The largest pipeline in Italy is under construction in the south part of the Lake Garda on behalf of SNAM Rete Gas. MAX STREICHER S.p.A. is carrying out two of the four lots. They cover the construction of 53 and 42 km partial tracks of the DN1400-Pipeline. For the laying of the 56" pipes, MAX STREICHER S.p.A. is exploiting the proven know-how of the MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co. KG aA head office in Deggendorf. With the OPAL Baltic Sea Pipeline Link and NEL North European Gas Pipeline in Germany, STREICHER has already experience in the construction of pipelines of this dimension.
The pipeline with a total length of 170 km will run from Zimella through the regions of Veneto and Lombardy to Cervignano. The first lot, executed by STREICHER, starts in the north Italian municipality of Carpenedolo and leads to Casaletto di Sopra in the Province of Cremona. It covers 53 km. In 2014 MAX STREICHER S.p.A. will start with the construction of the second lot, running for 42 km between Carpenedolo and Vigasio. Furthermore the project covers the construction of 15 valve stations and some smaller connection lines.
Welding know-how from Deggendorf
The construction of the first lot started in March this year, currently up to 350 workers are involved, whereof 200 are STREICHER employees. This is the biggest pipeline project that MAX STREICHER S.p.A. has ever carried out. In order to deal with the big diameter, the Italian team is supported by Deggendorf. Within in the OPAL and NEL projects the MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co. KG aA head office has already built more than 200 km of DN 1400-Pipelines. The experiences of MAX STREICHER in Germany are very precious for the team in Italy, particularly, in the field of automatic welding.
56" in Direct Pipe Procedure
In total the lots carried out by STREICHER include about 100 crossings stretching on a route length of 95 km. 90 drillings as well as 10 crossings using the microtunneling method are carried out. The damp soil represents a challenge. It has to be drained with pumps, wells and drainages. Some 1.5 km pipeline runs through nature reserves. There, two crossings are realised with the Direct Pipe procedure. Until now this technology was used mostly for diameter of 48". In the North of Italy the procedure should prove for 56" pipes. It is known as a cost-effective and safe procedure of high quality.
MAX STREICHER S.p.A. has been successfully working for more than 10 years with SNAM Rete Gas. The biggest pipeline operating company in Italy appreciates the high quality and the adherence to schedules of MAX STREICHER S.p.A.
