World’s 1st Potain MR 309 Tower Crane Used For London Office Building Project

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Potain says its MR 309, with its 2 m pivot, is a high-performance crane that's easy to install on jobsites. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

UK tower crane specialist Bennetts Cranes recently put the world’s first Potain MR 309 luffing jib tower crane into action. The crane will play a role in redeveloping the 40 The Broadway office building in Westminster, London.

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Potain says the MR 309 has no component weighing more than 10 t, which enabled it to be easily erected by another luffing jib tower crane on site. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The MR 309 crane is available two variants: the 16-tonne (17.6-US-ton) H16 and the 25-t (27.6-US-t) H25. Bennetts Cranes is using the H25 for the London project. The MR 309, with a 55-metre (180-foot) jib and 12.5-m (41-ft) tower, is ideal for its ability to manoeuvre well in confined spaces.

The Only Solution

Edward Seager, Bennetts Cranes’ managing director, says although hydraulic luffing jib tower cranes could meet the out-of-service requirement this project requires, they lack the required lift capacity. And although other conventional rope luffing jib tower cranes have the lift capacity, he says they don’t provide the out-of-service radius needed.

“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,” says Seager. “The new Potain MR 309 with its 25-t maximum load capacity was the only solution that satisfied all the site requirements.”

Up To The Task

Bennetts Cranes expects to use the MR 309 for the project roughly a year. In addition to the crane’s impressive lift capability and suitability for working in tight spaces, it has an adjustable power supply that allows it to function with limited power availability.

According to Potain, Bennetts Cranes can park the MR 309 at a 9.5-m (31.2-ft) radius thanks to the crane’s 55-m jib. Furthermore, because the crane has no components that weigh over 10 t (11 U.S. t), erecting it was easy using another luffing jib tower. Once assembled, the MR 309 had the 12-t (13.2-U.S.-t) lifting capacity needed to dismantle the other crane.

The MR 309 In Action

Manitowoc introduced the Potain MR 309 in April alongside the MR 329 luffing jib tower crane, also available in 16-t or 25-t versions. Customer feedback calling for simpler and quicker erection, a greater height under pivot, more powerful load charts, and a smaller out-of-service radius factored into their release.

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Source: Manitowoc