At Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam, CareGo is working on the expansion of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II. This large-scale project brings together automation, electrification and sustainable infrastructure. The terminal expansion is part of a 51-hectare site, including additional stack areas, quay zones, truck handling areas and rail transfer zones.
Roos Groep is involved as the construction partner for the concrete pavements. With a thickness of 45 centimetres, this pavement requires a robust, accurate and future-proof solution. Fiber Dowels supplied more than 95,000 fiberglass dowels, pre-assembled in our patented dowel baskets.
The result is a strong concrete pavement designed for intensive use by heavy terminal equipment, automated vehicle movements and daily container handling.
Project at a glance
Project: APM Terminals Maasvlakte II
Location: Maasvlakte 2, Rotterdam
Scope: Container terminal expansion
Consortium: CareGo, consisting of ABB, Dura Vermeer and GMB
Concrete pavement works: Roos Groep
Fiber Dowels application: Fiberglass dowels in patented dowel baskets
Number of fiberglass dowels: More than 95,000
Total length of dowel baskets: More than 7,500 metres
Basket length: 1.8 metres
Dowel size: Ø38 mm x 500 mm
Concrete pavement: 45 cm thick
Dowel basket height: 21.5 cm, designed for central positioning within the concrete pavement
The challenge: heavy loads and smart terminal technology
A container terminal requires concrete pavement that can withstand heavy dynamic loads. Container stackers, terminal trucks and other heavy machines move across the site continuously. The forces applied to one concrete slab need to be transferred effectively to the adjacent slab.
That makes the position of the dowels essential. A dowel performs best when it is installed straight and horizontally within the concrete pavement. Only then can loads be distributed evenly and the pavement continue to perform reliably under demanding conditions.
Automation also plays an important role at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II. The expansion is designed for an automated and electrified terminal environment, including Automatic Terminal Trucks and zero-emission Automated Guided Vehicles. In this type of environment, fiberglass-reinforced dowels offer a valuable advantage. The material is corrosion-resistant, lightweight and electrically insulating.
This makes fiberglass a smart choice for areas where communication, detection and automation systems need to operate accurately.
The solution: pre-assembled fiberglass dowel baskets
For this project, the fiberglass dowels were supplied pre-assembled in Fiber Dowels’ patented dowel baskets. This allowed Roos Groep to place the baskets directly into the project.
This provides several advantages during installation.
Faster placement
The dowels are delivered fully assembled. On site, the baskets only need to be positioned correctly. This speeds up the construction process and supports predictable execution.
Less physical strain
Fiberglass dowels are significantly lighter than steel dowels. This means less lifting, less heavy manual work and a more efficient installation process for the teams on site.
Accurate positioning
The dowel baskets secure the horizontal position of the dowels. For a 45 cm concrete pavement, the baskets are designed to position the dowels centrally within the pavement structure.
Corrosion-resistant and low-maintenance
Fiberglass is corrosion-resistant. This contributes to a longer service life of the concrete pavement, especially in a port environment where pavements are exposed to intensive use.
Suitable for automated terminal zones
Fiberglass-reinforced polymer behaves differently from steel in areas with communication and automation technology. That makes this solution highly suitable for the requirements of a modern, automated container terminal.
Result
With more than 95,000 fiberglass dowels and over 7,500 metres of patented dowel baskets, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II uses a solution that matches the scale and complexity of the project.
- A lightweight installation.
- A corrosion-resistant application.
- Accurate dowel positioning.
- A concrete pavement ready for intensive use.
This is infrastructure built for the future of the port.
Contact us
Do you have questions about Fiber Dowels or our products? Get in touch with us. We will be happy to help.