August 2014 | CranesBlog

Mega Jack 800’s first use in bridge project

ALE’s new Mega Jack 800 system has been in action for the first time as part of a bridge installation in the Netherlands.

UK-based heavylift services provider ALE’s system, launched in June, was used in the load-out, transport and installation of the 1,570t Loenerslootse Bridge over the Amsterdam-Rijn canal in Nigtevecht, as well as the removal of the old 1,630t bridge.

ALE said the Mega Jack 800 is designed to bridge the gap in capacities of its current solutions and able to integrate with other heavylift equipment.

The system’s jacking towers each has a capacity of 800t, with multiple towers able to be combined with a starter to beam to create 1,600t and 2,400t capacity per jacking point. It can also combine with other services, such as skidding systems, to provide a complete solution for bridge launching.

The Dutch project was conducted in phases and also involved climbing jacks, SPMTs, barges, strand jacks, a heavy skid system and Liebherr LTM 1400 and LTM 1500 mobile cranes.

The new bridge was transported to site by river on connected barges and an inland vessel. The Mega Jack 800 was then employed to jack up the 1,250t bridge deck to 9m from the barge deck.

Removal of the old bridge and installation of the new one took under eight hours. Jack-down of the old bridge to end height for demolition also used the Mega Jack.

XCMG in kiloton crawler crane export

Chinese crawler crane manufacturer XCMG says an order for an XGC16000 (1250t) from an Indonesian customer is putting it on the map in terms of kiloton Chinese crawler crane exports.

The crane will be used by the customer from August in lifting offshore drilling platform equipment.
XCMG said the successful export was of strategic significance to XCMG and marked a further step for the company in accessing the international market.

The XGC16000 has a maximum lifting height of 202m and maximum combined length of boom (96m) and tower jib (108m).

XCMG said more and more Chinese crane companies were planning to expand their international business, with an acceleration in technological improvements to target foreign customers, who are gradually accepting high-tech Chinese construction sector machinery.

Zoomlion acquires Dutch hoist manufacturer

Zoomlion’s tower crane division has extended its material handling hoist business with the acquisition of the Netherlands’ Raxtar.

Nearly 200 people attended the signing of the agreement at Shanghai’s Jin Mao Tower on August 8.
Zoomlion vice president He Wenjin said the acquisition showed Zoomlion’s “complete confidence” in the future of the Chinese and international construction machinery markets and its commitment to the strategy of helping Chinese machinery “go global”.

Raxtar’s products include material and passenger hoists, transport platforms and industrial lifts, with products used in benchmark projects such as the World Trade Center in New York.

Zoomlion said the acquisition would mean benefits to both companies, including improvement of the product spectrum, development of an international strategy and accelerating mergers and acquisitions.
Tang Shaofang, deputy general manger of Zoomlion’s hoisting machinery division, said: “This acquisition will bring in international advanced technology, which will improve operational performance, enhance service value and reduce lifting costs, thereby meeting customer requirements for increasing value an reducing costs.”

Raxtar said the partnership would help Zoomlion improve its products and brand impact, as well as provide its global customers with new construction hoist and vertical lift solutions.

New Zoomlion-Jost flat top targeted at Chinese market

Zoomlion-Jost flat top tower cranes are to be promoted on the Chinese domestic market following successful sales to international markets.

Since purchasing flat-top tower crane technologies from Jost Cranes GmbH Pte Ltd and subsequent development of the Zoomlion Jost T320-16, shown at Intermat 2012, another crane – the T8030-25U has been launched and will also be promoted in China.

Zheng Changming, a Zoomlion director, said: “The four series of products working with Jost have not been promoted at the domestic market. Now we are working on tower cranes which suit the domestic market and developing the T8030-25U and a subsequent two models, redesigning Jost products, to lay a solid foundation for future markets.”

The T8030-25U features a maximum lifting moment of 4925kNm and is designed for high-rise construction, bridge-building and power projects.
Subsequent models will also be promoted on the domestic market.
Zoomlion-Jost flap top tower cranes have already been exported to Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Crane Link opens new Zoomlion warehouse in Johannesburg

More than 300 customers and agents gathered for the grand opening of Crane Link Zoomlion Pty Ltd’s new Zoomlion warehouse in Johannesburg.

The 5,000 sq m warehouse includes offices, maintenance facilities, spare parts, product demonstration spaces and machine operator training areas.

Crane Link, South African agent for the Chinese crane manufacturer Zoomlion, claims the training simulator (for the QY110V mobile crane) at the facility is the first of its kind in South Africa.

Mark Bates, Crane Link’s managing director, said: “Crane Link Zoomlion is excited to launch the new premises that positions Zoomlion cranes now as professional supplier of mobile cranes for the South Africa market, with the focus on technical training and service support.”

The Chinese-themed opening ceremony saw Zoomlion QY25V, QY50V, QY110V and RT55 cranes displayed.

DEMAG AC-700 joins Wagenborg fleet

Dutch lifting services and heavy transport company Wagenborg Nedlift has strengthened its crane fleet with a nine-axle Demag AC-700 mobile crane featuring a 60m main boom.

The 700t crane has already completed its first project – a tandem lift of an 185t hydraulic piling hammer with one of Nedlift’s 500t cranes. The hammer was lifted from a quay into an inland ship at the port of Eemshaven.

Nedlift’s AC-700 specification includes 160t counterweight capacity, Sideways Super Lift and the possibility to add a 36m main boom extension and 50m fixed fly jib, as well as 96m luffing fly jib.

The crane, to be used in the petrochemical, oil and gas industries, was supplied with an extensive safety package, including features like platforms and railings to work fully secured on top of the main boom and jib.