Merkel Autokrane selects pair of Grove cranes for complex tandem lift

• A Grove GMK5250XL-1 and GMK5250L teamed up to lift precast concrete beams for a new parking garage at the offices of a major online retailer in Bamberg, Germany.

•  The two all-terrain cranes worked seamlessly together, installing the beams in just one day.

German crane services company Merkel Autokrane selected two of its 250 t Grove all-terrain cranes for a challenging tandem lift in the Bamberg area of Lower Franconia. The GMK5250XL-1 and GMK5250L were called in to build a multi-story parking lot for one of the world’s largest online retailers of musical instruments.

Dieter Popp, regional sales manager for Manitowoc, said existing infrastructure at the jobsite necessitated the innovative two-crane solution:

“This was a tricky project because existing underground utility lines meant a larger crane could not be used. Because of this, Karlheinz Göring from Merkel Autokrane’s field service department opted to use two of the company’s 250 t Grove all-terrain cranes in tandem. With plenty of strength and reach, these five-axle units handled the project’s challenges with ease. Also, with our CCS (Crane Control System), operators can use the joysticks to carry out fine movements with closer control, which was a valuable feature on a technically-demanding tandem lift such as this.”

A series of precast concrete beams were positioned by the two Grove cranes for the parking garage, which has two basement and three above-ground levels. Both cranes were fitted with 80 t of counterweight, with the GMK5250XL-1 lifting at a radius of 39 m and the GMK5250L at 46 m. The beams each measured 16 m in length and weighed 13 t and were placed during a single day.

The newer of the two cranes on the project is Merkel Autokrane’s GMK5250XL-1. This crane has the longest main boom in its class, thanks to a 78.5 m telescoping TWIN-LOCK™ boom which can be extended up to 109 m with the addition of a jib plus inserts. Power comes from a Mercedes OM471LA EUROMOT 5 engine, which drives the carrier and the superstructure. The engine technology means the GMK5250XL-1 can deliver up to 30% lower fuel costs compared with previous-generation models.

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Alongside the GMK5250XL-1, was Merkel Autokrane’s GMK5250L. This model has a 70 m main boom and can lift loads of up to 28 t at a 22 m radius. A powerful yet versatile five-axle machine, the GMK5250L is fast to set up on the jobsite and offers best-in-class maneuverability through its patented MEGATRAK® suspension system, which features on all Grove all-terrain cranes.

Merkel Autokrane offers crane and transport services in northern Bavaria and throughout Germany. Over the past 23 years, the company has established itself as a reliable partner, thanks to its highly educated and experienced staff and modern, well-equipped fleet of mobile and loader cranes. The company’s fleet currently includes four Grove cranes, and it also operates a range of heavy transportation vehicles. In addition to the two 250 t capacity Grove cranes used on the tandem lift, Merkel Autokrane operates a 90 t Grove GMK4090 and a 150 t Grove GMK5150L.

Merkel Autokrane handled the project directly via its head office in nearby Bamberg. The company also operates from branches in Schlüsselfeld, Burgkunstadt, and Nürnberg.