Manitowoc: Merkel Autokrane selects pair of Grove cranes for complex tandem lift
German crane services company Merkel Autokrane selected two of its 250 t Grove all-terrain cranes for a challenging tandem lift in the Bamberg area of Lower Franconia. The GMK5250XL-1 and GMK5250L were called in to build a multi-story parking lot for one of the world’s largest online retailers of musical instruments.
- A Grove GMK5250XL-1 and GMK5250L teamed up to lift precast concrete beams for a new parking garage at the offices of a major online retailer in Bamberg, Germany.
- The two all-terrain cranes worked seamlessly together, installing the beams in just one day.
“This was a tricky project because existing underground utility lines meant a larger crane could not be used. Because of this, Karlheinz Göring from Merkel Autokrane’s field service department opted to use two of the company’s 250 t Grove all-terrain cranes in tandem. With plenty of strength and reach, these five-axle units handled the project’s challenges with ease. Also, with our CCS (Crane Control System), operators can use the joysticks to carry out fine movements with closer control, which was a valuable feature on a technically-demanding tandem lift such as this.” said Dieter Popp, regional sales manager for Manitowoc.
A series of precast concrete beams were positioned by the two Grove cranes for the parking garage, which has two basement and three above-ground levels. Both cranes were fitted with 80 t of counterweight, with the GMK5250XL-1 lifting at a radius of 39 m and the GMK5250L at 46 m. The beams each measured 16 m in length and weighed 13 t and were placed during a single day.
The newer of the two cranes on the project is Merkel Autokrane’s GMK5250XL-1. This crane has the longest main boom in its class, thanks to a 78.5 m telescoping TWIN-LOCK™ boom which can be extended up to 109 m with the addition of a jib plus inserts. Power comes from a Mercedes OM471LA EUROMOT 5 engine, which drives the carrier and the superstructure. The engine technology means the GMK5250XL-1 can deliver up to 30% lower fuel costs compared with previous-generation models.
Alongside the GMK5250XL-1, was Merkel Autokrane’s GMK5250L. This model has a 70 m main boom and can lift loads of up to 28 t at a 22 m radius. A powerful yet versatile five-axle machine, the GMK5250L is fast to set up on the jobsite and offers best-in-class maneuverability through its patented MEGATRAK® suspension system, which features on all Grove all-terrain cranes.
Merkel Autokrane offers crane and transport services in northern Bavaria and throughout Germany. Over the past 23 years, the company has established itself as a reliable partner, thanks to its highly educated and experienced staff and modern, well-equipped fleet of mobile and loader cranes. The company’s fleet currently includes four Grove cranes, and it also operates a range of heavy transportation vehicles. In addition to the two 250 t capacity Grove cranes used on the tandem lift, Merkel Autokrane operates a 90 t Grove GMK4090 and a 150 t Grove GMK5150L.
Merkel Autokrane handled the project directly via its head office in nearby Bamberg. The company also operates from branches in Schlüsselfeld, Burgkunstadt, and Nürnberg.
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