Select has successfully deployed a bespoke lifting frame designed to enable complete tower cranes to be lifted as a single unit, following its latest use at Hinkley Point C.
Developed by Select’s engineering team in collaboration with Terex and Europa Engineering, the frame was used to relocate a 140-tonne CTL430-24 tower crane approximately 165 metres across the site.
The crane was lifted by Big Carl, Europe’s largest land-based crane, supporting the next phase of construction works at Hinkley Point C.
The frame connects directly beneath the tower crane’s slew ring using bolted connections, removing the need for traditional welded lifting arrangements. Installation can typically be completed in under two hours and can be carried out using the crane being lifted, avoiding the need for additional lifting equipment.
Interchangeable adapter plates allow the system to be used across five different crane models within Select’s fleet, creating a repeatable lifting method for future projects.
The frame has been engineered to handle complete tower cranes weighing up to 140 tonnes and has already been used for several full-crane lifting operations.
Select said the development reduces installation time, eliminates on-site welding and provides a safer and more standardised approach to complex tower crane relocations.
