Whether for photographs or video recordings – „Lost Places“ awaken the desire to explore. They fascinate with their mysterious aura and the stories that seem to relate their perishability. A former military site in the German Eifel region near the city of Prüm has a similar effect.
Following a civil rededication of the site, the „Prüm Air Station wind farm“ is being built here with two Nordex N149 wind turbines. According to the project operators, the expected electricity production will later supply around 13,500 households with renewable energy. The freight forwarder Gutmann was commissioned with the transport of individual turbine elements. Steel segments of 21m and 29.5m in length were to be transported to the West Eifel by two new Faymonville 4+7-axle trailer combinations with FlexMAX adapters.
„That beats everything“
The driver duo Rolf and Jörg, along with their companions have already been on the road for several days when it comes to the final stage on Sunday evening. The journey started in Leipzig earlier in the week, and now the group is waiting at the Meckenheimer Platte rest area for the starting signal. At dusk, early summer air and thunderclouds form a changeable scenario. There are still 50km to go to the unloading site. It is a baptism of fire for the two self-steering trailer combinations. The Gutmann experts are satisfied with the initial findings. Driver Jörg put it more precisely: „In terms of steering geometry, the vehicle really beats everything.“
Great handling
Suddenly things get lively in the parking area. Everyone takes up their positions and the elongated entourage heads for the motorway. The longer of the two combinations has a total combination length of around 58m and a total combination weight of 130 tonnes. On the A1 motorway, the convoy is now the dominant force. For the moment, nobody can overtake it. The adapter‘s vertical stroke of 1,800mm is used for the exit onto the B51. „In addition, the manoeuvrability is generally impressive and it‘s a real trump card when driving. The combination follows as if it‘s being pulled on a string,“ says Gutmann driver Jörg, naming another positive effect. „not only that, hydraulic and mechanical safety systems on the FlexMAX give you a reassuring feeling.“
Harmony between driver and companion
In the meantime, rain has set in – typical Eifel weather. Brightly lit, the transport moves through the densely wooded area. One last challenge awaits 2km before the finishing line. A 90-degree bend forces the drivers to perform a short backward manoeuvre. Here, too, the harmony between driver and companion is obvious. The team know each other and have everything under control. Driving into the site is easy with the power steering system and the wind farm is then quickly reached.
After a short break, it is time to unload directly at the installation site. „First we lower the tower segments one after the other and detach the flange from the adapters. We don‘t need a crane for that, it works autonomously. Then we couple the vehicle back together and off we go to the next job“, says the Gutmann team about the final step.That is done quite quickly, the standard remote controls helping with the execution. The project is thus completed. The Gutmann entourage drives back to the road via a forest path and leaves the site to the silence of nature again for a moment.
Date of publication: 11/2024