The European Nuclear Research Centre CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) and its access roads had been best known, investigated and proved by the Hagen-based heavy transport and project specialists of Rolf Riedl GmbH for several large-sized heavy transports during recent years. This time Riedl’s project team had been challenged in a very specific manner carrying two 120 tons front and rear calottes of a nuclear experimental plant from central Western Germany to the CERN complex

After planning and selection of road routes, selection of transport equipment and negotiations with regional traffic authorities in Germany and France carried out with customary thoroughness, the Riedl team took over the two calotte blocks finally prepared for shipment on the 14th January 2004 in the supplier’s works at Netphen. For sake of security and protection of the sensitive surfaces, the calottes of 4.28 m length measuring 2.95 m in diameter had to be stuffed vertically each on one 12-axle trailer. Meticulous care was given by the Hagen transport specialists to the lashing of the blocks as the surfaces of the calottes could not stick the fastening of holding clamps or clips while any touch with lashing chains had to be avoided.


After consultations with the shipper’s experts the Riedl team designed transport shelves, tension rods, eyes and brake shoes specially adapted to the dimensions of the calottes. In addition the calottes had to completely covered by tarpaulins to protect their surfaces against winterly atmospheric effects.

Under police escorts the convoy started at 11 p.m. on the agreed day of shipment comprising the two trailers with their heavy loads, two 650 h.p. motor trucks, two additional pushing tractors and two pilot and security cars. Starting at Netphen occurred only very few hours before strong snowfall turned road surfaces in the Siegerland region into icy traffic lanes which would have strongly delayed the start of the convoy. Nevertheless, the winter catched up the convoy at the German-French border causing a delay of one day.

But on 20th January the heavy caravan continued travelling through South-Eastern France, the French und the Swiss Jura mountains smoothly and unimpeded up to the final destination in the Western part of Switzerland. Although a lot of small mountain villages with narrow lanes, railway crossings, twisty road curves of up to 90° and roads with gradients of up to 11 % had to be passed the convoy safely arrived at the nuclear research centre exactly within the time schedule after seven days, even matching one day delay and several winter factors. With this supply the CERN facilities are upgraded with a new experimental plant.

more info: Riedl Group in The Heavy Lift Directory