Chunjo uses Manitowoc 31000 in biggest lift

South Korean crane rental company Chunjo Construction used its Manitowoc 31000 lattice boom crawler crane in a record lift of a 650 tonne cold box at a gas plant in South Korea.

The base of 55 metre high cold box was 9 x 9 metres. It was lifted off a flat bed trailer in tandem using a 600 tonne capacity Manitowoc 18000 crawler, before being solely lifted by the 31000 and placed in position.

To complete the lift the crawler crane was configured with a 55 m boom and a 36 metre luffing jib. Challenges during the project included high walls, which restricted the crane's movement.

The lift took two hours to complete and was carried out at the Posco E&C liquefied natural gas plant in Gwangyang, South Korea. It is a record lift for the 2,300 tonne capacity crawler crane has completed, a company spokesperson said.

Chang Hwan Jang, Chunjo chairman, said, “It’s great to see this flagship crane performing, making an awkward lift look easy. The 31000 has a minimal footprint thanks to its variable position counterweight (VPC) system but also offers a huge capacity, so it fits our needs perfectly. We are delighted with how well the crane is performing and look forward to seeing the next challenging lift it tackles.”

The 31000 will remain at the Gwangyang plant until further notice. Planned lifts for the crawler include a 900 tonne lift in November; this will be followed by two 1,000 tonne lifts in December and February, a company spokesperson added.