getzner.com: News- and Pressreleases

Getzner sets standards in the online sector

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:27:00 +0100

Getzner is setting standards, not only in developing vibration solutions, but also in the online sector. An exciting app make the daily work of planners easier, whilst the Getzner RSS service continuously provides subscribers with up-to-date information - all of this in the name of user friendliness. Typematch for iPad
The Typematch program is now available as app for the iPad. It is used as a practical decision-making aid in the selection of Getzner's vibration-isolating materials. Engineers, planners and other specialists can now use this program at any time and in any place. Download Link: itunes Typematch Latest news in the RSS subscription
From now on, users can subscribe to all of Getzner's news reports and press releases as an RSS feed. This service allows subscribers to receive the latest news directly and hassle-free on their RSS readers. The feeds are available in German and English. Users can subscribe to the service - which is similar to a news ticker - by clicking on the "RSS-Feed" button in the bottom left corner of Getzner's homepage.

Making a donation as a Christmas present

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:52:00 +0100

Support for social projects instead of classical Christmas presents This year, Getzner is set to surprise everyone with a rather special Christmas present: They will be making donations this year instead of giving Christmas presents to customers and colleagues. The entire budget for presents will be given to two charitable organisations in Vorarlberg who are involved in integrating disadvantaged people into work. Social employment projects such as the INTEGRA in Wolfurt Employment Initiative and the Caritas Workshop in Ludesch provide an important service within society. The financial donation which we will make towards these employment projects will help needy people, which goes to the very root of the tradition of Christmas," pointed out Jürgen Rainalter, Getzner's managing director, explaining the decision to donate the present budget. The INTEGRA Employment Initiative in Wolfurt and the Caritas Workshop in Ludesch support the employment of people with disabilities and the integration of the long-term unemployed into work. Many years of cooperation with social employment projects
The INTEGRA Employment Initiative in Wolfurt and the Caritas Workshop in Ludesch combine many years of cooperation with Getzner: INTEGRA has looked after Getzner's brochure depot for some years and assembles packs of brochures on request for distribution to existing and prospective customers. The organisation helps long-term unemployed people get back into work. The Caritas Workshop in Ludesch, on the other hand, has been producing product samples for Getzner for a long time. It provides employment to over thirty people in an atmosphere where they feel appreciated.

The largest elastic mounting building project in the company’s history

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:11:00 +0100

Vibration protection for a luxury residential complex in Moscow using Getzner’s materials Moscow/Bürs. The 'Four Suns' luxury residential complex in Moscow has now been completed. It stands on a site above two underground railway lines. To ensure the buildings at the complex had effective protection against vibrations, those responsible placed an elastic mounting through out the entire building complex. For Getzner Werkstoffe – the Austrian specialists in vibration isolation – this meant implementing the largest elastic mounting building project in the company's history. Between 2006 and 2010, the Office Stroj general construction company completed a luxury residential complex with a total area of 110,000 m2 in the heart of Moscow. The 'Four Suns' complex represents the largest elastic mounting building project in Getzner's history. The main challenge of this project was protecting the building complex from vibrations, as the 'Four Suns' stands directly above two underground railway lines. The Key to this major project's success was Getzner's ability to adapt the solution to the situation at hand. 'We can adapt both the thickness and parameters of the materials to suit the individual case. This allows us to devise very economical solutions,' points out Andreas Stofleth, the Project Manager at Getzner. The residential complex is situated on a common base plate upon which four 8-10 storey residential buildings are located. The foundations for the base plate and the residential buildings were constructed as a monolithic, reinforced-concrete, solid plate. Elastic floor and wall supports for vibration isolation
In 2006, 'Ecocity', an ecological fund dedicated to developing the urban environment, conducted an investigation of the building site. As a means of insulating the building against vibration, those in charge recommended an elastic mounting using Getzner's polyurethane material Sylomer®. Offering protection from vibrations, elastic floor and wall supports made from Sylomer® were used under the foundation of the residential block and on the surfaces of the foundation walls. The elastic bearing beneath the baseplate consisted of a 37 mm thick layer of Sylomer®. 25 mm of Sylomer® was applied to the foundation walls. Correlation between the predictions and the actual installation
Getzner was able to use Ecocity's predicted results to calculate the requirements for vibration isolation. Using the exact measurement results and the proposed technical solutions, Getzner was able to determine the ideal material for the elastic mounting at the luxury residential complex. The vibration experts produced the materials with these specific challenges in mind. 'The excellent correlation between the predictions and the actual installation is an indicator of the quality of the products and related services delivered,' points out Sergej Kurnavin PhD, highlighting Getzner's professional approach to both planning and implementation. Professional building protection for excellent living conditions
Once the shell of the building had been erected, Ecocity undertook further test measurements. The results showed that using Sylomer® the construction team was able to achieve an effective level of protection against vibration. All areas subjected to investigation complied fully with the standards set by the Russian Federation. Professional building protection ensures excellent living conditions. Getzner Werkstoffe operates not only as a developer and producer of materials for vibration reduction, but is also particularly active as a construction advisor. In addition to performing material calculations, the specialists also took charge of project management at the site during the construction phase.

Images for download:

'Four Suns' is the largest elastic mounting building project
in Getzner's history.

Image source: Getzner Werkstoffe, may be published
free of charge

Offering protection from vibrations, floor and wall
supports made from Sylomer® were used to good
effect under the foundation and on the surfaces of
the foundation walls.

Image source: Getzner Werkstoffe, may be published
free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH Founded in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie, Getzner Werkstoffe has its headquarters in Bürs and is one of the leading specialists for vibration isolation. The solutions are based on the Sylomer® and Sylodyn® materials which are developed and produced in Bürs. They are used in the rail, construction and industrial sectors. The company markets its products throughout the world. Factbox | Data and facts regarding Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
Founded in:            1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie)
Managing Director:   Juergen Rainalter
Employees:             201 at the Bürs site, another 91 abroad
Turnover in 2010:    EUR 65 million
Fields of activity:      rail, construction, industry
Output in 2010:       8,564 tonnes of technical polyurethane materials
Recycling in 2010:    44 tonnes of polyurethane material residues
Sites in:                  Bürs (AT), Munich (DE), Berlin (DE), Amman (JO), Tokyo (JP), Pune (IN),
Beijing (CN), Kunshan (CN)
Ratio of exports:      approximately 80 percent Alongside its offices in Bürs and in Germany, Getzner Werkstoffe also has subsidiaries in Japan, China, India and Jordan. Its tightly-knit distribution network in Europe is complemented by its distribution partners in the USA, South America and the Far East. The company's partners, in a total of 35 countries around the world, distribute the products of Getzner Werkstoffe to every location. By reducing noise and vibration, Getzner is making a valuable contribution towards enhancing people's quality of life. Building insulation references (extract)

Teatre National de Catalunya, Barcelona (ES)
Welfenhöfe, Munich (DE)
Arnulfpark, Munich (DE)
BMW-Welt, Munich (DE)
Beisheim Center Ritz-Carlton, Berlin (DE)
National Training Centre, Tokyo (JP)
Oslo Opera, Oslo (NO)

Further informationen: Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
Andreas Ganahl
T: +43 (0) 5552 201-1862
M: mailto:andreas.ganahl@getzner.com Press contact: ikp Vorarlberg GmbH
Wanda Mikulec-Schwarz
T: +43 (0) 5572 398811
M: mailto:wanda.schwarz@ikp.at

