Self-Erect Crane – Deep Cove Solution

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Self-Erect Crane – A Rough Terrain Solution

With one of our more scenic jobs in picturesque Deep Cove, Eagle West Equipment (acquired by Bigfoot Crane Company) installed a 35 meter self erect crane with luffing jib on a really interesting residential job. The photos illustrate some of the problem solving scenarios that our self erect cranes can provide for builders who may find their projects in difficult position.

With limited ground space available to bring equipment and materials down to the site, the Eagle West Cranes & Equipment team (acquired by Bigfoot Crane Company) found the right solution for the builder and home owners to ensure that the building timeline could be still be met. Since the there was a 100′ cliff face at the backside of the house it was important to have a crane that would work in a difficult position on the jobsite. The jib of the crane need to be in a luff position (angled) in order to be able to miss the roughly 25 degree slope at the top of the cliff.

One of the photos shows the jib in luff over top of some of the terrain at the top of the cliff. There was very minimal clearance even with the jib in luff.

Pretty amazing project and an absolutely beautiful location for a house.

The challenge: One Large Ocean-side Cliff

The solution: Our 35 Meter Potain Self Erect with 30 Degree Luffing Jib

The client: Belmar Custom Homes

Mobilization: EWCE Placed the SE Crane onto Land Via a Barge and Crane Waterside

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Amtrak Utilizes Boscaro Spreader Bar

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Amtrak runs more than 300 trains on a daily basis. When the American passenger train company needed valuable train car components lifted for transport to the Midwest, a Delaware based company, Active Crane Rentals, Inc. was hired to perform the hoists. But Active Crane relied on the Boscaro EZ spreader bar system from Bigfoot Crane to perform the job.

In order to maximize on their lifting capacity, Active Crane planned to perform a straight-line pull. To protect the sides of the 70,000 lb and 100,000 lb components, they utilized the Boscaro EZ spreader bar system.

The EZ spreader bar system features a unique design of male and female interlocking sections. Each galvanized section can be used as an individual bar, as was done for the Amtrak lifts, or they can be combined to form an adjustable spreader bar with one-foot increments. By allowing easy adaptation with one system, the need for an assortment of bar lengths is eliminated, which improves efficiency and helps to manage project costs.

“Today my big thing is cutting down costs and in order to cut costs you have to cut down on time. The available capacity and the ease of adjustability offered by the EZ spreader bar system equals cost and time savings. We utilize the bars every day, they are constantly in use.”

Butch Garton, Crane & Rigging Specialist, Active Crane Rentals, Inc.

Amtrak Uses EZ Spread Bar System

Amtrak Uses Boscaro EZ Spreader Bar System

Active Crane Rental Hoists Train Car

Active Crane Rental Hoists Train Car

Spreader Bar Set Up

Spreader Bar Set-Up

Active Crane Rental base in Deleware

Active Crane Rental, based in Delaware

 

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CRC/ICHC Conference 2013

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Crane & Rigging Conference | Industrial Crane & Hoist Conference

CRC/ICHC is an independent crane, rigging, and hoist conference for safety and risk managers, crane and rigging supervisors, fleet managers, and other people working with cranes in construction and heavy industry.

Launched in 2010 by MCM Events, the conference has been held in both the United States and Canada in partnership with various leading crane training and crane and rigging products providers. Education sessions are presented by crane and rigging experts, representing contractors, engineers, insurance providers, crane rental companies, training providers, and health and safety professionals, to name a few.

While some crane and rigging safety topics are timeless, others are predicated by industry trends, changes in standards and regulations, new technology, and shifts in labor demands. Conference staff consists of editors from Crane & Rigging Hot Line, ILH and Lift and Hoist International—individuals who have their ear to the ground regarding issues affecting users of cranes.

More than just a lecture-style conference, CRC/ICHC offers attendees opportunities for networking in small groups, experiencing hands-on learning, and the chance to visit vendors during exhibit hours.

crc/ichc conference

Key Features

  • Joint Sessions addressing broad trends, technology, and business issues.
  • Choices of multiple breakout sessions specific to mobile cranes, tower cranes, overhead cranes, and rigging topics.
  • Interactive sessions where attendees can try out crane simulators, rigging apps, or rigging inspection.
  • Small-group sessions where attendees can interact with industry experts one-on-one.
  • Exhibit center featuring approximately 30 vendors.
  • Breakfast and Lunch provided.

Who Attends?

Typical attendees include contractors, engineering firms, various construction user groups, unions, and crane and rigging professionals. The conference sessions are geared for safety and risk managers, crane and rigging supervisors, fleet managers, and small business owners. The following list is a sample of some of the companies that have attended past CRC/ICHC events.

