Stork
14 April 2015

Monumental Maintenance: revision of a hunderd year old steam engine

Stork succesfully finished the revision of a hunderd year old steam engine, part of the UNESCO world heritage list. When we talk about long term asset integrity partnership, we proudly refer to our work done for the Ir D.F. Woudagemaal in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Opened in 1920, this pumping station is the largest steam-driven installation in the world that is still in use.

Even today the monumental pumping station ensures that the people of this northern Dutch province keep their feet dry during high water. When that happens, four Stork steam engines pump up over six million litres of water per minute into the IJsselmeer. 

Stork installed these engines and pumps in 1955 and they are still    in perfect condition today. In fact, we recently calibrated the axes    again when we disassembled the bearings for repair. The fact that    the Pumping station should be 24/7 available during the wet              wintermonths made it a challenge to finalise the revision in a few      months. All 7 bearings were assembled, inspected and revised. 

 After completion this maintenance made sure that Friesland stays dry for many years to come….


Also read more about this monument on the UNESCO heritage list