Liebherr stadium lifts

Named after Romania's first track and field athlete to compete in six Olympic Games, the 55,200 seat Lia Manoliu stadium, in Bucharest, is scheduled to host the UEFA European football league final in 2012.

The demolition, design and build contract, valued at € 136 million (US$196 million), was awarded to joint venture contractors Max Bögl of Germany (60%) and Italy's Astaldi (40%).

Liebherr has six tower cranes on the site, including three 280 EC-H 12 Litronics for the mounting of pre-fabricated concrete sections. There is also a Liebherr LR 1350 crawler crane, capable of lifting up to 55 tonnes at a 24 m radius.

"The tower cranes have hook heights of between 49 and 68 m and boom lengths of between 60 and 65 m, depending on their site positioning," said site manager Bernd Neuber, from Max Bögl. "We are building the stadium as two halves. This will involve a single movement of the cranes from the west to the east tribune, which will take place soon."

Demolition of the existing smaller multi-purpose arena started in January 2008 and construction of the new football stadium is scheduled for completion in December 2010, ready for a retractable roof to be installed in 2011.

The completed stadium will feature two tribunes surrounded by retail outlets and hospitality units and the whole complex will be covered by a retractable roof.