Grove GMK6450-1 overcomes transport restrictions to dismantle tower crane in the heart of Berlin

• MOBI-HUB used the Grove GMK6450-1, a powerful six-axle all-terrain crane, to dismantle a tower crane in central Berlin under strict transport and space constraints.

• To meet an 8-ton axle-load transport restriction, the crane's main boom was removed and transported separately on a lightweight semi-trailer.

• The crane's configuration, including a 73-meter luffing jib and 115 tons of counterweight, enabled heavy lifts up to 9 tons at working radii over 70 meters.

• The GMK6450-1's design features such as MEGATRAK suspension and all-wheel steering provide mobility and transport efficiency critical for urban lifting projects.

• German rental company MOBI-HUB deployed Grove's strongest six-axle all-terrain crane to overcome strict transport restrictions and complete heavy lifts on a highly constrained urban jobsite.

• The GMK6450-1 had its main boom removed for transport compliance, showcasing excellent versatility for a crane of its size.

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Disassembling a tower crane in the heart of a busy city like Berlin presents a unique combination of lifting, space, and transport challenges. The crane used for the task must be powerful enough to lift heavy parts and components, while also offering a compact footprint for work in confined spaces and a flexible design that accommodates local transportation restrictions.

When the team at the Berlin-based crane rental company Wilhelm Banzhaf Krananlagen needed assistance to remove its Potain MD 120 tower crane, it turned to German company Mobile-Hubtechnik Kranarbeiten und Transporte (known as MOBI-HUB), which identified the Grove GMK6450-1 as the right crane for the job. With a 450 t capacity and 60 m main boom, the GMK6450-1 is Grove's strongest heavy-duty six-axle crane. The model combines exceptional lifting performance with the transportability and maneuverability required for such a demanding urban project.

“It was not simply a matter of finding a high-capacity crane,” explains Aicke Grell, crane operator at MOBI-HUB. “We needed a machine that could handle heavy lifts at long working radii of over 70 m while operating in a highly constrained workspace. In addition, the project presented a logistical challenge, as the area is subject to an 8 t axle-load restriction. And because the jobsite was located on a busy street in the Neukölln district, keeping the project on schedule was critical to minimizing disruption. The GMK6450-1 gave us the flexibility we needed from mobilization through to completion of the job.”

The 8 t axle-load restriction applied because the crane had to cross the tracks of the local Berlin metro rail system to reach the jobsite, making transport a key part of the challenge. To comply with the requirement, MOBI-HUB took advantage of the GMK6450-1's intelligent design and removed the crane’s main boom and transported it separately on a lightweight semi-trailer. Both the crane and the semi-trailer with the boom then easily fell within the 8 t per axle weight limit.

At the jobsite, two smaller mobile cranes assisted with positioning the GMK6450-1’s main boom, after which the MOBI-HUB team completed the remaining assembly work. The crane was assembled with a 73 m luffing jib, 115 t of counterweight, and an 8.7 m x 8.5 m outrigger base. This configuration enabled it to efficiently lift and move the heaviest parts of the Potain MD 120 tower crane, which weighed up to 9 t.

The team first removed the major components, including the ballast, counter-jib structure, and main jib sections, before dismantling the mast sections in sequence. Lifts were performed at working radii of up to 72 m and at a hook height of approximately 59 m.

The GMK6450-1 is ideally suited for projects where lifting performance, mobility, and transport efficiency are critical. Its MEGATRAK® independent suspension, all-wheel steering system and compact six-axle design allow it to move efficiently between jobsites. MOBI-HUB also benefits from the local support provided by Manitowoc’s German teams in Wilhelmshaven and Langenfeld, which helps customers maximize uptime and maintain peak performance.

“The GMK6450-1 is a strategic crane in our fleet because it combines transport efficiency, lifting performance and reach in a way that allows us to carry out a wide range of complex projects, and when necessary, we can also meet stringent roading requirements. Its versatility enables us to tackle challenging jobs while delivering the reliability our customers expect,” said Georg Hallau, owner of MOBI-HUB.

The project demonstrates how the GMK6450-1 combines exceptional lifting power with outstanding transport flexibility, enabling customers to tackle complex urban lifting applications efficiently.