The Netherlands: Mammoet Announces New PTC Super Heavy Lift Cranes

Mammoet, the worldwide leader in heavy lifting and transport, has presented its new PTC super heavy lift cranes.

The cranes were designed in-house by the company and will be used for large construction projects (e.g. oil refineries, power stations, offshore) throughout the world. Apart from the key issues of safety and capacity, the design also focused on reliability, ease of transport, and the ability to cope with difficult environments. The design was fully reviewed by Lloyds’ Register.

On 15 June two models of the New Generation PTCs, with capacities of 140 and 200 thousand ton meters, were presented and demonstrated at Mammoet’s dedicated site in Zeeland, the Netherlands.

Meeting changing market needs

For the largest construction projects, Mammoet uses PTC (platform, twin ring, containerized) ring cranes of its own design. The company now has 15 years’ experience with these cranes, amounting to over 17,000 heavy lifts. One of the strengths of the company is its experience of challenging projects which demand innovative solutions. Mammoet wants to concentrate more in the coming years on the top end of the project market in which difficult lift and transport solutions demand highly specialized equipment. That is where Mammoet’s competences, people and equipment come into their own. The investment in these new Generation PTCs, the most powerful cranes in the world, underline the direction in which Mammoet wants to grow.

Mammoet designed this new generation of PTC cranes because the modules used to build refineries and other plants are still increasing in size and weight. PTCs can build large structures in the petrochemical, power and civil engineering sectors, as well as FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offtake units used in the offshore oil industry), more efficiently and safely. Mammoet wants to develop solutions that save time and money for its customers.

Key-features of the cranes

– The high lifting capacity and reach combined with a small footprint make these cranes particularly versatile.

– These PTCs are real cranes rather than gantries with strand jacks (which are slower and less flexible). Hence they can pick up and place loads across a large part of a construction site and reach across tall structures with their luffing (adjustable angle) jibs.

– Mammoet’s unique nonstop interpolation principle means that the load charts for different main boom angles may be interpolated. This helps us make the best use of the crane’s capacity when planning a heavy lift.

– The new PTCs have a relatively small footprint (45 or 55 meters, depending on the capacity) and can slew (turn) a full circle in only 15 minutes.

– The crane winches can lift loads up to 3,200 tons to a height of 120 meters in just 12 minutes.

– The containerized design means that the cranes can be mobilized and erected anywhere in the world within three to six weeks.

– Because of their large reach there will rarely be a need to relocate the cranes. However, if necessary their bogies can be placed on tracks (rails) or the whole crane can be picked up and relocated on site by SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters).

– The units can operate in both arctic and desert climates without loss of capacity and can withstand high winds. They can even survive hurricanes and minor earthquakes.

Reduced environmental impact

Critical drives, control systems and safety equipment are duplicated for increased reliability. The hydraulic power packs which drive all the equipment are fuel-efficient and meet strict emission requirements, and most of the ballast can be sourced locally to reduce the need for transport. These cranes will help Mammoet’s customers build even larger structures more efficiently, and in complete safety.

The company

Mammoet is a specialist in customer-driven and tailor-made heavy lifting and transport solutions at any onshore or offshore location. The company’s core activities are:

– Turnkey lifting and transport operations;

– Factory-to-foundation heavy lifting and multimodal transport projects;

– Maintenance lifting services and plant shut-downs;

– Day-to-day rental of mobile cranes;

– Salvage and wreck removal of ships and offshore installations;

– Trade in new and used equipment worldwide.

The company is focused on the petrochemical industry, power plant facilities, civil engineering projects, offshore businesses and marine projects.

Mammoet has over 3,800 personnel operating worldwide from over 60 offices and depots. In 2010 Mammoet achieved an operating income of EUR 860 million.

[mappress]

Source: mammoet, June 16, 2011