Three days are needed for the distance to move a 195 tons feedwater tank on 26 CombiMAX axle lines.
The sight of the imposing combination acts as a visitor magnet. Residents and interested people marvel at the vehicle and take photos. At this time, there is still tension among the 30 people working around the transport. Jonas Ahola and his crew from AT Special Transport have a lot of experience with such projects. But he outlines the magnitude of this job. “It is the biggest single transport yet for us.”
Uruguay as final destination of the tank
Weeks of detailed preparation lay behind him and his crew. “Many power and phone lines needed to be cleared. And it was a huge job to arrange train stoppage for three days and making the powerlines loose so they could be lifted enough.” A good teamwork between different partners is the key to succeed with such tasks.
The trip of the tank starts in Jüri, where the manufacturer Estanc is located. It’s the largest container going out in Estanc's history. The feedwater tank weighing almost 200 tons will be shipped to Uruguay. The construction of one of the world's largest pulp mills is underway there. The purpose of the tank is to remove corrosive oxygen and carbon dioxide from the water. This allows the plant's steam-powered systems to last longer.
Simulations and road restrictions
The first stage through Estonia is tricky and Jonas Ahola confirms that different transport steps had been simulated in advance. “The length of the convoy with pulling and pushing truck make the tight turns in roundabouts and other challenging crossings really demanding. We ensure by simulations that we can master these passages.”
Besides the height and the length, also the weight causes headaches. With the 26-axle modular CombiMAX vehicle by Faymonville, Jonas Ahola and the AT-team rely on proven high-tech material. “The route went through small roads because many of the bridges don’t take this weight. This means that also the small roads needed to be checked for baring capacity. With the modular vehicle CombiMAX and its pendle-axles, we offer 12 tons of payloads per axle line to protect the ground correctly.” A winning tool as matching puzzle piece. “The combination was ideal for this project thanks to the easy setup and the low weight of the axle lines. The CombiMAX helps us to remain compact and managing the transport with less axle lines.”
Modular CombiMAX for biggest projects
When arriving safely in Paldiski, it is a confirmation for Ahola to be one of the upcoming players for such projects all over Europe including shipping, handling, transport and installations. Faymonville is their trustful partner in this development. “Our projects seem to get bigger as we get more specialized equipment”, says Jonas Ahola who trusts in a powerful fleet of low loaders, lowbeds, flatbeds and modular trailer solutions by Faymonville.