Two Tadano AC 5.220-1 all-terrain cranes collaborated to execute a challenging tandem lift, loading a 120-tonne boiler onto a semi-trailer for transport. The task was handled by Frankfurt-based Auto-Service Safar GmbH in partnership with Hack Schwerlast GmbH from Neuwied. Both companies brought their Tadano AC 5.220-1 cranes to the site at Griesheim industrial park, where the decommissioned boiler awaited its journey to Turkey.
The boiler, measuring 11.60 meters in length and 3.50 meters in diameter, posed a logistical challenge. The only viable solution was to employ a tandem lift, with each crane handling half of the 122-tonne gross weight, including slinging gear. The plan was to hoist the massive load to a sufficient height for a lowbed trailer to be maneuvered underneath, after which the boiler would be gently lowered onto the trailer for transportation.
“To execute this lift, we meticulously positioned both cranes, considering a required radius of 13 meters, and rigged the load carefully,” explained Detlef Precht, Heavy Load and Crane Manager at Auto-Service Safar GmbH, who operated one of the Tadano cranes. “Each crane handled 61 tonnes, and the precision of the tandem lift was crucial to ensure a smooth operation.”
With a counterweight of 71 tonnes and a boom length of 21.56 meters, the two Tadano cranes lifted the boiler to a height of one meter, working in perfect harmony. Max Goll’s team then moved a 12-axle semi-trailer beneath the suspended load, and the cranes slowly lowered the boiler with pinpoint accuracy.
“Thanks to careful planning and flawless teamwork, everything went according to plan,” said Precht. He emphasized the importance of direct sightlines, seamless communication between operators, and the reliability of experienced signalpeople, all critical for the success of the lift.
Precht also credited the cranes themselves for the successful operation. “The Tadano AC 5.220-1 is an incredibly powerful machine. It consistently provides the performance we need, especially when reserves are required. This lift once again demonstrated its reliability,” he said.
Hendrik Eich, owner of Auto-Service Safar GmbH, echoed Precht’s praise. “The AC 5.220-1 has been a cornerstone of our fleet for years. We are extremely satisfied with its performance and value our long-standing partnership with Tadano. I’d also like to thank Hack Schwerlast GmbH for their excellent cooperation on this project,” Eich said.
The client, Abuzer Colak, Managing Director of Colak GmbH, was equally impressed with the operation. “The team executed the job professionally, within the planned schedule, and without any issues. Everything worked perfectly—the team, the teamwork, and the equipment,” Colak concluded.
