Giant Marr tower cranes in energy plant construction

The two Favco M2480D luffing jib tower cranes offer lift capacities of more than 100 tonnes and a reach of up to 73 metres. Photo: Marr Contracting

A pair of Marr Contracting’s 330 tonne capacity luffing tower cranes have been put to work on an energy plant construction project in northern England.

The Favco M2480Ds are helping to build the Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP) near Northwich in Cheshire. LSEP is a joint-venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and FCC Environment. It is a 60 MW energy from waste (EfW) plant with an annual capacity to process 600,000 tonnes of waste. That would provide enough power for 125,000 homes.

Marr Contracting, headquartered in Australia, is working with engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor Black & Veatch. Babcock & Wilcox Renewable is delivering the power train, which includes some heavy components for Marr to install.

Major capability

Marr’s two crane solution allows lifts up to 110 tonnes and a reach of 73 metres. This will be needed to lift a 70 tonne drum and the boiler waterwalls weighing 85 tonnes. It accommodates Black and Veatch’s requirement to install larger modules and make fewer lifts.

One of the two cranes is on a static base but the other is on the Marr Transit System. MTS is a rail system to extend the crane’s reach and site coverage without losing capacity.

“We’re excited to be working in the UK with a client like Black & Veatch who can see the benefits that the right cranage solution can deliver to a project. With the ability to lift in larger, heavier components, our approach will reduce the number of lifts required, helping to deliver a safer, more productive site,” explained Simon Marr, Marr managing director.

“Marr’s experience in the successful delivery of similar large-scale EfW plants in Australia and the Middle East is ideally suited to emerging trends in the UK. Larger plants demand more efficient construction solutions and can really benefit from the use of technology such as the Marr Transit System,” said Steve Ryder, general manager – international at Marr Contracting.

The LSEP is expected to start operating by 2025. Marr has three more of these giant cranes on other projects in the UK, with more arriving through into 2025, the company said.

The Marr Transit System (MTS) base on one of the M2480D luffing tower cranes. Photo: Marr Contracting