ALL Erection & Crane Sets 184' Bridge with Two-Crane Lift

June 20, 2007 • Cleveland, Ohio-based ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. set a 184-foot walk bridge across a Lake Erie bay at the new Bayfront Convention Center in a complex two-crane pick. Detailed planning, cooperation between crane company and engineers, ALL's lift-planning software, experienced crane operators, and two hydraulic truck cranes pooled efforts to erect a bridge that many thought would require a tugboat with a crane aboard.

A 350-ton hydraulic truck crane from ALL Crane Rental of Pennsylvania and a 300-ton hydraulic crane from ALL Erection headquarters in Cleveland worked in tandem to set the 136,000-pound bridge. The plan was for lifting the bridge span across the harbor, readjusting the rigging so both ends could be grabbed by the two cranes, and then each crane controlling its end to the points where erectors were waiting to fasten the walkway into place.

Adding to the complexity of the job was ensuring that there was enough room to maneuver the bridge to connect with the assist crane as well as determining the proper angle of each boom to set the bridge. ALL's Compu-Crane lift simulation software recreated the environment of the lift by taking basic application, site, and lift data, then providing 3D simulation of the lift, complete with recommendations for the proper crane, outrigger load-bearing pressures, crane capacities, and percentages of the crane's capacity to be used. Everything was figured into the lift, including how close the load would be to the boom just prior to swinging and booming down.

Seeing the lift plan converted into the actual lift was rewarding for both ALL companies involved. “This was an outstanding day for ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.,” says Michael Liptak, ALL Erection president. “It showcased what our company is capable of and how our teams and yards can work together to meet any challenge.”

The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis to help customers get the right equipment for the job.