Bennetts Cranes deploys world’s first Potain MR 309 for 40 The Broadway project in London, UK

The MR 309 was selected for its ability to operate in tight spaces, lift heavy loads, and function with limited power, thanks to its adjustable power supply.  www.manitowoc.com Earlier this year, Potain introduced the new MR 309 luffing jib tower crane to the global market. Now, Bennetts Cranes has deployed the world's first MR 309 crane for the redevelopment of the 40 The Broadway office building in Westminster, London. The central London location required a crane specifically suited for tight urban environments. A luffing jib tower crane was essential due to its ability to operate in confined spaces. The MR 309, with its 55 m jib, can be parked at a 9.5 m radius, making it the ideal choice, which no conventional luffing jib tower crane could match. The MR 309 met several other key requirements for the project, including having no component weighing more than 10 t, which enabled it to be easily erected by another luffing jib tower crane on site. It also had the necessary lifting capacity of over 12 t to dismantle the other luffing jib tower crane used for its assembly. The crane's low moment force was crucial as it was bolted to a steel grillage on top of a core structure. Additionally, with limited power availability, the MR 309 crane’s adjustable power supply, supported by the Power Control function, was essential. Potain has a longstanding relationship with Bennetts Cranes, dating back to the 1990s, and over the years has supplied numerous tower cranes for the company’s fleet. For the 40 The Broadway project, Potain collaborated closely with Bennetts Cranes to select the right model for the job and in mid-April, the MR 309 was erected with a 55.2 m jib and a 12.5 m tower. The crane is expected to remain on site for approximately 12 months. Edward Seager, managing director at Bennetts Cranes, said: “We worked hard to find the right solution for the site that met its requirements and was available for an April start date and duration of the job. The new Potain MR 309 with its 25 t maximum load capacity was the only solution that satisfied all the site requirements. Other conventional rope luffing jib tower cranes could give us the lift capacity we needed but could not achieve the out-of-service radius required. Hydraulic luffing jib tower cranes could meet the out-of-service requirement needed but not the lift capacity. The Potain MR 309 was the best solution.” The launch of the MR 309, along with the MR 329 (251-350 mt class), completes the latest generation of Potain luffing jib tower cranes, initiated by the MR 229 (201-250 mt class) launch at bauma 2022. These cranes are designed to tackle the challenges of high-rise buildings and congested job sites. They incorporate customer feedback for quicker and simpler assembly, greater height under pivot, more powerful load charts, and a minimized out-of-service radius. Additionally, they feature the latest Potain technology, including the Potain Crane Control System (CCS) and Potain CONNECT telematics solution. www.manitowoc.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing