"Bulletproof" Weycor wheel loader
Weycor AR 480 wheel loader with special equipment helps with the remediation of old military waste - probably the largest explosive ordnance remediation case in Germany - Cab of the 6-ton loader protected against explosions with special safety glass and armor plates.
Sodom and Gomorrah in the Lüneburg Heath. Over 100,000 poison gas grenades from the Second World War have to be recovered. An explosion-protected wheel loader from Atlas Weyhausen, the Weycor AR 480, helps.
Extensive and complicated refurbishment
From 1942 to 1952, shells and bombs filled with chemical warfare agents were disposed of in the 63 m wide and around 12 m deep Dethlinger Teich, a former diatomaceous earth pit near Munster. In 1952, the pit was backfilled with soil and building rubble. Over the course of time, rotting combined with groundwater contamination began. In 2014, the Heidekreis district began initial planning for remediation. In 2021, the pit was opened with a test shaft and the discovery of several thousand pieces of ammunition. Experts developed a remediation concept. The core element is the construction of a 97 m x 106 m hall above the pond. It has a self-supporting roof with a ridge height of 24 m and rests on a concrete foundation and 22 m of sheet piling underneath. The air is permanently extracted from the hall and filtered with activated carbon. The groundwater is also collected and purified. The large hall can only be exited through airlocks with subsequent decontamination. Further halls, for example for cleaning the groundwater, will be added. The dredging of the pond and the disposal of ammunition will begin successively in mid-2023. The AR 480 is working here to supply and dispose of the decontamination site.
A unique Weycor wheel loader from Atlas Weyhausen
The Weycor AR 480 is a wheel loader in the 6 t class. It is equipped with a 2.9 l diesel engine with 55.4 kW/75.3 hp, EU Stage V and a DOC and DPF exhaust gas purification system. The hydrostatic travel drive with 2-position travel motor makes it 20 km/h fast, while the Z-kinematics with hydraulic quick coupler make it very flexible. Its special equipment makes it unique. The curved standard windshield has been replaced by a windshield made of special 40 mm thick armored glass with windshield heating. The floor has also been replaced with matching armored plates. All manufactured to protection level B6 (VPAM7). A breathing air supply system is also installed on the cab roof. It supplies the airtight cabin with purified breathing air. You have to look very closely to see the difference to the tried-and-tested Weycor AR 480 standard model. In an emergency, however, if chemical warfare agents escape or a grenade explodes, the driver is safe and protected in the special Weycor cab.
High expenditure
"It was a very complex project to convert the wheel loader so that it fully meets the requirements of this very dangerous and demanding remediation task," says Ronald Figiel, project manager at dealer Atlas von der Wehl in Lauenbrück. "We know the Atlas Weycor wheel loaders as very reliable and resilient machines. This is another reason why we opted for the Weycor AR 480 in the required special version," says Carsten Bubke, Technical Manager at Heidekreis. Not only solidity but also flexibility is required at Dethlinger Teich. The tasks for the AR 480 are varied and change quickly. To cope with this, the hydraulic quick coupler is an important piece of equipment. Transporting spoil with the bucket, lifting and moving equipment or finds with the pallet fork, etc. The resilient basis is the Weycor Z-kinematics. It can withstand high force inputs and enables excellent lifting heights. The tapered loading arm provides a good view of the front carriage and the attachment, as does the all-round visibility from the cab. And that is extremely important in such a dangerous working environment.