100 m³ in 12 Hours: Record-Breaking Construction Phase at Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Between June and September 2025, numerous concrete rehabilitation works were carried out on the airfield pavements at Zurich Airport (ZRH), and various edges and joints were repaired using Concretum^® Q-CON. As in previous years, the focus was on short night-time closure windows to avoid any disruption to airport operations while ensuring the safety and long-term durability of runways and taxiways. During these limited work periods, several concrete slabs were replaced using the rapid-hardening concrete Concretum^® Q-FLASH 2/20, which has proven its performance for many years thanks to its fast strength development and excellent workability. Each shift lasted only a few hours, with the concrete reaching the required early strength of at least 16 MPa after two hours. As a result, all affected airfield areas could be reopened on time every morning for regular operations.

First 12-hour Closure from 18:00 to 06:00 – 100 m³ of Rapid-hardening Concrete Placed in a Single Day/Night Operation
A major milestone and a first for Zurich Airport was a continuous 12-hour closure from 6pm to 6am, during which the utility lines beneath the Taxiway Alpha crossing were renewed. Within this time window, a total of 100 m³ of Concretum^® Q-FLASH 2/20 was placed in a single day/night operation – a logistically and technically demanding task requiring precise planning, an optimised production and delivery workflow, and highly reliable material performance. Thanks to the consistent workable time of 60–90 minutes and the rapid hardening behaviour, it was possible to complete all subsequent steps such as texturing (grooving) and joint sealing within the allotted timeframe.