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Largest Potain crane in North America expedites B.C. dam project
APotain MD 3200 MAXI tower crane is helping with the construction of the Site C Clean Energy Project – a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in B.C. The massive crane, which is the largest Potain crane to ever be used in North America, is working on the Generating Station and Spillways (GSS) Civil Works portion of Site C. When completed, the dam will be the province’s fourth-largest producer of electricity.
After some research on the market, Aecon-Flatiron-Dragados-EBC Partnership (AFDE), the construction group in charge of the project, acquired the Potain MD 3200 crane specifically for penstock installations on this job. The crane arrived at the jobsite in February last year and started working in August, after being reconditioned to meet the group’s standards by EnCORE, Manitowoc Cranes – Tower Crane Division.
According to Nathan Johnson, deputy intakes and penstocks manager at AFDE, the company needed a crane with the ability to receive oversized loads, like large steel penstock sections – many of which weigh over 45.4 t (50 USt) – at one location and move them with ease into place. The MD 3200 was erected on the Site C jobsite with its base attached to a custom rail track system that can move it along the length of the dam work site, nearly 107 m (350 feet).
“The MD 3200 is the tool we needed to perform the work. The job would have been far more challenging without this crane,” he said. “We are very happy with the MD 3200’s performance – it’s the number one tool on the jobsite, as it can lift up to eight times more than any other tower crane on site.”
The crane has been affectionately named by some as “Sir Pix-a-Lot.”
“It’s outstanding, it’s definitely part of the skyline. When you’re driving into the site, if you don’t know how big it really is from the horizon, it’s massive,” Johnson said.
Important features on the crane include its 101.1 m (331.7-foot) max height, 85 m (278.9-foot) jib, a capacity of 80 t (88.2 USt), and a full extension lifting capacity of 26 t (28.7 USt). To complete lifts up and over the height and length of the dam from a given point, AFDE requested the crane to be designed and configured at 78 m (255.8- foot) height, 70 m (229.6 foot) jib, with 64 t (70.5 USt) and a full extension capacity of 37 t (40.8 USt).
There are seven other Potain tower cranes working on site: two new MD 689 units and five MD 560 cranes.
Construction on the Site C project commenced in 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2024. It will provide 1,100 megawatts of capacity, and produce about 5,100 gigawatt hours of electricity each year – enough energy to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes per year in B.C.
LARGEST POTAIN CRANE IN NORTH AMERICA EXPEDITES B.C. DAM PROJECT
The 80-ton TCC-800 telescopic crawler crane that debuted at CONEXPO 2020 comes with a new four-section 38 – 120 foot (11.8 – 36.5 m) full-power boom that reaches a maximum tip height of 184.5 feet (56.2 m) with full boom and Link-Belt’s SmartFly pinning system. Link-Belt SmartFly helps ensure proper fly erection and stowage sequence while minimizing work at height. This SmartFly system continues to get high marks from industry owners. The TCC-800 offers optional one- or two-piece 35- to 58-foot (10.6 to 17.6 m) fly.
New to Link-Belt’s telecrawler lineup will be variable side frame track positions (V-CALC) on the TCC-800. “VCALC, in the case of the new TCC-800, offers the added flexibility to operate the crane with side frames in asymmetric configurations. Pulse 2.0 monitors actual side frame position, auto-selecting the correct chart,” said Scott Knight, product manager Lattice and Telescopic Crawler Cranes.
TCC-800’s variable side frame combinations, new cab with 20 degrees of tilt and Pulse 2.0 offer an operator a multitude of options for any jobsite – everything from pile driving and bridgework to plant work or general construction.
TCC-800 will utilize a stage 5 dual-compliant Cummins QSB 6.7 engine with 232 hp at 2,000 RPM for greater fuel economy, improved quiet operation and cold-start capability. Other advancements include pressure readout on all hydraulic circuits, viewable on Pulse 2.0 display. Total vision package with right-side swing camera, winch-view camera, and rear-view camera give the operator great jobsite visibility during setup and lifting. Single axis or joystick controls are also available both offering operator selectable foot or hand controls for travel operation. Textured paint on all vertical surfaces and slip-resistant paint on all horizontal surfaces improves durability and footing.
New high-performance variable displacement pumps provide power control and load sensing on the TCC-800 for smooth functioning of all operating processes. Matching 3/4-inch (19 mm) grooved drums have 834 feet (254.2 m) of rope capacity with 18,603 pounds (7656.6 kg) maximum line pull and 485 fpm (147 mpm) maximum line speed.
LINK-BELT 80-TON TELESCOPIC CRAWLER FEATURES FOUR-SECTION BOOM
MANITOWOC NATIONAL CRANE EXPANDS POPULAR BOOM TRUCK RANGE
The NBT40-2 series boom truck is a combined re-engineering of the reliable NBT40-1 series and popular NBT50L series, by upgrading the product in terms of capacity, reach, comfort and advanced features while maintaining the same overall weight as the NBT40-1.
The new NBT40-2 series has the option for either a 40 USt or 45 USt (36.3 t or 40.8 t) capacity, and a 127- foot (38.7 m) or 142-foot (43.3 m) main boom. It will offer a two-piece 31- to 55-foot (9.4 to 16.8 m) telescoping jib and it features a maximum tip height of 150 feet (45.7 m), which can extend to 204 feet (62.2 m) with the jib.
The turntable and torsion box have been redesigned for a solid feel, even when lifting out at the extents of the
LOAD KING / CUSTOM TRUCK ONE SOURCE CRANE TRUCK FEATURES LIGHTER, STRONGER BOOM DESIGN
load chart, and the boom has been re-engineered for increased boom stiffness to maximize load chart and minimize flex. A redesigned, fixed counterweight system has enabled National Crane to optimize the capacity of the boom truck
These specifications make this crane ideal for work in the commercial or residential construction industries, due to its versatile boom lengths and excellence in close charts
or capacity at reach. It’s also ideal for the utility or tree service industries, especially when needing 200 feet (61 m) plus of platform height. This NBT40-2 boom truck series also raises the bar in operator comfort, coming standard with a hydraulically tilting cab and a heated operator seat. Also standard is a front-bumper-mounted SFO and hoist control.
WE KEEP ON TRACK CANADA
Load King, which purchased the boom truck, crossover and truck crane product lines from Terex Corporation, recently rolled out the re-branded Stinger 25-92 and Stinger 35-100. At CONEXPO, the company launched the new Stinger 80-160.
The Stinger 80-160 has an 80-ton capacity, six-section, full power, 160- foot main boom. This boom showcases a new double-keel design, allowing for a lighter, stronger boom than the four-plate it replaced. The crane has two single-stage cylinders that provide different operating modes: one focused on stability, and the other on structural capacity, making a better chart throughout.
The Stinger 80-160 also introduces a brand-new 58-foot bi-fold lattice swing-away jib, making the maximum tip height 228 feet. The Load King Stinger 80-160 will set up faster at the jobsite due to increased speed of the outriggers and retain the modern tilt-cab from the 80-126, previously known as the Crossover 8000. Several improvements to the hydraulic system will enhance the operating characteristics of the crane under load.
