19th IABSE Congress - Stockholm 2016: KREBS+KIEFER out in force at the world congress for bridge and structural engineering

The congress of the ‘International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering’ (IABSE) took place between 21-23 September 2016 in Stockholm. KREBS+KIEFER held four presentations at this event, which is the world’s most important gathering of structural engineers. The congress focussed on a key theme: ‘Challenges in Design and Construction of an Innovative and Sustainable Built Environment’ which, in addition to ‘innovative sustainability’, is one of the major challenges currently affecting new builds and efforts to conserve existing structures. KREBS+KIEFER made an outstanding contribution to both the key topics.

The planning and construction of the world’s largest shiplift at the Three Gorges dam in China was covered by Prof. Dr (engineer) Jan Akkermann, professor at Hochschule Karlsruhe and managing director of KREBS+KIEFER, who spoke in collaboration with the awarding authority and operator of the dam project, the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG). Dr Ioannis Retzepis and Mr Heinz-Josef Vieth (Dip. Eng.), both also managing directors of KREBS+KIEFER, reported on the strengthening of bridges in Germany, as well as on the planning and construction of the public transport bridge to Kinelesberg in Ulm in conjunction with Knight Architects of Great Britain. Professor of steel construction at TU Dresden, Dr (engineer) Richard Stroetmann, member of the IABSE working commission and managing director of KREBS+KIEFER, rounded off the talks by explaining the developments in modern office buildings using steel and steel composite construction.

There were 800 participants in the congress who benefited from the informative and enjoyable talks, lively discussions and in-depth technical dialogue.