The STB 320 is a side girder bridge specifically designed by TII Scheuerle for transporting the heaviest transformers. According to reports, the goal was to create a modular, weight-optimized vehicle capable of safely moving maximum loads even under challenging infrastructural conditions.
The project was developed in close collaboration with the long-standing user Spedition Kübler, in accordance with the demands that network expansion places on modern heavy-duty technology, it is stated.
Challenges on the Route
On the evening of July 9, 2025, around 7:00 PM, the STB
320 set off near the Offenburg freight station. From there, it was to head to the substation Offenburg-Weier, about ten kilometers away, which as part of the network expansion in southwestern Germany is to be converted to a higher voltage level.
The route was covered in approximately three hours. Particular challenges included sensitive bridge crossings—such as the nearly 80-meter cantilevered Kinzig Bridge—tight roundabouts, and a complex inner-city traffic routing. According to the manufacturer, conventional vehicles would not have been able to manage these due to static
load limits.
Technical Features
In contrast, the STB 320 benefited from its reduced dead weight and flexible axle configuration, enabling safe crossing.
When coupling the transformer, the side girder bridge can be precisely positioned thanks to hydraulically adjustable auxiliary girders. Other advantages according to the manufacturer include very good steerability and adaptability—including lifting functions for passing under a pedestrian bridge and swiveling over high traffic islands.
Upon arrival at the destination, it was possible to accurately lower the transformer onto the prepared foundations using onboard hydraulics
without additional lifting technology.
For Transformer Transports
With the newly developed vehicle for heavy-duty operations, the company aims to contribute to the energy transition and, with an eye on increasing demands in network and facility expansion, offer a future-oriented solution for transformer transports under difficult conditions.
"The combination of high load capacity, reduced axle load, and flexible application possibilities opens up entirely new transport options for us—particularly at infrastructure-sensitive locations. The successful first deployment has shown that we are well-prepared for upcoming challenges," according to Spedition
