Together with our Swiss partner Hallen Plan, we secured a project for Implenia AG, one of Switzerland’s leading construction companies. With over 9,000 employees and an annual turnover of 3.6 billion CHF, Implenia is constructing the second tube of the San Gotthardo (Gotthard) tunnel. The tunnel will span more than 7 km, with concrete segments being produced nearby. The construction began at the end of 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2027.
We designed and installed three fabric structures with a total length of 163 meters, serving as auxiliary facilities for the production of concrete tunnel segments. These structures provide protection from weather conditions for both the handling robots and the concrete segments themselves.
Specifications of the Fabric Structures
Structure 1: Dimensions: 9.8 m × 30 m
Covers the tracks with the robotic cart and the tunnel entrance where the production process begins.
Structure 2: Dimensions: 10.5 m × 18 m
Covers the vacuum lift and the tunnel exit. The lift lowers the concrete segments onto the robotic cart, which then transports them to the next structure.
Structure 3: Dimensions: 9 m × 115 m
Covers the transportation route where the robotic cart moves the concrete segments for drying.
Technical and Financial Details
Delivery time: 120 days from order to handover
Connection Between Facilities
All three structures are connected into a single, continuous fabric tunnel. Along the length between the facilities and the mountain, we implemented a combination of canopies and gutters with secondary membrane coverings. This ensures water drainage, snow retention, and a dry passage between the structures, while also preventing water inflow and snow accumulation from the mountain side.
Advantages of Schwarzmann Fabric Structures
Weather Protection: Designed to withstand extreme snow loads of approximately 8.0 kN/m², providing quick and effective protection for key access points.
Modular Design: Easy installation and relocation after project completion.
Robust Construction: Steel framework and PVC covers ensure long-lasting durability.
Schwarzmann fabric structures in the Implenia project provide reliable protection for tunnel entrances, exits, and transportation routes, ensuring uninterrupted production processes regardless of weather conditions. This is crucial for the continuous construction of the tunnel’s second tube, which will help ease traffic congestion along this key north-south highway connection in Switzerland.
