Tecwill equips Heidelberg Materials Canada and Bird Construction for Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre supply contract
The Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre (ANMRC) under construction at Chalk River Laboratories will enable world-class investigations in nuclear energy, health, environmental stewardship and global security while advancing Canada’s climate action plans. Located about 180 km northwest of Ottawa, the 13,000-square-meter ANMRC complex is part of a $1.3 billion Atomic Energy of Canada Limited investment targeting new or renewed science and support infrastructure key to Chalk River campus revitalization.
At present, the ANMRC is Canada’s largest job applying an integrated project delivery model. It positions designers, builders and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories representatives to find the best way to ensure the facility fulfills its purpose and operates with utmost safety. The remoteness of the site and requirement to batch large volumes of concrete, including controlled low strength material (CLSM) and high-density mixes, necessitated construction of a portable, central mixed batch plant close to the Chalk River complex. The CLSM and conventional or high-density concrete mixes will be used for lab, hot cell, office and staff quarter construction.
IRON TRACK RECORD
Heidelberg Materials Canada chose the Tecwill Arcamix 3.0 for the ANMRC contract, a decision reflecting positive experience with other Tecwill plants running in harsh winter conditions. Beginning in late 2022, the producer worked with Bird Construction to install and commission the equipment. The contractor was responsible for all permitting, construction and engineering—essentially everything outside the physical batch plant delivery. Heidelberg Materials then took over running, maintaining and operating the equipment.
“Because of the nature of the project, it was essential to have a concrete plant that excelled at production consistency and reliability. It also needed to be easy to use and efficient,” says Bird Construction Project Manager Nathan Downie. “Since this was our first batch plant project, we asked a lot of questions to understand exactly what we needed to make it operate as intended. Heidelberg Materials and our engineers were responsible for designing and integrating all the site utilities and balance of the plant system. The Tecwill team was very supportive throughout the project, ensuring that we understood structural, mechanical, electrical and control interfaces.”
Concrete production commenced in autumn 2024. ANMRC partners have been impressed by the Arcamix 3.0’s technology and ability to consistently batch CLSM and high-density concrete mixes in cold temperatures. “The entire plant is well engineered. We had multiple people helping with the commissioning who were impressed by the technology, especially the ‘flying’ aggregate dosing and weighing system,” notes Bird Construction’s Abdalla Nachabe. “Even Heidelberg’s plant maintenance team was pleased with the details designed to make their lives easier, such as automatic greasers, and other features that eliminate any disassembly before servicing.”
CSA-GRADE POWER
Among challenges for concrete plant operators in Canada is the 600 V Canadian Standards Association (CSA) electric system. “Canada is one of the only countries in the world that uses 600 V – 60 Hz power,” observes Tecwill Manager of Electrical Works Mika Silvennoinen. “We studied the codes meticulously in advance. We fully tested everything at our factory before the plant was shipped. This helped with ESafe certification to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and CSA Standards and minimized problems on site.”
“We did our homework properly—studying, building, testing and fixing, if needed. In the end, we were able to interpret the different standard for a successful result,” affirms Tecwill’s Arto Ikonen, responsible for mechanical solutions. The Arcamix 3.0, he adds, is based on a preassembled and factory-tested modular containerized structure that allows fast installation and startup; has demonstrated years of reliable operation in arctic conditions; offers wet batch operation ideal for the large-scale ANMRC project, where concrete demand is high and short batch cycles are essential; and, offers significant installation cost savings compared to conventional solutions.
MATERIAL SAVINGS
The Tecwill “flying” aggregate dosing and weighing system saves up to 30 kg of cement per cubic meter by delivering unmatched accuracy, with deviations as low as 2 kg. This precision not only reduces operational costs but also shortens weighing times, thereby increasing plant production capacity.
The OptiMoist aggregate moisture measuring system, on the other hand, ensures precise control by measuring the moisture content of all aggregate fractions with just a single optical probe. This solution also simplifies calibration, lowers probe costs and ensures the right slump for both wet and dry mixes. The plant ships with a smart aggregate and water heating unit. — Tecwill Canada Inc., Toronto, www.tecwill.com
