Dutch crane and transport company Gaffert called in its long-boom Grove GMK5250XL-1 for some delicate high-rise lifting work in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. The crane was the perfect choice for the placement of new glass panels at the Edge, an office development once dubbed ‘The Smartest Building in the World'.
To install new panels in the glass atrium at the top of the building, the GMK5250XL-1 was rigged with its full main boom of 257.5 ft., the 58.4 ft. hydraulic bi-fold swingaway jib, and an additional 26.2 ft. jib extension. Working with 77 tons of counterweight, the crane lifted multiple glass panels, each weighing 1,322 lbs., at a radius of 256 ft. During the lift, the main boom was set at 45 degrees, while the hydraulic jib was positioned at 50 degrees.
Due to its long boom length and flexible jib, the GMK5250XL‑1 proved to be the ideal solution for the job. Its unique combination of reach, capacity and control allowed Gaffert to carry out the installation efficiently — despite the challenging lift conditions and the high-profile nature of the project.
"The Grove GMK5250XL-1 was the only crane for this job. It's got a 78.5 meters (256-ft.) main boom, the longest on a 250 tonne (275-ton) capacity crane, and we were able to use it with the hydraulic luffing jib, which we offset to its maximum 50 degrees, providing a unique combination of capabilities," said Theo Gaffert, owner and director of Gaffert. "Positioning glass panels on the roof of such a prestigious development adds pressure, but we had complete confidence in our GMK5250XL-1, and it delivered excellent performance again."
Gaffert's Grove GMK5250XL-1 has featured on multiple long-reach projects, including a similarly challenging job at another Amsterdam office development. The GMK5250XL-1 is the strongest 275-ton crane on five axles, according to the company.
Maximum tip height can be extended up to 357 ft., and the crane is packed with Grove's technologies, including MEGATRAK suspension, a 258-ft. boom with MEGAFORM shaping and TWIN-LOCK pinning, Grove CONNECT telematics, and the MAXbase variable outrigger system for greater on-site flexibility.
Power for both the carrier and the superstructure comes from a Mercedes-Benz OM471LA engine rated at 523 hp, capable of running on regular diesel or HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). Despite its power and reach, the crane offers compact working and traveling dimensions, with an outrigger base measuring 29.5 ft. x 25.6 ft. and a traveling footprint of 51.2 ft. x 9.8 ft.
The crane was supplied to Gaffert via the Manitowoc facility in Breda, the Netherlands, which also provides a range of customer support options, including parts, service, maintenance, training and EnCORE rebuilds and refurbishments.
Gaffert is a Dutch crane rental and transport company based in Veghel, the Netherlands, and has been in business since 1938.
For more information, visit manitowoc.com/grove/all-terrain-cranes/gmk5250xl-1.