Austria's Leading Companies: Getzner is one of the leading "big players"

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:45:00 +0100

KSV1870 (a credit protection association), Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and the Wirtschaftsblatt (an Austrian financial newspaper) have voted again for this year's Vorarlberg state winner in the "Austria's Leading Companies" (ALC) competition. In second place was Getzner Werkstoffe Holding GmbH, putting the leading "big player" on the podium for the second consecutive year in 2011. The reason for this success was the company's outstanding performance in 2010. It was only last year that Getzner managed to leap into the category of "big players", and its 298 employees and annual turnover of 64.1 million euros in 2010 enabled Getzner to lay claim to its excellent ranking this year. "The criteria for the ALC competition include efficiency, continuity, but also the sense of responsibility in the pursuit of sustainable business. This recognition is fantastic proof that, as 'the good vibrations company', we have adopted the right approach," explained Managing Director, Jürgen Rainalter. Picture source: Günther Peroutka - Publishing free of charge

8000 Getzner sleeper pads for the London Underground

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:17:00 +0200

In July and August 2011, the track of the London Underground District Line was completely renovated between Paddington and High Street Kensington stations in the city centre. Approximately 173 million passengers use this line every year. In addition to new ballast and new rails, the track section of this very busy Underground line was fitted with new sleepers incorporating Getzner pads. The operator, London Underground, installed around 8,000 sleeper pads for concrete and wooden sleepers. As well as protecting the track superstructure, the elastically mounted sleepers protect residential buildings from vibrations. This concerns the large number of residential buildings located directly adjacent to the tracks in central London. Whilst the majority of maintenance work on the London Underground generally takes place during the night or at the weekend, this section of track was closed for an entire month to enable the renovation work to be carried out. The Cemex concrete sleeper works was partly responsible for pre-assembly of the Getzner sleeper pads, along with London Underground itself. The manufacture of concrete sleepers and pre-assembly of pads both to the ends and underside of the sleepers was carried out by Cemex Rail Products at their factory in Birmingham. Consequently, the sleepers had already been fitted with their pads before they arrived at the construction site, meaning that they could then be installed directly without any further work. As the section of the District Line that was renewed runs through narrow tunnels, the operator placed great importance on highly-efficient vibration insulation and in order to prevent sound propagation via the tunnel walls, elastic mountings were also used on the sides of the sleepers for the first time.

Four Suns: the largest elastic mounting building project in company history

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:47:00 +0200

Right in the heart of central Moscow, a new luxury residential complex with a total area of 110,000 m² was being built: four eight to ten-storey residential buildings constructed on a common base plate. "As the Four Suns apartment building stands directly over two underground metro lines, the challenge for this project was to protect the complex against vibrations", said Andreas Stofleth, project manager at Getzner Materials, as traffic from the metro lines causes vibrations that can still be felt at the surface. As a vibration-isolating measure, the construction team opted to use elastic mounting for the building, using Getzner's Sylomer® material for the "Four Suns" project, the largest elastic mounting building project in Getzner's existence. Getzner scores points as a developer, manufacturer and structural engineering consultant
Using concrete measurement results and proposed technical solutions, Getzner chose the right vibration isolation solution for the residential complex. This resulted in a very economical solution as Getzner produced the material specifically for these requirements. Offering protection from vibrations, elastic floor and wall supports made from Sylomer® were used under the foundation of the residential block and on the surfaces of the foundation walls. In addition to performing material calculations, the specialists also took charge of project management during the construction phase. Final test measurements confirmed the vibration-isolating measures used had an optimum effect.

New Managing Director at Getzner Werkstoffe in Buers

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:23:00 +0200

Juergen Rainalter succeeds Dr. Roland Pfefferkorn Buers/Austria. Getzner Werkstoffe, which specialises in vibration insulation, will have a new Managing Director as of 1 July. Juergen Rainalter (46), who has been employed in the company since 2009, will succeed Dr. Roland Pfefferkorn (61) in his role. Founded in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie, Getzner Werkstoffe has its headquarters in Buers and is one of the leading global specialists for vibration insulation in the rail, construction and industrial sectors. The company has been producing materials for the damping and isolation of vibrations since 1975. These high-tech-materials, made from polyurethane, are called Sylomer® and Sylodyn® and were developed by Getzner's own research team. On 1 July 2011, after a total of 16 years as Managing Director, Dr. Roland Pfefferkorn handed over the baton to Juergen Rainalter, previously Head of Sales at Getzner. Market for vibration insulation undergoing change
In recent years, the market for elastic vibration solutions has been undergoing tremendous change: "Polyurethane, the material that forms the basis for our high-tech materials Sylomer® and Sylodyn®, has now proven itself to be superior to rubber and will continue to grow in importance. The fact that competitors are now joining together to compete against Getzner Werkstoffe shows our leading role in the market. We have a number of imitators in the markets, but their solutions are based on cheaper materials and have not been the subject of long-term tests. What we're doing right is looking beyond the obvious, as customers are increasingly calling for solutions instead of 'just' products. Thanks to our knowledge and expertise, the steps we have taken to make our company truly international we are able to offer these solutions in a great number of regions and countries", said Dr. Pfefferkorn, outlining his views on the company's position. Expansion in all four directions
Getzner management continues to believe that the company will see expansion. "In future we will grow in all four directions:
We are reinforcing our existing business in Europe by using our branches to create greater contact with the market. The Middle East and North Africa will also grow in importance in the current difficult environment. As far as Asia is concerned, we are establishing our new branches in Japan, China and India. Asia holds enormous potential for us, particularly in the rail sector – the population is constantly growing and the mobility of people and goods increases rapidly. In order to be able to benefit from this, we have to remain one step ahead in terms of technology. In North and South America, the creation/expansion of our business is proceeding gradually. The focus of our work there is unambiguously on the development of employees, managers and the organisation itself" stated Jürgen Rainalter, summarising the company's growth plans. Moving forward consistently with the company strategy
Juergen Rainalter is relaxed about the change in Managing Director: "In order to ensure continuity, we have carried out intensive preparation as part of a succession process lasting one and a half years. Over the last six years I have already had the opportunity to play a part in developing the company's strategy", explained Rainalter, who was replaced by Peter Mangeng as Head of Sales on 1 July 2011. Looking to the future
Juergen Rainalter is confident that demand for vibration mitigation solutions will continue to grow: "People throughout the world are becoming more and more sensitive to vibrations and noise pollution. For Getzner especially, it is an advantage that the requirements in this area are increasingly and becoming ever more complex, because as a provider of high-quality overall solutions, we can win many points here. Solutions that could reduce the life cycle costs of a construction to a huge extent offer further market potential. I am working on the assumption that we will be appointing many more staff in Vorarlberg and at other locationsin the future. Buers will remain the centre of excellence, and in the future we will develop new calculation programmes and services there, as well as producing materials and solutions using our key technologies", explained Juergen Rainalter, underlining his commitment to the Buers headquarter. Furthermore, the plan is to add further production sites and sales subsidiaries in potential markets. New products, new areas of application, many new services and solutions are currently planned to supplement the portfolio.

