Bennetts uses world’s first Raimondi LR330

The LR330 is on a construction site in the Royal Borough of Kensington, and will be joined later this year and in 2019 by another LR330 and two Raimondi LRH174s.

The LR330 used, is the first unit of this model delivered worldwide. It was received by Bennetts earlier this year. It is an 18t capacity luffing jib tower crane with a triangular jib design. At the maximum radius, it can lift 3,300kg in ultra-lift mode. It has seven different jib length configurations (from 30m to 60m) and can be equipped with three different hoisting winches: standard installed power of 80kW or the two falls configuration with the more powerful 110kW.

Earlier this month Bennetts erected the LR330 at their testing facility in Gloucestershire for pre-site checks and training before being delivered to site. 

It will be joined by a second LR330 and two LRH174s. The LR330s will be erected with a 50m jib, one with a 48m mast and the second with a 54m mast. They will both be lifting 4.62t at end of jib after 25% de-rate, with an out of service radius of 17m.

The two LRH174s will have a 35m jib, 35.7m mast and will lift 5.17t at end of jib, with an out of service radius of 10m.

All of the cranes will be fitted with BlokCam systems, with a camera on the hook of the crane sending live images back to the operator in the cab. These systems improve on-site safety by reducing operator blind spots and allowing a better all-round view of the site from the cab.

Edward Seager, managing director of Bennetts Cranes, said: “We believe the LR330 is going to become a very useful crane within our fleet with such a large lifting capacity. With the trend toward pre-cast concrete and pods being built off-site, heavier lifting capacities are essential to take the weight.

“We’re extremely pleased to be putting the new Raimondi into service this year. This and several other new Raimondi luffers are all part of our planned fleet expansion and modernisation.”