FELBERMAYR AND GOLDHOFER MASTER AN XXL TRANSPORT FOR THE KÜHTAI 2 POWER PLANT

Superlative transport performance: Felbermayr recently delivered the second of two 140-ton transformers for the Kühtai 2 pumped storage hydropower plant in Tyrol, Austria. The challenge was a load measuring 7.25 m in length, 3.54 m in width and 4.29 m in height – a logistical feat calling for the utmost precision and dependability.

The Felbermayr Group is a leading specialists in the fields of construction, transport and lifting technology. With a workforce of over 3,300 employees at 81 locations in 17 countries, the family-run company stands for reliability and the highest standards of safety.

The Kühtai 2 pumped storage hydropower plant being developed by TIWAG is a key element in Austria’s planned energy transition. With a generating capacity of around 190 MW and a new reservoir located at an altitude of over 2,100 meters above sea-level, the plant will deliver flexible grid stabilization and CO₂ savings of over 120,000 tons per year. Transporting the transformers to the construction site in high alpine terrain required a solution combining maximum flexibility with enormous tractive power.

The 140-ton transformer was carried by rail to Zirl, where it was transferred to a heavy-duty module combination. The Felbermayr specialists opted for a 15-axle combination, with a 6-axle self-propelled »ADDRIVE« and a 2-axle »FT SERIES« module (THP/FT-L) up front, and a 3+4 combination from the same series at the back. In between, a scissor lift bridge carried the transformer mounted on a turntable. A combination of tractor unit and pusher truck was used to handle the steep inclines on the mountain road.

One of the keys to the success of the operation was the Goldhofer »FT SERIES« with its exceptional flexibility and universal combination options. “With projects of this complexity, the ability to configure modules with maximum flexibility and even combine them with self-propelled transporters such as the »ADDRIVE« is a decisive advantage,” says Erwin Uebel, the Goldhofer service engineer who accompanied the transport. “The differences in height between the modules are not a problem; the »FT SERIES« is designed for maximum adaptability.”

At the end of the journey, narrow tunnels and the confined approach to the cavern tested the module combination to its limits, with millimeter precision needed to safely deliver the heavy load to the required position.

The »ADDRIVE« also came into its own: As a hybrid solution, it can be used both as a towed module and as a self-propelled vehicle. On the last few kilometers to the construction site in particular, at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, the 55-meter-long combination had to overcome extreme gradients of well over 16%. “On the steep sections, the extra power provided by the »ADDRIVE« was worth its weight in gold,” says Uebel. “The combination of tractor assistance and towed module within the overall train makes it the ideal solution for challenging terrain.”

“We are proud of the fact that Felbermayr chose Goldhofer for this prestigious project,” says Levin Gonser, Area Sales Manager Transport Technology at Goldhofer. “Such transports demonstrate how important trust and technological partnership are. Together we can meet the most demanding requirements.”

Felbermayr also emphasizes the importance of collaboration for a successful outcome: “Without the support provided by Goldhofer and the capabilities of their products, the assignment would have been much more difficult to handle,” says Ingo Müller, Technical Project Manager at Felbermayr. “The combination of the collective experience of our two companies, innovative technology and perfect service made all the difference.” Thanks to its consistent focus on customer requirements and technological excellence, Goldhofer ensures the success of even the most challenging transports.