Austria's New Cathedral restoration helped by Geda transport platforms

Restoration works on Austria's largest church have been helped along by two transport platforms from German construction machinery firm Geda.

The neo-gothic Mariä-Empfängnis-Dom, or Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in the city of Linz, has been damaged from weather and old age. It is the largest cathedral in the country, accommodating up to 20,000 worshippers, and a symbol of the Upper Austria region.

The cathedral's façade had been a concern for some time, with its crumbling sandstone and weathered joints having a particularly detrimental effect on the 135-metre tower.

Most of the intricate work was being undertaken by the Dombauhütte Linz, the Linz masons' lodge. Specialists worked hard to preserve the impressive structure, with stonemasons hammering away at great heights and large quantities of material needed to be transported to the tower's summit.

More than 150 tonnes of material were needed for erecting the scaffolding alone with the situation compounded by frequently strong winds. The renovation presented a gigantic challenge to onsite experts.

The Bischof Rudigier Foundation, which contracted the restoration work, purchased two Geda transport platforms for the project, which proved essential in reaching the spire's heights safely.

For the first construction phase, the Geda 1500 Z/ZP platform enabled access for workers up to a height of 75 metres. Once the base scaffolding was installed, offering support to the building's spire, the Geda 500 Z/ZP was set up using a truck-mounted crane, for work at heights up to 130 metres.

According to Geda, the 500 Z/ZP can carry as much as 1,000 kg in material mode, or 500 kg plus five people in passenger mode. The Geda 1500 Z/ZP is guided on two masts and can transport seven passengers or 2,000 kg, depending on the mode.

Work to the cathedral's spire was completed in 2019 but restoration to the entire tower will not be finished until later this year.

Over the next ten years, it is estimated that restoration and maintenance works to the cathedral will cost around €13.5 million, most of which will be covered by the church with some coming from public funds and donations.

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