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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:01,208 --> 00:00:03,303 [Narrator] These are the engineering wonders of Germany, 2 00:00:04,404 --> 00:00:09,343 their secrets revealed in a way never seen before. 3 00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:14,081 Visionaries shaped this land into the crossroads of Europe, 4 00:00:14,214 --> 00:00:16,583 constructing groundbreaking waterways, 5 00:00:16,717 --> 00:00:20,888 world-beating machines and pioneering structures. 6 00:00:22,723 --> 00:00:26,593 Today, German engineers continue this legacy 7 00:00:26,727 --> 00:00:29,863 with record-breaking infrastructure projects 8 00:00:29,997 --> 00:00:32,966 and spectacular innovations. 9 00:00:33,100 --> 00:00:37,404 In this series, we reveal the secrets of the engineering 10 00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:40,941 that built Europe's great nations, 11 00:00:41,074 --> 00:00:43,844 the wonders that shape its cities, 12 00:00:43,977 --> 00:00:47,714 landscapes and history. 13 00:00:47,848 --> 00:00:51,251 We reveal the astonishing innovations 14 00:00:51,385 --> 00:00:53,487 and surprising connections 15 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:57,491 that helped to forge this mighty continent. 16 00:00:57,624 --> 00:01:02,529 ♪ ♪ 17 00:01:02,663 --> 00:01:07,568 ♪ ♪ 18 00:01:07,701 --> 00:01:11,972 Germany is located in the heart of Europe. 19 00:01:12,105 --> 00:01:12,940 It's surrounded by 20 00:01:13,073 --> 00:01:16,076 nine countries 21 00:01:16,209 --> 00:01:17,277 and stretches from the Alps 22 00:01:17,411 --> 00:01:18,812 in the south 23 00:01:18,946 --> 00:01:21,348 to the North and Baltic Seas. 24 00:01:23,817 --> 00:01:26,987 Over the centuries, Germany's central location 25 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,923 has brought wealth and prosperity. 26 00:01:30,057 --> 00:01:34,761 Today, its broad rivers and canals connect European markets 27 00:01:34,895 --> 00:01:39,466 for cars, heavy machinery and electrical parts. 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,003 Its engineers built a vast rail network 29 00:01:43,136 --> 00:01:46,840 and one of the world's largest superhighway systems, 30 00:01:46,974 --> 00:01:49,376 the Autobahn. 31 00:01:49,509 --> 00:01:53,513 ♪ ♪ 32 00:01:53,647 --> 00:01:55,716 German engineers are also famed 33 00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:59,353 for record-breaking monster machines. 34 00:01:59,486 --> 00:02:02,155 The largest terrestrial vehicle ever built 35 00:02:02,289 --> 00:02:06,827 is a German-made bucket-wheel excavator. 36 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,797 And the dramatic Zugspitze aerial tramway in the Alps 37 00:02:10,931 --> 00:02:15,302 has the longest climb of any cable car in the world. 38 00:02:17,170 --> 00:02:18,905 Now, in Munich, 39 00:02:19,039 --> 00:02:20,540 an innovative new project 40 00:02:20,674 --> 00:02:23,777 takes engineering to a whole new level. 41 00:02:26,213 --> 00:02:28,982 ♪ ♪ 42 00:02:29,116 --> 00:02:33,353 This is Europe’s largest and most innovative surf park. 43 00:02:33,487 --> 00:02:37,324 ♪ ♪ 44 00:02:37,457 --> 00:02:42,596 This incredible high-tech pool took over two years to build, 45 00:02:42,729 --> 00:02:46,466 and it runs on a system called Endless Surf 46 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,435 which uses compressed air 47 00:02:48,568 --> 00:02:52,472 instead of paddles or plows to generate waves. 48 00:02:55,108 --> 00:02:58,078 The powerful wave generator can create a custom wave 49 00:02:58,211 --> 00:03:02,883 every 10 seconds, replicating natural wave patterns 50 00:03:03,016 --> 00:03:06,686 and achieving heights of up to 2.2 meters. 51 00:03:08,355 --> 00:03:13,360 Solar energy powers almost all of the machinery. 52 00:03:13,493 --> 00:03:16,430 This wonder of pneumatic engineering creates waves 53 00:03:16,563 --> 00:03:19,800 so accurate to nature that Olympians use it 54 00:03:19,933 --> 00:03:24,404 to help them train in the heart of mainland Europe. 55 00:03:24,538 --> 00:03:29,076 Chris Boehm-Tettelbach is the park’s founder. 56 00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:32,045 [Chris Boehm-Tettelbach] We had about 60 architects and planners 57 00:03:32,179 --> 00:03:33,513 to create this place, 58 00:03:33,647 --> 00:03:36,616 because something like this has never been built before. 59 00:03:41,021 --> 00:03:43,990 [Narrator] The secret to the park's miracle waves 60 00:03:44,124 --> 00:03:46,827 lies hidden on the edge of the pool. 61 00:03:48,862 --> 00:03:51,732 34 water-filled chambers 62 00:03:51,865 --> 00:03:56,803 fitted with high-powered air pumps. 63 00:03:56,937 --> 00:04:01,007 They blast pressurized air into curved channels 64 00:04:01,141 --> 00:04:04,211 and then release it 65 00:04:04,344 --> 00:04:07,748 to push and pull on a column of water 66 00:04:07,881 --> 00:04:11,218 which generates waves in the pool. 67 00:04:11,351 --> 00:04:12,819 Together, the pumps can shift 68 00:04:12,953 --> 00:04:17,357 up to 10,000 cubic meters of water every second. 69 00:04:24,097 --> 00:04:29,236 The park is coming out of a four-week winter break. 70 00:04:29,369 --> 00:04:31,071 Crewmembers are working flat out 71 00:04:31,204 --> 00:04:35,375 to ensure that everything is ready for the new season ahead. 72 00:04:38,645 --> 00:04:42,716 Chief Surfing Officer Michi Mohr and colleague Till 73 00:04:42,849 --> 00:04:45,919 are gearing up for the most crucial test of all: 74 00:04:46,052 --> 00:04:49,122 the pneumatic wave generator. 75 00:04:49,256 --> 00:04:50,524 [Michi Mohr] Maybe I'm the only one in the world 76 00:04:50,657 --> 00:04:53,059 that has the title Chief Surfing Officer, 77 00:04:53,193 --> 00:04:55,796 but basically I'm in charge of all the surf experience here, 78 00:04:55,929 --> 00:04:58,598 and so obviously now comes the fun part, 79 00:04:58,732 --> 00:05:02,269 testing those waves that we created. 80 00:05:02,402 --> 00:05:04,137 [Narrator] The team operates the waves 81 00:05:04,271 --> 00:05:08,008 from a control tower above the pool. 82 00:05:08,141 --> 00:05:10,310 [Michi] Ranja? 83 00:05:10,443 --> 00:05:12,579 [speaks German] 84 00:05:12,712 --> 00:05:16,683 ♪ ♪ 85 00:05:16,816 --> 00:05:18,084 [Narrator] The operator can generate 86 00:05:18,218 --> 00:05:20,453 seven different preset patterns 87 00:05:20,587 --> 00:05:24,157 from beginner waves to expert level barrels. 