Favelle favco’s Taipei tower crane topples from its testbed

5 December 1999

Print Page

A partially assembled tower crane, destined to help build the world’s tallest building, tore out of its testbed and fell over on 15 November, reports Tod Kennedy.

The crane was being tested at the Sydney manufacturing facility of Favelle Favco whose engineers were still investigating the cause of the failure as Cranes Today went to press.

The crane which fell was one of two M-1250 luffing cranes that Favelle Favco has built for contractors building the Taipei Financial Centre in Taiwan, which is set to be the world’s tallest building.

Nobody was seriously injured in the accident, said Favelle Favco management, as there were only four technical staff on and around the unit when it fell. The problem occurred as counterweight was being fitted after the machinery deck cab structure and A-frame were in position on the test mounting. The boom was not connected at the time. Bolts connecting the extended mounting to the concrete base pulled out, causing the crane and its mounting to fall.

The first M-1250 had been completed and remained on the main test pad while the second unit was being assembled nearby on an older base which had been used previously for testing offshore cranes to 1,500N/m loads. It is rated for 2,000N/m capacity machines. The test pad complies with AS 1418 Australian Standards which allows 125% overload.

The company was preparing both cranes for inspection by Taiwan company, Rental Rigging & Equipment which is still scheduled to take delivery of them in January and rig the cranes for the two building contractors Nippon Steel and China Construction of Taipei. A smaller crane will also be supplied by Favelle Favco for the project.