Grupo Olsa using LB 25 ‘Mjölnir’ for deep foundation work on the AIFA-Pachuca railway in Mexico; 33 m depths through basalt.

Grupo Olsa using LB 25 ‘Mjölnir’ for deep foundation work on the AIFA-Pachuca railway in Mexico; 33 m depths through basalt.

Through the basalt with ‘Mjölnir’ – Viking machine drilling in Mexico - Liebherr

Invia una richiesta di contatto

Through the basalt with ‘Mjölnir’ – Viking machine drilling in Mexico

Whilst on a trip to Europe, Olga Sánchez, the director of the Mexican company Grupo Olsa, discovered the Viking culture. Their impressive power inspired her to use an equally powerful drilling rig for deep foundation work on the AIFA-Pachuca railway project in her home country. This gave rise to the idea of the ‘Mjölnir’ Viking machine, which took shape with the Liebherr LB 25.

The new railway line between Felipe Ángeles Airport in Mexico City and Pachuca de Soto, some 65 kilometres away, is a key element of Mexico’s ambitious infrastructure expansion programme. As part of this national programme, several thousand kilometres of new railway lines are being built across the country to connect major cities more efficiently and promote economic growth. The AIFA-Pachuca project plays a key role in this. It provides an optimum link between the international airport and the rail network and marks an important step in the comprehensive modernisation of passenger transport in Mexico. Both commuters and travellers alike benefit from the improved connection – the distances are shorter, the journey times involved in air travel are significantly reduced.

As powerful as Thor’s hammer

Grupo Olsa is constructing 827 foundation piles for the new rail connection. Alongside the Liebherr drilling rigs LB 24 and LB 28, a particularly striking model is being used: a new LB 25 featuring an impressive Viking motif on the uppercarriage. The name ‘Mjölnir’ – Thor’s legendary hammer from Norse mythology – is emblazoned on the rotary drive. A symbol of unbridled power, destruction and the force of a lightning bolt – and also of the most powerful drilling rig in this size class in the Mexican deep foundation company’s fleet. Although Mexico is shaped by cultures such as the Aztecs and the Mayas, Olga Sánchez, the director of Grupo Olsa, wanted to make a statement: Vikings represent values that embody the drilling rig and the company. Whilst travelling around Europe she discovered the Viking culture and was impressed by the powerful and fearless people from Northern Europe.

Using the Kelly drilling method, the Viking machine is installing piles down to depths of 33 metres with diameters between 1.2 and 1.5 metres. With a maximum torque of 252 kilonewton metres, the Liebherr drilling rig LB 25 performs impressively even under demanding conditions: an extremely hard layer of basalt at depths between 8 and 20 metres puts both the machine and the drilling tool to the test. However, the combination of high-performance technology and an experienced team ensures that installation progresses smoothly. Group Olsa started with the deep foundation work for the railway project in October 2025 and will complete the work with ‘Mjölnir’ in December 2026 as planned.

20.07.2026 Press releases HS 8300.1 as good as new with over 20,000 hrs on the clock Liebherr USA, Co. in Houston, Texas has carried out a complete overhaul on a high performance duty cycle machine for Matthews Brothers Dredging, LLC. Following a detailed planning phase and intensive work at the Liebherr site, the HS 8300.1 returned to the barge as good as new – and with a number of upgrades into the bargain.

HS 8300.1 as good as new with over 20,000 hrs on the clock

Liebherr USA, Co. in Houston, Texas has carried out a complete overhaul on a high performance duty cycle machine for Matthews Brothers Dredging, LLC. Following a detailed planning phase and intensive work at the Liebherr site, the HS 8300.1 returned to the barge as good as new – and with a number of upgrades into the bargain.

13.07.2026 News Creating opportunities in the skilled trades in Canada In March this year, Liebherr-Canada welcomed a group of 20 women into its Acheson branch to get a closer look at the skilled trades careers they’d been training for with Women Building Futures.

Creating opportunities in the skilled trades in Canada

In March this year, Liebherr-Canada welcomed a group of 20 women into its Acheson branch to get a closer look at the skilled trades careers they’d been training for with Women Building Futures.

02.07.2026 Press releases Liebherr expands its portfolio for soil mixing applications: mixing cutter LMC 80 Noise-reduced and low-vibration methods for ground improvement are becoming increasingly important in the market. With the LMC 80 cutter soil mixer, Liebherr presents such a solution for soil mixing. The tried and tested LRB 23 or LRB 355 piling and drilling rigs are used as carrier machines for the LMC 80. This complete package from Liebherr is perfectly harmonised and offers customers all components from one source.

Liebherr expands its portfolio for soil mixing applications: mixing cutter LMC 80

Noise-reduced and low-vibration methods for ground improvement are becoming increasingly important in the market. With the LMC 80 cutter soil mixer, Liebherr presents such a solution for soil mixing. The tried and tested LRB 23 or LRB 355 piling and drilling rigs are used as carrier machines for the LMC 80. This complete package from Liebherr is perfectly harmonised and offers customers all components from one source.