FCC

Liebherr 81 K.1 fast-erecting crane stands tall on Vancouver Island

2024-07-23

A challenging job for a Liebherr fast-erecting crane in Canada: limited space on site resulted in a spectacular crane disassembly. The British Columbia-based crane hire company engaged in the project was particularly impressed by the fast-erecting crane's flexibility and efficiency.

An apartment complex is taking shape not far from Departure Bay in the Canadian coastal town of Nanaimo. The Liebherr 81 K.1 fast-erecting crane involved in the project was supplied by crane hire provider Bigfoot Crane Company Inc. Working in tight conditions, the machine proved what it is capable of in Vancouver Island's second largest city.

Construction of the Departure Bay apartment building presented Bigfoot Crane and the contractor Westurban Developments Ltd. with several challenges, largely due to the complex nature of the structure and the conditions on site. Meticulous planning beforehand, followed by precise implementation, was crucial for the crane's successful operation.

Cale Anderson, managing director at Bigfoot Crane, describes the project's specific challenges, "It's easy to get a crane onto site when there isn't a building yet. But additional challenges arise once the building is erected because of its structure. When we're planning a project, we always start by looking at how to remove the crane at the end."

The site's access road was used for assembling the fast-erecting crane. But disassembling the 81 K.1 proved to be a tougher challenge. "The completed building was in the way as far as normal dismantling was concerned," explains Anderson. "This meant the fast-erecting crane had to be lifted over the newly constructed building. A large Liebherr mobile crane was used to safely set the 81 K.1 down on the other side of the building." This job was all about flexibility, technical expertise and being able to think outside the box. "As well as the challenges on site requiring the right equipment, we also needed a team willing to find creative and innovative solutions," adds Anderson.