Following a recent deal to provide 12,000 tonnes of steel fibres for Transport for London’s Crossrail project in the United Kingdom, ArcelorMittal WireSolutions signed contracts to supply steel fibres (21,500 tonnes) to the Doha Metro project in Qatar. Two prestigious global references strengthen ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ position as a reliable, competitive partner in the international tunnelling sector.
ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ use of two new premium-quality steel fibre grades, HE++ 55/35 and HE++ 90/60 was key to winning these two contracts. Fully compliant with client specifications, these steel grades have a high tensile strength – the tensile strength of ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ HE++ grades are almost double that of standard steel fibres. These premium quality steel fibres provide superior performance resulting in overall cost savings thanks to the improvement of concrete properties and lower dosage rates[1], which reduces the amount of concrete and steel required.
Doha Metro Project in Qatar
ArcelorMittal WireSolutions has signed three contracts to supply approximately 21,500 tonnes of steel fibres to the new Doha Metro project in Qatar. The contracts represent ArcelorMittal WireSolutions first delivery of steel fibres to the Middle East, opening the door for further opportunities in the region and worldwide. With regular monthly deliveries over two years these are the largest steel fibre contracts signed by ArcelorMittal WireSolutions to date.
Currently under construction and representing an investment of €32 billion, the Doha Metro network, operated by Qatar Rail, will be one of the most advanced metro systems in the world. Consisting of four metro lines: Red (North and South), Green, Gold and Blue, 300km long in total and comprising 98 stations, it is part of a greater plan to link with long-distance and freight lines connecting Qatar with the rest of the Gulf region. The network is being built in several phases with Phase 1 due for completion in October 2019, in time for the 2022 Football World Cup.
Red Line South
ArcelorMittal WireSolutions has signed a contract with a consortium led by QDVC[2] to supply 7,520 tonnes of HE++ 90/60 premium steel fibres for the production of tunnel lining segments for the Doha Metro’s Red Line South. Deliveries are being made from April 2014 to June 2016.
Red Line North
ArcelorMittal WireSolutions will also supply 7,500 tonnes of HE++ 75/50 for the production of tunnel lining segments to Doha metro’s Red Line North in a contract signed with precast manufacturer SMEET. Deliveries began in April 2014 and will continue until 2016. A consortium led by Italian company Impregilo[3] is responsible for construction of the line.
Golden Line
The third contract, signed with Qatari construction materials supplier CCI (Commodore Cement Industries), involves the supply of 6,400 tonnes of HE++ 90/60 to the Doha metro’s Golden Line, also for the production of tunnel lining segments. Deliveries are being made from November 2014 to July 2016. The line is being constructed by a JV led by Aktor[4]. ArcelorMittal’s DSTC offices in Dubai and Qatar worked closely with ArcelorMittal WireSolutions to fulfil project delivery requirements.
ArcelorMittal’s DSTC offices in Dubai and Qatar worked together with ArcelorMittal WireSolutions on the Golden Line project to fulfil project delivery requirements. Steel for all three projects is being produced in ArcelorMittal WireSolutions sites from Bissen, Luxemburg; Sheffield, United Kingdom and Syców, Poland.
“Due to our early engagement with project team members including engineers of several disciplines, site managers and procurement, ArcelorMittal WireSolutions was able to provide optimised solutions for its customers. Through open dialogue, we offered technical assistance and support to achieve optimised results in the final concrete and steel fibre performance testing,” says Wilhelm Nell, Steel Fibre Head of Sales and Senior Sales Specialist for Tunnel Lining Projects.
Transport for London’s Crossrail project in the United Kingdom
ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ participation in the €20.6 billion London Crossrail project, Europe’s biggest infrastructure project, is nearing completion. Between 2011 and 2013, ArcelorMittal Wiresolutions signed three multi-million pound contracts to supply a total of 12,000 tonnes of steel fibres for London Crossrail, representing the biggest total delivery of steel fibres in the entire project. Deliveries have been successfully completed for two of these contracts.
London Crossrail is ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ first infrastructure contract in the UK market for steel fibres. It is also the first time that ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ steel fibres are being used as the sole reinforcement in the production of tunnel segments, as opposed to a combination of steel fibre and rebar.
The use of two new premium-quality steel fibre grades, HE++ 55/35 and HE++ 90/60, specially developed for the London Crossrail project, was key to winning the contract. Steel for all three contracts is being supplied from ArcelorMittal WireSolutions sites in Sheffield, United Kingdom and Bissen, Luxemburg.
Project C510
The first contract, signed in 2011 between ArcelorMittal WireSolutions and the joint venture BBMV[5], involved the supply of 5,000 tonnes of ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ HE 55/35 steel fibre to be used in sprayed concrete for the new underground stations at Liverpool Street and Whitechapel, known as Project C510. 4,700 tonnes have been delivered to date.
Project C305
The second contract, signed by ArcelorMittal WireSolutions in 2013 with the joint venture Dragados Sisk[6] and now completed, was for Project C305, the biggest of the Crossrail tunnelling projects. Known as the Eastern Running Tunnels, the project represents a 12km stretch of twin tunnels under London’s East End. ArcelorMittal WireSolutions supplied 5,100 tonnes of HE++ 90/60 steel fibres for the tunnel segments which line the train tunnels between January 2012 and May 2014, and 1,081 tonnes of HE++ 55/35 steel fibres in sprayed concrete between January 2012 and August 2013. This is the first infrastructure project in the United Kingdom ever to exclusively use ArcelorMittal WireSolutions’ steel fibres as reinforcement for its tunnel linings.
Project C310
The third Crossrail contract, signed with the JV Hochtief Murphy[7] in 2012, has now been completed. The contract for this project, based in southeast London and known as project C310 or the Thames Tunnels, involved the supply of 1,100 tonnes of HE++ 90/60 steel fibres. HE++ 90/60 were supplied between May 2012 and March 2014 for the production of tunnel lining segments for 2.6km of twin tunnels and portal structures.
