BY D I E T E R S A L Z M A N N
HESSISCH LICHTENAU. Transporting oversized goods has to
date been at least as difficult as the construction of these
products. Wide roads become narrow and large curves become tight.
The direct route is virtually never possible, therefore "from
behind, through the chest into the eye". Long detours are the rule.
"One of our greatest problems is bridges", says Joachim Kraus,
authorised signatory and head of sales at Richter Maschinenbau in
Hessisch Lichtenau. Especially on the A 44 motorway to the Ruhr
District, many bridges are no longer capable of carrying the
excessive loads of heavy goods transports. "We regularly have to
travel via Frankfurt", says Kraus. Construction sites can also
wreck transport plans. Kraus: "We are currently building large
parts for a Belgian customer. If they are not on the road by a
specific date they will have to wait 13 weeks due to a construction
site."
The situation was initially absolutely impossible last year
regarding the transport of a 240 tonne pipeline pipe press to
Russia. Because, says the company's boss Axel Richter, "there was
no way on which this heavy load could be continuously carried. We
were afraid we were going to have to scrap the part". Then the
carrier had the idea of transporting the colossus on the River
Weser.
The port of Hannoversch Münden, the Weser handling point was
available. Initially set up temporarily, it is now being
repaired for regular operation at the company's cost. With this the
company is writing shipping history. Because goods transport on the
upper reaches of the River Weser was discontinued in the 1980s.
Source: Werra Rundschau
