African towers lean on Germany

Nineteen Liebherr tower cranes are helping build the ZAR3.40bn (EUR285m) Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Seven of the cranes—EC-H and HC models—come from fleets of the companies Murray & Roberts Construction and WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd., which make up the joint venture carrying out the construction of the stadium.

The other 12 came new from Liebherr Biberach. They comprise eight flat-top 200 ECH 10 and 280 ECH 12 Litronic, as well as four 200 ECB 10 Litronic flat-tops. Biberach engineers also equipped and positioned these 12 cranes on the site in a semicircle around the football pitch.

The twelve tower cranes supplied by Liebherr are mounted free-standing on foundation anchors, and achieve hook heights of between 52.2m and 79.5m. Depending on the projected hook height, the tower systems being used are 256 HC, 290 HC or 500 HC.

Four tower cranes from the series EC-H and HC from the existing crane fleet of the joint-venture are mounted on rails in the interior of the stadium, so they can cover the construction of the stands in one single large area. Another Liebherr 250 EC-B is lifting shuttering in a yard next to the stadium.

Due to the oval shape of the stadium, cranes with jib lengths from 55m to 75m are being used, with a maximum load capacity of 12t. The largest crane on the site, a 280 ECH 12 Litronic, can achieve a free-standing hook height of 79.5m, and offers a maximum capacity of 2,800 kg at 75m working radius.

The cranes are equipped with Liebherr's Litronic control system and have load moment limiters, work area zoning, machine data evaluation systems and teleservice links with Liebherr headquarters.

Mammoet South Africa rented a Liebherr LR 1400 crawler crane for lifting precast seating elements, and Target Crane Hire, Cape Cranes and JV partner Murray & Roberts have supplied other mobile cranes to help out with smaller lifting tasks.

The old Green Point Stadium, which only had capacity for 18,000 spectators, is being replaced by an entirely new structure in preparation for the 2010 Football World Cup. The overall project also includes improvements to the stadium infrastructure, such as additional parking space, catering areas, VIP sections, and events offices. Green Point Stadium is located in a park in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront district.

The new arena will provide space for 68,000 spectators. During the Football World Cup in June/July 2010, Green Point Stadium will host five first-round games, one second-round match, and a quarter-final and a semi-final. As well as the World Cup, the stadium will also be used for local football and rugby fixtures, as well as being a venue for large concerts.

Completion of the conversion and new construction project is scheduled for November 2009. After then the JV will dispose of the cranes, probably by selling them to the contractors.

Liebherr is represented in South Africa through Springs West-based subsidiary company Liebherr-Africa (Pty) Ltd. It also has offices in Cape Town, Durban and Kimberley.