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 For Immediate Release
June 7, 2005
Potain HDT 80 completes multiple jobs in St. Louis
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| The HDT 80 is one of the most popular self-erecting cranes in the US at present. |
One of the firms helping St. Louis keep its reputation for innovation is Grau
Contracting, which has purchased one of the first self-erecting cranes in the
region.
Grau is a privately-held construction firm run by Jerry and Diane Grau
Schierding and it has been working in the St. Louis area since 1947. The
company prides itself on being able to offer its customers the latest in
construction technology.
Self-erecting cranes are the fastest growing lifting market in North America
as increasing numbers of end users realize the advantages these versatile
machines have over other types of equipment – particularly telehandlers. The
popularity is demonstrated in the success Grau has achieved with its new HDT
80.
“It hasn’t had a day off since we took delivery of it in December 2004,” says
Jerry Schierding.
The crane has been employed on three projects since arriving at Grau and is
looking at a busy future, too. First job for the new 5.9 t (13 000 lb.) unit
was on the three-story Country Inn and Suites project, a wood structure being
built on South Main Street in the historic St. Charles area of St. Louis.
Working for main contractor Blanton Construction Company, the crane was used
to set prestressed concrete floor slabs, prefab wood wall panels and floor
panels, roof trusses, and subcontractors’ materials. Heaviest loads lifted
during the crane’s eight-week stay on site were steel wall panels which
weighed 1.6 t (3500 lb) and the wood and steel floor panels which weighed 1.5
t (3400 lb).
From this site the crane was transported to the Sisters of Mercy convent, also
in St Louis, to work on a one-story dormitory construction. Working for main
contractor Lawlor Corporation, the crane was again used for installing wall
and floor panels. After six weeks on site, and the completion of phase one of
construction, the crane was moved again, this time to a five-story condominium
job in Grafton, Illinois. Here it stayed for eight weeks carrying out general
material-handling duties on site under the direction of its owners Grau
Contracting, which was main contractor on the job. After this job, the HDT 80
returned to the Sisters of Mercy project for phase two of the construction
where it remains at present.
According to Jerry Schierding, self-erecting cranes offer a number of benefits
over other types of lifting equipment.
“We’re finding that construction sites are becoming tighter and more congested
every year,” he says. “These self-erecting cranes take up less area and can
reach further than other hydraulic material-handling equipment. On the Country
Inn project, we had no room on three sides of the building. On the Sisters of
Mercy job, there is no access on one side. If we’d used certain types of
mobile cranes, it would have to be moved three times in one day to set one
floor. Also, when setting wall and floor panels we cannot stop to reposition
the crane. On all these jobs, the Potain HDT 80 was able to cover the entire
footprint of the building thanks to its long reach capabilities.
“We also had to consider capacity. To reach over the floors with a hydraulic
crane we would have needed a much larger crane,” he said. “Although this would
have given us greater capacity, we wouldn’t have utilized it and therefore
would have been paying for something we didn’t need.”
The HDT 80 is one of the most popular self-erecting cranes in the US at
present. Although it has a footprint of just 4.5 m x 4.5 m (15 ft x 15 ft) it
can lift up to 1.35 t (1.49 USt) at its maximum jib length of 45 m (148 ft).
The units have an underhook height of 34 m (112 ft) and the jibs have the
ability to luff. Power can be drawn from either a 220 V or 480 V electricity
source, ensuring quiet and efficient operation.
About the Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one
of the world’s largest providers of lifting equipment for the global
construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, mobile
telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube
machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the
company offers the broadest line of cold-focused foodservice equipment in the
industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship
repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial
customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.
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High
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For More Information Contact:
About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.
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