Potain is benefiting from a massive building programme in the Gulf region. Nine tower cranes from the French company have been supplied by rental company Nouman Faud Trading, Potain’s local dealer, to the Franco-Belgian contracting joint venture building the first stage of the Abu Dhabi Trade Centre.
All nine cranes – some new, some used – are rail mounted to maximise access to the 43,500m2 site. Three cranes on each side of the site run north to south, while three inner cranes run east to west.
Among the new units is an MC 265, with a hook height of 64.5m, a 65m jib and the capacity to lift 2.5t at 65m. It is one of five MC 265 units to be delivered to the United Arab Emirates since its introduction last year.
Also included are two MD 285A models, with 50m jibs and an end-of jib capacity of 4.5t.
Campenon Bernard SGE and Six Construct are building basement car parking and a podium level shopping mall up to 27m above ground, as well as preparing the way for future office towers that will be built under next stage contracts which have yet to be awarded. The cranes were used to pour 66,000m3 of concrete to form two 2.1m-thick base slabs.
Next on their agenda is moving 23,000m3 of concrete for verticals and 41,000m3 for horizontals. They will also move some 15,000t of steel reinforcement and 25,000m2 of facade cladding. The cranes are working 24 hours a day, six days a week to help complete the 36 month contract by next April.
Another MD 285 model is being used by Dubai precast contractor Concrete Technology LLC (Concretec) to construct a five-storey car park in Dubai.
This crane has been placing 30 precast columns up to 16.5m long and weighing up to 11.5t, along with 200 precast beams. It has a maximum capacity of 12t at 24m and 6t at 45m.
The car park was originally designed as a cast in-situ structure but to speed construction was changed to precast. Main contractor for the project is Dubai Civil Engineering.
