The handling of gigantic quantities of excavated earth and scaffolding for construction projects in the city, as well as the transport of hundreds of military vehicles to the Trias 25 maneuver in Austria, were the main focus of interest at this year's logistics colloquium by Dr. Acel & Partner in the lecture hall of ETH Zurich.
USZ excavation. Photo: Eberhard
Background information and details on the circumstances surrounding "Extreme Logistics" attracted over 60 interested participants to the lecturers' foyer in the main building of the central campus – past signs pointing the way to "Einstein's Locker" on floor "F" . High-caliber presentations on construction logistics in the city center and extensive transport operations from the army's logistics base to joint DA-CH maneuvers in Allentsteig, Austria (not to be confused with "Altensteig") left a lasting impression on logistics experts and invited guests.
High-caliber expert presentations
Following an introduction to the engineering environment by Konrad Wegener, Professor Emeritus of Production Engineering and Machine Tools at ETH Zurich, the audience was immersed in the world of non-academic scaffolding construction. Peter Acel remarked, "I had no idea that 90 percent of their activities consist of logistics"Without it, however, nothing would be possible. René Schmid, a member of the management board at RothGerüste AG,explained that the up to 1,100 employees during peak season "don't just load up and drive to the construction site".
P.Acel, R.Schmid: Over 90 percent logistics. Photo: klk.
Over 300 vans, 58 trucks, and 78 forklifts are at work transporting extremely heavy materials (with only a low level )of automationtothe right place at the right time. 225,000 tons of material are moved annually – and the schedule is necessarily externallycontrolled.However, since 2022, a -nighttime loading operationhas organized
Overview via drone
Previously, loading the boards, poles, and pipes took 1.5 hours per person; now, on average, it takes just over half an hour to have everything ready. A few drones are also used at the construction site. According to Schmid, the goal is "not to squeeze more performance out of individual employees, but to maintain an overview".
When Silvan Eberhard, from the construction company of the same name, is on construction sites like the new University Hospital (USZ) Campus Mitte1 and Mitte2, directly opposite ETH Zurich, which is expected to cost 923 million Swiss francs, he usually travels by e-bike, he says. And that's for the best. Because, given the heavy traffic on Rämistrasse, he says, "otherwise I wouldn't be able to get through at all".
Archaeological pause
Eberhards' 700 employees, 300 construction machines, 85 heavy trucks, and 2,000 pallet spaces cover an enormous distance of 5 million kilometers. When an archaeological find was discovered in the excavation pit of the buildings designed by Christ & Gantenbein, containing two skeletons (participant question: "Past medical errors or former site managers?"), it was even a welcome respite.
Faster with the eBike: S. Eberhard
Adding to the complexity is the "rail transport obligation" on the 14.3 km stretch to the rail transshipment point in Rümlang (28.6 km round trip) "used up".
3000 kg less payload
A minor drawback is that two electric trucks, purchased at considerable expense to reduce CO2 emissions, reduce the available payload of these vehicles by 3,000 kg due to their heavy batteries and the maximum permissible axle load. With a total of 19,729 truck journeys (17,101 of which involved excavation), diesel proponents would calculate that switching to fully electric operation would require an additional 658 journeys to make up for the shortfall. A particularly unfortunate aspect – despite all sympathy for the manufacturer – is the reduced ground clearance on construction site access roads. This not only stings with the higher price of 450,000 Swiss francs for the electric tractor unit (compared to 180,000 for a )diesel.The client at USZ is the public sector. Eberhard: "We have adapted our business model to the requirements".
Photo: F. Penseyres
Once again, the presentation will be highly specialized, featuring Philipp Blumer, whose main job is calibrating sensor technology at Sensirion AG. He will speak in the lecture hall about the logistics for the three-country military exercise Trias 25, involving troops from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, in Allentsteig, Austria. The effort being made to strengthen the defense readiness of the Alpine countries is immense – and nothing is possible without professional logistics.
Fascinating facts about Triassic 25
350 vehicles, including Leopard tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, bridge-laying tanks, tank trucks, and 5 field kitchens (carrying 15 tons of food from Switzerland) need to be transported (the Germans are allowed to eat with them). Eleven trains with 177 wagons have to be moved over 850 km to the maneuver site. 920 Swiss army personnel will be transported in 28 buses.
Ph. Blumer (left): "If no one has ever done this before...". Photo: klk.
A key aspect of this exercise is ensuring that technical and medical support is guaranteed even under enemy fire. This is no easy task. For example, refueling a tank during combat. Blumer: "If no one's ever done that before..."Many of the participants are fresh out of basic training, while others are being pulled from civilian life.
Simulation vs. Reality
In the end, according to Division Commander Rolf André Siegenthaler, a prominent figure among the expert participants, the exercise abroad allegedly costs only "8 percent more than a refresher course" in Switzerland. Ninety-nine percent of the additional costs are due to logistics and the extra personnel brought in.
Siegenthaler, K. Wegener
Blumer, when asked whether – similar to the increasing use of simulation in logistics projects – further savings could be achieved through more simulation, replied: “We already simulate a lot”But that doesn’t replace reality. Siegenthaler added: “That’s precisely the point of the maneuver – the question of how things manifest in physical reality”.
Supply in combat conditions
Interesting questions for logistics experts: How much buffer does a supply chain need under pressure? At what point does redundancy become waste? What happens if the most important specialist is unavailable?
Numerous questions
The equipment from the maneuver in Austria was ultimately successfully brought back. Acel smiles: "Otherwise, that would have been considered an arms export".
An evening that pleasantly concludes with lively exchange of experiences and networking among the participants above the rooftops of the Limmat metropolis, against the backdrop of Lake Zurich and the still snow-covered Alpine chain behind it.
By the way:
Is Einstein crazy?
In 2018, as part of guided tours of ETH Zurich, an extraordinary exhibit was conceived in honor of one of the university's most famous alumni. Albert Einstein's former locker was brought back to life to document his time and work in Zurich.
As an honorary appointment: Einstein's locker at ETH Zurich
Looking inside the locker immerses you in the world of the father of the theory of relativity. Through images, texts, and music, you gain insights into his private life, his interests, his convictions, and his quirks. When the door is opened, light, music, and animation combine with the light from the desk lamp and Einstein's favorite song – Mozart's "Violin Sonata Allegro Con Spirito" – to create an interactive experience.
Everything is relative
Photographs on the wall reveal texts about Einstein's life on their reverse side, and by pulling out the top drawer, an animated record player appears, reflecting Einstein's core beliefs.
Photos: Lucid GmbH
The physicist and humanist wrote them in 1932 during his final years in Berlin. He also frequently expressed provocative views.
The locker is part of the «ETH Zürich Tours» in the ETH main building, floor F
