Production capacity – 18,000 running meters per year
Precast beams and columns made in VME Precast factory offers an extremely wide range of technical possibilities. Beams have a rectangular cross-section and are used mostly horizontally for the structure of multi-storey buildings, and also for bridges. Columns have a rectangular section and are used mostly vertically for structures and supports of multi-storey buildings, car parks etc.
Precast beams are mainly used for roof structures, and also for floors with composite action. They are usually in prestressed concrete, although classical reinforced concrete is possible. Beams may be designed composite with the floor to enhance the flexural and shear capacity, fire resistance and stiffness. The main advantage of a composite beam structure is that it permits less structural depth for a given load-bearing capacity. The breadth of the compression flange can be increased to the maximum permitted value, as in monolithic construction. For composite action with hollow core floors, the collaborating section is through the unfilled hollow core. This comprises only the top and bottom flanges of the slab.
Precast columns are manufactured in a variety of sizes, shapes and lengths. The concrete surface is smooth and the edges are chamfered. Columns generally require a minimum cross-sectional dimension of 300 x 300 mm to accommodate the column-beam connections. The 300 mm dimension provides a two-hour fire resistance, making it suitable for a wide range of buildings. Columns with a maximum length of 12 meters can be manufactured and erected in one piece, i.e. without splicing, although a common practice is to work also with single-storey columns.
