ic060510.xml
08 May 2008
The 102 m-high Atomium, a striking landmark in Brussels, Belgium erected for the 1958 World Fair, is under renovation. Crucial to this work is a selection of cranes from Belgian crane and transport specialist, Sarens, and from fellow Belgian crane rental house Michielsens. Pictured is 350 tonne maximum capacity Liebherr LR 1350/1-LN crawler working on the top sphere of the structure, the outer skin of which is being stripped off and replaced with corrosion-resistant panels. The crawler was rigged with 66 m of main boom, 78 m jib, 38 tonnes of central ballast and 125 tonnes of main counterweight. Radii up to 76 m were needed, where the gross load was up to 4.3 tonnes. For the same work on the lower spheres, Michielsens supplied Liebherr LTM 1150-5.1 and LTM 1080/1 telescopic wheeled mobiles.