Successful testing of a special gantry crane for tunnelling

A 100 ton INDUSTRIAL LIFT gantry crane has been successfully tested and will be soon operative for an international tunnel construction project in Australia. The machine is the first of four units commissioned by Herrenknecht AG, a world leader in mechanised excavation technologies for complex infrastructure projects.

INDUSTRIAL LIFT solutions for tunnelling

The four gantry cranes are designed to handle and position concrete jacking pipes and drilling equipment used to construct connecting passages between the main tunnels. These operations require precise handling and control in confined spaces, where available clearance is a key constraint.

To meet these requirements, INDUSTRIAL LIFT has developed a special configuration featuring a telescopic structure, which allows the extension of the columns to be adjusted to suit the available space. The double-beam design, combined with a lifting system featuring four independent lifting points on movable trolleys, also allows the lifting points to be adjusted according to the geometry of the loads.

Two operating modes in one machine

One of the project's key features is the ability to operate the gantry crane in two different configurations. The machine is designed as a self-propelled unit but can also be converted into a stationary crane thanks to an integrated system of hydraulic stabilisers, which allows it to be levelled and stabilised on the ground.

In stationary mode, the lifting trolleys travel along the upper beams and are electrically powered via a connection to the site power supply. This configuration allows lifting operations to be carried out with no exhaust emissions during electric operation.

The ability to switch between self-propelled and stationary crane allows the same machine to be used at different stages of the activity, adapting its configuration to the operational requirements of the construction site.