Superlift task for Baumann

German lifting specialist Viktor Baumann used its Terex Superlift 3800 lattice boom crawler crane for the first time at an SGL Carbon factory in Bonn, Germany.

To transport the carrier to site, the basic machine, including the assembled A-frame, was transported by a nine-axle vehicle. Two five-axle vehicles were used to transport the tracks. The remaining components were transported in 40 tonne trucks. Once on site the crawler was assembled with a 220 tonne assist crane.

Stefan Oerter, Viktor Baumann technical field staff, said, “We didn’t even remove the winches from the basic unit before heading back to the work site, which means we were travelling with a total weight of just under 94 tonnes.”

The 650 tonne crawler was used to lift a large press out of the factory. In total, three components of the press needed to be lifted out from the plant in three days. Two of the components weighed 270 tonnes and the third weighed 200 tonnes.

To lift the pieces out, the 3800 was configured with an SSL 40 metre main boom and a 36 m SL mast. For the ballast, 165 tonnes of counterweight was placed on the superstructure and 320 tonnes was placed on the SL counterweight tray. The crawler worked at a radius of 26 m.

Challenges during the lifts included a small working area. In some places there was only 50 or 60 millimetres of space around the loads when lifting, a spokesperson said.

Stefan Oerter said, “It was absolutely vital to prevent the components from swinging around while they were being lifted. If they had, their enormous weight would have caused damage to the production equipment surrounding them.”

During the lifts, the 3800 had to walk with the load, and the working radius of the crane, including the Superlift, was changed during the lifts. The Terex Variolift system was used to help with the lifts.