Single supplier for supporting essential renovation projects

When constructed in 1972, the bridge that spans the Danube was the longest bridge in Austria and the first cable-stayed bridge built in the country. With, on average, more than 100,000 motorists travelling along this section of the A7 Mühlkreis motorway each day, the bridge required maintenance to carry the constant stream of vehicles.

One element of the project required the construction company Strabag SE to support a 65-meter-high steel pylon without tension anchoring. Doka’s solution enveloped the pylon with Ringlock scaffolding, providing a safe, secure working platform at all the levels that allowed for onsite maintenance of the supporting structure. The high degree of flexibility of Ringlock delivers facilitated the creation of an integrated stairway and connection options to enable the installation of a material lift. Ring-shaped compression struts supported the load, and thanks to the versatility of the proven modular system, the scaffolding was easily adapted to meet the needs of the floor plan. Site workers could operate safely knowing that the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt) had certified the scaffolding system. The streamlined services of Doka, working in collaboration with Pecan GmbH, the scaffolding contractor, contributed significantly to the smooth success of the project within the planned three-month timescale.

Winner's duo: Formwork and scaffolding from a single source
Doka has also played a vital role since the initial stages of the bridge renovation project, providing the formwork for the creation of the temporary bypass bridges taking traffic into Linz city centre, reducing disruption for the businesses operating in, residents living in, and visitors travelling to the city. For Strabag and scaffolding company Pecan, having a single point of contact for convenient, efficient, reliable scaffolding and formwork, streamlined operations. Doka enabled the retention of many existing components within the bridge structure, reducing the need for new construction and, hence, reducing costs and carbon emissions.

Partnering with Doka ensured that renovation could occur safely and seamlessly, adding value to the project and the construction industry's commitment to carbon reduction. According to the World Economic Forum, retrofitting and renovating buildings and structures can result in 50% to 75% less carbon emitted than building an entirely new structure. Doka is committed to reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry and is ramping up its support for renovation projects.

“The successful application of our Ringlock scaffold system to a renovation project as important as the Voest Bridge demonstrates our innovative spirit, which focuses on augmenting construction industry standards, improving safety and delivering products that reduce the industry’s carbon footprint,” says Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka. “We are proud to support renovation projects, as well as thoughtful construction of new structures.”

Decarbonising construction sites
Doka is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. By focusing on decarbonisation, the company has already calculated the carbon footprints for more than 7,000 of its products. Hauser says: “Doka strives to support a sustainable future through environmental transparency. In early 2024, we introduced carbon footprint data for our scaffolding products, marking another milestone alongside our formwork portfolio. We are proud to be the first in our industry to do so." In this way, Doka offers transparent data on GHG emissions, empowering customers to make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions in renovation as well redevelopment projects.

“We believe that renovation projects will comprise a growing part of our business in Europe, and we look forward to working with construction companies to rejuvenate ancient buildings, revitalize existing structures and repair civil structures that connect communities, just like the Voest Bridge in Austria”, Hauser concludes.