Paper Recycling Plant Concrete Slab

Project overview

Amcor is a global packaging supply company that offers a broad range of rigid and flexible packaging projects for the food, beverage, healthcare, home, personal care and tobacco industries. They operate in 43 countries and employ over 35,000 people. Their recycled paper mill in the Sydney suburb of Botany Bay produces high-quality 100% recycled brown paper.

In 2013 Amcor completed a $500 million upgrade to the Botany Bay plant to increase its capacity to produce 400,000t of paper annually, reduce water consumption by 26%, energy usage by 26% and reduce waste sent to landfill by 75%.

Ballestrin was contracted to undertake the design and construction of a 12,500m², 250mm thick concrete paper storage slab for the Paper Recycling Plant upgrade works.

The slab required a complex joint system consisting of Diamond Dowel in one direction and Danly Cradle Induced Crack Joints in the other. Works also included demolition and civil preparation works. The slab was constructed within an operational paper recycling facility, with the footprint of the slab still being required for paper storage during construction works.

Ballestrin worked closely with Amcor to develop a project program and methodology which allowed the construction to take place with minimal interruption to ongoing operations. This meant the slab needed to be constructed in four separate mobilisations while allowing client access to the slab areas at all times.