First operation of the LB 44-510 rotary drilling rig

The first two LB 44-510 are being employed in the construction of a particle accelerator in Darmstadt, Germany. The wwo rotary drilling rigs are being employed on the construction site , which covers a total area of 200,000 m2, to stabilise the subsurface with cast-in-place drilled piles. These operations form the basis for the construction of the international particle accelerator FAIR.

In total, some 1,400 foundation piles with a length between 40 and 62 m are being set in the ground since March. To this end, the first series production unit of the LB 44-510 was delivered in August. Since mid-September, another LB 44-510 has been on the site, working in kelly drilling application.

All drilled piles are installed down to the final depth completely cased. That means that during the drilling process, the excavated material is removed under the protection of an advancing casing. The efficiency of the rotary drilling rigs working in the rotary drilling method means that the boreholes can be excavated down to the final depth completely cased, without the need for a casing oscillator.

After its planned completion in 2018, the FAIR particle accelerator will be one of the largest research facilities in the world. Some 3,000 researchers from around 50 countries will then use FAIR for their scientific projects.

LB 44-510 on the construction site of the international particle accelerator FAIR in Darmstadt, Germany.