Potain MDT 109 Cranes Assembled By Helicopter On France’s Largest Glacier

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Two Potain MDT 109 tower cranes were recently assembled on France’s largest glacier to aid in the construction of a logistics base and a cable car station. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Potain dealer for the Rhône-Alpes region, Valente Grue Assistance (VGA), recently carried out the installation of two MDT 109 tower cranes across two sites on the Mer de Glace glacier. The remote site locations were on the northern slopes of the Mont Blanc massif and each required a helicopter for assembly. One MDT 109 top-slewing crane will be used to construct a logistics base and the other will help build a cable car station.

Plan & Execute

VGA worked with Potain technicians and customer teams to develop an assembly process to fit the sites’ unique drop zone and elements. Potain, for example, carried out a study to examine site challenges, which revealed a maximum weight of 3.6 tonnes (4 U.S. tons) for the construction elements. The compact and relatively lightweight components of Potain’s MDT 109 made it a smart choice, as did the crane’s strong load curve. Just a few of the construction requirements included a 34-metre (112-foot) height under hook, a 35-m (115-ft) jib, and a 2.85-t (3.14-U.S.-t) lift capacity. The top-slewing MDT 109 has a maximum lift capacity of 6 t (6.6 U.S. t) and a lift radius of 55 m (180 ft). With the load at 55 m, the MDT 109 can lift 1.35 t (1.5 U.S. t).

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The remote site locations on the northern slopes of the Mont Blanc massif required the use of a helicopter in assembling the cranes. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Assembly Success

Potain tower crane assembly is quick and straightforward thanks to Potain parent company Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS). In just 15 minutes, MDT 109 can be calibrated and have safety devices adjusted, all from the CCS display in the cab. In May 2022, VGA assembled one of the MDT 109 cranes at the logistics base site, which rests at an altitude of 2,000 m (6,561 ft). The second MDT 109 was assembled at an elevation of 1,600 m (5,249 ft) and was completed during an unexpected snowfall.

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Source: Manitowoc