88 00:05:24,291 --> 00:05:28,762 ♪ ♪ 89 00:05:28,895 --> 00:05:32,465 They start with the beginner wave settings 90 00:05:32,599 --> 00:05:35,068 and then ride progressively bigger patterns 91 00:05:35,202 --> 00:05:38,004 to check for wave height and pacing. 92 00:05:38,138 --> 00:05:44,611 ♪ ♪ 93 00:05:44,744 --> 00:05:48,582 Michi then checks the full expert settings. 94 00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:54,454 The wave quickly powers up to a height of over two meters. 95 00:05:57,457 --> 00:06:01,428 Carrying Michi across the entire length of the pool. 96 00:06:02,929 --> 00:06:04,731 [Michi] The pressure, the steepness of the wave 97 00:06:04,864 --> 00:06:07,234 felt really good. 98 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:11,571 So we were really pleased with the result. 99 00:06:11,705 --> 00:06:13,340 So I think everyone will be really stoked 100 00:06:13,473 --> 00:06:16,776 to get into the new season. 101 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:19,613 [Narrator] With their tests complete, the park opens 102 00:06:19,746 --> 00:06:23,250 and quickly fills up with surf fans from across the globe, 103 00:06:23,383 --> 00:06:24,351 eager to try out 104 00:06:24,484 --> 00:06:27,854 this one-of-a-kind engineering wonder. 105 00:06:27,988 --> 00:06:30,390 ♪ ♪ 106 00:06:30,523 --> 00:06:35,028 ♪ ♪ 107 00:06:35,161 --> 00:06:38,632 Throughout history, German engineers have broken ground 108 00:06:38,765 --> 00:06:42,936 on some of Europe’s greatest infrastructure projects. 109 00:06:46,539 --> 00:06:49,876 German engineers have pioneered travel by rail, 110 00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:54,881 inventing the diesel engine and the first electric tramway. 111 00:06:55,015 --> 00:06:57,951 In Wuppertal, they built the world's first 112 00:06:58,084 --> 00:07:01,154 electric suspension public railway 113 00:07:01,288 --> 00:07:05,325 at the turn of the 20th century. 114 00:07:05,458 --> 00:07:08,928 And in the 1980s, a German high-speed train 115 00:07:09,062 --> 00:07:14,701 set a world speed record of over 405 kilometers per hour. 116 00:07:16,836 --> 00:07:19,306 Back in Munich, engineers are creating 117 00:07:19,439 --> 00:07:22,275 a new record-breaking railway station 118 00:07:22,409 --> 00:07:25,378 with an extraordinary twist. 119 00:07:27,547 --> 00:07:32,218 This is the construction site of Marienhof station. 120 00:07:32,352 --> 00:07:35,789 It's part of Munich's brand new rapid commuter line 121 00:07:35,922 --> 00:07:40,860 and the deepest station ever built in Germany. 122 00:07:40,994 --> 00:07:45,966 The scale of the project is unprecedented for the city. 123 00:07:46,099 --> 00:07:50,737 Engineers need to dig down over 40 meters to excavate tunnels 124 00:07:50,870 --> 00:07:55,408 beneath the city’s existing subterranean metro lines. 125 00:07:55,542 --> 00:07:59,913 The entire project is set to cost nearly 11 billion euros, 126 00:08:00,046 --> 00:08:03,717 and the underground station itself will be enormous. 127 00:08:05,819 --> 00:08:10,256 Johannes Jessen is a senior project engineer on the site. 128 00:08:11,992 --> 00:08:14,427 [Johannes Jessen, translated] We’re building a cathedral underground here, 129 00:08:14,561 --> 00:08:17,464 at least in terms of the sheer amount of earth we’re moving. 130 00:08:17,597 --> 00:08:21,434 That’s 185,000 cubic meters. 131 00:08:23,636 --> 00:08:25,772 [Narrator] The deeper the team here dig, 132 00:08:25,905 --> 00:08:28,074 the greater the challenge. 133 00:08:28,208 --> 00:08:32,445 Water saturates the soil, which could swamp machinery 134 00:08:32,579 --> 00:08:35,849 or cause the excavation to cave in. 135 00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:42,022 To deal with the wet ground under Munich, 136 00:08:42,155 --> 00:08:45,058 The team must cast massive concrete walls 137 00:08:45,191 --> 00:08:47,927 deep into the ground. 138 00:08:48,061 --> 00:08:53,099 Then they remove the earth inside, layer by layer, 139 00:08:53,233 --> 00:08:56,536 40 meters down, 140 00:08:56,669 --> 00:09:00,306 to build the backbone of the station. 141 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,743 But now, as they dig their first tunnel, 142 00:09:03,877 --> 00:09:09,048 they must venture outside the concrete box. 143 00:09:09,182 --> 00:09:11,918 To avoid groundwater flooding in, 144 00:09:12,052 --> 00:09:15,488 they must seal off the tunnel 145 00:09:15,622 --> 00:09:19,359 and use compressed air to push back the water. 146 00:09:19,492 --> 00:09:25,031 ♪ ♪ 147 00:09:25,165 --> 00:09:27,734 For the tunnel builders, that means stepping through 148 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:32,272 a high-pressure air lock each morning just to get to work. 149 00:09:33,773 --> 00:09:37,310 It’s a scene straight out of sci-fi. 150 00:09:39,579 --> 00:09:41,748 The air pressure inside the tunnel 151 00:09:41,881 --> 00:09:46,086 can be up to twice the pressure of the air outside. 152 00:09:46,219 --> 00:09:48,555 Similar to the pressure a diver feels 153 00:09:48,688 --> 00:09:51,458 five to 10 meters underwater. 154 00:09:56,796 --> 00:09:58,832 [Narrator] Tools and even heavy machinery 155 00:09:58,965 --> 00:10:02,635 must also enter the tunnel via the pressure lock. 156 00:10:02,769 --> 00:10:08,675 ♪ ♪ 157 00:10:08,808 --> 00:10:10,977 [Marcin Russek, translated] Air enters the chamber 158 00:10:11,110 --> 00:10:13,012 through these flaps. 159 00:10:13,146 --> 00:10:16,349 It's fed through compressors at 0.5 bar 160 00:10:16,483 --> 00:10:19,352 so that we can work here. 161 00:10:22,522 --> 00:10:24,557 [Narrator] To combat the risk of diesel fumes 162 00:10:24,691 --> 00:10:28,895 poisoning the pressurized tunnel, 163 00:10:29,028 --> 00:10:33,433 all the heavy machinery used on site is electric. 164 00:10:35,134 --> 00:10:36,369 [Marcin] It's the first time I've worked 165 00:10:36,503 --> 00:10:41,441 on a construction site where all of the devices are electrical. 166 00:10:41,574 --> 00:10:45,645 And I’m really impressed by how the electric machines work. 167 00:10:50,817 --> 00:10:52,152 [Narrator] Marienhof station is designed to be the hub 168 00:10:52,285 --> 00:10:56,923 of a new rapid commuter line that connects Munich's center 169 00:10:57,056 --> 00:10:59,592 with its sprawling suburbs, 170 00:10:59,726 --> 00:11:04,364 but 16 train and metro lines already cross below the city, 171 00:11:04,497 --> 00:11:08,334 transporting over one million passengers a day. 172 00:11:08,468 --> 00:11:11,271 So the new line has to be dug even deeper 173 00:11:11,404 --> 00:11:14,841 to avoid these existing underground lines. 