The points are set

The new large airport will be the third major hub in Germany after Frankfurt and Munich. It will be the first German airport to be constructed and operated completely under private ownership. After a long run-up period, the project was finally inaugurated on 5th September 2006, when the first sod was turned for the BBI Berlin-Brandenburg International
Airport, signalling the start of one of the most important and largest transport and infrastructure projects in Germany.

Buderus cast iron pipe technology makes the running
The main fresh water supply pipe in the area of the planned airport will be laid using ductile cast iron pipes from Buderus. A cost comparison of the complete construction measures, also taking into account other materials, the tight construction schedule, and the agreement of the airport operator, were ultimately responsible for the choice of materials – ductile cast iron. The very high safety requirements were taken into account by opting for pipes with the wall thickness class K 10, the BRS^® and BLS^® locking and restraint systems and the installation of three automatic pipe rupture safety fittings.

In addition to outstanding quality, the essential conditions for placement of the contract included strict adherence to the delivery times for around 160 DN 600 fittings and 440 smaller nominal widths, the supply of approx. 2,700 metres of K10 DN 600 pipe within three weeks and fittings in accordance with the construction schedule.

According to the delivery schedule, seven loads per day would have to be delivered during the early stages, later followed by five loads of pipe per day to different areas of the construction site, together with specific node-point fittings to the various installation points. The value of the project to Buderus is over € 1 million.

New laying of the main fresh water pipe
The old main fresh water pipe, which would have crossed the new runway diagonally, will be completely relaid around the new airport area, in places only a few metres away from the boundary fence, over a distance of 6,120 m. Since this project forms the essential basis for the further construction work, the tight schedule of only six months must be maintained at all costs, despite the expected winter weather.
 
Since the construction firm has only a strictly defined working area, the pipes had to be laid out along the course before the start of construction. Because of the construction processes, laying of the pipes could only be started at the beginning and end points of the course (initially approx. 1,200 and approx. 1,700 metres). Since driving at right angles to the flight area is not allowed, the individual construction sites are more than 10 kilometres away from each other. On-schedule delivery therefore makes a considerable saving in time and costs.

The threads of this complex co-ordination process come together at Buderus in the hands of Carmen Koob. The process is also backed up by the forward-looking co-operation of Strieder Logistik. Through the dedication and skill of all those involved, deliveries for the project have so far gone without a hitch. The satisfaction of the operator and the construction companies is the most important requirement for ensuring that “Guss” and Buderus remain the favoured partners for the following construction phases of the new airport.