PILING

Bauer powers on at Swiss-Austrian border

Bauer's new CrowdPlus system is being put to use constructing foundations for a hydropower station

 Bauer’s new CrowdPlus system is being utilised by Keller Grundbau GmbH Austria during work at a new hydropower station

Bauer’s new CrowdPlus system is being utilised by Keller Grundbau GmbH Austria during work at a new hydropower station

Upon completion of the construction works, the mega power station will produce over 400GWh annually from domestic hydropower, making the future power station an important milestone in reaching the targets of European and regional energy strategies. The GKI power station substantially supports sustainable energy production.

Different water levels and flow speeds of the Inn River, which forms the border between Switzerland and Austria at this point, are part of the special challenges of this site. However, Keller Grundbau GmbH Austria is constructing a pile wall and the foundation piles for the weir system of this ambitious project using Bauer equipment.

Reinforced piles with a diameter of 1,200mm and depths of between 26 and 40m are being drilled with a Bauer BG 36 H and a BG 36 V using the Kelly method. Rock socketing of the piles is done at 3m and deeper.

Both drilling rigs are fitted with Bauer's new CrowdPlus system. This assistant facilitates a significant increase in the retraction forces by supporting the feed drive system with the main winch. This coupling is implemented and monitored by the system through a joystick in the operator's cab. Using the CrowdPlus system offers major advantages in the retraction of casings and handling of heavy drilling equipment.

A BV 1500 casing oscillator and a torque converter are ready for use onsite to be able to respond rapidly to changes in the ground conditions.