Gheysens Masters Challenging Old Town Job With Tadano AC 7.450-1

Not every crane operation can be carried out from an ideal location.

When the site originally designated for the crane in the historic center of Bruges proved unsuitable, a new solution was required. Limited space, sensitive ground conditions and the constraints of a densely built-up old town necessitated adjustments to the operational plan. Belgian crane service provider Gheysens therefore opted for a Tadano AC 7.450-1, whose long reach and compact design offered the ideal capabilities for this challenging task.

"The original plan was to carry out the job using a 160-tonne (159 ton) crane positioned on the street right next to the belfry," said Miguel Gheysens, managing director of the crane service company bearing his name. "However, the ground there proved too unstable for the crane. We therefore had to work from a greater distance and use a crane with significantly more reach."

The choice fell on the Tadano AC 7.450-1. With its 262-ft. main boom, it easily delivered the required reach — handling a working radius of 15 ft. and a hook height of 222 ft. This made the crane the ideal solution for the altered operating conditions.

For the job, the Gheysens team rigged the crane during a night shift in the SSL configuration with 132 tons of counterweight.

"This allowed us to make the most of the AC 7.450-1's design advantages: combining the compact dimensions of a six-axle crane with the power of an eight-axle model, it proved to be the ideal machine for Bruges' narrow city center," said Gheysens. "Even setting up the Sideway Superlift system worked perfectly in the confined space."

Manager Christophe Gheysens was equally convinced.

"There is a reason we prefer Tadano cranes," he said. "They stand for quality — and that applies to both the products and the service, the reliability of which we particularly value."

To ensure work in the city center could start on schedule, the Gheysens team carried out the crane rigging the night before the actual operation. This allowed the setup to be completed without disrupting daytime activities.

"We had the AC 7.450-1 set up and ready for action by 9:30 a.m., so we could look forward to the afternoon's operation with complete peace of mind," said Miguel Gheysens.

The intensive preparation paid off: the operation went smoothly and once again demonstrated the capabilities of the AC 7.450-1 under challenging conditions.

"Being able to execute a job like this to absolute perfection right in the heart of our beautiful city naturally made us all very happy," said Miguel Gheysens.