UNIC Cranes Europe was tasked with implementing acoustic doors for a South East London cultural hub, where we had to take into account the difficulties in ensuring their safe and effective lifting and installation. Extra caution had to be used when working in this historic property because it was one of five listed buildings that are being transformed into public cultural spaces.
After the site survey, lift plan, and risk assessment were finished, it became clear that using a variety of lifting techniques would be necessary to get the optimum outcome. The Mobile Gantry Crane 5000 and the UNIC ECO-295 Mini Spider Crane Wheeled were chosen by UNIC.
UNIC slinged and raised the acoustic doors using the Mobile Gantry Crane from the pallet to the client’s skates which the client then used to deliver the doors to the working area. UNIC set up the ECO-295 in the performance hall, which had earlier been brought there over plywood sheets.
For this portion of the project, the ECO-295 was chosen due to its small size, which allows it to fit through doors and lift in tight spaces. The fully battery-operated ECO UNIC cranes also emit no emissions, making lifting in this listed building simple and worry-free.
UNIC had to account for the height constraints and the precision lifting required to securely hoist through the doorway when using the ECO-295 to lift the doors through the 3.6-metre-tall doorway opening. The ceiling height on the wall opposite where the acoustic doors were waiting, was 4.5 metres, and the doors were 1.5 metres from the opening. The UNIC operator cautiously raised and manoeuvred both doors through the aperture. Once positioned on the correct side of the wall the sling was reapplied to the door’s lifting eyes. The operator lifted it vertically and manipulated it into position on the hinges using the new slinging technique. This procedure was carried out again with the second acoustic door.
The successful completion of this lift was made possible by the client and UNIC’s lift team working together and using creative lifting methods. The knowledgeable staff at UNIC gave our client all the experience they needed to carry out this lift effectively and securely. Together with two fume-free cranes built for manoeuvring in tight places, this job was expertly finished.
