Latest company news

2024-07-24

Special operation in the Swiss mountains

Condition assessment of penstocks with an air-transportable inspection system.

Systems and technologies involved

ORPHEUS pan and tilt camera on tractor T76
Application area: main sewer

Job

The penstocks to be inspected are part of a hydroelectric power plant that collects water from a reservoir and a stream in the mountains. On the way to the power station control centre, the water flows on one side through a 3.7 km long penstock with a head of 2,924 m. On the other side, the water with a head of 1,386 m is routed through a 1.2 km long pipeline which also runs through the rock.

Challenge

A 500-metre Full HD system that could be flown into the mountains by helicopter was needed to perform the inspection job.

Solution

H & P Technik AG, IBAK's sales and service partner in Switzerland, designed an air-transportable aluminium transport box in which a complete IBAK inspection system was installed and which was immediately ready for operation at its destination.

IBAK Kollage flugfähige Transportbox Kanalinspektionssystem — 1. The air-transportable transport box set up by H&P-Technik AG with the IBAK inspection system.
2. The transport box at the power plant control centre, which is located at an altitude of 470 m above sea level.
3./4. The open transport box with the ready-to-use inspection system in front of a tunnel entrance at approx. 1,300 m above sea level.

Collage der flugfähigen Inspektionsanlage mit einem Helikopter — In just a few seconds, the ground crew attached the transport box with the IBAK inspection technology to the helicopter, which brought the high-tech equipment safely to the deployment site at an altitude of over 1,300 metres

Collage vom Einsatz einer flugfähigen Inspektionsanlage auf einem Berg — 8. Steps in the rock lead along the penstock to be inspected, which runs at a gradient of about 45 degrees to the turbines in the valley.
9./10. The inconsistent weather conditions had a major impact on the work: these two photos were taken on two consecutive days at the same location.

Result

The result of this challenging assignment was a complete success: the decades-old pipes were inspected in Full HD resolution, ensuring their functionality. Despite unsteady weather conditions and logistical challenges, the project was completed on schedule.

Company introduction

Fretz Kanal-Service AG (Fretz), originally founded by the Walter Fretz family in 1954, is now owned by four entrepreneurial families. What once began as a small family business has now developed into a company that operates from five locations throughout Switzerland. In 2011, Fretz had 34 employees, but today the company employs a team of 110.

As a full-service provider, Fretz not only offers traditional sewer cleaning, but also services in the areas of inspection and maintenance and testing and rehabilitation of sewer systems.