Nuremberg / Alzey-Worms – WIEGEL subsidiary TKS, which specializes in telecommunications mast construction, erected a modern “fast site” radio tower for Deutsche Telekom’s mobile network for the first time on 11 June 2024. The special feature: the “fast site” radio tower can be completed in just one working day using the “flying construction” method. Conventional radio towers take at least three weeks to erect. The German steel and lattice tower expert thus reduces construction-related shutdown times and optimizes production and commissioning costs thanks to a modular design concept.

Telekom is gradually increasing network availability and transmission speeds for its mobile customers along German highways. This is also the case on the A61 federal highway in the Rhineland-Palatinate district of Alzey-Worms, where the WIEGEL subsidiary TKS erected its modular “Fast Site” radio tower for the first time.

Erection within one working day

The radio tower, including the prefabricated foundation, can be fully assembled in just one working day. “This allows us to reduce the closure required for the construction work and the commissioning costs. Particularly in view of the mobile network operators’ plans to ensure nationwide network coverage along the German freeways, this is not only an enormous cost advantage, but also minimizes the number of traffic obstructions on Germany’s main traffic arteries,” says Volker Tichy, Managing Director of WIEGEL Verwaltung GmbH & Co KG.

“Flying construction” enables short project lead times

The handling procedure known as “flying construction” can be compared to the procedure for fairground rides and is significantly shorter than conventional project handling with a required building application. “Short project lead times go hand in hand with a high commissioning rate and minimal costs. The requirements of Autobahn GmbH for this type of installation are extremely specific. Fast and uncomplicated dismantling ensures that the freeway company has the flexibility to implement expansion options for the infrastructure in question,” says Markus Hansen, Commercial Director of TKS – Telekommunikationsbau Services GmbH.

Modular structure with a height of up to 42 meters

The modular design of the Fast Site radio tower provides a particularly high degree of flexibility. It is available in four standard sizes: 18 meters, 24 meters, 30 meters and 36 meters. Each standard size can be extended by up to 6 meters if required. This means that heights of 18 meters to a maximum of 42 meters above ground level are possible. The 85-tonne foundation consists of prefabricated concrete elements and, depending on the tower height, takes up a total area of 6.5 by 6.5 meters.

Maximum occupancy area of 25 square meters

The 16-fold polygonal solid-wall mast is folded and longitudinally welded. For maintenance work, the WIEGEL subsidiary TKS offers a climbing system made of aluminum or steel, depending on customer requirements. The radio mast can be erected on terrain categories II (e.g. agricultural areas) and III (e.g. suburbs or forests) and offers mobile network operators a maximum occupancy area of 25 square meters.

Film clip

An approximately two-minute film shows, how the fast site radio tower is finally installed (please click on the link or image to start the film).

Photo download

Media representatives have the opportunity to use license-free press photos of the construction of the Fast Site radio tower for their reporting. Please indicate the source of the image: WIEGEL Group. Please click on the images to enlarge them. To download, right-click and select “Save as”.

About the WIEGEL Group

WIEGEL is an owner-managed family business that was founded by Hans Wiegel in Nuremberg in 1950. With over 1,500 employees at 39 locations in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, WIEGEL galvanises 400,000 tonnes of steel per year for 14,000 partners worldwide. In addition to galvanising, powder coating and wet coating, the WIEGEL Group has proven expertise in lattice mast construction and, with its subsidiary TKS – Telekommunikationsbau Services GmbH, in the field of telecommunications.

WIEGEL also sets standards in the areas of sustainability and environmental protection. As early as 1989, a central environmental officer and an environmental management system were introduced for all plants. Since 2014, the group of companies headquartered in Nuremberg has successfully undergone the world’s most demanding European environmental management system, EMAS. In 2017, WIEGEL received awards from the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment for its commitment to environmental protection. Further information can be found at www.wiegel.de and at www.tks-dretzel.de.