Alon Refining ,Alltec Lifting Systems ,AmQuip,Balfour Beatty,BP,Buckner Companies,Chicago Bridge & Iron,Conoco Phillips,Crane Rental Corp.,Dow Chemical,Dupont,Eastman Chemical,Exxon Mobil,Gamesa Wind,Graycor Industrial,H&E Equipment,Imperial Crane,IUOE,Kansas City Power & Light,Kiewit Energy,LyondellBasell,Mammoet USA,Massmann Construction,Mortenson Construction,Peterson Beckner,Ray Anthony International,Shaw Group,Tennessee Valley Authority,Top Flight Steel,Turner Industries,US Army Corp of Engineers, US Navy

register for crc/ichc conference

Previous Industry Supporters

Over the years, a number of regional and national industry organizations have supported CRC/ICHC.

Among them are:

  • ABC, Pelican Chapter and Greater Houston Chaptercrc/ichc banner
  • Association of Crane and Rigging Professionals
  • Association of Equipment Management Professionals
  • Canadian Hoisting & Rigging Safety Council
  • Construction Users Roundtable
  • Crane Certification Association of America
  • Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance
  • Houston Business Roundtable
  • National Center for Construction Education and Research
  • Steel Erectors Association of America

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Boscaro Self Dumping Bin

Boscaro Self Dumping Bin Product Review

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The A-D Series Self Dumping Crane Bucket

Bigfoot Crane Company is your one-stop shop from the smallest of self erectors to some of the largest tower cranes in the market today, all complimented with the accessories you need to maximize on-site crane performance. Bigfoot Crane is the exclusive North American distributor of Boscaro Crane Attachments.

using crane buckets

 

Crane accessories like Boscaro’s Self Dumping Bins provide a payload up to 10,575 lbs, capacity up to 4 cu yd and a “no hands required” self dumping feature that can increase safety and efficiency on a project site.

dumping crane buckets

 

Eagle West Equipment (acquired by Bigfoot Crane Company) had the opportunity to do a live demonstration of the A300D self dumping bins for our customer, Northwest Construction Inc. We consulted with them about their project needs and highlighting how the accessories could help them on their project.

self dumping crane bucketscrane buckets

 

Eagle West Cranes & Equipment’s Safety Application Specialist, Derek Autenrieth commented “The live demonstration went very well. Larry and his team saw the safety and efficiency that our self dumping bins offer. They purchased two self dumping crane buckets and we look forward to opportunities to work with Northwest again.”

self dumping crane buckets by boscaro

 

Northwest Construction Inc. based out of Bellevue in Washington State, is a full service site work contractor specializing in commercial, industrial, and residential developments throughout the Pacific Northwest.

This is what they had to say about their purchase and application of two A300D Boscaro Self Dumping Bins:

“The product demonstration and video that Derek provided for us when we came to Eagle West was very informative and definitely helped us in making our decision to purchase the bins and understand their value for us and our projects. We appreciate the time and effort put in by Eagle West and will continue to look for any opportunity to do business with them again and again.”

Larry Smith
Project Manager
Northwest Contracting Inc.

 

 

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Spreader Bars for Lifting

EZ Spreader Bar Lifting System by Boscaro

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Revolutionize Your Use of Crane Spreader Bars

The use of spreader bars has many advantages; they protect your load from rigging materials, enable multi pick point lifts and ensure a maintained sling angle throughout your hoist.

Although the typical spreader bars of the industry have these benefits, their use comes with some drawbacks. Typical spreader bars, even when telescopic, have a maximum length. Once the needed length for a lift exceeds this, you will need to purchase another spreader bar. For anyone who performs a variety of hoists, this will require a variety of spreader bar sizes to be available.

crane spreader bars

 

With the Boscaro EZ spreader bar lifting system the need for an assortment of bars is eliminated. The unique design of male and female interlocking components provides you with multiple configurations. Each section can be utilized as an individual bar or the sections can be combined to form 1 adjustable spreader bar. “Jobs often require multiple lifts with varied size requirements. With this system I’ve been able to perform a pick with a 20 foot wide bar, change the configuration on site and proceed with a second lift using the bar at 14 feet. Normally you would need two sets of bars for that,” remarked Butch Garton, Crane & Rigging Specialist at Delaware based company, Active Crane Rentals, Inc. Based on 1 foot increments, Boscaro’s 8 foot system is adjustable from 7-34 feet; allowing you to adapt to the changing demands of your jobsite.

