Bigge Heavy Lift Super Cranes

Structural design assistance for a 4,000-ton capacity derrick crane system built for large-scale modular construction of nuclear power plants

Bigge Power Constructors set out to build one of the largest land-based cranes ever constructed: the A-Frame Ring Derrick, or AFRD, a heavy lift derrick crane purpose-built for the large-scale modular construction of nuclear power plants. Liftech supported Bigge's engineering team on two of these super cranes, each rolling on a circular track to reach multiple points across a job site without ever needing to relocate.

The Challenge

Modern nuclear power plant construction is often modular, with many components assembled on the ground and lifted into place. Moving components of this scale takes a special kind of crane: this particular application required a capacity of 4,000 short tons at a radius of 240 feet from the center of rotation, 836 short tons at 640 feet, and 500 short tons at 790 feet. That reach allowed the crane to serve multiple locations within a single plant, eliminating the need to relocate the crane during construction and reducing the total number of lifts required.

Our Approach

Liftech assisted Bigge's engineering team with the design of the boom, mast, and carriage assemblies of the new cranes, along with structural analysis of part of the crane assembly. Liftech also provided peer review and engineering support for other aspects of the project.

project details

Year completed

2011

location

Southeast USA

client

Bigge Crane and Rigging Co.

services provided

Mechanical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Crane Design

Project Images

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