Alucrom Oy has recently carried out maintenance on the Kalliokoski railway bridge in Ristijärvi,Finland painting it with Nor-Maali´s Silko coating system LIVI B.2+ Normastic 405 –Normastic 405 – Normadur 65 HS.

The 122m long steel Kalliokoski railway bridge in Ristijärvi, which is part of the Kontiomäki-Pesiökylä railway, was built in the late 1930s. There is a road in the lower part of the bridge with a railway above. German soldiers blew up the bridge in September 1944 when they retreated from Finland, and the current, repaired bridge was completed in 1947. Alucrom Oy maintenance painted the Kalliokoski railway bridge in the summer of 2021 with Nor-Maali’s LIVI B2+ system Normastic 405 – Normastic 405 – Normadur 65 HS, to a total 310 µm DFT. The total surface area was approximately 5,000m2. Alucrom Oy has been using Nor-Maali´s coatings in Finland since Alucrom Oy was established in 2015.

The company Alucrom Oy is part of Alucrom AB, founded in 1953. Alucrom AB is one of the biggest surface treatment solution contractors in Sweden, Finland and Poland. Since 1996, Alucrom has been part of Midroc Europe. The core business is to offer blasting and advanced surface treatment services. Alucrom works closely with the customer and understands their needs, which is always the starting point for services. Alucrom is an innovative company and adapts its work practices to meet customers’ needs, and it is thanks to innovative solutions and many unique production methods that they are able to increase productivity and reduce costs.

Alucrom services the petrochemical and automotive industries, infrastructure, maintenance painting and inspection services. The company provides surface treatment, including various blasting services, as well as different methods of industrial painting. Coating systems are available for all corrosivity categories in accordance with ISO 12944, EN1090-2 and NORSOK M-501. Midroc Alucrom currently has 13 permanent painting stations in Sweden, Finland and
Poland. In Finland, the painting facilities are located in Kalajoki and Ylivieska. Project offices
are located in Porvoo and Seinäjoki. In addition to painting stations, Alucrom also performs
anti-corrosion painting in the field, for example on bridges, tanks, paper mills, power plants,
lock gates, ships and cranes.

Bridges in Finland

In Finland, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylä) owned a total of 17,570 bridges
at the end of last year; 15,093 road bridges and 2,477 railway bridges. The share of steel bridges
is about 6.3% (number of bridges) / 13.7% (total surface area of bridges). In addition, most of
the tubular bridges are made of steel, which accounts for about 19% of the total number of
bridges and 2.3% of the total surface area.

In the 2020s, new bridges will continue to be built for Väylä, mainly in connection with
road and rail projects. Replacement of older ferry connections with bridges is planned at
several sites, and the renewal of old bridges will also increase. Based on practical experience, bridges will be renovated at the age of 30-40 years. Due to the age structure, the need to repair bridges has grown strongly since the 1990s and will remain at least at the current level for a long time in the years to come. The condition of the bridges is monitored by general inspections carried out approximately every five years. In 2020, 130 bridges were renovated.

Read the full article in our recent issue – PCE International Oct – Dec 2021 (flickread.com)