Engineering meeting at CSZ (Darmstadt)

On January 17, despite the local black ice warning, we had the pleasure of welcoming esteemed guests to our office: Professor Dr. Mamdouh El-Badry from the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary, as well as the managing partners Professor Dr.-Ing. Rolf Katzenbach and Matthias Seip from KATZENBACH INGENIEURE.
Professor El-Badry presented his many years of research work on an innovative hybrid truss girder that he has developed for bridge construction. He also explained the methods he helped to develop, which are already being used successfully in Canada to monitor the performance of infrastructure.
Professor Katzenbach then presented the Combined Pile-Raft Foundation (CPRF), which was significantly shaped by him. The CPRF which is used very successfully and cost-effectively, especially for the foundation of high-rise buildings worldwide, to transferring very high and excentric building loads into the subsoil.
The top-class presentations led to a lively exchange and even brought the former president of the Association of Consulting Engineers (VBI) and co-founder of CSZ, Dr.-Ing. Volker Cornelius, back to our office after a long time. This educated and interesting format showed once again how versatile, innovative and exciting our field of work is. It made it clear why our heart beats so passionately for civil engineering.

CSZ – Precise structural diagnostics with Hilti Ferroscan PS 300

CSZ is an official Hilti detection service provider and offers precise structural diagnostics for successful construction projects by integrating the Hilti Ferroscan PS 300.

Precise reinforcement analysis: The Hilti PS 300 enables us to carry out non-destructive reinforcement analyses of concrete structures. It uses five-coil technology and has an integrated touchscreen. The device is particularly suitable for larger structures such as tunnel or bridge renovations.
Efficient scanning of large concrete surfaces: We use the PS 300 Ferroscan detection system in combination with the PSA 71 measuring extension to scan large areas with high precision and efficiency. This enables precise localization of reinforcements and estimation of rebar diameters, even with cover measurements of up to 18 cm.
Versatile applications: The PS 300 Ferroscan system proves its worth in building inspections, checking changes of use and subsequent reinforcement connections. It plays a crucial role in checking the concrete cover for refurbishment measures, quality assurance and inspections to prevent damage during execution.

With the Hilti Ferroscan PS300, CSZ has sharpened the focus of building diagnostics in this area. Thanks to its wide range of applications, the device is used in every refurbishment project to contribute to the success of the project.

(Foto: Hilti Deutschland AG)

CSZ: Actively shaping digitalization in the construction industry (BIM 2024)

In the era of digital transformation, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is not only essential for the efficient planning and implementation of construction projects, but also promotes sustainability and optimizes operational processes in the construction industry.
The book “Hier steckt BIM drin!” presents 23 impressive construction projects, realized by members of buildingSMART, who successfully apply BIM and the open standards in practice. The renowned architectural firm Ackermann und Raff (a+r) is planning to publish the groundbreaking “Center for Mental Health” project in Böblingen, with CSZ responsible for the planning of preventive fire protection, technical equipment and structural design.
CSZ is very happy to support the book and the association to promote the BIM planning method in the construction industry. The active participation in the book project “Hier steckt BIM drin! 2024” underlines CSZ’s commitment to the digital transformation.