It is the tallest skyscraper in the City of London, the second tallest building in Western Europe, and every window was installed using a mini crane supplied by Hird.
22 Bishopsgate has 62 storeys and is 278 metres, or 912 feet, tall. It could eventually be home to 12,000 workers in what is billed as the most social office space on the planet. It even has a glass climbing wall.
For the last two years, a Maeda tracked spider crane, supplied by Hird’s London South depot in Redhill, has been used to install unitised window panels on the building, known as Jenga Tower.
Façade installation specialists have used the Maeda MC305 mini crane to lift the panels into position on every floor – now two of the spider cranes are being operated to complete the task between floors 59 and 61.
Hird Director John Wilding said: “We’re proud to have assisted with the construction of such an important building. Only the Shard, which our mini cranes also worked on, is taller in Western Europe.
“Our Maeda MC305 spider crane has done sterling work throughout the façade installation process. It’s been perfect for the task, being light, compact and quick to reset, with an excellent lifting capacity.
“As unitised façade panels are getting larger and heavier, installers are looking to use lighter mini cranes so more of the maximum floor load can be taken up by the glass.”
The spider crane has a two-speed winch for safe, precise and productive lifting and a full range of safety sensors, including a tilt sensor and alarm.
Façade installation teams have been using the mini crane to lift panels off a launch table on a lower floor up to where they are installed.
The Maeda M305 spider crane, which can be diesel or electric powered, is a ride-on mini crane which can also be controlled remotely so the operator has the best and safest view of the lift.
It is one of Hird’s most popular mini crane hire options and is also used to carry out facility maintenance lifts, machinery moving and installation and art installations.
Hird also supplied a Hydraulica 1200 glass vacuum lifter, used with the Maeda MC305 mini crane, for specific installations, most notably the large panels used to create the building’s glass climbing wall.
The Hydraulica 1200 glass vacuum lifter has a maximum capacity of 1.2t and is specifically designed to lift large and irregular loads.
The glass climbing wall, which allows people to view the London skyline as they exercise, typifies the innovative facilities in 22 Bishopsgate.
Dubbed Twentytwo London, it is being marketed as one of the world’s most social spaces to work in.
The tower will have a novel mix of work and social space, an art gallery, the latest digital working technologies and a start-up hub for smaller companies to “bring entrepreneurial thinking into the building”.
The Maeda MC305 tracked spider crane is one of a full range of Maeda mini cranes available from Hird, up to the Maeda MC815 which has a maximum SWL of 8t.
For more information about spider crane hire, pick and carry crane hire and glass vacuum lifter hire, call Hird today. From domestic homes to the largest skyscrapers, Hird can see through the lifting problem to the best solution.
Northern 01482 227333
Central 01302 341659
Southern 0203 174 0658
Email: info@hird.co.uk
