Siemens sets world’s largest giant wheel in motion
2nd Quarter 2013Electrical switching & drive systems & components
At the beginning of January, the world’s largest transportable giant wheel was erected in Munich and is shortly due to be shipped by sea to its destination in Mexico. The R80XL, a giant rising 80 metres in height, is completely equipped with automation technology from Siemens. The scope of delivery includes Simatic-S7 control technology, drive technology including motors and low-voltage power distribution.
The steel giant weighs in at 750 tons and will accommodate a total of 432 passengers rotating in 8-seater or 16-seater cabins. As the rigging and derigging process takes several weeks, its future use will not focus on deployment in permanent fairgrounds. Its main application will be as an observation wheel in large metropolises around the world, where it will be set up for a number of months at a time as a tourist attraction. The giant wheel was developed and designed by the company Bussink Design. Responsible for production of the giant wheel, which is available in two different versions, is Munich-based Maurer German Wheels. Siemens supplies drive and control technology solutions designed specifically to be used in these types of rides for travelling carnivals or Fliegende Bauten as they are known in German. A company steeped in tradition, Maurer Söhne and its subsidiaries have been based in Munich since 1876 and are specialised in the interaction between forces and movement in constructions. The company’s product portfolio also includes special products for amusement parks, in particular rollercoasters.
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