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PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS178 CPI %u2013 Concrete Plant International %u2013 6 | 2025 www.cpi-worldwide.comWith a customised battery formwork from Ratec, Glass GmbH Bauunternehmung in Mindelheim has renewed its production capabilities. In close collaboration with Ratec, a solution was developed that meets very high standards of precision, stability, and operational comfort %u2013 optimally adapted to the local conditions.The Glass Group, headquartered in Mindelheim, around 80 kilometres west of Munich, is one of the most significant construction companies in southern Germany. On its over 170,000 square metre site, the family-run business, now in its third generation, operates, among other things, its own precast concrete plant. With approximately 555 employees at this location, Glass covers almost all areas of construction %u2013 from civil and bridge engineering to building construction and turnkey industrial and commercial projects.Modernisation of the Production LineThe collaboration between Glass and Ratec emerged in the context of modernising the existing production line for large-format precast concrete elements. Glass already had an older battery formwork with a pit, which was, however, technically outdated. The aim of the project was to modernise production with a new, precise, and user-friendly battery formwork %u2013 while retaining the existing infrastructure. The existing scissor lift platform with end actuators had also become heavily worn after many years of intensive use. As part of the project, a new lift platform was procured to significantly improve both safety and ergonomics.The requirements for the desired formwork were demanding: smooth surfaces on both sides, minimal dimensional tolerances, suitability for self-compacting concrete, and precise integration into the existing structural conditions.After intensive discussions and factory visits at Ratec in Hockenheim, and examining another battery formwork from Ratec, the decision was ultimately made in favour of a customised solution from Hockenheim. Key factors were, in addition to the technical expertise of the development team, the detailed project support, geographical proximity, flexibility in adapting to local conditions, and the cooperative partnership.Key Technical DataThe installed solution is a battery formwork with 2 %u00d7 3 pockets, designed for elements with a net size of up to 8.00 m %u00d7 3.55 m and wall thicknesses from 10 to 25 cm. The elements are primarily used in industrial and commercial construction, where high dimensional accuracy and surface quality are required.The battery formwork consists of a robust steel construction with the following main components:%u2022 4 partition walls, with 10 mm steel sheets on both sides, movable on rollers via a drive mechanism%u2022 1 fixed central tension wall, with 10 mm steel sheets on both sides%u2022 2 movable tension walls, manually driven via the drive mechanism%u2022 Panels with a flatness tolerance of %u00b11.5 mm / 3 m%u2022 Hydraulic clamping unit with 2 %u00d7 4 cylinders per side, automatic pressure monitoring, and re-clamping function%u2022 Base frame with running rails and 12 carriages to guide the wallsGlass GmbH Bauunternehmung Modernises Production Line with New Battery Formwork Ratec GmbH, 68766 Hockenheim, Germany Headquarters of Glass in Mindelheim