Palfinger crawler crane chosen for power plant lift

A Palfinger PCC 57.002 crawler crane was chosen for a tricky job to lift 15,000 cubic metres of structural concrete and 2,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel at the Tauernmoos pumped storage power plant in Bergheim, Austria.

The PCC 57.002 crawler crane can separate from the crawler module and be transported to the next level in two compact parts. (Photo: Palfinger)

The project had many requirements and specifications that made it a difficult job for those involved. The cavern is 73 metres long, 25 metres wide and 40 metres high, which precluded the use of other types of crane.

With limited space, special lifting requirements and a tight schedule to adhere to, plant owner ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG opted to use a PCC 57.002 crawler crane.

Described by the manufacturer as “compact, agile, strong and stable”, the machine will lift 450 kilogrammes at a working radius of almost 30 metres.

The shifting function and 360° geometry monitoring also means it can increase its lifting force and reach. For machine stability, software calculates all centres of gravity of the machine simultaneously.

Zero-emission crane operation

As well as lifting the concrete and steel on the site, the PCC 57.002 was also tasked with lifting and installing formwork panels and machines within the cavern on various floors.

According to Palfinger, the size of the machine made it an ideal option for the job, as it can separate from the crawler module and be transported to the next level in two compact parts.

The environment and health of workers inside the cavern was also a consideration on this underground project. The PCC 57.002 can be operated with a diesel or electric drive but, for the purposes of this project, it was electrically powered for CO₂ neutral operation with no engine exhaust emissions.

This means the environment and the construction workers inside the cavern benefit from the emission-free and silent operation of the compact crane as it produces no exhaust fumes, reduced noise and vibrations and zero CO₂ pollution.

Civil engineer Arnold Künnert, project manager at Swietelsky AG, which carried out the concrete power plant cavern work on the site, said, “In addition to the technical advantages, Palfinger’s strong service network and customer-orientated support were decisive for us.

“Our crane operators received four days of training right before the start of the project, where they got to know all the functions of the crane model and practiced health and safety procedures. This enabled them to work efficiently right from the start of the project,” Künnert continued.