Goldhofer AG, headquartered in Memmingen, Germany, and their US partner accomplish a truly "herculean task" – 144 axle lines in action
If it even takes the breath away from the experienced heavy-duty-transport professional, "Berard Transportation" (Louisiana), the market leader in the US – then the logistical task to be accomplished really has to be "herculean". And it is breath taking if two steel titans, 4000 and 3200 tonnes respectively, are transported without a millimetre to spare and "just in time". The US enterprise carried off this sleight of hand thanks to German state-of-the-art technology: The transport specialist used Goldhofer's know-how to transport two immense oil platform superstructures.
These were built for a development project in Alaska and now had to taken there by ship. German high-end technology was needed for this difficult task and specifically in the form a number of self-driven heavy-duty transport modules of the type PST/SL-E and PST/ES-E made by Goldhofer. Beard put its trust in no fewer than 144 axle lines with an unbelievable 1152 wheels.
"Berard Transportation“, as the market leader in industrial heavy-duty transport, really knows its way around heavy weight transport – but a project like the transport of the modules in Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico is still something special for the company's president, Johnny Berard: "To be successful here, a lot of individual parts have to fit together. That is a remarkable achievement for everyone involved."
“The platforms, 4000 and 3200 tonnes respectively, will be used in Alaska and are the heart of the "Nikaitchuq Development Project", one of the most ambitious development projects in North America” commented Braedon Berard, Operations Manager and leader oft the project. Comprising two components, the titans had to be moved through the production lines. This required not only a steady hand from the operator but also sophisticated and field proven technology. A large number of obstacles had to be overcome, including a 90 degree hairpin turn, to be able to move the platform on to the ship with millimetre precision and then position it on a good 350 metre long deck.
In the end, everything went smoothly and the American transport professionals, "Berard Transportation", once again showed the smooth interplay between man and well-engineered technology. Everything was done safely and on time and kept within the prescribed financial framework – the best business card for the US enterprise to generate further contracts for the development project in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. And the best foundation for further successful co-operation with the partners of the Goldhofer AG headquartered in Memmingen, Germany.
Information: Die Goldhofer AG (650 employees) is worldwide one of the leading suppliers of trailers, semi-trailers, heavy-duty transport systems and aircraft tractors. To date, the heavy load specialist has delivered more than 33,000 heavy and heavy-load vehicles in more than 70 nations. Many thousands of customers on every continent trust in Goldhofer's quality and service.
