Light weight deflectometer with a New Location

On June 1, 2024, the time finally came: After weeks of moving activities, TERRATEST GmbH has commenced operations at its new facility in Löwenberger Land, Nassenheide district. After almost exactly two years of construction, the new hall was officially opened by CEO Frank G. Schulz, together with his children Fabrizio and Anahita, by ceremonially cutting the red ribbon. The new building is located just about 10 kilometers from the old site in Oranienburg and is much more conveniently accessible. "The travel time from the center of Berlin is only 30 minutes. We are located directly at the B 96 motorway feeder. It is only a four-minute drive to the Berlin Ring Oranienburg junction," says CEO Frank G. Schulz proudly.

The new building was specifically adapted by Schulz to meet the requirements for manufacturing and servicing a Light Weight Deflectometer for load bearing capacity tests. It is particularly noteworthy that all employees could be retained due to the proximity to the old site. "The move went smoothly. We were able to handle all orders and service requests without interruptions or waiting times for our customers in road construction, civil engineering, sewer construction, pipeline construction, as well as garden and landscape construction. I believe no one even noticed that TERRATEST had moved," CEO Frank G. Schulz happily reports on the smooth relocation process.

To continue ensuring the usual fast TERRATEST service and calibration process, the company already set up two new calibration stands at the new site by the end of last year, which were approved by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). "Two more calibration stands are already under construction. Their approval by BASt according to TP BF-StB Part B8.3 is planned for the fall of this year. This will give TERRATEST a total of four calibration stands at the Nassenheide site, ensuring short processing times for service and calibration according ASTM E2835-11 of our Light Weight Deflectometer," explains Dr. Bernhard Korsch, Calibration Manager at TERRATEST. "The approval of the first two stands by BASt was completed in less than two hours. We further modified our software and application during the construction of the stands to optimize calibration," Dr. Korsch continues.

Another highlight is the return of Erik Söhring, an experienced former employee who rejoined the TERRATEST family just in time for the start-up. After an eight-year absence, Söhring is taking over production management at the new location. "I am excited and highly motivated to take on the production management at TERRATEST. It helps that I am already well acquainted with the technology. However, the company has developed tremendously in recent years," says Erik Söhring. "The primary focus now is to optimize all workflows and processes in the new hall to ensure short processing times for the benefit of our customers," Söhring adds.

The new site not only offers improved logistical connections but also modernized working conditions for the employees. The new hall is equipped with the latest technological standards and provides ideal conditions for the production and service of light drop weight devices. This significantly contributes to increasing efficiency and improving product quality.

With the move to the new facility, TERRATEST GmbH is setting a clear signal for the future. The company demonstrates that it is not only capable of adapting to changing conditions but also continuously works to improve its services and products. The new location in Nassenheide marks an important milestone in the company's history and provides the best conditions for further growth and success.

By modernizing and expanding its capacities, TERRATEST can now better respond to its customers' needs and meet the high demands of the market. The proximity to Berlin and the excellent transport connections also make the location attractive for international business partners and customers.

Thus, TERRATEST GmbH looks optimistically to the future and is ready to take on new challenges. With a strong team, state-of-the-art technology, and a clear focus on customer satisfaction, the company is committed to remaining a leader in the industry and solidifying its position in the market.

TERRATEST® to Showcase Light Weight Deflectometer at BIG 5 Construct Egypt

TERRATEST® is proud to announce the participation of their Light Weight Deflectometer in the "Big 5 Construct Egypt" exhibition, taking place from June 25th to 27th, 2024, in Cairo. This prestigious event will be held for the 6th time at the Egypt International Exhibition Center.

"We have many customers in Egypt and have been selling our test equipment to test laboratories, road construction companies and earthmovers in Egypt for over 10 years," says Frank G. Schulz, CEO of TERRATEST®. "We hope to meet many current and potential customers for our Light Weight Deflectometer at the exhibition. This is a very important event for us. More than 20,000 visitors are expected, and 300 exhibitors from over 25 countries will be part of the show. Egypt is a huge market due to several very important infrastructure projects."

We cordially invite all visitors to explore TERRATEST®'s Light Weight Deflectometer at our booth, located in the German Pavilion, stand number 1E28. This is a fantastic opportunity to see firsthand how our innovative Light Weight Deflectometer can benefit your compaction work.

Our team of experts will be available to demonstrate our equipment, answer questions, and discuss how our products can meet your specific needs. Whether you are looking for reliable and efficient construction testing solutions according ASTM E 2835-11 or simply wish to learn more about our Light Weight Deflectometer, we are here to assist.

