The construction of the Follo high-speed railway (‘Follobanen’) between Oslo and the commuter city of Ski to the south is one of Norway’s largest infrastructure projects. Six inspectors of NPM portfolio company Kiwa Norway have been involved full-time in the construction of the station in Ski. Their activities include inspecting the steel and cement constructions and other structures. The railway is to be completed by late 2021.
Ski is a sleepy town on the outskirts of Oslo. Twelve trains an hour carry large numbers of commuters from Ski to their workplace in the Norwegian capital. This capacity must be trebled between now and four years with the construction of a new high-speed railway that will enable trains to travel at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour. Both a 20-kilometre tunnel and a new main station in Ski form part of the project.
Infrastructure developer Bane Nor has engaged Kiwa Norway to monitor the quality of the construction process for this station. Six Kiwa employees have had to complete no less than three additional safety courses for this purpose. Their main responsibility involves inspecting and testing the welding activities in accordance with the international NS-EN 1090 standard. Each weld is inspected by eye, with some also being inspected mechanically using ultrasonic equipment.
The Kiwa inspectors are furthermore responsible for inspecting the quality of the cement. This requires tremendous dedication from the Kiwa team given the fact that the cement is poured seven days a week and even on holidays. Inspector Martin Smestad Foss says the inspectors are sometimes only informed a half day in advance where new cement sections will be constructed. ‘We are always on stand-by as a team and can act quickly,’ says Smestad Foss. ‘It’s a tough job, but it’s also wonderful to have the opportunity to contribute to a project that will have such a far-reaching impact on the economic development of the Oslo region.’
Kiwa is one of the fastest growing companies within NPM’s portfolio. This is thanks in part to a stringently managed buy and build strategy. Read more about it in this interview with Kiwa CEO Paul Hesselink.
