In the heart of the Hanseatic city, Hüffermann Krandienst GmbH, EISELE GmbH and Thömen Spedition GmbH & Co. KG are carrying out a spectacular infrastructure project: within just a few days, they are installing nine new steel superstructures at Ferdinandstor for the long-distance and regional railway line – each bridge weighing around 120 tons.
The specialists rely on Cometto technology: SPMT units combined with hydraulic Jack-Up systems allow precise positioning of the heavy trough bridges – even in the very limited space of the city center. “Our team’s task is to install nine railway bridges using our Jack-Up and SPMT technology,” explains Rocco Schimmel, Head of Crane Service, Heavy Installation & Project Engineering at EISELE. “Since the available space is extremely tight, we first store the bridges in the roundabouts on the outer Alster side and then move them in with pinpoint accuracy when required.”
Precise installation on Cometto SPMT
The installation takes place under particularly challenging conditions: two parallel-coupled SPMT units – a 6-axle and a 4-axle with Power Pack Unit – are each combined with 2x2 Jack-Up systems of type JS 250. This enables the bridges to be installed at an angle of up to 43 degrees, taking into account a slope of 8 percent in the driving direction and 3 percent sideways. “What is especially challenging is that we have to place the bridges on the SPMTs at a 45- or 25-degree angle, with only very narrow tolerances within the travel paths inside the bridge channel,” Schimmel explains. Support is provided by a 3-point bearing system, while a third SPMT unit transports the bridges from interim storage. The team is also assisted by a total of seven mobile cranes.
Faster than planned
“The bridges have to be leveled to the centimeter – and that works perfectly. We can lift them to the millimeter, fantastic!” says Schimmel. “We have already used Cometto axles several times, and everything always works flawlessly – no complaints at all from a technical perspective.” Originally, the companies scheduled five days for the installation. Thanks to efficient teamwork between all participants and reliable technology, they successfully completed the project in just three days. “The fact that we managed to install the bridges so quickly, precisely and safely is something Cometto, EISELE and Thömen can be truly proud of,” Schimmel concludes.
“This project,” says Joachim Kolb, Sales Manager at Cometto, “once again impressively demonstrates how an ‘X-hire renting’ works. No fewer than four German Cometto customers took part in this project with their SPMT technology and showed in perfect fashion how successful teamwork can be carried out.”
Publication: 08/2025