When Sterigenics expanded its Graham, NC campus to add a new X‑ray irradiation sterilization line, they selected Hagerman Construction of Fort Wayne, Indiana — a contractor with prior Sterigenics experience — to lead the project. Through industry word‑of‑mouth, Hagerman approached IQ Contracting to bid the structural concrete package.
The concrete scope on this project was highly specialized and technically demanding. X‑ray sterilization requires massive radiation‑shielding concrete assemblies, and the new line was built around 35‑foot‑tall cast‑in‑place walls up to 12 feet thick, along with a cast‑in‑place concrete roof also reaching 12 feet thick in certain profiles. These elements introduced significant constructability challenges related to formwork engineering, placement sequencing, thermal control, and logistics.
IQ, Hagerman, and Engineering Resources worked as an integrated team to resolve these challenges early and maintain constructability throughout the project. The mass‑concrete requirements demanded careful planning, including thermal modeling, controlled placement rates, and coordinated cooling strategies. Concrete Supply contributed their deep experience with mass‑concrete mix design and temperature management, helping ensure stable hydration, controlled heat generation, and consistent performance across extremely thick sections.
Through collaboration, disciplined planning, and technical execution, IQ delivered a structurally complex, mission‑critical facility that meets Sterigenics’ stringent operational and shielding requirements — and did so with a smooth, predictable workflow from start to finish.
