12 Liebherrs construct Dutch pipeline

Dutch crane operator Boer used 12 Liebherr mobile cranes, with lifting capacities ranging from 90 to 400 tonnes, to build a 1km pipeline in Delft, the Netherlands, for its client Nederlandse Gasunie.

The pipeline had to be lifted up and placed in a certain curve so that it was drilled into the ground at a defined angle. (Photo: Liebherr)

The mobile cranes lifted the pipeline to bring it into the correct position for insertion into the ground. The pipeline is part of the district heating network, which is currently being expanded to convert heating systems to sustainable energy sources.

The cranes lifting capacities ranged from 90 to 400 tonnes. (Photo: Liebherr)

Richard Rijbroek is an environmental manager at Denys and supervised the construction of the pipeline in Delft. He said, “Preparations for the WarmtelinQ project have been underway for three years. We will use the residual heat from industry in the port of Rotterdam and from waste incineration plants to heat homes and businesses in South Holland.”

The pipeline runs from the port of Rotterdam to The Hague via Vlaardingen.

A drill head was installed on one side of the 1,000 metre long district heating pipeline.

Harm van Dijk, project manager at Boer, said, “We are drilling a bore here for the heating network. The pipeline is drilled into the ground.”

The pipeline had to be lifted up and placed in a certain curve so that it was drilled into the ground at a defined angle.

“To get the exact curvature, we form the arch with ten cranes,” added Harm van Dijk. “Each of these cranes lifts 18 tonnes. For this reason, we need machines with a capacity of 90 – 140 tonnes here. On the other side of the motorway, we used a 300 tonne and a 400 tonne crane because of the large overhang.”

The pipeline could not be completely pre-assembled on the ground, as a motorway and a bridge cross the route. It was therefore stored on containers at a sufficient height as required.

The pipeline runs from the port of Rotterdam to The Hague via Vlaardingen. (Photo: Liebherr)