Quasius Construction finds perfect job site solution with Potain self-erecting tower crane

• Quasius Construction used a Potain Igo T 85 A self-erecting tower crane to construct a five-story apartment building in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
• The crane’s small footprint and long jib reach completed the job more efficiently without street closures, driving down project cost and simplifying onsite logistics.
• The contractor increased efficiency on the job site by replacing multiple pieces of construction equipment with the self-erecting tower crane.

In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, locally-headquartered Quasius Construction has deployed a Potain Igo T 85 A self-erecting tower crane to build the 7 Penn Apartments complex on the corner of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Quasius Construction used the 6.6 USt maximum capacity crane to build the apartment building from the ground-up, including prefabricated walls, ceiling trusses, flooring, roofing materials and f-frame steel decks. The five-story, multi-family apartment complex will provide 66 homes, along with 92 underground parking spaces and 8,100 ft2 of commercial space, helping to address the area’s housing needs.
The small size and constrained location of the job site — with a parking lot to the north, streets to the west and south, and a residential property to the east — would have required partial street shutdowns for a crawler or mobile crane to build the property. However, the Igo T 85 A was the perfect solution by its capability to reach the entire job site from a single location while only needing a 14.8 ft2 base footprint.

Compact and quiet
“Pennsylvania Avenue is a significant road for residents who want to access the lake or riverfront area, so it was essential to minimize public disruption as well as the additional project cost and downtime that road closures would entail,” explained Matt Noordyk, director of field operations at Quasius Construction. “The Igo T 85 A gave us the small footprint, easy setup and long reach necessary for job site efficiency.”
Operating fully from electric motors, the Igo T 85 A self-erecting crane’s quiet operation also proved advantageous for the residential project.
“The crane runs very quietly, which is important with this being a peaceful downtown area. We didn’t want to disturb the neighbors,” Noordyk added.
Quasius Construction positioned the Igo T 85 A on the west side of the building from where its 147.6 ft maximum jib radius covered the entire job site. The crane operates by radio remote control, enabling improved job site communication and visibility across the site by the operator.

A team player
The operator can move around the job site to the best vantage point and cooperate with different subcontractors to create an overall more cohesive team. They can build relationships with the carpenters, for example, because they are working alongside and can help them work more efficiently by moving their supplies to exactly where they need them.
“The Igo T 85 A crane has enabled our subcontractors to work together and get the job done quicker, since workers aren’t waiting on equipment or doing unnecessary labor,” Noordyk explained.
The Igo T 85 A is quickly becoming popular among contractors as a new way of building more cost-effectively on a job site, and reducing the need for additional equipment. For one example, at the Sheboygan apartment complex project, the self-erecting crane eliminated the need for an additional forklift on site to move framing materials, as the operator was able to quickly pick and place all materials with the crane.
“Overall, we are extremely pleased with the Igo T 85 A. It’s a versatile tool that does everything we need it to and more, helping to drive efficiency on site,” Noordyk concluded.
Quasius Construction, located in Sheboygan’s downtown district, delivers innovative construction solutions and services to clients throughout Wisconsin. Established in 1891, the company is a partner that clients trust throughout their entire project life cycle from conceptual design through construction completion, helping them make informed decisions and meet challenging project demands and budgets.
Potain-certified dealer Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental has provided service and support to the contractor during the project. With four branch locations in Wisconsin, Dawes offers crane rental solutions in the Midwest and beyond since 1947. In 1978, Dawes became a member of the ALL Family of Companies, with the Milwaukee location operating as Dawes headquarters.
 

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Amy Marten                                                                    
Manitowoc                                                                          
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amy.marten@manitowoc.com