Potain’s new MCT 205 builds luxury homes in Manila

The first Potain MCT 205 topless tower crane in the Philippines has been installed on the construction of the Botanika Nature Residences – a premium, low-density condominium, featuring luxury apartments located at one of Metro Manila’s premier business districts – Alabang in Muntinlupa City. The crane, launched in 2014, is manufactured at Manitowoc’s factory in Zhangjiagang, China.

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Construction giant, Datem Inc., is acting as main contractor of the project, and purchased the Potain MCT 205 to manage much of the material handling duty. Datem Inc.’s president, Levy V. Espiritu, said the investment in the new tower crane fitted with the business philosophy at the company.

“All of our projects to-date have made use of specialized construction practices and technologies, such as the Potain MCT 205,” he said. “These investments allow the safest possible working environments, greater efficiency in completing projects and directly benefit the overall standards of infrastructure delivered by the construction industry.”

On the Botanika Nature Residences project, the crane is lifting formwork, rebar and precast concrete sections, weighing up to 5 t and placing them at heights of up to 59 m. In addition to general lifting work, the crane is also being used to pour concrete.

Maximum capacity for the Potain MCT 205 is 10 t while at its 65 m jib end it can still handle an impressive 1.75 t. The crane’s modern design makes it quick to erect, with the heaviest group of components weighing just 7.9 t, while the full 65 m jib can be placed in a single lift.

“With development of residential property on the rise in the Philippines, we need equipment that is quick to erect, as well as strong and reliable,” explained Arnold De Asis, vice president of operations at Datem, Inc. “We decided to purchase the Potain MCT 205 because it offers the latest technology and its topless design makes it suitable for many job sites,” he adds.

As one of the largest and fastest-growing construction companies in the country, Datem Inc. has been responsible for some of the most iconic structures in The Philippines and is working alongside US-based architectural firm, Architecture International, and global construction services provider, AECOM on the Botanika Nature Residences job. The former farming area has been transformed into one of the country’s premier business districts and is home to many large corporations in the information technology sector.

The Botanika Nature Residences site spans 1.55 hectares, 70% of which will be dedicated to open spaces including gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and other facilities. Each tower will feature a large glass-roofed atrium, to flood the entrance hall with light, and a roof garden.

The iconic structure will be made up of three oval-shaped towers, designed for optimal privacy by ensuring that windows do not peer into neighboring apartments. The high-end units will range from 123 - 343 m2, with the largest costing in excess of US$ 1 million. The first tower, scheduled for completion in 2017, will stand 13 stories high and contain 101 apartments.

Botanika Nature Residences is being managed by Filinvest Group, one of the biggest residential developers in the country, and it is the first in the Filinvest Exclusive Collection, a range of premium housing developments.