Challenging big beam lifts

The 300 tonne crane lifting one end of one of the 98 tonne beams off its trailer. Photo: Liebherr

Long heavy loads, a cellar and limited space were among the challenges met by crane specialist Haslach on a factory project in Austria.

Tandem lifting with a pair of large wheeled mobile cranes was the chosen solution to install a series of large and heavy concrete beams at the factory in Bludenz. The pre-stressed concrete trusses each weighed 98 tonnes and were 42 metres long.

Haslach was constructing a new hall at the Getzner textile factory. This new building had a full cellar running underneath it and there was limited space to place the cranes. The ten new concrete trusses formed the roof structure for the new factory building.

A series of supports in the basement allowed crane operation above. Photo: Liebherr

A further challenge for the crane company was that deliveries had to be able to continue throughout the works. Commenting on the job Tobias Haslach, Kranverleih Haslach owner, said, “After extensive planning and many detailed calculations, we were able to come up with a solution for the installation work in conjunction with the other companies involved. We stabilised the cellar ceiling from underneath with ceiling supports in order to achieve the support strength required to allow our [Liebherr] LTM 1300-6.3 to work on this cellar ceiling.” In addition to the 6-axle mobile crane, the specialized transports carrying the trusses also drove over the cellar to unload.

Five and six axle pair

Lifting in tandem to place one of the 42 metre long pre-stressed concrete trusses. Photo: Liebherr

In addition to the 300 tonne capacity crane Haslach used a 230 tonne LTM 1230-5.1 as the second crane for the tandem lifts. Haslach takes up the story, “We set up the 5-axle vehicle on a specially filled embankment outside the hall. Due to the positioning behind a concrete wall, we were only able to co-ordinate with the work team via radiotelephones. The truss also had to be guided around the LTM 1300-6.3.”

To get the truss of the delivery truck each crane lifted 51 tonnes at radii of 13 and 15 metres, respectively. The beams alone were big enough but, loaded for the delivery by road, they made a total of 148 tonnes, needing a special permit and they could only travel at night.

Following the installation of each beam, both cranes were moved, retaining all their equipment and ballast, into new positions ready for the next lift.

“The co-operation on the construction site was excellent. Operations at the Getzner textile factory continued virtually undisturbed. Our two crane operators were also delighted with the collaboration of everyone involved on site,” said Tobias Haslach.

Family-run Kranverleih Haslach is based in Wertach, southern Germany. Its entire mobile crane fleet is Liebherr cranes.

Off the special trailer and straight into position with one crane inside and the larger one outside the new factory wall. Photo: Liebherr