Tower Crane Manufacturers Target - Precast Construction

Tower crane manufacturers are eying projects that are undertaking precast construction by offering heavier capacity cranes with advanced features for the desired accuracy in hoisting and slewing, and for enhanced safety. NBM&CW reports.

Kaif  Infra

Hitherto restricted to civil structures such as tunnels, bridges, flyovers and underpasses, precast construction is finding gradual acceptance in commercial and residential real estate projects as well. The precast construction method provides benefits such as faster and timely completion of projects, better quality of work, and is less labor-intensive.

The concrete precast sections are factory-produced in a controlled environment, and then transported to site, where they are installed with the help of tower cranes and other equipment. The process requires a high level of precision in the production of the precast sections, and complete accuracy in their placement at site, which is done by high capacity tower cranes.

Amol Badgujar
"The first thing customers look for is capacity. Beams used in precast work weigh around 12 ton or 10 tons at a minimum. There are also very fine margins in the placement of precast components, so customers want a crane with close control. Finally, they will also want the greatest possible free-standing height – typically around 60 m. The most popular Potain cranes for precast construction are our MC 465, MC 475 and MD 689, as well as MD 1100 from our MD Maxi range as these cranes take into account all the factors for precast construction," avers Amol Badgujar, Regional Sales Manager, Manitowoc.

He says that Potain's LVF variable frequency technology automatically adjusts movements to the load on the hook and gives operators greater flexibility in both fast and slow lifts. The technology features in many Potain cranes in India that are purchased for precast work.

ACE Tower

Action Construction Equipments (ACE) is providing indigenously manufactured tower cranes of 10 ton to 25 ton capacity. A special grade of steel for mast and associated hardware has been used in the cranes to enable them to lift the heavy concrete sections. All the hardware and components are tested by a third party. The cranes are equipped with VFD (variable frequency drive) for smooth and jerk-free operation while hoisting and slewing.

Mayank Pundir
Says Mayank Pundir, Country Head-Tower Cranes, ACE, "Since the crane operator has to place the heavy concrete precast segments with great accuracy, we have equipped our cranes with Safe Load indicators (SLI), which indicates the weight of the material being lifted, along with the safe load at that radius. In fact, SLI is a third level of safety after the moment limiter and the ergo meter. Our tower cranes are also provided with anemometers to check the wind speed. In high wind speed conditions, tower cranes are not supposed to work, plus the jib is left free to align itself to the wind's direction, thereby reducing the wind pressure on the crane. We also offer an anti-collision device for building projects where two or more tower cranes are working close to each other."

Arun Bishnoi
Zoomlion ElectroMech has tower cranes ranging from small models with tip loads of 1.3tons at 50m up to 40tons at 40m. "Heavy capacity tower cranes make construction at sites easier, faster and safer. The mast configuration in our various models gives higher free-standing heights, which is an important criterion in precast construction as it becomes difficult to fix a walling anchor if the design of the building is based on a load-bearing wall structure. Our flattop tower cranes of 10-ton to 150-ton are designed in compliance with JOST German technology to give best-in-class lifting capacity at various radius," informs Arun Bishnoi, Director – Sales, Zoomlion ElectroMech.

"The recent push for affordable homes by the Central Government has seen high demand for precast homes as the volume is very high and timelines are very short. Our cranes are equipped with unique operation control through SLI + PLC + VFD in all motions i.e. hoisting, slewing and trolley, to give micro motion and precise motion control for very high accuracy. Anti-collision device is also provided in case multiple cranes are working in close proximity," he adds.

Krishna Kumar
Krishna Kumar, Divisional Head-Liebherr Tower Cranes India Pvt. Ltd., informs, "Liebherr tower cranes have special features like Micromove for handling precast elements. Micromove helps in achieving a minimal speed and high accuracy while positioning loads, which save time and avoid any damage to precast panels and the structure. The cranes also feature an advanced safety function called 'Guided lowering functions' to help avoid any free fall of loads or malfunctioning of brakes."

