As the world’s tallest wind turbine takes shape in Schipkau (Brandenburg), extraordinary solutions are required. For work on the GICON high-altitude wind tower, Wörle GmbH is relying on RUTHMANN’s largest truck-mounted aerial work platforms. In addition to its own RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 1000 HF and T 700 HF units, Wörle has leased three additional large-scale machines. This means that a total of five RUTHMANN STEIGER® units with working heights ranging from 70 to 100 meters are currently in operation simultaneously on the construction site.
Once completed, the GICON high-altitude wind tower will reach a total height of up to 365 meters and is considered a groundbreaking project for wind energy. With a hub height of 300 meters, the turbine harnesses stronger high-altitude winds and is expected to generate more than twice as much energy as conventional wind turbines. Upon completion, it will be the tallest wind turbine in the world and the second-tallest structure in Germany.
Wörle Consolidates Five Large Machines on a Construction Site
To carry out the demanding work on the steel truss tower, Wörle GmbH relies on its own heavy-duty equipment—the RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 1000 HF and a T 700 HF. In addition, the company has rented three more RUTHMANN heavy-duty machines from its partner network: two RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 900 HF units — provided by Oswalds Verhuur from the Netherlands and Stützle Späth from Ulm—and another T 700 HF from Oswalds Verhuur.
This exceptional fleet size is also made possible by Wörle GmbH’s membership in the PartnerLIFT consortium. Through this strong network of specialized aerial work platform rental companies, the additional large RUTHMANN units were made available at short notice and precisely tailored to the needs of this demanding project.
It is no coincidence that Wörle relies exclusively on RUTHMANN heavy equipment for this extraordinary project. The consistent operating philosophy, the machines’ high performance, and the close collaboration within the partner network enable efficient and flexible operation even under the most demanding conditions.
“Once Germany’s largest crawler crane has lifted the next section of the mast, we’ll be here with the largest truck-mounted aerial work platforms,” explains Felix Wörle, managing director of Wörle GmbH. “It’s an honor for us to be part of this world record in the energy transition and, above all, in wind technology. This project simply requires large machines and large truck-mounted aerial work platforms—and we are clearly the right partner for the job.”
One T 1000 HF replaces another large machine
The RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 1000 HF’s performance is particularly impressive when maneuvering around the tower.
“By using the RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 1000 HF, we’re able to eliminate the need for an entire large piece of equipment here. We need to be able to reach all four corners of the mast, which is already 88 meters high. Two RUTHMANN STEIGER® T 900 HF units are positioned at two corners each, while I can cover the other two corners on my own with the T 1000 HF.”
With its combination of a 100-meter working height and an exceptional lateral reach of up to 39 m, the T 1000 HF can access areas that would otherwise require an additional large-capacity work platform. This reduces the space required on the construction site, simplifies logistics, and at the same time increases work efficiency.
A Partnership to Tackle the Biggest Challenges
Wörle GmbH has been a loyal RUTHMANN customer for many years and relies exclusively on aerial work platforms from the Gescher-based manufacturer for its fleet. With the acquisition of the STEIGER® T 1000 HF, the company recently made the move into RUTHMANN’s heavy-duty equipment class. The fact that the platform is already in use today on one of Europe’s most spectacular wind energy projects underscores Wörle’s high standard of being able to offer its customers the right solution even for extraordinary challenges.
At the same time, the project highlights the added value provided by the strong network centered around PartnerLIFT and RUTHMANN. When individual machines are not sufficient, long-standing partners can quickly provide additional large-scale equipment with identical technology and operating systems. This creates a fleet capable of reliably handling even extraordinary challenges, such as the construction of the world’s tallest wind turbine.
The project in Schipkau impressively demonstrates what is possible through a close partnership and a strong network. Together with the RUTHMANN STEIGER® units leased from Oswalds Verhuur and Stützle Späth, Wörle is bringing a total of five large machines to the construction site. The result is a fleet capable of meeting the extraordinary demands of constructing the world’s tallest wind turbine—and impressively demonstrating the capabilities of modern RUTHMANN aerial access technology.
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