The installation of refrigeration units at Zurich Main Station placed high demands on logistics, precision and coordination of operations. The components were transported by train to the basement, unloaded on site using various crane solutions and then hoisted through a narrow shaft into the refrigeration plant.
Installation work at Zurich Main Station requires not only technical expertise but also careful coordination with the on-site conditions. The operation took place in the station’s basement, in the immediate vicinity of the tracks. It was precisely there that the refrigeration components had to be delivered, unloaded and moved on under controlled conditions.
The challenge lay not only in the weight of the machines, but also in the access route itself. The refrigeration units had to be brought into the refrigeration plant via a narrow shaft. Situations such as these demand precise preparation, clear lines of responsibility and execution in which every step is carried out flawlessly.
The refrigeration components to be installed were transported by train directly to the site. The original article specifically mentions platforms 43/44 at Zurich Main Station. Lighter parts of the system were unloaded on site using the train’s auxiliary crane and made ready for installation. For the large and heavy components, a separate train equipped with a 10-tonne crane, operated by SBB, was used.
This tiered logistics approach was crucial for balancing material flow, safety and pace within the project. Rather than treating all components in the same way, the process was organised according to weight, accessibility and delivery route. This resulted in a process that remained manageable even under tight constraints.
Once unloading was complete, the most delicate part of the operation began: actually moving the equipment into the refrigeration centre. According to the original report, the machines, weighing approximately 4,200 kilograms, were hoisted into the facility using the refrigeration centre’s overhead crane.
According to the report, by the end of the operational window a large quantity of material had already accumulated in the cooling plant; this enabled visible progress to be made with the installation work above tracks 43/44. For Norline, this project is a prime example of challenging installation work in sensitive environments: complex logistics, narrow access routes, precise lifting technology and an implementation that remains under control even under time pressure. The case study demonstrates how Norline delivers solutions even in situations where infrastructure, weight and accessibility place the highest demands on planning and execution.
