Luffing tower crane

[edit] The world's largest capacity luffing tower crane

The M2480D heavy lift luffing (HLL) tower crane is the largest capacity luffing tower crane in the world.

The M2480D was developed by global heavy lift cranage specialists, Marr Contracting, in conjunction with their crane manufacturing partner, Favelle Favco.

With a standard lift capacity of 330 tonnes at a 15-metre radius, the M2480D will lift 100 tonnes to a 45-metre radius with around 130 metres of hook height and no support ties.

Unlike conventional crawler cranes or truck cranes, the M2480D is fully rated to operate in wind speeds up to 20 meters per second, which is more than double that of crawler cranes.

Its superior operating speed and lift capacity, allows for far higher levels of productivity.

It was launched in 2007 with Marr’s first international project on construction of the world’s first waste-to-energy project in Doha, Qatar.

[edit] Marr M2480D capability

• Lift capacity: 330 tonnes
• Maximum radius: 120 metres
• Lift/radius ratio: 100 tonnes/ 45 metres
• Capacity: 25 tonnes at 100m radius
• Main winch hoist capacity: 55 tonnes
• Auxiliary winch hoist capacity: 25 tonnes
• Maximum allowable operational wind speed: 20 metres/second
• Compatible with 100% renewable diesel (HVO100)

More information about the M2480D can be found in the M2480D data sheet in Further reading.

[edit] Where has the M2480D been used?

The M2480D has been used on complex, large-scale construction projects across numerous sectors around the world including:

[edit] Bridges

The M2480D supported construction of the 318m-high towers on the world’s longest span suspension bridge, the 1915Çanakkale Bridge, Turkey,

Marr’s heavy lift solution – using two M2480Ds – allowed larger, heavier modularised sections to be lifted in fewer lifts, and had a direct impact on the overall construction schedule.

Marr’s M2480D completed a record-breaking lift of 155 tonnes at a height of 318 metres.

On 18 March 2022, the 1915Çanakkale Bridge opened more than 12 months ahead of schedule.

[edit] Metro stations

The M2480D has been used extensively across a number of metro projects where the combination of the M2480Ds superior heavy lift capacity, reach and small footprint is helping to address many of the challenges that come with metro station construction including constrained sites, busy urban locations, limited space, high lifting requirements and tight construction schedules.

Marr’s solutions have also revolutionised tunnel boring machine (TBM) install and retrieval activities.

[edit] Energy-to-waste

Marr’s M2480Ds have been used on the world’s first waste-to-energy projects in Doha, Qatar and Western Australia, as well as the Lostock Sustainable Energy Project in Northwich, UK.

On these projects, the M2480D is addressing the common challenge of how to install heavy components in a congested site, with limited space. With a smaller footprint than traditional crawler cranes, the M2480D takes up less room on the ground, helping to reduce on-site congestion.

[edit] Tunnelling

Hinkley Point C (HPC) is one of the most complex construction projects in Europe and is the first new nuclear power station to be built in Britain in more than 30 years.

Balfour Beatty engaged Marr to develop a cranage solution using a single M2480D as an alternative to the traditional approach of using large crawler cranes for the installation of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on the HPC Tunnelling & Marine Project.

The high lift capacity of M2480D meant the TBM could be installed in a single lift, and the reach gave up to 570 per cent more coverage than would have been possible with an alternative cranage design.

The M2480D has also been used extensively in TBM activities on the Sydney Metro project in Australia.

[edit] High rise

The M2480D has been used on the construction of iconic high-rise buildings including ICD Brookfield Place Dubai (UAE) and Crown Sydney Australia, where the heavy lift capacity and small footprint has proved advantageous to lifting large structural components.

[edit] Oil & gas/ process plants

The use of a M2480D on the Chevron-operated Gorgon LNG Project in Western Australia resulted in significant productivity gains for the construction delivery partners, Kellogg Joint Venture – Gorgon (KJVG). The M2480D initially installed to unload freight saw barge unloading and repacking times reduced from 4-5 days to a day.

In a world first, the M2480D was subsequently installed on a seagoing barge with the capacity to switch from sea transit and lashing mode to operating and lifting mode within four hours. 18 months later, the SMPT trailer solution used to load the M2480D onto the barge was employed at the LNG plant to move tower cranes around the construction site.

The M2480D has also been used on de-planting and demolition projects where the crane’s heavy lift capacity, long reach and small footprint has supported the safe removal and replacement of decommissioned plant with minimal-to-no disruption to operations.

[edit] Technology & data centres

Use of the M2480D in the construction of data centres and giga factories is helping to accelerate construction by reducing the number of critical path lifts required.

[edit] Further reading

This is a link to the M2480D data sheet, and more on the projects mentioned above.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Amazing cranes.
• Avoiding crane collapses.
• Banksman.
• Cherry pickers.
• Construction plant.
• Counterweights.
• Crane supports.
• Crane regulations.
• Electromagnetic overhead cranes.
• Forklift truck.
• Gantry.
• Hoists.
• Lifting device.
• Pulley.
• Rubble chute.
• Scaffolding.
• Scissor lift.
• Stacker.
• Temporary works.
• Winch.
• Work at height.