MLC650 assembles TBM in Australia

5 October 2017 by Sotiris Kanaris

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A Manitowoc MLC650 from Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift was used to assemble and lift into position a 160t tunnel boring machine for a rail project in Perth, Western Australia.

The AU$1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link will be a new subway system linking downtown Perth with the Western Australian city’s airport.

The two 7m diameter TBM units arrived at Forrestfield by truck, where the MLC650 was used to assemble and lift into position one of them.

David Taylor, business development manager at Tutt Bryant, said: “The crane’s unique VPC gave us ample lift ability, positioning the counterweight automatically and offering unmatched versatility.”

The crane is currently working on an 8 km stretch of the tunnel that will link Perth’s foothills with the city’s downtown area. Drilling began in July and is expected to last two years.