SPAX used for huge viewing tower
Sustainability, pure nature and a perfect view – this is what the Entrup viewing tower in the district of Höxter (East Westphalia) offers.
The new attraction, which also lies on a cycling adventure route, promises real closeness to nature and a great all-round view. The 24-metre-high and 45-tonne wooden structure has seven floors and a nine-metre-high telegraph unit on its roof. The tower took just eight weeks to construct. This was made possible by, among other things, prefabricated elements that were assembled and erected right on the construction site. The building is protected against the wind by veneer timber boards screwed on with 8x140 stainless steel SPAX. Thanks to the use of sustainable materials and structural wood protection, the tower fits perfectly into the green environment.
photos © Dr. Jens Kickler
Knoll Ridge Cafe in Whakapapa, New Zealand
Knoll Ridge Cafe, completed in 2011, is located in the ski resort of Whakapapa on the side of Mount Ruapehu, the largest, still active volcano in New Zealand.
The building, which stands on 1516 square metres (16,318 ft2) of floor space, was constructed by the architect Grant Harris, together with Ian Butt, Kerry Reyburn and Ben Brown.
In order to create the "warm feeling" of a traditional alpine hut, even in an extravagant place like Mount Ruapehu, and not to depart from the traditional form, a lot of wood was used in the construction of the café, both indoors and outdoors.
„Kilden Arts Center“ in Kristiansand, Norway
„We used SPAX screws to anchor the ribs of the edge beams while prefabricating the corrugated wall elements. When it came to the load-bearing structure, we preferred to use screws in which we had already previously placed a huge amount of trust. So it was an easy decision for us to choose SPAX.“
Sigbjørn Daasvatn, Project Manager, Trebyggeriet AS
Echolot-Pavillon
A creative masterpiece designed by Koblenz University of Applied Sciences. Until recently, 3.5 million people were able to admire the “Echolot” pavilion at the 2011 edition of the Germany Horticultural Show, the BUGA (Bundesgartenschau). The shape of the almost six-metre-high and 17-metre-long building is based on an oscillogram that visualises the location calls of a type of local bat. Approx. 6,000 supporting and hanging wooden beams interconnected using SPAX (see photo, © FH Koblenz). After being dismantled, the pavilion now enjoys a new, permanent home on the campus of the Koblenz university. SPAX International backs this great project.
photo: FH Koblenz, © FH Koblenz
Bridge over the Hemer „Felsenmeer“ in Germany's Sauerland
The bridge construction spans parts of the craggy ground of this nature protection area and provides interesting views and insights.
Expodach
The “Expodach” roof structure was a landmark for the World Exhibition Hanover 2000 in Germany. And SPAX International GmbH & Co. KG was a major participant: approx. 10,000,000 SPAX were used to build this structure and ensure lasting strength in the wood.
Wooden roller coaster in Sweden
The complete timber construction work will be carried out by Ingenieur-Holzbau Cordes in cooperation with Merk Holzbau (rails) and Intamin of Switzerland (drive system) – as was the Colossus ride at Germany's Heide Park Soltau fun park. This roller coaster is also being designed and calculated by Ingenieurbüro Stengel in Munich.
For the first time, SPAX full-thread screws (8x300 mm) are being used as “transverse reinforcement” in accordance with general technical approval Z-9.1-519.
Unavoidable cracks and splitting of the wood in the area of the round press-fit dowels can lead to a reduction in the load-bearing capacity of the wood. To counteract this, these screws reinforce the wood perpendicular to the grain in the direction in which the wood naturally has the weakest strength properties. In addition, the measure is expected to produce many small cracks and not one large one, which has a positive effect on the load-bearing behaviour.