We are eager to connect with new people in Cairo next week. Our booth will be open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM, and we look forward to welcoming you and engaging in fruitful discussions about the future of construction technology.

Enhancing Opportunities at BIG 5 Construct Egypt

Attending the "Big 5 Construct Egypt" exhibition is a strategic move for TERRATEST® as it allows us to not only showcase our advanced technology but also to understand the evolving needs of the construction industry in Egypt. The Egyptian market is poised for significant growth, especially with the ongoing infrastructure projects that demand high-quality and efficient testing equipment.

Our Light Weight Deflectometer is designed to provide accurate, reliable results, making it an essential tool for ensuring the quality and durability of construction projects. By participating in this exhibition, we aim to strengthen our relationships with existing clients and forge new partnerships that will drive the future of construction technology.

Why Visit TERRATEST® at BIG 5 Construct Egypt?

Visitors to our booth can expect:

• Live Demonstrations: See our Light Weight Deflectometer in action and understand its capabilities.
• Expert Consultations: Our team will be on hand to provide detailed insights and answer any technical questions.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders and explore potential collaborations.

We invite all attendees to visit us at the German Pavilion, stand number 1E28, and discover how TERRATEST® can help optimize your construction projects. Let's build the future together, leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions.

We look forward to seeing you at the "Big 5 Construct Egypt" exhibition and to a successful and engaging event.

Light Weight Deflectometer for narrow trenches: TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH

Light Weight Deflectometer TRENCH

A Light Weight Deflectometer is the ideal measurement device for dynamic load bearing capacity tests in pipeline construction. The device is convenient and performs the test non-destructively within two minutes, without a counterweight.

In contrast to the Künzel (drop penetration) rod, pipes are not at risk of being damaged when using this measurement method and the individual layers can be compressed in layers and compaction quality can be measured in layers too. This means there are no nasty surprises later on. "Digitalisation" is the magic word on everyone's lips. All over Germany, work is in full swing to lay the new fibre optic network. Our country is being made fit for the new 5G network so that we don't miss out on the high-speed connection. In the meantime, valuable time has already elapsed, since the high-speed network is due to be ready by 2020. The german Telecom now wants to accelerate the expansion of the network using the time and cost-saving Trenching method.

Trenching involves slitting 15-20 cm narrow trenches in asphalt or soil into which empty pipes are then inserted. The trenches are often only 60 cm deep.

Fibre optic cables can then be blown into these empty pipes later on. After the empty pipes have been inserted, the trenches must be filled and professionally compacted. For the compaction work, proof of compaction must be provided to the client and archived.

With the new TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH, TERRATEST® now presents a Light Weight Deflectometer that can provide proof of compaction, even in narrow trenches with a width of only 15 cm or even less. The load plate of the new device is oval in shape and has a width of only 10 cm compared to the conventional 300 mm diameter plate, thus adapting to the narrow trench widths of the Trenching method. This means that the oval load plate has a smaller working depth than the circular 300 mm plate, but this does not pose a problem in Trenching, because the layers are also smaller at just 20 cm when filled.

The loading device has a smaller and narrower drop weight of 5 kg, which also fits well into a narrow trench due to the shallow construction depth. The drop weight has a circular groove for ease of catching. The device is particularly suited for the control of compaction quality of footpaths and cycle paths. It provides the same values as the 10 kg deflectometer, but unlike the latter, it is not covered by the ZTV (Additional Technical Terms of Contract in Germany.)

However, following consultation with the local authorities, TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH can be used for proof of compaction, as there is no alternative economical method suitable for this application.

The good news for owners of TERRATEST® drop weight equipment: a TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH Light Weight Deflectometer can also be purchased as a retrofit kit if you already own a TERRATEST® device. This means it is possible to use the measurement electronics of existing deflectometer devices and with extended firmware make them capable of carrying out measurements during the Trenching method. Alongside the firmware update, the existing measurement electronics must be calibrated with the TRENCH mechanics. For this, the measurement electronics must be sent to TERRATEST for calibration when purchasing the TRENCH. TRENCH will initially be available as a cable model. At a later stage, retrofitting of TERRATEST® Bluetooth devices will also be possible.

The TRENCH Light Weight Deflectometer with narrow load plate and 5 kg drop weight is manufactured according to TP BF-StB part B8.3 (Technical testing regulations for soil and rock in road construction) and calibrated according to TERRATEST® factory standards.