The complete solution – Liebherr tower cranes build Axel Springer new building in Berlin

Liebherr tower cranes are building the “New Way of Work” showcase project in Germany – the Axel Springer new building in Berlin. Six luffing jib cranes from Liebherr's own used and rental crane centre, the Tower Crane Center, are providing sterling service on the site. Four 357 HC-L 18/32 Litronic and two 280 HC-L 12/24 Litronic cranes are responsible for almost all the lifting work – fitting steel, transporting concrete, installing the façades and unloading trucks. The 357 HC-L cranes are operating with tower heights of up to 77 metres and radii of up to 50 metres. The luffing jibs mean that the hook height is almost 130 metres. The two 280 HC-L cranes each have a tower height of 58 metres and a radius of 40 metres.

The department for bespoke solutions, Tower Crane Solutions, provided advice and practical assistance to the customer for planning the large construction site. The result was a recommendation for six luffing jib cranes which cover the site perfectly and, due to their maximum lifting capacities of up to 32 tonnes, are ideal for hoisting heavy prefabricated components.

Tower Crane Solutions also created several special solutions with the customer – the following being an example. To ensure that the access point is freely accessible to site vehicles, one of the 357 HC-L cranes is positioned on a portal measuring 8 x 8 m. This means that materials can pass under the portal for delivery to the site. Two other 357 HC-L cranes are assembled on foundation anchors within the building. The foundation for the building is also used as a foundation for the cranes – a very low-cost solution. A 357 HC-L crane is outside the building on an undercarriage measuring 8 x 8 m. The same is true of the two 280 HC-L cranes.

The cranes are in action six days a week and ten hours per day. Having a service partner in the immediate locality is essential for customers. Berlin-based Liebherr dealership Wasel provides precisely this fast, reliable 24/7 service. This was also one of the main reasons for the customer to choose Liebherr tower cranes. Furthermore, WASEL GmbH also provided assistance with the assembly of the cranes – a rather tricky task in the heart of Berlin due to the constricted space available.

German building contractor Züblin is the general contractor for the Axel Springer new building. Züblin won the tender at the beginning of 2015 and has supported the project from the initial design to the planning permission – jointly with Axel Springer, architecture agency OMA based in Rotterdam and the planning team.

Tower Crane Solutions has also come up with a smart concept for dismantling the cranes. At the start of 2019, the external luffing jib cranes will dismantle the internal cranes. The six cranes from our Tower Crane Center will have been in action on the Axel Springer new building for a total of two years before they are sent to their next job.