174 00:11:19,345 --> 00:11:23,550 As each tunneling shift ends, 175 00:11:23,683 --> 00:11:26,653 the team must depressurize for around 10 minutes 176 00:11:26,786 --> 00:11:29,322 before they head home for the day. 177 00:11:37,830 --> 00:11:39,799 [Marcin] When you get out of the pressure zone, 178 00:11:39,933 --> 00:11:40,833 it's simply a relief, 179 00:11:40,967 --> 00:11:42,869 because you're happy to see daylight again 180 00:11:43,002 --> 00:11:45,004 and have completed the work. 181 00:11:47,774 --> 00:11:50,109 [Narrator] It’s slow progress. 182 00:11:50,243 --> 00:11:52,212 Working this way means the team completes 183 00:11:52,345 --> 00:11:56,716 a maximum of two meters of tunnel a day. 184 00:11:56,849 --> 00:12:00,720 But once finished, this landmark station and line 185 00:12:00,853 --> 00:12:03,590 will play a vital role, easing the burden 186 00:12:03,723 --> 00:12:08,061 on the city’s busy transport system for generations to come. 187 00:12:08,194 --> 00:12:13,700 ♪ ♪ 188 00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:17,470 German engineers are pioneers of aviation, 189 00:12:17,604 --> 00:12:22,075 creating the first practical helicopter 190 00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:24,477 and the first airline. 191 00:12:25,912 --> 00:12:29,916 Today, ingenious taxiway bridges carry aircraft 192 00:12:30,049 --> 00:12:31,484 over the Autobahn to help 193 00:12:31,618 --> 00:12:35,588 the country's busy airports to grow. 194 00:12:35,722 --> 00:12:38,291 The Heligoland Archipelago is home 195 00:12:38,424 --> 00:12:42,428 to perhaps Germany’s most dramatic airport. 196 00:12:42,562 --> 00:12:45,131 Three runways here stretch across a small 197 00:12:45,264 --> 00:12:48,301 850-meter-wide island of sand 198 00:12:48,434 --> 00:12:51,871 in the middle of the North Sea. 199 00:12:52,005 --> 00:12:56,342 In Frankfurt am Main, engineers are expanding an airport 200 00:12:56,476 --> 00:13:02,015 to make it fit for 21st century air travel. 201 00:13:02,148 --> 00:13:04,717 ♪ ♪ 202 00:13:04,851 --> 00:13:06,719 Frankfurt Airport is the busiest 203 00:13:06,853 --> 00:13:10,356 aviation hub in Germany. 204 00:13:10,490 --> 00:13:14,994 Around 1,200 flights take off and land here every day, 205 00:13:15,128 --> 00:13:18,698 moving over 60 million passengers a year. 206 00:13:20,333 --> 00:13:22,368 Now, behind the scenes, 207 00:13:22,502 --> 00:13:25,772 a massive transformation is under way. 208 00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:30,343 Engineers are building a brand new terminal. 209 00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:33,613 It's one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects, 210 00:13:33,746 --> 00:13:39,218 with a construction site the size of 25 football pitches. 211 00:13:39,352 --> 00:13:42,422 Once complete, passengers will reach the terminal 212 00:13:42,555 --> 00:13:46,025 via an autonomous Skyline train. 213 00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:48,528 The terminal has a vast check-in hall 214 00:13:48,661 --> 00:13:50,596 and four massive concourses, 215 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:56,436 equipped to service a minimum of 33 aircraft at once. 216 00:13:56,569 --> 00:13:57,704 It will boost capacity 217 00:13:57,837 --> 00:14:02,041 by an additional 25 million passengers annually. 218 00:14:04,277 --> 00:14:09,582 Building this record-breaking structure is no simple task. 219 00:14:15,955 --> 00:14:18,825 [Narrator] The biggest challenge for the project's engineers, 220 00:14:18,958 --> 00:14:22,662 like Alexander Betz, is keeping planes flying 221 00:14:22,795 --> 00:14:25,598 while this transformation takes place. 222 00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:30,069 [Alexander Betz, translated] It is very challenging. 223 00:14:30,203 --> 00:14:32,538 We’re in the middle of the operational area. 224 00:14:32,672 --> 00:14:37,777 So, the airplanes roll around our construction site. 225 00:14:37,910 --> 00:14:40,480 [Narrator] It's critical that no construction dust 226 00:14:40,613 --> 00:14:43,049 blows onto the live runways. 227 00:14:43,182 --> 00:14:45,118 This could cloud the pilots' vision, 228 00:14:45,251 --> 00:14:48,821 or even worse, damage the aircraft engines. 229 00:14:51,958 --> 00:14:54,727 [Alexander] We have to make sure that we don't stir up dust here 230 00:14:54,861 --> 00:14:59,999 that blows onto the runway or into an aeroplane. 231 00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:03,102 [Narrator] The airport sits on a vast, flat plain 232 00:15:03,236 --> 00:15:06,439 that's waterlogged, 233 00:15:06,572 --> 00:15:08,441 which makes building the new terminal here 234 00:15:08,574 --> 00:15:10,710 even more difficult. 235 00:15:12,912 --> 00:15:14,380 To lay the foundations, 236 00:15:14,514 --> 00:15:18,851 engineers have to dig up to 11 meters deep. 237 00:15:18,985 --> 00:15:22,155 But groundwater rushes in as they excavate, 238 00:15:22,288 --> 00:15:25,358 flooding the pit. 239 00:15:25,491 --> 00:15:27,693 They have to work with divers to help pour 240 00:15:27,827 --> 00:15:33,399 nearly 40,000 cubic meters of concrete to stabilize the site. 241 00:15:35,201 --> 00:15:37,603 Then pump out the groundwater, 242 00:15:37,737 --> 00:15:40,740 clearing the way for construction to begin. 243 00:15:40,873 --> 00:15:46,379 ♪ ♪ 244 00:15:46,512 --> 00:15:48,748 It takes three years to erect the walls 245 00:15:48,881 --> 00:15:51,050 of the terminal building. 246 00:15:51,184 --> 00:15:54,554 Construction space on site is limited, 247 00:15:54,687 --> 00:15:59,592 so the team have to divide its enormous 10,000-ton roof, 248 00:15:59,725 --> 00:16:02,361 the size of two and a half football fields, 249 00:16:02,495 --> 00:16:06,999 into five sections, and use a hydraulic platform 250 00:16:07,133 --> 00:16:09,535 to carefully slide them into place. 251 00:16:09,669 --> 00:16:13,906 ♪ ♪ 252 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,711 The new terminal is set to redefine airport innovation. 253 00:16:18,845 --> 00:16:21,848 ♪ ♪ 254 00:16:21,981 --> 00:16:25,117 A pioneering system will capture the heat generated 255 00:16:25,251 --> 00:16:27,186 by the baggage handling system 256 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,689 and the thousands of daily passengers 257 00:16:29,822 --> 00:16:33,726 and redistribute it to warm the building. 258 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:37,530 At its core are central heating and cooling plants, 259 00:16:37,663 --> 00:16:40,132 hidden below the main terminal hall. 260 00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:42,201 They connect to the entire building 261 00:16:42,335 --> 00:16:44,670 via a network of pipes. 