The longest composite truss bridge in the world
The Paradis Bridge in a small suburb of Bergen, Norway, is an innovative structure that has redefined the future of bridge design. The bridge was developed as part of a comprehensive infrastructure project to relieve congestion on a busy road while pioneering modern bridge technologies.
Project name
Industry
Location
Objective
The basic idea behind the Paradis Bridge was to create a lightweight, durable and low-maintenance bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that could withstand the extreme weather conditions in the region. It had to overcome several technical challenges, including crossing a busy light rail line and protection from corrosive road salt. Conventional materials such as steel and concrete were ruled out due to their high maintenance requirements and the restrictions imposed by the trains' overhead lines. The decision was therefore made to design a bridge made of carbon and glass fibers to significantly reduce both weight and maintenance costs.
1
Low weight: At only around 45 tons, the Paradis Bridge is significantly lighter than a comparable steel structure. This made transport and installation easier and reduced the load on the foundations.
2
Corrosion resistance and minimal maintenance: The use of composite materials made from carbon and glass fiber mats makes the bridge virtually maintenance-free and increases its service life to over 100 years.
3
Short installation time: Thanks to the high degree of prefabrication and the possibility of transporting the bridge as a whole, interference with the existing infrastructure was minimized.
4
Increased design flexibility: The use of composite materials enabled flexible adaptation to the specific requirements of the project and promotes a modern design that now blends harmoniously into the industrial rail architecture.
The Paradis Bridge was manufactured by CSUB, a leading company for composite technologies from Norway. CSUB was responsible for the entire production of the bridge at its factory in Eydehavn, Arendal.
As a leading supplier of multiaxial fabrics made of glass and carbon fibers, SAERTEX provided the essential materials needed to manufacture the bridge elements. It was important for CSUB to have a reliable supplier. SAERTEX not only ensured that production capacities were available at short notice, but also supplied qualified materials that met the high requirements of the project. The consistently high quality of the products was just as important as the market availability of special fibers.
The so-called non-crimp fabrics (NCFs) were processed using a vacuum infusion process to ensure maximum strength with minimum material consumption. The bridge consists of three main parts: the bridge deck, the upper cross, and the lateral truss structures, which were assembled after fabrication. CSUB worked closely with all partners to ensure that the materials and technologies met the specific requirements of the project and that all processes ran smoothly. The project was commissioned by Vestland Fylkeskommune, supported by technical partners Fireco, Multiconsult, and Royal HaskoningDHV, who contributed their expertise to the successful completion of the project.
One outstanding feature of the project was the transportation of the bridge. The entire structure was manufactured as a single piece and transported to its destination via a complex logistics chain of truck and ship transportation - a true logistical masterpiece.
The Paradis Bridge is not only an architectural highlight, but also proof of the performance of fiber composites in infrastructure construction. It impressively demonstrates how innovative materials and modern manufacturing techniques can contribute to the development of sustainable and durable infrastructure. The Paradis Bridge is a pioneering example of the future-oriented use of composite materials in bridge construction.
Ekin Muovi Oy, a Finnish family business, first recognized the benefits of using SAERfoam during...
Audi & SAERTEX®: Carbon NCF for the B-pillar of the Lamborghini Huracán – Lightweight construction in super sports cars: For the...
BARAT: SAERcore LEO® door solution for STADLER SMILE train – fire protection and lightweight construction combined – BARAT is...
Glass fiber fabrics for the automotive sector – Compositec (formerly Faurecia Automotive Composites) is one of the independent specialists...
Founded in Marseille in 1991, the H2X shipyard carries out conversions and new builds of motor and...
Our internationally positioned customer Contender Sailcloth from the Netherlands supplies sailmakers all over the world...
The Italian company NOLANGROUP is the largest manufacturer of helmets in Europe. Under the name...
The French group Bouygues SA, headquartered in Paris, is the fifth largest European construction company. Bouygues...
SAERfix® for repairing a dilapidated pipe system – Canal de Isabel II is the company that...
Together with the DLR in Stade (German Aerospace Center), the project partners have...
Deutsch Deutsch 
English
Français
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Vimeo. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information