Pictures for download:

New Managing Director at Getzner Werkstoffe:
Juergen Rainalter succeeds Dr. Roland Pfefferkorn.

Image source: Getzner, may be published free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
Founded in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie, Getzner Werkstoffe has its headquarters in Buers and is one of the leading specialists for vibration mitigation. The solutions are based on the Sylomer® and Sylodyn® materials that were developed and produced in Buers. They are used in the rail, construction and industrial sectors. The company markets its products throughout the world. Factbox on Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH

Founded in:	1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie)
Managing Director:	Juergen Rainalter
Employees:	201 at the Buers site, 91 more abroad (March 2011)
Turnover in 2010:	approximately 65 million euros
Fields of activity:	rail, construction, industry
Output in 2010:	8,564 tonnes of technical PUR materials
Recycling in 2010:	44 tonnes of PUR material residues
Sites in:	Buers (AT), Munich (DE), Berlin (DE), Amman (JO), Tokyo (JP), Pune (IN), Beijing (CN), Kunshan (CN)
Ratio of exports:	approximately 80 percent

Alongside its offices in Buers and in Germany, Getzner Werkstoffe also has subsidiaries in Japan, China, India and Jordan. Its tightly-knit distribution network in Europe is complemented by its distribution partners in the USA, South America and the Far East. The company's partners in a total of 35 countries around the world distribute the products of Getzner Werkstoffe to every location. By reducing noise and vibration, Getzner is making a valuable contribution towards enhancing people's quality of life. Further Information
Andreas Ganahl
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
T: +43-5552-201-1862
mailto:andreas.ganahl@getzner.com

Wanda Mikulec-Schwarz
ikp Vorarlberg GmbH
T: +43-5572-398811
mailto:wanda.schwarz@ikp.at

Drachen-Center Basle: Effective protection against vibrations and noise in urban areas

Fri, 27 May 2011 12:33:00 +0200

An exclusive, five-storey block of apartments with an underground car park was constructed in the heart of Basle’s banking centre. “With the Drachen-Center project, elastic decoupling of the building was planned, due to the particular location of the apartment block. Following discussion of various technical solutions, full-surface decoupling was carried out using the material Sylomer®, explains Peter G. Trombik, a qualified civil engineer from Schweizer Trombik Ingenieure AG. The disruptive vibrations primarily originate from the shopping centre that is housed on the ground floor, whilst a tramline that runs close to the building exacerbates the problem. Living area decoupled from vibrations With the Drachen-Center, the challenge was to ensure that particularly stringent requirements regarding control of structure-borne noise were observed. Working in collaboration with experts from Trombik Ingenieure AG, the specialists at Getzner developed a solution that minimises the secondary airborne noise. Measurements taken after completion of the building confirm that the precisely-tailored vibration isolation complies with the required standards for sound-proofing.

IHHA Conference: Graz University of Technology turns its attention to ballasted tracks

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:46:00 +0200

The increasing amount of traffic and higher train speeds mean that the stress placed on tracks and turnouts is constantly increasing. Dr. Peter Veit, a professor at Graz University of Technology, will discuss this topic at the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) Conference to be held in Calgary, Canada in June 2011. His presentation “Preconditions for a Sustainable Low Cost Track” will focus on the reasons behind signs of wear in track systems and the causes of higher maintenance costs. In particular, Dr. Veit will look at possible strategies for a sustainable yet cost-effective superstructure, which include the installation of sleeper pads. As part of his presentation, Dr. Veit will present the results of the WINS study that was initiated by Getzner. The study confirms the "Financial benefit of sleeper pads (WINS)" – the life cycle costs of track systems can be reduced by using sleeper pads. Using the WINS study, Dr. Veit will be the first person in the world to provide statistical evidence for the cost-effectiveness of padded sleepers. Sleepers of this type extend the service life of tracks and significantly reduce maintenance costs. The higher the amount of traffic on a section of track, the greater the cost-effectiveness of sleeper pads.

Medical technology: Safety hallmark opens up new markets for Getzner

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:24:00 +0200

Getzner is deploying its versatile polyurethane raw materials with great effect in the medical technology sector. Once incorporated into orthopaedic underwear, protectors made from Sylomer® cushion the hip bones, preventing fractures to the neck of the femur and other injuries besides. The Swiss Council for Accident Protection (bfu) recently awarded the hip protectors the bfu safety hallmark. Before doing so, the Council carried out a special examination of the energy absorption and pressure distribution properties of the protectors. The elastic protective cushions are the result of intense collaboration between Getzner and the Scandinavian Christian Berner Group. Having been developed for the Norwegian company Vital Base AS and made available on the Scandinavian market, the protectors from Getzner that are incorporated into the "WonderHip" are now available in the German-speaking countries and the Benelux countries. In the event of a sideways fall, this elastic hip cushion will attenuate the impact and absorb the power brought to bear upon the hip. The protectors made from Sylomer® provide people at an increased risk of falling with effective hip protection that enables them to remain active in their everyday lives. The protectors from Getzner are especially characterised by the fact they are very kind to the skin and easy to clean. For further information please visit: http://www.wonderhip.com

Sleeper pads for the world’s largest rail vibration protection project

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:57:00 +0100

Getzner Werkstoffe supplies padded railway sleepers for Berlin-Cottbus line Bürs/Berlin. Austrian vibration insulation specialist Getzner Werkstoffe has been commission to provide vibration protection solutions for the upgrade of the Berlin-Cottbus rail link. The company is supplying sleeper pads featuring a specially designed polyurethane layer for this major Deutsche Bahn project. Upon completion, this track section will be able to handle speeds of up to 160 km/h without generating additional vibrations. Deutsche Bahn (DB) is currently involved in an extensive upgrade of the Berlin-Cottbus rail link. After completion of the project, the maximum speeds handled by the track will increase from the present 120 km/h to 160 km/h. Work has already finished on the southern section of the line, and the central section is now also undergoing the required improvements. To reduce the structure-borne noise of trains passing through built-up areas adjacent to the tracks, Getzner is installing elastic polyurethane pads under the sleepers. This provides nearby buildings with effective protection against vibrations despite the higher train speeds. The order for this large-scale project is worth a total of EUR 1.85 million. Effective vibration protection for neighbouring developments Over 60 km of track superstructure between Königs Wusterhausen and Lübbenau will be completely renewed. Getzner Werkstoffe was contracted to supply elastic pads to provide vibration protection for the new sleepers. After completion, trains will cover this stretch of track at speeds of up to 160 km/h without any additional loads caused by vibrations. "The Berlin-Cottbus line is currently the largest railway vibration protection project to be implemented anywhere in the world. In all, nearly 50,000 sleepers and 17 switches will be fitted with sleeper pads made from our materials" says Christian Dullinger, project manager for railway solutions at Getzner's Grünwald site near Munich. Specially developed products The new sleeper pads from Getzner Werkstoffe were developed as part of the LZARG project, which aims to devise new technologies for quieter rail traffic. Getzner has implemented series production of the new sleeper pads, which are tailored to requirements of the DB project. "We carried out a series of rigorous tests in a very short time. The new solution was then approved by DB Technik, and we are now putting this well-engineered and highly resilient product into service," says Mr Dullinger of the extensive preparations for this major project. "Achieving this milestone was only possible thanks to the strong commitment and outstanding teamwork of the people involved," he adds. The pads are applied to the sleepers at the plant of the manufacturer for this project, Rail.One. The finished products are then delivered directly to the construction site. Pictures for Download:

Thanks to Getzner sleeper pads, trains
can now cover the Berlin-Cottbus line at
speeds of up to 160 km/h.

