Scholpp had purchased the AC200-1 P crane in May, supplied with an optional six-axle chassis (instead of the five-axle standard), 69t of ballast, and a 17m hydraulically offsettable boom extension. The installation of the mast, to allow the Australian team to use their phones in an area with no regular mobile reception, was one of its first jobs.
The steel lattice ANOS-type mast had a platform hegith of 66m, comprising four sections. The sections were assembled on site, and then erected using the crane. The first two segments were 16m long, and weighed 8t. The third, also 16m long, weighed 15t. For the final 6m, 8t, tip, the Scholpp team needed to operate the crane with a system length of 67m, including the main boom extension.
When fully extended, the crane boasts a system length of 100.1m, using a 67.8m, seven-part telescopic boom, and a 33m long main boom extension. The crane is controlled using a Demag IC-1 crane control system, with coloured image touch screen.
Erecting the mast’s components was not the only challenge to face Scholpp; it also needed to manoeuvre a 200t crane into an area of steep woodland. This was acheived thanks, in part, to the cranes short 12.6m carrier length – the shortest on the market for a five-axle crane of this capacity – and speed dependant rear axle steering.
