A mobile protection curtain for a challenging project in Hitzkirch, Switzerland.
Demolishing a 36.5-metre-high grain silo is a complex operation under normal circumstances. At the former Landi Oberseetal site in Hitzkirch, Switzerland, the challenge was even greater: the silo stood directly beside an active railway line.
Because trains continued to run during the day, demolition was restricted to nine night-time work windows of only three hours each. A traditional protective scaffold was not an option, as it would have exceeded the required clearance from the railway and limited the demolition process.
Together with Schoellkopf AG, Lötscher Tiefbau AG developed an unconventional solution using MammothMat. The geoplastic mats, normally used for temporary access roads and working platforms, were repurposed as a vertical, mobile protection curtain.
Two mat strips were attached to a custom-made support beam and lifted into position between the silo and the railway using a 95-tonne crane. Once in place, the curtain provided a temporary protective barrier while a CAT 365 Longfront excavator dismantled the silo from top to bottom.
The system could be positioned, adjusted and removed as required. This was particularly valuable when strong winds temporarily interrupted the work.
The silo was successfully demolished over nine night shifts, without the need for a full-height protective scaffold. MammothMat enabled a safe, phased and flexible demolition process in a confined location with strict railway safety requirements.
The project demonstrates how an existing product can be adapted to solve a highly specific construction challenge, especially when conventional methods are not practical.
Are you planning demolition or construction work directly next to an active railway, road or other sensitive infrastructure? A mobile protection curtain could be an interesting alternative when conventional scaffolding or fixed protection is difficult to install.
This approach may be particularly relevant for projects where:
If your project presents similar constraints, the MammothMat system can be adapted to the specific site and demolition method. Contact us and/or download our e-book Smart demoltion with technical demolition curtains.