The first large-scale Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) plant serving the German cement industry has been completed at Heidelberg Materials’ Lengfurt site, representing a major step in efforts to decarbonise one of the country’s most emissions-intensive sectors.
Mammoet, a global specialist in heavy lifting and transport, supported the project by delivering lifting and installation solutions for several large components of the new facility. The work was carried out on behalf of Linde Engineering, which oversaw the construction of the plant.
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The project posed a number of logistical and engineering challenges, including a confined construction site and multiple contractors operating simultaneously. To manage these complexities, Mammoet conducted a feasibility study a year ahead of execution and used its proprietary Move3D platform to visualise the site layout and installation sequences. This enabled more accurate planning, minimised interference risks, and improved coordination across all parties involved.
A 750-tonne crawler crane was chosen for its flexibility in lifting heavy and oversized components within a restricted footprint. The crane was used to install the plant’s key structures, including a 100-tonne absorber column, a 67-tonne stripper column, four tanks each weighing 72 tonnes, and a 178-tonne heat exchanger. The most complex lift involved rotating the 55-metre absorber column nearly 180 degrees before carefully guiding it into position behind an existing building.
Mammoet’s early engagement allowed for several optimisations in the plant layout and construction phasing, resulting in more streamlined logistics, reduced installation time, and enhanced safety on site.
The Lengfurt CCU plant is viewed as a milestone in deploying carbon capture technology within heavy industry and demonstrates how early collaboration, digital planning tools, and engineering expertise can facilitate the development of low-carbon infrastructure.
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