Picture source: Getzner Werkstoffe,
reproduction free of charge

Bürs-based Getzner Werkstoffe is providing sleeper pads for over 60 kilometres of track between Berlin and Cottbus.

Picture source: Getzner Werkstoffe,
reproduction free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH Vibration insulation specialist Getzner Werkstoffe was set up in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie. The company’s vibration solutions feature the Sylomer® und Sylodyn® polyurethane materials developed and manufactured in Bürs. They are used for railway, construction and industry applications. Getzner's solutions reduce railway lifecycle costs as well as providing protection against vibrations. In addition to Bürs and Germany, Getzner Werkstoffe also has facilities in China, India, Japan and Jordan. A close-knit European sales network is supplemented by sales offices in the USA, South America and the Far East. With its noise and vibration reduction solutions, Getzner makes a valuable contribution to increasing quality of life. Facts and figures:Berlin-Cottbus line Length of upgraded Königs Wusterhausen (Berlin)-Cottbus line: approx. 100 km
Length of section to Lübbenau
currently under renovation: approx. 60 km
Target speed: max. 160 km/h Scope: 48,000 sleepers, 17 switches
Scheduled completion: Spring 2011
Contractor: RAIL.ONE GmbH
Client: Deutsche Bahn AG
Order value: EUR 1.85 million
Project manager: Christian Dullinger Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH: Facts and figures

Founded: 1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie)
Managing Director: Roland Pfefferkorn
Employees: 194 in Bürs, 91 abroad
2009 sales: approx. EUR 52.3 million
Businesses: Railway, construction, industry
2009 output: 7,022 tonnes of polyurethane materials
2009 recycled waste: 32 tonnes of waste polyurethane
Locations: Bürs (A), Munich (D), Amman (JOR), Tokyo (J), Kunshan, Beijing (PRC), Pune (IND)
Export share: approx. 80% Additional information
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
Andreas Ganahl
Tel: +43 (0) 5552 201- 1862
E-mail: mailto:andreas.ganahl@getzner.com Press contact
ikp Vorarlberg PR & Lobbying GmbH
Martin Dechant
T: +43 (0) 5572 398811
E-mail: mailto:martin.dechant@ikp.at

Bürs-based Getzner Werkstoffe is providing sleeper pads for over 60 kilometres of track between Berlin and Cottbus.

High-load bearings: an efficient method for mounting heavy loads

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:41:00 +0100

Efficient vibration protection for high-load applications is now available, as Getzner Werkstoffe has expanded its product range to include high-load bearings. This new solution enables efficient, elastic load mounting even with tight space limitations. For higher load ranges, it was previously necessary to use larger mounting surfaces, in order to distribute the weight evenly. Due to space limitations, the necessary surface area was often not available. High-load bearings by Getzner achieve excellent performance even with very small mounting surface areas, whether it is for buildings, crane installations, steel fabrications or heavy equipment, for new construction and renovation projects. As the high-load bearings are easy to handle, there is no need for expensive structural alterations, helping to minimise overall costs. Furthermore, the new bearings have the advantage of very low installation height and are easy to use. An optimized solution can be designed using combinations of Getzner’s existing range of standard products and the new high-load bearings, supported by in-depth, one-on-one consultation with Getzner’s highly experienced staff.

Pressing forward: Getzner Werkstoffe honored as one of Austria’s Leading Companies

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:02:00 +0100

Getzner Werkstoffe has taken 2nd place in the competition “Austria’s Leading Companies” (ALC) by Austria’s only business magazine Wirtschaftsblatt. After taking 3rd place in the category “Golden Middle Class” last year, the company garnered a podium position as one of the leading big players in the flagship category in 2010. The reason for this excellent ranking is the outstanding performance in 2009. The Kreditschutzverband (KSV) von 1870, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (pwc) and Wirtschaftsblatt selected the champion among companies from Vorarlberg. With annual turnover of around EUR 52 million in 2009, 264 employees and a ranking of 239 in the KSV rating 09, Getzner managed an impressive leap forward to Second Place in the “Big Players” category. “This is the 10^th year that we have participated in this competition. In our opinion, criteria such as cost-effectiveness, continuity and responsibility in the sense of sustainable business are arguments that our customers are interested in. The ALC award underlines that we are on the right track,” noted Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. Picture source: Peroutka

Study confirms that sleeper pads reduce life cycle costs

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:36:00 +0200

Getzner Werkstoffe presents research findings at InnoTrans Graz/Bürs/Berlin. A recent study by the Graz University of Technology reveals that sleeper pads reduce rail track life cycle costs. Getzner Werkstoffe presented the findings to an audience of experts at the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin – sleeper pads significantly extend track lifespans while substantially reducing maintenance costs. Rising traffic levels and faster trains are placing an increasingly heavy burden on tracks and points, as reflected in significant signs of deterioration and higher track maintenance spending. The study by the Graz University of Technology, entitled Wirtschaftlicher Nutzen von Schwellenbesohlungen (Economic benefits of sleeper padding) or WINS, compared the behaviour of tracks fitted with sleeper pads and those without. It delivers scientific proof that the installation of pads, such as Getzner’s SLB 3007G and SLS 1308G models, significantly reduce signs of deterioration. Sleeper pads provide protection for the ballast – the critical element in ballasted track construction. The researchers reached this conclusion with the help of data models and long-term analysis of the Austrian Federal Railways’ entire track network. Findings highlight economic benefits The study involved examination of about 1,500 cross-sections of track. “Sleeper pads help to extend maintenance intervals and the useful life of the superstructure. This has the effect of substantially reducing superstructure life cycle costs, despite the rise in total investment,” explains Prof. Peter Veit of the Institute for Railway Engineering and Transport Economics at the Graz University of Technology. Assuming daily track loads of 70,000 gross tons, the statistics suggest that cost savings of one-third and an internal rate of return of 16 percent are achievable. The findings also indicate that the cost-effectiveness of sleeper pads increases in line with track loads. Lower superstructure costs Installing sleeper pads lead to a reduction in track closures of around 50 percent, while also extending the service life of the tracks by 25 percent. Padding combines the benefits of wooden sleepers with the advantages of the conventional prestressed concrete variety. It halves the rate of deterioration of the rails by preserving the ballast more effectively, as well as at least doubling tamping intervals – a major factor behind the Austrian Federal Railways’ increased use of sleeper pads since 1997. “On the whole we can say that sleeper pads are a technically and financially effective method of cutting total superstructure costs,” concludes Prof. Veit. Some 980,000 padded sleepers and 350 point sections featuring Getzner technology are currently in use around the world. Getzner materials also help to significantly reduce track and ballast settling. Advantages of sleeper padding: facts and figures

Tamping intervals extended by at least 100 %
50 % less track possessions on the line
Total service life increased by at least 25 %
Less rail corrugation in tight curves
Better track quality, and thus improved comfort
Advantages of timber sleepers combined with the benefits of prestressed concrete sleepers
Greater contact area between the concrete sleeper and ballast bed (and up to 90 % less unit pressure on the ballast)
Less ballast settling

