A Monument on the Move: The over 100-year-old church in Kiruna, Sweden, is leaving its familiar location. Mammoet’s heavy-lifting and transport expertise and Cometto’s SPMT technology ensured that this piece of Swedish cultural history was transported safely and precisely to its new site—captivating audiences worldwide.
Using a total of 56 self-propelled modular axle lines and a specially designed steel structure, the 40-meter-wide, 672-ton church moved at walking pace along a purposefully widened road. A truly unique spectacle in Sweden’s northernmost city, it captivated thousands both on-site and via online streaming.
“This was not an ordinary heavy transport—it was a piece of cultural history that had to be preserved with the utmost precision,” explains Justin Vreugdenhil, Global Head of Marketing and Communications at Mammoet. “Our Cometto SPMTs proved their capabilities: maximum maneuverability, absolute reliability, and the ability to operate with precision even under extreme conditions.”
High-Tech for a Century-Old Building
The city of Kiruna sits atop one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits. The state-owned mining company LKAB has been extracting iron ore there for over 100 years. However, the expansion of the mine is causing ground shifts, resulting in subsidence and instability that threaten the city’s historic center. To ensure safety, large parts of Kiruna must be relocated to a new site in the east. This includes around 6,000 homes, public buildings—and the famous wooden church from 1912.
The relocation of the church, Kiruna’s iconic landmark, is particularly symbolic. It is considered one of Sweden’s most significant wooden structures. Transporting the church, which was voted Sweden’s most beautiful building in 2001, was a logistical feat. Mammoet alone invested over 1,000 hours of planning for the project. Not only did the structure itself need protection, but also valuable cultural assets inside, including a 1957 organ and an altarpiece by Prince Eugen of Sweden.
“The electronic steering with maximum precision and reliability, the ability to control each axle individually, and the hydraulic stroke of 700 millimeters are decisive advantages of Cometto’s self-propelled modular transporters,” emphasizes Alexander Fickers, CEO of the Faymonville Group. “Thanks to this combination, the church could optimally be navigated and kept fully stable despite its size.”
Cometto SPMT – Strength Meets Precision
During the two-day transport, the church traveled a total of five kilometers—step by step, safely and confidently. Even King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden personally followed part of this spectacular operation. The church reached its destination and will now fit harmoniously into its new location.
Mammoet also looks back on the project positively: “Relocating the church was a unique moment—not just for the city, but for our team as well. “Thanks to the strong and trustful collaboration between the Mammoet and Cometto teams”, we were able to move the building with utmost precision and control the transport from start to finish,” says Justin Vreugdenhil.
“We are proud that our client Mammoet was able to carry out this project so impressively using our self-propelled transporters,” adds Alexander Fickers. “The relocation of the church is a symbol of how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand—and our technology makes that possible.”
Publication: 08/2025