GIPO technology shines at the Brenner Base Tunnel

With the breakthrough in the main western tunnel, another milestone was achieved at the Brenner Base Tunnel. GIPO AG has played a key role in all project sections – specifically in construction lot H41 with three special-purpose machines developed in close collaboration with the customer.
 
Mechanized excavations
In summer 2022, GIPO was commissioned to supply a stationary primary crushing plant for both mechanized drives. The list of requirements itself was as demanding as a mountain. The plant had to be installed in a designated cavern, serve both drives, and deliver top-level availability. The result has been convincing across the board:

• Total throughput capacity of over 2,000 t/h
• Proven performance of up to 2,500 t/h
• Installation within the specified construction space
• Set-up and commissioning in 2023
• Over 10,000 operating hours without major breakdowns

 
Thanks to the expertise of GIPO AG, it can now proudly be stated after the first breakthrough that the required top-level availability was fully achieved. During construction, there were no significant plant failures or damages. The feedback from the Head of Mechanical Engineering at ARGE H41, Christian Pichler, speaks for itself:
 
“The plant runs like a Swiss watch – we wanted quality, and we got it.”
 
Cross passage excavations
In 2024, the success story continued. Following a simple request to optimize the time factor in cross passage excavations, a concept was quickly developed and implemented within three months. With this innovative concept, the cross passages could be directly mucked via a crushing plant and transferred onto the tunnel conveyor belt. This eliminated multiple handling steps and intermediate transports, significantly increasing excavation performance.
The GIPO ST B 0960 crushing plant used for this purpose was designed as follows:

• Feed apron conveyor for very low feed height
• Jaw crusher GIPO B 0960
• Discharge conveyor with subsequent swing conveyor onto the tunnel belt
• Rail-mounted design of the entire plant, allowing it to be moved by locomotive

 
After several months of operation, the new concept has proven its worth. Another crushing plant was even ordered.
In the end, three GIPO AG crushing plants are in operation in construction lot H41. For the customer, not only the tailor-made solutions with high quality and plant availability were decisive, but above all, the trustworthy collaboration.

More information: https://www.gipo.ch/en/