Big luffing jib tower crane is simply capable

One of Marr Contracting’s Favelle Favco M2480D luffing tower cranes on the BlueScope blast furnace reline project at Port Kembla Steelworks in Australia. Photo: Marr Contracting

Once again Marr Contracting has come up with an alternative solution for the heavy lifting requirement on an industrial project in Australia.

Marr is contracted to provide heavy lifting services on the BlueScope No. 6 blast furnace (6BF) reline project at the Port Kembla Steelworks (PKSW).

It is an AU$1.15 billion (US$779 million) project to reline the furnace, plus repair and upgrade ancillary plant equipment. Included as part of it is AU$100 million ($68 million) for environmental improvement upgrades. These will mean the plant can maintain production and then bring in lower emissions steelmaking processes as they become available to future-proof the plant.

Crane-wise, Marr’s lifting solution replaces 600 tonne capacity lattice boom crawler cranes. Instead it uses one of Marr’s 330 tonne capacity Favelle Favco M2480D luffing jib tower cranes. It is set on a 7.5 x 7.5 metre piled foundation designed for this job. In addition to its capacity, benefits of the M2480D are that it only requires a small footprint in which to operate and offers a long reach.

Using the big luffer means there is a crane available for any unscheduled lifting, helping to keep the project on track.

“Occasionally, we come across a project where the perfect solution immediately presents itself like a hand in a glove. This has been one of those projects and by working closely with the BlueScope team early in the planning stages, it has been possible to develop a simple solution that will reduce complexity and help to secure the tight construction programme,” said Simon Marr, managing director.

Game-changing craneage

The 330 tonne capacity Favelle Favco M2480D used instead of 600 tonne capacity lattice boom crawler cranes. Photo: Marr Contracting

From the client end Justin Reed, PKSW project director, observed, “The capability and capacity of Marr’s tower crane is a true game-changer for our project. At vertical industrial sites like a blast furnace we have always wished there was a ‘sky-hook’ that could deliver a lift at any point on the plant, and now we have a solution with significant lifting capacity. Marr’s team are challenging our traditional thinking by enabling large sections of equipment that were previously maintained in situ to be lifted to ground for repairs or replacement.”

In August 2023, BlueScope announced approval of its plans to reline and upgrade the previously dormant blast furnace in order to secure the Illawarra region’s steelmaking capacity beyond 2026 when the existing No. 5 blast furnace (5BF) completes its current production campaign.

PKSW is one of only two major steelmaking plants in Australia. It has around 3,500 employees and supports another 5,500 jobs in the Illawarra coastal region.

Recommissioning of the relined furnace is anticipated for mid-2026, according to BlueScope.