VG Shakti kumar
Schwing Stetter India has a wide range of XCMG flattop tower cranes from 10 to 25 tons for use in precast construction. Says V.G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India, "Since tower cranes have to lift heavier loads and withstand heavier dynamic factors like wind speed, the sections of our tower cranes are made of a superior grade of steel and welded by automated robotic welding. To ensure greater reliability, the cranes have superior quality controls, gear boxes and other components sourced from global manufacturers."

Advanced Technical Support

Every step of precast construction requires both macro- and micro level calculations. Project developers, therefore, during tower crane selection, look for the right tonnage, jib length, tip load, precise crane configurations, their safety and other features, and cost benefits. The selection process also involves a close collaboration amongst project heads and crane manufacturers to assess the project's exact requirements, the minimum numbers of cranes that will do the job, and cost estimation.

Liebherr Tower Crane
Arun Bishnoi concurs, "Precast construction is in a nascent stage in India, therefore clients are not aware of many things. They do not take into consideration the correct tower crane estimations during the project planning stage, as the cranes used in precast construction must be of a much higher capacity than required in conventional construction. We at Zoomlion ElectroMech, take all inputs from client such as project completion timeline, element weights, building layout etc. and factor in all these to calculate the cycle times for construction of each structure/building and then select the model and number of cranes to cover 100% building area, stockyard and unloading points."

Zoomlion ElectroMech offers operation and maintenance as a package deal. Service is rendered by well-trained personnel and operators. Regular service camps are organized at job sites so as to minimize breakdowns and machine downtime."

Says Pundir, "Broadly, the two most important criteria in selecting a tower crane are lifting capacity and stability. However, the choice of tower crane for a particular site also depends on factors such as type of loads that have to be lifted; height and horizontal distances that need to be covered; radius of the swing, and time period of the lifting operations. At ACE, we take into consideration all these factors and deliver the right solutions. We also provide customized Autocad solution to customers to maximize utilization of the cranes."

ACE tower cranes are supported by a pan India sales and service network operating from more than 100 locations and with over 50 dedicated service engineers. The cranes are working at various precast construction projects such as the Zuari Cable stay bridge in Goa (being executed by Dilip Buidcon); the Amrapali Developers Housing Project in Noida; the Pradhan Mantri EWS project in Hyderabad (by DEC Infrastructure), the Central Park project in Gurgaon, and the Jain Temples being constructed in Bhopal and Kundalpur.

Tower Crane QTZ80

Sakthikumar informs that Schwing Stetter India provides installation, commissioning with follow-up training for safe operation of the cranes and dismantling of its cranes. "We have a close collaboration with customers right from the conceptualization stage of the project to gather the necessary information pertaining to the weight of the precast sections to be lifted, the radius and height at which the sections are to be lifted, and most importantly, the cycle times that will be required as per the project completion schedule. We deploy the right cranes based on all these factors."

Liebherr has a project department called TCS for Tower Crane Solutions. People from this department and customers discuss the project requirements and the most suitable, economical and technically solutions are proposed. "This service is given for free by Liebherr and customers benefit by executing the project safely and on time. One of the prestigious projects where our cranes are working is in Bangalore, which is being executed by M/s Sobha where 4 Liebherr 550 EC-H 20 cranes are deployed, of which three are on rail version."

Liebherr service engineers render the appropriate training and product familiarization to P&M staff/operators, and the company has service centers in various locations across the country.

Manitowoc Tower Crane

Manitowoc's Potain tower cranes are catering to customers like KEF and L&T for precast work in India. "Our customers know our cranes well and value our expertise and insights. We also make sure that we fully understand their needs and the project needs before making recommendations. As the world's leading tower crane brand, Potain cranes offer the best solutions. There is demand for cranes in precast construction, though not widespread yet in India, but certainly better than what it was a few years ago," says Badgujar.

Precast developments that have been completed using Potain cranes include Yenepoya University in Mangalore and the Meitra Hospital in Calicut. Manitowoc's most recent delivery was to KEF of its MD 689 tower crane for a project of Infosys in Bangalore, and another high capacity unit will be delivered by end of February.

According to Badgujar, Manitowoc's customer support is regarded as one of the best in the industry and a reason why many customers continue to invest in Potain cranes. "Manitowoc Crane Care program is built around maximizing crane uptime and delivering industry-leading return on investment to Potain crane owners. We assist customers with installation of the cranes at project sites and give onsite training to operators and technicians. Our service team responds immediately to any technical issues and we stock a high number of spare parts in India so there is minimum disruption caused by repair work," he says.

