TOWER CRANES
Mission (im)possible: how a Potain crane landed in one of the most remote job sites on earth For an experienced erection team on a regular job, assembling a Potain MCT 58 city crane is a straightforward task that can be completed with a mobile assist crane in just four hours. But this was not a regular job. When your job site sits at the top of a hydroelectric dam; which itself sits at the foot of a volcano; there's no access for vehicles bigger than a small car, and you're on a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, you know you're going to need to think differently about placing your crane on the project. Yet this was the challenge faced by Manitowoc and local dealer GLI (Grues Levages Investissements) when tasked by energy company EDF (Électricité de France) to replace an old Potain 427 E maintenance crane at its SainteRose power station on the French overseas department of La Réunion. Christophe Chappaz, technical director at GLI “We love difficult briefs,” said Christophe Chappaz, technical director for GLI. "And this was a tough brief. We knew that cranes from other brands were not feasible 20
Lifting Africa - Mar/Apr 2021
because of the load capacity limit of 1-ton on the helicopter. We collaborated closely with Manitowoc to adjust the capacity, technology, warranty and erection plan to meet EDF's needs for this MCT 58 and combined with our experience, we were able to assure the client we could complete the task safely.” Invaluable experience Another reason GLI felt confident with the job was that the company had installed the original crane at the EDF site by helicopter 30 years ago. Several of the staff responsible for that project were still employed at the company, so could advise on its disassembly and replacement. This experience gave GLI the edge when tendering for the project. GLI was also able to match the capacity of the 427 E with a new MCT 58, which is conveniently manufactured in sections weighing
less than the maximum payload of a commercial helicopter. Also, when it comes to assembly, the MCT 58 is among the quickest and simplest to put together. Close collaboration Christophe Chappaz maintains a strong relationship with Manitowoc, having worked for the company in a variety of technical support, aftermarket and Lift Solutions roles before moving to La Réunion to join GLI in 2012. For this project, he liaised closely with the Manitowoc Lift Solutions team, to ensure every section of the MCT 58 came in at less than 1-ton and that the slinging points were optimally positioned for the helicopter lifts. Corrosion-resistant paint and stainless-steel casing for the electrical components were also specified to provide maximum durability in the damp environment on top of the dam.
