DEW Construction Corporation of Williston, Vt., is using a Potain HDT 80 self-erecting crane to construct the new slope side hotel at the Jay Peak Ski Resort in Jay, Vt. Work on the as-yet-unnamed hotel began in August 2008 and has an anticipated completion date of Feb. 1, 2010. The 57-suite hotel will feature a restaurant, bar, fireplace area, coffee shop, retail space and fitness center. In front of the building will be ground level terraces. Topping out is expected in early May.
In the meantime, DEW Construction Corporation is busy erecting structural steel and wood panels, with the Potain HDT 80 leased from Shawmut Equipment Company Inc., Manchester, Conn. DEW chose the Potain HDT 80 because of its long reach, small footprint on-site and quiet electric power. The Potain HDT 80’s radio remote controls also allow the operator to move within and throughout the structure, keep the load visible and communicate with other members of the crew as he hoists and sets materials. A LCD display on the radio controller also gives the operator an array of load indication information. In addition to the radio remote control, the Potain HDT 80 is equipped with an elevator style operator’s cab. The crew, which numbers between 50 and 100 members, is pleased with the crane.
“We leased the HDT 80 and put it to work starting in February,” said Jerry Davis, DEW Construction. “We had used the two smaller versions of this crane on two different jobs, so it was a natural choice to go with this one for this project.”
“We have been pleased to see many repeat customers for the Potain self-erectors,” Shawmut Equipment’s Kevin O’Connell said. “Once a crane or construction company tries a Potain self-erector and sees all of the benefits firsthand, that customer typically sees how the self-erectors can be advantageous on a variety of other projects.”
Davis echoes that sentiment, “The HDT 80 has been fantastic, just awesome. There have been glitches here and there with the job, like any job, but none at all with the crane or the equipment. The crane has a very small footprint, which really helps us on this project. Our space is limited because the hotel is going in next to a new road that is being put in simultaneously. We don’t have room to spread the equipment out.”
All models of Potain self-erecting cranes have space-saving features. Even the largest Potain self-erector, the Potain HDT 80, occupies only a 22-ft. (6.7 m) diameter circle on-site and has an outrigger stance of only 14.9 ft. (4.54 m) by 14.9 ft. The “up and over” design of the Potain self-erectors, with a nearly vertical mast and nearly horizontal jib, means that the Potain self-erectors can set up close to a structure. Potain self-erectors also have a long reach and strong capacity. The Potain HDT 80 has a maximum reach of 148 ft. (45.1 m) and can lift 2,980 lbs. (1,351 kg) at this maximum radius.
Potain self-erectors have a very short set up time. Even the largest self-erector, the Potain HDT 80, can be ready to work on a job site in less than six hours. A Potain self-erecting crane sets itself up raising its jib and unfolding its mast with hydraulic cylinders. Additionally, the Potain self-erectors set up on steel outriggers and do not have to be anchored into a concrete slab or erected on elaborate and cumbersome cross bases.
The electrical motors of a Potain self-erector are very quiet, making the cranes ideal for job sites with residential neighbors or close-quartered colleges and universities. The Potain self-erectors also do not have an internal combustion engine, eliminating exhaust and adding to their environmentally friendly appeal.
The Potain self-erecting cranes have been popular in Europe and overseas for decades and are taking on a growing role in construction projects throughout New England.
And for DEW Construction, the Potain HDT 80, and Shawmut Equipment, have been perfect on the Jay Peak resort job. “Shawmut is great to deal with when we need to size a crane and put together a budget. They base the crane recommendations on reach, capacity and take all the aspects of the project into consideration. They are very accommodating.”
“Delivery,” continued Davis, “and training of the crew once the crane was on site, have been fantastic. Any maintenance or other issues we’ve had have been taken care of. We are working close to the Canadian border so we’re four-and-a-half to five hours away from them, but they’ve responded very well. Absolutely no issues.”
Manitowoc, Wisconsin-based Manitowoc Crane Group is the owner and manufacturer of Potain self-erecting cranes.
The Manitowoc Crane Group also manufactures Manitowoc Crawler Cranes, Grove Mobile Hydraulic Cranes, Grove GMK All Terrain Cranes, and National Boom Trucks.
Shawmut Equipment Company is the New England distributor of Manitowoc Crane Group products.
For more information about Potain self-erecting cranes, please contact Shawmut Equipment’s Kevin O’Connell at 800/829-4161. CQ
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