PFEIFER outfits Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Arena with a new membrane roof

During the multi-week construction phase, all 40 segments of the filigree roof construction, spanning over 37,000 square meters, were removed and replaced. Every day an international team of up to 80 climbers worked in parallel on four different stages. One group removed the old membranes, while a second rust-proofed the roof’s steel frame. A third installed the new membranes, and the fourth completely upgraded the drainage system. 

A roof with the power of titanium

The new membrane was manufactured by the Chinese PFEIFER subsidiary Covertex and was the largest German contract for the membrane specialists from Shanghai since the PFEIFER takeover two years ago. The PVC membranes used were coated with titanium oxide. This innovative finish ensures the membranes last longer, clean easier and stay bright white despite the effects of the weather.   The rope support system PFEIFER installed in the Mercedes-Benz Arena in the early 1990s is still in excellent condition, and remained in place throughout the renovation work. Just a few individual elements were cleaned and reused as part of the project. 

 “Proud of the entire team”

“I am proud of what the entire team achieved,” Cable Structures Business Unit Head Christian Schlögl says. “We got a really complex project done in a fairly short period of time and right on schedule.” The project was initiated by client and stadium owner, Stadion NeckarPark GmbH & Co. KG. Engineers from schlaich bergermann partner sbp GmbH were responsible for planning and overseeing the construction, while asp Architekten GmbH served as project planner and manager.