WINS study

The world’s first statistical proof of the investment return offered by sleeper pads on the basis of a full rail network analysis in cooperation with Austrian Railways
At least a 10 % rate of return on the additional investment
The higher the track load, the more the investment in sleeper pads pays off

Pictures for Download:

	Padding combines the benefits of wooden sleepers with the advantages of the conventional prestressed concrete variety. Picture source: Getzner, reproduction free of charge
	Stefan Potocan Product Manager Railway and Jürgen Rainalter Head of Marketing and Sales informs about the WINS-Study Picture source: Holger Geissler Photographer, reproduction free of charge
	Great interest of journalists in the new study Picture source: Holger Geissler Photographer, reproduction free of charge
	Sleeper Pads reduce life cycle costs Picture source: Holger Geissler Photographer, reproduction free of charge

For furter information please contact: Andreas Ganahl
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
T: +43-5552-201-1862
andreas.ganahl@getzner.com Martin Dechant
ikp Vorarlberg PR&Lobbying GmbH
T: +43-5572-398811
martin.dechant@ikp.at

Getzner Werkstoffe celebrates inauguration of new building

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:04:00 +0200

Expansion of Bürs facility to satisfy rising demand Bürs. Getzner Werkstoffe celebrated the official opening of a new EUR 17 million extension to its Bürs site on 2 July 2010. The expansion was prompted by strong demand in the vibration insulation market. Almost two years after the groundbreaking ceremony, Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH marked the opening of a new section of the Bürs site on 2 July. The extension was the logical response to increasing global demand for specialist vibration insulation solutions. The project involved adding production, storage and office space, while expanding delivery capacity and the machine park. “This EUR 17 million development is the most extensive programme of expansion in our 40-year history,” explained Head of Corporate Development Peter Burtscher, who was also responsible for the office upgrade. Getzner selected state-of-the-art environmental technology for the project. “Our new building utilities room features a heat pump and our heat recovery system is up and running,” said Michael Hecher, Getzner’s Head of Production, who was in charge of the construction team and raising production capacity. Austrian expertise: outstanding quality guaranteed The expansion pools all of Getzner’s expertise at its Austria site. This enables the company to provide top-quality vibration insulation solutions to its customers around the world. The speakers at the opening ceremony included numerous provincial and local politicians. They all emphasised Getzner’s significance as an employer of highly trained graduates from a range of universities and colleges. The additional office space reflects the company’s increasing staff requirements — Getzner Werkstoffe is growing steadily and is always on the lookout for qualified employees. Global demand on the up Demand for expert vibration insulation solutions is rising continuously. Getzner’s cutting-edge materials are used around the world to insulate railway lines, foundations and entire buildings against vibrations. The company’s specialists are currently working on a major order from the Chinese state railway company. Getzner’s revenue has jumped by an average of 20 per cent over the past few years. “Our expansion reflects the steady overall growth in the international vibration insulation technology market,” commented Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH Vibration insulation specialist Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH was set up in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie. It provides solutions featuring the Sylomer® and Sylodyn® materials developed and manufactured at the company’s Bürs headquarters. Its products are used in the railway, construction and industry sectors, and are distributed worldwide.

Picture Download:

Bürs extension: Getzner’s centre of
expertise will continue to be based in Vorarlberg

Picture source: Bruno Klomfar, Veröffentlichung
honorarfrei

Bürs expansion: facts and figures

Groundbreaking ceremony: 23 July 2008
Opening: 2. 2 July 2010
Investment in construction: EUR 13.8 million
Investment in machine park: EUR 3.3 million
Total new production and storage space: 4,630 m2
New office space: 2,230 m2
Implementation: 90 per cent handled by Vorarlberg-based companies
Planning of new building: Erich G. Steinmayr, Feldkirch Factbox Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH: Getzner Werkstoffe: facts and figures
Founded: 1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie.)
Managing Director: Roland Pfefferkorn
Employees: 173 in Bürs, 91 abroad
Revenue 2009: EUR 52.3 million
Divisions: Railway, construction, industry
Output 2009: 7,022 tons of technical polyurethane materials
Recycling 2009: 32 tons of residual polyurethane materials
Locations: Bürs (Austria), Munich, Berlin (Germany), Amman (Jordan), Tokyo (Japan), Kunshan (China)
Export share: Over 80 percent Contact: Andreas Ganahl
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
Tel: +43 (0)5552 201 1862
andreas.ganahl@getzner.com Wanda Mikulec-Schwarz
ikp Vorarlberg GmbH
Tel: +43 (0)5572 398811
wanda.schwarz@ikp.at

Bürs. Getzner Werkstoffe celebrated the official opening of a new EUR 17 million extension to its Bürs site on 2 July 2010. The expansion was prompted by strong demand in the vibration insulation market.

Almost two years after the groundbreaking ceremony, Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH marked the opening of a new section of the Bürs site on 2 July. The extension was the logical response to increasing global demand for specialist vibration insulation solutions. The project involved adding production, storage and office space, while expanding delivery capacity and the machine park. “This EUR 17 million development is the most extensive programme of expansion in our 40-year history,” explained Head of Corporate Development Peter Burtscher, who was also responsible for the office upgrade. Getzner selected state-of-the-art environmental technology for the project. “Our new building utilities room features a heat pump and our heat recovery system is up and running,” said Michael Hecher, Getzner’s Head of Production, who was in charge of the construction team and raising production capacity.

Austrian expertise: outstanding quality guaranteed

The expansion pools all of Getzner’s expertise at its Austria site. This enables the company to provide top-quality vibration insulation solutions to its customers around the world. The speakers at the opening ceremony included numerous provincial and local politicians. They all emphasised Getzner’s significance as an employer of highly trained graduates from a range of universities and colleges. The additional office space reflects the company’s increasing staff requirements — Getzner Werkstoffe is growing steadily and is always on the lookout for qualified employees.

Global demand on the up

Demand for expert vibration insulation solutions is rising continuously. Getzner’s cutting-edge materials are used around the world to insulate railway lines, foundations and entire buildings against vibrations. The company’s specialists are currently working on a major order from the Chinese state railway company. Getzner’s revenue has jumped by an average of 20 per cent over the past few years. “Our expansion reflects the steady overall growth in the international vibration insulation technology market,” commented Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn.

