RIVER PO BRIDGE

Saturday, December 18, 2010 saw the inauguration of the new bridge in Piacenza: an immense project that saw us at the forefront from the early design phases. We are particularly happy because, in addition to the use of our ZINCATURA SIGILLO VERDE and SISTEMA TRIPLEX treatments, we were able to convey to the design engineer and client the importance of making technical decisions that would guarantee maximum environmental sustainability and high durability. An excerpt from the inauguration speech made by the Chairman of ANAS, Pietro Ciucci:
“The bridge project was prepared on the basis of innovative criteria maximising durability and sustainability, hence going beyond the classical approach based on the criteria of architecture, static safety and functionality. The project has almost tripled the time period foreseen for extraordinary maintenance, taking it to fifty years. Furthermore, the chosen technical solution is able to minimise the emission of greenhouse gases, for the entire life cycle of the work, compared to alternative solutions proposed. This is why the bridge is currently the first major European infrastructure, designed and built with relative quantification of environmental sustainability. Within the context of sustainability, the future objectives related to the work concern the development of the LCA (life cycle assessment) to quantify the environmental benefits generated by the project”.

The new bridge in Piacenza is an excellent example of shared design and engineering. Eng. Mele from the beginning of the works focused on the philosophy of “sharing” of individual expertise in the design process. A gesture of “humbleness” that highlights the foresight and innovation of the operating method of Mele and his studio: designing and engineering using the best expertise. And so Nord Zinc was able to provide its contribution to the project, developing the study of the corrosion protection and aesthetic finish cycles for all metal parts of the bridge to obtain the maximum durability currently achievable. ZINCATURA SIGILLO VERDE, using a class 1 zinc coating according to the new EUR 24286EN guidelines for the prevention of Liquid Metal Embrittlement, was applied for the first time to large structural elements: the 30mm thick tubes that comprise the trestle pylon which supports the roadway. The tubes were galvanised preserving the ends which were then welding using a method specially developed by Nord Zinc: a first case of hot dip galvanised product with successive welding certified by the Italian Institute for welding that contributed to the development of the production cycle. SISTEMA TRIPLEX was used on the 3km of the parapets accompanying the bridge across the River Po. The cycle combines the hot dip galvanising with powder coating thanks to an innovative intermediate treatment based on nanotechnology. An amazing experience that rewards our cultural and promotional commitment, convinced that protection and preservation actively contribute to environmentally sustainable development.