Rejuvenating yesterday's technology

A monument of shipping history, a record of yesterday’s technology and a highlight of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley – the Häusener Kran is a combination of all these things. For over a century now, this steel structure has enriched the landscape of one of the most romantic places in Germany: the stretch of the River Rhine near St. Goarshausen. Located next to the Loreley, this crane was used for decades to unload cargoes from ships, primarily coal, sand and gravel. Decommissioned in 1999, it began a new era as a cultural monument.

Extensive renovation work had to be carried out on the Häusener Kran last autumn to ensure that it will survive the next 100 years. XERVON Oberflächentechnik, the Group’s surface technology specialists, applied three layers of coating to the gantry crane’s riveted metal struts to protect them against corrosion. The majority of their work was done on scaffolding. Only the 25-metre jib and a few removable parts such as the crane claw were coated on the ground. Being a specialist in protecting historical monuments, XERVON made the very most of its expertise to ensure that the final result not only met the latest requirements but also maintained the crane’s historical look. And the result is truly impressive: even the colour of the overhauled crane is exactly the same as it was when it was commissioned all the way back in 1917.