John Sutch Cranes has completed its final lifting operations at Manchester Town Hall in the UK, concluding its involvement in a major heritage restoration project that began at the scheme’s outset.
The company’s 300t Grove GMK6300L-1 crane returned to Albert Square as the site’s scaffolding was removed and the historic clock tower re-emerged, assisting in the project’s final stages.
Throughout the course of the restoration, John Sutch Cranes was responsible for several key lifting tasks.
These included moving the building’s stained glass windows, erecting and later dismantling the site scaffolding, and handling the final components required as refurbishment neared completion.
The location presented unique challenges, with the Grade I listed Town Hall, the Albert Memorial adjacent to the site, and regular pedestrian traffic along Albert Square.
Each lifting operation was planned in detail prior to the crane’s arrival to ensure safety and precision.
According to the company, all work was performed without incident over the lifetime of the project.
John Sutch Cranes technical sales representative Philip Miller said: “You don’t get many jobs like this in a career. We’ve been lifting at Manchester Town Hall since the start, from the stained glass to the scaffolding, and now we’re doing the final lifts as the building is handed back to the city.
“On a Grade I listed building in the middle of Albert Square, every lift is planned in detail before the crane even arrives. For a business with a depot in Manchester, being part of this from start to finish means a lot to the whole team.”
John Sutch Cranes worked alongside the principal contractor and revisited the site on multiple occasions as the restoration progressed.
The company’s Manchester depot, located within close proximity of Albert Square, provided logistical advantages during the long-term project.
Recently, John Sutch Cranes completed the installation of a large walk-through light sculpture named Invisible Cities at Liverpool’s Pier Head for the River of Light festival.
