Femern A/S and the main contractor FLC held a topping-out ceremony on 8 June, together with around 1000 employees, at the primary construction site of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel at Rødbyhavn on Lolland.
The 217-metre-long concrete elements of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel are to be cast in three large production halls, and the first of these is now ready, complete with roof and facades.
Outstanding engineering work
“This factory is visible proof of what unique engineering work and solid craftsmanship can create. Everyone who takes part in the construction of this mega-project can be proud that they are contributing to building a connection that will benefit many future generations," said CEO of Femern A/S, Henrik Vincentsen.
"Today is a day of celebration where we celebrate the many hundreds of workers who have worked hard to build the world's largest element factory. We still have many years of work ahead, but today it is appropriate to stop and admire the factory and the great effort it symbolizes,” said Sébastien Bliaut, CEO of FLC.
The heart of production
The tunnel factory is the heart of the production of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel. When completed, it will occupy about one million square metres of construction site.
The carefully constructed and climate-controlled halls will help ensure that the tunnel elements can be cast to a high quality. This is particularly important as the Fehmarn Belt tunnel is designed to last at least 120 years.
Social sustainability
The halls are built by Give Steel, and are the company's largest project until now.
“We are proud that it is our steel structure and muscles that the factory here is built with, and not least that the project is built with full focus on social sustainability. For the young people on the edge of the labour market, who have secured a job or an apprenticeship in connection with the project, this day is not just a topping-out celebration - it is an important milestone in their working life," says Torben Larsen, Give Steel.
Ready for production this year
However, there is still some way to go before the 73,500-ton tunnel elements begin to glide through the factory, out into the dry dock and on towards their final destination at the bottom of the Fehmarn Belt.
The first in a total of six production lines is expected to be ready by the turn of the year, and the immersion of tunnel elements will begin next year.
Facts about the tunnel factory
- Three factory halls are being built, which house five production lines for the tunnel elements
Special elements with basement levels for electronic systems will be produced on a sixth line outside the three halls
- A standard tunnel element is 217m in length and weighs 73,500 tons
- The halls are 240m in length, 200m wide at the widest point and 33m tall
- Each hall has an area of approx. 30,000m2 corresponding to over 4 football pitches
Hall B is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023 and Halls A and C in the summer of 2023
- The first production line will start casting the first tunnel element at the turn of the year 2022/2023