CEN DEC
20
MEDIA
TOUR
ARMED WITH INFORMATION
from a variety of corporate presentations, the press team
was able to gain a greater understanding of Liebherr’s component operations and to tour
two high-profile construction sites: FAIR, the new particle accelerator in Darmstadt and the
Canopée Les Halles, in Paris, where we were able to witness, up close, Liebherr tower cranes
in operation.
Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR)
In Darmstadt, Germany, on a 20-hectare construction site, are two Liebherr LB 44-510
rotary drilling rigs, deployed in the creation of one of the world’s largest research facilities,
the international particle accelerator Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR).
The new facility is being built in the immediate vicinity of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für
Schwerionenforschung, whose existing accelerator will serve as an injector for FAIR.
On site, 1400 reinforced, cast-in-place drilled piles, each with a diameter of 1.20m, measuring
between 40 and 65m, are being placed into the ground in an effort to stabilise the sub-
surface and provide a solid basis for the buildings, which will comprise 35 000 tons of steel
and 600 000m³ of concrete.
About FAIR:
FAIR GmbH was founded in 2010, to build
and operate the particle accelerator. FAIR is
funded by international shareholders and will
cost some €1.6-billion. The Federal Republic
of Germany, together with the state of Hesse,
is assuming around three quarters of the
costs with the remaining shareholders one
quarter. Among the FAIR shareholders are
Finland, France, India, Poland, Rumania, Russia,
Slovenia and Sweden. Great Britain is an
associated member of FAIR GmbH.
The decision by Germany to realise FAIR
goes back to a recommendation by the
German Council of Science and Humanities.
This recommendation was evaluated at
international level and reinforced with the
inclusion of FAIR in Europe’s research timetable
for large-scale devices, the Roadmap of
the European Strategy Forum on Research
Infrastructures (ESFRI), and the positioning as a
highest-priority project by the Nuclear Physics
European Collaboration Committee (NuPECC).
With their investment in the high technology
at FAIR, the partners intend to strengthen their
role in global science. At the same time such
a massive project can only be realised within
international co-operation.
Left:
With a torque of 510kNm, and enormous
pull force, the LB 44-510 rotary drilling rig is the
largest and most powerful in Liebherr’s line.
Insert:
A drill bucket loosens sand and
removes drill cuttings during the rotary
drilling method .
This year’s Liebherr
Information Tour for the
International Construction
Trade Press took 40 journalists
from 13 countries to Germany
and France.
Liebherr