262 00:16:46,772 --> 00:16:50,243 A large array of solar panels will cover the roof, 263 00:16:50,376 --> 00:16:53,379 enabling the terminal to generate its energy needs 264 00:16:53,512 --> 00:16:56,516 largely from sustainable sources. 265 00:16:56,649 --> 00:16:58,584 [Worker] Stop! 266 00:16:58,718 --> 00:17:01,554 [Narrator] After 10 years of construction, 267 00:17:01,687 --> 00:17:04,624 the new terminal will welcome its first passengers 268 00:17:04,757 --> 00:17:07,293 as Europe's most advanced airport 269 00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:09,896 finally opens its doors. 270 00:17:13,499 --> 00:17:16,536 Over the centuries, German engineers have developed 271 00:17:16,669 --> 00:17:20,606 innovative ways for people to traverse its rivers. 272 00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:25,144 The double-decker Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin 273 00:17:25,278 --> 00:17:28,648 opened in 1896. 274 00:17:28,781 --> 00:17:31,484 The Mungstener steel bridge in Solingen 275 00:17:31,617 --> 00:17:35,388 is the highest railway bridge in Germany, 276 00:17:35,521 --> 00:17:38,457 and the Magdeburg Water Bridge is the world's longest 277 00:17:38,591 --> 00:17:43,329 navigable aqueduct, and passes over the River Elbe. 278 00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:48,200 Now, a new crossing taking shape on the River Ems 279 00:17:48,334 --> 00:17:52,038 is set to be a record-breaking engineering wonder. 280 00:17:57,977 --> 00:17:59,845 [Narrator] This is the construction site 281 00:17:59,979 --> 00:18:02,748 of the Friesen Rail Bridge. 282 00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:08,254 When complete, this brand new artery will carry a train link 283 00:18:08,387 --> 00:18:11,657 to the Netherlands 284 00:18:11,791 --> 00:18:15,127 and also swing open to allow ships to pass through 285 00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:17,897 on their way to the nearby North Sea. 286 00:18:18,030 --> 00:18:19,865 [horn blows] 287 00:18:19,999 --> 00:18:25,371 Measuring 337 meters long, the new Friesen Bridge will be 288 00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:30,610 the largest lift-swing bridge ever constructed in Europe. 289 00:18:30,743 --> 00:18:33,546 At its heart is a hydraulic system 290 00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:35,381 with six lifting cylinders 291 00:18:35,514 --> 00:18:40,186 that raise the 1,800-ton movable span. 292 00:18:40,319 --> 00:18:44,190 Eight hydraulic motors then swivel it 90 degrees, 293 00:18:44,323 --> 00:18:48,928 allowing ships up to 50 meters wide to pass through. 294 00:18:50,997 --> 00:18:54,200 The most challenging part of the bridge's construction 295 00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:56,302 is the installation of the enormous 296 00:18:56,435 --> 00:19:00,573 145-meter-long swinging span. 297 00:19:02,041 --> 00:19:05,378 It is built from steel and has been shipped to site 298 00:19:05,511 --> 00:19:07,513 on giant floating pontoons 299 00:19:07,646 --> 00:19:10,883 ready to anchor it into position. 300 00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:14,887 Right now, ties secure it to the riverside. 301 00:19:16,856 --> 00:19:19,358 The team needs to wait until high tide 302 00:19:19,492 --> 00:19:20,860 for the water to raise the bridge 303 00:19:20,993 --> 00:19:25,364 to the correct height for installation. 304 00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:28,968 High tide tonight arrives after dark. 305 00:19:31,904 --> 00:19:34,407 Stefan Schwede is the lead engineer 306 00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:37,743 on this high-stakes nighttime operation. 307 00:19:39,979 --> 00:19:42,081 [Stefan Schwede] There are many people involved, 308 00:19:42,214 --> 00:19:44,383 and they all have to know what to do 309 00:19:44,517 --> 00:19:47,620 and to really work as a team 310 00:19:47,753 --> 00:19:49,922 and be motivated over the whole time, 311 00:19:50,056 --> 00:19:52,358 and that would be long, because we have an operation 312 00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:56,462 that takes probably eight to 12 hours. 313 00:19:56,595 --> 00:19:59,598 [Narrator] The team's first task is to battle the currents 314 00:19:59,732 --> 00:20:03,602 to rotate the two pontoons 90 degrees. 315 00:20:06,205 --> 00:20:10,743 They use steel cables and winches to turn the barges. 316 00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:17,349 It's no simple task to keep the 1,800-ton bridge section 317 00:20:17,483 --> 00:20:20,019 balanced and centered. 318 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,857 [Stefan] The most challenging thing is that we have to do 319 00:20:24,990 --> 00:20:28,561 all operations at the same time, 320 00:20:28,694 --> 00:20:30,963 and they have to be synchronized. 321 00:20:31,097 --> 00:20:34,967 Therefore, we have to do it very slowly, but constant, 322 00:20:35,101 --> 00:20:37,470 and that will be the challenge. 323 00:20:42,975 --> 00:20:45,077 [Narrator] It takes a nerve-racking two hours 324 00:20:45,211 --> 00:20:48,948 to rotate the large span. 325 00:20:49,081 --> 00:20:52,184 The next step is to carefully line the bridge up 326 00:20:52,318 --> 00:20:54,720 with its final resting place. 327 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,663 [Narrator] The team uses four winches to haul the pontoons 328 00:21:04,797 --> 00:21:07,233 close to the drop zone. 329 00:21:08,667 --> 00:21:09,969 [Kees Kompier] The dark makes it slightly difficult 330 00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:12,972 to see everything, but we are moving very smoothly 331 00:21:13,105 --> 00:21:14,807 and controlled at the moment. 332 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:16,575 So far, so good. 333 00:21:18,077 --> 00:21:20,746 [Narrator] Then, they use remote-controlled trailers 334 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,717 to move the segment the final 19 meters. 335 00:21:26,118 --> 00:21:30,022 The operators on either side must stay in constant contact 336 00:21:30,156 --> 00:21:34,527 to move the trailers at the same pace. 337 00:21:34,660 --> 00:21:37,196 [Kees] In the end, we need to position the bridge 338 00:21:37,329 --> 00:21:38,898 very accurate in the middle. 339 00:21:39,031 --> 00:21:40,633 That’s very critical. 