crane spreader bars lifting amtrak carhoist with ez spreader bar

 

Using the 8 foot spreader bar lifting system by Boscaro also helps to improve your lift capacity. The components feature a lightweight design yet are capable of a 35 ton capacity when used at 8 feet and 7 tons when adjusted to 34 feet.

pipe pull with crane spreader bars

 

The bars come galvanized, which increases durability and prevents paint chips due to repetitive movement. The lightweight build and the option to disassemble the components make transportation, assembly and storage of the system simple and time efficient. “Other bars are heavier and don’t come apart, so you can’t have the crew move them by hand,” noted Butch. “I can put my entire EZ spreader bar lifting system in my pickup truck, take it to the job and assemble it onsite in 15 to 20 minutes, without any assist equipment required.”

crane spreader bars placing trusses

 

The EZ spreader bar lifting system by Boscaro is available in a 4 foot or 8 foot system. The 4 foot option extends from 4-10 feet and has a capacity of up to 8 tons when fully extended. With a range of 8-34 feet the 8 foot kit option is rated for up to 7 tons at a 34 foot length. For further details about how the Boscaro EZ spreader bar lifting system can improve your efficiency and help manage project costs please contact Bigfoot Crane Company.

 

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San Marco Tower Crane

Case History: Haebler Construction Chooses Tower Crane for Gastown Site in Historic Vancouver

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When Haebler Construction was assigned with the task of reconstructing the historic Garage Building on Water Street in the Gastown district of downtown Vancouver, Canada, they faced a unique challenge, in terms of extra tight working conditions.

The solution was a tower crane, namely the San Marco SMT 551 City Crane.

The SMT 551 was installed with a customized configuration and set up to operate with a short jib of just 36 meters (118′) down from the standard 55 meters (180′) and from a mobile base with a footprint of just a 14′ 9″ X 14′ 9″. In this configuration, the SMT 551 can hoist loads as heavy as 8,000 kg (17,636 lb) at the mast and can lift 2,100 kg (4,630 lb) at the jib tip.

To find out which San Marco crane is right for your next construction project, please contact our national sales office at 1-877-740-6950.

Note: The job in Vancouver’s Gastown was organized and executed by Eagle West Equipment, whose entire tower crane fleet was subsequently acquired by Bigfoot Crane Company.

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san marco cranes

Case History: Westridge Discovers Tower Crane Efficiency

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Westridge Construction of Regina, Saskatchewan (westridge.ca) faced an interesting challenge.

They were under contract to build a $12 million, three-story office complex. Each floor was 20,000 square feet and there was a partial basement of 9,500 square feet. The project was to be a cast-in-place concrete structure with three staircase shafts and one elevator shaft. But those details were not what made this project challenging—it was the fact that the project site was so tight, with no access to the west or south side of the structure and very limited access to the east and north sides.

In fact, to say that the construction site was tight would be a significant understatement. Operating space was at a premium. Because of that, Westridge was in fact planning to use an off-site materials staging area, which seemed absolutely necessary, even though acquiring the yard and planning for extra materials transport would add significant cost to the project.

However, there was another solution, one that could improve site logistics and eliminate the need for an off-site yard (and its related costs). Really? What solution could possibly increase efficiency and decrease costs at the same time?

The answer? A San Marco SMH 420 Self-Erecting Tower Crane.

self erecting tower crane efficiency

In fact, the San Marco SMH 420 cut production time on this project by 45%.

(At the time, the tower crane was supplied by Eagle West Crane and Rigging. Since then, Eagle West’s entire fleet of tower cranes was acquired by Bigfoot Crane Company.)

The San Marco SMH 420 hydraulic self-erecting crane was definitely the right tool for the job. It has a hook service height elevation of 77′ and a jib length of 136′ 9″ providing a total service range of up to 273′ 6″. The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 8,820 lbs and can lift 2,205 lbs at its jib tip.

More importantly, this crane did not require any concrete footings or foundations and has a foot print of just 14′ 9″ X 14′ 9″. Amazingly, the SMH 420 can operate inside just 324 square feet of yard space! Another key value of this crane is that it is possible to set up quickly, between four to eight hours after the components are delivered to the site.

Before the San Marco arrived on site, Westridge was adding floors using telescopic forklifts and manual labor. But when the crane arrived and was installed, Westridge was constructing floors in half the time, since all of the columns could be set and poured with the crane, while all of the slabs and shafts were poured with a concrete pump.

crane for tight job site

The crane saved on production time as all the columns could now be set and poured with the crane while all slabs and shafts were poured with a concrete pump.

