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  • Who we are
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  • Projects
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Operating internationally with Swiss roots, WALO is a family-owned business now being led by the fifth generation. For over 100 years, WALO has been committed to the combination of consistency and innovation.


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WALO is active as an innovative total solutions company in all markets of the construction industry. With its decades of experience and the permanent development of sustainable as well as economical solutions, the family-owned company has established itself as a reliable partner in the construction industry and infrastructure projects in Switzerland and worldwide.


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We have successfully implemented many challenging projects and are proud to let our references speak for our work.


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Good construction and thus satisfied customers require precise work. All our employees, from unskilled workers to engineers, play a key role in ensuring that we achieve this goal time and time again.


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With our locations in three countries, we are by your side worldwide.


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Goldistahl Reservoir, Germany

Discover how WALO overcame a time crunch and variable weather conditions to complete a crucial mastic coating project at the largest pump storage plant in Europe.

Case Study Description

The Background

Goldisthal pump storage scheme is situated 50 km south of Erfurt in the Thuringian mountains, Germany. The power station, operated by Vattenfall Hydropower Generation, has a power output of 1,060 MW and is the largest pump storage plant in Europe. The upper reservoir, which has a capacity of 12,000,000 m3 water, is lined with Dense Asphaltic Concrete (DAC) and it required a new mastic coating, covering a surface area of 330,000 m2. Mastic consists of bitumen, filler and sometimes sand and is spread onto the dense layer in a liquid form. It protects the DAC against UV radiation and creates an elastic film at the surface.

 

The accumulation of sediments in a reservoir, when at a certain thickness and composition, can result in enormous shrinking forces while drying. A mastic coating can help to reduce sedimentation and so reduce these shrinking forces. The mastic seals the pores of the lining,which reduces vulnerability to attack by mechanical forces.

 

To complete the required works, WALO needed to clean the sediments from the lower part of the slope and a third of the base and then apply the new mastic coating. By having the lower part of the slope and the upper parts of the base sealed, Vattenfall can significantly increase the amount of usable water for power production.

 

The Challenge

The variable weather conditions in the Thuringian mountains and the need to keep the reservoir operational for as long as possible meant that there was considerable time pressure to complete the works in a limited time. WALO had four to five teams working alongside each other seven days a week to compensate for delays caused by bad weather. The reservoir was only empty for four weeks and all the works were completed in just six weeks.

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Contact

Walo Bertschinger AG
Giessenstrasse 5
8953 Dietikon 1

Location
Germany
Service

Hydraulic Asphalt Engineering

Building time
1999 - 2002
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We appreciate your interest in the WALO Group and will be happy to answer your questions.

Walo Bertschinger AG

Headquarters
Giessenstrasse 5
Postfach, 8953 Dietikon 1

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