In a remarkable display of ingenuity, Liebherr dealer Kranimex and heavy haulage specialist Tech-Mont tackle the obstacle of restricted access in Bratislava, Slovakia by employing an unconventional assembly method. A 40 LC top-slewing crane is airlifted into the city center via helicopter to aid in the construction of new apartments.
The project site, located in a burgeoning area with limited road access, presented unique challenges, including protruding edges of neighboring buildings and the disruption caused by tram traffic. A conventional assembly method using a mobile crane would have necessitated the suspension of public transport and the costly dismantling and reinstallation of tram power lines. However, the collaboration between Kranimex and Tech-Mont found an innovative solution in helicopter assembly.
Over the course of two days, using an MI-8T helicopter with a lifting capacity of three tonnes, the crane components, including tower sections, jib, and counter jib, were carefully transported from a temporary storage location near the Danube to the construction site, flying over the city’s rooftops. With eleven flights in total, even the heaviest crane part, a 2,750-kilogram slewing platform, was effortlessly lifted into place. Skilled service fitters from Kranimex received the airlifted components and completed the assembly of the top-slewing crane.
Patrik Šeba, service fitter from Liebherr dealer Kranimex, emphasizes the significance of strong and reliable teamwork in achieving this exceptional assembly, having previously collaborated with Tech-Mont on two other projects.
The Liebherr 40 LC crane, with a hook height of 30 meters and a jib spanning just under 25 meters, boasts a maximum lifting capacity of 4,000 kilograms. To optimize space, the crane is mounted on foundation anchors and features the narrow 63 LC tower system, with external dimensions of only 1.2 x 1.2 meters. Despite being built in 2006, the top-slewing crane continues to demonstrate its reliability, a testament to the exceptional quality and durability of Liebherr machines.
Expected to remain in operation until the end of 2023 for the residential project in Bratislava’s city center, the crane’s compact dimensions allow it to navigate the site effortlessly, facilitating various lifting operations such as the movement of bricks and concrete. Once its work is complete, the crane will be dismantled by helicopter, making its return journey over the rooftops of Bratislava.
