Three Potain MC 480 tower cranes manufactured by Manitowoc were deployed to assist with the construction of the Luding Dadu River Bridge, a section of the Sichuan–Tibet Railway in China.
The cranes, originally acquired by Xiamen Vigors Mechanical Equipment in 2016, began operating on the project in November 2022. The key stage of the bridge’s development was completed in May this year.
The Luding Dadu River Bridge spans 1,060m and aims to boost connectivity across a region characterised by challenging mountainous terrain.
China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group, the bridge’s main contractor, selected the Potain MC 480 cranes due to their ability to maintain stability and lift heavy loads in demanding conditions, including strong winds and a deep V-shaped canyon.
During construction, the cranes were responsible for assembling the bridge’s pylons. Each crane was configured with a jib length between 40m and 60m and operated at its maximum lifting capacity of 25t.
The cranes faced additional complexity as they worked around a 21m steel formwork section that did not provide tie-off points, requiring careful navigation as the structure increased in height.
The staggered operations, with just 10m of clearance between jibs, added further to the operational challenges.
Technical support and spare parts for the cranes were provided by the Potain factory in Zhangjiagang, supplemented by local assistance from Xiamen Vigors. This support aimed to maintain consistent uptime and efficient maintenance throughout the project’s timeline.
Manitowoc China engineering head Wang Zhiwei said: “This project highlights the reliability and performance that customers expect from Potain cranes. The MC 480 continues to deliver the lifting capability and durability required for demanding infrastructure applications.”
The tower cranes successfully completed the 262.8m and 255.8m main pylons on schedule.
Recently, a Potain MDT 489 topless tower crane served as the main lifting unit for a residential development underway in Hafnarfjördur, Reykjavik.