Getzner Werkstoffe picks up EMAS 2010 eco-management award

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:22:00 +0200

Far-reaching environmental statement underpins commitment to protecting people and the environment Bürs/Vienna. The Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management has awarded Getzner Werkstoffe the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Prize 2010 in recognition of its environmentally friendly operations. The Vorarlberg-based vibration insulation expert received the award at the EMAS conference in June 2010 for its wide-ranging environmental statement. The company’s management system ensures that environmental factors are considered in all of the company’s activities. Getzner Werkstoffe accepted the EMAS Prize 2010 for eco-management at the EMAS conference held in Salzburg earlier this month. The EMAS Prize is awarded to enterprises that stand out for their dedication to safeguarding the environment. “The EMAS Prize 2010 is the reward for our comprehensive environmental statement, preventative health care measures and outstanding safety management systems,” explained Michael Hecher, Getzner’s Chief Environmental Officer. The declaration outlines Getzner’s commitment to green operations and sets out the company’s ambitious environmental targets. Getzner identified environmental protection as a key corporate objective some ten years ago, and its management systems are designed to promote awareness of environmental aspects across the enterprise. Groundbreaking contribution to protecting the environment Environmental protection is part and parcel of day-to-day operations at Getzner Werkstoffe. “Every day we turn the guidelines set out in our award-winning declaration into reality,” said Getzner Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. The company is constantly improving its production processes in an effort to minimise waste. Any residual materials pass through Getzner's in-house recycling procedure before being reused in production. Groundwater is increasingly being used in production. The company’s main lines of business also make a significant contribution to preserving a healthy living environment: by protecting against disturbing vibrations, Getzner’s polyurethane solutions for the railway, construction and industry sectors play a large part in enhancing quality of life. Award for EMAS-certified companies Enterprises must have EMAS certification to quality for the EMAS Prize. The prize is awarded by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management in conjunction with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment. This year five businesses won plaudits for their groundbreaking work in the field of environmental protection. The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is an environmental management tool developed by the EU. It certifies that a company works responsibly with people, natural resources and the environment. Getzner’s Bürs facility is regularly audited by independent environmental inspectors to ensure it is complying with the EMAS standards. The system is also the basis for continuous improvements in the company’s environmental performance. EMAS certification is recognised around the world. Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH Vibration insulation specialist Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH was set up in 1969 as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie. It provides solutions featuring the Sylomer® and Sylodyn® materials developed and manufactured at the company’s Bürs headquarters. Its products are used in the railway, construction and industry sectors, and are distributed worldwide.

Picture Download:

EMAS Prize 2010 awards ceremony in Salzburg: 
(from left to right) Sepp Eisl (member of the 
provincial government of Salzburg), 
Michael Hecher (Chief Environmental Officer, 
Getzner Werkstoffe) and Thomas Holzmann 
(Vice-President, German Federal Environment 
Agency in Dessau-Rosslau)

Photo Source: Franz Neumayr/Susi Berger,
reproduction free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH Facts and figures Founded: 1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner, Mutter & Cie.)
Managing Director: Roland Pfefferkorn
Employees: 173 in Bürs, 91 abroad
Revenue 2009: EUR 52.3 million
Divisions: Railway, construction, industry
Output 2009: 7,022 tons of technical polyurethane materials
Recycling 2009: 32 tons of residual polyurethane materials
Locations: Bürs (Austria), Munich, Berlin (Germany), Amman (Jordan), Tokyo (Japan), Kunshan (China)
Export share: Over 80 percent Contact: Dr. Michael Hecher
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
T:+43-5552-201-1500
michael.hecher@getzner.com
www.getzner.com Wanda Mikulec-Schwarz
ikp Vorarlberg GmbH
T: +43-5572-398811
wanda.schwarz@ikp.at

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg: structure-borne noise insulation for a 5-star hotel

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:48:00 +0200

Rising above the old warehouses in Hamburg’s historic harbor, one of Europe’s most spectacular projects is currently taking shape: Hamburg’s new philharmonic concert hall, the Elbphilharmonie. This impressive steel and glass construction features a concert hall, a 5-star hotel and apartments. Getzner Werkstoffe is outfitting the luxury hotel with structure-borne noise insulation for some 150 bathroom units. Using bathroom facilities can cause noises which are transmitted into other rooms. As this would lower the ambiance and quality of the hotel rooms, Getzner has elastically mounted the bathroom units on Sylomer®, decoupling them from the building’s structural elements to insulate against structure-borne noise. The Sylomer® bearings create efficient layer of insulation against noise and prevent the transmission of vibrations into adjacent components of the structure: a solution considered to be state-of-the-art for all new buildings and renovations. Photo sorce: elbphilharmonie-bau.de

Elastic bearing of Southern Sky Tower Hachioji (JP)

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:03:00 +0200

In Hachioji City on the outskirts of Tokyo presently one of the largest concert halls in Japan is under construction. The entire complex consists in the centre of the concert hall but as well of a 45 storey apartment building, offices, restaurants and shopping mall. In order to protect the inhabitants of the apartments as well as the adjacent areas all relevant floors and walls in the auditorium of the concert hall have been equipped with discrete bearings made from Sylodyn®. Nagata Acoustics in Tokyo have been responsible for the acoustic fine tuning and awarded AGK, a partner for application technology and installation to design appropriate solutions to take account for the high demands in structure borne noise mitigation. The choice for the elastic bearings was Sylodyn® ND & NE 25 and 37,5mm respectively. The entire floors and walls in the auditorium and the stage area have been elastically de-coupled. These measures assure both, an undisturbed auditorium on the one hand as well as working in the stage area on the other. Point bearings based on Sylodyn® have been used as reliable and diverse solutions successfully in a number of different other projects previously.

Stuttgart: Extension of the urban rail line U6 to Fasanenhof

Wed, 19 May 2010 08:37:00 +0200

Stuttgart’s urban railway network is being extended by 2.5 km this year, as the U6 line will run all the way to Fasanenhof. In order to protect the surrounding residential areas, Getzner Werkstoffe is responsible for ensuring top-notch protection against vibrations. This will be implemented over a stretch of about two kilometers in the open cut sections and in tunnels. As part of the planning process, the engineering office Beyer carried out a vibration study, the results of which made it clear that various kinds of vibration-mitigating measures were necessary. As a result, the track construction company installed a total of around 7,000 m2 of ballast mats and 1,000 m2 of side mats made of the vibration-isolating material Sylomer®. The mats were installed on a compacted mineral subgrade and on the tunnel floor. For a 30-meter long stretch of track in a grass bed, a full-surface mass-spring system was also installed. In the bored tunnel section, ARGE U6 Stadtbahnanschluss installed strip bearings for a mass-spring system on a 130-meter track section. The bearings, made of stiff Sylomer®, are 70 mm thick, with a width of 400 mm. Similar bearings have been successfully used for many years in various underground projects, such as the Munich subway network.

Ireland: Vibration protection for an expanded tram network

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0200

Dublin’s tram system, known as the LUAS, is currently being expanded. In the course of this, two sections of the new B1 Cherrywood line were outfitted with highly efficient vibration protection: Getzner Werkstoffe was responsible for the vibration mitigation measures in this project, which involved the installation of ballast mats in the ballasted superstructure. A noise and vibration study commissioned by the engineering office Arup (Ireland) recommended that ballast mats be installed in the areas requiring protection. The consortium responsible for construction, Somague/Bowen/Sacyr decided to use Getzner's Type Sylomer® B 119 ballast mats. These ballast mats can be installed in even the most adverse weather conditions. Getzner developed a special welding technique for this purpose. For the construction companies, this was a great advantage as the Irish weather frequently hampered the progress of the project. As an additional service, Getzner provided experts for on-site consultation during the installation phase. Using this technology, three workers can lay over 500 m² of ballast mats in a morning's work.

