Helpers, rescuers and bridge builders

With its expertise, state-of-the-art technology and extensive experience, the THW is ready to provide rapid and effective assistance in crisis situations worldwide on behalf of the German government. The THW saves lives, minimises damage and restores infrastructure. Reliable vehicles and technical equipment are indispensable for fulfilling its diverse range of assignments.

The THW has ordered twelve LTC 1050-3.1 mobile cranes from Liebherr, mainly for the construction of temporary bridges. They will be delivered to its specialist bridge construction groups throughout Germany in the course of this year. THW President Sabine Lackner explains: “The cranes are an indispensable tool for the specialist groups. They enable the THW emergency services to lift the heavy bridge elements and assemble them into structures that can reach spans of over 80 metres. Over three dozen temporary bridges that the THW has built in the past three years alone show how important these vehicles are.”

Andreas Schneider is responsible for vehicle procurement at the THW: “After 25 years of using our mobile cranes, it was necessary to replace them with new machines. Liebherr was awarded the contract for the LTC 1050-3.1 in the tender. We wanted a compact, manoeuvrable mobile crane with high performance. The Liebherr 50-tonner meets all our requirements. The new cranes are also planned for a service life of 25 years.” The LTC 1050-3.1 is the heaviest and most expensive emergency response vehicle that the THW has procured in large numbers to date.

Bridge construction is among the THWʼs core competencies. The construction of temporary bridges is of crucial importance, especially after natural disasters, as they are an important part of the infrastructure. The THW has demonstrated its skills in temporary bridge construction at numerous locations both nationally and internationally. The THWʼs emergency response teams erected 30 temporary bridges in the Ahr valley following the “Bernd” floods in summer 2021. Last summer, they installed several bridges in Slovenia. In addition to bridge construction, the THW uses its mobile cranes for general handling and lifting work, and also when responding to road accidents involving heavy vehicles.

Following intensive training at the Liebherr manufacturing plant in Ehingen, some of the THWʼs specialist groups have already gained some initial experience with the new cranes. The municipality of Halbergmoos in Upper Bavaria, for example, asked the THW to build a temporary bridge because the existing bridge there is dilapidated and needs to be replaced. “We were happy to fulfil this request, as we are always on the lookout for training opportunities,” explains Florian Wigger, Group Leader Bridge Construction THW Freising. “In this case, we found a realistic training scenario for the two new LTC 1050-3.1s that are available in Bavaria – in the Fürth and Freising specialist units.”

In July 2021, the flood of the century left a trail of devastation in the Ahr valley. Dozens of bridges were destroyed and temporary bridges had to be built to support the restoration of the local infrastructure. Some of these structures are no longer needed and are therefore being dismantled. Once again, a new LTC 1050-3.1 from the THW was used during the dismantling of the bridge. It belongs to the Witten branch and travelled directly from the Liebherr plant to the site in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.

This article was published in the UpLoad magazine 02 | 2024.