Mobile cranes and semi low-loaders in use for the Vienna Opera Ball
February 24, 2025 | Susanne Winter
"Many requirements have to be met for transport through the 1st district of Vienna," says transport department manager Gabriel Asböck from Lanzendorf, who knows the challenges of this job only too well. He has been responsible for this at Felbermayr for three years. "The aim is to deliver the boxes on time for the Opera Ball and transport them back again afterwards," says Asböck, emphasising: "Being part of the Opera Ball has become an affair of the heart for us."
200 transports with semi low-loaders
Loading and unloading was carried out using mobile cranes with lifting capacities of up to 60 tonnes. These were able to overcome the limited space requirements. The first boxes were delivered three days before the Opera Ball, in the specific order in which they will be assembled.
Furthermore, the heavy installation specialists were involved here too. The employees were responsible for unloading and loading in Haringsee and were thus able to demonstrate their skills in handling these highly sensitive loads.
Not only 67 box parts had to be transported, but also the necessary accessories and the components for the VIP entrance. Nine low-loaders and several trailer combinations with loading cranes carried out almost 200 transports there and back "This only works thanks to the highly trained and motivated drivers," Asböck knows.
Crane work for VIP entrance
In addition to the transport, Felbermayr was engaged by Waagner-Biro Stage Systems for the assembly and dismantling of the VIP entrance at the State Opera. The so-called "red box" at the red carpet consists of containers, wall structures and steel components with a component weight of up to twelve tonnes. "The parts were precisely assembled using mobile cranes - sometimes in a tandem lift and under the gaze of numerous onlookers," reports Asböck.
Everything from a single source
"We hope for good weather every year, because otherwise we have to pack the load on our telescopic semi low-loader with tarpaulins," says Gabriel Asböck, reporting on the enormous extra work involved if it rains. But this year the weather played along and the tarpaulins were not necessary. "The weather gods favoured us," says Asböck after the job, relieved that "everything went according to plan and in line with the customer's expectations".
On the day after the Opera Ball, the dismantling and loading work was carried out and on the following two days the return transport took place. The grand performance was over again.
