Belgian steel for Belgian highway artwork

Belgian specialist steel producer 7658 NLMK has supplied the material used for a distinctive new artwork constructed along a major highway. Called the Arc Majeur, the 60m arch comprises three sections, each 20m long. The artwork is the brainchild of artist Bernar Venet, who first envisaged the structure over 30 years ago. The distinctive structure is located along the important E411 route, close to Lavaux-Sainte-Anne between the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg in southern Belgium, close to the Ardennes Forest and the French border.

As well as being 60m high, the arch has a span of 75m and features 200tonnes of steel as well as 1,000tonnes of concrete. The largest single component weighs 56tonnes. Raising the arch into position has required a lifting system with a capacity of 750tonnes. Specialist ultrasonic testing technology from the Vinçotte Group has been used to ensure that the structure meets quality requirements. Meanwhile the design has also been verified by engineering experts from a university to ensure that it will cope with the various climactic conditions. The project cost close to €2.5 million and this is claimed to be the largest metal sculpture in the world.