Wolff pack loose in Frankfurt

04 November 2009

A trio of Wolff 355 B models and a pair of Wolff 180 Bs have been working on the construction of Tower 185, so called because its top floor will stand at a height of 185m.

The construction site is situated between the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre, the main station and the banking district, and is bordered by busy roads and high-rise apartment buildings. The skyscraper consists of a horseshoe-shaped plinth building, two multi-storey sections and a central glass structure.

The 180 Bs and one of the 355 Bs are working to build the side structures of the skyscraper, while the other two 355 B models are constructing Tower 185. The 355 Bs can move 14t in single-reeve configuration, or 28t in doubled reeved operation. They have a jib length of 50m. The standard cable drum capacity of the hoisting system is adequate for tower heights up to 860m in single reeved operation or 400m in a double-reeve configuration.

One of the 180 Bs has a maximum load capacity of 18t, a jib length of 40 and a hook height of 40.5m, while the other can lift 12t, with a 50m jib and a hook height of 27m.

From early 2010, the two 355 B luffers working on the main tower will be built up in six-week cycles to climb to the final tower height of 192.2m, using seven suspension bars apiece. Wolffkran has also designed a specific tower section with custom dimensions that allows the suspension bars to be optimally positioned within the suspended ceilings of the building.