LIFTING
SITEREPORT
The new 48-ton
capacity 30LC1450
replaced a
40-year-old 20-ton
capacity Linden
8000 tower crane.
in recentmemory, getting themammoth
crane ready forbusinesswas challenging,
but not insurmountable for thePineville,
NC-basedHeedeSoutheast team. The
crane arrived inPaducahon January17,
2014and, despite sub-zero temperatures
andhighwinds, the30LC1450 installation
was completedonFebruary9, 2014.
“Being involvedhands-onwith the
installationand commissioningof the
largest flat-top tower crane inNorth
Americawas remarkable,” saidKenna.
“Withover 40years in the industry
workingwithLindenandLinden
Comansa cranes,witnessing thatmachine
moving62,000pounds toa radiusof 191
feetwas amemorablemoment forus.”
Thenew cranewasdelivered to the site
direct fromSpain in containersusing
standard trucking. Prior to the arrival of
the30LC1450, theoldLinden8000was
dismantled.
A240-tonhydraulic cranewasused to
erect all of thenew tower crane except
the slewingmodule,which requireda
tandem lift by two cranes, both supplied
byGeneral SteelCrane&Rigging.
While thedramatic sizeof the30LC1450
sets it apart, its featuresmake it a strong
choice forheavy-liftworkand container
cargo inanactiveport,Kenna said.
The200kWhigh-speedmotoroffers a
maximum speedof 259metersperminute
andaminimum speedwhen loading
itsmaximum48 tonsof 21metersper
minute. ThePowerlift systemallows for a
10percent improvement of the load chart
with reduced speeds.
As anoption for thePaducah crane,
LindenComansaAmericaalso includeda
“prohibited zones” function. ThePaducah
model is a48-ton crane, but canalsobe
configured for either 32or 64 tons.
Technology advances
“Thedifferences in tower crane
technologybetween theold8000and
thenew30LC1450aredramatic,” said
BillCarbeau, vicepresident of business
development forLindenComansa
America. “Digital readouts forwind,
radius andweights are clearlydisplayed
and craneoperators can easilymonitor
all functions forproperoperation. In
addition, the frequencydrives for slewing,
trolleyandhoistingmovements allow for
much less consumptionof electricity.”
For enhanced comfort of the crane
operator, the30LC1450 inPaducahhas
anoptional PanoramicXL cab. It includes
theadvantagesof the standardPanoramic
cabin (acoustic insulation, full viewof
the loadandworkarea, tintedglass,
etc.), but it ishalf ameter longer. There
is enough room for a small refrigerator,
anairhandlingunit andamicrowaveor
anyother small appliance. The crane is
Frigidweather and highwinds never
deterred the Heede Southeast’s team in
erecting the crane during thewinter months.
55
APRIL 2014
ACT
also equippedwith lights to illuminate the
jobsite.
Withadesign that allows theupperpart
of the jibbe foldedupanddown to save
moneyon transport, themodulardesign
of theLC3000 series enabledLinden
Comansa todeliver the crane easilyand
affordably.
ThePaducah/McCrackenCounty
RiverportAuthoritymoves about
875,000 tonsof cargoayear, loadingand
unloadingapproximately400barges.
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