Dutch prefabricated construction company VDL De Meeuw has taken delivery of its first Grove crane, a 120 tonne GMK5120L All Terrain.
The five axle crane features a seven section 66 metre main boom, topped by a 9.4 to 16 metres bi-fold swingaway extension with up to 40 degrees of offset for a maximum onboard tip height of 85 metres. An 8.1 metre insert installed between boom nose and swingaway takes that to 93 metres.
The company’s first Grove
The crane can carry 14.6 tonnes of counterweight onboard within 12 tonne axle loadings and can also achieve 10 tonne axle loads with just over three tonnes of counterweight.
The new crane went straight to work on a development of 500 apartments in a new suburb of Nijmegen. VDL De Meeuw produces prefabricated building modules at its plant in Oirschot - between Tilburg and Eindhoven - which are then transported to site where the GMK5120L unloads and places them. In total there will be around 1,500 modules each measuring 7.5 x 3.3 metres and weighing between seven and 12 tonnes.
On its first job in Nijmegen
The GMK5120L was rigged for the job with 39.1 metres of main boom and 30.7 tonnes of counterweight. In this configuration, the crane can take 12 tonnes to a radius of 22 metres. In addition to the assembled modules, the crane is also used to install staircases and other items.
Some typical De Meeuw housing modules
Oscar van Sambeek of VDL De Meeuw said: “Our new Grove GMK5120L completes the work as a one man machine. We don’t need to send any additional counterweight or equipment by truck. It’s a unique package and is helping us complete the work in the most effective way possible.”
De Meeuw has been producing fast, modular housing for more than 90 years. Last spring it was acquired by VDL to become VDL De Meeuw. It employs around 400 staff.
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