Swiss company Autech is playing a major role in one of Germany’s most significant infrastructure projects with its special machines: the construction of the SouthLink pipeline, which transports renewable energy from Northern to the Southern Germany. On 11 September, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck marked the beginning of this large-scale project with a groundbreaking ceremony in Wewelsfleth, Schleswig-Holstein, near the river Elbe.

Autech is building the vehicle used in the construction of the 5.2-kilometre-long tunnel situated beneath the Elbe, with an interior diameter of four meters. The same vehicle will subsequently be used for inspecting and monitoring the pipeline's route, its lighting, suspension, and the functionality of the cables. moves on the same track as the tunnel boring machine and can use cameras for inspecting the pipeline deep beneath the riverbed.

Niclas Lorenzen, CEO of Autech, emphasised that "we are delighted to be involved in one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects". The company's outstanding skill set and expertise in specialised machinery manufacturing were crucial factors in awarding the contract to Autech.

After last year’s unanticipated cancellation due to the pandemic, it’s finally back: InnoTrans Berlin is opening its gates again – and we’ll be there too. Visit us in hall 26 / stand 385 and enjoy a look into the exciting future of mobility with us. A future which has already rolled through our doors. True to the motto “Even from the rocks that have been put on your path, something beautiful can be built”, we have used to the period of “standstill” to invest in progress.

In order to comply with restrictions and contain SARS-CoV-2, InnoTrans 2021 has been postponed to next year. The current status is that InnoTrans, the international trade fair for transport technology in Berlin, will open its doors from 20 to 23 September 2022. We will let you know as soon as we have more information on where exactly we will be located at the event – so you can network with us and talk about the latest developments in the industry.