[Job Story] Two Liebherr R938 in Action Against Flooding on the Danube

The German construction company HEIM has employed two Liebherr R 938 crawler excavators to transport gravel to the surface of the Danube River. The deployment of the Liebherr machines is necessary to ensure the “flow” of the Danube along this section, thus contributing to flood prevention in the nearby city centre of Ulm. Two Liebherr […] [Job Story] Two Liebherr R938 in Action Against Flooding on the Danube published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.

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Jan 13, 2025 - 13:00
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[Job Story] Two Liebherr R938 in Action Against Flooding on the Danube

The German construction company HEIM has employed two Liebherr R 938 crawler excavators to transport gravel to the surface of the Danube River. The deployment of the Liebherr machines is necessary to ensure the “flow” of the Danube along this section, thus contributing to flood prevention in the nearby city centre of Ulm.

(Image: courtesy of Liebherr) The work places the highest demands on man and machine. At times, it looks as if the R 938s are floating on the Danube.

Two Liebherr R 938 crawler excavators remove gravel washed into the Danube from the river Iller. The goal is to remove around 80,000 tonnes of gravel from the Danube thus making a fundamental contribution to flood prevention and playing an important part of the circular economy. The excavated material is sent to a nearby gravel works for processing and is then reused for various purposes.

The Nagel Baumaschinen quickly modified two powerful crawler excavators to meet the requirements of the executing construction company HEIM and made them available.

The R 938 crawler excavator: generation 8 machine

Liebherr crawler excavators are made of robust material, however due to the flowing water, more performance is required because of the associated increased resistance. At the same time, this means that the working movements on the dipper arm result in a significantly higher temperature than the cool Danube water.

The R 938 has a weight range of 22 to 45 tonnes and is part of the 8th generation of crawler excavators launched in 2019 and developed at Liebherr-France SAS in Colmar. The range is characterised by its modern design, high performance and versatility as well as optimised ergonomics, comfort and safety. The low fuel consumption of the R 938, afforded by a Liebherr stage V 4-cylinder in-line engine, also ensures maximum efficiency and profitability of the machine in operation.

(Image: courtesy of Liebherr) The two Liebherr R 938 crawler excavators transport around 80,000 tonnes of washed-up gravel from the River Iller in the Danube against the backdrop of the famous Ulm Minster.

“Fishing in the dark”: Liebherr crawler excavators keep a clear view

Liebherr crawler excavators are used to performing to their full potential in rough terrain, however, working in the river poses a challenge for the two operators of the R 938s. The material to be removed is not always visible, so man and machine have to approach their operating area carefully, particularly as the depth of the Danube increases in the middle of the river. The two excavators have had to build a foundation below the water surface to enable gravel to be removed at these points. At times, only the striking Liebherr-yellow uppercarriages of the R 938s can be seen.

[Job Story] Two Liebherr R938 in Action Against Flooding on the Danube published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.

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