ASDA Distribution Centre, Wellington

Twintec Industrial Flooring installed over 1'000 linear metres of Permaban "AlphaJoint" in the new Distribution Centre for Tesco in Washington, Tyne & Wear.

The pour was large enough to require multiple pour bays, and so custom made AlphaJoint crossover units were used to allow the intersections to benefit AlphaJoint to perform correctly. Whilst it is possible to manufacture a crossover unit on a site, it is critical that it is made correctly. If the AlphaJoint is not cut in the correct place, then opposing slabs may be tied resulting in serious cracking. Even if the AlphaJoint is correctly cut, failing to weld the joints will result in cracking (though not as severe) on diagonally opposite corners at the intersection.

All in all, it is much safer to use the crossovers, and they provide a good starting point for setting up the runs of AlphaJoint. The floor was constructed in a number of pours and AlphaJoint crossover units were used at all intersections to provide properly functioning joint armouring at these intersections.

Intersections between formed crossroad or Tee junctions are the most vulnerable to damage or poor functioning in a poor slab and are the most expensive elements to repair. Permaban AlphaJoint intersection units are available for 90 degree corners, Tee junctions and 4 way intersections and a good investment to prevent damage to these intersections. In addition they allow the intersections to open up in the correct runner as the concrete shrinks.