British Unic and Galizia distributor GGR supplied the Shard’s contractors with the 6t URW-706 for glazing work. The URW-706 compact crane was chosen for its suitability for rooftop lifting, GGR said.
The URW-706 was selected to lift angled glass panels, which will number 11,000 on the Shard, from a storage unit on the sixty-second floor onto upper levels on the North and West sides.
After the URW-706 was separated into two pieces, the tower crane on the site lifted it to the 87th floor of the building.
Managers positioned the outriggers on the base of the URW-706 to the millimeter using a radio remote control in midair.
The crane was then carefully lowered onto the building’s four main support columns.
During a second lift, the boom was moved 87th floor and reattached to the crane, ready for work to commence.
The 1.67m wide, 6t mini crane weighs just 7.9t, potentially making it a cost effective and flexible alternative to traditional tower cranes, GGR said.
“The variable outrigger positions of the crane made it an ideal choice to work within the limited space of The Shard’s spire construction,” GGR said.
The GGR team’s operators managed the lift from high within the tower.
GGR Group’s managing director, Gill Riley, said, “This iconic landmark is going to make a big impact across the London skyline and we are thrilled our cranes have been a part of this exciting project. It’s definitely the highest point we’ve ever taken one of our Unic cranes to, luckily our operators that are working on site have a good head for heights.”
Sellar Property Group is developing the Shard, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. It will ultimately reach 310m in height and contain a hotel, offices, apartments, restaurants and a viewing gallery.
