Felbermayr transports transformers for the energy transition in Austria. Collaboration with trailer manufacturer Goldhofer.
Special transport company Felbermayr transported two 140-ton transformers for the Kühtai2 pumped hydroelectric power plant. The challenging load measures 7.25 meters in length, 3.54 meters in width, and 4.29 meters in height. The transformers each weigh 140 tons. They were transported by rail to Zirl and there loaded onto a heavy-duty modular combination. Felbermayr opted for a 15-axle combination: at the front, a 6-axle self-propelled Goldhofer Addrive and a 2-axle FT-Series (type THP/FT-L), and at the rear, a 3+4 combination of the same Goldhofer series. Between them was a scissor lift, on which the load rested. The combination was completed by a tractor and a pusher, necessary due to
the steep gradients.
The Goldhofer FT series excels in flexibility and compatibility. “Especially with complex projects like this, the ability to flexibly configure modules and even combine them with autonomous vehicles like the Addrive is a crucial advantage,” explains Erwin Uebel, service technician at Goldhofer. “Height differences between the modules are no problem – the FT series is designed for maximum adaptability.”
Goldhofer Addrive
The Addrive can be used as a towed vehicle or as an autonomous vehicle. Especially in the last kilometers to the construction site, located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, the approximately 55-meter-long combination had to overcome gradients of over 16%. “On the steep sections, the extra power of the Addrive was essential,” continued Uebel.
Energy Transition
The TIWAG Kühtai 2 mega-project is a key component of Austria’s energy transition. With a capacity of approximately 190 MW and a new reservoir at an altitude of over 2,100 meters, the pumped hydroelectric power plant enables flexible grid stabilization and CO₂ savings of over 120,000 tons per year. Transporting the transformers to the high mountains required a solution that offered both maximum flexibility and enormous pulling power.
Felbermayr emphasizes the successful collaboration: “Without Goldhofer’s support and the performance of their products, this transport would have been considerably more difficult to achieve,” says Ingo Müller, Technical Project Manager at Felbermayr. “The combination of both companies’ extensive experience, innovative technology, and excellent service made all the difference.”
https://goldhofer.com
