Total partner for connection solutions

Leviat is a world leader in lifting, connection and anchoring technology for construction and industry. "From ground-level housing to high-rise projects and from masonry support to concrete and precast construction: we devise, model and produce technical solutions as well as innovative products that enable contractors and concrete manufacturers to build safer, faster and stronger, but also sustainable and circular," says Meerten Siertsema, Sales Manager Concrete Department at Leviat. "By thinking along with us from an early stage in terms of technology and assembly, clients are completely relieved."

Leviat's main objective is to increase efficiency and safety on our construction sites. "We also help contractors and concrete manufacturers to build quickly, sustainably and circularly," Siertsema said. "All around us we see that construction sites are getting smaller and smaller and safety requirements are getting stricter. Combined with the severe shortage of skilled workers, prefabrication is increasingly being chosen, where complete elements are assembled under the best climate and working conditions, delivered just-in-time and lifted directly from trucks into the building frame. Leviat goes along with this with a complete range of lifting, connection and anchoring systems, which enable contractors and concrete manufacturers to build in a demountable and therefore sustainable and circular way. Without sacrificing strength, rigidity and stability."

Early involvement

"Each type of product requires its own lifting systems," Siertsema says. "In the preparatory phase, we like to take stock of how the contractors and concrete manufacturers concerned want to hoist their systems and how this can possibly be done more efficiently and safely. We have extensive knowledge of the possibilities of our systems in various applications. For example, with regard to weights, lifting methods and lifting angles." Based on the chosen construction, floor systems, floor dimensions, floor thicknesses, facade finishes and any balconies or other cantilever elements, Leviat also provides advice on the right supports, connections and anchors, says Country Manager Herbert Plecht. "As a result, contractors and concrete manufacturers benefit from one contact person, one knowledge partner, one supplier and one warranty party for (1) the safe and efficient transport, hoisting and temporary bracing of precast concrete elements, (2) the safe and thermally efficient fixing of facades, including masonry supports, and (3) optimal fixing and cold-bridge breaking of balconies."

Halfen HEK3 precast connection 

A widely used precast connection in Leviat's range is the Halfen HEK2, which this year received an innovative successor: HEK3. "The Halfen HEK3 precast connection is an innovative and versatile product solution that enables simple and fast dry connection of precast concrete elements. Both horizontally and vertically," Siertsema says. "Thanks to our solution, walls and facades, for example, can be connected and disconnected easily and quickly. The fitters on site no longer have to weld or work with mortar. Moreover, long propping and/or special tools are not necessary. A torque wrench is sufficient."

Compared to its predecessor, the Halfen HEK3 precast connection offers a greater assembly tolerance, allowing construction tolerances to be accommodated even better, Plecht says. "This cuts down considerably on repair time and costs. The drilling of alternative (repair) anchors is no longer necessary, thus meeting an important desire in the market. The elements always fit. Moreover, thanks to the dry connection, dismountable construction becomes possible." After tightening, the hull connection is immediately moment-proof and fully constructively loadable, which ensures an even faster construction process, Siertsema emphasizes. "In addition, contractors and concrete manufacturers benefit from a very complete system including magnetic recesses for the concrete formwork and free Halfen calculation software."

Halfen HIT-PI for retrofitting balconies

Following the example of floors and walls, balconies are increasingly being prefabricated. Leviat is joining this with a new range of Halfen HIT-PI constructive thermal breaks that allow prefabricated balconies to be securely attached to the building structure directly from the crane and in just a few minutes. "Halfen HIT-PI eliminates the need for temporary support/underpinning because assembly no longer depends on the curing time of the concrete," Plecht summarizes. "The Halfen HIT-PI can also be adjusted in all three directions; an important feature for fast, trouble-free installation. Only a few nuts and follower plates are sufficient for fixing the precast balconies."

For both Halfen HIT-PI and Halfen HEK3, Leviat developed sustainable recess blocks, which can be reused again and again by the concrete plants. This implements the sustainable ambition of Leviat and its partners down to the smallest detail.