The winter weather in Indiana meant the project fell behind schedule and a HDT 80 was brought in during February by lifting contractor Charles Masonry to assist an Igo T 70 already working on the site.
The cranes are being used to move specialised concrete wall and floor panels that weigh between 1,200lbs and 2,000lbs. Indianapolis-based Potain dealer RH Marlin supplied both cranes.
Charles Masonry said it normally employs rough terrain cranes on projects such as this, but after assessing the ground adjustments needed decided on self-erecting towers.
“We considered the ground adjustments needed to avoid making tyre ruts with a rough terrain crane and decided to use a self-erecting crane instead,” said Jerry Charles, president of Charles Masonry.
Josh Whitt, project superintendent for general contractor Shiel Saxton, was also pleased with the decision to use self-erecting towers. “I only had to prepare two 20ft x 20ft compacted stone pads,” he said. “There was no heavy concrete and steel mats and 30-day curing time required.”
