Valla mini crane drops in to support Underground extension

A Valla mini crane has been dropped 20 metres down a shaft to support construction of the latest extension of the London Underground.

The Manitex Valla 250E pick and carry crane, the latest addition to Hird’s small crane fleet, is being used to carry and install precast concrete sections in the new Battersea station on the Northern Line.

The lifting team carrying out the work has been impressed with the crane’s performance, especially its ability to work in confined areas.

Deividas Matulevicius, Senior Appointed Person (Lifting Operations), for Laing O’Rourke, said: “The Valla 250E is the most manoeuvrable crane I have ever worked with.

“The confined spaces we’re able to operate it in are quite amazing. It’s very helpful to us, because we are working underground in very tight areas, so the Valla crane is a big help.

“Being an electric crane, it is also very environmentally-friendly, with low noise, and zero emissions, so is ideal for such a job, helping to make our work environment safer and easier to work in.”

The Valla 250E is also fitted with the latest all-round camera system, giving the crane operative greater assurance when moving in confined areas.

The pick and carry crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 25 tonnes. It is being used to carry and install reinforced concrete panels which have been lowered into the shaft by a tower crane.

But first the Valla compact crane, itself, had to be lifted into place by the same tower crane, something easily achieved thanks to its lifting points at all four corners of the machine.

The two-mile Northern Line extension, being built by a joint venture of Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke, with a budget of £500m, with two new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms will then terminate at Clapham Junction. It is due to open in 2020.

The new line will serve major new housing, leisure, and office developments on the site of the former iconic Battersea Power Station, and the new American and Dutch embassies at Nine Elms.

The Valla 250E pick and carry crane is fitted with non-marking tyres, has sit-in operations, with a four-section telescopic boom, giving a maximum radius of nearly 10m. It is also fitted with the latest InTouch tracking system and advanced remote-access diagnostics system.

Despite its impressive lifting capacity, the crane is just 2150mm long and 5831mm long, which contributes to its excellent confined space operation.

Hird Crane Sales and After Sales Manager Carl Cooper said: “We’re delighted the Valla 250E is doing such a good job for Laing O’Rourke’s lifting team.

“These projects present some of the biggest challenges in civil and structural engineering. So, having access to the best lifting equipment, that construction crews can trust to get the job done as efficiently, safely, and sustainably is a major plus.”

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