340 00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:43,002 ♪ ♪ 341 00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:47,540 ♪ ♪ 342 00:21:53,879 --> 00:21:56,115 [Narrator] It takes another two hours for the team 343 00:21:56,248 --> 00:22:01,620 to slowly inch the freezing bridge to its fixing point. 344 00:22:01,754 --> 00:22:04,156 Now they pump water into the pontoons 345 00:22:04,290 --> 00:22:06,892 to make them sink 346 00:22:07,026 --> 00:22:08,861 and lower the load. 347 00:22:23,342 --> 00:22:26,178 [Narrator] After a long and challenging night... 348 00:22:26,312 --> 00:22:29,315 [Stefan] Whew! Yeah. That's it. 349 00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:31,617 [Narrator] ...the moving span of Europe's largest 350 00:22:31,750 --> 00:22:36,722 lift-swing railway bridge is finally in place. 351 00:22:36,856 --> 00:22:38,057 [Stefan] Well. 352 00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:39,959 [Narrator] The team is exhausted, 353 00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:43,596 but it’s a triumphant moment. 354 00:22:43,729 --> 00:22:47,533 The next step is to test the swing mechanism. 355 00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:50,736 Then they can look forward to the end of the project, 356 00:22:50,870 --> 00:22:53,072 when the bridge is put into action, 357 00:22:53,205 --> 00:22:55,674 carrying trains to and from Germany, 358 00:22:55,808 --> 00:22:59,478 and swinging open to give passage to giant cruise ships. 359 00:22:59,612 --> 00:23:01,380 [horn blows] 360 00:23:05,951 --> 00:23:08,754 Germany's position at the crossroads of Europe 361 00:23:08,888 --> 00:23:12,324 has not only fueled innovative infrastructure projects, 362 00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:14,393 but has also driven breakthroughs 363 00:23:14,526 --> 00:23:17,763 in megascale architecture. 364 00:23:20,366 --> 00:23:22,067 German engineering is responsible 365 00:23:22,201 --> 00:23:25,571 for many of the world’s tallest churches. 366 00:23:27,072 --> 00:23:31,176 Cologne's twin-spired cathedral reaches a dizzying height 367 00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:35,014 of 157 meters, 368 00:23:35,147 --> 00:23:37,383 and St. Nicholas' Church in Hamburg 369 00:23:37,516 --> 00:23:41,287 stretches to around 147 meters. 370 00:23:42,521 --> 00:23:45,291 The city of Ulm in southern Germany 371 00:23:45,424 --> 00:23:48,827 is home to the tallest spire of them all. 372 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:59,938 [Narrator] This is Ulm Minster, the world’s tallest church. 373 00:24:01,407 --> 00:24:06,979 Its steeple soars an astonishing 161.5 meters high, 374 00:24:07,112 --> 00:24:11,784 making it over 20 meters taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. 375 00:24:13,786 --> 00:24:17,956 When work started on the Minster back in 1377, 376 00:24:18,090 --> 00:24:21,226 it was designed to hold a congregation that was larger 377 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,496 than the population of the town itself. 378 00:24:27,833 --> 00:24:31,837 The funds to build it were raised by the people of Ulm 379 00:24:31,970 --> 00:24:34,807 to put their town on the map. 380 00:24:34,940 --> 00:24:36,842 Little did they know their creation would be 381 00:24:36,976 --> 00:24:40,946 a record-breaker over 600 years later. 382 00:24:42,681 --> 00:24:45,017 Today, it's covered in scaffolding, 383 00:24:45,150 --> 00:24:49,588 because an extraordinary engineering rescue is underway. 384 00:24:49,722 --> 00:24:54,760 ♪ ♪ 385 00:24:54,893 --> 00:24:57,896 Aaron Weisser has been overseeing essential work 386 00:24:58,030 --> 00:25:02,334 on the church’s main spire for three years. 387 00:25:02,468 --> 00:25:03,635 [Aaron Weisser, translated] So, the special thing 388 00:25:03,769 --> 00:25:06,739 about the Minster is that it catches everybody's eye, 389 00:25:06,872 --> 00:25:09,308 no matter which direction you drive from. 390 00:25:09,441 --> 00:25:12,378 That’s why they built it as high as they could. 391 00:25:15,748 --> 00:25:19,485 [Narrator] The main structure of the church is made from brick, 392 00:25:19,618 --> 00:25:21,787 topped with a lace-like skeleton 393 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,323 of finely carved sandstone. 394 00:25:26,458 --> 00:25:32,164 This stonework is the focus of the current renovations. 395 00:25:32,297 --> 00:25:35,801 Deep inside the pillars lie iron dowels 396 00:25:35,934 --> 00:25:38,904 that hold the sections of stone together. 397 00:25:39,038 --> 00:25:42,775 But over time, the iron can rust and expand... 398 00:25:42,908 --> 00:25:44,109 [cracking] 399 00:25:44,243 --> 00:25:45,377 ...threatening to crack the stone 400 00:25:45,511 --> 00:25:47,813 they were designed to support. 401 00:25:50,182 --> 00:25:53,786 Aaron's task is to replace the old iron 402 00:25:53,919 --> 00:25:58,757 with a new core of non-corrosive stainless steel. 403 00:25:58,891 --> 00:26:01,693 ♪ ♪ 404 00:26:01,827 --> 00:26:05,597 Today, the team is attempting to remove an iron dowel 405 00:26:05,731 --> 00:26:10,369 that sits a dizzying 66 meters up the spire. 406 00:26:12,037 --> 00:26:16,175 They mark accurate cut lines using a laser. 407 00:26:16,308 --> 00:26:22,848 ♪ ♪ 408 00:26:22,981 --> 00:26:25,984 And chip out a section of stone, exposing the iron dowel. 409 00:26:26,118 --> 00:26:29,521 ♪ ♪ 410 00:26:29,655 --> 00:26:35,661 ♪ ♪ 411 00:26:35,794 --> 00:26:41,733 Finally, they use a chainsaw to sever the dowel at the top. 412 00:26:41,867 --> 00:26:43,869 [Aaron] Because the dowels are relatively large, 413 00:26:44,002 --> 00:26:47,272 we need a lot of saw blades so that it comes out cleanly 414 00:26:47,406 --> 00:26:49,775 and there’s no movement in the top. 415 00:26:49,908 --> 00:26:52,444 We want to lose as little stone as possible 416 00:26:52,578 --> 00:26:55,581 and preserve as much of the old as we can. 417 00:26:55,714 --> 00:26:59,351 [Narrator] Workers can now remove the whole piece. 418 00:27:00,452 --> 00:27:02,621 And Aaron drills out the remains 419 00:27:02,754 --> 00:27:06,258 of the over-600-year-old upper dowel. 420 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,330 The team sets off on a vertiginous trip 421 00:27:11,463 --> 00:27:13,866 down to the site’s workshop. 422 00:27:13,999 --> 00:27:18,470 ♪ ♪ 423 00:27:18,604 --> 00:27:22,374 In the workshop, Aaron begins the restoration. 424 00:27:25,511 --> 00:27:28,514 First, he adds new stone to replace the section 425 00:27:28,647 --> 00:27:32,851 he chipped away, and his team prepares the cornice 426 00:27:32,985 --> 00:27:35,988 that the restored stonework will sit on. 427 00:27:37,723 --> 00:27:41,860 Then he drills a hole for the new metal dowel. 