Draft:Strukturas

Strukturas AS is a Norwegian engineering company specializing in the design, supply, and operation of heavy bridge construction equipment. The company is primarily known for its development and deployment of movable scaffolding systems (MSS), form travellers, and related temporary works used in the construction of prestressed concrete bridges and viaducts. Strukturas is headquartered in Porsgrunn, Norway, and operates internationally across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Founded in 1991, Strukturas evolved from earlier Norwegian mechanical engineering developments dating back to the 1970s. Its equipment is used in large-scale infrastructure projects where conventional ground-supported falsework is impractical due to deep valleys, wide waterways, environmental constraints, or dense urban conditions.

History

Early development (1971–1991)

The technical origins of Strukturas trace back to 1971, when Norwegian engineer Tore Gjølme developed one of Norway’s first movable scaffolding systems while working at Olav Opedal AS, a subsidiary of the Aker Group. This development responded to the increasing use of prestressed concrete bridge construction and the need to span Norway’s rugged terrain without ground-supported scaffolding.

The early systems introduced the concept of a self-launching, pier-supported “mobile factory” for bridge deck construction, representing a shift away from labor-intensive timber falsework and stationary scaffolding systems.

Establishment and growth

Strukturas AS was established as an independent company in 1991 in Langesund, Norway, with a dedicated focus on bridge construction equipment. For more than two decades, the company operated as a privately held Norwegian enterprise, expanding through project-based international work.

In 2018, Strukturas underwent a major ownership change when international investors based in Hong Kong acquired a majority stake. This recapitalization strengthened the company’s financial capacity and enabled expansion of equipment rental and sale-with-buyback business models.

In 2022, the company relocated its headquarters to Herøya Industrial Park in Porsgrunn, one of Norway’s largest industrial zones, improving access to logistics infrastructure and deep-water port facilities.

Organization and governance

Strukturas AS is registered as a Norwegian aksjeselskap (AS) and is listed in the Brønnøysund Register Centre (organisation number 963 175 094). The company remains subject to Norwegian corporate governance and auditing requirements.

Strukturas operates with a relatively small permanent engineering and management staff in Norway and Germany, supported by a global network of agents and representatives in more than 40 countries. A wholly owned subsidiary, Strukturas GmbH, based in Freystadt, Germany, serves the Central European market.

Engineering specialization

Movable scaffolding systems

Strukturas is best known for its work with movable scaffolding systems (MSS), which are self-launching steel structures used to support formwork for cast-in-place concrete bridge decks. An MSS advances span by span, allowing repetitive, industrialized construction of bridge superstructures.

The company designs both underslung and overhead MSS configurations:

• Underslung MSS, with the main structural girders positioned beneath the deck, commonly used for viaducts with spans of approximately 20–70 metres.
• Overhead MSS, where the primary structure is located above the deck level, typically used when clearance below the bridge is restricted, such as over active railways or highways.

Strukturas MSS units are designed in accordance with Eurocode 3 (EN 1993) for steel structures and manufactured under EN 1090 execution standards. Typical global deformation limits during concreting are on the order of L/400, with additional local deflection criteria applied to formwork components.

The company has also developed mechanized internal formwork systems for box-girder bridges, enabling hydraulic repositioning of internal formwork between spans and reducing manual labor in confined spaces.

Form travellers

For bridges constructed using the balanced cantilever method, particularly those with long main spans or deep crossings, Strukturas supplies form traveller systems. These allow symmetrical segmental construction extending outward from bridge piers, typically with segment lengths of 3–5 metres.

Strukturas designs several variants, including overhead, underslung, wing, and arch form travellers, tailored to bridge geometry and reinforcement density. These systems are engineered to support large segment weights and comply with Eurocode design and safety requirements.

Launching gantries

In addition to cast-in-place solutions, Strukturas has supplied equipment associated with precast bridge construction methods, including launching gantries. These machines are used to place precast concrete segments or beams onto bridge piers during incremental erection processes.

Fabrication and standards

Strukturas employs a global fabrication model. Structural steel components are manufactured through long-term partners in China under CE-certified EN 1090 Execution Class II conditions. Materials such as Q345 structural steel, which is comparable to European S355 steel, are commonly used.

Engineering design, quality assurance, and compliance verification are managed in accordance with European standards, even when fabrication occurs outside Europe.

Services and business model

Strukturas operates primarily as a temporary works specialist rather than a conventional equipment manufacturer. Its scope of services commonly includes:

• Construction method engineering
• Structural analysis and verification of temporary works
• Fabrication coordination and logistics planning
• On-site assembly, commissioning, and operation
• Dismantling and redeployment of equipment

The company maintains a reusable fleet of heavy bridge construction equipment totaling several thousand tonnes of structural steel, enabling rental-based project delivery and repeated reuse across multiple projects.

Selected projects

Strukturas equipment has been used in numerous large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide, including:

• Rail Baltica – Neris River Bridge (Lithuania): A high-speed rail bridge constructed using an underslung MSS in an environmentally protected Natura 2000 area.
• Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement (California, United States): Use of large MSS units designed to comply with stringent seismic design requirements.
• Rader Hochbrücke Replacement (Germany): Specialized formwork and temporary works for complex hammerhead piers on a major motorway crossing.
• Anna Jagiellon Bridge (Warsaw, Poland): Combined use of overhead MSS and form travellers to cross active railway infrastructure with minimal clearance.
• Kanawha River Bridge (West Virginia, United States): Balanced cantilever construction contributing to the project receiving the 2011 ASBI Bridge Award of Excellence.

Safety and regulation

Movable scaffolding systems and form traveller systems are classified as machinery under the European Union Machinery Directive, requiring formal risk assessments and the integration of safety-critical hydraulic and braking systems.

Strukturas equipment is designed to comply with applicable international standards, including Eurocodes and, where required, national standards such as AASHTO and Caltrans specifications in the United States.

See also

• Movable scaffolding system
• Launching gantry
• Balanced cantilever bridge
• Prestressed concrete bridge

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Engineering companies of Norway
• Construction equipment manufacturers
• Bridge engineering
• Companies established in 1991
• Norwegian companies established in 1991