To sunny California

When the Rolf Riedl GmbH got charged with the transport of a 200 tons transformer from Rotterdam to Orinda in California, we didn’t expect that our transport concept wouldn’t work as we assumed. At first everything seemed to be as planned, but then, just before the Trafo got loaded on the coaster for the ocean transport, the end-customer decided to require a girder bridge instead of a modular vehicle for the on-carriage. He wanted to prevent the people’s disturbance during the transportation. Even the Environment led him to this decision, because tree-cutting could be avoided. Due to this environmental kindness from the end-client, our project management had to search for a suitable truck and to apply the new permit, which was the most important thing. During the ocean transport to Houston and the rail transport from Houston we were working high pressure on a solution for this challenge. In Houston the transformer started his long rail journey straight through the USA. It was planned to transport the Transformer via a suitable transhipment place in California to the substation within three weeks. This would have been realistic, if there weren’t the weather. Heavy rain and torrents made the railway impassable. We had no permission for other routes and there was even another problem, which hobbled our team to find an alternative track: an overturned freight train. A time delay couldn‘t be avoided anymore. As the route was traversable, we decided to hire an expeditor for the further transportation, to minimize the delay as good as possible. When we arrived at the transhipment place, our partners immediately started to reload the transformers onto the girder bridge. Just one hour before we planned to start with the carriage to the substation, the permit was approved and we were able to transport the transformer to the site. The foundation setting was done by the use of a jack and slide system. Only the intensive cooperation with our American partner, the short communication channels and flexibility from all parties involved, made a smooth on carriage to the substation possible. This project demonstrated again, that besides a short among of time also economical and geographical elements have a big influence to logistic projects. The key to success is a highly educated and motivated team, which can solve unpredictable situations like this.