Bridge, road construction suggested in Africa
BTM Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. has developed a revolutionary “Dual Prestressed Concrete Girder,” which applies prestressing in both tension (stretching) and compression in the construction of bridges. In the existing method, prestressing is applied to the compression part only. “This new construction method stands out in structural safety and economic feasibility,” said BTM E&C CEO Kim Channyoung. “I believe that the new bridge technology can be a game changer in the construction of bridges,” said Kim who has developed the new construction technology with significant investment of money and time
BTM E&C was honored with the Korean Patents Awards in recognition of its Dual Prestressed Concrete(PC) Girder technology during the latter part of 2015. In addition, the new technology was designated as New Construction Technology No. 824 from the Ministry of National Land, Infrastructure and Transport in July 2017.
This new technology is drawing favorable assessments from academics and the construction industry. CEO Kim said the Duel Prestressed Concrete Girder can be applied to repairs of existing brides as well as construction of new bridges. The new construction method is basically convenient and ensures high level safety in the execution of building works. “As a result, our technology can be advantageous in construction of light and short bridges. Our Duel PSC Girder method is expected to be widely applied in future construction works,” said CEO Kim.
CEO Kim said that “there could be no better technology in the domestic bridge girder market than the dual prestressed method. This can be marked as a revolutionary technology advancement in the 100-year history of prestressed concert (PC).” CEO Kim, who has specialized in construction design work for more than 20 years, has obtained patents related to the dual prestressed concrete girder in early 2000. He then moved to establish BTM E&C in 2012
CEO Kim is confident that the Dual Prestressed Concert Girder will be a game changer in the long-term. “This is technology needed for satisfying the evolving market needs with restrictions increasing on construction of composite frame and long and short bridges. I am sure that the new construction method is a core technology to strength our competitive edge in construction, which may profoundly impact the future of international bridge construction.”
However, he said the reality in the domestic construction sector is far from being satisfactory. “While government agencies stick to traditional technologies and low budgets, the future for our new construction technologies is not bright,” he stressed.
As I know, new construction technologies are selected through strict tests in many sections by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, As such, agencies under the umbrella the ministry should be ready to utilize newly developed technologies. In reality, the agencies are very slow to adopt new technologies,” said CEO Kim.
Park Yongchan, vice president of BTM E&C, said that most SMEs which develop new technologies with investments of 400 million to 500 million won, suffer from shortages of operating funds. Government agencies, therefore, need to offer funding to small and medium-size enterprises. The reality, however, is far from being satisfactory, said Park, who once taught at Daelim University College. Park emphasized that banks also need to provide funding to technology-oriented SMEs in an effort to revitalize the national economy as well as SMEs.
CEO Kim Channyoung suggested that the government and enterprises volunteer to build bridges, roads and other infrastructure in Africa and other developing counties so that our new construction technology is applied widely in foreign countries.