428 00:27:43,795 --> 00:27:47,499 They haul the stonework back up the tower. 429 00:27:47,633 --> 00:27:50,102 Inside, it has a new dowel 430 00:27:50,235 --> 00:27:52,804 suspended on the end of a string. 431 00:27:55,541 --> 00:27:58,210 They carefully line up the holes 432 00:27:58,343 --> 00:28:01,446 and lower the new dowel into place. 433 00:28:03,949 --> 00:28:07,719 Now the junction must be made watertight. 434 00:28:07,853 --> 00:28:12,491 They line it with a layer of molding clay 435 00:28:12,624 --> 00:28:15,761 and then pour in molten lead, 436 00:28:15,894 --> 00:28:19,998 just as the original builders did centuries ago. 437 00:28:20,132 --> 00:28:23,869 ♪ ♪ 438 00:28:24,002 --> 00:28:28,740 The metal cools to reveal a shiny new joint, 439 00:28:28,874 --> 00:28:33,912 and the team celebrate another perfect repair. 440 00:28:34,046 --> 00:28:36,114 [Aaron] I’m very satisfied. 441 00:28:36,248 --> 00:28:38,183 We’ve completely achieved our goal. 442 00:28:38,317 --> 00:28:40,586 It's a very beautiful Gothic building, 443 00:28:40,719 --> 00:28:44,423 and that’s what the Minster is all about, the character. 444 00:28:44,556 --> 00:28:50,429 ♪ ♪ 445 00:28:50,562 --> 00:28:53,432 [Narrator] The invention of the automobile by German engineer 446 00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:59,004 Karl Benz in 1886 changed the world. 447 00:28:59,137 --> 00:29:01,340 Today, Germany is still the biggest 448 00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:03,609 producer of cars in Europe. 449 00:29:05,877 --> 00:29:09,448 Volkswagen's plant in Wolfsburg is one of the largest 450 00:29:09,581 --> 00:29:12,584 car factories in the world. 451 00:29:12,718 --> 00:29:16,188 In Munich, there's one car manufacturer that's engineering 452 00:29:16,321 --> 00:29:19,891 their megascale factory to new limits. 453 00:29:24,262 --> 00:29:26,465 This factory, in the heart of Munich, 454 00:29:26,598 --> 00:29:29,301 is home to the Bavarian Motor Works, 455 00:29:29,434 --> 00:29:33,472 or BMW for short. 456 00:29:33,605 --> 00:29:35,507 The workforce here has been producing 457 00:29:35,641 --> 00:29:41,146 high-performance motorcycles and cars for over 100 years. 458 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:47,085 Around 1,000 vehicles roll off the production line every day. 459 00:29:47,219 --> 00:29:50,055 This plant is a manufacturing powerhouse 460 00:29:50,188 --> 00:29:52,691 packed with cutting-edge technology, 461 00:29:52,824 --> 00:29:55,661 from 1,200 high-precision robots 462 00:29:55,794 --> 00:29:58,830 to pioneering autonomous systems. 463 00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:06,371 Now, BMW is embarking on an astonishing challenge. 464 00:30:06,505 --> 00:30:09,875 Engineers here are knocking down outdated buildings 465 00:30:10,008 --> 00:30:12,010 and replacing them with state-of-the-art 466 00:30:12,144 --> 00:30:15,614 production lines for electric cars. 467 00:30:15,747 --> 00:30:17,316 They're racing against the clock 468 00:30:17,449 --> 00:30:22,354 to get the new lines up and running in record time. 469 00:30:22,487 --> 00:30:24,990 [Mohan Noronha] This project is absolutely historic 470 00:30:25,123 --> 00:30:27,426 in the history of Munich. 471 00:30:27,559 --> 00:30:31,997 [Narrator] Mohan Noronha leads this complex operation. 472 00:30:33,632 --> 00:30:35,934 [Mohan] Shutting down the plant is no option, 473 00:30:36,034 --> 00:30:39,237 so we have to keep the plant at a steady state, 474 00:30:39,371 --> 00:30:41,606 producing full capacity, 475 00:30:41,740 --> 00:30:45,444 and at the same time building up the new facility. 476 00:30:47,779 --> 00:30:50,415 [Narrator] But keeping this complex project moving 477 00:30:50,549 --> 00:30:53,485 creates massive logistical problems. 478 00:30:59,424 --> 00:31:00,358 [Narrator] A fleet of heavy-duty trucks 479 00:31:00,492 --> 00:31:02,060 delivers up to 70 segments 480 00:31:02,194 --> 00:31:04,262 to the BMW construction site 481 00:31:04,396 --> 00:31:07,933 each day with clockwork precision. 482 00:31:08,066 --> 00:31:09,368 [Fabian Weichselgartner, translated] All delivery trucks 483 00:31:09,501 --> 00:31:13,605 that enter the site are timed via a digital system. 484 00:31:15,407 --> 00:31:18,343 [Narrator] Each truck is precisely scheduled to enter 485 00:31:18,477 --> 00:31:22,380 and leave the construction site within just 60 minutes. 486 00:31:24,216 --> 00:31:25,984 This is critical to avoid disrupting 487 00:31:26,118 --> 00:31:30,489 around 800 daily deliveries to the production line. 488 00:31:33,458 --> 00:31:35,127 [Fabian] This construction site is a massive 489 00:31:35,260 --> 00:31:38,230 logistical challenge for us. 490 00:31:38,363 --> 00:31:40,432 [Narrator] Once delivered to site, 491 00:31:40,565 --> 00:31:42,734 the team immediately hooks the modules 492 00:31:42,868 --> 00:31:46,972 to the 10 cranes in operation, ready for liftoff. 493 00:31:47,105 --> 00:31:51,443 [Fabian] We have about 7,200 parts that we need to install 494 00:31:51,576 --> 00:31:55,080 in the largest hall here. 495 00:31:55,213 --> 00:31:59,217 [Narrator] The team here aren’t just fighting against time. 496 00:31:59,351 --> 00:32:01,887 They’re also fighting space. 497 00:32:04,456 --> 00:32:06,291 With little room to maneuver, 498 00:32:06,424 --> 00:32:08,627 they use a compact crawler crane 499 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:12,330 to help build in this tight spot. 500 00:32:12,464 --> 00:32:15,534 It has steel tracks and a low center of gravity 501 00:32:15,667 --> 00:32:17,502 that allow it to lift materials 502 00:32:17,636 --> 00:32:20,172 and access confined spaces 503 00:32:20,305 --> 00:32:24,075 that larger fixed cranes can’t reach. 504 00:32:24,209 --> 00:32:25,243 [Operator] It's one of the toughest sites 505 00:32:25,377 --> 00:32:27,846 which I ever worked. 506 00:32:27,979 --> 00:32:30,382 Check my left side before I’m swinging. 507 00:32:30,515 --> 00:32:32,350 Check my left side. 508 00:32:33,685 --> 00:32:35,921 Here, before you touch the joystick, 509 00:32:36,054 --> 00:32:37,689 you have to watch twice, 510 00:32:37,823 --> 00:32:40,258 because there is plenty of every machine. 511 00:32:40,392 --> 00:32:43,862 So you have to be careful about every move. 512 00:32:45,697 --> 00:32:47,999 [Narrator] The team has just millimeters of space 513 00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:49,968 to play with. 514 00:32:50,101 --> 00:32:52,270 [Operator] Not enough, slow. 515 00:32:53,538 --> 00:32:56,908 [Narrator] ...to slot each beam into position. 