Crawler Cranes
Top: For the Searsport project, Sprague Energy uses two Manitowoc cranes working in tandem to move large components, like turbine blades that can reach lengths of up to 250 feet.
Left: Primary applications for Kobelco small crawlers are road and bridge, power and commercial construction work.
Bottom Right: Griffin Grading & Concrete LLC is using a Link-Belt 110-ton 218 | V crawler crane as part of a major effort to rehabilitate a nearly 100-year-old bridge. moving the parts demands exceptional coordination and precision. Some larger components, like turbine blades, can reach lengths of up to 250 feet and require two cranes working in tandem.
“ Our Manitowoc cranes work together to lift the windmill’ s tower sections, blades, hubs, drives and nacelles,” Cameron Giroux, terminal supervisor at Sprague Energy, explained.“ Due to the significant distance between pick points on the turbine blades, we are fortunate to be able to execute two-crane lifts. We rig the components with slings, shackles and hooks, and use a block and tackle at one end to maintain even pressure and prevent twisting of the blades. After that, we use the cranes to stage loads for the next phase.”
The complexity of the work also underlines the importance of precision and control, noted Brennan Seeliger, Manitowoc’ s product manager for crawler cranes.“ Manitowoc’ s Crane Control System( CCS) offers improved operator efficiency and accuracy with intuitive controls and advanced diagnostics,” he said.“ With CCS, new and experienced users alike can harness precise load monitoring, customizable configurations and automated functions to enhance jobsite productivity and reduce the risk of errors.”
For Cameron Giroux, also vital to the Searsport project is the collaboration between Sprague Energy and local Manitowoc dealer Shawmut Equipment.“ We worked together to assess each component’ s specifications— weights, lengths, styles— and matched them with the appropriate cranes,” he explained further.“ Using the load charts as our baseline, we executed a highly coordinated operations plan that’ s proving to be quite successful.
“ We’ re managing a continuous flow of components from ship, barge and rail so the logistics are complex, and these cranes are essential for a seamless workflow,” Giroux added.“ Without dependable cranes, we’ d face significant delays.”
Rehabilitating a Nearly 100-Year-Old Bridge
With more demand coming from construction, infrastructure and energy projects, Brian Elkins, Link-Belt product manager for telescopic crawler and lattice crawler cranes, sees a strong outlook for mid-size crawler cranes.“ Telescopic crawler cranes are becoming more popular because they’ re compact, easy to move and can work well in tight spaces,” he said.“ As cities grow and more industrial projects get underway, the need for these versatile cranes is likely to keep rising.”
As part of a major effort to rehabilitate bridges across Georgia, Griffin Grading & Concrete LLC has acquired Link-Belt 110- ton 218 | V and 150-ton 238 HSL crawlers from the manufacturer’ s dealer, Atlantic & Southern Equipment.
In its hometown of Cordele, Georgia, for example, Griffin has the two cranes operating in tandem to replace a nearly
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