Zoomlion ElectroMech

For proper selection and application of tower cranes, manufacturers must collaborate closely with the contractors, and render end-to-end technical support across the project and equipment's lifecycle. This will instill confidence in the performance and reliability of tower cranes in precast construction, and thereby, such precast projects will gain traction in the building industry.
NBM&CW February 2019
Alpha Services leading innovation in Mobile and Fixed Tower Cranes

Alpha Services leading innovation in Mobile and Fixed Tower Cranes

Alpha Services, a company that introduced Mobile Tower Cranes to the Indian market in 1988, is today a leading play‎er in the segment and is also growing steadily in the Fixed Tower crane segment. The cranes are designed for material handling jobs

Read more ...

Preventing Tower Crane Accidents

Preventing Tower Crane Accidents

Crane accidents are a prevalent concern worldwide. The accidents stem from factors like operator errors, unpredictable wind gusts, overloading, and structural deficiencies, necessitating proactive measures to mitigate potential risks and

Read more ...

Tower Crane Market: ACE, Liebherr India & Alpha Cranes

Tower Crane Market: ACE, Liebherr India & Alpha Cranes

The Indian construction industry is seeking efficient and high capacity lifting solutions for the construction of high-rise buildings and mega infrastructure projects. This demand is being met by tower cranes, as they can lift heavy loads

Read more ...

Manitou: Backhoe loaders, scissor lifts, telehandlers

Manitou: Backhoe loaders, scissor lifts, telehandlers

Manitou South Asia, a Manitou Group subsidiary, showcased its backhoe loader, telehandler, and skid steer loader, which exemplified the brand’s adherence to BS (CEV) V standards that meet the latest regulatory requirements.

Read more ...

ACE: New Tower & Pick-n-Carry Cranes, upgraded Backhoe Loader

ACE: New Tower & Pick-n-Carry Cranes, upgraded Backhoe Loader

Indian Construction Equipment manufacturing conglomerate, Action Construction Equipment (ACE) displayed its new range of tower cranes, new pick-n-carry cranes, and an upgraded version of its backhoe loaders at Excon. The new 6 to 8-ton

Read more ...

Liebherr: Tower & mobile Cranes, loaders & dozers for Indian market

Liebherr: Tower & mobile Cranes, loaders & dozers for Indian market

On display at Excon were NC-LH 12-55 tower crane, the LRT 1100-2.1 rough terrain crane, the L 550 and L 566 wheel loaders, and the PR 736 crawler dozer - all of which offer customised solutions for the Indian construction industry.

Read more ...

Abhay Rana's Versatile MAGNI Rotating Telehandlers

Abhay Rana's Versatile MAGNI Rotating Telehandlers

Abhay Rana Infra Services Private Limited, which entered into an Exclusive Distribution tie-up with Magni Telehandlers for India in 2023, exhibited the Rotating Telehandlers for the first time at Excon. The Rotating Telehandlers are very

Read more ...

Everest Engineering offers world's largest Passenger Hoist

Everest Engineering offers world's largest Passenger Hoist

Everest Engineering Equipment introduced the world's largest passenger hoist, with a remarkable 3.2-ton capacity and twin cages of a total 6.4 tons. What makes it stand out is its operation on a single mast, offering a unique and

Read more ...

Sarens: Transported & Installs 16 Wind Turbines at Jagaluru Wind Farm

Sarens: Transported & Installs 16 Wind Turbines at Jagaluru Wind Farm

Sarens, a world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental solutions, has been entrusted with the lifting of sixteen EN3.3MW 140mHH wind turbines at the Jagaluru hybrid plant in Karnataka. This TCI (Transport, Crane and Installation) project

Read more ...

Sarens Deploys Boom Crane & Lifting Tackles for Tata Steel Project

Sarens Deploys Boom Crane & Lifting Tackles for Tata Steel Project

Working on the biggest and boldest projects in the world is Saren–the reason why we were proud to help Tata Steel Limited construct the largest blast furnace in India. As part of this operation, Sarens deployed our 1.600MT-capacity crawler lattice boom crane

Read more ...

