Crane Rental Corp. Lifts Hub of Orlando Observation Wheel

Enlarge Image Crane Rental Corp. lifts the hub for the Orlando Eye.

July 16, 2014 - Crane Rental Corp. recently lifted the 83,000-lbs. hub of the Orlando Eye observation wheel into place. The hub was installed approximately 200 ft. above the ground, the center of what will be a 400-ft. tall attraction on Orlando’s International Drive. The wheel is being constructed by Adena Corp. in sections, rotating the wheel as it is completed. The attraction is scheduled to open in the spring of 2015.

The hub unit was transported on Crane Rental Corp.’s 13-axle trailer and lifted with their 600-ton capacity Terex AC500-2 hydraulic truck crane with a Sideways Superlift (SSL) attachment. Other work for the observation wheel is being completed by Crane Rental Corp.’s 130-ton capacity Grove RT9130E rough-terrain crane, which will remain onsite for the duration of the job. During the hub lift the RT lifted a work platform 200 ft., bringing a crew to attach the hub to the base structure.