Construction of a bridge with cranes, scaffolding, and snow in the surroundings.

High suspense

At 85m above ground, the Filstal Bridge is a high-speed railway and Germany's third-tallest bridge – powered by Bosch Professional.

Building the Filstal Bridge

It will take seven years to build the Filstal Bridge. And it will take seven seconds to cross it. One of the most anticipated construction projects in Germany, the Filstal Bridge (or "Filstalbrücke" in German) is a new high-speed ICE railway bridge that stands 85m tall and stretches 500m across the Fils Valley. Due to its unique tunnel-bridge-tunnel design, the construction has been pushing architecture, engineering, and power tools to new heights. To make tough work easier, we gave the builders of the Filstal Bridge our latest 18V cordless angle grinders with X-LOCK.

Building at new heights is tough work – but it's easier with Bosch Professional.

Worker in orange safety jacket drilling at a construction site.

Pioneering engineering

FILS VALLEY – "When we complete this 500m bridge, it will be a pioneering piece of engineering,” says Manfred May, construction manager at Max Bögl Group. It's the dead of winter and May is standing 85m above ground on a railway bridge still under construction. Below, cars speed along the Autobahn through the frost-covered valley. An ice-cold wind rushes around us as May looks across the Fils Valley toward the next tunnel. There's still quite a distance to go. Due to its unique structure, this one stretch of the new high-speed Stuttgart-Ulm ICE railway will take seven years to build. "And soon, high-speed trains will rush across this bridge in just seven seconds," May smiles.

Construction work with cranes, railings, and concrete at a construction site in the snow.

Tough factors

What makes the Filstalbrücke so challenging? To begin with, it isn't technically one, but two bridges: A pair of single tracks run parallel across the valley, 30m apart, held up by slender Y-shaped pillars. "The two tracks are due to the separate tunnels,” May explains. And that's not all: "The high speed of the trains will exert great force on the bridge and its slim pillars. Even the tunnel entrances have to be supported by the bridge. And last but not least – the height! All of these factors present daily challenges.” To help make tough work at new heights easier, we gave the team a range of Bosch Professional cordless tools for more flexibility.

Man with glasses and yellow helmet in orange work suit smiles.

When we complete this 500m bridge, it will be a pioneering piece of engineering.

Manfred May, Construction Manager, Max Bögl Group

A yellow construction hovers over two gray concrete pillars.

"Growing" the bridge

In total, the Filstalbrücke will use up an estimated 770 tonnes of steel and 55,000 cubic metres of concrete – a lot of material for the crew to handle at such heights. The challenge was so big that bridge-building specialists Max Bögl and Porr joined forces to form the Arge EÜ Filstal working group. Together, they're using a special technique to "grow" the bridge across the valley. “We're working with a moving steel scaffolding, which wraps the newest section of the bridge from above," explains May. "When concreting is done, we release the bottom of the steel scaffolding and move it forward to the next section. This is how we're 'growing' the bridge across the valley."

A Bosch Professional cordless angle grinder is lying on construction material.

No time to lose

At these heights, you can't afford to drop a tool. "We need to have the right tools and accessories ready to go at anytime," says Martin Mayer, a foreman. "If anything is missing, it's a long way from up here to the tool depot. And that costs us time.” Today, the team needs to lay 160 tonnes of steel as soon as possible so that the concrete can be poured. Part of the job is to trim the bars to length so that they line up perfectly. Mayer reaches for the GWX 18V-10 SC Professional cordless angle grinder. It's still missing a disc, so he picks up an X-LOCK metal-cutting disc and "clicks" it onto the tool in one easy movement. You wouldn't know it, but this is his first time trying out the X-LOCK switching system.

A man with a yellow helmet and orange jacket is looking at the camera.

We need to have the right tools and accessories ready to go at anytime. If anything is missing, it's a long way from up here to the tool depot. And that costs us time.

Martin Mayer, Foreman at Max Bögl Group

Bosch Professional cutter cuts metal, sparks fly.

Seconds to switch

Mayer looks impressed. “The X-LOCK system is really fast. You can change discs in a few seconds without even needing a key.” He takes a closer look at the GWX 18V-10 SC Professional. “With most angle grinders, you're always searching for the key," he says. "And it's a huge waste of time when the disc jams and the clamping nut gets stuck. Sometimes it's so tough to loosen the nut that you have to reach for a hammer...” Thanks to the X-LOCK mount on the GWX 18V-10 SC Professional, Mayer can now easily "click" the grinder disc into place. To switch accessories, he simply unlocks the disc by using the lever on the tool. After switching discs a few times, he grins: “I don’t even need to take off my gloves!”

Bosch Professional angle grinder with X-LOCK discs on wooden surface.

Huge range of applications

The X-LOCK mount is available with most Bosch Professional angle grinders and compatible with over 130 accessories – even from different brands. Mayer can choose any X-LOCK accessory from Bosch Professional or even from Pferd, Austromex, Berner, and more. For metal processing alone, Mayer can choose from a wide selection of accessories, including cutting, roughing, fibre, SCM and flap discs, as well as cup and round brushes. And that's not all: The X-LOCK discs are backward-compatible. “The new X-LOCK discs even fit on our older Bosch Professional angle grinders," says Mayer. "That's a huge advantage, because we can upgrade our accessories without having to buy brand new tools.”

The X-LOCK system is really fast. You can change grinder discs in a few seconds without needing a key. I don't even have to take off my gloves!

Martin Mayer, Foreman at Max Bögl Group

Two men in orange work jackets and helmets are holding a tool.

Proud to build

May comes over to join Mayer and together they glance across the valley to the distance ahead of them. “Every construction project is unique. You can always be proud to have been involved right from the start," says Mayer. "One day, when passengers speed across this bridge in seven seconds in a high-speed ICE train, when they emerge from the dark tunnel into sudden light, they will only be able to guess the challenges we had to overcome to build them this route.” As a bridge-builder, Mayer is proud to work on major landmarks. “When you finally see the end product, you know how much you've achieved. You can proudly tell your children one day: That was my construction site.”

Every construction project is unique. You can always be proud to be involved right from the start... One day, you can proudly tell your children: That was my construction site.

Martin Mayer, Foreman at Max Bögl Group