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Our Dutch construction sites are required to work faster and more efficiently, while avoiding ‘wet’ connections as much as possible. In addition, safety requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, according to Michel Overdijk, Senior Project Engineer Concrete at Leviat. “Combined with the significant shortage of skilled workers, prefabricated and modular construction is becoming an increasingly popular choice. Leviat is responding to this trend with the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection, which enables simple and quick dry connections of prefab concrete elements, both horizontally and vertically.”
“Thanks to the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection, prefab concrete walls, floors, roofs, and facades can be easily and quickly connected and disconnected,” says Overdijk. “Thanks to the dry connection, no joint mortar is needed to connect the concrete elements. When HEK3 is chosen instead of welded plate connections, there is no longer any need for a certified welder to weld on site. This means that a modular home can be built in no time at all. Sometimes even in a single day, which saves a lot on crane hours.”
“The Halfen HEK3 anchor is already cast into the concrete element at the prefab concrete factory,” says Overdijk. “A recess is also included in this process. Leviat supplies a polyurethane recess mold for this purpose, which can be reused for many years. This is an important feature in terms of waste reduction and sustainability.” The recess mold ensures that the Halfen HEK3 anchor remains in exactly the right position in the formwork during concrete pouring and the curing process and can be easily removed from the concrete element after demolding. “The recess that remains then forms the mounting recess for the counterplate and hexagonal bolt. If desired, the recess can then be smoothed or filled with a filler block.”
For concrete manufacturers who use steel molds, Leviat also offers magnetic recesses, which cleverly prevent the need for drilling holes.
The anchor and counterplate have the same serrated surface. “This allows loads to be absorbed effectively in two directions,” explains Overdijk. “Both in the longitudinal direction of the bolt (tensile forces) and in the transverse direction (shear forces). Thanks to our Halfen HEK3 prefab connection, the elements cannot shift relative to each other and always remain at right angles to each other.”
“With the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection, long shoring is not necessary. No special tools are required either. A simple torque wrench is sufficient for installation.”
Once the hexagon bolt has been tightened, the casing connection is immediately fully load-bearing, which speeds up the construction process even further, Overdijk emphasizes. “With the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection, there is no need to wait for concrete or mortar to cure completely.”
Thanks to the dry connection, installation can be carried out regardless of the weather. “Rain, snow, and wind have no impact on the result. As long as the construction crane continues to operate, installation can continue.”
Because the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection is hot-dip galvanized, a high level of corrosion protection is guaranteed, says Overdijk. “Recently, our anchors have also become available in stainless steel, which means we can also offer a solution for any open joints that are exposed to the elements or other connections that may be in a damp environment.”
Compared to its predecessor, the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection offers greater installation tolerance, allowing for even better compensation of installation tolerances. “This results in significant savings in repair time and costs. Drilling alternative (repair) anchors is no longer necessary, which meets an important market demand. The elements always fit. Thanks to the dry connection, they can also be dismantled.
building possible.”
Curious about the Halfen HEK3 prefab connection? In the Leviat Halfen HEK3 App for iOS and Android, you can view various prefab house shells in impressive augmented reality and 3D displays. Concrete manufacturers and contractors can also use the Leviat design software. “The 3D information for our Halfen HEK3 prefab connection is available in Tekla Warehouse for use in BIM projects. This includes our latest stainless steel anchor.”
Leviat is a global leader in lifting, connecting, and anchoring technology for construction and industry. “From ground-level homes to high-rise projects and from masonry support to concrete and prefab construction: we devise, model, and produce technical solutions and innovative products that enable contractors and concrete manufacturers to build more safely, quickly, and strongly, but also sustainably and circularly,” says Overdijk. “By contributing ideas on technology and assembly from an early stage, we take all the worries off our clients” shoulders."
