100th Potain tower crane for D&G

The MR 615 is one of three luffing jib Potains helping to construct the tallest office block in Perth's Central Business District. The other two are MR 295 H20 models with 150LCC50 hoist winches erected in October 2008.

All were supplied by D&G. Main contractor Brookfield Multiplex, which is building the $1 billion City Square Tower, purchased the MR 295s and rented the MR 615. The building will be the new headquarters for mining giant BHP Billiton, which is relocating from Melbourne.

"This high profile site has special requirements, so we purchased a new Potain crane designed exactly for these types of buildings in markets such as the United States, South Korea and Australia," said Gino DeCesare, D&G managing director.

Capacity of the MR 615 is 16 tonnes and it lifts 8.25 tonnes at 60 m radius. "It's a big luffer. And the single fall hoist rope has a speed of 200 m per minute with a load rating at that speed of 2 tonnes and a luffing speed of 1 minute 48 seconds from maximum to minimum radius," DeCesare said.

The MR 615 was also chosen for its electric motor which is quieter and more suitable for city areas than noisier diesel-engined cranes. Other benefits include easier transportation, lower transport costs, taller erection heights and a freestanding height of 57.3 m when fitted with the 60 m jib.

The City Square Tower will be 256 m tall with a footprint of 1,800 square metres on a 1.2 hectare site. Total floor area will be 60,000 square metres.