Mammoet Deploys Three World’s Largest Heavy Lift Ring Cranes In India

Mammoet Deploys Three World’s Largest Heavy Lift Ring Cranes In India

Mammoet, the global leader in heavy lifting and transport solutions, is proud to announce the deployment of three of the world's largest heavy lift ring cranes (with a combined 8,600-t of lifting power) in the country's energy industry. This is the first time

Read more ...

Crawler Cranes Increased Usage Across Industries: Liebherr and ACE

Crawler Cranes Increased Usage Across Industries: Liebherr and ACE

Crawler crane manufacturers like Liebherr Cranes India and Action Construction Equipment are bullish on demand prospects in view of the large-scale infra development projects being planned across industries such as petrochemical, power stations, metallurgical

Read more ...

Jungheinrich: Forklifts, Trucks & Logistics Solutions

Jungheinrich: Forklifts, Trucks & Logistics Solutions

Jungheinrich Lift Truck India, a 100% subsidiary of Jungheinrich AG, offers a comprehensive product portfolio of Material Handling Equipment that includes Pallet Trucks, Forklift Trucks, Reach Trucks, and Tow Tractors, besides Logistics Systems & Services

Read more ...

Multiple Benefits of Mobile Cranes Behind Demand

Multiple Benefits of Mobile Cranes Behind Demand

Prominent crane manufacturing companies Liebherr, Schwing Stetter India, and ACE share their views on the current market for mobile cranes and their latest offerings, with P.P. Basistha. Demand for mobile cranes namely all-terrain, truck cranes, and pick-and

Read more ...

MKK Logistics Takes Enerpac Hydraulic Gantry Crane to Higher Level

MKK Logistics Takes Enerpac Hydraulic Gantry Crane to Higher Level

Operating at a height of 14m, Bangladesh-based MKK Logistics, an enterprise of Shams Group of Companies, has used an Enerpac SBL900 hydraulic gantry crane to successfully install a 130t HPIP turbine at a 718MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Meghnaghat

Read more ...

L&T, Tata Projects & IRB Infrastructure Join MYCRANE

L&T, Tata Projects & IRB Infrastructure Join MYCRANE

Three more global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies have registered at the MYCRANE platform, following successful meetings at the bauma Conexpo event in India. Recognising the cost and time savings on offer, Larsen & Toubro

Read more ...

Goldhofer »ADDRIVE« Intelligent Solution for Efficient Transportation

Goldhofer »ADDRIVE« Intelligent Solution for Efficient Transportation

The Goldhofer »ADDRIVE« is an intelligent solution which combines the advantages of a towed heavy-duty module with those of a self-propelled transporter while also fulfilling the highest requirements in terms of variable application options, traction

Read more ...

Dingli Offers Cutting-Edge Boom Lifts, Scissor Lifts & Vertical Lifts

Dingli Offers Cutting-Edge Boom Lifts, Scissor Lifts & Vertical Lifts

Dingli, one of the top three global manufacturers of aerial work platforms, offers boom lifts, scissor lifts, and vertical lifts that combine cutting-edge technology and intelligent equipment design. The products for working at heights range from 5 to 44 meters

Read more ...

ACE 80-ton Lattice Boom Crawler Crane With Lightweight Strong Booms

ACE 80-ton Lattice Boom Crawler Crane With Lightweight Strong Booms

The ACE ACX 800 lattice boom crawler crane comes with a lifting capacity of 80 tons. ACE ACX 800 lattice boom crawler crane is the perfect solution for a range of projects, from elevated road and bridge construction to refinery maintenance and windmill

Read more ...

Terex Franna Advanced Pick and Carry Crane for High Capacity Lifting

Terex Franna Advanced Pick and Carry Crane for High Capacity Lifting

Introducing the Terex Franna pick and carry FR 17 mobile crane, a compact and powerful mobile crane that has been designed specifically for the Indian market. With its advanced features and superior safety standards, the Franna pick and carry FR 17

Read more ...

To get latest updates on whatsapp, Save +91 93545 87773 and send us a 'Saved' message
Click Here to Subscribe to Our eNewsletter.