17.08.2020

45ft boom 1,000m down

The ETS Schacht Konrad Consortium has taken delivery of a 45ft Genie Z-45 XC articulated boom lift for work converting a disused iron ore mine in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, Germany for nuclear waste.

The platform, supplied by Genie dealer Wienold Lifte, is working 1,000 metres below ground at constant temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. The machine is being used for work to stabilise existing tunnels and newly bored storage chambers in Germany’s first deep geological repository for low and medium level radioactive waste.

The mine is only accessible by elevator so Wienold dismantled the boom lift at the top and reassembled at the bottom. The company also equipped the machine with fire resistant hoses. The unit is surprisingly diesel powered due to heat issues and the lack of recharging points, it is also four wheel drive - essential for the gradients and ground conditions within the mine.
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The Z-45XC was dismantled to travel down in the mine elevator

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Reassembled machine is checked over

The platform’s maximum platform capacity of 454kg - 300 kg unrestricted - is also proving helpful for the stabilising work which involves two workers, each equipped with concrete sprayers to work simultaneously from the platform. Unlike a scissor lift, the boom can cover a wide area without needing to reposition.
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The machine at work in a temperature of 40°C

Wienold workshop manager Martin Sztykiel said: “The temperature down there is at a constant 40°C, which makes every movement a real effort. The Genie Z-45 XC boom will be staying in the pit for its lifetime. Given the heat, plus the challenges of the work itself, it takes particularly robust and high quality equipment to perform reliably in such tough conditions.”

Thomas Opretzka, mobile lifting equipment manager at ETS Schacht Konrad added: "The Genie Z-45 XC boom was available from stock. We are glad to say that this meant that Wienold Lifte was able to cater to our demand at short notice.”