Located within the newly built C Shed, two of the cranes have a 7.5t safe working load, with the other two at 35t capacity.
All four cranes have a 12m height of lift and were built using SWF Krantechnik’s crane components with inverter-controlled hoisting. The cranes were supplied with sway control technology to minimise load-sway, maximise movement speeds, and higher load positioning for accuracy and increased safety. Four sets of LED lights were installed on the underside of each crane’s beam to improve the light conditions underneath the crane.
All cranes were fitted with Autec joystick radio remote control systems, the AJC transmitters are colour coded to match the corresponding crane and fitted with proportional joysticks for accurate speed selection.
Due to the size of the 35t box beam cranes the manufacturing was outsourced to BVS Cranes in Turkey, which manufactured the 30×1.1×1.2m crane girders complete with access walkways.
RHC Lifting also designed and installed the crane rail along the 160m gantry, parterning with a steel structure manufacturer, who predrilled the gantry beams according to its design to reduce site work. RHC Lifting then installed 320m of A65 crane rail and fitted and torqued 1,100 gantry rail clips. Further work included aligning the rails to BS ISO 12488-1:2012 and welding the rail joints.
The two 7.5t cranes were installed using a 70t mobile crane positioned inside the building, with RHC Lifting’s Appointed Person, Lift Supervisor and Slinger & Signallers working together to lift the crane safely onto the rails.
Due to the size of the 35t cranes which were larger and heavier, the lift required a 350t mobile crane positioned outside the building. The mobile crane’s hook block was then lowered through a section of the roof which was left out specifically for the crane installation.
Also included in the project was the installation of a 160m 3M 8mm horizontal lifeline down the full length of the crane level walkway and two KATT Safety ladder systems with rest platforms.
“This was a fantastic job to be involved in. It was impressive to see the four cranes running at the end of the project and the teamwork of all RHC Lifting’s employees working together to deliver one our most outstanding projects,” said Andrew Cayzer, director, RHC Lifting.
RHC Lifting load tested the cranes and gantry before handing over the cranes to Bristol Port. Now the cranes are fully operational, RHC Lifting will provide after-sales care including, operator training, servicing, and statutory inspections, as well as providing 24/7 breakdown cover for two years.
