Terex lifts Continuity in Frankfurt

Zöller Transport and M.S. Kranservice worked together using a 500 tonne capacity Terex AC 500-2 wheeled mobile telescopic crane to reposition Max Bill's 66 tonne sculpture "Continuity" at the Deutsche Bank park in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The challenge was to move the delicate sculpture, which was already showing cracks from age and previous transportation, and place it onto three concrete bases in a trapezoidal pool at the bank.

"To rule out any damage, we used a sophisticated lifting frame to protect the sculpture during transportation and lifting. It encased the artwork like a steel cage. This enabled us to distribute the forces evenly and avoid dangerous load peaks," said Thomas Zöller, Zöller Transport CEO.

The available hardstanding area in front of the bank building was extremely limited. It was also above an underground car park. Rigged with 160 tonnes of counterweight and at a radius of 18 metres, with fully extended outriggers, the operator completed the lift in ten minutes. Then, after a short slew, he set the sculpture down onto the three concrete bases, without any damage.