Rhenus Port Logistics is investing in a new transshipment terminal at the Rhine port of Basel-Kleinhünigen, Switzerland. Emil Egger AG is handling the logistics for the prefabricated concrete elements, using four Liebherr cranes to maximize efficiency during construction.
The new Terminal 4 spans 7,300 square meters and consists of five hall sections. Equipped with modern technology, the trimodal terminal will feature five bridge cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 32 tonnes, excavators, forklifts, a rail intake hopper for bulk goods, and advanced scales for road, rail, and water transport.
To manage the prefabricated concrete supports, Emil Egger AG deployed two mobile cranes—an LTM 1350-6.1 and an LTM 1650-8.1—and two crawler cranes—an LR 1250 and an LR 11000. The LR 1250 handled the formwork and transport of 64-tonne diagonal supports, loading them onto low-loaders for internal site transport. The LR 11000, Switzerland’s largest crawler crane, installed crane track supports and external bone girders, moving 211-tonne supports over a 59-metre radius and 265-tonne supports over 45 metres with a 72-metre boom and V-frame configuration.
Michael Egger from Emil Egger highlighted the importance of the V-frame, which has become indispensable for their operations. The VarioTray was also crucial, allowing the crane to lift, move, and shift supports with over 400 tonnes of suspended ballast.
The 1,000-tonne crawler crane extended wall panels made from cast-in-place concrete to the final height of the hall and installed 14 bone girders, each involving a 140-tonne lift at a 44-metre radius. The LTM 1350-6.1 lifted and tilted the diagonal supports into place, while the LTM 1650-8.1 closed the gaps in the concrete wall panels and installed the last six bone girders, lifting 90-tonne beams at a 14-metre radius.
The new terminal will significantly enhance cargo handling and transportation capabilities in the region, demonstrating Rhenus Port Logistics’ commitment to advancing port infrastructure.
