Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: Tower Cranes on Rails Support Production of Concrete Elements
State-of-the-art Liebherr crane technology is being used in the construction of the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Northern Europe. The Femern Link Contractors (FLC) construction consortium is currently using more than 20 Liebherr tower cranes on the Danish side of the construction site in Rødbyhavn, many of which are mounted on rails – a key factor in the efficiency and flexibility of the tunnel construction schedule.
With a length of around 18 km, the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel will be the longest immersed tunnel in the world, crossing the Baltic Sea between the Danish island of Lolland and the German island of Fehmarn. The construction project is a central element in the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor of the European core transport network. In addition to an electrified double-track railway line, the project also includes four motorway lanes, which will significantly reduce travel time between Hamburg and Copenhagen in the future.
Harsh Weather Conditions Require Robust Slewing Platforms
The requirements at the Danish mega construction site are extraordinary: heavy loads, tight schedules, maritime weather conditions, and a construction period spanning several years. This is precisely where cranes such as the 380 EC-B 16 or the 630 EC-H 40 can demonstrate their strengths. The robust, specially developed slewing platforms in particular stand out, enabling reliable operation even in demanding weather conditions.
Many of the Liebherr cranes used are mounted on rails. This design allows them to be easily moved along the huge production and assembly areas without time-consuming conversion. Among other things, the cranes support the production and transport of the 79 standard tunnel elements. Each of these prefabricated concrete elements is 217 m long, weighs around 73 000 t, and is moved over a distance of approximately 1.5 km. The cranes are designed so that they can remain on site for the entire construction period.
Liebherr Tower Cranes
According to the manufacturer, the special advantages of Liebherr cranes are their durability, ease of maintenance, and high performance reserves. Due to these characteristics, they have been integrated into one of the most complex and longest construction projects in Europe. Their use on rails, combined with their powerful slewing gear, makes them the first choice for large-scale projects with extreme requirements and challenging weather conditions.
More than seven decades of experience have made Liebherr a recognised specialist for lifting technology on all types of construction sites. The range of Liebherr Tower Cranes encompasses an extensive selection of high-quality tower cranes that are used worldwide. This includes fast-erecting, top-slewing, luffing jib and special-purpose cranes as well as mobile construction cranes.
