In a major infrastructure feat, Hüffermann Krandienst GmbH, EISELE GmbH, and Thömen Spedition GmbH & Co. KG have successfully installed nine new steel railway bridges at Ferdinandstor in Hamburg. Each weighing around 120 tons, the bridges were positioned with millimeter precision in the heart of the city within just three days—two days ahead of schedule.
The project relied on Cometto technology, combining Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) with hydraulic Jack-Up systems. “Our task was to install nine railway bridges in extremely confined space,” explained Rocco Schimmel, Head of Crane Service, Heavy Installation & Project Engineering at EISELE. “We first stored the bridges at roundabouts on the outer Alster and then moved them into position with pinpoint accuracy.”
The demanding operation used two parallel-coupled SPMT units—a 6-axle and a 4-axle with Power Pack Unit—each paired with 2×2 Jack-Up systems of type JS 250. This setup enabled installation atom angles up to 43 degrees, accounting for gradients of 8% in the driving direction and 3% sideways. Bridges were positioned at 25- or 45-degree angles with very narrow tolerances, supported by a 3-point bearing system. A third SPMT handled transfers from interim storage, while seven mobile cranes assisted on site.
“The bridges had to be leveled to the centimeter—and it worked perfectly. We can lift them to the millimeter, fantastic!” said Schimmel. He praised Cometto technology for flawless performance: “We’ve used their axles many times, and technically, everything runs smoothly.”
Originally planned for five days, the installation was completed in only three thanks to the efficiency of the teams and reliability of the equipment. “Achieving such precision, speed, and safety is something all participants can be truly proud of,” Schimmel concluded.
