An integrated heavy-duty jib has allowed an Australian company to handle a delicate installation of wall panels on a $6.9 billion rail upgrade project.
Rental company Metcalf Crane Services used the jib, also known as a machinery runner, on a Grove GMK5250L to install the panels for a new rail corridor project in Seaford, Victoria, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.
The machinery runner, which is integrated into the crane’s swingaway jib, allowed the use of both main and auxiliary hoists to operate two hooks simultaneously. The design of the machinery runner provided greater distance between the two hooks, making it suitable for panel installation applications.
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Each wall panel, which could weigh up to 30.5 tonnes, had to be rotated from a horizontal position on the delivery vehicle to a vertical position for installation. The operation had to be completed by a single crane, as the congested job site meant there was little space for a secondary crane to assist.
Additionally, the precast deflection panels had a delicate design, which required rigging equipment for installation to be installed vertically to avoid any potentially damaging side loads on the panels. To ensure this ran smoothly, Metcalf used its own modular spreader bars.
The installation of the eight precast deflection walls is part of the Seaford Road grade separation project, managed by the Level Crossing Removal Project. The project aims to remove 50 of Melbourne most dangerous and congested level crossings by 2022. Work on the Seaford Road section of the project is managed by a consortium of Lendlease Group, Acciona and WSP Global.