According to Dave Labbie, the Project Superintendant, the use of the self erecting crane was able to increase the on-site service area by at least 50% while on-site production increased at a minimum of 45%.

office complex construction

According to Dave Labbie, the Project Superintendent, the use of the self-erecting crane increased the on-site service area by at least 50% while on-site production increased at a minimum of 45%.

Labbie further commented: “The Rod-Buster is very happy, all his materials are placed exactly where he wants them, manual labor is significantly reduced, with a big increase in productivity, a double win. He told me that he wishes there was a crane like this on every job in town.”

tower crane, saskatchewan

Additional factors that Site Superintendent Labbie commented on:

Increased Safety

  1. The material handling safety factor at the site was much improved and brought a higher safety factor to the entire project site
  2. Increased accuracy of material placement, ensured materials were placed exactly where the tradesmen wanted them with less exposure to all material handling risks
  3. Significant reductions in manual labor meant less on-site congestion and less risk to less people overall

Site Management

  1. The SMH 420 provided a single unloading zone on-site for all incoming materials serviced by our crane, which eliminated the need for an off-site staging yard
  2. Materials were easily redistributed with our crane, and placed exactly where crews needed them on the construction site
  3. Job site space was effectively doubled

Labbie concluded: “This crane is one of the best values we have ever spent money on. In terms of return on investment, it will be paid off in two projects. We are very happy with our purchase.”

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construction management

The Key to Great Customer Service: Follow-Up

How do you feel when…

…a week after your car has been repaired, you get a call from the service manager just to make sure everything is okay?

…the evening after your medical procedure, you get a call from your doctor just to check up on you?

…hours after going out for dinner, you get a questionnaire by email from the restaurant inviting your feedback and suggestions?

Some business people tell me that’s looking for trouble. I disagree. I think it’s looking for loyalty, satisfaction, and repeat business.

If follow-up turns up a lot of dissatisfaction, you need to make some changes. But good follow-up is the key. Because if you don’t hear about the dissatisfaction, then you’ll never have the opportunity to make those changes.

How do you feel when…

…you get a thank-you note from the clothing store a few days after buying a new suit?

…you get a birthday card from your insurance agent?

…you get a gift certificate for a free dinner as a thank-you from a hotel chain?

…you get a personalized luggage tag in the mail as a gift from your travel agent?

Recognition and appreciation can be very powerful, and very inexpensive as a marketing strategy. It’s a wise investment.

It’s true that follow-up and follow-through may reveal some inadequacies in your business. The key, however, is leveraging those discoveries as impetus for improvement.

Every business, no matter how well managed, will have to deal with dissatisfied customers from time to time. Sometimes, those complaints are justified. Sometimes, they aren’t. But learning how to handle honest feedback, even dissatisfaction, can have far reaching impact.

At Bigfoot Crane, our motto is legendary service, and our goal is always a remarkable customer experience.

Thank you for reading.

Gerry L. Wiebe, CSPC
Marketing Manager
Bigfoot Crane

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tower crane safety tips

Top Ten Ways to Prevent Crane Accidents

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tower crane in vancouver, bc

The most common cause of crane accidents is human error, whether that means crane operators, signalers, or those responsible for maintenance and safety procedures. Safe work practices and procedures are absolutely essential for the prevention of crane accidents.

While a crane may appear to be a simple device, its operation involves complex physics. You don’t need to be an engineer to operate a crane safely, but everyone involved with the crane’s operation should be follow some basic steps for safe operation.

Here are the top ten ways to prevent crane accidents:

