Potains on Thai concrete facility

Nine Potain tower cranes have be used to help build a new pre-cast concrete facility in Autthaya, central Thailand.

The MC 205 B tower cranes were purchased by Thai construction company Hicrete Products and Technology. The cranes, which arrived on site in January 2012, have a 10 tonne capacity and a 60 metre maximum jib. Lifting capacity is 2.4 tonnes at jib end, the manufacturer said.

The 160 square kilometre site has four factories for producing girder boxes, steel structures, segment tunnels and concrete slippers. The cranes were configured with 45 m jibs and hook heights of either 27 or 30 m, a company spokesperson said. In this configuration the cranes are capable of lifting 3.5 tonne loads. In addition, their rail mounted bases allow them to travel 400 m across the site.

Once building tasks have been completed, the tower cranes are being deployed to help with daily operations at the facility. Tasks for the towers include moving pre-cast concrete pieces, rebar and steel structures and helping to prepare new moulds.

Kosol Wattayu, engineering manager at Hicrete, said, “Our new cranes are working hard to meet our demanding build schedules and are helping our business grow. They feature the latest technology from Europe and I am sure they will give us many years of exceptional service.”

The new facility is due for completion in 2014. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce up to 500 cubic metres of pre-cast concrete a day.