INDIA
tonne Liebherr LTM 1500 configured with
165 tonnes of counterweight and a 31.7 m
boom, is being used to lower a 100 tonne
TBM shell. The crane will also be used to
lower 180 tonne cutter head sections of
TBM along with erecting gantries between
30 to 35 tonnes at the site, which has a
limited lowering shaft area.
While working with a longer boom is
proving beneficial for the crane operators,
precautions are taken during slewing and
lifting operations, especially at congested
locations or sites where high tension
electricity lines are yet to be removed.
To bypass any issues, crane operators
are provided with permits to lift prior to
starting any lifting operation. Lifts are
carried out in the presence of competent
lifting supervisors.
Raising demand
The third phase of the project has created
demand for newer cranes at a time when
crane manufactures and dealers in India
are facing shortage in orders due to delayed
implementation of infrastructure projects.
Jayakara Kalmadi, Telcon-Hitachi
product manager, cranes and senior
manager, business development, says, “We
have supplied 8 to 10 units of TFC 280 for
the project.”
“Ninety per cent of new variants TRX
series mobile slew cranes for the project
have been supplied by us,” Sheetal Malik,
Escorts Construction Equipment general
manager, sales, adds. Despite demand for
new units, however, there has not been
much improvement in the rental rates as
the Indian crane market continues to face
an excess supply of cranes. There are 150 to
160 cranes working on the third phase of
the Delhi Metro project and the numbers
are likely to exceed that as the project
gains momentum.
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The Delhi Metro project consists of a
network of underground, elevated and
street level corridors of more than 400 km
Preparing to lower
a cutter head
section of a tunnel
boring machine
A Liebherr LTM 1500 with the
Y-Guy boom suspension system
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building for the heaviest duties
