Bosch Rexroth Will Supply the Hydraulic Drives for the Great Beijing Wheel to be Featured at the 2008 Olympic Games
(Hoffman Estates, IL - www.boschrexroth-us.com) The Great Wheel Corporation recently awarded Bosch Rexroth with the contract to supply the automation systems for the world's largest look-out wheel in Beijing, China.
The 678-foot high wheel will start service in the Chinese capital in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. Bosch Rexroth will provide project engineering, shipment and installation of the complete hydraulic drive and control systems, as well as the automation for the passenger boarding stations.
The Great Wheel Corporation chose Bosch Rexroth to supply the technical systems because the drive and control company is a leading supplier of motion platforms, and because of its emphasis on reliability and safety.
The Rexroth-designed drive system comprises a powerful, nearly maintenance-free hydraulic power unit. In addition, the company's hydraulic motors will drive 32 special tires that contact the 648-foot diameter wheel, making it rotate at a constant speed of three times an hour. A fail-safe backup system ensures reliable operation, even if a fault develops in the main circuit. The Rexroth drive concept has already been operating successfully on England's London Eye, which is currently the largest Great Wheel in Europe.
The 48 capsules on the Great Beijing Wheel each provide space for 40 passengers who can enter and exit while the wheel is turning. Each capsule is equipped with a state-of-the-art audio and visual information system that describes Beijing and the surrounding area, including the Gate of Heavenly Peace in the Forbidden City.
Bosch Rexroth is supplying the automation equipment for the moving boarding stations. The stations will be synchronized with the motion of the Great Wheel, and will be located on either side. To avoid unnecessary stops and starts and the potential loss of inertial energy on the wheel, passengers will board via special cars on a separate track. These cars will then travel alongside to match the speed of the wheel at the bottom of its rotation so passengers can transfer in and out of the cars. As a result, nearly 5,800 passengers per hour will be able to enjoy the fantastic view over Beijing.
Bosch Rexroth has established itself as global leader in supplying automation systems for complex projects beyond the entertainment segment. For example, in the Chinese market the company has already supplied the stage systems for the China National Grand Theater in Beijing, the locks for the Three Gorges project, and the automation systems for the first ferry terminal over the Qiongzhou Straits, where the ferry terminal systems are capable of resisting typhoon-strength winds.
As a drive and control technology supplier, Bosch Rexroth also serves as the general contractor for unique turnkey projects throughout the world.
Bosch Rexroth AG, part of the Bosch Group, achieved sales of approximately $6.2 billion (4.9 billion Euro) in 2006 with over 29,800 employees. Under the brand name of Rexroth the company offers all drive and control technologies, from mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics to electronics and associated service. Over 500,000 customers worldwide utilize Rexroth's unique technological know-how to implement their innovative and future-oriented systems and machine concepts. The global player, represented in over 80 countries, is an extensive supplier of components and systems for industrial and factory automation and mobile applications. Visit www.boschrexroth-us.com for more information.
