The European Parliament is situated in a densely built-up administrative and financial centre. Other European institutions, the international banking district, a medical centre and Luxembourg Airport are all situated in the immediate vicinity. Two roads between the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank had to be completely closed off to allow for the crane erection and logistics.
As the closure also restricted regular access to a hospital and the potential deployment of an air ambulance had to be taken into account, the authorities, the airport, the hospital and ATS Cranes agreed on a fixed time slot. The work was permitted to take place from 6.00 am on Friday until 10.00 pm on Sunday.
Jib extension provides the crucial reach
Because the mobile crane had to achieve a long reach across a building, STEIL fitted the LTM 1650-8.1 with its technically longest luffing jib configuration. A 91-metre-long luffing lattice jib was attached to the telescopic boom, which was extended to 28.2 metres. However, even this configuration was not sufficient. The additional runner at the head of the luffing jib provided the crucial extra 1.7 metres. Only then was the crane able to reach the intended set-down point on the roof.
“This operation demonstrates that when it comes to long reach, every detail counts. The careful preparation and precise coordination of all those involved were crucial to carrying out the lifts safely and within the tight time frame,” says Managing Director Christopher Steil.
Large crane erected in seven hours
The assembly of the long luffing jib also required a coordinated approach. As the auxiliary crane could not operate alongside the main boom, the team fitted the lattice jib ‘head-on’. During the step-by-step assembly, the auxiliary crane moved back and forth several times. This is not an unusual procedure, but it does take extra time.
By Friday, the heavy-lift crane had been fully erected after seven hours. On Saturday, the teams replaced the six air-condition components. Dismantling began as early as Sunday morning. By 2.00 pm, the crane and all the equipment had left the site. The project was thus completed eight hours before the agreed time window expired.
ATS Cranes was responsible for on-site organisation, obtaining permits and liaising with the relevant authorities. STEIL Kranarbeiten provided the heavy-lift crane and carried out the lifting operations. The close cooperation between the two companies, as well as coordination with authorities and institutions, formed the basis for the project running to schedule.
About STEIL Kranarbeiten
STEIL Kranarbeiten GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Trier, is one of Europe’s leading providers of crane services and heavy haulage, with eight sites and a highly specialised vehicle fleet. From the greater Trier region through the whole of Germany to international projects across Europe, STEIL carries out challenging lifting, assembly and transport tasks for clients in the industrial, energy, infrastructure and construction sectors. With specialist equipment ranging from mini-cranes to 800-tonne lattice boom cranes, as well as state-of-the-art heavy-haul logistics, STEIL offers bespoke solutions from a single source.
