9
NEWS
MARCH 2014
ACT
Imperial Crane dispatched
its GMK 75550 AT to the
Women’s Athletic Club in
Chicago on a Sunday to
remove and replace a chiller.
To lift and place the new
25,000 pound chiller, the
550-ton capacity crane was
rigged with 176,300 pounds
of counterweight with 78 feet
of luffing jib at a 100-foot
radius. Imperial handled the
ground penetrating radar
(GPR) study, organized the
traffic control and barricade
plan and acquired the proper
street permitting. The crane
was set up on Ontario Street
between Michigan and Rush
Streets in downtown Chicago.
Viant relocates
replica Viking ship
In 1926, Captain Gerhard
Folgero replicated the voyage
of Leif Erikson, who was the
first European to land on the
North American continent
some 500 years before
Christopher Columbus. After
stops in Iceland, Greenland,
Newfoundland and Boston,
MA, the ship, known as the
Leif Erikson Viking Ship, came
to rest at a park in Duluth,
MN.
In the 87 years since it was
built, the ship fell into a state
of disrepair. Recently the boat
has been in the process of
restoration and it needed to be
moved for eventual relocation
to a museum.
Viant Crane supplied
the 65-ton capacity Grove
RT765E-2 to move the ship.
After funding fell through for
the crane work, Viant offered
to perform the work free of
charge.
“We believe in giving back
to the community and we
didn’t want to see this project
cancelled because of lack of
funding,” said Nick Minardi,
Viant director of operations.
Because the park sits on top
of Interstate 35, Viant had to
use a crane that fit within the
park’s 11-foot-wide boardwalk.
Viant initially planned to
use an 80-ton crane but its
footprint was too large. So,
they purchased a new 65-ton
capacity Grove RT765E-2,
which measures only 10 feet, 6
inches wide, and fit within the
park’s weight limit.
The RT765E-2 lifted the
4.65-ton vessel three times.
First, the ship was raised 65
feet into the air so it could be
swung 180 degrees over nearby
trees to avoid damaging them.
Then, it was placed on a light
pickup trailer to keep the total
weight within the park’s limits
before being moved about
600 yards. Finally, the ship
was lifted onto a third trailer
that met highway weight and
clearance regulations.
Grove’s RT765E-2 offers a
110-foot, four-section, full
power Megaform boom.
“The RT765E-2 performed
outstandingly,” Minardi said.
“There was very rough terrain
on the jobsite, but because of
the crane’s physical size and
four-way steering capability,
we were able to execute the
project flawlessly.”
Viant purchases its Grove
and Manitowoc cranes
from Milwaukee, WI.-based
American State Equipment.
■
Viant’s Grove RT765E-2 lifted the
4.65-ton vessel three times.
Tadano ATF 220G-5
sold to Crane Masters
boom and 122 feet of hydraulic
offset jib.
Michael Deck, president/
CEO, said the decision to go
with Tadano was the simplicity
and reliability of Tadano’s line
of all-terrain cranes. It was the
first new Tadano the company
has purchased, but he became
sold on the brand after owning
two used Tadano ATs.
“Having owned a 200-ton
and 130-ton Tadano AT, these
machines have been the most
reliable out of all of our fleet,”
Deck said. “And the lifting
Houston-based Crane Masters
Inc. purchased a new Tadano
ATF 220G-5 for use in oil and
gas applications in the Gulf
Coast region. The ATF 220G-5
has a capacity to lift 250 tons
and features 223 feet of main
capacities of the ATF 220G-5
are probably the best in its
class.”
Having factory support
for parts and service and a
knowledgeable support team
was another factor, Deck said.
“I cannot make money with
a machine if it’s broke down
all the time, and that is why I
went with Tadano,” he said.
Tadano Regional Sales
Manager David Green, whose
territory includes Texas and
Oklahoma, handled the
transaction.
■
Oil and gas and refinery work
will be lined up for Crane
Masters’ new Tadano ATF
220G-5.
