Vinci Building has marked a significant milestone at Sheffield Forgemasters’ Brightside Lane site with the installation of the first of two WOLFF 355 B Luffing Jib Cranes from German manufacturer Wolffkran. Fully electric and capable of lifting up to 28 metric tonnes, the cranes reflect Vinci Building’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in construction.
This deployment is part of Vinci Building’s £2.5m investment in the WOLFF cranes, which will play a pivotal role in delivering Sheffield Forgemasters’ new 13,800 sqm facility—a £138m project to house the UK’s largest open-die forging facility as part of the company’s recapitalisation programme for the Ministry of Defence.
The cranes will be used to construct key elements of the project, including press pit foundations, a 40-metre-high superstructure, gantries, and chimneys. The second WOLFF 355 B crane will arrive on-site in mid-2025, with both cranes expected to remain operational until early 2026.
Craig Fisher, Programme Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, highlighted the significance of the milestone: “The arrival of tower cranes on our new Forge site will be one of the first external indicators of the large programme of work we are undertaking and marks a step forward in the delivery of the Forge building.
Transported from Wolffkran’s Heilbronn plant in southern Germany, the journey took nearly a week. Designed for cost-effective transport and ease of assembly, the crane’s components were delivered in latticework sections to reduce mounting weight and optimise space. Setting up the first crane took approximately 48 hours and was documented on social media and Vinci Building’s website.
Chris Winspear, Vinci Building Regional Director, emphasized the project’s importance:
“These cranes are a first for us – we own them outright and the arrival and set up of the first WOLFF 355 B is a major landmark for Sheffield Forgemasters and particularly for us at VINCI Building. It marks an investment in the project and our business. We are optimistic for 2025 and this all-electric crane proves our intent to deliver on major schemes of benefit for the UK economy and to do it in as sustainable a manner as possible. We are grateful to the Wolffkran team for all their assistance in the specification and delivering it to our team.”
Adrian Hawkins, Sales Director at Wolffkran Ltd., expressed pride in the partnership:
“We are incredibly proud and privileged to be VINCI Building’s chosen supplier. Witnessing the cranes being erected in Sheffield, is a special moment for us. Both WOLFF 355 B tower cranes will receive comprehensive service and maintenance from Wolffkran under our maintenance agreement for many years to come. We eagerly anticipate collaborating closely with Vinci Building on the Sheffield Forgemasters project and future endeavours where these cranes will play a vital role. We sincerely thank Vinci Building for their confidence in Wolffkran products, and we look forward to building a more sustainable future together with this partnership.”
