In the course of the numerous grid expansion projects in Germany, a large number of obstacles such as existing infrastructure, rivers or protected areas have to be crossed by laying underground cables.
In December 2024, Herrenknecht handed over an E-Power Pipe machine to Heitkamp Construction Swiss GmbH.
“The planned bores must be very precise, with some very low and some very high overburden. The longest planned route is about 1600 metres long and under difficult conditions,” says Philipp Kohlschreiber, CEO of HEITKAMP Construction Swiss GmbH.
“Herrenknecht is currently the only provider of a suitable technology with E-Power Pipe and is the undisputed market leader in the field of underground drilling technology with extensive expertise.”
With E-Power Pipe®, cable protection pipes can be installed quickly and safely underground over long distances of more than a kilometre without the need for trenches. Heitkamp Swiss will use the E-Power Pipe machine in grid expansion projects such as SuedLink.
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In Germany alone, the upcoming network expansion projects will require around 4500 so-called crossings. Crossings are the most challenging sections of underground high-voltage cable routes.
“E-Power Pipe combines the advantages of microtunnelling and HDD, thus complementing our product portfolio. In the context of current grid expansion projects, we are seeing increased interest in this innovative technology, which has already proven itself in various projects,” Maximilian Bischoff, product manager E-Power Pipe at Herrenknecht said.
“E-Power Pipe can particularly demonstrate its strengths in long sections, near-surface bore profiles and narrow pipe corridors.”
Trenchless technologies are essential for overcoming geographical obstacles such as rivers, swamps and wetlands, for protecting nature reserves and recreational areas, groundwater zones, the landscape and valuable agricultural land, or for passing under transport infrastructure, supply and disposal lines or buildings.
Herrenknecht offers a range of tunnelling, drilling and laying technologies for this purpose.
Do you have news for the international trenchless industry? Contact Journalist Joseph Misuraca at joseph.misuraca@primecreative.com.au
