ForConstructionPros.com

A Potain Igo T 70 is lifting and placing specialized concrete floor and wall panels which range in weight from 1,200 lbs to 2,000 lbs at an East Hall dormitory construction project in Indianapolis, IN. The Igo has been on the construction site since November 2008 and an HDT 80, was added in February. Contractors added the second crane to speed up the project, which fell behind schedule as a result of winter weather.

For both general contractor Shiel Sexton, and lifting subcontractor Charles Masonry, this project was their first exposure to self-erecting crane technology. Jerry Charles, president of Charles Masonry, says his company would typically use a rough-terrain crane to lift the concrete panels into place.

"We considered the ground adjustments needed to avoid making tire ruts with a rough-terrain crane and decided to use a self-erecting crane instead," he said. "Our operators found these cranes extremely easy to erect and operate. I would recommend them to other contractors."

Josh Whitt, Shiel Sexton's project superintendent on the job, said there was significantly less ground preparation required for the Potain self-erecting cranes.

"For the two Potain self-erecting cranes, I only had to prepare two 20 ft by 20 ft compacted stone pads," he said. "There was no heavy concrete and steel mat and 30-day curing time required."