Cutting technology
November 1st 2007

A German civil engineering fabricator is reaping the benefits of ESAB's Suprarex cutting machine in the fabrication of a giant steel bridge, the Berliner Brücke.

The 73m high, 650t allsteel construction has two base piers which meet at a height of 35m and form an A-shaped gate above the road. The base piers are topped by the pylon peak where cables are anchored.

Openings through which the diagonal cables were suspended had to be precisely cut. Elipse-shaped inner contours had to be cut into complicated steel plates. The Suprarex portal cutting system was adapted to the company's needs.

High performance plant was needed to cut material of thicknesses to 150mm, while a flexible oxy-fuel cutting unit was responsible for complex elipse cuts.

The Suprarex has a continuously turning threeburner unit with which any geometries could be realised with double-bevel grooves, Y and V-grooves by oxy-acetylene cutting.

Other features included a single oxy-acetylene cutting torch and plasma marking.

ESAB's Columbus programming system proved a sophisticated and flexible tool. After a brief introduction, the client was able to program the cutting processes required.

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