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Viking inspired Liebherr working in Mexico

Whilst travelling in Europe, Olga Sánchez, director of Mexican company Grupo Olsa, discovered Viking culture and was impressed by its association with strength and power. The experience inspired her to give one of the company’s drilling rigs a Viking identity for its work on the AIFA-Pachuca railway project. The result is ‘Mjölnir’, a Liebherr LB 25 carrying a distinctive Viking design.

The 65km railway between Felipe Ángeles Airport, near Mexico City, and Pachuca de Soto forms part of Mexico’s wider programme to expand and modernise its rail infrastructure. The project is intended to improve connections between the airport and the existing rail network, while providing a faster passenger link between the two locations.

As powerful as Thor’s hammer

Grupo Olsa is installing 827 foundation piles for the new railway. Alongside Liebherr LB 24 and LB 28 rigs, the company is using a new LB 25 featuring a Viking motif across its uppercarriage. The name ‘Mjölnir’ – Thor’s legendary hammer from Norse mythology – is displayed on the rotary drive.

Although Mexico has a rich history shaped by cultures including the Aztecs and Mayas, Sánchez chose the Viking theme to reflect the strength and resilience she associates with the culture. She first encountered Viking history during a trip around Europe and was impressed by its connection with power and fearlessness.

Using the Kelly drilling method, the LB 25 is installing piles to depths of up to 33 metres, with diameters ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 metres. With a maximum torque of 252kNm, the machine is also having to deal with an extremely hard basalt layer encountered between 8 and 20 metres below ground level.

The combination of the LB 25 and an experienced drilling team has allowed work to continue through the challenging ground conditions. Grupo Olsa began the deep foundation work in October 2025 and is scheduled to complete its work with ‘Mjölnir’ in December 2026.