High-capacity Potain tower cranes selected for French data center construction

• Demathieu et Bard is using three Potain tower cranes – two MDT 489 models and an MDT 809 – to build a data center close to Paris. 
• The French construction company selected the cranes for their high capacities, excellent load curves, speed, ease of assembly, and optimized transport.
• The cranes were assembled quickly and easily using a five-axle Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane. The crane has the longest and most powerful boom in its class, yet still offers compact dimensions.

Longstanding Potain customer Demathieu et Bard has deployed three top-slewing tower cranes to construct a data center near Paris, France. All were assembled during a three-week period in March 2022. The crane that installed the tower cranes was a Grove GMK5250XL-1 from rental company Occilev, based in the Île-de-France area. 

The Potain MDT 809 is perfect for high-profile work, such as the construction of this large data center. For the data center project, Demathieu et Bard chose the 40 t version of the MDT 809 which was then configured with its maximum 80 m jib and at hook height of 37.6 m. It was installed on an 8 m ZY854 cross base. 

The two Potain MDT 489 cranes were both configured with a short 45 m jib and at a hook height of 27.6 m. Each of the 25 t capacity cranes sits on an 8 m ZY800 cross base. Both the ZY854 and the smaller ZY800 were great choices for cross bases, given their speed and ease of assembly combined with optimized transport.

All the high-capacity cranes were rented to Demathieu et Bard from Potain. They will use their maximum capacity at both long and short radii to lift concrete buckets, formwork, and heavy prefabricated elements such as posts, beams, and long planks.

All Potain top-slewing cranes benefit from the latest in ergonomics, transport optimization, speed, and ease of assembly. On-board technologies include the Crane Control System (CCS), Ultra View cab for superior visibility and comfort, high-performance lifting winches, automatic trolley cable tension, calibration from the cab, customizable driving modes, and remote diagnostics.

Franco Queiroz, technical director at Demathieu et Bard, said: “The high capacities and excellent load curves, plus the simplicity of assembly and optimized transport were all factors in our selection of these three Potain topless cranes.”

The perfect partner

The Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane was an ideal choice to assemble the high-capacity Potain cranes. With a 250 t maximum capacity plus a main boom of 78.5 m, it had more than enough strength and reach. For one pick, it was required to lift a load of 18.6 t to a height of 37.6 m and out to a radius of 22 m with its boom set to 49.7 m. Handling the 18.6 t load proved no problem and was comfortably within the 21 t maximum the GMK5250XL-1 can handle in this set-up.  

In addition to lifting performance, Occilev appreciated the speed, maneuverability, and compact dimensions of the crane. Benjamin Cauvas, director of Occilev, said: “The Grove GMK5250XL-1 has the longest and most powerful boom in the five-axle class. It meets the needs of our customers in Paris and the surrounding areas perfectly. This crane adapts to simple and complex tasks to take on tower crane assembly, construction, and other industrial jobs.”

Demathieu et Bard owns 55 tower cranes, the majority of which are from Potain. In 2019 the company employed more than 2,600 people and had a turnover of €1.65 billion. It operates primarily in metropolitan France and the French overseas departments and territories.

CONTACT

Dominique Leullier
Marketing Director Europe
Manitowoc
+ 33 4 72 18 21 60
dominique.leullier@manitowoc.com