Hinged mould for concrete legs for outdoor benches Greater attention for the fit-up of outdoor spaces

When it comes to concrete we naturally think of a building’s shell and the construction of infrastructural projects. However, concrete also plays an important role in the fit-up of outdoor spaces. A good example of this is the outdoor benches produced by VelopA. The company happily uses a mould supplied by Hendriks precon for the production of the concrete legs.

VelopA develops, designs and produces a large variety of bicycle parking solutions, street furniture and sports and play facilities for public spaces. Its street furniture portfolio consists of a variety of products, including outdoor benches, picnic tables and sandbox elements. As a sustainable and use-resistant material, concrete plays an important role in a number of product lines. For example, the company’s outdoor bench series BN and Siësta are based on basic concrete elements finished with wood, steel or bamboo boards or thermally galvanised and coated steel.

Interaction of various factors

“The legs are made of a self-compacting concrete so that the end-result is a streamlined concrete appearance. Steel moulds are used for the production of the legs,” says Arjan Oudshoorn of VelopA. “The moulds are the result of a three-fold consultation among VelopA, Hendriks precon and the external party that produces the concrete legs for us.” About the decision to use the Hendriks precon moulds he adds: “The choice of supplier was based on the interaction of various factors: quality and safeguarding this quality are determining factors for us. However, naturally a relationship based on trust and the price also played a role in our decision.”

Hinged mould

The moulds used for the production of the concrete legs are rectangular and have four different positions. Four legs can be produced simultaneously with the mould: two for the left side and two for the right side. Each mould is hinged on the front and on both sides.

In total, the company acquired eight moulds, which are used to produce 32 legs each day. The self-compacting concrete means that a somewhat longer curing time is required, but the result is a beautiful piece of clean concrete. After the concrete is poured and has cured, the mould is opened at the hinges on the front and on the sides. Arjan Oudshoorn: “To produce the best possible streamlined appearance, the legs are not equipped with lifting hooks. Instead, the legs are removed from the mould and turned using a vacuum-driven suction cup system.”