Potain tower cranes construct 43-storey resort in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah

A fleet of 10 Potain MR 418 tower cranes is helping construct a massive new project: the Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences, which is located on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai. Potain's business partner, Abu Dhabi-based NFT, supplied the cranes on a rental contract to the joint venture (JV) contractors — Belgium-based BESIX and South Korea’s SsangYong Engineering & Construction. It is the first project where MR 418 cranes have been used in the UAE..

The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences will reach 193 m in height when completed. The 43-story resort will include 795 rooms, 231 of which will be residential units, 65 outdoor pools in the residential section, a “sky pool” at a height of 100 m at the hotel, and parking for 1,500 cars..

Bassem Kini, operations director at NFT, said that the company specified MR 418 cranes for the project for their hoist and lifting speeds, which are especially useful when working on high-rise projects..

“Having worked on several successful projects with BESIX in the past, we are delighted to be once again chosen as the main supplier of tower cranes for this impressive project,” he said. “We are using a fleet of Potain MR 418 cranes because of their excellent capabilities on high-rise building projects. Their high-speed and high-capacity hoists are exactly what’s needed to ensure maximum productivity on site.”.

The Potain MR 418 has a 24 t maximum capacity, 60 m boom and 5 t capacity at the jib end. Its 270 LVF 120 hoist offers excellent capabilities for work on high-rise projects, including a 254 m/second hoisting speed. The 830 m rope capacity on the winch’s drum means that in single-fall configuration a hook path of 830 m is possible. Further boosting the crane’s class-leading performance is a 150 VVF 56 luffing winch which delivers an impressive luffing speed of just 1 minute and 15 seconds to maneuver the jib from 15˚ to 86˚ with or without load. The uniquely-mounted luffing mechanism and hoist ensure there is plenty of room for operation on tight job sites, or on projects like the Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences, where 10 units need to work together..

NFT delivered the cranes to the project in October 2016 and the company’s erection team set them up on the job site. The MR 418s were assembled quickly and began working soon after..

“The cranes’ erections went smoothly and they are now working beautifully,” Kini said. “We have plans for 24-hour, non-stop crane operation with double shifts in place and full-time technicians on site.”.

The MR 418s will be free standing in the early stages of the building work but will be tied to the structure using 16 m long braces as construction develops. Final working heights for the cranes will range between 104 and 193 m. The cranes are lifting a variety of materials including steel beams and concrete formwork, to support the construction with loads weighing upto 16 t..

To ensure crane uptime is maximized on the project, NFT has undertaken a unique method of support i.e. the company is storing a container full of MR 418 spare parts directly on the job site. In the event that a part needs to be replaced, the company has eliminated any delay, thereby, ensuring the very highest level of aftermarket service..

Christophe Simoncelli, Manitowoc’s Vice President of tower crane sales, Asia and the Middle East, said that NFT’s support is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome on such a high-profile project..

“As one of our most valued partners in the Middle East, we have seen NFT deliver a level of support and service to Potain customers that speaks of the commitment and value the company offers to its clients,” he said. “They are an ideal partner, both for Potain and for the Royal Atlantis project.”.

NFT is one of the world’s leading suppliers of tower cranes and a long-time Potain business partner, with more than 1,500 tower cranes in its fleet. The company has its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, and operates offices in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Kuwait..

The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences was designed by New York architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and is estimated to cost USD1.4 billion. The hotel and residential complex will cover 100,000 m2 and will feature one of the tallest towers on the Palm Jumeirah. Contractors expect construction to be completed in the third quarter of 2019.