2,500 tons of steel for three imposing high-rise freezer halls in Brittany

In terms of tonnage of steel, it may be an everyday project, but the design, production and assembly of a steel structure for three 35-meter-high coldstores in France presents some major challenges. Commissioned by B-Built, ASK Romein realized the high-rise warehouses for NewCold's new coldstore in Rennes, Brittany, totaling 23,000 m².

 "We received an offer request from B-Built for this project based on the original master plan. However, we decided to create our own design for the steel structure. In the end, we were commissioned for this project and were responsible for the entire process from design, through production and delivery to assembly at the construction site," says project manager Martin de Blok. "We realized the entire steel structure for the three high-rise warehouses, each 35 meters high, accounting for a total construction of 16,320 m² with 2,500 tons of steel. The entire project was carried out in S355J2 grade steel to meet the requirements for such freezer halls with temperatures down to -23°C."

Tight planning

ASK Romein is not on trial here. After all, the company is one of the leading players in the Dutch and Belgian construction market and increasingly outside it as well. To this end, it has a highly advanced machine park with optimal equipment at its various sites in Roosendaal, Katwijk, Middelburg, Vlissingen, Sluiskil and Malle (BE). "We strive to completely unburden our customers. For example, we take care of drawings and calculations, engineering, production and assembly at construction sites at home and abroad. NewCold's project was one of our first projects in France, where different laws and regulations apply after all," De Blok continues. "We started production in our factory at the end of last year. The first structures were delivered to the site in early February, assembly started at the beginning of March, and by September the carcass of the three high-rise warehouses was ready. During assembly, we also had to take into account all the additional measures by COVID-19. However, while all local subcontractors shut down the works, we continued to work safely throughout the entire period."