A UNIC mini spider crane on hire from GGR Group took to the water recently to assist with essential repair work on Buscot Weir lock, Oxfordshire.
One of the UK’s leading engineering firms were commissioned to repair two 2.5 tonne lock gates, each measuring 4 metres high by 2.5 metres wide, which needed to be lifted out of the lock for critical maintenance work. First built in 1790, the 33.47 metre long lock is the smallest on the River Thames is now a National Trust place of beauty.
Surrounding access to Buscot’s lock gates was impossible, resulting in a more unusual lifting solution using one of
GGR’s 6 tonne capacity UNIC URW-706 mini cranes. Weighing in at 7.9 tonnes, the UNIC spider crane was lightweight enough to be floated on top of a purpose-built pontoon and towed 550 metres along the water by a motor boat. The pontoon was 4.5 metres wide, 10 metres long, 1 metre deep and capable of carrying 12 tonnes.
Once in position, the UNIC URW-706 mini spider crane could easily straddle the 5 metre wide gap over the lock to remove each 2.5 tonne gate. UNIC mini cranes are a popular choice for working on Britain’s waterways as they can easily navigate down winding paths and under bridges when road access is limited, and they have configurable outriggers for working on uneven surfaces and around obstacles.
GGR’s compact cranes are frequently used as a time efficient and cost-saving solution for challenging jobs in the water sector. There are 9 UNIC mini crane models currently available, ranging from 0.995 tonnes to 10 tonnes in lifting capacity, which have worked on waterways, reservoirs, flood prevention projects and at waste water treatment facilities across the UK.
To find out more about GGR Group’s mini cranes and other lifting solutions visit www.ggrgroup.com
Author; Kerry Edwards
Source:
GGR Newsletter
