Three tower cranes help build French data centre

French construction company Demathieu et Bard is using three Potain top-slewing tower cranes – two MDT 489 models and an MDT 809 – to build a data centre close to Paris.

The cranes were assembled during a three-week period in March 2022 using a five-axle Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane from rental company Occilev, based in the Île-de-France area.

For the data centre project Demathieu et Bard chose the 40 tonne version of the MDT 809 which was then configured with its maximum 80 m jib and at hook height of 37.6 m. It was installed on an 8 m ZY854 cross base.

The two Potain MDT 489 cranes were both configured with a short 45 m jib and at a hook height of 27.6 m. Each of the 25 t capacity cranes sits on an 8 m ZY800 cross base.

All the cranes were rented to Demathieu et Bard from Potain. They will use their maximum capacity at both long and short radii to lift concrete buckets, formwork, and heavy prefabricated elements such as posts, beams, and long planks.

Franco Queiroz, technical director at Demathieu et Bard, said, “The high capacities and excellent load curves, plus the simplicity of assembly and optimised transport were all factors in our selection of these three Potain topless cranes.”

Demathieu et Bard owns 55 tower cranes, the majority of which are from Potain. In 2019 the company employed more than 2,600 people and had a turnover of €1.65 billion. It operates primarily in metropolitan France and the French overseas departments and territories.