Ground Prep Required
The February 2016 issue of American Cranes & Transport magazine featured a Lifting Site Report about Emerson Crane Rental’s new Grove GMK5275 all terrain crane. The article highlights the importance of understanding ground conditions and ground bearing capacity. Emerson regularly uses DICA outrigger pads and crane pads as part of its crane setup preparations.
The following is a short excerpt from the article. The full article can be read at American Crane & Transports website. Congratulations to Emerson Crane Rental on the addition of the new AT crane to their fleet and a safe and effective tandem lift on one of it’s first jobs.
Waterloo, IA based Emerson Crane Rental recently took delivery of a new Grove 275-ton capacity GMK5275 all terrain crane. With five cranes in his fleet, Scott Emerson, president, said the new crane gives his team the opportunity to better serve customers’ increasing demands.
“The trend in the lifting industry is getting heavier and taller,” he said. “To safely complete the work, a higher capacity crane was needed for our company to be the one-stop lifting shop our customers prefer. As customers’ plants continue to expand, the picks get farther away and taller.”
One of the crane’s first jobs was to assist in the erection and installation of a silo at the University of Northern Iowa Powerhouse. The contractors demands were that the crane not exceed 85 percent of its load chart,” Chad Emerson said. “There seems to be challenges with every job. Experience and focus on achieving the job safely is what we rely on to get the job done. The GMK5275 set the silo in place utilizing only 73 percent of the rated load chart.”
The GMK5275 was rigged with 46,000 pounds of counterweight, and Emerson’s TMS9000E was set up with 16,000 pounds of counterweight to make the tandem lift safely. DICA mats were used for stabilizing both cranes.
“The ground had been excavated, filled and compacted with gravel,” said Chad Emerson, ethanol coordinator and safety manager. “Using engineered DICA mats gives the operator peace of mind. Just one less thing to worry about when operating.”
The tandem lifts was performed flawlessly.
“Adding the GMK 275 to our fleet has benefitted our customers with safer alternatives to get the projects done on time and on budget,” he said. “The GML5275 and TMS9000E make Emerson Crane Rental the most modern and diverse crane fleet in the area.”
Read the full article about Emerson Crane Rental here.
Do you need assistance with your outrigger pad or crane pad sizing?
DICA advises that a successful crane setup includes knowing the maximum pressure the crane will exert on each outrigger during the operation, or the maximum outrigger reaction force. The right size outrigger pad or crane pad can then be selected which takes into account ground conditions and actual outrigger loads.
Call 800-610-3422 to learn more about the DICA 3-step fitting process and how the team at DICA can help you chooses the right pads for your job.