Despe demonstrates hydraulic expertise on Belgian iron furnace.
At 12.30 noon yesterday in Tubize, a town on the outskirts of Brussels, Italian demolition specialist Despe felled a 7,000 ton 90 metre high iron furnace using a pre-weakening and hydraulic jacking technique. The megastructure disappeared into thin air without using an ounce of explosive.
The furnace operated from the end of 1800 through to 2001, shutting down just once over the years in the Seventies due to trade union disruptions. The current owner Duferco, an international giant with registered office in Lugano, (who purchased the furnace after the sudden closure), decided to appoint an Italian company, Despe, to demolish this huge furnace.
The work took three months for the design and planning phase with a team of four engineers led by Paolo Cecchella, and two months to prepare the work site during which time cutting torches were used to weaken the structure.
The mega-furnace was located just 60 metres from residential dwellings so it was necessary to use a safe system that would not generate any risks for the surrounding environment.
Despe in fact managed to handle the 7,000 tons of steel plus other related utilities and structures in one fell swoop.
First of all, work commenced to weaken the structure, whilst maintaining its equilibrium, then thrusts performed by hydraulic cylinders brought it to the ground. In just a few seconds, the mega furnace and all related structures disappeared before the eyes of a very satisfied client, local authorities, all furnace foremen and former workers.