516 00:33:00,378 --> 00:33:01,379 [Operator] Okay. 517 00:33:01,513 --> 00:33:05,183 [Narrator] Finally, the beam is in place. 518 00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:06,685 [Worker] Stop. 519 00:33:06,818 --> 00:33:08,386 [Narrator] They then quickly anchor it 520 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:12,123 to the rest of the structure. 521 00:33:12,257 --> 00:33:14,392 So far, workers have already completed 522 00:33:14,526 --> 00:33:17,596 two of the new production buildings. 523 00:33:17,729 --> 00:33:21,433 If they keep up this pace, the new Munich factory complex 524 00:33:21,566 --> 00:33:24,236 will be completed in just 18 months, 525 00:33:24,369 --> 00:33:27,873 safeguarding Germany's iconic car manufacturer 526 00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:29,941 for the future. 527 00:33:33,245 --> 00:33:34,980 Germany has not only led the way 528 00:33:35,113 --> 00:33:39,484 with large-scale architecture and infrastructure projects, 529 00:33:39,618 --> 00:33:41,520 but is also home to some of the world's 530 00:33:41,653 --> 00:33:44,656 most remarkable machines. 531 00:33:48,126 --> 00:33:52,564 Germany is one of Europe's largest centers for logistics, 532 00:33:52,697 --> 00:33:56,501 and it’s driven by mega-scale machines. 533 00:33:56,635 --> 00:34:00,572 Hamburg is equipped with Europe's largest rail port, 534 00:34:00,705 --> 00:34:04,643 handling around 200 freight trains a day. 535 00:34:04,776 --> 00:34:08,880 And Duisburg, the largest inland port in the world, 536 00:34:09,014 --> 00:34:11,917 uses high-tech cranes to distribute goods 537 00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:17,489 across the nation’s vast network of rivers and canals. 538 00:34:17,622 --> 00:34:20,558 In Brunsbuttel, on the north coast, 539 00:34:20,692 --> 00:34:23,361 a series of vast machines keep Germany's 540 00:34:23,495 --> 00:34:26,865 most critical artificial waterway moving. 541 00:34:26,998 --> 00:34:32,570 ♪ ♪ 542 00:34:32,704 --> 00:34:35,640 This is the Brunsbuttel lock complex, 543 00:34:35,774 --> 00:34:39,444 one of Germany’s largest ship locks. 544 00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:44,115 For over 110 years, it's provided safe passage for ships 545 00:34:44,249 --> 00:34:46,584 traveling between the tidal River Elbe 546 00:34:46,718 --> 00:34:49,821 and the world's busiest artificial waterway, 547 00:34:49,955 --> 00:34:51,656 the Kiel Canal. 548 00:34:51,790 --> 00:34:54,059 The canal provides a vital shortcut 549 00:34:54,192 --> 00:34:56,828 between the North and Baltic Seas 550 00:34:56,962 --> 00:35:01,099 and handles over 100 seagoing vessels every day 551 00:35:01,232 --> 00:35:04,436 through its four enormous lock chambers. 552 00:35:05,904 --> 00:35:09,908 Now, as part of a massive modernization project, 553 00:35:10,041 --> 00:35:13,645 the facility is about to get a brand new lock. 554 00:35:13,778 --> 00:35:18,550 ♪ ♪ 555 00:35:18,683 --> 00:35:21,519 In the heart of the Brunsbuttel complex, 556 00:35:21,653 --> 00:35:25,490 a monumental new lock chamber is taking shape. 557 00:35:25,624 --> 00:35:28,226 It is longer than three football fields, 558 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,862 with gates that are seven stories tall 559 00:35:30,996 --> 00:35:34,866 and weigh over 2,000 tons. 560 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:36,034 [horn blows] 561 00:35:36,167 --> 00:35:40,939 The chamber can hold up to four large ships at a time. 562 00:35:41,072 --> 00:35:43,975 To move them to the level of the River Elbe, 563 00:35:44,109 --> 00:35:47,479 which changes with the tide throughout the day, 564 00:35:47,612 --> 00:35:52,584 the chamber either floods with water to lift them up 565 00:35:52,717 --> 00:35:56,454 or it releases water to lower them down. 566 00:35:57,489 --> 00:36:00,158 All in just 45 minutes, 567 00:36:00,291 --> 00:36:04,729 so they can quickly continue their voyage. 568 00:36:04,863 --> 00:36:08,533 ♪ ♪ 569 00:36:11,936 --> 00:36:14,472 [Narrator] Civil engineer Annemarie Brandt 570 00:36:14,606 --> 00:36:16,875 spearheads the project. 571 00:36:19,210 --> 00:36:20,745 [Annemarie Brandt, translated] A lock chamber of this size 572 00:36:20,879 --> 00:36:22,447 is unique. 573 00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:28,286 You only build something like this once in a lifetime. 574 00:36:29,821 --> 00:36:31,890 [Narrator] One of the team's biggest challenges 575 00:36:32,023 --> 00:36:35,760 is the location of the construction site. 576 00:36:35,894 --> 00:36:38,229 It sits on an island right between 577 00:36:38,363 --> 00:36:41,032 the busy existing lock chambers. 578 00:36:42,934 --> 00:36:46,538 A ferry has to do 20 trips a day to drop off trucks 579 00:36:46,671 --> 00:36:50,842 carrying building materials and equipment. 580 00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:53,878 Right now, to construct the massive interior walls 581 00:36:54,012 --> 00:36:59,551 of the chamber, they need over 6,000 cubic meters of concrete. 582 00:37:02,420 --> 00:37:03,755 [Narrator] The Brunsbuttel island's 583 00:37:03,888 --> 00:37:05,790 on-site concrete factory 584 00:37:05,924 --> 00:37:10,762 mixes the raw ingredients delivered from shore. 585 00:37:10,895 --> 00:37:12,197 [Lasse Eichert, translated] The types of concrete that 586 00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:15,467 we use here were all specially manufactured or tested 587 00:37:15,633 --> 00:37:19,003 just for this construction site. 588 00:37:19,137 --> 00:37:22,240 [Narrator] The chamber's walls will be exposed to the elements 589 00:37:22,373 --> 00:37:25,577 all year round, so the concrete mix 590 00:37:25,710 --> 00:37:29,581 must contain tiny air bubbles to allow it to expand 591 00:37:29,714 --> 00:37:33,551 without cracking when it freezes. 592 00:37:33,685 --> 00:37:35,687 The team must test each batch 593 00:37:35,820 --> 00:37:39,290 to check it has the right volume of bubbles. 594 00:37:40,725 --> 00:37:45,396 This batch passes the test, and they begin to pour. 595 00:37:50,568 --> 00:37:52,737 [Lasse] The section we are concreting today 596 00:37:52,871 --> 00:37:58,176 is 27 meters long and holds 120 cubic meters of concrete. 597 00:37:58,309 --> 00:38:01,546 ♪ ♪ 598 00:38:01,679 --> 00:38:07,752 ♪ ♪ 599 00:38:07,886 --> 00:38:11,790 [Narrator] It takes 10 hours for them to complete this section. 