Capital Equipment News November 2015

LIFTING

POTAIN TOWER CRANES set the pace for contractors

A lthough the majority of contractors see a tower crane as simply another piece of materials handling equip- ment, this is not how Manitowoc views this vital tool which is a common fixture on most construction sites around the world. Tower cranes are often the determining factor when it comes to productivity on a construction site, and ongoing product de- velopment by Manitowoc is aimed specifi- cally at enhancing the return on investment (ROI) for customers. David Semple, Manito- woc VP Sales Middle East & Africa, explains that there are a number of things that define the ROI on a tower crane and chief amongst these is productivity of the machine. “The speed at which a tower crane can lift and place loads is directly linked to the pro- ductivity that a site will be able to achieve on any given day,” Semple says. “Fast track projects have become the standard through- out the world today and being able to build rapidly is a major benefit to any contractor. This makes the speed of materials handling the all-important difference between meet- ing the construction programme or not.” “There is a significant difference in the speed at which construction can take place based on the amount of materials moved in a single working day. For example, whether you can pour 100 buckets of concrete or 120 buckets can have an impact on the dai- ly build programme,” he adds. In addition to operational productivity, the speed of erection and disassembly of the tower crane is just as important. This also receives attention during engineering as the speed at which the tower crane is erected will dictate the site’s accessibility to mate- rials. Furthermore, the speed at which the unit can be climbed also has an impact, es- pecially where the building being construct- ed is high rise. “An example where advanced engineering has made a difference is in the tying of the Potain tower crane into a high rise building as it climbs. This can be done in six hours as opposed to the conventionally accepted eight hours with other similar cranes,” Semple says.

tower crane has been engineered to facili- tate speed of erection and dismantling, and its ergonomic design makes it easier for rigging crews and ensures optimal safety during both activities. Productivity of a tower crane can be com- promised if it is not correctly configured. An example of this could be if the winch were undersized the tower crane could then be- come a bottleneck on site, slowing down materials handling and subsequent con- struction activities. Torre Lifting Solutions, SA French division, is the southern African distributor for Potain tower cranes and Quentin van Breda, tech- nical director says that it is important that contractors partner with a reputable equip- ment supplier who has the depth of techni- cal skill to appropriately configure a tower crane for a specific application. “Tower cranes should be constructed to maximise productivity without breaching operational performance or safety proto- cols,” he says. “And this requires the input of experienced people who understand both the technical ability of the crane and the site requirements.” Underpinned by its strategy of improving the ROI on materials handling equipment, this leading OEM is focused on engineering its tower cranes with features that will facili- tate the requisite speed of handling yet still offer the level of reliability and performance for which Potain tower cranes have become recognised.

Semple says that Potain tower cranes are known for their fail-proof design and the excellent lifespan that these engineered machines offer customers. The cranes are produced in accordance with world class manufacturing processes ensuring that the highest levels of quality and reliability are maintained. This extends to ensuring the optimum integrity and life cycle of all major components that make up a tower crane. Manitowoc operates a Product Verification Centre (PVC) in France where all major components are tested to ensure structural and operational integrity. Components are subjected to climatic extremes and stress through simulated tests. Manitowoc is the only crane manufacturer that invests to this level to ensure the absolute integrity of its final product. Significantly, Potain has remained the world leader in tower crane production since its inception in France in 1928 and over 120 000 cranes have been manufactured and installed across the globe. Today, the company produces over 60 models from manufacturing plants in France, Germany, Italy Portugal, China and Brazil and these highly productive machines are found not only on traditional construction sites, but also on power stations, minerals benefici- ation plants and smelters, in shipbuilding yards and on civil engineering projects in- cluding dams and bridges. b

Dismantling of the machine is also import- ant as this too is time related. The Potain

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 14