Getzner Werkstoffe secures major Chinese government contract

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:23:00 +0100

Bürs-based firm to outfit Beijing–Shanghai rail link Bürs/Kunshan. Getzner Werkstoffe is equipping the rail link between Beijing and Shanghai with elastic supports for rail fastening. For this major contract — the second awarded by the Chinese Ministry of Railways — Getzner will be operating on a four-shift basis as part of an Austrian-Chinese joint venture in Kunshan, China. The contract is valued at EUR 17.1 million, with a planned completion date of 2012. The Chinese Ministry of Railways is expanding the network by a total of 10,000 kilometres over the next four years. A twin-track high-speed line will be built between Beijing and Shanghai. The elastic support for the railway is being produced by the Byrel Fastening Systems joint venture, of which Getzner is the majority shareholder. A total of eight companies, six of them Chinese, tendered for the supply of the rail fastenings. The new north-south section is scheduled for completion within three years. For this reason, the Kunshan plant currently has more than 40 staff working in four shifts — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Significant reference project This major contract is the second in a row for the Chinese Ministry of Railways, and one of the most prestigious and largest projects in Getzner's history. The new railway will provide an efficient connection between the Chinese capital Beijing and Shanghai, China's most important industrial centre. The 1,300 kilometre double track is roughly four times the distance of the rail link from Bregenz to Vienna. All in all, several million base plates will be manufactured and installed as elastic rail fastening elements. "The construction of the high-speed Beijing–Shanghai link means our order books will be pretty full over the next years. Our engineers at the Bürs facility will ensure that we also meet the highest quality standards in China. However, our research and development centre will remain in Bürs", explains Andreas Augustin, head of Getzner's Research & Development department. This latest contract means Byrel will be working at full capacity until the end of 2010. Austrian technology for China Getzner Werkstoffe is a vibration expert in the areas of rail, construction and industry, and set up the Austrian-Chinese joint venture to take part in this major project. The company produces elastic rail fastener components for high-speed lines at the 1,500 m2 site. "Our focus is on quality in China, too. The four-shift work schedule was a new challenge in the beginning, but thanks to our local staff we were able to overcome those problems quite quickly. If we experience any unexpected bottlenecks, we could make use of capacity in Bürs if necessary. Byrel is already producing to very high quality standards, and with the help of our well-trained staff we have pushed rejection rates below 1 percent," says Byrel’s China-based Managing Director David Schulte of the demands facing his company. Technology leader involved in china’s largest rail construction project Getzner Werkstoffe has been producing elastic components locally for the Chinese railway network since 2007. "The high-speed links between Wuhan and Guangzhou, and between Guangzhou and Shenzen, were a major success for us. The contract was one of the largest in our history. The prestigious high speed Beijing–Shanghai rail connection is a major milestone for Getzner, and we are excited at securing another order for the Chinese market," says Getzner Werkstoffe Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn.

Picture Download:

Getzner’s highly-skilled Chinese team
produces elastic rail fastening components.

Photo source: Getzner Werkstoffe,
reproduction free of charge

Getzner’s highly-skilled Chinese team
produces elastic rail fastening components.

Photo source: Getzner Werkstoffe,
reproduction free of charge

Getzner’s highly-skilled Chinese team
produces elastic rail fastening components.

Photo source: Getzner Werkstoffe,
reproduction free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe provides expertise for Gotthard tunnel construction

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:42:00 +0100

Vorarlberg firm supplies track support for the world’s longest railway tunnel Bürs. Vorarlberg vibration expert Getzner Werkstoffe is supplying the elastic support for the railway line in the Gotthard base tunnel. The EUR 3 million project further underscores Getzner's leadership on the vibration isolation market. When completed, the Gotthard will be the longest in the world; it is expected to enter service in 2017. The flagship Gotthard base tunnel currently under construction in Switzerland will be completed with the help of know-how from Vorarlberg: Bürs-based Getzner Werkstoffe is supplying 390,000 sleeper base pads for what will be the longest tunnel in the world. The base pads are designed to reduce vibrations from trains travelling over the rails. The main objective of the project is to shift heavy-load traffic from the motorway to the railway. "As the north-south link to Italy is designed for heavy traffic, our outstanding references and in particular the high quality and durability of our materials played a key role in securing the contract. The tunnel project will greatly enhance travel and transportation options in Europe. Securing such a significant contract is further testimony to our expertise and our position as a world leader in vibration isolation", says Markus Tecklenburg, head of Getzner's Projects and Systems business unit. The 57-tunnel kilometre tunnel is scheduled to enter service in 2017. The soft shoe Since high material stress is major requirement for the tunnel’s planners, the proposed elastic products had to fulfil several criteria: "For example, our polyurethane products had to demonstrate high continuous load stress capabilities. Our tried-and-tested solutions were a key factor in the tendering process, and our high delivery capacity speaks for itself," explains Getzner Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. Technology from Getzner — the world leader in the railway sector — will enable this stretch of the railway to handle high traffic loads and speeds of up to 200 km/h. Resilient base plates will be installed beneath the railway sleepers. The prefabricated, resilient booted sleepers are set into the concrete rail bed. Lötschberg base tunnel — a symbol of outstanding expertise The negotiations for the Gotthard base tunnel project started six years ago. Tendering companies were required to demonstrate their experience on the basis of completed projects. Getzner Werkstoffe’s reference was the Lötschberg base tunnel: a 35 kilometre rail tunnel which opened in 2007 and leads to the Gotthard tunnel. Getzner’s major role in the completion of the Zimmerberg base tunnel was another convincing argument. This rail tunnel completes the Gotthard base tunnel in the north and provides improved connections to the Zurich traffic hub. From road to rail The Gotthard base tunnel is part of the major Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) project. The project includes a total of nine rail links throughout Switzerland, which will significantly increase north-south rail cargo capacity. Getzner Werkstoffe is involved in almost all of the projects which have been put out to tender, including the Zimmerberg, Lötschberg and Gotthard tunnels. Railway vibration isolation Getzner’s base pads will ensure efficient elasticity in the Gotthard base tunnel rail system. "The sleepers set into the concrete rail bed are mounted on our elastic material, Sylodyn. This allows us to achieve a uniform bending of the rails under the load from the train, which in turn makes the line suitable for high speeds. The special polyurethane pads isolate vibrations resulting from vehicles travelling on the track system. That translates into increased ride comfort and reduced wear on both the trains and the track", explains Markus Tecklenburg. NRLA — improving north-south rail transit All three projects — the Gotthard base tunnel, Zimmerberg base tunnel and the Lötschberg base tunnel — are part of the NRLA project, which is aimed at improving north-south rail transit. Goods transportation from Germany and France to Italy and back will benefit from the significant improvements in transport speeds and capacities resulting from the Gotthard tunnel. The Gotthard base tunnel will also provide a major economic boost for central Europe, and Switzerland in particular.

