Potain MR 295 Luffing Jib Cranes Helping Erect Tallest Office Building In Birmingham, England

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Two luffing jib tower cranes from Potain are being used to help construct a new office building in the City Center Enterprise Zone in Birmingham, England. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The Potain brand features more than 60 tower crane models overall, including a number of luffing jib cranes used to construct skyscrapers and other very tall buildings. That’s exactly what two 17.6- and 22-ton (16- and 20-metric-ton) Potain MR 295 midsize luffing jib cranes are doing in the UK in Birmingham’s City Center Enterprise Zone, located near Colmore Row and Newhall Street. In fact, the 26-story office building the cranes have been helping build since October will be Birmingham’s tallest office building (and will be home to a top-floor restaurant) upon completion. That’s expected by May 2021.

Birmingham’s Tallest Structure

Manitowoc, owner of the Potain brand, says the MR 295 cranes are supporting construction of the project’s concrete core, and lifting and assembling steel girders to help build the office tower’s steel frame. Project officials says it will take about 36 weeks to complete the frame, and the cranes will be lifting 2,400-plus tons of steel. Manitowoc says operators can equip the MR 295 with up to 197 feet (60 metres) of jib, with capacity at jib’s end being 3 tons (2.8 metric tons). The cranes working on the Colmore Row project have 131.2-ft. (40-m) and 147.6-ft. (45-m) jibs and 6.7- and 5-ton ( 6.1- and 4.5-metric-ton) jib-end capacities, respectively.

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When completed, the 26-story structure will be Birmingham’s tallest office building. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

While one of the project’s cranes reaches a height of 375.7 ft. (114.5 m), operators erected the other crane on top of the concrete core about 328.1 ft. (100 m) above ground level. With a tip height of 531.5 ft. (162 m), that crane is currently Birmingham’s tallest structure, Manitowoc says. To help the cranes work within the area’s limited available space, they’re equipped with a compact counter jib and extra custom wind sail plates.

MR 295 Options

Manitowoc also offers the MR 295 in a 27.5-ton (25-metric-ton) model, and the series’ jib length options vary from 98.4 to 196.9 ft. (30 to 60 m).

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Source: Manitowoc