Winter peak performance
Early this year the heavy load and project forwarding company Rolf Riedl GmbH, based in Hagen (Germany), transported two 120 t «calottes» (end caps) for a test installation in the research complex belonging to the Cern European atomic energy research centre in Westem Switzerland. After thorough preparations the Riedl team was able to take over the components of the large scale vessel in a state ready for transport from the manufacturing plant in Netphen (North Rhine-Westphalia). For reasons of transport safety and to prevent damage the two calottes each 4.28, m long, 2.95 m in diameter and weighing 120 t - were mounted upright on twelve axle low loaders.
Under police escort the transport convoy, consisting of two 650 hp tractor units, the two heavylift trailers, two additional pushing tractor units and two pilot and security vehicles, set off from Netphen. Exactly on schedule the convoy arrived at the border crossing into France. There, though, a sudden spate of winter weather interrupted proceedings for a full day. In the French Jura numerous small mountain villages, some with very narrow alleys, railway crossings, tight - often 90° - curves in the road and passes with up to 11% gradients demanded the highest levels of professionalism of the drivers and their accompanying support personnel.
Despite many a complicated manoeuvre and a one day winter break at the border the convoy arrived at the Cern atomic energy research facility in Meyrin, west of Geneva, punctually seven days after departure.
Heavy weight convoy of the Riedl Group for the Cern atomic energy research centre.
Photo: Riedl