Ghelma working at Piz Gloria in Switzerland
The entire plant was transported to an altitude of 2677 meters in Birg, where it now produces concrete for construction of the new lift station. When concrete is needed at a higher altitude of 2970 meters on Piz Gloria, it is transported by cable car in large concrete buckets. This construction project demonstrates how mobile concrete batching plants can effectively address construction challenges in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
If Piz Gloria sounds or looks familiar to you some parts of James Bond On Her Majestys Secret Service was filmed here.
Facts of the project
From 4 lift sections to 3 lift sections
The existing lift system means you will have to go with 4 lifts to get from the valley to the top of the mountain. In the future it will only be 3 lifts.
Reduction in travel time from 32 minutes to 24 minutes
The new lifts will be faster partly because of reduction in numbers of lift and partly because the new lifts are bigger and faster.
Capacity increased
The new lifts will have an increased capacity from 350 people per hour to 800 people per hour.
General increase in capacity in the restaurant area
On the top of Piz Gloria there is a rotating resaturant. This restaurant is raised by 12 cm and the capacity of the restaurant will be increased. During the building proces the restaurant will remain open and serve visitors and James Bond fans visiting the area.
Construction period: 2022 to 2026
The facilities will remain in permanent operation in summer and winter, while construction is under way.
Overcoming altitude, frost and logistics
Getting fresh concrete from factories to the construction site was not an option, but it was not easy to get a mobile batching plant to the top either. While the plant was built to be flown by helicopter in three parts, the weather conditions would only allow for the transport by cable car, which had a limited weight capacity. However, the team succeeded, and the plant arrived safely at the top, to start working.
Because of the cold weather conditions, the plant had to be protected to enhance the operating hours and the productivity. The plant was fitted with a winter package at the factory and aggregates were kept warm on site, which allowed for production during a long time with subzero temperatures.
During the entire project, our Swiss partner, Probst Betontechnik and their customer Ghelma, worked together closely to make sure that the output and performance corresponded with expectations and that there would not be unpleasant surprises.
