Dynax Saturation Line Addition

Location: Botetourt County, Virginia

Owner: Dynax America Corporation

Description: This project is the design of the structure elements of a new saturation line addition for the Dynax America Corporation. This facility manufactures clutch and transmission parts for a variety of vehicles. These parts require the application of specialized friction materials to metal clutch parts used as the slip rings in automatic transmissions and clutch assemblies. The continuous manufacturing process requires that specialized paper be saturated with epoxy materials diluted with alcohol within a confined explosion proof room and cured in gas fired ovens prior to attachment to the metal parts. The explosion proof room was designed using highly reinforced masonry units and designed to resist a 100 psf load on all interior surfaces and to vent any explosion to the exterior of the plant through a breakaway panel in the exterior wall.

Also provided were complete building code inspection services to the owner and County through the Building Permits Fee Waiver Policy. This allowed the company to provide its own inspection services at a reduced permit fee, thereby bringing a significant cost savings and added convenience to the construction process. Inspections were made on an on-call basis and complete inspection reports were filed with the County, owner and contractor on each inspection.

All support equipment of this line addition including incinerators, blowers and compressors were located within a screened enclosure on the east side of the plant.

Project Manager: David Farley, Takenaka Corp.

Contractor: Avis Construction

Project Cost: $2,500,000