For the renovation of the Koningslaan tram depot in Brussels, project owner STIB called upon the technical expertise and experience of Franki Construct. For the supply of high-quality drainage pipes, the contractor enlisted Deschacht.
Renovation of STIB tram depot
As a project engineer at Franki Construct, Roel Vancraeynest is steering this renovation project in the right direction. “In mid-2021, the STIB awarded us the contract to completely strip its tram depot on Brussels” Koningslaan—built in 1900—and refit it with the latest technology. The tram washing installation was a particular focus here. The fact that the exterior appearance of the old building—150 meters long and 50 meters wide—had to be preserved was also an interesting challenge for our team.”
Wide range of drain pipes
This renovation project started in September 2021. For the sewer materials, Franki Construct enlisted Deschacht. “Because we had already collaborated on other construction projects, we knew that Deschacht has a wide and high-quality range of HDPE pipes, fittings, and accessories,” says Roel. “The HDPE drainage pipes were the ideal solution for us in this project. In total, we ordered approximately 300 meters of piping, ranging from 110 to 315 mm.”
Custom solutions
“In addition to standard sewer materials, we also needed more specific solutions, specifically for the tram washing facility,” Roel confirms. “After all, the pipes here must meet strict requirements for pumping up and draining water so that it can subsequently be purified and reused. Here, too, Deschacht’s experts helped us out brilliantly.”
Prefab production
At the request of Franki Construct, certain parts of the sewerage material were prefabricated in Deschacht's workshop. “In this way, more complex T-pieces and bends in the piping were delivered ready-made to the construction site, allowing us to optimally respect our work schedule and install the pipes more smoothly. This extra service thus yielded the necessary time savings for us and the client.”
Excellent collaboration
Roel is very satisfied with the collaboration with Deschacht's specialists: “For this renovation project, we regularly sat down at the table to discuss any bottlenecks and make adjustments where necessary. The delivery of materials was always within the scheduled timeframes. And if we had questions, we could always quickly reach out to our dedicated contact person. We hope to be able to work with Deschacht for many years to come!”
Franki Construct NV – Member of Willemen Group
Franki Construct specializes in civil engineering and (heavy) industrial construction and has been part of the Willemen Group since 1998.
