Two Grove GMK5150XL all-terrain cranes team up for tandem lift at UK’s Gatwick Airport

• The cranes had to work within a strict 25 m height limit to carefully lift a 22 t substation into position.
• The two Grove GMK5150XL all-terrain cranes belong to crane rental company Southern Cranes & Access, which carried out two similar lifts at the airport in recent months.
• The cranes’ ability to travel to the jobsite with a large amount of counterweight while remaining within the UK’s axle load limits was a decisive factor in their selection.  

Major engineering work close to the main control tower at the UK’s London Gatwick Airport caused no disruption to flights, thanks to a pair of Grove GMK5150XL mobile cranes owned by Southern Cranes & Access.

Clive Sadler, director, Southern Cranes & Access, explained how the company selected the Grove cranes for the installation of the 22 t substation:

“We had to ensure all work was carried out below a 25 m height so the airport would not have to suspend aircraft movements. Because the substation has eight lifting points, we would have needed an extra longitudinal spreader beam to lift with a single crane. So, it seemed logical to share the load between two cranes. We chose the GMK5150XL cranes because they can carry a large amount of counterweight (30.9 t within a 16.5 t per-axle limit), meaning we only needed one support vehicle, saving us time and money. The cranes also have a compact footprint and look great in our new livery,” he said.

Working with the full 44.5 t of counterweight, at a maximum radius of 22 m, the substation was simultaneously lifted and precisely positioned by both crane operators, making use of Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) to ensure fine control of all movements. The on-site installation was completed in one day.

All on-site members of Southern Cranes & Access had to be fully accredited to work by Gatwick Airport prior to the lift. In addition, the GMK5150XL cranes underwent intensive screening before accessing the site through a special security gate.

Prior to installation, Southern Cranes & Access collected the substation from manufacturer B&S Group’s factory, where it had been fitted with Schneider electronic equipment on behalf of UK Power Networks. Along with an additional load of steel legs, stairs, and walkways, the 22 t module was transported to the site under escort due to its 4.1 m width (it is also 12.8 m long and 3.6 m high). The substation was too wide to enter the airport via the normal security gate, so arrangements had to be made to use another gate and then escort the substation along the main taxiway in-between aircraft movements.

Despite the project's complexity, the installation was completed without incident and on schedule. It is the third installation of this kind Southern Cranes & Access has completed at Gatwick Airport in recent months.

Southern Cranes & Access is a family-run company providing mobile crane hire, contract lifting and powered access solutions since 1997, operating across the south of the UK, including Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire, and London and the surrounding areas.

CONTACT

Anna Theilen    
Marketing Communication Specialist
Manitowoc    
T +49 4421 294 4632
anna.theilen@manitowoc.com