Tall Flagpole Erected by Manitowoc 16000 Crawler Crane
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June 24, 2014 - A Manitowoc 16000 crawler crane was commissioned by ACUITY insurance company to erect the tallest flagpole at the company’s headquarters in Sheboygan, Wis. The flagpole measures 400 ft. high and can be fitted with a 120’x60’ American flag. Visible from at least 11 miles away during the day, the flag and pole are illuminated by a custom LED light system at night.
Manitowoc 16000 erecting
the flagpole.
Anchored by 680 cu. yds. of concrete poured 10 ft. deep, the contains mass dampers to lessen movement and vibration. All together, the completed structure weighs 210 tons.
Mortenson Construction, located in Brookfield, Wis., handled the project’s lifting requirements, for which six sections of steel pole had to be placed. The heaviest section of the pole weighed 59 tons; the five other ascending sections gradually decreased in weight. Mortenson chose the 440-ton capacity crawler crane for this project because of its proven track record with similar high-reach projects like wind farm construction sites. For the flagpole lifts, the crane was rigged with 177 ft. of main boom and a 277-ft. luffing jib.
Space was a challenge on the job, which was bordered by the company’s parking lot and a pond adjacent to the work space. The position of the crane had to be carefully planned to minimize disruption to the campus. The crane was positioned on timber mats, which helped provide stability on the gravel ground.
Although the crane was required to be on site for 2.5 weeks due to installation and quality control requirements, the Manitowoc 16000 had no trouble erecting the flagpole in three days. Mortensen said there were no surprises and the crane performed flawlessly. The company rented the crane from Milwaukee-based Dawes Rigging & Crane rental, a member of the ALL Erection & Crane Rental group.
