870 E Demolition Controlled Demolition of the Carola Bridge

in News
TagsEngineering, engineering and equipment, Equipment, Sennebogen

Oct 24

Demolition of a bridge in Dresden with a demolition machine

The partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden in September 2024 made it clear that the remains of the bridge had to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible. The work called for a real powerhouse: the 117-ton SENNEBOGEN 870E longfront demolition ma-chine.

Controlled demolition with Longfront excavator

Founded in 2015, Germany-based company EAG-Berthold specializes in earthworks and demolition and already had experience in bridge demolition. In June 2025, the demolition specialist began the controlled demolition of the Carola Bridge.

Once the collapsed section of the bridge had been removed, the rest had to be brought down in a controlled manner. Load-bearing tendons were exposed and then cut through. EAG-Berthold relied on the SENNEBOGEN 870E Demolition for this demanding task.

Fall bed of gravel in the Elbe

A fall bed of gravel was constructed in the Elbe river in advance to safely catch the falling debris. Over the course of the day, the two remaining bridge sections were brought down in a controlled manner onto the gravel bed. From there, a total of ten excavators dismantled the debris, which was then transported away by trucks and tractors.

870 Demolition: Perfect for demolition at great heights

A longfront demolition machine was used for the project, which more than met the high requirements with an operating weight of 117 tons and a reach of up to 36 meters: the SENNEBOGEN 870 E Demolition can be used to demolish buildings efficiently and safely even at great heights, for example, buildings with up to ten stories.

Rental machine via the SENNEBOGEN sales partner

EAG-Berthold rented the machine from Schlüter für Baumaschinen (Schlüter-Rent). “The elevating and tilting operator’s cab gives the operator a perfect view of the entire working area – in addition, the 870 has a telescopic undercarriage, which means both a narrow transport width and high stability,” says Uwe König, service advisor at Schlüter für Baumaschinen.

Maximum power in demolition, easy transport

The telescopic crawler undercarriage allows the demolition machine to be used even in densely built-up areas. The robust design, powerful 298 kW diesel engine, and wide support square enable particularly precise and vibration-free operation, even in particularly demanding demolition applications. The powerful hydraulics with the third lift cylinder enable attachments weighing up to 4 tons to be operated. With its demolition shears or grapple, the SENNEBOGEN 870 E Demolition picks up building components with pinpoint accuracy and brings them safely to the ground. The elevating and tilting cab offers an excellent view of the demolition site and the surrounding area. As with all other SENNEBOGEN machines, operation is very intuitive and clear, making work even easier, faster, and safer.

To keep transport as simple and cost-effective as possible, the 870 E Demolition features a weight-reducing ballast storage system and the option of transporting the machine in three units—the base machine, demolition equipment, and counterweight. This is a huge advantage in the fast-paced everyday life of demolition contractors.

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The 117-ton demolition machine from SENNEBOGEN has a reach of up to 36 m.

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