Manitowoc Crane Supports High-Reach Glass Installation in Amsterdam
The deployment highlights long-reach mobile crane capabilities for precision facade lifting in constrained urban construction environments. www.manitowoc.com A Grove GMK5250XL-1 works with full main boom and 25.8 m of luffing jib to position glass panels on an office development in Amsterdam. Urban high-rise construction and retrofit work often requires heavy lifting equipment that can combine long reach, compact setup dimensions, and precise load positioning in restricted city-center locations. In this context, Manitowoc’s Grove GMK5250XL-1 was deployed by Dutch crane and transport company Gaffert for facade glazing work at The Edge office development in Amsterdam. The project involved installing replacement glass panels in the building’s upper atrium, requiring long-radius lifting with precise positioning at height. Long-reach configuration for rooftop glazing work For the installation, the Grove GMK5250XL-1 was configured with its full 78.5 m main boom, a 17.8 m hydraulic bi-fold swingaway jib, and an additional 8 m jib extension. The crane operated with 70 t of counterweight while lifting multiple glass panels weighing 600 kg each at a working radius of 78 m. During the lifts, the main boom operated at a 45-degree angle, while the hydraulic jib was offset to 50 degrees. This configuration enabled sufficient reach and placement control for handling fragile glazing components at rooftop level. Facade installation and retrofit work in dense urban environments typically require stable long-radius lifting performance combined with controlled load handling, particularly when working with glass assemblies susceptible to damage from oscillation or positioning error. Mobile crane design for constrained urban deployment The GMK5250XL-1 is a 250 t five-axle all-terrain crane with a maximum tip height of up to 109 m. Its long boom architecture is supported by Grove’s MEGAFORM® boom design and TWIN-LOCK® pinning system, while MEGATRAK® suspension and the MAXbase™ variable outrigger system support mobility and flexible site setup. The crane’s outrigger footprint measures 9 m x 7.8 m, while transport dimensions are 15.6 m x 2.99 m, factors relevant for access and deployment in urban construction sites with limited working space. Grove CONNECT™ telematics is also integrated for fleet monitoring and equipment management. Powertrain and fleet support Power for both the carrier and superstructure comes from a Mercedes-Benz OM471LA engine rated at 390 kW. The engine supports operation on conventional diesel as well as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), providing an alternative fuel option for contractors evaluating lower-emission fleet operations. Gaffert has also used the same crane model for other long-reach lifting projects in Amsterdam. The unit was supplied through Manitowoc’s Breda facility in the Netherlands, which provides aftermarket support including parts, maintenance, service, operator training, and EnCORE™ rebuild and refurbishment services. Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance. www.manitowoc.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing
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The deployment highlights long-reach mobile crane capabilities for precision facade lifting in constrained urban construction environments.
www.manitowoc.com
A Grove GMK5250XL-1 works with full main boom and 25.8 m of luffing jib to position glass panels on an office development in Amsterdam.
Urban high-rise construction and retrofit work often requires heavy lifting equipment that can combine long reach, compact setup dimensions, and precise load positioning in restricted city-center locations. In this context, Manitowoc’s Grove GMK5250XL-1 was deployed by Dutch crane and transport company Gaffert for facade glazing work at The Edge office development in Amsterdam.
The project involved installing replacement glass panels in the building’s upper atrium, requiring long-radius lifting with precise positioning at height.
Long-reach configuration for rooftop glazing work
For the installation, the Grove GMK5250XL-1 was configured with its full 78.5 m main boom, a 17.8 m hydraulic bi-fold swingaway jib, and an additional 8 m jib extension. The crane operated with 70 t of counterweight while lifting multiple glass panels weighing 600 kg each at a working radius of 78 m.
During the lifts, the main boom operated at a 45-degree angle, while the hydraulic jib was offset to 50 degrees. This configuration enabled sufficient reach and placement control for handling fragile glazing components at rooftop level.
Facade installation and retrofit work in dense urban environments typically require stable long-radius lifting performance combined with controlled load handling, particularly when working with glass assemblies susceptible to damage from oscillation or positioning error.
Mobile crane design for constrained urban deployment
The GMK5250XL-1 is a 250 t five-axle all-terrain crane with a maximum tip height of up to 109 m. Its long boom architecture is supported by Grove’s MEGAFORM® boom design and TWIN-LOCK® pinning system, while MEGATRAK® suspension and the MAXbase™ variable outrigger system support mobility and flexible site setup.
The crane’s outrigger footprint measures 9 m x 7.8 m, while transport dimensions are 15.6 m x 2.99 m, factors relevant for access and deployment in urban construction sites with limited working space.
Grove CONNECT™ telematics is also integrated for fleet monitoring and equipment management.
Powertrain and fleet support
Power for both the carrier and superstructure comes from a Mercedes-Benz OM471LA engine rated at 390 kW. The engine supports operation on conventional diesel as well as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), providing an alternative fuel option for contractors evaluating lower-emission fleet operations.
Gaffert has also used the same crane model for other long-reach lifting projects in Amsterdam. The unit was supplied through Manitowoc’s Breda facility in the Netherlands, which provides aftermarket support including parts, maintenance, service, operator training, and EnCORE™ rebuild and refurbishment services.
Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.manitowoc.com
Urban high-rise construction and retrofit work often requires heavy lifting equipment that can combine long reach, compact setup dimensions, and precise load positioning in restricted city-center locations. In this context, Manitowoc’s Grove GMK5250XL-1 was deployed by Dutch crane and transport company Gaffert for facade glazing work at The Edge office development in Amsterdam.
The project involved installing replacement glass panels in the building’s upper atrium, requiring long-radius lifting with precise positioning at height.
Long-reach configuration for rooftop glazing work
For the installation, the Grove GMK5250XL-1 was configured with its full 78.5 m main boom, a 17.8 m hydraulic bi-fold swingaway jib, and an additional 8 m jib extension. The crane operated with 70 t of counterweight while lifting multiple glass panels weighing 600 kg each at a working radius of 78 m.
During the lifts, the main boom operated at a 45-degree angle, while the hydraulic jib was offset to 50 degrees. This configuration enabled sufficient reach and placement control for handling fragile glazing components at rooftop level.
Facade installation and retrofit work in dense urban environments typically require stable long-radius lifting performance combined with controlled load handling, particularly when working with glass assemblies susceptible to damage from oscillation or positioning error.
Mobile crane design for constrained urban deployment
The GMK5250XL-1 is a 250 t five-axle all-terrain crane with a maximum tip height of up to 109 m. Its long boom architecture is supported by Grove’s MEGAFORM® boom design and TWIN-LOCK® pinning system, while MEGATRAK® suspension and the MAXbase™ variable outrigger system support mobility and flexible site setup.
The crane’s outrigger footprint measures 9 m x 7.8 m, while transport dimensions are 15.6 m x 2.99 m, factors relevant for access and deployment in urban construction sites with limited working space.
Grove CONNECT™ telematics is also integrated for fleet monitoring and equipment management.
Powertrain and fleet support
Power for both the carrier and superstructure comes from a Mercedes-Benz OM471LA engine rated at 390 kW. The engine supports operation on conventional diesel as well as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), providing an alternative fuel option for contractors evaluating lower-emission fleet operations.
Gaffert has also used the same crane model for other long-reach lifting projects in Amsterdam. The unit was supplied through Manitowoc’s Breda facility in the Netherlands, which provides aftermarket support including parts, maintenance, service, operator training, and EnCORE™ rebuild and refurbishment services.
Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.manitowoc.com
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