Picture Download:

Anabel Hengelmann and Bruno Kiefer from contractors TRIBETON® at the contract signing with project managers Markus Tecklenburg and Helmut Bertsch from Getzner Werkstoffe

picture source: weissengruber.biz, Reproduction free of charge

Getzner Werkstoffe will be supplying the sleeper pads for the Gotthard tunnel, the world’s longest.

picture source: weissengruber.biz, Reproduction free of charge

Current railway sector reference projects – LVT System (selected projects):

Gautrain, South Africa: Rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg International Airport (under construction)
Malmö City Tunnel: Rail link and tunnel in Malmö, Sweden, connecting rail services from Söderslätt with the Öresund line (under construction)
Culver Viaduct, New York: Subway in Brooklyn, New York (under construction)
East London line: Expansion of the existing East London line north from Shoreditch High Street to Dalston Junction (under construction)

Riverside: Revolutionary elastic mounting for New York’s skyscrapers

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:53:00 +0200

Decoupled storeys provide insulation against vibrations from railway system Bürs/New York. The Rushmore Building — a 41-storey skyscraper with two towers built above a railway tunnel — was recently completed in New York’s Riverside area. Austrian vibration insulation expert Getzner Werkstoffe was responsible for an innovative construction feature: to optimise insulation against vibrations, two floors in the 130-metre high building are completely decoupled, like drawers in a cupboard. The Rushmore Building in the Riverside area of Manhattan is part of the largest construction project seen in New York in the last 50 years. Until recently the railway line running through the district had made development work impossible. The main challenge for Getzner Werkstoffe was to come up with elastic mounting for the two-towered, 130-meter high luxury apartment complex to be built directly above an Amtrak railway tunnel. The tunnel consists of two railway lines carrying 25-tonne axle loads and a new subway line is also planned. General contractor David Ridoutt, a project manager with Bovis Lend Lease, is full of praise for the collaboration with Getzner and its US partners. “I would not hesitate to recommend Getzner, Soundown and Sylomer® products for projects which require vibration insulation,” he says. Two completely decoupled floors ensure outstanding vibration insulation Vibration insulation specialist Getzner joined forces with a group of experts to develop an innovative solution for the new complex — elastic mounting for individual floors of the 41-storey building. To reduce vibrations, two floors are completely decoupled, like removable cupboard drawers. As Andreas Stofleth, a project manager at Getzner Werkstoffe in Bürs, explains, “The ground floor and mezzanine level are mounted on 9 cm thick polyurethane Sylomer® blocks. Neither of the two floors have a fixed connection with the building shell. Sylomer® mats were also used on the sides of the load-bearing columns to provide wind protection.” Getzner worked with architects and structural engineers to prepare detailed plans specifying the loads distributed to each of 350 bearing points. The ground floor features support beams, and on the first floor the insulation is recessed in the ceiling. The new construction method ensures the required room height while reducing the clearance between floors. Successful international partnership Soundown Corporation is Getzner’s specialist partner in the USA and was responsible for the smooth coordination of the project. Getzner was involved in construction from July 2007 to spring 2008. “Our project team was very impressed by the cooperation between Getzner and Soundown in the planning and coordination phase. Both firms were extremely flexible and enthusiastic in getting all participants involved in the project and coordinating the work. This enabled us to successfully integrate the insulation system into the exterior building structure. On-site installation went off without a hitch. There were no delays and the work was completed in a relatively quickly,” says David Ridoutt. Getzner Werkstoffe: developer, manufacturer and construction consultant Besides developing and manufacturing materials for vibration reduction and insulation, Getzner Werkstoffe is also an experienced consultant for vibration insulation issues in construction engineering. Getzner’s experts are closely involved in system development and project implementation right from the outset. “The collaboration begins with specification of the construction engineering parameters and often leads into the joint development of innovative solutions,” explains Roland Pfefferkorn, Managing Director of Getzner Werkstoffe. Thanks to its technical expertise in vibration insulation, Getzner is perfectly placed to develop smart systems featuring elastic materials, which in turn ensure cost effectiveness, noise protection and user comfort. The Rushmore Building
Eckdaten:                            130 m hoch, 41 Stockwerke, 2 Türme
Lage:                                  Riverside (Nähe Time Square), Manhattan, N.Y.
Schwingungsisolierung:          Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
US-Projektkoordination:         Soundown Corporation
Bauumfang:                         Größtes Bauprojekt seit 50 Jahren (N.Y.)
insg. 18 Wolkenkratzer bzw. 7,9 Millionen m2
Investor:                             Extell Development (seit 2005) / Donald Trump

Picture Download:

Getzner Werkstoffe: Decoupling of two floors ensures optimal vibration insulation at The Rushmore Building in New York

picture source: emporis, Reproduction free of charge

Building insulation projects: references (selected)

Beisheim Center Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, Germany
Biogen Institute, Mid-Boston, USA
National Training Centre, Tokyo, Japan
Lufthansa headquarters, Frankfurt, Germany
Kirloskar Oil Engines, Kagal, India
EADS, Manching facility, Germany
Kahoku Shimpo, Sendai, Japan
Theatro National de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Oslo Opera, Oslo, Norway
Drachenzentrum, Basel, Switzerland
Skyline Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Carnegie Hall, New York, USA
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia

New range of materials improves vibration insulation performance

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:22:00 +0200

Getzner presents standardised Sylomer® series Bürs. Getzner launched its new series of Sylomer® vibration insulation products in mid-September. The materials are an integral part of the Vorarlberg-based company’s elastic construction solutions for the rail, construction and industrial sectors. The new series stands out for its increased permanent static load capabilities and improved effectiveness across the board. Getzner Werkstoffe, a vibration insulation specialist based in western Austria, launched its latest series of materials in the middle of September. With the addition of the new optimized range, Getzner now offers a total of 10 standardised Sylomer® vibration insulation products. The improved Sylomer® formula brings a variety of advantages — users in the rail, construction and industrial segments can expect increases of 1-10% in permanent static load and improved overall performance. “The new materials offer greater efficiency and flexibility of application,” explains Getzner’s Thomas Dorn, who was responsible for the launch. Sylomer®: hallmark colouring under a new name Getzner has used the launch of the latest series to introduce a new uniform approach to type designation. The colouring — one of the hallmarks of the Sylomer® range — will remain unchanged. As project manager Christian Loretz explains, “We have completely reworked and improved our technical documentation, and users can also take advantage of Typematch, a new tool to help them select the right material.” Development, manufacturing and construction consulting Getzner Werkstoffe first appeared on the market in 1969. Besides developing and manufacturing vibration reduction and insulation materials, Getzner is also an experienced consultant for vibration insulation issues in construction engineering. Getzner’s experts are closely involved in system development and implementation from the very beginning of a particular project. “The collaboration begins with specification of the construction engineering parameters and often leads into the joint development of innovative solutions,” explains Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. Thanks to its technical expertise in vibration insulation, Getzner is perfectly placed to develop smart systems featuring elastic materials, which in turn ensure cost effectiveness, noise protection and user comfort.

Picture Download:

Getzner Werkstoffe’s new Sylomer® series
promises increased permanent static loads
and improved performance

picture source: Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH,
Reproduction free of charge

References (selected):

East London line, London, United Kingdom
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Kufstein–Brenner Unterinntal line, Austria
Cronulla line, Sydney, Australia
Jang Hang line, Cheonan, South Korea
The Rushmore Building, New York, USA
Drachenzentrum project, Basel, Switzerland
Skyline project, Vienna, Austria
Theatro National de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Oslo Opera House, Oslo, Norway
Lufthansa headquarters, Frankfurt, Germany
Keselstrasse power station, Kempten, Germany
Siemens gas turbines, Ciclo del Norte, Durango, Mexico
Cracow fast tram, Cracow, Poland
Hong Kong Tramways, Hong Kong, China
Wiener Linien, underground network extension, Vienna, Austria
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Austria
German Federal Railways (DB), Germany
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Switzerland
Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF),
Spain (Spanish national rail infrastructure company)
Czech Railways, Czech Republic
Britomart Station, Auckland, New Zealand