CFF Bridge La Presta – Val-de-Travers, Switzerland
CFF Bridge La Presta – Val-de-Travers, Switzerland
In 1970, even before the creation of the ZINGAMETALL BV company, the Swiss ACMV steel company (Ateliers de Construction Mécaniques de Vevey), created in 1895, has built the structures for a bridge to be mounted on the R21 railway line, located in Val-de-Travers, over the Areuse river, for account of CFF, the Swiss Federal Railway Company. The retained and applied system was ZINGA stand-alone at 180 µm DFT.
49 years after, on 26 September 2019 a visual condition survey was held by the main
contractor OPAN Concept and the paint contractor SABLISOL..
Their conclusions were as follows:
The metal structure of the bridge does not show significant corrosion.
• Small pinpoint areas with surface corrosion (due to initial low DFT).
• Deposits of rusty iron filings / stains from the rails.
• Painting of the bridge structure is in good to very good condition.
• No areas of heavy rust or swelling were observed.
Some photos of the 2019 report below.
2 photos above:
deposits of iron stains from the rails.
When cleaning the superficial stains, you can see the active ZINGA.
2 photos under:
Overall structure of the bridge in good condition.
54 years after, on 21 June 2024, two ZNGAMETALL Belgium representatives and the Swiss paint
contractor SABLISOL made another condition survey in order to propose a repair / refurbishment
specification to CFF.
Their conclusion was:
The overall condition of the bridge was satisfactory.
No defects as flaking, cracking, blistering or chalking were observed.
Near and under the train tracks red/brown deposits can be found which are particles and debris
coming from the rails and overpassing trains. Underneath these deposits the ZINGA was intact.
Coin rub and solvent rub tests were made which showed that the active ZINGA layer was intact.
Thickness readings were taken, which were all between 110 to 200 µm DFT .
Cross cut adhesion tests were done (acc. ISO 2409) which gave GT1 to GT2 results.
An easy ZINGA coating repair and reload/recharge specification has been issued and submitted to
the Client CFF. The paint contractor SABLISOL started the repair works in August 2024.”
