Port
Botany has recently been extended to cater for
additional traffic and new straddle carriers that
will operate unmanned 24/7 using guidance
technology.
Austral Masonry’s Techpave 100 concrete
pavers from the Zetech range, were selected to
cover the 60,000 square metres of the Port
Botany extension.They were laid by Perth-based
ACP Hardstands using specialised equipment
that speeds up the construction process and
lowers costs.
But first some background. Containers are
heavy, even more so when they are stacked
three high as they are for this site. (On some
sites they reach up to five or more.)
Each container stands on four small feet,
multiplying the effective loading. Patrick’s new
straddle carriers are no lightweights either, each
weighing 65 tonnes unladen.
Conventional asphalt paving cannot reliably
carry these loads and mass concrete is
expensive to construct and difficult to maintain
in the event of wear or localised failure.Asphalt
is also susceptible to damage by fuel or oil
spillages.
In contrast, heavy duty concrete pavers are
economical, hard wearing, easy to maintain,
and highly resistant to being displaced by
horizontal or vertical forces. In the event of
damage, individual pavers can be easily
removed and replaced or reinstated.The pavers
are laid on a sand bed about 20mm thick.
Project:
Patrick’s Container Terminal
Location:
Port Botany NSW
Head contractor:
Fulton Hogan
Paving contractor:
ACP Hardstand
Solutions
Featured product:
Austral Masonry
Zetech
™
Techpave
™
100 heavy duty
concrete pavers, natural colour
Photography:
Alex Mayes, production
photos courtesy ACP Hardstand Solutions