The Hague Trekfietsviaduct | Trekfietsviaduct gets high-quality coating

The Jan Linzelviaduct over the A4 near The Hague is getting a high-quality coating. To ensure the long life of the bicycle bridge, a 4-layer coating system will be applied. Paint that is resistant to weather, wind, moisture and salt, which is necessary because of its location in the coastal region.

The technical preservation company Cuijpers Services BV of Weert, which performs this work, works across the full breadth of the preservation process. Operations director Jos Ickenroth:  "For this we have three locations, in Weert, Middelburg and Elsloo. This bicycle bridge involves nine large parts, one of which is 54 and one of which is 48 meters long. Because of the dimensions, we applique the four largest bridge parts at construction company Heerema in Vlissingen, which has a huge blasting and spraying hall. We have already blasted two of the four large bridge parts Sa2.5 there and applied a 4-layer coating system to them. We are treating the five smaller parts at our own Middelburg location."

Controlled process

It is a precise and controlled preservation process, described in detail in advance in an inspection test plan (ITP), a detailed roadmap. It starts with blasting the bridge sections with Corundum (steel grit). Next, the entire design is inspected for rust and sharp corners because otherwise the coating could eventually break. If necessary, the steel is rounded off so that then the first blasting can be done. A critical inspection then follows, the parts are post-blasted and all dust is blown off. Next, the salt content is measured and if it is within the norm, Cuijpers immediately applies an anti-corrosive metallic zinc-rich epoxy primer as a topcoat. This is followed by a pigmented epoxy coat and the final high-performance hybrid final coat, in multiple shades of gray. Each layer is minutely checked for quality by qualified inspectors, both from the customer and from Cuijpers. In addition to the salt content, they also check the ambient temperature, humidity and layer thickness of the coating. Ultimately, everything is recorded in a quality document.

From A to Z

"Our company has facilities for all types of systems from complex to simple, for large or small quantities and for specific requirements." To this end, the company has three blasting and preservation facilities, large halls to clean steel objects from rust and old paints, and to apply wet paint systems consisting of one or more layers. Cuijpers also has an extensive mobile branch with personnel and special equipment that can blast, spray, ultra high-pressure water cleaning and PFP application on site. These complex Passive Fire Protection systems prevent a building or structure from rapidly collapsing at certain high temperatures (in case of fire), so that those present can find a safe refuge in time. Ickenroth: "As one of the few in the Netherlands, we have this knowledge and expertise. All in all, we can perform preservation work from A to Z. By thinking along with us about suitable solutions even before the process starts, we want to relieve our customers."

Circular

The company does not stand still and works with state-of-the-art blasting techniques and coating systems. "We think along with coating manufacturers about new applications for an even better, durable coating. We like to play a pioneering role in this. After all, the question of whether we work circularly is increasingly becoming a selection criterion for large contracts," concludes Ickenroth.