STORY Mining

12,000 tons of snow per hour: The super machine that keeps Norway's airports running in winter

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Lucie Maluck

Øveraasen's TV 2100 can catapult three cars per second – and clears 12,000 tons of snow per hour. How the world's largest snow blower saves Norway's airports in winter.
A scenario that is anything but unusual in Norway: A snowstorm sweeps across Oslo, visibility shrinks to a few meters, and the first flights are on the brink of being canceled. But in moments like these, the decision to take off or stay grounded depends not only on the weather forecast – but also on the technology available on the apron.

Two Norwegian airports – Oslo Airport in the capital and Tromsø Airport in the far north – rely on a special piece of equipment: the TV 2100 from Øveraasen, quite simply the largest and most powerful snow blower in the world. Weighing 45 tons and with a clearing capacity of 12,000 tons of snow per hour, it is a giant among winter service vehicles. To illustrate its power: the machine could theoretically throw three mid-size cars 50 meters into the air every second – an impressive feat that shows just how much power mtu engines can deliver. 

Øveraasen's TV 2100 can catapult three cars per second – and clears 12,000 tons of snow per hour.

Technology that defies extreme conditions

The TV 2100 is one of a kind: Øveraasen is the only manufacturer capable of building such a machine. The collaboration with Norwegian airport operator Avinor was close and involved several departments. "This is a handcrafted machine that has taken thousands of hours of work to build," emphasizes Stein Erik Pettersen, Key Account Manager at Øveraasen.

Key facts:

  • Dimensions: 12 meters long, 4.4 meters high, 3.4 meters wide
  • Drive: mtu 12V4000C35 with 1,500 kW (2,100 hp), 9,500 Nm torque, 57 liter displacement, and a dry weight of 8 tons
  • Environmental standard: Complies with the strict EU Stage V standards
  • Speed: Up to 60 km/h on the runway

The TV 2100 is not only a technical masterpiece, but also a critical emergency vehicle for airports. Speed and efficiency are crucial for maintaining operations even in the worst snowstorms.

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