Heavy Equipment Transport to 3,000 Meters with Goldhofer »MPA« 3
Walter Keil Transporte und Erdbewegungen GmbH & Co. KG offers a diverse range of services, including construction pit excavation, stone wall and road construction, trenching, dam and landfill engineering, transportation and lifting, as well as sand and gravel extraction. The company operates a robust fleet of around 100 construction machines and 50 trucks, supported by a dedicated workforce of nearly 200 employees.

Recently, the Keil team undertook the challenging task of transporting a walking excavator to a construction site situated below the summit of the Kitzsteinhorn, at an altitude exceeding 3,000 meters. The route to the site was characterized by narrow, winding roads and rugged alpine terrain. “Our other semi-trailers quickly reached their limits when it came to the maneuverability required for such tight bends,” explained Andi Brennsteiner, a seasoned truck driver with over 25 years of experience at Keil.
To overcome these challenges, the team relied on a new semi-trailer equipped with Goldhofer’s innovative »MPA« axle technology. With its 60-degree steering angle, the »MPA« axle proved invaluable for navigating the sharp bends and steep inclines of the mountainous route. Brennsteiner highlighted the trailer's outstanding performance: “Unloading points in the mountains are often on uneven ground, requiring a trailer that is short, highly manoeuvrable, flexible, safe, robust, and lightweight. The terrain also demands a large steering angle and substantial suspension stroke.”

Upon reaching the construction site, the excavator was safely unloaded using Goldhofer’s »SmartControl« system and the trailer’s ±350 mm suspension stroke. This advanced system enabled precise positioning of the excavator, even on the uneven and challenging terrain. Brennsteiner added: “The climb is incredibly steep, and the wind on the mountain is often so strong that opening the cab door becomes a struggle. Without holding it firmly, the wind could rip it off its hinges.”

Goldhofer’s close customer collaboration played a pivotal role in the trailer’s design. Levin Gonser, Regional Sales Manager at Goldhofer, stated: “Our goal has always been to provide the best solutions for our customers’ specific needs. Through close consultation, we gained insights into Keil’s typical loads and terrain challenges. This allowed us to integrate features like a sliding table on the extension tube, which can be locked in various positions, making the transport of 4-axle dump trucks significantly easier.” Bernd Rodlberger from Keil endorsed the purchase, stating: “With the expertise and dedication of our employees, we are confident that this Goldhofer low-loader is the perfect fit for our demanding requirements.”