News
Since 2021 we are planning the overhauling respectively retrofitting of the constructional building parts at the cut and cover tunnel Tretter and Ottsdorf, the tunnel Kremsursprung and the wildlife crossing Hinterburg on the A09 in the section Inzersdorf-Schön together with our team partner UHG ZT Consult.
In February 2023 the execution of the project started and is implemented by the consortium Inzerdorf Schön (Östu-Stetting, Vogl + Spie).
The new ventilation nooks of the cut and cover tunnel Ottsdorf were a big challenge during planning. As the future ventilation system requires larger jet fans, the standard cross section had to be expanded at the three new exhausters’ positions on the ceiling. The execution of the new walls and the ceiling took place from the outside by means of open construction without any traffic restrictions on the motorway. Then the removal of the ceiling was realised from inside during traffic closures at night. The existing ceiling was cut into slices with wire saws and lowered/removed with a specifically developed lifting vehicle of the Östu-Stettin company.
Our employees were able to get an idea of these works during a site inspection – see pictures below.
Almost every one of us has it constantly at hand: the smartphone. Whether for private or business reasons. Not only that you are available at any time of the day and you can talk to someone, but you can also take pictures with it. However, we don’t always succeed in capturing these beautiful moments for social media.
Today smartphones are equipped with powerful cameras, which offer a wide range of features and it should be learned and practiced how to use it best.
Our girls Katharina and Laetitia were able to get acquainted with the possibilities of their company phones during a two days’ workshop regarding “smartphone photography”. They were taught in the basics of photography and also got some tips about how to use their knowledge straight away.
We are looking forward to the sights they’re gonna show us soon.
We don’t just work future-oriented in the office but also at home in our families. Therefore, it is time for an update regarding our baby band:
- To the growth of the Sparr-family Alexander’s son Nico made his contribution in November 2020.
- In February 2021 Walter got more male backing at home thanks to little Tim.
- We could be happy with Katharina Gut in November 2021 about the birth of her daughter Hailey.
- This year Lio made Alexander Grujic a proud Dad for the second time.
- And just now in June Anja gave birth to her son Benjamin.
Who knows, maybe there is a future member of our staff among these little ones?
Our latest mission for the ASFINAG took Marina, Stefan and Georg on a long journey to the far east of Austria. They travelled to Lower Austria where they inspected the viaduct Schottwien on the S06, Semmering freeway. The bridge is about 630 m long and towers 130 m above the village. Marina and Georg inspected the foreland protection in dizzying hights at the piers and abutments. With climbing kits equipped they checked the tie beams including anchors and read the measuring boxes as well as the extensometer. Meanwhile, Stefan (proud owner of a drone pilot’s licence) inspected parts of the bridge with our new drone. In addition to that he could take some spectacular pictures – see below.
On Monday, 25th April 2023, we went on tour again to the BAU - World's Leading Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials, Systems.Apart from useful information, discussions, innovations and trends we could not let out the well-deserved ice cream.
We are definitely looking forward to our next company outing.
Laetitia just finished her apprenticeship as draughtsman successfully and has already started a new in-service training. She attends a course to become an apprenticeship trainer and therefore doesn’t get tired of upskilling herself. We are very proud of Laetitia’s commitment for everything concerned in and around our office!
As we caught up on our Christmas do from 2021 last summer we met for the second time on Thursday, 15th December 2022. In good tradition we decided to be pampered once more at the Gasthof Rössle in Braz (A). First we gathered outdoors in the garden with hot cider and campfire. It is always nice to meet our colleagues to whom we usually speak via the internet only.
In the comfortable restaurant a delicious meal was waiting for us. From tuna over lamb meat balls and saddle of veal with vegetables to chocolate nut soufflé everything you could dream of was there. And we must not forget the excellent wines, of which we gladly tasted “a little”.
Once more the amiko-team has reason to celebrate. After all Marina and Stefan finished their master studies of civil engineering in Innsbruck and are now working for amiko as graduate engineers. We are happy that they decided to stay with us after several internships and are supporting us now in full-time. Already we can’t imagine our team without them because of their friendliness and their commitment.
More happy news come from Laetitia, who took her final apprenticeship examinations as draughtswoman in November. She already shares her theoretical and practical knowledge with our new apprentice for engineering drawing, Bojana Panic. Surely Bojana will learn many things thanks to Laetitia’s skills and helpfulness.
On 24th October 2022 we visited the “bauma” (construction machinery trade fair) in Munich together with our boss Sascha. Neither traffic jams on the motorway nor heavy rains could stop us from exploring the fair grounds. We were attracted by impressive displays of giant construction machineries, interesting stands and the booth for umbrellas. The world’s leading construction machinery trade fair blew our minds if only because of its dimensions. In the evening our legs felt worn out, but we had only seen a small part of the exhibition.
This year’s geomechanics colloquium from 12th – 15th October 2022 took place in the convention centre “Salzburg Congress”. Our colleague Angela gained interesting insights into current projects concerning tunnelling and power plant construction in aspect of geotechnical engineering. A wide range of comparative projects was covered starting with Austrian projects – like Semmering base tunnel, pumped storage hydro power plant Limberg III or Tauernmoos, the 140 m high reservoir dam Kühtai in Längental – up to current tunnel constructions in northern Europe (Norway, Sweden).
Next to ongoing building sites the future challenges for the geomechanics were a big topic. Sustainability in tunnelling and the use of artificial intelligence in underground mining were observed and discussed.
After the lectures, it was possible to join an excursion to the pumped storage hydro power station Limberg III in Kaprun. The participants first visited the building site of the reservoir lake Mooserboden (approx. 2,040 m above sea level). Afterwards they went into the mountain to see the already driven out pressure tunnel and the cavern, which is built by drilling and blasting.
For a special jubilee the members of amiko met on 7th October 2022: Our branch office in Bad Ischl is 10 years old! On this occasion not only a delicious cake in amiko design was offered but also an article was published in the newspaper "Ischler Woche".
Sascha congratulated Georg for 10 years work as office manager and gave his sincere thanks to all members of staff in Ischl. Without their commitment there wouldn't have been this special event at all.
In the evening the colleagues from Upper Austria took the Vorarlberg-delegation to the top of the “Siriuskogl”, the home mountain of Bad Ischl. There we could indulge ourselves with a gorgeous autumn view over the "Salzkammergut". Another treat awaited us at the "Siriuskogl-inn" with splendid food and drinks. So we definitely celebrated the birthday of amiko Bad Ischl appropriately.
Today we report of two very different endings.
First, we are proudly announcing that Marina finished her master’s course in civil engineering at the University of Innsbruck in August with excellent grades. We congratulate our new chartered engineer wholeheartedly and are happy that she will use her knowledge and skills to 100% for amiko from now on.
On the other hand, we have to yield our long-time engineer Anna to 100% to the University from October on. She studies environmental engineering and was offered the position of a tutor at the University of Vienna starting the next term. A big thank-you at this point for her first-rate work, her readiness to help others and her humour, which helped her mastering even stressful situations. We cross fingers for the rest of her studies and wish Anna the very best for her professional and private future!