  1. Crane Inspection. Every crane should undergo an annual inspection—that’s the first step. But daily checks are also critical, to ensure that all components are working properly. Many operators are unaware that pushing a crane to its limits can lead to the damage of key components, which could lead to failure.
  2. Field Level Hazard Assessment. This is the process by which the operator identifies site and job-specific hazards, then evaluates the associated risks, and then eliminates or controls the hazards prior to beginning work.
  3. Lift Plan. Every lift is different, so it’s important to review all hazards, the load weight capacities, integrity of the equipment, the possible effect of wind, and any other factors. The operator, riggers, and other workers involved with the lift must be part of that planning process.
  4. Communication. Everyone needs to know what’s happening. Communicate hazards and controls for the site-specific task. Communicate safe work practices and procedures to be followed. Communicate the plan to successfully complete the task. Communicate and assign clear roles and responsibilities to the ground crew. Communicate and agree on the plan by having everyone sign off on the plan.
  5. Follow the Plan. Far too often, accidents occur when the plan is not followed or enforced.
  6. Know the Ground Conditions. The most powerful crane is only as strong and stable as the surface upon which it stands. It’s critical to know what’s underneath the crane, in terms of the classification of the soil or other material. Only then can the setup and the load limits be adjusted accordingly. While many cranes are equipped with outriggers, they do not ensure a stable surface. It’s important to know the load weight and how that is affected by the conditions of your job site. The crane’s load chart can help you determine whether your lift will be safe.
  7. Know the Crane’s Radius. The specific arc in which the counterweight and boom travel is called the swing radius. It’s important to ensure that the area within that radius is barricaded off. It is critically important to establish a control zone for those authorized to work in the immediate area. Constantly check the area throughout the day to ensure that there are no objects in the radius of the boom. If an obstacle is introduced, be sure that the operator and other workers are aware of it and a plan is intact to avoid it.
  8. Use the Crane Properly. Cranes are engineered for vertical lifting, so be careful to ensure that the crane is not being used for side loading or other improper activities. Using a crane to drag something across the ground or from under an obstacle puts extreme stress on the boom, on the turntable, and on all of the structural members. It could potentially weaken key components and lead to failure.
  9. Clear Signaling. Whether you use radios, air horns, hand signals, or some other method, there needs to be clear communication between the operator and the signaler. That’s especially critical when a crane is making a lift in which the operator cannot see the load. Don’t assume that everyone knows how instructions will be communicated. Make sure everyone understands the signaling system and follows it.
  10. Stay Focused. Everyone involved with the operation of a crane needs to stay alert and focused on the job at hand. Distraction and lack of focus are common causes of work-related incidents and accidents.
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crane company

Case History: Paric Corporation Weighs Tower Cranes vs Mobile Cranes

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Your choice of crane type makes a big impact on construction performance.

When Mike Brys, Site Superintendent for the Paric Corporation, was about to embark on a massive construction project in Kirkwood, Missouri, he was aware of the general preference in the area for using mobile cranes, like a rough terrain crane or the standard hydraulic crane.

The job was called Aberdeen Heights, which was over 600,000 square feet of senior housing construction, including four- to five-story wall-panel construction and huge trussed roof with center courtyards.

view from tower craneHowever, instead of mobile cranes, the Paric Corporation decided on two San Marco tower cranes: an SMT 551 on a mobile base (with 105-foot under hook and a 180-foot jib) and an SMT 522 on a mobile base (with 118-foot under hook and a 170-foot jib).

The two San Marcos were rented from Custom Service Crane Inc. and they turned out to be the only two cranes used to service Building B for the project.

Directly adjacent to their site, another framing contractor was working on Building A, which was a very similar four-story structure. However, the obvious difference on their site was that they were using four mobile cranes to service the project.

“Progress on the building using the two tower cranes was substantially further along,” commented Randy Huffman, Owner of Custom Service Crane, Inc. It was a clear example of how tower cranes gave a noticeable advantage over the more traditional mobile cranes.

According to Jeremy Pokorny with Con Tech Carpentry, the tower cranes outperformed the mobile cranes. In the midst of the project, Pokorny said, “Both buildings were on similar schedules, but we’ve completed, and they haven’t. There’s no comparison between tower cranes and mobile cranes, the tower cranes could reach everywhere, and the mobile cranes couldn’t.”

tower cranes vs mobile cranes

“The other contractors using mobile cranes definitely had to work harder on their project,” observed Brys of Paric, “and since they are still in production, they are obviously paying higher costs’.

“The decision to go with the San Marcos came with a big pay day,” said Pokorny. “Everything ran smoothly. We could reach everything we needed to reach, and we didn’t need to move materials for the crane to get access. If we had to do it over again, we’d do it the same way, no doubt.”

tower cranes home buildingThe San Marco SMTs are known for their efficient technology and simple operation. Based on that, the two tower cranes were able to access materials and every part of the large construction site without delay and without site roads. The tower cranes created direct cost reductions because there was no need for off-road forklifts, rough terrain or mobile cranes, or other forms of rented onsite hoisting equipment.

The bottom line was the fact that contractors could rent a tower crane for the same or less cost as other temporary crane services, while cutting other major costs.

“I would definitely encourage Con Tech Carpentry to keep using the San Marco SMT Tower Cranes for future projects,” said Brys. “Because of their simplicity to set up and use and their reduced need for a staging area.”

Custom Service Crane is the Bigfoot Crane dealer for Illinois, with service into Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan.

www.customservicecrane.com

www.sanmarcocranes.com

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