Potain self-erector used to build houses in Minnesota

17 November 2020

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US contractor Link Construction, based in Shakopee, Minnesota, cut the construction time of two new homes by three weeks by using one Potain Igo MA 21 self-erecting crane which could reach the entire jobsite.

By erecting a crane with a footprint of just 13.8sqft (1.3sqm) between both builds which could lift most materials and reach the whole site with 85.3ft (26m) of jib radius, the contractor had no requirement for additional mobile cranes or forklifts. The remote-controlled self-erecting tower crane helped in all stages of the building process by lifting and placing floor joists, wall segments and roof trusses.

“On these two homes the Igo MA 21 self-erecting crane helped put us ahead of schedule by two and a half to three weeks,” said Patrick Link, owner of Link Construction. “It saves us a lot of time because it’s just so quick and easy to operate. We used it for setting the floors, the walls and the roof trusses, among other tasks.”

By placing the self-erecting tower cranes between homes on plots where multiple units are being built contractors can increase construction efficiency by building two or more homes at the same time.

“Using the crane was very handy. It worked phenomenally after I quickly got a hold of it,” said Joseph Link, crane operator at Link Construction. “With the remote, you don’t have to be sitting in the crane. It just gives you a lot better sense of what you are doing on the job because you can move around and see things for yourself.”

Link Construction rented the crane from RMS Rentals, who guided the crane assembly and provided support during the homebuilding project. RMS Rentals is the light and general equipment division of Road Machinery & Supplies Co. Headquartered in Savage, Minnesota, it operates eight branch locations and seven affiliated companies.