On-schedule construction progress thanks to mobile heating technology

In Andermatt, at the foot of the impressive Gotthard massif, a 5-star hotel is currently under construction, featuring 50 hotel rooms and 120 attached apartments and lofts that are available for sale. This development is named 'The Chedi Andermatt'. Long before its scheduled opening in December 2013, the resort was causing a sensation, since it sets new standards in terms of luxury, design and comfort. The proprietor and general contractor is Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orascom Development Holding AG. As it states on the homepage, Andermatt Swiss Alps is to transform the Swiss holiday village of Andermatt, with its rich tradition, into an exclusive all-year-round destination. The guests, all high-net-worth individuals, expect tailor-made provision in terms of property, hotel and leisure facilities at every time of year, as well as state-of-the-art infrastructure for culture and conferences. Andermatt Swiss Alps seeks to provide the perfect framework for a balanced lifestyle, as a residential or holiday destination, as well as for first home or second home owners. This project involves the construction of six new hotels in the 4 and 5-star segment, offering a total of 844 rooms and condominiums, and more than 490 generously proportioned apartments in 42 houses. The Chedi Andermatt will be one of the first two hotels to be completed this year. GHM Ltd., Singapore, will be in charge of hotel management. This company specializes in top-class designer hotels.

Dependable winter heating for construction work and screed drying

Construction work in a village up at 1300 meters (4000 feet) is a very different proposition to building at sea level. For example, long-term construction planning must take due account of the winter temperatures that normally last from October thru May This is one of the issues affecting Sell Anlagenbau, an SME from Helmbrecht in Franconia. As a sub-contractor, it has responsibility for the planning and delivery of 'house engineering', i.e. heating, sanitation and climate control technology. "To avoid delays in construction during the long winter period, for the third year in succession we are using a mobile heating container from Hotmobil, with a power rating of up to 1000 kW. This also includes hose connections through which we can deliver heat to the air heaters. Our task profile includes this 'winter construction heating' component. A system that has already been used with great success on other major projects. This is an ideal solution on which we can depend. Furthermore, since the start of construction work, mobile heating units with control elements, also from Hotmobil, have been used for running the underfloor heating and for the drying of screed", reported construction manager Ulf Helmchen. He is a long-standing member of the team in this 180-employee company, one that can look back over a 110-year tradition. Since Sell Anlagenbau is a specialist in the project planning and construction of supply and disposal systems, participation in international projects is not uncommon. All organizational tasks such as the retrieval of quotations and procurement are handled by its central Procurement office in Helmbrecht. That enables the team up in the Swiss winter sports venue to focus fully on their work while on location.