Hird has been commissioned to use its mini cranes in a contract lift to support the taking down of a pedestrian bridge and an escalator at a Midland shopping centre that was being refurbished.
The Valla pick and carry crane was deployed to support the demolition of the concrete internal walkway, while a UNIC spider crane was used to lift out sections of the escalator.
The work was carried out over two weeks between 7pm and 7am, so the shopping centre in a town close to Birmingham in the West Midlands could stay open throughout the work.
Hird Cranes and Machinery Moving Manager Mick Bradshaw said: “Mini cranes were the perfect option for this contract lifting project.
“Space inside the shopping centre was limited and particular care needed to be taken to protect the floor, so we had to use machines that could work in confined spaces.
“We provided risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) for both elements of the project. Working in close partnership with the rest of the demolition team was a priority to complete the tasks in the window we had available.”
To protect the floor, Hird laid specialist rubber matting that spread the weight of the mini cranes.
A Valla 180E mini crane was used to first hold sections of the pedestrian bridge while they were being cut free, then lift them out, and carry them to a pallet to be removed by a forklift truck.
In all, 18 sections, each weighting about three tonnes, were removed.
The Valla 180E mini crane is electric, so fume free, has a maximum lifting capacity of 18 tonnes, yet it is only 2.2 metres wide, so it could operate within the confines of the shopping centre.
A UNIC URW-706 spider crane was used to support the breaking down of the escalator. Fitted with a P-11104 glass vacuum lifter, it supported 24 glass panels while they were unbolted, then lifted them from the escalator.The spider crane then lifted away the escalator’s steel support frames and its electric motor. At 1.5 tonnes, this was the heaviest section of this particular lift.
UNIC URW-706 spider cranes have a maximum lifting capacity of six tonnes and a maximum working height of 19.5 metres, yet they are also highly compact. So this mini crane was an ideal to support the escalator break down.
Click here to view a full case study about this lifting project.
Both mini cranes are available for other contract lifting and machinery moving projects, and through Hird’s mini crane hire service.
All Hird services are available across the UK, via three regional operating centres. Call Hird today for more information about mini crane hire.
Email: info@hird.co.uk
Northern 01482 227333
Central 01302 341659
Southern 0203 174 0658
