27-Feb-2008 - Special masts from Europoles combine lighting mounts with a climbing feature |
| Unique project was implemented at the G6 Youth Convention Grounds in Neumarkt, Germany |
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It won’t be long before enthusiasts at the Neumarkt Folk Festival Grounds can climb as though they were in the mountains. A special mast designed by Europoles not only provides mounts for lighting systems, but also serves as a sports facility 12.60 meters high.
“This mast will most probably remain a one-of-a-kind international product,” explains CEO Karl Wimmer. At any rate, this is no mass-production mast: it was necessary to install a total of 468 insertion points on the concrete pipe, without compromising on structural stability.
The most important function of the mast is naturally the illumination of the area around the Neumarkt Folk Festival Grounds. The systems also illuminate the halfpipes for the skaters, and the bicycle racks.
More than 3 years ago, however, the municipal Youth Office came up with the idea of using the mast for climbing functions as well. It took a great number of tedious negotiations, however until doubts were able to be calmed, especially concerning safety factors, and the Technical Inspection Agencies (TÜV) provided their approval.
It is allowed to climb the poles only under the supervision of trained personnel. To prevent anyone from attempting daring and impressive tricks, the lower climbing points are usually not installed. These supports are stored at the G6 Youth Convention Grounds and are issued only to authorized persons.
But the authorities intend for such cases to occur as frequently as possible: “At least twice a week,” hopes Siegfried Müller, Youth Counsellor. To be sure, the local Junior Alpine Association is also part of G6, and Müller assures that they are “terribly keen to start.” G6 is also planning workshops for other clubs and associations. Companies can furthermore reserve courses for their apprentices and trainees, to find out “who is afraid of advancing to higher levels.”
The mayor of Neumarkt, Thomas Thumann, won’t find it so easy to make excuses to avoid climbing. Europoles CEO Karl Wimmer has already challenged him to take part in a climb together. Could Thumann have foreseen this situation when he as mayor once praised “the unique collaboration of many companies and people” in Neumarkt? After all, Europoles in Neumarkt has contributed 29,500 euros to the total construction costs of 45,000 euros for the masts, plus 10,000 euros for the illumination.
(Text: the local newspaper Neumarkter Nachrichten, in Neumarkt, Germany, on 27 February 2008)
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Europoles
As market leader in Europe, Europoles – at its plant locations in Germany, Poland, Switzerland and in Oman – produces poles, towers and columns made of high-strength spun concrete, steel, and fibreglass-reinforced plastic for an extensive variety of applications. Its far-reaching portfolio of products and services range from 3-metre light poles and 20- to 50-metre advertising, transmission, and floodlight poles, to 100-metre towers for telecommunications. With these offerings and its 600 employees, Europoles achieved annual sales in Germany and surrounding regions of more than 100 million euros. Europoles is a company of VTC Industrieholding GmbH, a diversified Mittelstand industrial group from Munich, Germany.
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| Download high-resolution press pictures |
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Assembly of the new climbing poles on the Neumarkt Folk Festival Grounds. It was necessary to drill 468 holes in the concrete to mount the climbing supports (not yet visible when this picture was taken).
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Europoles’ CEO Karl Wimmer (second from right) presents a climbing harness to Neumarkt Mayor Thomas Thumann (third from left).
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