PUTZMEISTER Mortelmaschinen’s screed conveyors emerged successful in the challenge of placing more than a million sq m of semi-dry cement screed at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island development. About 350,000 sq m of this screed has been used at the Ferrari World site, which was officially launched on November 4 last year.

The 200,000-sq-m indoor theme park – the world’s largest – is located on the 2,500-hectare Yas Island, directly adjacent to the new Abu Dhabi Formula 1 track, the Yas Island Circuit,  and fully reflects the character of Ferrari.

Construction work on the development began in November 2008 and the first stage of construction on the island was completed on November 1, 2009, in time for the first Formula 1 race on the new circuit.  This first phase involved an area of around 350,000 sq m of screed laid with the company’s M 760 screed conveyors. Further stages of construction involved more screed with the construction of a luxury apartment complex on the artificial island site requiring an additional 750,000 sq m of screed, which was laid last year.

Under the very tight time schedule, completion of the first 350,000 sq m of screed in the first building phase was planned for September 2009.

But it wasn’t only the time schedule that placed special demands on man and machine: the weather conditions of the Arabian desert where temperatures exceed 50 deg C, stretched workers, material and equipment to their limits. The freshly-laid surfaces had to be covered with sheets to prevent stresses in the materials and cracks, which could occur if the screed was allowed to dry out too quickly.

“Even under these extreme conditions, the Mixokret 760 DH and the two M 760 DHB – two fully-hydraulic machines fitted with loaders – never let their operators down,” says a spokesman for Putzmeister. “They even handled delivery ranges of 100 m and more without a hitch. The hoses used were mainly the DN 50s, as their lower weight made them easier to manoeuvre.”

He continues: “The decision to use the M 760 screed conveyors on the Yas Island building site was made by the contractor German Concrete Works, based on the outstanding reputation of Putzmeister Mortelmaschinen and excellent experiences in Germany. In addition to the quality and reliability of the machines, a determining factor was the extensive network of Putzmeister dealers and qualified service engineers, better than anything offered by any other manufacturer. This means that the best support is guaranteed throughout the world, including in Abu Dhabi.”

Since they began work in 2009, the four screed conveyors have been in operation seven days a week in three shifts, in order to keep to the time schedule and ensure consistently high screed quality, he says.

“The Mixokret M 760 is the most powerful screed conveyor in the Putzmeister range, with a four-cylinder Deutz diesel engine giving a mighty 46 kW of power. At the same time, this engine is quiet, economical and environment-friendly, because it runs at very low speeds,” the spokesman points out.

“The diesel engine and compressor are perfectly matched and allow extreme delivery distances and heights to be achieved, which was a considerable benefit on this construction site. The high air output from the compressor also means considerable time savings.

“The M 760 is not only able to pump up to 5 cu m of screed per hour, but its hydraulic mixing apparatus is also able to cope in the most demanding conditions. The hydraulic drive gives the option for the mixing apparatus to be run both in forward and reverse. This allows any blockages in the mixing tank to be removed, which considerably simplifies cleaning and shortens maintenance times.

“Furthermore, this type of drive is particularly low-wear and protects the mixing apparatus from any overloading. The features of the M 760 are complemented by a robust body and access cover with hard-wearing KTL paintwork. This means the machine is effectively protected from damage even under conditions as harsh as those of Yas Island,” he says.

The Yas Island features the Yas Racing Circuit, numerous attractions relating to motor sports, a theatre complex and the fastest roller coaster in the world, and several four- and five-star hotels such as the Yas Hotel. Part of the racetrack passes right through the hotel, which is built half on land and half over the yachting marina.

Putzmeister Mortelmaschinen develops, produces and delivers one of the world’s most extensive ranges of powerful, site-optimised plastering machines and screed conveyors as well as professional Dynajet high-pressure cleaners.

It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Putzmeister Group, which is represented in all global markets and is active in various business sectors such as concrete pumps, plant engineering, tunnelling machinery, mortar machines, high-pressure cleaners and coating technology.