Tandem bell tower lift by Tatuapé
19 May 2016
Brazil-based contractor Guindastes Tatuapé used two Liebherr mobile cranes - LTM 1500-8.1 and LTM 1750-9.1 - in the tandem hoist of the metallic structure of the bell tower of the National Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, in São Paulo, Brazil. The Sanctuary in the city of Aparecida is the second largest Catholic temple of the world, behind Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the company said.
The operation is part of the preparations for the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Nossa Senhora Aparecida statue in the river Paraíba do Sul. The anniversary will be celebrated in 2017.
With a height of 36 metres and a weight of approximately 97 tonnes, the metallic structure of the bell tower - used to shelter the Basillica’s bells - had to be first positioned horizontally, and one of the sides of its base it was fixed with two rods that would articulate as the structure was raised. Three other anchorage points were settled: one in the head of the structure, from where the LTM 1500-8.1 lifted the piece and two on the other side of the base that was held by the LTM 1750-9.1.
When the operation began, the 500 tonne 1500-8.1 slowly raised the structure, leading it to the vertical position by lifting at its head. When the boom reached 39 m radius, the weight was displaced to the 750 tonne LTM 1750-9.1, which was moored in the base. By the end of nearly two hours the operation was completed.
The 1750-9.1 was assembled with 114 tonnes ballast and the telescopic boom was completely open, reaching 52 m in length. The 1500-8.1 was assembled with 90 tonnes ballast and a 61.9 m boom.
The installation of the bell tower took place right next to one of the most important Brazilian highways, the Rodovia Dutra between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Once completed, the bell tower will hold 13 bells, 12 of which will be dedicated to the apostles and the 13th bell – the biggest - is dedicated to the Virgin of Aparecida and to São José.