600 00:38:14,025 --> 00:38:15,493 They insulate the concrete 601 00:38:15,627 --> 00:38:18,963 to help it cure in the cold overnight. 602 00:38:19,097 --> 00:38:22,967 It will take around 15 more concrete pours like this 603 00:38:23,101 --> 00:38:26,137 to complete the chamber. 604 00:38:26,271 --> 00:38:28,740 The team is on track to finish the new lock, 605 00:38:28,873 --> 00:38:32,577 ready for a grand opening in two years' time, 606 00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:35,647 upgrading this historic engineering wonder 607 00:38:35,780 --> 00:38:38,816 for the 21st century. 608 00:38:38,950 --> 00:38:42,520 ♪ ♪ 609 00:38:42,654 --> 00:38:45,423 Germany's rugged and mountainous landscape 610 00:38:45,557 --> 00:38:49,661 was shaped over millions of years. 611 00:38:49,794 --> 00:38:52,530 Across the centuries, its engineers have devised 612 00:38:52,664 --> 00:38:57,302 innovative ways to keep vital transport routes connected. 613 00:38:59,003 --> 00:39:02,574 The historic Oberjoch Pass in the German Alps 614 00:39:02,707 --> 00:39:08,479 was built in the 16th century to transport salt from Austria. 615 00:39:08,613 --> 00:39:12,417 The Goltzsch Viaduct helped connect Saxony and Bavaria 616 00:39:12,550 --> 00:39:14,352 during the 19th century 617 00:39:14,485 --> 00:39:18,489 and is the largest brick-built bridge in the world. 618 00:39:18,623 --> 00:39:21,192 Outside Berlin, there's a unique site 619 00:39:21,326 --> 00:39:25,663 that boasts not one, but two engineering wonders. 620 00:39:29,133 --> 00:39:33,338 These two extraordinary machines are ship lifts: 621 00:39:33,471 --> 00:39:38,076 supersized elevators that raise and lower huge vessels. 622 00:39:38,209 --> 00:39:42,180 They shuttle ships up and down between the old Oder River 623 00:39:42,313 --> 00:39:44,916 and the Oder-Havel Canal. 624 00:39:45,049 --> 00:39:48,620 The two waterways act as a key link between Berlin 625 00:39:48,753 --> 00:39:50,755 and the Baltic Sea, 626 00:39:50,888 --> 00:39:56,527 but are separated by a 36-meter vertical gap. 627 00:39:56,661 --> 00:40:01,165 The first lift here was opened in 1934, 628 00:40:01,299 --> 00:40:04,702 and in 2022, engineers added a second, 629 00:40:04,836 --> 00:40:08,940 next-generation elevator to boost capacity. 630 00:40:11,309 --> 00:40:13,411 Vast concrete slabs counterbalance 631 00:40:13,544 --> 00:40:17,515 the nearly 10,000-ton lifting trough, 632 00:40:17,649 --> 00:40:21,686 which can move everything from river cruisers to cargo ships 633 00:40:21,819 --> 00:40:24,722 up to 110 meters long. 634 00:40:27,525 --> 00:40:29,594 The trough always weighs the same, 635 00:40:29,727 --> 00:40:32,463 no matter how heavy the ship is. 636 00:40:32,597 --> 00:40:34,432 This is because each ship displaces 637 00:40:34,565 --> 00:40:37,902 exactly as much water as it weighs. 638 00:40:40,338 --> 00:40:42,707 Marco Richlowski is one of the operators 639 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:48,346 in charge of running the new 500 million-euro megalift. 640 00:40:48,479 --> 00:40:49,714 [Marco Richlowski, translated] I'm on my way to 641 00:40:49,847 --> 00:40:53,451 the control desk, which is at the very top of the ship lift. 642 00:40:53,584 --> 00:40:57,021 From there, everything that has to do with the new ship lift 643 00:40:57,155 --> 00:40:59,357 is controlled and directed. 644 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:04,495 [Narrator] The team operates the high-tech machine 645 00:41:04,629 --> 00:41:08,633 from a control tower directly above the trough. 646 00:41:10,168 --> 00:41:13,705 When a ship sails into the lift from the upper canal, 647 00:41:13,838 --> 00:41:19,978 Marco activates the partition wall to seal off the trough. 648 00:41:20,111 --> 00:41:22,513 Then the machinery fires up. 649 00:41:22,647 --> 00:41:26,284 ♪ ♪ 650 00:41:26,417 --> 00:41:28,052 Eight electric motors set 651 00:41:28,186 --> 00:41:32,590 the nearly 10,000-ton trough in motion. 652 00:41:34,459 --> 00:41:38,996 Then the 14 sets of concrete counterweights take over. 653 00:41:41,165 --> 00:41:43,000 As the counterweights move up, 654 00:41:43,134 --> 00:41:47,805 they control the descent of the massive water-filled basin. 655 00:41:49,841 --> 00:41:52,510 Thanks to this counterweight technology, 656 00:41:52,643 --> 00:41:55,847 the lift can move a 2,300-ton ship 657 00:41:55,980 --> 00:42:00,151 using the minimum of electrical energy. 658 00:42:00,284 --> 00:42:01,819 And the system works the same 659 00:42:01,953 --> 00:42:05,490 no matter how big or small the vessel. 660 00:42:05,623 --> 00:42:10,461 ♪ ♪ 661 00:42:10,595 --> 00:42:14,232 It takes less than five minutes to lower. 662 00:42:17,368 --> 00:42:19,704 The operator drops the partition wall 663 00:42:19,837 --> 00:42:23,975 so the boat can set sail in the lower waterway. 664 00:42:26,778 --> 00:42:28,046 [Marco] The structure is undoubtedly 665 00:42:28,179 --> 00:42:30,715 an engineering achievement. 666 00:42:30,848 --> 00:42:33,484 It’s nice to operate such a system. 667 00:42:33,618 --> 00:42:35,253 We're talking about 10,000 tons 668 00:42:35,386 --> 00:42:37,789 that I drive back and forth here. 669 00:42:40,691 --> 00:42:45,163 [Narrator] The original elevator here is still in use. 670 00:42:45,296 --> 00:42:49,000 Unlike its modern concrete neighbor, 671 00:42:49,133 --> 00:42:51,302 the 1930s lift is constructed 672 00:42:51,436 --> 00:42:55,506 from 14,000 tons of steel latticework. 673 00:42:56,941 --> 00:43:00,678 It was opened five years before the outbreak of World War II, 674 00:43:00,812 --> 00:43:03,414 and although the area saw heavy fighting, 675 00:43:03,548 --> 00:43:06,651 it survived largely intact, 676 00:43:06,784 --> 00:43:11,556 and now, in high season, the two lifts move around 60 ships 677 00:43:11,689 --> 00:43:15,993 between the two waterways every day. 678 00:43:16,127 --> 00:43:19,931 Thanks to these twin marvels of maritime engineering, 679 00:43:20,064 --> 00:43:23,501 traffic continues to flow on this essential waterway 680 00:43:23,634 --> 00:43:26,737 between Berlin and the Baltic Sea. 681 00:43:26,871 --> 00:43:29,106 ♪ ♪ 682 00:43:29,240 --> 00:43:34,445 ♪ ♪ 683 00:43:34,579 --> 00:43:37,415 Throughout history, engineering prowess 684 00:43:37,548 --> 00:43:39,984 has been instrumental in connecting Germany 685 00:43:40,118 --> 00:43:43,054 to its neighbors. 686 00:43:43,187 --> 00:43:47,625 Today, this nation at the crossroads of the continent 687 00:43:47,758 --> 00:43:54,232 continues to drive innovation and connectivity across Europe. 54654

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