Felbermayr recently delivered the second of two 140-ton transformers for the Kühtai 2 pumped storage hydropower plant in Tyrol, Austria. The challenge involved a load measuring 7.25 m in length, 3.54 m in width and 4.29 m in height, a true logistical feat requiring maximum precision, careful planning, and absolute reliability.
The Felbermayr Group is a specialist in the fields of construction, transport and lifting technology. With a workforce of more than 3,300 employees at 81 locations across 17 countries, the family-run company stands for reliability and the highest safety standards.
The Kühtai 2 pumped storage hydropower plant developed by TIWAG is a key element of Austria’s energy transition strategy. With a generating capacity of around 190 MW and a new reservoir located at an altitude of more than 2,100 meters above sea level, the plant is expected to provide flexible grid stabilisation and generate CO₂ savings of more than 120,000 tons per year. Transporting the transformers to the construction site in high alpine terrain therefore required a solution combining exceptional flexibility with enormous tractive power.
The 140-ton transformer was transported by rail to Zirl, where it was transferred onto a heavy-duty module combination. Felbermayr’s specialists selected a 15-axle configuration, consisting of a 6-axle self-propelled ADDRIVE and a 2-axle FT SERIES module (THP/FT-L) in the front, supported by a 3+4 axle module combination from the same series at the rear. In between, a scissor lift bridge carried the transformer on a turntable. A tractor unit supported by a pusher truck was used to manage the steep inclines along the mountain route.
A major success factor was the Goldhofer FT SERIES, known for its remarkable flexibility and universal combination options. “With projects of this complexity, the ability to configure modules with maximum flexibility and even combine them with self-propelled transporters such as the ADDRIVE is a decisive advantage,” explains Erwin Uebel, the Goldhofer service engineer who accompanied the transport. “Differences in height between the modules are not an issue; the FT SERIES is built for maximum adaptability.”
The final section of the journey presented another set of challenges. Narrow tunnels and the restricted approach to the cavern pushed the module configuration to its absolute limits, requiring millimetre-precise manoeuvring to position the heavy load safely and accurately.
The ADDRIVE also proved its value throughout the operation. As a hybrid solution, it can function both as a towed module and as a self-propelled vehicle. Especially on the final kilometres to the construction site, at an altitude exceeding 2,000 meters, the 55-metre-long transport combination had to overcome extreme gradients of well over 16%. “On these steep sections, the additional power delivered by the ADDRIVE was worth its weight in gold,” says Uebel. “The ability to combine tractor assistance with a towed module within one transport train makes it the ideal solution for demanding terrain.”
“We are proud that Felbermayr chose Goldhofer for this prestigious project,” says Levin Gonser, Area Sales Manager Transport Technology at Goldhofer. “These transports show how essential trust and technological partnership are. Together, we can meet even the most demanding requirements.”
Felbermayr also highlights the importance of close cooperation for a successful outcome. “Without the support of Goldhofer and the performance of their products, this assignment would have been much more difficult,” says Ingo Müller, Technical Project Manager at Felbermayr. “The combined experience of our two companies, innovative technology and excellent service made all the difference.”
