Liebherr works in Gernsheim Port

A Liebherr drilling rig, type LB 24-270, is currently being deployed for the expansion of the container terminal in Gernsheim, in the German federal state of Hessen. A particular challenge is that the

A Liebherr drilling rig, type LB 24-270, is currently being deployed for the expansion of the container terminal in Gernsheim, in the German federal state of Hessen. A particular challenge is that the port operations must be ensured at all times during the course of the construction work. On behalf of the Gernsheimer Hafengesellschaft (Port of Gernsheim) a container terminal is being expanded and adapted to meet with modern requirements. The work includes the installation of a new gantry crane, the construction of storage spaces for cooling containers and the modernisation of the complete storage spaces and roadways. The port will also be equipped for the handling of dangerous goods. The total investment volume amounts to approximately 150 billion Euros.

Foundation work for the port expansion is being carried out by the German deep foundation company PST Spezialtiefbau Süd. This entails the installation of around 270 piles with lengths of up to15.5 m and diameters of about 900 mm in soil consisting mainly of sand and gravel. PST is deploying a Liebherr drilling rig, type LB 24-270, for this work and is convinced of its efficiency.

An important aspect of this task is that the port operations must be ensured at all times. Further challenges are presented through drilling work that must partially be carried out with water injection, as well as the drilling out of old port equipment such as the quay wall, steel beams or old anchors.

A distinctive advantage of the LB 24-270 is its smooth and precise control. This is especially important due to the low positional tolerance of the piles. Moreover, the drilling rig has low noise emission and, thanks to its compact dimensions, it can be quickly set-up. The LB 24-270 belongs to the series of Liebherr drilling rigs and, with a weight of approximately 76 t, is equipped with a 320 kW (429 hp) diesel engine. One technical advantage of the machine is its rope crowd system with 32 t pull force. This provides the operator with maximum performance and reliability even with the most difficult soils and under extreme operational conditions. Technically unique are the solid leader design of the LB 24-270 and the extremely robust kinematics with large cross section. Moreover, the drilling rig is fitted with the innovative BAT rotary drive from Liebherr, which provides a torque of 270 kNm. Significant advantages are the automatic torque regulation, the continuous speed optimization, and four electronically adjustable speed ranges. Further benefits of this rotary drive are its simple assembly, its extremely low maintenance requirements, and especially its high performance.