Working in tight conditions, a Liebherr 81 K.1 fast-erecting crane proved its capabilities in Vancouver Island’s second largest city.
The 81 K.1 fast-erecting, supplied by crane provider Bigfoot Crane Company, helped an apartment take shape in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Construction of the Departure Bay apartment building presented Bigfoot Crane and the contractor Westurban Developments Ltd. with several challenges, mainly due to the complex nature of the structure and the site conditions.
The crane’s successful operation required meticulous planning, followed by precise implementation.
“It’s easy to get a crane onto site when there isn’t a building yet. But additional challenges arise once the building is erected because of its structure. When we’re planning a project, we always start by looking at how to remove the crane at the end,” said Cale Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at Bigfoot Crane.
The site’s access road was used for assembling the fast-erecting crane. However, disassembly proved to be a tougher challenge.
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“The completed building was in the way as far as normal dismantling was concerned,” Anderson said. “This meant the fast-erecting crane had to be lifted over the newly constructed building. A large Liebherr mobile crane was used to safely set the 81 K.1 down on the other side of the building.”
Accomplishing the lift required flexibility, technical expertise and being able to think outside the box.
“As well as the challenges on site requiring the right equipment, we also needed a team willing to find creative and innovative solutions,” Anderson said.
Liebherr technology performs
The Liebherr crane’s work on the construction site in British Columbia demonstrates the efficiency and versatility of modern crane technology.
Anderson said he is impressed by the Liebherr crane’s features and sees great potential for fast-erecting cranes in North America.
The hoist rope’s two-fall operation and the Load Plus feature have particularly caught his attention. Both functions ensure fast lifting speeds and allow heavy loads.
“Our customers especially appreciate the crane’s speed and performance that these features make possible,” Anderson said.
On the jobsite, the fast-erecting crane played an integral role in various construction tasks, including trailer unloading, concrete work and the installation of rooftop equipment. While working in British Columbia, the 81 K.1 proved itself as the ideal lifting partner when used with several other cranes on site. Its maximum hook height of 38.9 metres combined with 2.4 metre tower sections meant it could maintain the necessary safety distance between other cranes and buildings in its vicinity, and to slew above or below other cranes, depending on the circumstances.
The 81 K.1 can lift a maximum 6,000 kg. It can reach a maximum radius of 48 metres and has a jib head lifting capacity of 1,350 kg.
The Bigfoot crane fleet
Bigfoot Crane has 36 cranes in its fleet, six of them are from Liebherr. Tailored Liebherr solutions make all the difference for the crane hire company.
“The flexibility and adaptability of Liebherr cranes are key elements in our success. Liebherr understands what we need and works closely with us to ensure we always get the best equipment and service. The versatility of Liebherr cranes allows us to efficiently handle a broad range of projects,” Anderson said. “Liebherr offers innovation, quality and exceptional service, all of which are a perfect match for our requirements.”
Based in Abbotsford, Bigfoot Crane Company is a full-service provider for the sale, rental and maintenance of tower cranes and fast-erecting cranes. The company also offers training for crane operators and construction site workers and is active in the areas of anti-collision systems, underhook attachments and construction hoists. Established in 2014, Bigfoot Crane provides services in Western Canada and North America.
