A host of Manitowoc lattice boom crawler cranes are working at We Energies Pleasant Prairie Power Plant. The cranes have been supplied by Dawes Crane & Rigging –– an All Erection company –– to project management company Washington Group International.

The list of Manitowoc iron comprises model 4100, model 777 and model 888 units, as well as a model 18000, the second largest crawler crane available from Manitowoc Crane Group.

It is fitted with the Manitowoc’s MAX-ER attachment, boosting capacity from 660 to 825 tons (600 to 750 t). In addition, a 100 ton (90 t) Grove 9100 rough terrain buzzes the job site, picking and placing materials upon demand.

The cranes are on long-term rental by Washington Group from Dawes to lift in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) modules. Each module contains 96 bundles of catalyst. These units are integral components to remove nitrous oxides from the flue gas.

One of the most impressive displays of engineering on this job site is how Dawes rigged its 200-ton (181 t) capacity model 777 Series II crawler in an area no wider than around 70 ft. (21 m) among a maze of pipes and components.

“We had to strip the crane of boom and reassemble it again,” said Mike Wood, sales manager at Dawes, “allowing it to squeeze in between pipe racks and two power plants.”

The model 777 has been rigged with 140 ft, (42 m) of main boom and a 110-ft. (33.5 m) luffing jib that allows up and over movement. It is fitted with the maximum counterweight of 186,000 lb. (84 t) and is hard at work erecting SCR support and access steel.

A Manitowoc model 888 Series II, rigged with 150 ft. (45 m) of main boom and 110 ft of luffing jib, and a Manitowoc model 4100 Series II are erecting steel for a Flue Gas Desulphurization system.

The star of the show is Manitowoc’s Model 18000 –– one of two Dawes has in its rental fleet. Washington Group International had previously utilized a Manitowoc 2250 with MAXER when performing SCR work on the Unit 2 section of the power station some two years ago.

Now it chose the Model 18000 rigged with 260 ft. (80 m) of Manitowoc # 55 main boom and 210 ft. (64 m) of # 79A luffing jib. The biggest lift the Model 18000 has performed to date was lifting in a 110,000 lb. (50 t) load at 260 ft. (80 m). Pick and placement of an SCR module takes about 45 minutes in total.

Dan Price, Washington Group’s site manager at the project is pleased with how the cranes have performed.

“The challenge has been to get the SCR units up and over a conveyor that provides coal to the power plant, but the Manitowoc cranes made it possible,” said Price. “Dawes and Manitowoc worked well for us when we worked on this site in the past and we built up confidence in the dealer and manufacturer. The service each provided has been top notch.”

The Manitowoc Company Inc. is one of the world’s largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes and boom trucks.

For more information, visit www.manitowoccranes.com.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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