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Cobiax

Cobiax technology was developed in Switzerland and Hanson designs and manufactures the precast concrete product under licence in the UK at their factory in Washington Tyne and Wear.Clear spans up to 20 metres can be achieved using Cobiax with slab thicknesses ranging from 24cm up to more than 60 cm depending on application.Cobiax has been designed to remove the non-working, dead load in concrete slabs whilst maintaining biaxial strength. This is achieved by placing hollow plastic spheres between the upper and lower static reinforcement of the concrete slab, displacing concrete where it has no structural benefit. The effect is to decrease the overall weight by up to 35% when compared to a solid slab of the same bearing capacity.

The reduced weight allows the quantity and dimensions of vertical bearing elements, such as columns, to be reduced. Reduced dead weight means a smaller deflection of the slab, and also provides scope for savings in foundation design, including fewer piles and/or reduced length of piles.While the design reduces overall weight, the Cobiax slabs offer very high load carrying capacity and flexibility. However, in contrast to more conventional hollowcore slabs which have load transfer in only one direction, in the Cobiax slabs load transfer is possible in any direction.Because the Cobiax flat slab does not require beams, flat unobstructed soffits are produced and the costs of installing services in a building are also substantially reduced.With up to 40% less columns supporting the slabs, Cobiax offers great design flexibility to architects and also enhances the potential to easily change the use of a building in either the horizontal or vertical direction.

From the developer's and contractor's viewpoint the technology offers other benefits including direct and indirect cost savings in building materials (reduced volume, lower transport costs and easier, more cost-effective, lifting). Cobiax also means improved build-speed through reduced bracing and formwork (no beams) and because there is less concrete volume to place on site.

THESE PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND DETAILS OF EACH APPLICATION ARE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPONENT LIST CAN BE ASSEMBLED.