Stacking vehicle SF
for BGE
The SF stacking vehicle is a bespoke specialist vehicle developed by HUBTEX for demanding transport and stacking operations for the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE). It has been engineered for use in the underground areas of the future Schacht Konrad repository, where it will perform the safe pick-up, transport and positioning of containers and cylindrical waste packages containing radioactive waste within a clearly defined emplacement process.
With its robust construction and application-specific safety and protective equipment, the SF stacking vehicle is designed to meet the requirements of this highly sensitive operating environment.
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Use at BGE
The SF stacking vehicle is intended for future deployment in the underground sections of Schacht Konrad. Located in Salzgitter, Schacht Konrad is a former iron ore mine currently being converted by BGE into a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste and is currently still under conversion.
Once operational, the vehicle will carry out key handling and transport tasks within the emplacement process. It will pick up transport units from a transport wagon, move the radioactive waste packages into the emplacement chamber, and position them precisely at their designated emplacement location. It will also return empty exchange pallets, supporting material flow within the process.
The challenge lies in the safety-critical nature of the application. The vehicle must deliver precise, controlled movement, exceptional reliability and a design that fully meets clearly defined safety requirements.
Custom-engineered solution with exacting quality and safety requirements
The SF stacking vehicle has been developed for a safety-critical application involving the handling of radioactive waste packages. As a result, the requirements for design, manufacturing quality, testing and documentation are especially exacting.
Key safety specifications include measures to prevent collisions at higher travel speeds, limit potential drop heights of the packages, and reduce both overall vehicle weight and fire load. Together, these measures help minimise the risk of damage-causing incidents and ensure that the emplacement process is designed for the safe handling of packages while radioactive materials remain securely contained at all times.
Operability and process support for controlled workflows
The vehicle has been equipped to ensure that all handling tasks can be carried out in a clear, controlled and dependable manner. Alongside comprehensive operator protection, the design also supports operability and consistent process control.
Key features include a radiation protection cab with lead glass, an emergency exit and an integrated fire suppression system, as well as optical lane guidance, position detection and package tracking systems. In addition, the vehicle concept includes a door-opening assist system and air conditioning with protective ventilation.
Features
The SF stacking vehicle has been designed as a fully custom-built special-purpose vehicle. Its development is based on BGE’s project-specific requirements for future use in the repository environment, particularly in relation to functionality, safety, dimensions and equipment.
On this basis, HUBTEX has developed a vehicle precisely matched to the demands of the intended emplacement tasks. The scale of planning and engineering involved is also reflected in the project documentation: around 16,000 pages of design and planning documents for the SF stacking vehicle are held by HUBTEX.
To pick up and position the transport units, the vehicle is fitted with a telescopic mast and spreader attachment. This configuration has been specifically designed for the handling task within the process.
Rather than using a standard fork arrangement, the load handling system has been engineered to meet the exact requirements of the transport units involved.
The operator’s compartment is designed as a radiation protection cab with lead glass. Additional features such as an emergency exit, door opening assist, air conditioning with protective ventilation and an integrated fire suppression system are fully incorporated into the vehicle concept.
This design reflects the specific demands of underground operation, where environmental and safety conditions differ significantly from those found in conventional industrial applications.
Technical Specifications
Vehicle weight: approx. 50 t
Load capacity: up to 20 t
Length: 10,300 mm
Width: 3,200 mm
Height: 3,400 mm
Maximum speed: 4 m/s
Diesel engine
Telescopic mast with spreader load handling system